Full text of "Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa"

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PAST AND PRESENT

O'Brien and Osceola

Counties, Iowa

HON. J. L. E. PECK and HON. O. H. MONTZHEIMER

For O'Brien County

AND

HON. WILLIAM J. MILLER

For Osceola County

VOL. II '

ILLUSTRATED

/
1914

B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.

Indianapolis, Indiana

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78t>358

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CONTENTS

O'BRIEN COUNTY

CHAPTER I— THE BEGINNING 25

The Pioneer of O'Brien County — Creative and Administrative Periods — Nam-
ing of County — William Smith O'Brien — In the Beginning — Court Record as
to Organization of the County — Organization Election — First General Elec-
tion — Bad Work in Organization and First Elections — O'Brien County to the
l'"r(int — Hjiuiiibal House Wjiternian. the First Citizen — Winter Ox-Team Trips
— Indians in O'Brien County — Indian Outrages— Courage of the Immigrants —
First White Child — Proposal to Organize a County — The Bosler Crowd — Fort
Dodge Crowd — Waterman's Land Jumped — First Actual Homestead Entry —
Frederick Feldman, "Old Dutch Fred."

CHAPTER II— FIRST EVENTS 48

A Session of the First Boodle Board — Division of the Spoils — Scalping of
Soldiers' Bounty Money — First Things Done — First Record Entries — The
Old County Debt — The Aftermath and the County Treasury — Road Surveys
and Charges for Bridge Building — Curious Swamp Land Contracts — Bridge at
Waterman Ford — Curious Expenses — Swamp Land Swindle.

CHAPTER III— THE EARLY SETTLERS— 1 65

First Settlers a Desirable Class — Their Origin — Conditions and Customs of
the Early Settlers — Prairie Land — First Crops — Hardships and Disadvantages
of the Pioneer Farmer — Prairie Fires — Foreign Population — Population
Statistics.

CHAPTER IV— THE UPBUILDING 76

Constitutional Debt Limitation — Taxpayers' Association — Picnic — Two Views
of the Debt Proposition — Its Final Disposition — Resumption of Cash Pay-
ments — A Notable Meeting — Tax Sale of 1880 — Rebonding of the County Debt.

CHAPTER V— HOMESTEADS AND FREE LANDS 85

Squatter Lands — Litigation Over the Overlapping Lands — Granting Act of
Congress in Aid of Railroads — Fight Between Railroads — Milwaukee Railroad
Land — Commencement of Real Squatter Possession — Exciting Times — Old
Settlers Become Factor — Land Jumping — Inconsistent Statutes — Land Office
Trials at Des Moines — Final Suit and Decree — Evictions — Homesteaders Not
Favorable to Squatters — Sioux City Land Squatters — Odd Incidents in Evic-
tion Cases — Squatters' Union — A Unique Banquet — List of Sioux City Land
Squatters and Railroad Contract Men.

CHAPTER VI— COUNTY GOVERNMENT 108

Administration of County Affairs — County Auditor — County Judges — Archi-
bald Murray^Andrew J. Edwards — The County Treasury — Contested Elec-

CONTENTS.

tion — Second Period of Auditors and Treasurers — .County Treasury on a
Banking Basis — Charles A. Winterble and Otlier Auditors — County Recorder's
Office — County Surveyors — Supervisors — County Attorneys — ^County Farm and
County Home Building — Electric Light Plant — Other County Improvements
— Large Problems.

CHAPTER VII— COURT HOUSES OF O'BRIEN COUNTY 129

Old Log Court House — Court Record Pertaining Thereto — Court House of
1870 — Supervisors' Record — Court House at Primghar in 1874 — Paine's Store
— ^Preseut Court Couse — The Public Square — Jail History — More on the First
Court House.

CHAPTER VIII— STORMS, PRAIRIE FIRES, GRASSHOPPERS, ETC. — 139

Cyclone of June, 1882 — Cyclone of June, 1914 — Blizzards and Snow Banks —
Blizzard of January, 18S8 — Prairie Fires — Towns in Danger — Grasshoppers —
The Plagues of 1873-4-5 — Legislative Relief for the Stricken .'Settlers.

CHAPTER IX— COUNTY SEAT CONTESTS 153

Contest in 1872 Between O'Brien and Primghar — Sheldon vs. Primghar and
Sanborn vs. Primghar in 1879 — The Sanborn Raid — Contest Between Prim-
ghar and Sheldon in 1911 — Record of Supervisors — List of Petitioners — Legis-
lative Amendment — New Hub Hotel at Primghar.

CHAPTER X— OLD SETTLERS' REUNION 169

First County-wide Reunion — Decorations — Reception of Visitors — Great Pa-
rade — O'Brien County Relics.

CHAPTER XI— AGRICULTURE 177

A Prairie County — Grass a Blessing to the Early Settlers — Land the Basis of
Wealth — Rivers and Streams — Groves and Tree Planting — Products of
O'Brien County Soil — Their Variety — -Uniformity of the County — Fruits — Wild
Prairie Flowers — Modern Farm Conveniences — Development of Public Roads
— Farmers' Meetings — Farmers' Institutes — Stock Sales — No Minerals in the
County — Large Ranches — D. Edward Paullin — Franklin Teabout — John H.
Archer — Chester W. Inman — Jonathan A. Stocum — Samuel J. Jordan.

CHAPTER XII— EDUCATIONAL 194

Education One of the Earliest and Chief Thoughts of the People — Schools of
the County — Early School Houses — Growth of Educational System — Substan-
tial Character of Present School Buildings and their Equipment — Lecture
Courses — Teachers' Institutes — Parochial and Church Schools — County Su-
perintendents — Decline of Rural Schools.

CHAPTER XIII— INDIAN OCCUPANCY 200

Prehistoric Races — The Mound Builders — Tribes Which Once Occupied
O'Brien County Soil — Government Exploration — Treaties with Indians —
Military Forts — Mistrust of Indians — Black Hawk — Outline of Treaties —
Incidents.

CHAPTER XIV— REMINISCENCES 20&

Recollections of Mrs. Roma Wheeler Woods — Difficulties Encountered by
Newcomers — Notable Astronomical Events — "Dutch Fred ' — Village of O'Brien
— Death of Fred Beach — Attempts to Secure Land — Faulty Deed Descriptions

CONTENTS.

— Futile Attempt to Sell School Lands — The Grange Movement — Gen. N. B.
Raker Library — Fine Spirit of the Early IMoneers — 1873 a Notable Year and
a Hard One for the Settlers — "Library Parties" — The Grasshopper IMagu; —
The County Debt — Remarkable Pioneer Women.

CHAPTER XV— REMINISCENCES '>22

Mrs. C. V. Van Epps' Story — A Trip in a Prairie Schooner — Many Surprises —
Earliest Habitations — Sod Houses — Carroll Township — Winter of 1872-3 —
Early Epidemics — Dark Days — First School House — First Congregational
Church, Sheldon — Railroad Land.

CHAPTER XVI— BANKS AND BANKING 230

First Banking Enterprise in O'Brien County — Primghar's Banks— John R.
Pumphrey — Ralph Hinman — Sheldon Banks — Banks at Sanborn — Paullina
Banks — Banks in Hartley — Moneta — Sutherland — Archer — Gaza — Calumet —
O'Brien County's Substantial Banking System — Development of Land
by Bankers — Banking Statistics.

CHAPTER XVII— THE COURTS 249

Two Courts of Record — The District Court and Circuit Court — Judicial Dis-
tricts — District Judges — First Term of Court — Some Early Judges — Attorneys
— First Grand Jury — Admission to Practice in Early Days — First Jury Case —
Early Rules of Court Practice — Early Circuit Judges — A Judicial Joke — A
Popular Clerk of Courts — Sheriffs — Clerks of Courts.

CHAPTER XVIII— THE O'BRIEN COUNTY BAR 262

First Lawyer in O'Brien County — Personal Mention of Some of the Early At-
torneys — Those Who Are Now Engaged in the Practice Here.

CHAPTER XIX— LITIGATION IN O'BRIEN COUNTY 276

Much Probate Work, but Decrease in Other Litigation — Big Questions in the
Early Days — The Overlapping Land Suit — Taxation Questions — The Teabout
Failure — Taxpayers' Association — Tax Title Suits — Israel Lash Litigation-
Elizabeth Streeter — Suits to Quiet Title — Referee in Bankruptcy — Estates — -
Justices' Courts.

CHAPTER XX— THE PRESS 287

Value of Local Newspaper — First Paper in O'Brien County — F. M. McCormack
— Brief Review of the Various Newspapers Which Have Existed Here and
Which Have Contributed to the Development of the County.

CHAPTER XXI— MEDICAL HISTORY OF O'BRIEN COUNTY 302

Antiquity of the Practice of Medicine — Heroes Among the Pioneer Physicians
— Modern Progress in the Practice of the Healing Art — O'Brien County Hos-
pitals — The O'Brien County Medical Society — List of Registered Physicians —
Ignorance and Superstition on the Part of the Laity Superseded by Intelli-
gence and Common Sense.

CHAPTER XXII— THE CHURCHES OF O'BRIEN COUNTY 311

Methodists First on the Ground — Methodist Churches in the County — A Sod
Church — First Sermon Preached in the County — Congregational Churches —
The Friends Society — Evangelical Churches — German Evangelical Lutheran
Zion Churches — Norwegien Lutheran Church — Christian Reformed Church —

CONTENTS.

Evangelical Associatiou — Christian Churches — Church of Christ, Scientist —
Presbyterian Churches — Reformed Church in North America — German Evan-
gelical Church of North America — Catholic Church — Other Religious Societies
—Church Statistics — Young Men's Christian Association.

CHAPTER XXIII— LODGES OF THE COUNTY 346

Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with Its Several Branches — Independent
Order of Odd Fellows — Knights of Pythias.

CHAPTER XXIV— TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS 354

Incorporated Towns — City Government — Names of Townships and Their Gov-
ernment — Platting of Towns and Their Additions — Floyd Township — City of
Sheldon — National Guard — Sheldon District Fair — Franklin Township — San-
born — Lincoln Township — Fiddle String Township — Hartley Township — Town
of Hartley — Carroll Township — "Pathfinder of O'Brien County" — Archer —
Summit Township — Primghar — Center Township — Omega Township — Moneta
— Baker Township — Dale Township — Highland Township — Gaza — Grant
Township — Caledonia Township — Germantown — Union Township — Paullina —
Liberty Township — Calumet — Waterman Township — Sutherland.

CHAPTER XXV— O'BRIEN COUNTY IN THE HUMOROUS 455

Eccentric Dr. Longshore — "Pomp" McCormack's Jokes — Wolf Scalp Joke —
O'Brien County Solon — A Revival in the Court Room — The Judge Needed a
Sweat — Joke on a Bank Cashier — Superiority of Archer Over Omaha — Master
Wirt Close's Oration.

CHAPTER XXVI— MISCELLANEOUS 468

Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association — Present Officials of O'Brien County
— State Officials — Distinguished Citizens of the County — Official Vote, 1912 —
Population and Other Statistics — County Expenditures — Cemeteries — The
Herd Law — Early Relations With Cherokee County — Abstracts of Title —
Early Incidents — The Hay Twister — O'Brien County Agricultural Society —
County Sealer of Weights and Measures — Lost TiUmber — Highest Point in
Iowa — Congressmen — Prehistoric Fortifications and Burial Mounds — Curious
Incident — Prairie Chickens — Other Game — John MeCormack — Reminiscent In-
terview of B. F. MeCormack — Record of Old Soldiers Who Have Lived in
O'Brien County.

CHAPTER XXVII— THE SCRUB POET 506

A Little Spice and Many Local Hits — Townships of O'Brien County — Charge
of the Grasshopper Brigade— Tenting, Camping. Farming on the Old Prairie
Ground — First Starts of Towns and Railroads — That Martyred Wagon — The
County Seat — John Ker, Squatter — The Pioneer Is Going, Gone — An Agricul-
tural County — Marching to Victory — Let the People Vote — "Leedle Yoh" —
\Vhen the Squatter Squatted His Squat, etc.

CONTLI^JIS.

OSCEOLA COUNTY

CHAPTER I— GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY 535

Original Prairie Land — Scarcity of Timber — Streams — Hills — Lakes — Charac-
,. ter of Soil — Survey by Jefferson Davis, and His Report on Soil — Organization
of Osceola Township — Its Name — Anxiety of Early Settlers to Get in Ahead
of Railroads — Sibley, the First Town Site Laid Out — Official Record of
County Ortijaiuzation — First Tax Levy — First Election and County Officers —
First County Nominating Convention — Osceola County Cursed by Grafters and
Looters — Grand Jury Indictments — An Unjust Debt — Roster of County Offi-
cials — Auditors — Treasurers — Recorders — Clerks of Courts — Sheriffs — Super-
intendents of Schools — Surveyors — Coroners — County Attorneys — Supervisors
— First Term of Court and First Grand Jury — First Court House — Finances —
Increase in Land Values — Appraisement of Public Utilities.

CHAPTER li— TOWNSHIPS OF OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP 544

Allison Township — First Officers — F^rst Settlers in the Various Sections of
the Township — Baker Township — Land Speculators — Early Settlers — Henry
Dunkelmann's Experience — East Holman Township — Its Pioneers — Fairview
Township — Magnificent Natural Features — Names of Early Settlers — First
Township Officers — Present Officers — Oilman Township — Early Settlers —
Goewey Township — Those Who First Came Here — Wealth in Legitimate Farm-
ing — Narrow Escape From Death in a Blizzard — Harrison Township — Soil of
Inexhaustible Richness — Mennonites — May City — Horton Township and Its
Pioneer Settlers — Immigration of 1883-5 — Ocheyedan Township— The Home-
steaders — Hardships of Joseph P. Tower — Viola Township — First Settlers —
Recent Arrivals — Public Schools and Officers — West Holman Township —
How the Various Sections were Settled — Misfortunes of J. B. Jenney — Wilson
Township — Early Homesteaders — Schools.

CHAPTER III— CITIES AND TOWNS 593

Sibley, the First Town in Osceola County — Early Business Interests — Pres-
ent Business Concerns and Their Location — Municipal Items — Present City
Officers — Ashton — First Called St. Oilman — Location — First Buildings and
Business Interests — Present Enterprises — City Officials — Harris — Town Or-
ganization — Present Business Interests — City Officials — Ocheyedan — Its Be-
ginning — Public Utilities — Business Directory — City Officers — Cloverdale —
Allendorf— Melvin — A Tliriving Little City — Principal Business Interests.

CHAPTER IV— RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY 606

First Methodist Episcopal Church of Sibley — First Preaching Service in the
County — Melvin M. E. Church — Methodist Churches at Ashton, Harris and
Ocheyedan — St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Ocheyedan — Congre-
gational Church at Sibley — German Lutheran Church, Sibley — Ocheyedan
Congregational Church — First German Presbj'^terian Church, Sibley — First
Baptist Church, Sibley — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Horton Township —
German Lutheran Church of Viola Township — Hope German Presbyterian
Church — Catholic Church at Ashton — St. Andrew's Catholic Church at Sibley.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V— MEDICAL HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY 628

Dr. H. Neill's Interesting Review of the History of Medicine in the County —
Many Old Soldiers Among the Early Settlers — Personal Mention of Some of
the Early Practitioners — A Record of Many Interesting Surgical Cases and
Other Ailments — A Young Woman's Heroism — Epidemic of Diphtheria — Auto-
biography of Doctor Neill — Some Curious and Unusual Incidents in His Long
Practice Here — A Human Pincushion.

CHAPTER VI— THE LEGAL FRATERNITY 647

First Attorneys in Osceola County — Personal Mention of Some Early Law-
yers — Men of High Character and Eminent Ability.

CHAPTER VII— MILITARY HISTORY 1 652

Many Early Settlers Veterans of the Civil War — L. G. Ireland Post, Grand
Army of the Republic — List of Old Soldiers in Osceola County.

CHAPTER VIII— EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS 660

The Johnson Murder — The Shooting of George Groen — The Freezing of Baker
rnd Jenkins — Death of Edward Larrahty by Freezing — The Freezing of
Doctor Hall — Fred Knaggs — Accidental Death of C. D. Wilbern — Peter De-
Bloom Killed by Train — Herman Fry Killed by Falling Tree — Accidental
Death of Edward Larrahty.

CHAPTER IX— MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST 670

Educational History — Schools in the Various Townships — Value of School
Property — First Things of Osceola County — The Iowa Land Company, Lim.,
of London, England — The Fuel Question in Early Days — Hay Twisters — Early
Planting of Forest Trees and the Beneficent Results — Transportation —
Prairie Schooners — Advent of the Railroads — The Grasshopper Scourge —
Interesting Agricultural Facts — Pioneer Letters — A Marvelous Change Since
Pioneer Days — Early Hardships and Discomforts — Ode to Osceola.

BIOGRAPHICAL '_ 71

HISTORICAL INDEX

O'BRIEN COUNTY.

Abstracts of Title 478

Administrative Period 26

Agricultural Society 481

Agricultural Statistics 474

Agriculture 177

Altitude 482

Ancient Free and Accepted Masons__ 346

Archer 398

Business Interests 399

Churches 319

How Named 398

Incorporation 398

Platting of 358

Postmasters 399

Schools 399

Archer Bank 241, 247

Archer, John H 191

Archer Superior to Omaha 464

Army Record of Old Soldiers 499

Attorneys, County 121

Attorneys of O'Brien County 262

Auditors, County 108, 118

Baker Library 214

Baker Township 420

Early Settlement 420

Old Soldiers 500

Organization 420

Population 420

Squatters 106

Balkema, Nicholas 469

Bank Statistics 245

Banks and Banking 230

Banquet of Land Attorneys 105

Baptist Church 337

Bar of O'Brien County 262

Beach, Fred, Death of 209

Black Hawk 202

Blizzards 143

Boodle Board 48

Bosler, James W 32, 41

Bounty Money Scalped 51

Burial Mounds 484

Caledonia Township 430

Old Soldiers 501

Settlement 430

Calumet 442

Business Interests 444

Churches 319

First Election 443

Location 442

Old Soldiers 501

Park 443

Platting of 358

Postoffice 444

Public Improvements 443

Calumet Bank 242, 247

"Calumet Independent" 300

Cannon, Charles C 469

Carroll Township 391

Early Settlers 391

First School 225

Old Soldiers 501

Pioneers 393

Reminiscences 222

Squatters 106

Catholic Church 338

Center Township 417

Early Settlers 417

Location 417

Old Soldiers 501

Organization 417

HISTORICAL IM)I\

Chautauquas 198

Chickens, Prairie 488

Christian Churches 332

Christian Reformed Church 331

Christian Science Church 332

Church of Christ 332

Church Schools 199

Church Statistics 343

Churches 311

Circuit Court 249

City Government 354

Clerk of Courts 261

Congregational Churches 322

Congressional Districts 483

Congressional Land Grants 86

Congressmen 483

Constitutional Debt Limitation 76

Contested Election 114

Contests for County Seat 153

County Attorneys 121

County Auditors 108, 118

County Debt 56

County Debt Rebonded 83

County Expenditures 474

County Farm 123

County Government : 108

County Home 123

County Judge 109

County Officials, 1913 470

County Organization Election 31

County Recorders 119

County RecQrds 119

County Seat Contests 153

County Superintendent Schools__194, 199

County Supervisors 120

County Surveyors 120

County Treasurers 113

Court Held in Paine's Store 134

Court House, Log 42, 129, 137

Court House History 129

Court House Public Square 135

Court Proceedings 276

Courts, The — 249

Creative Period 26

Crops, First 70

Customs of Early Settlers 68

Cyclones 139, 142

Dale Township 422

Description 422

Old Soldiers 501

Settlement 422

Soil 422

Squatters 105

Death of Fred Beach 209

Debt, County 56

Debt, County, Rebounded 83

Debt Limitation 76

Dedication of County Home 124

District Court 249

District Judges 249

Doctor, the First 53

Doctors. First 302

Doctors, Registered 306

'Dutch Fred" 36, 45, 446

Early Settlers 65

Early Settlers, Customs of 68

Educational History 194

Edwards, Andrew^ J. 111

Election Contest 114

Election, County Organization 31

Election, First General 31, 42

Election, Second General 32

English Settlers 66

Entry of First Homestead 45

Estates 285

Evangelical Association 331

Evangelical Churches 327

Eviction of Squatters 96

Expenditures, County 474

Expenses, Curious Early 62

Farm Improvements 188

Farm Products L- 181

Farmers' Institutes 189

Farmers Mutual Ins. Ass'n 468

Farms, Large 190

Feldman, Fred 36, 45, 446

Fiddle String Township 383

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Fires, Prairie 73, 147

First Crops ,. 70

First General Election ____31, 42

First" Grand Jury 252

First Homestead Entry 45

First Jury Case 253

First Physicians in County 302

First Record Entries - 63

First Sermon in County _ 313

First Things 52

First White Child 41

Flowers, Wild — 188

Floyd Township ^ i — 361

Early Settlers 362

How Named 361

Location — .s- 362

Old Soldiers ^— 501

Squatters 107

Foreign Population 75

Fort Dodge Crowd ^^_ 42

Franklin Township 375

How Named 375

Old Soldiers 502

Population 376

Settlement -,_^ — ,,- 375

Squatters _. — 106

Fraternal Societies 346

Freemasonry 346

French Settlers 74

Friends, Society of 325

Fruits 187

Game, Wild -''489

Gaza 423

Platting of 358

Woodstock, Known as .424

Gaza Bank _Jl_ 242, 247

German Evan. Church of No. Am 336

German Eyan. Luth. Zion Churches- 327

German Settlers 68

Germantown . ,431

Location 431

Platting of .— -. 359

Postoffice 432

Government, County 108

Grand Jury, First 252

Grant Township 426

First Settlers 427

Milwaukee Road 429

. (45/2)

Grant Township — Continued. •■'■'■'' a-'-r

Natural Features — ^.^=. ^a>iUJ^ ■427

Old Soldiers —^ — :;-..-L__J_^-_- 502

Grasshoppers ^ ^ -_U.--Ui^l-i. 149

Groves 186

Hartley - _— _- 384

Beginning of ; 384

Business Directory i_^^89

Churches ill ''317

First Officers 11 385

Incorporation 384

Mayors — - S^O

Old Soldiers 503

Platting of 357

Postoffice 388

Present Officers ■— 387

Public Utilities 388

School History 385

Soldiers' Monument 388

Hartley Banks _,_ _— 239, 246

'Hartley Journal" - i. 299

"Hartley News" 300

"Hartley Record" 299

Hartley Township .-_-j.— _ 384

Old Soldiers 503

Highland Township .423

Old Soldiers 502

Hay Twister 479

High Schools 195, 197

Hollanders -, ^^__i,_^-' .i68

Homestead Entry, First -i:i.i.\v 45

Homestead Law — . 65

Hospitals 304

Hub Hotel 167

Humorous Incidents ; 455

Hunter, A Noted 490

I :

Improvements, Farm ^ 188

Incident, Curious Indian 487

Incorporated Towns ,^- 354

Independent Order of Odd Fellows— -^50

Indian Incident, Curious --. .487

Indian Occupancy ^-^^ 200

Indian Scare -. — ,- 455

Indian Treaties 201

Indians in O'Brien County 37

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Inman, Chester W. 1S2

; Institutes, Fanners' 189

; Institutes, Teachers' 198

Ulrish Settlers 67

Jails 136

Jokes Reminiscent 462

Jordan, Samuel J. 193

Judgjes 249

Judges, County 109

Jury Case, First 253

Justices' Courts 286

K
; Knights of Pythias 352

Land Grants, Congressional 86

Land Investors 244

Land Jumping 43, 92

Land Litigation 94

Land Loans 178

Land Office Trials 93

Land, Squatters, List of 105

Land Values 178

Lands, Overlapping 85

Lands, Squatter 85

Law Suits 276

•Lawyers of O'Brien County 262

-Lecture Courses 198

Legal Questions 277

Liberty Township 442

f Old Soldiers ■ 504

Library, First Circulating 53

Library, Gen. N. B. Baker 214

Library Parties 218

Lincoln Township 382

Old Soldiers 503

List of O'Brien Soldiers 499

Litigation 276

Litigation, Land 94

Little Sioux River 179

Lodges 346

: Log" Court House ^^42, 129, 137

McCormack, B. F. 1 491

McCormack, F. M. (Pomp) 290

McCormack, John 490

Masonic Order .346

Medical History - — 302

Medical Progress ^^309

Meeting, a Notable 81

Memorable Winters 146

Methodist Churches 311

Milwaukee Lands 86, 95

Minerals, Lack of 190

Miscellaneous 468

Moneta , 419

Business Interests 419

Churches 321

Fires 420

First Things 419

Incorporation 419

Platting of 357

Moneta Bank 240, 247

Mound Builders 200

Mounds, Burial 484

Murray, Archibald 110

Naming of County 28

Newspapers 287

Norwegian Lutheran Church 330

Notable Meeting 81

O'Brien County Agricultural So-
ciety 4^81

"O'Brien County Bell" 290

O'Brien County in the Humorous — 465

O'Brien County, Naming of 28

O'Brien County, Organization of 29

O'Brien County Relics 176

O'Brien, Old 208

"O'Brien Pioneer" 289

O'Brien, William Smith 28

Ocheyedan River 179

Odd Fellows 350

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Official Vote in 1912 472

Officials, County, 1913 470

Old Log Court House 42, 129, 137

Old O'Brien 208

Old Settlers' Parade 174

Old Settlers' Reunion 169

Omega Township 418

How Named 418

Old Soldiers 503

Population 419

Orchards 184

Organization of O'Brien County 29

Origin of Pioneers 66

Overlapping Land Suit 278

Overlapping Lands 85

Ox-team Trips 37

Paine's Store Court House 134

Parade of Old Settlers 174

Parochial Schools 199, 329

"Pathfinder of O'Brien County"___^_ 392

Paulling, D. Edward 190

Paullina 432

Additions 435

Churches 319, 333

Coming of Railroad 434

First Business Men 439

Grain Shipments 441

How Named 439

Library 437

Old Soldiers 503

Organization of 435

Platting of 358, 434

Public Utilities 436

School District 438

Paullina Banks 238, 247

"Paullina Star" 294

"Paullina Times" 294

Physician, the First 53

Physicians, First 302

Physicians, Registered 306

Pioneer Women 220

Pioneers of O'Brien County 25

Pioneers, Origin of 66

Poetry of a Local Flavor 506

Platting of Towns 356, 359

Population Statistics 75, 473

Prairie, Advantages of 70

Prairie Chickens 488

Prairie Features 177

Prairie Fires 73, 147

Prairie Land 177

Preacher, the First 52

Prehistoric Fortifications 484

Prehistoric Races 200

Presbyteirian Churches 333

Present Court House 134

Press, The 287

Primghar 402

Business Interests 415

Charter Families 404

Churches 316, 323, 341

County-Seat Contest 405

Epidemic 412

Fires 411

First Buildings 406

First Election 411

Hospital 412

How Named 402

Incorporation 411

Mills 412

Old Soldiers 503

Platting of 356

Present Officers 411

Public Square 405

Railroad Building 409

Schools 413

Town Plat 404

Water Works 415

Primghar Banks 230, 245

"Primghar Democrat" 295

"Primghar Republican" 295

"Primghar Times" 294

Products, Farm 181

Public Improvements 127

Public Officials 469

Public Roads 188

Public Square, Primghar 135

Pumphrey's Bank 58, 23^

Q
Quieting Title Litigation 283

Raid, The Sanborn 156

Railroad Contract Men 105

Railroad Land ' 86

HISTORICAL INDEX.

OSCEOLA COUNTY.

Accidental Deaths 667

Agricultural Facts 681

Allendorf 603

Allison Township 544

Early Settlers 544

First Nari|e 544

Organization • 544

Schools 544, 670

Settlers, Early 544

Section 2 544

Section 3 544

Section 4 544

Section 6 544

Section 9 545

Section 10 545

Section 14 545

Section 17 545

Section 24 545

Section 33 545

Altitude 536

Ashton 597

Business Interests 598

Churches 609, 623

First Buildings 597

Location 597

Official 598

Officials 598

St. Oilman 597

Assessments 542

Attorneys 647

Attorneys, County 541

Auditors, County 540

Baker Township 545

Early Settlers 545

Land Speculators 545

Schools 671

Section 2 545

Section 3 546

Section 6 546

Section 8 546

Section .9 547

Baker Township — Continued.

Section 10 547

Section 11 547

Section 12 547

Section 13 547

Section 15 547

Section 16 547

Section 17 547

Section 18 547

Section 20 548

Section 28 549

Section 29 549

Section 30 549

Section 31 549

Section 33 549

Section 34 549

Settlement 545

Speculators 545

Baptist Churches 616

Bench and Bar 647

Boards of Supervisors 541

Catholic Churches 623

Churches 606

Cities 593

Civil War Veterans 652

Clerks of District Court 540

Cloverdale 603

Congregational Churches 612

Convention, First Nominating 538

Coroners 540

County Attorneys 541

County Auditors 540

County Finances 541

County Officials 540

County Organized 536

County Recorders 540

County Set Off 537

County Supt. of Schools 540

County Surveyors 540

County Treasurers 540

Court, District, Clerks of 540

Court, First Term of 541

Court House, First 541

HISTORICAL INDEX,

Davis, Jefferson, Survey 536

Death, First in County 672

Deaths by Accident 667

Deaths by Freezing 663

Diphtheria Epidemic 633

Diseases 631

District Court, Clerks of 540

Doctors, Early 629

Drainage 535

Dunkelmann, Henry 548

EJast Holman Township 549

Settlement 549

Section 1 549

Section 2 549

Section 4 550

Section 5 550

Section 6 550

Section 7 551

Section 8 551

Section 10 551

Section 12 551

Section 14 551

Section 17 552

Section 18 552

Section 20 552

Section 21 553

Section 22 553

Section 24 553

Section 26 553

Section 28 553

Section 30 554

Section 32 554

Section 34 554

Section 36 554

Early Trials 537

Early Transportation 677

Educational History 670

Election, First 538

Evangelical Lutheran Churches__611, 620
Extraordinary Events 660

Fairview Township 555

Beautiful Vista 555

First Officers 556

Fairview Township— Continued.

Officers, First ^ 556

Officers, Present 556

Prairie Beauty . 555

Schools _557, 670

Section 8 555

Section 20 555

Section 22 . 555

Section 28 555

Section 30 556

Section 32 556

Section 33 556

Settlement 555

Farm Statistics 681

BMnances, County 541

First Attorneys 647

F^rst Court House 541

First Election 538

First Grand Jury 541

First Nominating Convention 538

First Preaching Service 606

First Railroad 678

First Schools 670

First Supervisors 540

First Term of Court , 541

First Things 672

Foster, William R. 565

Fuel Question 674

Geology 535

German Lutheran Churches 621

Oilman Township 557

Hard Times 557

Schools 671

Section 2 557

Section 4 557

Section 6 558

Section 8 558

Section 10 558

Section 12 558

Section 14 559

Section 18 559

Section 22 560

Section 24 560

Section 26 560

Section 28 560

Section 30 560

Section 32 561

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Oilman Township — Continued.

Section 34 561

Settlement 557

Usurious Interest 557

Goewey Township 561

Schools 671

Section 1 561

Section 2 561

Section 4 . 562

Section 6 562

Section 8 563

Section 10 563

Section 12 564

Section 13 564

Section 14 564

Section 16 564

Section 18 564

Section 19 564

Section 20 565

Section 22 565

Section 23 566

Section 24 566

Section 26 566

Section 28 566

Section 30 567

Section 32 _____ 567

Section 34 567

Section 36 567

Grafters, Influx of 539

Grand Army of the Republic 652

Grand Jury, First 541

Grasshopper Scourge 678

Groen, George, Shooting of 663

Harris 598

Business Interests — 599

Churches — 610

Officers, First _— 599

Officers, Present -_-^ 600

Organization 599

Harrison Township 568

Agriculture 568

Land Speculators -- 568

Mennonites 568

Schools 671

Settlers, Early — — 568

Speculators, Land 568

Horton Township 569

Churches ^ 620

Immigration of 1883-5 B71

Schools 572, 670

Section 8 570

Section 10 570

Section 12 570

Section 14 570

Section 18 570

Section 20 570

Section 22 570

Section 24 570

Section 26 570

Section 28 570

Section 30 ^ 571

Section 32 571

Section 34 571

Section 36 571

Human Pincushion 643

Increase in Land Values 542

Iowa Land Company 673

Ireland Post, G. A. R. 652

Jenney, J. B. 588

Johnson Murder 660

Jury, First Grand 541

Land Values 542

Legal Fraternity 647

Looting of County Treasury 539

Medical History 628

:\Ielvin 604

Churches 608

Methodist Episcopal Churches 606

Mileage, Railroad 542

Military History 652

Miscellaneous '-- 670

Murder of Peter Johnson 660

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Naming of Osceola County 536

Natural Features 535

Neill, Dr. H. 636

Nominating Convention, First 538

Ocheyedan 601

Beginning 601

Business Concerns 601

Churches 611, 615

Improvements 601

Location 601

Officers 603

Ocheyedan Township 572

Drainage 572

Schools 671

Section 2 572

Section 3 573

Section 4 573

Section 6 573

Section S 573

Section 10 573

Section 12 574

Section 13 574

Section 14 574

Section 18 574

Section 20 574

Section 22 574

Section 24 574

Section 25 576

Section 26 576

Section 28 576

Section 30 576

Section 32 576

Section 34 576

Soil 572

Ode to Osceola 689

Officials, County 540

Old Soldiers in the County 652

Organization Election 538

Organization of County 536

Osceola County, How Named 536

Osceola County Set Off 537

Physicians, Early 629

Pioneer Letters 682

(46)

Preaching Service, First 606

Presbyterian Churches 616

Railroad Land Taxation 542

Railroad Mileage 542

Railroads 678

Record Setting off County 537

Recorders, County 540

Religious Histoi'y 606

Roster of County Officials 540

Rush Lake 535

Schools, First 670

Schools, Superintendent of 540

Sheriffs 540

Shooting of George Groen 663

Sibley 537, 593

Business Interests 593

Churches 606, 612, 615, 616, 617, 626

Hospital 596

Officers 597

Public Utilities 596

Schools 672

Sioux City Attorneys 650

Soil 536

Soldiers, Old, in the County 652

Streams 535

Suhm, Josef von Willemoes 682

Superintendent of Schools 540

Supervisors, Boards of 541

Supervisors, First 540

Surgical Cases 630

Survey by Jefferson Davis 536

Surveyors, County 540

Taxation of Railroad Land 542

Topography 535

Tower, .Joseph P. 574

Town, the First 537

Towns 593

Trails, Early 537

Transportation 677

Treasurers, County 540

Treasury, Looting of County 539

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Veterans of the Civil War 652

Viola Township 576

Churches 621

Schools 580, 670

Settlement 576

Section 8 576

Section 10 576

Section 12 577

Section 14 577

Section 18 577

Section 20 577

Section 22 578

Section 24 578

Section 26 578

Section 28 578

Section 29 579

Section 30 579

Section 32 579

Section 33 579

Section 34 579

Section 36 580

West Holman Township 580

Churches 622

Section 1 580

Section 2 580

Section 4 581

Section 5 581

Section 6 582

Section 7 582

Section 8 582

Section 9 582

Section 10 582

Section 11 583

West Holman Township— Continued.

Section 12 1 583

Section 13 584

Section 14 584

Section 15 584

Section 16 585

Section 18 585

Section 19 585

Section 20 585

Section 22 586

Section 23 586

Section 24 586

Section 26 587

Section 28 587

Section 29 587

Section 30 587

Section 31 587

Section 32 587

Section 34 588

Section 36 588

Wilson Township 589

Schools 592, 670

Section 8 589

Section 10 590

Section 12 590

Section 14 590

Section 18 590

Section 20 590

Section 22 590

Section 24 590

Section 26 591

Section 28 591

Section 30 591

Section 32 591

Section 34 591

Section 36 591

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

Adams, Lincoln 1194

Adkins, John V. 837

Agar, Albert H. 1047

Alexander, Thomas J 1241

Aldlnger, John 732

Aldinger, Lester T. 734

Algyer, David 1290

Appleton, Charles E. 1144

Archer, John H. 1260

Armstrong, Hon. William S 874

Attig, Christ 1176

Attig, Fred 1195

Aupperle, Dr. George A 1061

Avery, Milo, M. D 760

Babcock, Charles A. 1270

Ballon, Nathaniel 1262

Bangert, Henry L. 1200

Bark, Tom B. 1159

Beebe, William W. 1114

Beers, Bessie J. 889

Berne, Thomas 919

Bidwell, Francis L. 1202

Billingsly, James J. 743

Bishop, John F. 901

Blaesser, Walter A. 1000

Blahauvietz, John 982

Blake, George G 808

Bloes, Nick 904

Bobzine, John i053

Bock, Adolph 995

Boies, Hon. William D 746

Bonderman, Warner W. 1127

Bonner, William 881

Boor, Nicholas 946

Bossert, John P. 1016

Boyce, Samuel 1042

Boyd, Richard M. 860

Boyd, Robert W. 980

Brackney, Herman J., M. D 869

Bradrick, Sidney I. 1193

Brady, Albert V. 986

Brady, Ezra M. 986

Brahan, William 977

Braig, Anthony J. 1001

Brandt, Jacob, Jr. 1185

Briggs, Charles W. 822

Briggs, James C. 1052

Briggs, William 721

Brock, Andrew J. 1243

Brock, Walter R., M. D 867

Broders, Ernest F. 789

Brosh, James 1082

Brown, William H. 773

Brundage, John R. 1314

Brundage, Selonious 1022

Bunce, Wayland M. 1086

Bunker, Ernest A. 1234

Burlet, Willard A. 792

Burley, Victor A. 1235

Burns, Charles 883

Burns, John H. 938

Byers, David 941

Bysom, Daniel 1096

Cain, William 1106

Cajacob, Platcy A. 890

Callenius, Otto 1108

Campbell, James S. 826

Cannon, Charles C. 1004

Clark, Charles S. 1116

Clarksean, Charlie 945

Claussen, Ernst J. 1226

Cleaveland, Ezra D. 1219

Clements, Isaac 784

Closson, Richard 1237

Coleman, George 788

Conn, James 1252

Cooper, John 1162

Cooper, Rev. Leonard J 1010

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Corns, Thomas M. 937

Cowan, John 998

Cram, Frederick W., M. D 848

Cronin, Dennis E. 1168

Crum, Roy R. 1024

Culver, Andrew 806

Cutsinger, James 1066

Daly, James H. 864

Day, Harley 1240

Dean, Herbert E. 1221

Delan, John J. 987

Den Beste, Joseph 1134

Denny, Michael 959

Derby, Frank N. 1 1017

Dewey, James T. 804

Diamond, Tobias E. 834

Doolittle, Hezekiah G. 853

Dougherty, Patrick J. 973

Dornbnsch, Ina 1021

Downing, William H. 778

Draper, Merriett S. 1077

Dries, Anton 1175

Dummett, William H. 1090

Dunkelmann, Henry 1191

Egdorf, William __. 1057

Eichner, Julius F. 923

Elliott, William B. 947

Ely, William E., M. D. 1216

Emery, A. J. W. 1088

Engelke, John 1308

Epping, Henry 1242

Evans, Oliver 935

Ewoldt, Hugo 925

Farnsworth, Thomas 1074

Farquharson, Charles 1170

Fillenwarth, Arthur T. 850

Finch, Mellville D. 1136

Flinder, Samuel C. 1071

Fogle, John H. 957

Foote, Charles E. 818

Foskett, Elmer C. 1132

Frey, Otto J. 1231

Friedrichsen, William 1092

Frisbee, Frank 832

Frisbee, Fred 1140

Fruhling, Rohlf 1209

Gardner, John 1112

Gaster, Ed 742

Geister, Albert G. 1079

Geister, Henry W. 777

Geister, Joseph 1118

Gere, Capt. Francis A. 77(J

Gilkinson, Alexander 1198

Gill, Joseph 780

Glover, John F. 954

Gole, Menno S. 1201

Gosch. Adolph 1050

Grant, Alexander 961

Graves, William 1184

Green, William C. 1245

Grendlng, Frederick W. 1124

Guhl. Fred 1039

Hain, Foster 1034

Hakeman, George 972

Hamilton, George 1232

Hand, William C, .M. D. 1018

Hanon, John C. . 841

Harding, Orlando B. 758

Harker, William 1253

Harris, George W. 1248

Harvey, Mahlon 1148

Hass, Henry C. 1197

Hastings, John A. 1014

Heatherington, Rev. :m. J. 1300

Helmer, E. L. 922

Henderson, Humphrey 1205

Hendrick, Harry H. 1068

Herrick, Frank L. 733

Hickey, Martin 975

Hickey, Peter 1318

Hickok, J. W. 839

Hill, Reuben W. 1311

Hinman, Hon. John F. 800

Hinman, Ralph T. 726

Hinz, Fritz 812

Hodapp, Michael 1111

Hoeven, Andrew 952.

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Hoffmann, Rev. John P. 761

Hoke, Joseph 1295

Horton, Frank W., M. D 866

Hough, Frank S., M. D. 749

Hughes, N. I. 1256

Hulser, Frank W. 1154

Ihle, Charles E. 1272

Irviue, John H. 1104

Jackson, W. C. 1229

Jacobson, Jacob 1277

Jepsen, John W. 966

Jinkinson, William 903

Johnson, John A. 754

Jones, Benjamin 1210

Jones, George L. 1030

Jones, Martin 1303

Jones, Robert P. 962

Jossem, John T. 1009

Kas, Thomas D., M. D. 769

Kelley, Patrick 872

Kenderdine, Di*. William H 1028

Kennedy, Frank E. 844

Killmer, Henry J. ■—- 942

King, Roy H. 896

Kirchhof, Otto 989

Knaack, G. E. 1002

Kopp, August 1100

Kundel, John 1186

Lange, John 1307

Lemke, William 912

Lewis, C. W. 811

Lighter, Omer L. 967

Linsday, James B. 882

Linquist, Sam 908

Locke, Roscoe J. 842

Logan, Scott 1301

Loger, William 1161

Longshore, Channing, M. D. 1164

McBride, Arthur W. 997

McCallum, A. W. 77^

McCandless, John 718

McClellan, Elbert 1139

McCormack, Rev. James 906

McCracken, Edwin W. 992

McDougall, Charles M. 1181

McElwain, Lee 1129

McFarland, Mrs. Addie C. 1083

McFarland, Elmer 991

McKenna, George 1255

McNeill, J. H. 870

Macomb, John, Jr. 1276

Mann, Edward 1054

Mann, Thomas E. 1075

Mansmith, John C. 928

Martin, Alexander L. 1103

Martin, Scott 1150

Mateer, Robert A. 1143

Mathern, John W. 1278

May, Harry C. 724

Mayne, Edward A. 873

Maytum, Dr. Burlington J._ 1126

Meier, Ernst 1317

Meltvedt, Chris 1006

Messer, Edwin P. 1258

Metcalf, Wilbert C. 1122

Metz, Oliver A. 815

Meyer, Albert H. 1130

Meyer, C. F. • 1130

Miller, Sumner F. 1073

Miller, William J. 730

Montzheimer. Otto H. 722

Moorhead, Robert J. 1029

Morton, Alfred '_ 830

Mullin, Michael P. 1046

Murphy, James B. 1035

Nelson, George W. 828

Neuman, John J. 976

Noehren, W. H. 1250

Nott, Fred 1049

Noyes, William H. 1023

O'Donnell, John J. 907

O'Donnell, John F. 1043

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Olson, Ben 930

Olson, Ole F. 968

Osgood, Wilbur J. 1178

Overholser, Willis W. _— ^ 795

Patch, Frank 887

Patch, Freeman R. 797

Peck, J. L. E. 715

Peisley, Patrick L. 978

Peters, Charles F. 863

Peters, Edo 1316

Phelps, Spencer A. 882

Philby, Enoch 1190

Phinney, George F. 740

Pingel, Adolph 1166

Protextor, George W. 1293

Protextor, John 984

Putnam, Denison C. 943

Q
Quilleash, Thomas A. 1171

Ralston, Weston D. ; 1011

Randall, Andrew V. S. 1267

Raymond, Ross L. 1060

Reader, George L. 1183

Rector, George E. 949

Redmond. Patrick 813

Redmond, Thomas S. 786

Reifsteck, Charles F. 1037

Reifsteck, George 1037

Rembe, Fred 1238

Rerick, Henry 745

Rerick, Isaac L. 736

Rhodes, Rev. Bert J. 1285

Richards, Prof. Edward E. 836

Richards, Homer E. 765

Richter, Conrad 1296

Robertson, Robert J. 1180

Roland, Edward E. 1288

Romey, Albert 738

Romey, George A. 1207

Roth, Joseph 1304

Roth, W. M. 1274

Roy.:e. Clarence H. 753

Runvan. Harmon H. __ 1215

Ruther, H. Theodore 1008

Ruwe, Louis 1032

Sands, John A. 1174

Saupe, Bruno 1085

Saupe, Otto 894

Schaap, Clarence C. 909

Schaefer, Louis B. 1286

Schneider, Arthur H. 1218

Schnurr, Berth 1206

Schoelerman, William H. 1050

Schubert, Lorenz 951

Schuknecht, Fred 1297

Schultz, Albert H. 1156

Scott, Henry P. 1064

Shea, Mart 1225

Shearer, Archibald 1093

Shearer, Mrs. Sarah 1093

Sheldon, Daniel M. 1033

Sheldon, Joseph O. 933

Shell, Levi 914

Shinski, Joseph 802

Shumway, David F. 1094

Shuttleworth, W. D. 970

Silverthorn, Isaac M. 931

Sims, William A. 911

Sleeper, William H. 859

Slick & McFarland 990

Slick, John N. 990

Smith, Daniel A. 1109

Smith, George W. 1263

Smith, John J. 1153

Smith, William M. 1281

Snider, John 1098

Sokol, George F. 791

Sollitt, J. E 1172

Solon, Anthony W. 994

Solon, Will A. '- 858

Soop, Ira 879

Stage, Theodore J. 845

Stamp, Joseph B. 762

Stearns, Mrs. Evelyn (Pease) 766

Stearns, Dr. Pleasant S. 1040

Steelsmith, Daniel C, M. D. 1188

Steinbeck, John 955

Stoelting, Alfred A. 1138

Strampe, Fred 1313

Strampe, Henry 1289

Strampe, Willifm 1283

Strit, John 751

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Sweeney, James F. 1305

Swensen, Peter 892

Tagge, Albert 921

Taylor, E. M. 820

Thatcher, William J. E. 757

Thietje, John 1045

Tierney, Frank W. 1151

Tow, Severt L. 1280

Townsend, James E. 728

Trainer, Dr. M. M. 798

Turnbull, William W. 816

Van Epps, Cornelius V. 824

Vogel, William C. 927

Vos, Garrett 1310

Voss, William T. F. K. 1062

Wagner, William 958

Walter, George W. 1058

Ward, George W. 794

Ward, John C. 1227

Wassman, Herman 1299

Waterhouse, George W. 1080

Weal, John 1025

Webster, Benjamin F. 1291

Webster, James S. 917

Weinke, Albert H. 983

Whitney, David 1265

Wiechner, Theodore 1013

Wilkinson, Noah C. 1120

Williams, Henry L. 781

Wilson, Lyman F. 964

Winkler, Frank P., M. D. 810

Winterfield, A. C. 851

Wolf, Henry 1158

Wolf, Jacob H. 898

Wolf, John __1101

Wollenberg, Louis 1019

Woodman, Lewis 1026

Woods, Paul C. 885

Woods, Mrs. Roma W 1222

Woods, William H. 1222

Wright, Edgar 969

Young, Ruben W. 1146

Youngers, Louis 856

Yungbluth, Michael ^__1070

Zahn, Henry 1065

Zimmerman, Theodore 878

i-"- V XJjL aJ .

. ASTC X

TiLDrr (ON^

Sn>^ ^^ ^ J^. ^^/ii'StTzs ^^ - ■

BIOGRAPHICAL

J. L. E. PECK.

J. L. E. Peck was horn August i8. 1852, at Kilhvorth-on-the-Thames,
near London. Middlesex county. Ontario, dominion of Canada. His great-
grandfather. Jacoh Peck, was horn in 1770. 'and his grandfather. Washing-
ton Peck, was horn April 12. 1801. each in Massachusetts, and each removed
west near Toronto. Canada, about 1825. Washington Peck was a rover all
his life and had a large family, four daughters and three sons, namely:
Elizabeth Whifhn. of Barnia. Canada: Mary Ann Banghart, of Tucson, Ari-
zona: Emma (.olvin. of Los Angeles. California: Jane Keys, of Colorado;
David -\l)bott Peck, of Xorthlioro, Iowa : Egerton E. Peck, of Westboro,
Missouri, and Edmond G. Peck, a frontiersman of the west as early as 1849,
when but twelve years of age. Washington Peck and family made two over-
land trips with ox team across the ])lains, tirst in 1852 and again in 1857-
185c), returning via Panama, and at times resided in Canada. Wisconsin,
Alichigan. Illinois. Missouri, Arizona, LTah, California, and rounded up in
Centralia. ^^'ashington, where he spent his last twenty-five years, and from
Avhich he was sent to the Territorial Legislature about 1865. The whole
familv being coopers they all spent eighteen months at Salt Lake and made
tip for Brigham Young a large amount of what were known as wooden
bolts into barrels, tubs, buckets and other vessels, and made one of the strikes
of his life so far as money was concerned, in that then wild country where
such articles could not be procured.

Da\id A. Peck, the father of J. L. E. Peck, was born November 29,
1829, near Toronto, Canada, and grew up a cooper by trade, which he con-
tinued for some ^■ears. and then cut down and cleared up a heavily w^ooded
farm of one hundred acres near London. In 1862. with his family and the
subject of this sketch, he emigrated to Atchison count3\ Missouri, near Rock-
port. Later on. during the war. under a prevalent fear that the lands of
rebels would be confiscated in Missouri and that the titles would be bad, he
moved to Page county. Iowa, and bought a farm, then largely prairie, at
two dollars and fifty cents per acre, on which he resided thirty-five years, until
his death. December 8. 1897. and on which his youngest son. David Arthur

/J 6 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Peck, born November 27, 1872. still li\es and owns the old homestead.
David Peck spent much of his life as local preacher, establishing churches
and Sunday schools and doing other church work in northern Missouri and
Page county, Iowa. His \\ife was Eliza Jane Carey Peck, a cousin of the
poets, Alice and Phoebe Carey. Her mother was Beulah Foster Carey and
her father Francis King Care}', residing at Killworth. Canada. Benjamin
Foster, great-grandfather of J. L. E. Puck, was killed at the battle of Lundy's
Lane, fighting on the American side in the War of 1812. The great-grand-
father, Francis Carey, was three months on the ocean coming over from
Ireland and experienced a shipwreck, in which the passengers had to take
possession and manage the sailing vessel. He settled near Albany, New
York, and was a contractor on the stone work on the capitol building.

The family of David A. Peck consisted of J. L. E. Peck, the oldest;
Edward Washington Peck, of Pasadena, California; Robert E. Peck, hard-
ware merchant, and David Arthur Peck, each of Northboro, Iowa, and
Johanna Peck Mawhinney and ^linnie Peck Blanchard. sisters, each de-
ceased in 1902. A daughter, Ida, aged sixteen, died November 27, 1870.

The subject of this sketch attended the district schools until fourteen
years of age, then took a course of three years at the academy at College
Springs, Iowa. At seventeen he commenced teaching school in the rural
schools, and taught five years. This Ijeing the period of the growing up of
the early families, he had large schools of sixty or more. He then took a
course at the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, and graduated there
June 16, 1874. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He formed a
partnership at the law ^^•itl^ Eric P. Johnson, at Decorah, Iowa, and remained
there nearly three years. He arrived in Primghar June ly, 1877, and on
September i, 1877, formed a partnershi]) in law with Isaac AA'. Daggett,
which continued about one year. Later he had his office in the bank building
of lohn R. Pumphrey. On July 30, 1878, he met with an accident, breaking
his left limb, a compotmd fracture, which, on account of bad surgery, left
him lame for life. This left him in del)t nine hundred dollars. He got back
to work in 1879, just as the campaign for county offices was opening, and at
once took part in the agitations of the county and was elected for two terms
as county auditor, ser^'ing from 1880 to 1884. The main questions and
items during his two terms of office and in which he participated, were the
rebonding of the old county debt of two hundred thousand dollars, and re-
ducing the rate of interest on same from ten to se^'en per cent. It took
seventeen thousand signatures by himself as auditor to sign up those bonds
and coupons. He took part in the second trial year and subsecpient years in

\. K m

O ERIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 717

getting the county on a cash basis. He sold eleven of the sixteen sections
of school land and loaned the proceeds under the state laws. He took part,
as auditor, in the largest tax sale of about thirty thousand dollars ever held
in the county. Air. feck, as auditor, laid out and established eight hundred
miles of roadways, on section lines on the then prairies, it being done when
land was cheap, that nn damages would be asked for. As auditor he or-
ganized Dale, I'nion and Omega townships and named the latter.

On June 15, 1882, Air. Peck was married to Alice Wilkinson, of West-
boro, Missouri, and they commenced keeping house in Primghar June 24th.
Their immediate family consists of two daughters. Demia Eliza Peck, born
October 11. 1884. and Beulah Frances Peck, born February 8, f886. One
son, George David Peck, died when five months old. Alice Blanchard, born
July 7, 1895, the child of his sister Alinnie, has been raised in the family
since 1903, and is now a teacher in the rural schools of the county. Ralph
Carey Mawhinney. a son of his sister Johanna, was raised in part in the
family from twehe to seventeen years of age.

George Harmon Wilkinson, the father of Airs. J. L. E. Peck, was born
February 27. 1830, in Seneca county, New York, and died at \\'estboro,
Missouri, February 2, 1913, and with h^*? wife, Demia E. Wilkinson, resided
with his daughter in Primghar for ten years. The grandfather of Alice
Peck, John Wilkinson, was a Alethodist minister, born in 1794. Likewise
her great-grandfather, also a John Wilkinson, resided in Seneca county,
Xew York, the family later removing and settling near Tiffin, Seneca county,
Ohio, this great-grandfather being a soldier ii? the Revolutionary War on the
American side. A sister of Airs. Peck, Elmetta E. Wilkinson, resides with
her in Primghar. I-Yank B. Wilkinson, her brother, resides at Westboro,
AIis.souri. He was married to Alary E. Rerick. daughter of ex-County Re-
corder Isaac L. Rerick, of Primghar. They have three sons, George Kerick
Wilkinson, aged twelve years, Burdette hYank \\^ilkinson, aged ele^■en \cars.
and Everett Wilkinson, aged nine years.

J. L. E. Peck has been a member of the board of education twenty-four
of his thirty-seven years in Primghar. and president of same about fifteen
years of that time. He was referee in bankruptcy under appointment (^f
Hon. Oliver P. Shiraz. United States district judge of the northern district
of Iowa, from August. 1898. to September, 1903, and acted in niiK^ty-one
bankruptcy proceedings. He has been commissioner ^f insanity for thirty
of the thirty-seven years, and has acted in the commitment of about six hun-
dred persons to the several state hospitals. He was mayor of Primghar two
years, 1896- 1897. and a member of the town council nine years. He was

7l8 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

one of the ten men who signed the guaranty to the Ilhnois Central Railroad
to furnish twenty-two miles of right of way from Archer to the Cherokee
county line, and thirteen acres for depot grounds at Primghar. He has prac-
ticed law during all the years. He has participated in much of the court and
public records. In the early years he did mucli abstracting on each of the
six sets of abstracts of title in the county, and has examined hundreds of
abstracts for land purchasers in many states. He was cashier and manager
of the Primghar State Bank for four years, 1 886-1 890, and has been a stock-
holder and director in the Primghar Savings Bank since it started in 1894.
In brief, he has participated in scores of the sundry county afifairs as de-
tailed in this history.

In 1903, with his family. Air. Peck removed to Indianola,.Iowa, to give
his daughters the privileges of Simpson College. After their graduation
there he returned to Primghar in 1907. During his time there he was a
member of its city council, practiced law, and its mayor, B. F. Clayton,
being absent one year in Europe, Wr. Peck actetl in his place by appointment.
He has dealt much in land, and ha^ farmed much both in O'Brien and Dick-
inson counties, in this state, and for twelve years also in the Red River
valle\ ; in fact, since 1901 has farmed each year more than one thousand acres
in crops.

He was partner of David Algyer in 1894. and in the latter part of that
year was formed the law. loan and abstract firm of Peck, Artherholt &
Ingham, composed of himself, AA'^ade W. Artherholt and Clarence W. Ing-
ham. This continued until i8q8. He was later partner with Mr. Artherholt.
as Peck & Artherholt, after returning from Indianola. In 1891. with F. M.
McCormack ("Pomp"'), he wrote up tw^enty-four chapters of a histor\ of
O'Brien county, which were then published in the O'Brien County Bell, and
just now (1914) is one of the editors of this later history of the countv. His
full name is Tohn Licinius Everett Peck.

JOHN McCANDLESS.

A man's achievements generalh- depend upon his inherent ability to
seize hold upon opportunity and divert it to the channels in which he is
special!}- proficient. This proficiency of man is notably enhanced by the de-
velopment of the brain activity and a broadening of the faculties through edu-
cation. While man}' men have made splendid success without a college

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 719

education, it is noteworthy that a man is more able to grasp an opportunity
and turn its course to his immediate personal advantage if he has been
blessed with good mental training. This will enlarge his horizon and
temper liis impulses as nothing else will. The marked success which has
characterized the life work of John McCandless, of Sheldon, Iowa, is due
to his strong personality, wide and humane sympathy and understanding,
and to the fact that he has had the advantages of an excellent education.
Descended from a long line of intelligent forbears of Scotch ancestry, he
belongs to the best class of citizenship in his county.

John McCandless, the president of the Empire Loan and Trust Com-
pany, of Sheldon. Iowa, was born Alay ii. 1855, ^^ ^ farm in Allegheny
county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Philip and Margaret ( Stonecipher)
AlcCandless, were of Scotch ancestry, the first member of the family coming
to this countrv in 1808. The McCandless farm in Alleohenv countv. Penn-
syhania, has been in continuous possession of the family for four genera-
tions, the original dci^d to the land l)eing dated 1808. Philip McCandless
and wife, who are buried on the old homestead, reared three children to
lives of usefulness and honor: Margaret. George and John. Margaret is
the wife of A. C. McGill. a prominent and wealthy banker of Montezuma,
Iowa. George lixed in Pennsylvania on the home farm until his death in
1912.

John McCandless was reared to manhood in the county of his birth.
He finished the local schools and then entered Washington and JelTerson
College, from which institution he graduated with the degree of Bachelor
of Arts in the spring of 1877. After leaving college he went to Pitts-
burgh, wiiere he read law for two years, and then entered the University
of Michigan hu\ school. He completed his legal education in this ex-
cellent school and was at once admitted to the practice of his profession
in Michigan. Upon his return to his native state he was admitted to
practice in all the courts of that state, but left the state before he tried
to l)uil(l u]) a clientage.

The connection of Mr. McCandless with Iowa began in 1880. when he
came to Montezuma and started in to practice law, and at the same time
conduct a loan business. He continued to live in Montezuma until 1892,
when he located in Sheldon. Iowa, and became connected with the Empire
Loan and Investment Company. This company was organized in 1880 by
C. S. McLaurie. George W. Schee and Edward Brown, and during the
tliirty-four years of its career has negotiated many millions of farm loans
without a dollar's loss to its clients. This company is a unicjue organiza-

720 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

tiu.i in many ways. Its motto is "Steadfastness" and its business is ser-
N'ice. Under one management, conservative and efficient, there have been
grouped four departments and over each is placed an expert whose ser-
vices are for the use of the cHents of the company. The four depart-
ments of the company are as follows: Financial, real estate, legal and in-
surance. The financial department loans money on carefully selected farms
in northwestern Tnva, southeastern Minnesota and eastern Dakota, a fann-
ing district that has r.o equal in the world, buys mortgages and other paper
secured b}' real estate; pays the highest current rates on time deposits, which
are invested in first mortgages, and offers for sale at all times mortgages
from five hundred dollars and upward. The real estate department of the
company supervises tlie buying and selling of real estate; appraises real
and personal property ; cares for the rental and maintenance of property
owned by non-residents, and at all times has land for sale, in the territory
in which they are making loans. The legal department of the company
execute private and judicial trusts; acts as guardian, executor, receiver, trus-
tee and administrator; draws deeds, contracts, wills and other legal docu-
ments, gives legal advice and makes a specialty of examining abstracts and
perfecting titles. The fourth department of the company is insurance. They
are in a position to give all forms of insurance, farm, fire, tornado, auto-
mobile, liability and life insurance. They also sell bonds for all occupations.

This company was reorganized March i, 1914, with the following offi-
cers : John ]McCandless, president ; E. B. Starrett, vice-president ; C. O. But-
ton, treasurer; Edward C. Starrett, secretary. Mr. McCandless had been the
secretar}-treasurer of the company from 1892 until the time of his election
t(j the i)resi(lenc_\' of the compau} . His election is a tribute to the excel-
lent work he has done for the company during the twenty-two years he has
been connected with it. y\r. McCandless is 1ieavil\- interested in the Emjjire
Loan and Trust Companv and also ha^ large i)ri\ ate land holdings in Iowa and
adjoining states.

Mr. AlcCandless was married in 1884 to Kate L. Buchanan, of Washing-
ton, Pennsyhania. She is the daughter of Robert and Margaret Buchanan.
To Mr. and ]\Irs. ?^IcCandless have been born tluxe children : Robert B..
a l)'niker of Fu]t')n, Sotitli Dakota: ?^Iaroaret, the librarian of the , Shel-
don public library, and Bethana. Hie tamih- are co'!sis:;ent mtmbers of the
Congregational church and are greatl}' interested in church work.

The Re])ublican party has claimed the support of Mr. McCandless. but
the stress of business has been so heavy that he has never been active in
political affairs. However, he is deeply interested in good government and

o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 72I

leiuls his aid to all measures which will secure it. iM-atenially, he is a
member of the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. McCandless is a man of upright and moral character, active in re-
ligious circles and kindly disposed toward those less fortunate than himself.
He is a fine type of the American citizen who lives a full and complete life
and O'Brien county honors it?ell in placing him among the representative
men of his county.

WILLIAM BRIGGS.

That industry and sound judgment, combined with a wise economy,
both of time and monoy. are the surest contributing elements to success, is
exemplified in the life of William Briggs, president of the Primghar Savings
Bank. Success in this life naturally comes to the deserving, because of their
possession of the necessary attributes and the ability to succeed along a well
defined line of endea\or. A great number of the men of standing in every
community are self-made, having started at the bottom of the ladder and
worked upward. Such a man is William Briggs, of whom this brief review
is written.

Mr. Briggs was born October 25. i860, in England, the son of Stephen
and Sarah (Holmes) Briggs, who emigrated to Lyons, Clinton county,
Iowa, in 1861, while William was yet an infant. Stephen Briggs engaged in
N'arious occupations at Clinton and was for a period of years proprietor of
a ferry across the Mississippi river, between Lyons, Iowa, and Fulton, Illi-
nois, having built the new boat. "J- P- Gage." He prospered during his
active life and at the time of his death was president of the First National
Bank and Lyons Savings Bank of Lyons. Iowa. He died in Lyons in 1912.
He was the father of six children, as follows : Mary, who died in England ;
Albert, a resident of Illinois; Harry, also of Illinois; Arthur, a real estate
man at Lyons, Iowa ; Mrs. Robert Blake, who lives in Chicago, and William.

William Briggs received his education in the public and high schools
of Lyons. Iowa, and when still young entered the employ of the First
National Bank of Lyons. He was but a little over sixteen years of age
when he entered this bank and was afterwards promoted to the position
of teller. In 1896 he came to Primghar and became president of the
Primghar Savings Bank. He is engaged to a considerable extent in the
buying and selling of lands and controls a large acreage. He is a Republican
in politics and is enterprising and progressive.

yil O BRIEN AND (XSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

The Prinighar Savings Bank was organized November 15, 1894. by
William Briggs, John H. Archer, George W. Schee and others. The paid
up capital is $30,000, with a surplus of $10,000 and undivided profits of
$5,600. The deposits are in excess of $175,000. The bank owns its own
building, a handsome brick structure erected in 1894 at a cost of $8,000, and
has considerable real estate holdings, consisting of city property, lands, etc.
The present ofiicers are: \\ illiam Briggs, president; John H. Archer, of
Sheldon, Iowa, vice-president, and who is also vice-president of the First
National Bank of Sheldon, Iowa, and president of the Bank of Archer; L.
T. Aldinger, cashier; J. L. E. Peck, D. H. Smith, William Briggs, John
H. Archer and .L. T. Aldinger. directors. The correspondents of this
flourishing concern are the First National Bank of Sheldon, Iowa, and the
Corn Exchange National Bank of Chicago. It also keeps an account with
the Peoples' Trust and Savings Bank of Clinton. Iowa, and Sanborn Savings
Bank of Sanborn. Iowa.

OTTO HILLOCK MONTZHEIMER.

No profession offers greater opportunities fc:>r honorable and distin-
guished career than that of the law. Neither does any other profession
require greater preparation or more profound ability on the ])art of the ])er-
son who enters the legal profession as a means of attaining eminence and
emoluments of a high order. Few avenues forming the open sesame \o suc-
cess are closed to the able and gifted attorney ; he is. b)' \irtue of his knowl-
edge of the science of government and the niceties and intricacies of law. a
leader; because of his training, he becomes the adviser of business concerns
and is frequently the trusted and efficient coadjutor of those who do things
on a large scale. We place the lawyers in our high places and bestow upon
them qualified powers as administrators of government : we reward those
among this great fraternity who exhibit capabilities which fit then.i for places
of honor and distinction. This \olume would be incomplete were it not to
contain a resume of the life of Otto Hillock Montzheimer, a leader of the
bar in O'Brien county and an attorney of exceptional attainments.

Mr. Montzheimer was born February 16, 1867, in the to\^■n of Shar])s-
burg, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Julius Herman Montzheimer, a native
of Minden. kingdom of Prussia, Germany, and who was born IMarch 13, 1834.
J. H. was the son of Frederick Montzheimer, born in 1794. in Koenigsburg.
Prussia, and Emily Renschuch Montzheimer, a native of the city of Berlin,
where she was born in 1800. Julius emigrated to America in 1858, and on

<D->:^^'

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 723

Xovember 6, i860, was married to Isabelle Belle Hillock, a native of Michi-
gan. He is the father of the following children: Marie Powell, of Law^-
rence, Kansas; Frederick, who died in infancy; Otto H. ; Arthur, of Joliet,
Illinois, chief engineer of Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Company, and
James L., of Newport, Washington.

Julius H. Montzheimer enlisted August 16, 1861, as private secretary
to the renowned General Sigel, and was mustered into the service at St.
Louis, Alissouri, September 3, 1861. He became a member of Company K,
Seventeenth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry. On December 30, 1861,
he was commissioned second lieutenant, said commission to date from Sep-
tember 3d. He was promoted to a first lieutenancy of Company E, of the
Seventeenth Missouri X'olunteer Regiment. Xovember i. 1862. and acted as
secretary to General Sigel. who was then in command of a brigade. He was
appointed aide-de-camp on Sigel's staft' in December of 1861 : in May of
1862 he was assigned to the staff of General Osterhaus. He contracted
malarial fever in Helena. Arkansas. He participated in the following bat-
tles : Bentonville. Missouri, on March 2. 1862: Pea Ridge and numerous
skirmishes. He suffered injury through a fall from his horse near Rolla,
Missouri, Xo^'ember 19, 1861 ; received a flesh wound in the right thigh
from ambush June 2g. 1862. w^hile on the march frc^m Jacksonport to Helena;
was engaged in a skirmish at Salem. Missouri, while on a march to escort
General Sigel to Batesville. Arkansas, in May, 1862. He resigned on account
of disability and was discharged December 4. 1862. After retiring from
active engagements he resided for some time at Gallup. Xew Mexico, and
later at Burbank. California, where he died September 25. 1913.

Otto H. ^Montzheimer. with whom this narrative is directly concerned,
was educated in the public and high schools of Webster City. Iowa, and
graduated in June. 1885. He decided to take up the profession of law and
studied for one year in the law department of the State University at Iowa
City. In ]March, 1888. he was admitted to the practice of law and located in
Primghar May 22, 1888. Since coming to O'Brien county his rise has been
rapid, and he is rated as one of the most successful practitioners and men of
substance in the county and in western Iowa. His vocations are varied and
he handles considerable land and real estate on his own account. Mr.
Montzheimer is corporation attorney for the five railroads entering O'Brien
county, and his legal duties require his absence from home a great deal of
his time. His private law practice likewise requires his presence at frequent
intervals in the surrounding counties.

(47)

7^4 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Politically, Mr. Montzheimer is allied with the Republican part}' and.
Avhile he has never desired nor sought political preferment, he has rendered
substantial assistance to his friends who have had political ambitions. For
a number of years he has been a member of the board of insanity commis-
sioners and is vice-president of the First National Bank of Primghar. In
1909 he wrote and compiled, with the assistance of George W. Schee, a
"Biographical Data and Army Record of the Old Soldiers of O'Brien
County." This valuable work is found in the home of ever}- veteran in
O'Brien county and also in the homes of man_v of the citizens and is prized
very highly.

Mr. Montzheimer is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity,
being at present master of Rising Star Lodge of Masons at Primghar; for
twelve years past he has served as high priest of the local chapter of Roval
Arch Masons; is a Knight Templar, and a member of the Consistory, being
a Mason of the thirty-second degree. He is an influential member of the
Congregational church of his home city, and is a strong advocate of temper-
ance and good moral living, lending his influence in this direction at every
opportunity.

Mr. Montzheimer was wedded July 10, 1891, to Jennie Fenton, of
Webster City, Iowa, who is the daughter of Charles and Lyde A. Fenton,
residents of Webster City.

This review is intended as an appreciation of Mr. Montzheimer's ac-
complishments and, while deficient in a proper presentation of the manv
striking and capable qualities in which he excels, it may serve as an inspira-
tion and guidance for the young men of the present day who are seeking to
attain eminence in one of the learned professions. No man who has been
identified with the history of O'Brien county is more worthy of an honored
place in this work than he.

HARRY C. MAY.

Success is onlv achieved by the exercise of certain distinguishing traits
and it can not be retained without effort. It is often found that heredity
has an important bearing upon the destiny of the individual, but in the
main his success depends to a greater extent upon the cultivation of his
talents and upon the exercise of persistent and indefatigable industry toward
the attainment of a certain goal. Those who have succeeded in reaching
a place of prestige and have retained the esteem of their fellows have be-

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 7^5

gun earl}' in life the struggle for supremacy. Nowadays men usuall\- ob-
tain official position in their home community through being the known
possessors of ability, such as will commend them peculiarly to the successful
conduct of the duties to which they are assigned by the people. A man
of this class is Harry C. May, county treasurer of O'Brien county, who
is a pronounced example of self-made manhood and who enjoys the repu-
tation of being a conscientious, dignified and honest public official through-
out the length and breadth of the county.

Mr. Alay was born on a farm in Whiteside county, Illinois, January 22,
1858. His earl}- liome was located near the town of Como. His father
was Henry ]\Iay, a nati\e of Massachusetts, and his mother was Martha
Currier, born in Boston, Massachusetts, February 20, 1822, and died Sep-
tember 9, 1894. The May family in America originated with Capt. John
J. May. who came from the town of Mayfield, England, in 1640 and set-
tled in Boston, Massachusetts, with his two sons, John and Samuel. A
sister of John J. May became the wife of Gov. William Bradford. The
]\Ia}'s were thorough Puritans and were long prominently identified with
the Puritan colony. John May (11), the direct ancestor of Harry C. May,
born in 1628, became a freeman in 1660, was a prominent and strong figure
in the colonial life of Massachusetts and participated in the Boston Tea
Partv. John ]\lay (ni) was a selectman and a deacon of the Roxbury
church. Benjamin May (IV) was a plain farmer who lived on Jamaica
Plain. His tombstone still stands in the cemetery at the corner of Wash-
ington and Eustice streets. Benjamin's first wife Avas a daughter
of Stephen W^illiams. Lemuel ^Nlay (V) was a farmer of Ja-
maica Plain and occupied the greater part of the whole of the May
estate, which had been in the family for three generations. Benjamin May
( \'I ) was also a farmer. Henry (VII) was reared in Boston and was a
wheelwright who built and operated the stage coach "Osceola," which plied
from West Roxbury to Boston for a number of years. He was later a
"FortA-niner.'" made a trip to California and made some money in the gold
fields. He remained in the West for three years, and then emigrated with his
wife and family to Illinois and engaged in farming. He died February 12.
1889, having been ])orn October 19, 18 15. He w^as the father of three
children: Maiy Olds, of Rock Falls, Iowa; William, of Milford, Iowa, and
Harry C.

From John May, who came to America in 1640, have descended the
greater part of those who have born the name of May in New England and
carried it to all parts of the country. A book printed in England in 1694,

726 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

entitled "Worthies of Sussex, England," places the home of the May family
at Alavheld, a town in Sussex, and ascribes a Portuguese origin to the
Mays.

Harrv C. May was educated in the public schools at Como and pur-
sued a commercial course in Records & Bradford's Commercial College in
Boston. He came West after graduation and located in Sac county in
1880. His first crop was killed In- an early fall of snow, he having sixty
acres of land sown to flax, which was destro}'ed. He sold out and came
to O'Brien county and began clerking in a general store at Hartley. For
several years he was employed in stores at Hartley and Sanborn. He was
elected clerk of the district court in the fall of 1905 and served four years.
He was then employed as bookkeeper in the Primghar Savings Bank for
four years. In the fall of 191 2 he was elected county treasurer and took
up his official duties January i, 1913. He is the owner of three hundred and
twenty acres of good land in Minnesota.

Mr. May is politically allied with the Republican party. He is a mem-
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the encampment at San-
b(jrn. and is religiously associated with the Congregational church.

Mr. May has twice been married, his first marriage being with Ella
Brumley on Xoveml)er 22, 1887. She died on February 2/. 1890. His
second wife is ^Irs. Hattie Richards, wliom he married Xovember 2=,, 1894,
and who has two daughters by a former marriage. Ella and .\lta. ]\lr. Alay
is well liked, sociable, accommodating and a prime fa\'orite among his many
acciunintances and friends.

RALPH T. HINMAN.

Banking has ever been considered the most important of commercial
occupations. Xo institutions ha\'e contributed more to the development and
upbuilding of the western coiuitr\' than the banking concerns. The banks of
O'Brien county, without exception, are bulwarks of strength and stability,
and have been the mainstay and support of the municipalities and the country
roiuid about in important ways. The First Xational Bank, of which Mr.
Hinman is the official head, ranks high among the similar institutions in
the countv. To be head of such an important concern calls for exceptional
ability and attainments such as will command and carry the respect of as-
sociate banks and the patrons. The president of the First XFational Bank
of Primghar carries, easily and in a dignified manner, the responsibilities

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. ^ Z^

engendered through the important duties he has to perform. His abihty is
unquestioned ; he possesses a profound aptitude for the banking business, and
has achieved a pronounced success in his chosen field.

Ralph T. Hinman was born October 15, 1867. in Albion, Marshall
countv. Iowa, the son of John F. Hinman and Ellen A. (Foote) Hinman.
extended review^s of whom appear in this work. He was educated in the
common schools and, like his father before him. became a farmer. He
came to O'Brien county with his parents in the year of 1882 and resided
on the family farm in Baker township until the removal of the family
to Primghar, in 1893. Air. Hinman devoted ])art of a summer season
in the emplo}' of an implement concern in Sheldon. He was in the emplo}-
of T- S. Nye, of Primghar, for some time and then entered the employ
of George W. .Schee, who was engaged in banking and the land business.
He remained in Schee's employ until Mr. Schee sold out his holdings in the
Primghar State Bank, and upiMi the organization of the Primghar Savings
Bank he was employed ])\- tliis concern for a time. July 8, 1896, he fomied
a partnership with George R. Whitmer, for the purpose of conducting
a private ban.k known as the Farmers Bank. Mr. W^hitmer was president
and Mr. Hinman was the cashier. Some years later this bank was merged
into the Farmers National Bank, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars.
with Mr. Whitmer as president: W. A. Sanford as vice-president, and Mr.
Hinman as cashier. Mr. Whitmer eventually sold his interest to George
R. Slocum, after which the consolidation of the First National and the
Farmers National Banks took place. This was efifected December 5, 1904.
with R. T. Hinman as cashier: H. \\". Smith, president, and O. H. Alontz-
heimer. vice-president. In January, 1913. Mr. Hinman was elected presi-
dent of the concern. He is interested in considerable farm land and is the
owner of si.x hundred and forty acres in O'Brien county, with a half inter-
est in four hundred acres in Minnesota and also has lands in Oregon.

Mr. Hinman was married October 4, 1898, to Harriet Hill, daughter of
fraternally connected with the blue lodge. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
the chapter, commandery, and the Mystic Shriners. He is a frequent at-
tendant and a liberal supporter of the Congregational church.

Mr. Hinman was married October 4, 1898, to Harriet Hill, daughter of
Roland Hill, formerly of Alton, Iowa, but now a resident of South Dakota.
They have one child, Doris M., born July 15. j8qq. and now a student in
the Primghar high school.

The First National Bank, of which Mr. Hinman is the efficient presi-
dent, was practicall}- organized in 1889, the charter being issued November

728 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

I ith of that }'ear. Tlie first president was Frank H. Robinson ; vice-president,
Charles H. Slociim. The capital stock was $50,000. In the year 1913 the
bank's statement disclosed the following facts: Capital, $50,000; surplus,
$10,000: resources, including deposits, $300,000; undivided profits, $15,000.
The bank is the owner of its own quarters and the business is conducted in a
handsome, two-story brick building, erected in 1902 at a cost of $10,000. In
19 1 2 the interior was completely remodeled and new fixtures installed, with
a new and modem safe, large vault with safety deposit boxes, etc., at a cost
of $8,000. This bank is one of the best equipped for the transaction of busi-
ness in northwestern Iowa. Considerable real estate is held in fee simple
by the bank, consisting of lands, city lots, and buildings which have also been
charged off with the fixtures. This concern has connections with the First
National Bank of Cherokee, and the H. W. Smith and Ed Smith Bank, of
Morrison, Illinois. The present officers are: R. Hinman, president; Roy
King, cashier : O. H. Montzheimer. ^ice-president ; R. T. Hinman. O. H.
Montzheimer, W. H. San ford, of Cherokee, Roy King and H. W. Smith,
directors.

JAMES E. TO\A'NSEND.

An enumeration of those men of Osceola county, Iowa, who have won
honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have hon-
ored the localities to which they belong, will find James E. Townsend occu-
pying a conspicuous place in the list. The same qualities which have made
him one of the prominent and successful men of his county have also brought
him the esteem of his fellow men, while his career has been one of well-di-
rected energy and honorable methods. As a township official, as a county
official and as a city official he has ever striven for the best interests
of his fellow citizens, and in no way has he fallen short of that high sense of
duty which should actuate every good American citizen.

James E. Townsend, a resident of Osceola county for the past forty-two
years, was born on a farm in Michigan on February 14, 1843. His parents,
Eletham and Eliza (Tedman) Townsend, were nati\-es of New York and Con-
necticut, respecti\el}', l^oth families ])eing earlv settlers in Ncav York state.
Shortly after they were married, Eletham Townsend and his wife moved to
Michigan, reared their children in that state and lived there the remainder
of their days. They were the parents of nine children : Sherman, a resident
of Michigan; Judson, who lives in Spokane, Washington; Rufus, of Green-

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 729

wood, Wisconsin; James E., whose life history is here recorded and five
deceased.

James E. Townsend was educated in the schools of Michigan and lived
with his parents until twenty-three years of age. He then traveled for a few
years in the West for the purpose of seeing the country and incidentally
looked for an opening where he might settle. He married in 1871 and two
years later decided to permanently locate in Osceola county, Iowa. He
reached this county March 17, 1873, and located on section 8, Oilman town-
ship, and obtained government patent No. 9842. He erected a little, four-
teen by twenty-four-foot house and here he and his young wife started to
make their fortune upon the wide and trackless prairies which they had en-
tered. They managed to live through the grasshopper years, which were so
trying to every one in this section of the state, and within a few years were
on the high road to prosperity. In the eighties Mr. Townsend began to in-
crease his land holdings and subsequently owned four hundred and eighty
acres in Oilman township, which he still retains. It is not possible for the
farmer of today to realize the discouragements which met the early farmers
of this county, and for this reason the life history of these pioneer farmers
is interesting to the present generation. It is sufficient to say that Mr. Town-
send and his wife faced all of their discouragements with bra\-e hearts and
have lived to see the land which they entered become a prosperous farm,
yielding handsome returns. When the bank at Ashton, in Oilman township,
was organized Mr. Townsend took an active part and is now the vice-presi-
dent of that financial institution.

Mr. Townsend was married in October, 187 1, to Emma C. Jones, a na-
tive of Michigan and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Jones, and to this
marriage have been l)i)rn six children: Clara, a trained nurse of Ashton,
Iowa; E. B., who lives in South Dakota; Frank, who is living near Berk-
shire, New York; James, a tarmer of Oilman township, this county; Oeorge,
of Murdo, South Dakota, and Robert, who is now operating his father's farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Townsend have nine grandchildren, Ruth, Frances, Elizabeth,
John, Margaret, James III, Roberta, Richard and Helen.

Mr. Townsend has always taken an active part in Republican politics,
and has been honored by his party on several occasions by being elected to
township and county official positions. In his home township he lias ])een
justice of the peace, trustee and president of the school board. In 1891 he was
elected treasurer of Osceola county, and was subsequently re-elected, filling
that important office to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county.
After moving to Ashton he was elected mayor of that city in the spring of

y^O O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

1911 and administered the duties of that office in a way that marked him as
a man of abihty. In all of these positions he has exerted himself in favor of
the best measures and has been a determined foe of grafting of every sort,
and for this reason he is held in high esteem bv the citizens of the countv.
irrespective of their political affiliations. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being one of the oldest members of this
order in the county. Such is the historv^ of James E. Townsend, one of the
grand old men of Osceola county, a man who braved the dangers and hard-
ships of a new. country and who had the foresight to see the future possibili-
ties of this rich farming country. The brave and unselfish lives of such men
as he will lie' remembered long by their descendants, and for this reason their
careers are fittingly preser\-ed in this \-olume.

WILLIA.AI J. MILLER.

One of the best known and l(j\ed men of Osceola county was the late
William J. Miller, who died on July 17, 1914, at his home in Sibley, Iowa.
He was born on a ship bearing the United States flag while his parents were
coming from Ireland, their native land, to this country, his birth occurring
on November 7, 1844. He was reared to manhood in the state of New York
and received an excellent education in Potsdam, Xew York, graduating from
the Saint Lawrence 'Academy in that city. He entered the teaching pro-
fession in the state of New York and followed that profession in Xew York
until 1872. He then went west and located in Sibley. Iowa> where he lived
the remainder of his life. He taught in the .schools of Sibley for several
years and then served his count}- in various official capacities. He filled the
office of superintendent of the Osceola county schools for a number of years
in a very creditable manner. His next official position was that of clerk of
the county and he adnfinistered the duties of this office in an efficient and
painstaking manner, giving his fellow citizens honest and conscientious
service. For the past sixteen years he had officiated as justice of peace in
connection with his insurance business. After leaving the office of countv
clerk he engaged in the in-^urance business, and for twenty years was the
financial correspondent for the Connecticut Life Insurance Company for
the negotiation of farm loans. He had built up a large and lucrative business
for this company by his careful and conservative methods.

Mr. Miller was married to Frances H. Perrv in Potsdam, New York, in

j'l^ i^r^a:^ ifT/zfivat ^Br^jvy

14.11 €1 in

£xT-'

Tl'

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 73 1

August. 1868. The one child born to this union died when two years of age.
The only other relati\-e which Mr. Miller left in this countv is a brother,
J. O. Miller, of Sibley. Mr. Miller was a regular attendant of the Congrega-
tional church and always \-er\- much interested in its welfare. Fraternally, he
was a lo_\al memljer of the Ancient Free and Accepted Alasons, and the
Sible} lodge attended the funeral in a body and performed the Masonic
services at the grave.

The life of this e.xcellent citizen was singularly free from e\'ervthing
which miglit bring censure upon himself and that he was held in high esteem
by his fellow citizens is well shown by a glowing tribute paid his memorv
by the Flon. J. F. Glo\er. one of his closest friends. In view of the fact that
this summary of Mr. Miller's career was written by one of his most intimate
friends and a man who appreciated his worth it is here given in full as pub-
lished in the Sibley Gazette on July 23, 19 14:

"In the death of William J. Miller, pioneer of Osceola countv and Sib-
ley, the entire community received a distinct shock and suffered a distinct
loss. ]\Ir. Miller, as a homesteader, as a teacher, as a county official, as at all
times a prominent citizen, has left wide circles of friends to mourn his loss.
as well as his more immediate famih-. He was a man who made friends and
held them. As a youth he was desirous of an education. As a student he
was diligent; as a teacher he was faithful. While a teacher he was a student
as well, of wider range than the school room, thus graduating into the edu-
cated, intelligent man.

"By natiu'e he was quiet and unassuming. In all the relations of his
busy life he was helpful to his community. He enjoyed the religious and
social meetings of his church, which he always attended. He was interested
in agriculture, in horticulture, in the poultry yard ; interested in the cpiiet of
his home life, in the society of his faithful wife and family relatives and in
his books and papers. He was naturally conservative and not given to harsh
expressions in political or religious discussions. He was always better
pleased to ha^■e people meet on a reasonable plane of agreement than to have
people 'at the outs.'

"He belonged to the world's peacemakers. Himself a worker, he sym-
pathized with laborers : himself industrious and provident, he was a friend of
the man of means, as well as a friend to the man who toiled with his hands.
He was a man who preferred to consider the virtues of the individuals of the
community than to dwell upon the faults of the members of the public. In
his long service as a justice of peace, he was better pleased when men settled

732 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

their differences without acrimony and without Htigation. He was attentive
at trials and conscientious in his judgments.

"He was a man of purpose and a man of moral earnestness. Mr. Miller
loved nature as he loved men. For him the bright sun and the blue sky, the
fleecy clouds and the gentle rain, the growing trees and the wild flowers of
the prairie land of his pioneer days, all had an interest and all contributed to
his enjovment. He was provident, but hospitable ; reserved, but sympathetic ;
quiet, but thoughtful. He was interested in his home and in his home sur-
roundings. He was interested in school, churcli and public affairs. He was
one of the safe and sane men of his community. He had little sympathy
with men's difTerences, but enjoyed joining them in their harmonious rela-
tions. He was not of an aggressive disposition, but had tlie flrmness to do
the right as he saw it. While his life as farmer, teacher and official was of a
prosaic order, yet his nature was of the poetic character. He accepted condi-
tions of toil and privation in the rough, hard years of loss by grasshoppers,
but such conditions and small rewards of the pioneer and homesteader did
not blind him to the Ijeauties of the country, or shut his eyes to the brighter
vision of the country's future. And when better days dawned, his rejoicing
was as moderate as his fortitude was commendable before the better days

came.

"Loved and respected by all people of all pursuits, by all parties and all
creeds, bv young as well as by old, it will be many years before the loving
personalitv of William J Miller shall be forgotten. As he has gone over to
I'oin those who have gone before, so others shall follow him into that beauti-
ful land where the briditer visions shall all ha\"e their full realization."

JOHN ALDINGER.

John Aldinger, who in his time was one of tlie leading and influential
flo-ures of O'Brien count)', was born September 24, 1836, in Fairfield, state
of Xew York, the son of John Michael Aldinger, a native of Germany. John
was married to Sarah Evans, of Xew York state, March 8, i860. In March,
1879, thev came to O'Brien county and purchased a quarter section of land,
graduallv added to his holdings and became a large landowner as before
stated. He dealt extensively in land. They moved to Primghar in 1900. Mrs.
Aldinger is the owner of a half section of land in the county.

Air. Aldinger was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 733

and was a member of the Christian church, becoming affihated with this de-
nomination at Storm Lake, Iowa, where the family resided for five years
previous to locating in O'Brien county, having come west from New York
in 1874.

Sarah E\'ans Aldinger was Ijorn December 22, 1839, in Frankfort, Her-
kimer county. New York, and is the daughter of John and Ann (Townsley)
Evans, natives of England. They lived and died in New York. Mr. and Mrs.
Aldinger reared the following children: Ernest, born Januarv 17, 1861, is
a resident of Primghar, but of late has made his home in California; he is the
father of two children, Hattie and Pearl ; James, l)orn March 3, 1866, in New
York, has charge of the family estate; Lester T., born January 22, 1869;
Frederick, born December 21, 1873, resides at Lansing, Michigan, and has
one child, John; Mrs. Edith ^IcDonald, born June 6, 1880, and resides at
Arion, Iowa. Mr. Aldinger was Republican in politics.

FRANK L. HERRICK.

Among the business men of Primghar, O'Brien county, Iowa, who have
lived in the county for the past fort>" years and helped to place it in the
front ranks of the counties of Iowa, is Frank L. Herrick, the leading ab-
stracter of the county seat of O'Brien county. He was born February 27,
1859, in Watertown, New York, and is the son of Frederick and Malvina
L. (Priest) Herrick.

Frederick Herrick and his family came from New York to Jackson
county, Iowa, in 1859 and later located on a farm near Durant, Cedar
county, where they lived until 1874. Previous to that year the oldest son
of the family, Augustus F., had come to O'Brien county and homesteaded
one hundred and sixty acres in section 12, in Carroll township. Here the
family lived until the mother died, November 27, 1879. The father later
remarried and settled in Des Moines, where he died in 1902. Frederick
Herrick and wife were the parents of four children: Augustus F., who
died October 25, 1877; Cornelia A., who died April 25, 1885; Homer L.,
and Frank L.. whose history is here sketched.

Frank L. Herrick came with his parents from New York to Iowa when
he was about one year of age and lived in Jackson and Cedar counties
until he was fifteen years of age. His elementary education was received
in the Cedar county district schools. Upon coming to O'Brien county with

734 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

his parents in 1874. he immediately began to work npon the farm. He
farmed nntil 1887. when he moved to Primghar and purchased a half in-
terest in a merchandise estabHshment in that town. Later he worked for
four years in an abstract office, and in 1894 he was elected county recorder
of O'Brien count}- on the Republican ticket and served two terms to the
entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county, and at the expiration of his
term of office, in 1899, he entered the abstract business and has continued
at this work up to the present tin.ie. He has a complete set of abstract books
and is well qualified to do e\er)-thing which comes within his line.

Mr. Herrick has been twice married, his first marrias'e beings IMarch
19, 1881, to Jennie C. Richardson, who died Jul}- 4. 1894. leaving four
children: Maud L.. born March 9, 1882. died March i. 1907: James M.,
born A\m\ 2y. 1884: Alabel L., born April 2j. 1887, died December 24.
1912. and Chester A. James M. lives at Butte, Montana, and is an em-
ployee of the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Mr. Herrick was
married a second time on August 19. 1909, to Jennie King, the daughter of
\A*illiam King and wife, of Primghar.

Mr. Herrick has been identified with the Republican party since reach-
ing his majority and has been honored by his party by being elected countv
recorder. He is active in the councils of his party and his advice has been
frequently asked by its leaders. Fraternally, he is a member of the Inde-
]:)endent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Brotherhood of America. He
and his wife are loyal members of the Congregational church and contribute
of their means to its support. Mr. Herrick is a wide-awake business man
and has gained the confidence of his fellow citizens because of his upright-
ness and honesty in all of his transactions. He is a man of plain and unassum-
ing demeanor and easih- wins friends.

LESTER T. ALDINGER.

Banking is a business and profession which calls for talent of a high
order. To succeed in this oldest of commercial pursuits requires a high
degree of intelligence, a great measure of personal integrity, a modicum of
absolute honesty, and a broad sense of citizenship, which enables one to
capably judge human nature, and at the same time retain the confidence and
respect of those with whom he is thrown in contact in the course of the
conduct of his business. Lester T. Aldinger is a true type of the broad-

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 735

minded citizen and banking official who has acheived a standing in af-
fairs through his own etTorts, beginning in a small way.

Mr. Aldinger was born January 2, 1869, i" Oneida county. New York.
His father was John Aldinger, who was born in September, 1836, and died
in January, 1911. He migrated to O'Brien count)' in 1878, looked over
the territory, returned home and then permanently located in Liberty town-
ship in 1879. His initial ])urchase consisted of three cjuarter sections. He
increased his Ik tidings and eventually liecame a large land o^vner. Being one
of those far-seeing men, who lias faith in the ultimate development of the
country, he speculated in lands to a considerable extent and handled hun-
dreds and e\en thousands of acres. At one time he was the sole owner of
over one thousand acres of rich O'Brien county land. On account of fail-
ing health he disposed of the greater part of his holdings during the latter
years of his life. At the time of his death he owned three hundred and
twenty acres. He rcmo^■ed to Primghar in the fall of 1900 and here ended
his days. He took an acti\e part in politics and was allied with the Re-
publican party. He was a leading member of the Christian church. His
wife, Sarah Evans, bore him the following children: Ernest E., of Prim-
ghar; James, a resident of Primghar; Lester T.: Frederick C, of Lansing,
^lichigan, and Airs. Edith McDowell, of Primghar.

Lester T. Aldinger was educated in the district schools and the graded
schools of Sutherland. He also pursued a commercial course at Shenandoah,
Ljwa. His younger days were spent in farming until 1896, when he pur-
chased the grain elevator at Sutherland, Iowa, which he operated until
January 1, 1900, when he remo\ ed to Primgjiar. Li the fall of 189c) he
was elected to the important office of county treasurer on the Republican
ticket and served for two consecuti\-e terms. After the close of his term
of office, in 1904. he devoted some time to his personal affairs, and was
again elected to fill the county treasurer's office in the fall of 1908, and
serx'ed for iwo terms or until January i, 1912. At the expiration of his (offi-
cial duties he became cashier of the Primghar Savings Bank. Mr. Aldinger
is the owner of four hundred acres of the finest of O'Brien county land.

Air. Aldinger is affiliated with the Methodist church and is a member
of the Brotherhood of American \>omen. He was married in 1903 to
Belle Hill, a daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Hill, of O'Brien county, and who
has borne him two children, Bernard, a graduate of the Primghar high
school, and Harold, a student.

Mr. Aldinger is one of these exceptional, likeable characters, whose
known integrity and uprightness makes for the best citizenship and serves

736 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

as an example for others to follow. He enjoys the distinction of being
the only county official who was re-elected to the same office after retiring
for a period of five years.

ISAAC L. RERIGK.

Among the highly respected citizens of Primghar, O'Brien county, Iowa,
is Isaac L. Rerick, assistant doorkeeper of the Iowa State Senate. He is a
native of the Hoosier state, having been born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana,
May 4, 1834. the son of Henry and Julia Ann (Lamb) Rerick. His mother
died when he was eight years of age, and his father in 1878. Henrv Rerick
was a native of New York, and one of the pioneers of Tippecanoe countv.
Indiana. In 1835, when Isaac L. was about a year old, his father moved to
St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he lived until his death. The father of
Henrv Rerick was in the War of 1812, and died in that struegle. Henrv

'&&'

Rerick was twice married and bv the first marriae'e there were six children :

fc>"

John H. : Rebecca; Isaac L., whose history is recorded here; Hannah; Elisa-
beth and Hamilton. Several children were also born to the second marriae^e.

Isaac L. Rerick was reared in Indiana and there received his education.
When he was twenty-one years of age he came to Iowa and spent two months
in Delaware county, after which he located in Jones county. He worked
there until February, 1856, being employed by an old Indiana acquaintance,
as a wood chopper. In February, 1856, he returned to Delaware county and
worked on a farm with another young man. Then the two young men
bought eighty acres of prairie land and twenty acres of timber. They fenced
forty acres of the land with a rail fence and sold his first crop for ninety
dollars. Isaac L. then went to Boone county, Iowa, where he worked for a
time at fifteen dollars a month.

Isaac L. Rerick was married in 1857 to Samantha Clark, of Boone
county, Iowa, the daughter of Louis Clark, a merchant of Sweedspoint. Mr.
Clark is now ninety-three years of age. ^Ir. Rerick enlisted September 28,
1 86 1, in Company E, Fourteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and
served three years and three months in the southwestern part of the United
States. Fie was in the battles of Fort Henry. Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth
and was under fire for fourteen days between Vicksburg and Meridian.
Mississippi. He was on the Red River expedition and other skirmishes in the

O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. '] ^X^J

Si)Utl]\\est. He was wounded in his neck and laid for six months in a hos-
pital, as the result o\ the battle at Pleasant Hill. He then went home on a
furlough, but reported for duty at Keokuk, Iowa, in October, 1864, and was
immediately sent to St. Louis. He was transferred to a company which was
assigned to duty in Missouri and fought at Ironton in that state. At Ironton
he served as quartermaster under General Ewing and saw very severe fight-
ing. After this battle his regiment moved to Rolla. Missouri, and later was
discharged at Davenport, Iowa, December 11, 1864.

After the war, Mr. Rerick returned to Jasper county, Iowa, where he
lived until the sjM-ing of 1871. He then homesteaded on the western half of
the northwest quarter of section 28, in Liberty township, and passed through
all the troubles incident to the grasshopper plague in the latter seventies. In
1 87 1 it only rained once during the whole year and succeeding seasons were
either exceptionally dry or exceptionally wet, but, nevertheless, he stuck to it
and came out all right in the end. In 1878 he and his family left the farm
and moved to Primghar. where he obtained the contract for carrying the mail
twice each ^^■eek. between Cherokee, Primghar and Spencer. He carried the.
mail for the next three years, and then in 1881 engaged in the lumber busi-
ness with one thousand dollars worth of stock. The winter and spring of
1882 will never be forgotten by those who lived in the county at that time.
Fuel and provisions were hard to get and, in fact, many people left the count}'
in order to keep from star\ation. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Rerick engaged in
the real estate business and until 1898 lived in Paullina, following the ups
and downs of a real estate agent. In 1888 he was elected recorder of O'Brien
count}' and moved to Primghar; was re-elected and served until 1892, since
which time he has handled insurance and real estate in this county.

^Ir. Rerick is a member of Jordan Post, Grand Army of Republic, and
is now^ vice-commander of the post, having previously served as commander.
He IS a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in his politi-
cal faith adheres to the old Republican party. He has been assistant door-
keeper of the Iowa Senate for the past four years. Mr. and Mrs. Rerick have
se\'en children: Henry, of Primghar; Manford, of Washington state; Mrs.
Ida Belle Bunce, of Calumet, Iowa; Mrs. Matie Wilkins, of Westboro, Mis-
souri ; Dora, a deaconess in Sioux City, Iowa ; Mrs. Bertha Yeager, of Wall
Lake, Iowa, and Ross C, of Sioux City. Mr. Rerick has the honor of being
one of the two survivors who helped locate the county seat of O'Brien county
at Primghar, in 1872; a history of this is found in another part of this work,
and furnishes one of the thrilling chapters in O'Brien county history.

738 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

ALBERT ROMEY.

Every country of Europe lias contributed some of its best and warmest
blood to the \arious states of our Union, but no country has sent here more
independent, self-rehant and hberty-loving people than has Germany. Every
branch of industry has felt the invigorating impulse of these people, and has
responded with a firmer and more enduring progress. Strong and vigorous
sons of the Fatherland, influential in every line of American activity, to
them our country is largel}- indebted for the almost phenomenal prosperity
which it now enjoys. Many of the first settlers of Osceola county, bnva,
w'ere born in Germany, and among these there is no one who is more worthy
of representation in this volume than Albert Romey, who has li\-ed for the
past forty-three years in this county.

Albert Romey, a distinguished veteran of the Ci\"il \\'ar, was l^orn
April 12, 1844, in Dantzig, Prussia, Germany. His parents. Frederick and
Louisa (Adams) Romey, spent all their lives in the land of their birth with
tlie exce])tion of six years which h^rederick spent in America. He was a
cabinet-maker in his own country and was in the United States imm i8:;r)
to 1862, when he returned to Germany, where he li\ed the remainder of his
days. One daughter, Mrs. Alary Otto, had pre\'iously come to this country
and settled in DeKalb county, Illinois, and it was to visit her that Frederick
Romev and his son. Albert, came to this country.

Albert Romev was onlv twelve years of age when he came to the United
States, and when fourteen years of age had hired out to work for a doctor in
DeKalb county, Illinois. In the same year, howe\'er, he came to Fayette
countv. Iowa, where he worked on a farm until the opening of the Civil
War. Although but a mere youth of seventeen and a resident of this coun-
try but five years, he was seized with the same patriotic zeal which caused
the millions of native-born sons to flock to the standard of their country.
He enlisted in the spring of 1861, immediately after Lincoln's first call, in
Company F, Third Regiment Iowa \^)lunteer Infantry, and ser\ed for four
vears and four months. His regiment was first stationed in Missouri, and
while in that state he participated in engagements at Monroe Blue Mills, on
the Missouri river. Hickory Woods and Mexico. He was then sent to St.
Louis to embark on gunboats which were sent down the Mississippi ri\er, up
the Ohio and down the Tennessee to Fort Henry. He was in the sieges of
Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Island No. 10, Fort Pillow and Memphis.
From Memphis he w^ent to Vicksburg and w^as in all of the fighting up to the

ALBERT ROMEY

■t

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 739

surrender of that stronghold on July 4, 1863. He was then sent up the
Yazoo river with their gunboat "Corandelett." which fought with the rebel
ram "Arkansas." P>om here he went again to Island Xo. 10. in the Missis-
sippi, where his regiment was stationed to pre\'ent General Price from re-
taking the island. From N'icksburg his regiment was sent to Meridian, Missis-
sippi, later returned and went to assist General Banks upon the Red River
expedition and went up the river toward Shreveport. Louisiana, and was
detached and assigned to duty with the First Missouri Artillery. His next
engagements were the battles of Yellow Bayou. De Glase and Cross Roads.
For twelve days he was in continuous action and on horseback all the time.
After the Red River expedition was concluded he returned to Vicksburg and
from thence was sent to ^Memphis ; here he returned to his original regiment
and was sent to Georgia, where he followed Sherman on his memorable
march to the sea. He was finally mustered out at Louisville. Kentucky, at
the close of the war. having been a participant in engagements in eight dif-
ferent states and passed through hardships which would try the nerve of
the strongest heart. During his entire service he lived out in the open, his
command having lost their tents at the battle of Shiloh in the spring of
1862. He was wounded on two different occasions. l)ut fortunately not
seriously at either time. At Yellow Bayou, in Louisiana, he was wounded
by a piece of shell w hile on a gunboat and later was wounded on the l^ack by
a sabre cut while a rebel cavalry were charging the battery.

Immediately after the close of his long service at the front Mr. Romev
returned to Fayette county, Iowa, where he farmed for a year. In 1866 he
was married to Lucy Carpenter, and the following year they went to Ne-
braska looking for a place to locate. However, the Indians were giving
trouble in that state and they returned to Iowa and li\'ed in Fayette county
until 1871. At this time Osceola county was being opened for settlement,
and in that year they went to the latter county and homesteaded five miles
southeast of Sibley, on the northwest quarter section of township 98, range
41, and here they li\'ed until 1880. at which time they mo^•ed to Sible}-, where
Mr. Romey engaged in the grocery business, and he has been engaged in that
business continuousl}- since that time, a period of more than thirty-three years.
He still owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Dickinson count v,
about nine miles from Spirit Lake.

Since coming to this cinint}' ]\Ir. Romey has been in office practically
continuously. He was postmaster at Sibley from 1897 to 1906. He has
been countv supervisor of Osceola countv for two terms and while lining in
(48)

740 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

the county was township clerk and a member of the school board for several
years. He has also been assessor of Sibley since becoming a resident of the
city. He has always taken an acti\'e part in Republican politics and has been
one of the leaders of his party in the county for more than forty years. He
is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Sibley, and has been
a quartermaster since its organization. He and his famih' are loyal mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and render to it their earnest support
at all times.

Mr. Romey and his wife ha^•e reared ti\e children, all of whom are still
living: E. A., a hotel proprietor of Dante, South Dakota: George A., cash-
ier of the bank at Melvin. Iowa ; Mrs. Lucile Ruth Velin. whose husband is
a farmer of this county: Mrs. Abbie Wilburn, of Sibley, Iowa; Mrs. Bessie
Wilson, who is railroad agent at Elko, Nevada.

And this is the history of a sixteen-year-old German lad who came to
this country without any knowledge whatever of its language, customs or
institutions and yet by his own indomitable energy and pluck has made a
name for himself in this great republic. Fortunate, indeed, is the countv
which receives such emigrants, and Osceola county is to be congratulated
that Albert Romey decided to make his permanent home within its borders.
He has been devoted to his adopted countr}-, and has always taken an active
interest in exerything which he felt would benefit his communit}- in any way.
No man stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens in this county today
than does 'Sir. Romey, and when the work which he has done is taken into
consideration it can be truthfully said that he is one of Osceola county's
representative men.

GEORGE F. PHINNEY.

Among the many substantial farmers and stock buyers of O'Brien
countv. Iowa, who are now li\'ing lives of ease and comfort, there is no one
who is more deserving of honorable mention in this volume than George E.
Phinnev. Erom the Buckeye state he has come to make his home in this
garden spot of the world, and since coming here has been classed among the
most industrious and prosperous farmers of his locality. He comes from an
honorable and distinguished ancestry, his forefathers being prominent people
in the history of Massachusetts.

George E. Phinney, the son of William Wirt and Cecilia (Clemens)
Phinnev, was born in Ohio in iS66. William W. Phinnev is the son of Caleb

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 74I

and Rebecca (Hunter) Phinney, Ijotli of whom were ])orn in Massachusetts
in the years 1805 and 1804, respectively.

Caleb Phinney was a farmer in Massachusetts and a man of great ability.
He was a selectman in Massachusetts from 1847 i^^ntil 1850, and ser\'ed in the
state Legislature from the Boston district in 185J. He died about 1882 in
the state where he had lived a long and useful life. Caleb Phinney and wife
were the parents of six children. Mary. John. William \\'irt. Elizabeth and
twins. Edwin and Edward. Mary became the wife of H. K. Whitten, an at-
torney of Chicago. She was a graduate of Mt. Holyoke Seminary and a
woman of great refinement and culture. She and her husband are both de-
ceased; John married and moved from ^Massachusetts to Kansas, where his
death occurred; Elizabeth died in infancy, while Edwin and Edward, twins,
are both married and li\ing in Springfield, Massachusetts.

William Wirt Phinney, father of the immediate subject of this review,
received a good education in the schools of his native state, and when twevity-
one years of age began working for himself. He was engaged in business in
the South for a few 3^ears and then went to Michigan and engaged in the
lumber business, which line he followed for two years, after which he went
to Ohio, where he recei\'ed an appointment to a position in the State Reform
School, and here he remained for several years. From Ohio he came to
O'Brien county, Iowa, at the time that the town of Sutherland began to boom.
He had made a trip to this county the year before and purchased three hun-
dred and twenty acres of land, and on coming here the second time he settled
on the farm and remained there for three years. Later he purchased eighty
acres of improved land and kept the four hundred acres for several years be-
fore he disposed of it. William W. Phinney was married in 1852 to Cecilia
Clemens, of Montrose. Pennsylvania, who was born in that state in 1838. To
this union were born fi\'e children: Nettie, who died in infancy; William,
who died at the age of forty years, dying suddenly on his way to Chicago :
Bert, who is engaged in business in Sutherland, this county; George F., re-
tired, and Bernard, of Superior, Wisconsin.

George F. Phinney received a good, common school education in the
schools of Ohio and came to this county with his parents when he was sixteen
}'ears of age. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty-one by
renting land in this county. In 1892 he purchased an eighty-acre farm and
three years later added another eighty acres. To this tract of one hundred
and sixty acres he added a third eighty in 1905. so that he now has two hun-
dred and forty acres of highly improved land in O'Brien county. He has put
fifteen thousand dollars' worth of improvements on this land and it is now

742 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

worth several times the amount ^^•hich he originally paid for it. He lived on
this farm until 1910, when he rented it for a year and then disposed of it.
buying twenty acres of city lots in Sutherland. He has improved his town
property and now owns three valuable residences in the city of Sutherland.
For the past four years he has been engaged in the buying and selling of li\e
stock and has been meeting with success in this line of business.

Mr. Phinney was married in 1890 to Carrie Bickerton, of Clay county.
Iowa, who was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1871, and to this union have been
born two children, Frank and Marion, both of whom are now attending schoijl.
Politically, Mr. Phinney is a stanch Republican, but has never felt that
he could spare the time from his agricultural duties to engage in politics.
However, since moving to Sutherland he lias taken an added interest in po-
litical affairs, and is an active supporter of all measures which he feels will
benefit his home town in an\- wa\'. He and his family are loyal members of
the Methodist Episcopal church, of Sutherland, and contriljute liberallv of
their means to its sui)p()rt. Fraternally, he is a member of the Inde])endent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Air.
Phinney is a man of pleasing personality and good business qualities and is
recognized as a representative citizen of liis town and county.

ED CASTER.

Among- the men of the younger generation in Osceola count}' who are
taking- their part in the life of the communit}- is Ed Caster, the present
postmaster of Ashton. Although he has been a resident of the county only
about twenty years, yet such has been his life since coming to this county
that he has become recognized as an influential citizen of his town and com-
munit}-. He is guided by correct principles of conduct, and witli the
business ability which he has shown since becoming a resident of Ashton,
it is safe to conclude that in the years to come he will be numbered among
the prosperous men. of his home town.

Ed Caster, the son of F. \\\ and Susan (Ratzlaff) Caster, was born in
Pierce, Nebraska, April 30, 1885. His father was born in Wisconsin in
1850, while his mother was a native of Cermany, her birth occurring in
1855. F. W. Caster anrl wife were married in Nebraska and later moved
to Yankton, South Dakota, \vhere he followed his trade as a l)rick and
stone mason. From Yankton the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 743

the\- li\ed five years. In 1895 t^''*-")' iii"\fd to Ashton, where they are
now h\ing. They are the parents of se\-en children, all of whom are living
in Ashton: Hem"}-. Louise, Ed (whose history is here presented), Frank.
Mrs. Anna Adkins, Will and Alice.

Ed Gaster was educated in the schools of Sioux City and Ashton, coming
to the latter city with his parents when he was ten years of age. After
leaving the school room he commenced to work in a general mercantile
establishment in Ashton and clerked there for twelve years. In 1910 he
was appointed postmaster of Ashton and has been filling that position since
that time. In addition to serving as postmaster lie also conducts a novelty
and confectionerx' store, and has his full share of the trade in his par-
ticular line of l)usiness. Two rural routes are served from Ashton and
make dailv trips through the surrounding country.

Air. Gaster is a Republican in politics and has always been interested
in the affairs of his party. He is a wide reader of current events and
keeps well informed on the main issues of the day. He is a member of
the German Lutheran church and is a liberal supporter of that denomina-
tion. He is still unmarrietl and lives with his parents. Mr. Gaster is a
young man on the tlu-eshold of life, and his career so far justifies the pre-
dictions of his many friends that he will eventually become one of the
substantial men of his community. He lives a clean and wholesome life
and is faithful to every duty which has been thrust upon him, and for this
reason he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who have been associated
with him in any capacity.

JAMES JOHNSON BILLINGSLY.

The life of the scholarly or professional man seldom exhibits any of
those incidents that seize upon public feeling and attract attention to himself.
His character is generally made up of the aggregate qualities and qualifica-
tions he may possess, as these may be elicited by the exercise of the duties
of his vocation or the particular profession to which he belongs. But when
such a man has so impressed his individuality upon his fellowmen as to gain
their confidence, and through that confidence rises to high and
important public trust, he at once becomes a conspicuous figure in the
bodv politic of the community and state. James Johnson Billingsly, the effi-
cient and popular superintendent of the O'Brien county schools, is one of the
scholarlv men of northwestern Iowa who, not content to hide his talents

744 O BRIEX AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

amid life's sequestered ways, has b}- the force of an indomitable will and a
landable ambition, forged to the front in an exacting and responsible calling
and earned an honorable reputation as the head of one of the most important
branches of public service.

James Johnson Billingsly. the present county superintendent of O'Brien
county, was Ijorn May 3. 1859, in the western part of Pennsylvania. His
parents were Robert and Jane (Gillilahd) Billingsly. Robert Billingslv was
l)orn in the northern part of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish, Protestant, Cah'inistic
Presbyterian ancestry. The Gilliland family traces its ancestry back to colo-
nial times. Robert Billingsly and family left Pennsylvania and settled in
Michigan, where the parents li\ed the remainder of their lives.

James J. Billingsly was educated in the rural schools of southern Alich-
igan and at the Ccjldwater high school, then entered Valparaiso University,
at X^alparaiso. Indiana, and graduated from that institution with the degree
of Bachelor of Science. At the earh' age of nineteen he began teaching and
taught for se\'eral years in the district schools of southern ^lichigan. In
[884, at the age of twenty-hve years, he came to Iowa and taught two years in
the eastern part of the state. I'ollowing this he was [jrincipal of the Onslow
(I')wa) school for three years, principal of the Monmoutli I Jackson count})
school for one year, superintendent at Wyoming, in Jones county, for two
years, and in the fall of 1892 came to Primghar as superintendent of the cit}-
schools. He continued in this capacity from 1892 until 1898; in the latter
)'ear he was superintendent of the Sanborn schools and was retained in that
capacity for the following six years. He then spent two years out of the
school room and in 1906 took charge of the Paullina school for two years.
In 1908 he \\as elected county superintendent of schools of O'Brien
county and was re-elected in the fall of 191 2.

Since takino- charge of the schools of O'Brien countv, Professor Bill-
ingslv has brought them to a high state of efficienc^'. He has one hundred
and thirty rural schools and six city schools under his charge. The county has
two hundred and se\'en teachers : during his administration he has had their
salaries increased and the general standard of education in the county greatly
improved. He has had several new buildings erected, and has installed forty
modern heating and ventilating plants in various parts of the county. At the
present time five of the broadest young people of O'Brien county are taking
the extension course at Ames, in order to retm"n to the county and do Ijetter
work in the scIk^oI room. At the last of the year there were twenty teachers
of the county who were attending the summer schools at various universities
and colleges in the state.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 745

Professor Billingsly is a Republican in politics and, l)eing a man of wide
reading" and close observer of men. be is naturally well posted in all tbese
political questions of tbe day. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient
Free and Accepted ^Masons and the Mystic Shrine. While he has devoted all
of his time to his school interests, he has made some careful investments in
land and now owns eighty acres in O'Brien county and one hundred and
twentv acres in Grant county, Alinnesota. Since coming to this county, Mr.
Billingslv has identified himself with tbe community life and has taken an
important part in all of tbe various measures of tbe social, intellectual and
moral life of Primgbar and the surrounding comnmnity. He has proven liim-
self equal to anv emergency in which be has been placed, and to every posi-
tion in wbicli honored, and as a ripe scholar and gentleman of cultivated
taste and high ideals. 1ie fills a large place in tbe public view. For this rea-
son lie enjovs tbe esteem and C(Mifidence of all with wliom be comes in contact.

HEXRY RERiCK.

Henry Rerick. a prominent abstracter and Inisiness man of O'Brien,
county, was born in Boc^ne county, Iowa, August 8. 1858. and is tbe son of
Isaac L. Rerick, whose history is presented elsewhere in this work. Mr.
Rerick was educated in tbe public schools of O'Brien county, and remained
on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age. th^n went into tbe al)-
stract business in Primgbar and was engaged in the abstract and banking
business for the next eight }ears. He came to Primgbar December 25, 1878,.
having lived on tbe homestead with his father's family tbe eight years pre-
\ious in tbe southern part of O'Brien county. He drove tbe stage frequently-
for his father, while the latter was employed as mail carrier between Cherokee
and Primgbar.

Mr. Rerick was elected treasurer of O'Brien county in tbe fall of 1889,
taking tbe office January i, 1890. He served his county well and faithfully
for the ne.xt six vears in this capacity, and upon bis retirement from the office
oi county treasurer he organized an abstract and loan business, under the
firm name of Boyer Abstract Company.

Mr. Rerick is a Progressive Republican in bis political belief, while re-

ligiouslv he is affiliated with the Congregational church. He was married

_ [May 10. 1882. to Clara, tbe daughter of Thomas G. Stewart, a pioneer settler

who came to this county in 1876. ]\Ir. and [\Irs. Rerick are tbe parents of

746 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

three children: Mrs. HalHe C. Rosencrans. of Primghar: Kenneth H., \vli<>
is associated with his father in the al^stract business, and Dana, who is still
under the parental roof.

As an abstracter, Mr. Rerick has been remarkably successful and \vd>
made few mistakes in his career and he enjoys a reputation far bevond the
limits of this county. To be successful in this line of endeavor, much de-
pends upon sound judgment, knowledge of law, probate, real estate and court,
as to what can affect title. Mr. Rerick has written an enormous amount of
records, systematically showing every transfer affecting real estate in the
county, indexed both ways as to the propert}' and in tlie name of the owner.

HOX. WILLIAM DAYTON BOIES.

Iowa has always been distinguished for the high rank of her bench and
bar. Perhaps none of the newer states can justly boast of abler jurists or
attorneys. JMany of them have been men of national fame, and among those
whose lives have been passed on a quieter plane there is scarcely a town or
city in the state but can boast of one or more lawyers capable of crossing
swords in forensic combat with many of the' distinguished legal lights of the
country. While the growth and de\elopment of the state in the last forty
years has been most marvelous, viewed from any standpoint, yet of no class
of her citizenship has she greater reason for just pride than in her judges
and attorneys. In Judge William Dayton Boies are found many of the rare
qualities which go to make the successful lawyer and jurist. He possesses,
perhaps, few of those brilliant, dazzling, meteoric qualities which ha^•e some-
times flashed along the legal horizon, riveting the gaze and blinding the
vision for the moment, then disappearing, leaving little or no trace behind ;
but rather has those solid and substantial qualities which shine with a con-
stant luster, shedding light in the dark places with steadiness and continuity.

William D. Boies, judge of the twenty-first judicial district of Iowa,
comprising the counties of O'Brien, Osceola, Sioux. Lyon, Plymouth and
Cherokee, was born on Januar)- 3, 1857. in Boone county. Illinois. According
to tradition apparenth^ reliable, the Boies family is descended from old
French Hueuenot stock of northern France, where the familv was substan-
tial and influential. The founder of the Boies progeny in America was a
native of Ireland, whither his ancestors had gone to escape religious perse-,
cution in their native land. The first record of the American branch is

■ »^^"«;*r/Si--->:r J£r^ /K'

-1

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COL'NTIES, IOWA. 747

found in Massachusetts^, where a direct ancestor of Judge Boies settled in
1700. It is likewise recorded that both the paternal and the maternal grand-
parents of W. D. Boies fought in the Revolution in behalf of the American
colonies.

The father of Judge Boies was William Dayton Boies, Sr., a native of
Erie county. New ^'ork. His mother was Sarah C. ( Bugbee ) Boies, also of
New York state. William D. was the son of F.ber Boies, a resident of New
York and whose ^^ife was a Miss Henshaw. The mother of Sarah C.
Bugbee was a descendant of the Love joys.

In the year 1845 William D. Boies. Sr., migrated to Boone county.
Illinois, and settled on a government homestead with his familv. Here he
lived the life of a pioneer and his children were born. In 1873 he removed
to Buchanan county. Iowa, and ])urchased a farm. Tlie remainder of his
days were spent in P.uchanan county, dying in 1905. He was the father of
the following children: Eugene M., deceased; Horace L., a fanner in Bu-
chanan county; Inez M. Hoyt. deceased in 1887. formerly of Svcamore.
Illinois; Charles E.. a farmer and stockman of Independence, Iowa; Alice,
who died at the age of two years, and William D.

Judge Boies received his education in the pul)lic schools near his Illinois
home and in the Belvidere high school. He entered tlie State ITniversitv at
Iowa City and graduated in the lav\' department in 1880. He began the
practice of his profession in Sanborn. O'Brien county, where he remained
until 1887, gradually building up a wider acquaintance throughout the terri-
tory until such time as he deemed it advisable to remove to a larger city. In
1887 he removed his office and place of residence to Sheldon and has built
up a splendid law practice. He was successful from the beginning of his
career in the county and, previous to accepting the appointment as district
judge, had the largest clientele of an\- attorney in O'Brien county and is one
of the most widely and favorabl}' known attorney's in western Iowa.

Judge Boies received his appointment as district judge on January i,
19 1 3, having been appointed by Governor Carroll. Judge Boies' term will
expire January i, 191 5. At the June primary. 1914, (nonpartisan) he was
nominated as his own successor for four years more. He has not been un-
mindful of his duties as a citizen while attending to his extensive law prac-
tice, and it is worthy of record that he served for ten years as a member of
the vSheldon citv school board. Like many other successful men of this sec-
tion, he had an abiding faith in the inevitable rise of land values, and nat-
urallv invested in a considerable acreage. At the present time his land pos-
sessions include fine farms of eight hundred and eighty acres near Sheldon.

-48 o'brIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. KJVVA.

all of which, excepting three hundred and twent}' acres in Sioux county, hes
in O'Brien. He has one thousand one hundred and twenty acres of farm
lands in eastern Scnith Dakota.

Judge Boies is afliliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
being a member of the lodge, chapter, commandery and the consistory, as
well as the Mystic Shriners. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at LeMars, Iowa.

Judge Boies' wedded life began on Xovember 24, 1881, at which time
he married Lillian E. Biddinger, of Buchanan county, daughter of James
Biddinger. who came to Iowa from Ohio. They have two children, Leon
Louis and Russell Lowell.

In active practice. Judge Boies has an unimpeachable record of thirty-
two years in O'Brien county previous to his ascendency to the bench. Dur-
ing this time he was one of the most successful attorneys before the bar of
w'estern Iowa. In his present exalted position his career has l:)een all that
his pre\-ious record promised. His (|ualifications for the office of judge are
unquestionable. First of all. he has the integrity of character, and then he
possesses the natural ability and essential rec[uirements. the acumen of judi-
cial temperament. He is dignified, just, and unassailal)le in his private capac-
ity and in his judicial prestige. He is able to divest himself of prejudice or
favoritism and consider only the legal aspects of the (juestion submitted.
No labor is too great, however onerous : no application too exacting, how-
ever severe, if necessary to the complete understanding and correct deter-
mination of a cjuesticn. These are, indeed, words of high praise, but these
encomiums are justified in txery particular, for the Judge has proven himself
a distinct man in all the term implies, and its implication is wide. His
career on the bench and at the bar offers a noble example and an inspira-
tion, while he has never been known to fail in that strict courtesy and regard
for professional ethics which should ever cliaracterize the memliers of the bar.
his career reflecting credit upon the judiciary and dignifynig the profession
to which he belongs.

Personallv, Judge Boies is genial and easily approached, possessing to a
marked degree those cjualities which v,'in friends and make him a pleasing
companion. He has always stood ready to identify himself with his fellow
citizens in any good work and extend a co-operative hand to advance any
measure that is calculated to better the condition of things in the community.
The ludge has a w^ell-selected library of over two thousand volumes,
equal to any in this part of the state and a private librar) of over five hun-
dred volumes.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 749

FRANK SHKRMAX HOUGH. M. D.

Among those who stand as (hstinguished types of the wurld's workers
is Dr. Frank Sherman Hough, who is one of the able and hontjred physicians
and surgeons of northwestern Iowa. A man of hne intellectual and profes-
sional attainments, of UKjst gracious personalit}', of strong and noble char-
acter, and one who has labored with zeal and de\"otion in the alleviation of
human sutTering, he is clearly entitled to representatitju among the progres-
sive and enterprising citizens of Osceola count}-. He is devoted to his chosen
\'ocation and has lent honor and dignit}' to the medical profession, having due
regard for the highest standard of professional ethics and exhibiting marked
skill in the treatment of disease.

Dr. iM-ank S. Hough, the proprietor of the Sibley Hospital, was born in
Lexington, Kentucky, December 22. 1864. He is the son of George W. and
Candace C. (Bates) Hough, both of whom were natives of Alichigan. When
Doctor Hough was born his father was living in Lexington, Kentuck\-, tem-
porarily for his health. George W. Hough, a native of Michigan, was the
son of Simon and Abigail ( Revnolds ) Hough. Simon Houo-h was of Eno-
lish descent and mo\ed t(j Michigan from Xew York state. Abisfail Rev-
nolds had several brothers in the Revolution. She was orisfinallv of Enolish
descent and settled in Connecticut upon coming from their native land. Both
the Hough and Bates families were among the earliest pioneers in the state
of Michigan. Candace C. Bates, the mother of Doctor Hough, was the
daughter of \ix. and ^Irs. George Bates, the father being a first cousin of
Abraham Lincoln.

George \\\ Hottgh enlisted in 1861 in the Seventeenth Regiment Michi-
gan V'olunteer Lifantrv, and at a time when it must have taken a oreat deal
of courage to lea\e home. At the time he enlisted he was a senior in the
State Normal School and the young girl to whom he was to be married was
a member of the same class and, in fact, the}" were engaged to be married
before he went to the front. He served one year and then contracted rheuma-
tism which so disabled him that h.e was honoral)ly discharged from the serv-
ice on account of this disabilit\'. Immediatelv after returning from the ser\--
ice. he and Candace Bates were married and they went south for his health.
Later he became a member of the Hough, Patton & Company, brush manu-
facturing concern in Detroit, l)ecoming a prominent factor in the business and
social life of the cit^'. When onlv twenty-eight }-ears of age he was presi-
d.ent of the Detroit common council and acting mayor. He served as register

750 O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

of deeds of Greene couiitv, Michioan, was a member of the State Leo-jsla-
ture and a man who was rated at a hundred thousand dollars. He is now
living a retired life in California at the age of seventy-five. George \\'.
Hough and wife were the parents of seven children, the Doctor being the
oldest one of the family. The other children are as follows : Mrs. E. H.
Cooper, of Los Angeles, California: Mrs. Wilcox, deceased, whose husband
was a minister; George S., who lost his life in a fire in Detroit, while a mem-
ber of the Detroit fire department: Fred R., chief electrician at Ann Arbor
University. Michigan: Henry P.. a prominent electrical engineer of Detroit,
and one child, deceased.

Dr. h^rank S. Hough was educated in the Detroit high school, the Michi-
igan Alilitary Academy at Orchard Lake, the Michigan Agricultural College
at Lansing, State Normal School at Ypsilanti, ^Michigan, and graduated at the
Michigan College of Medicine and Surgery at Detroit with a degree of Doc-
tor of ^Medicine in 1890. at the age of twenty-five.

After graduating from the medical college in 1890 Doctor Hough had
been engaged in newspaper work as a reporter upon the Detroit Evening
Nezvs and the Sunday Journal at Toledo, Ohio, as well as other papers' in the
Aliddle ^^'est. Immediately after graduating he began to practice medicine in
Detroit and for the next seven years followed his profession in that city. At
the same time he was on the teaching faculty of his alma mater as instructor
in chemistry for two years and later as a professor of materia medica. He
was also an assistant in surgery to I3r. Hal C. Wyman. a famous surgeon
who was on the staft' of physicians connected with the college. Li 1897 Doc-
tor Hough came to Sible}- and has l^een practicing here since August loth of
that }-ear. He has been remarkably successful as a surgeon and physician and
has -already made a name for himself throughout this section of the state.
Realizing tlie need of a modern up-to-date hospital in his home town, he es-
tablished a hospital in the eastern part of the city in 191 1 and has accommo-
dations for fifteen patients, cares for an average of six patients daily, with
a total of over two hundred cases treated annually. Three nurses are kept in
constant attendance at the hospital and such is tlie demand for such an in-
stitution that he intends to enlarge its capacity. It is needless to say that it
has been a great aid to Sibley and the surrounding country.

Doctor Hough was married in 1889 to Clara Randall, of Blenheim, On-
tario, the daughter of ]\Ir. and Mrs. Hiram Randall. To this union have
been born five sons: Randall S.. a student of the University of Wisconsin:
AA'yman George, a student of the University of Iowa: Frank S., Jr., a student
in the Sibley high school, and Howell H. and Elliott ^^'arren, who are in the

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 75 I

grade schools of Sibley. Doctor Hough and wife are justly proud of their
fine sons, whom they are giving the advantage of every opportunity in order
to prepare them for useful careers.

Doctor Hough is a member of the Osceola County, Sioux Valley, Iowa
State and American medical associations and takes an active interest in the
affairs of these various organizations. At the present time he is the president
of the Osceola County Medical Society. He is a member of the Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons and has attained to the Knight Templar degree in that
fraternity. He is also a member of various fraternal insurance societies. He
and his family are loyal adherents of the Congregational church and con-
tribute liberally of their substance to its support. The career of such a man
as Doctor Hough is interesting in view of the fact that he is the means of
doing so much good in the world. When he saw that Sibley needed a hos-
pital he felt confident that the people of the city and community would pat-
ronize one if it was fairly modern. His foresight has been amply justified
and he has not only been of incalculable benefit to the community, but he has
also been financiallv successful.

JOHN STREIT.

The Prussians hax'e always been known as people of courage and tact ;
they refuse to be downed by ontoward circumstances, but push onward when
once a course has been determined upon until the coveted goal is reached.
Innumerable instances of rare gifts in these lines might be mentioned, one of
the best known in history occurring in the wars with Napoleon. Once he
thought lie had utterly crushed them, but a few days later they were routing
his army at the great battle of Waterloo, joining the English at tlie proper
crisis. Such people win in all walks of life, for they have not Ijeen trained to
fail, or at least to admit their defeat if they do not succeed. Thus we are not
surprised that one of their number, John Streit, should come to so favored a
county as Oilman township, Osceola county, Iowa, and become well es-
tablished.

John Streit, pioneer settler of Osceola county, Iowa, and one of the
heroes of the "grasshopper war," was 1:)orn January zj, 1844. in Prussia,
and is the son of ^lichael and Lena ( Straut ) Streit. His parents came to
this country when he was thirteen years of age and first settled in Kenosha
county, Wisconsin. In 1873 they came to Osceola county, Iowa, and home-

75^ O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Steaded on section 4, in Oilman township, where they lived for several vears,
then mo\ed to Ashton. where their deaths occnrred in 1900. Michael Streit
served the three years in the Prussian arm}- which is required of all German
citizens before he came to this country, and to him and his wife were born
five children : Airs. Anna Singen, a widow now li\ing in Ashton, this county ;
John, whose history is here presented; Mrs. Katie Shent, of Minnesota; Mrs.
Eva Boor, of AshtOn, and Andrew, a grain dealer of Ashton.

John Streit received his elementary education in the schools of his na-
tive land and when twenty-seven years of age left the paternal home in Ke-
nosha county, Wisconsin, and homesteaded on section 4, in the northeastern
part of Oilman township, in Osceola count}-, Iowa. He erected a small house
and he and Xick Boor broke up thirty acres of this raw prairie land in the
spring of 1S71, and planted their first crop. The}' had plenty of work to do
from the beginning in the count}-, using all of his spare time in breaking land
for his neighbors. In fact, for the first two years most of his revenue was
derived from his services to his neighbors in the capacity of a plowman. He
was one of a very few of these early settlers who raised a good crop during
the grasshop]jer years and saved it from the ra\-ages of those voracious insects.
He prospered as a farmer in this county and gradually added to his original
land holdings until he had three hundred and fifty acres in Oilman and Hol-
man townships. In 1903 he retired from acti\e farm life and moved to Ash-
ton, where he is now living a retired life, surrounded by the comforts and
conveniences of modern society.

Air. Streit was married August 28, 1876, to Mary Becker, of Minnesota,
the daughter of Air. and Mrs. F'erdinand Becker. Airs. Streit had come to
Minnesota with her l)rothers, having been born in Prussia December 8, 1853.
Air. and Airs. Streit are the parents of seven children : Helena, who is still
at home; Michael, who is li\-ing on the old homestead; Airs. Anna Wabrich,
of this count}-, who is tlie mother of two children, Regina and Oregaon ; Nich-
olas, of Alarshall, Alinnesota; Oeorge, on tlie home farm, and Alary and Otto,
who are still at home with their parents in Ashton.

Politically, Air. Streit is a stanch Democrat, but has never felt inclined
to take an active part in political afl^airs. However, he has always been inter-
ested in the civic welfare of his community and has never refused to give his
support to such measures as he felt would benefit the community. He was a
young man at the opening of the Civil War and tried to enlist in the Union
army in W^isconsin, but was refused on account of an injured wrist. Relig-
iously, he and the members of his family are earnest and faithful members
of the Catholic churcli. and give to it their earnest and zealous support at all

O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 753

times. He has been a director of the Farmers' Co-operative Insurance Com-
panv, of Osceola county, for the past se\-enteen years, and takes an actixe in-
terest in this association. His career since coming to this country has l)een
all that could be desired, and his life in this county has been as an open book,
wherein his neighbors might see the record of his daily life. He has always
so conducted himself that he has merited the esteem of all who know him.
and t(jr this reason is eminenll}- entitled to representation in this volume.

CLARENCE H. ROVCE.

The name of Clarence H. Roxce. the cashier of the Sible}' State Bank, in
Osceola countv, is well known to the readers of this volume and needs no
special comment on tlie ])art of the historian. The purpose of these historical
sketches is to present a compact biography of the lives of the representative
men of tlie county, rather than to engage in any fulsome laudation. Suf-
fice it to sav that in the sixteen years that Mr. Royce has lived in this county,
he has won a large and permanent place in business circle>^. and in the bank-
ing l)usiness, to which liis energies have been dex'oted. lie has gained more
than local reputation. Xot only has he made his mark as a business man, Imt
as a citizen he has ])roved ])ublic spirited and energetic and fully in sympathy
with the progressive ideas of the age.

Clarence H. Royce was born July i8, 1873, in Oconto. Wisconsin. He
recei\-e(l a good educatiim in the schools of his home town and in 1898 came
to Osceola county and organized a bank at Harris. He continued in full
charge of this bank for the next eight years, when he disposed of it and then
spent some time in the West. He returned to Sibley in May, 19 10, and pur-
chased an interest in the Sililey State Bank, becoming the cashier of the bank
at that time. He has made his home for the past four years in Sibley and
he and his wife and four children are prominent members of the society of
the city.

The Sibley State Bank was organized Xoveml^er i, 1894, by Frank Y.
Locke, of St. Paul. Minnesota. The present officers are as follows: Presi-
dent. F. E. Kennedy: vice-president, A. W. McCallum : cashier, Clarence H.
Royce: assistant cashier, L. D. Garberson. The directors are: George F.
Sokol, F. E. Kennedy. C. H. Royce, A. \\'. McCallum and A. C. W^interfield.
The bank now has a capital stock of thirty-five thousand dollars and is fast
Ixiilding up a reputation as one of the sound financial institutions of this sec-

754 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA.

tion of the state. Its excellent corps of officials have instilled confidence into
the city and community, with the result that the bank has a large and ever-
increasing list of patrons.

JOHN A. JOHNSON.

Opportunity knocks once at every man's door, speaking figuratively,
though oftentimes it is repulsed or mistaken fur the reverse ; he who has the
acumen and the foresight to grasp it at the psychological moment is certain of
assured success. It takes many men of many minds to make up a stable and
enterprising community : it requires many enterprising communities to make
a great state. The hard\- ])ioneers who created a wealth}- and prosperous
county out of the raw prairie in O'Brien county are deserving of praise and
success for their efforts in behalf of the common good. It is not gi^•en to
many citizens of this county to have been born amidst the first great period
of the county's history and to have lived amid its greater development period.
Such men have had opportunities and many ha\'e impro\ed them. John A.
Johnson is one of the fev\- men wht) were born in O'Brien county and have
been reared to manhood within the confines of their nati^•e county. Oppor-
tunity was naturally within his grasp; he seized it and made good and is
now one of the best known and most enterprising citizens of this rich and
fertile portion of the commonwealth. John A. Johnson enjoys the distinc-
tion of being the oldest nati\e-born resident of O'Brien county.

Mr. Johnson was born on a farm in Highland township April i6, 1873,
and is the son of William W. Johnson, one of the prominent pioneer figures
in O'Brien count}-. His niuther was Louisa Jacobs. \\\ \\\ Johnson was
born in 1844 in England, the son of George and Hannah Johnson, who
emigrated from England to .\merica in 1845 and settled in Xew York state.
The Johnson family migrated to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1855. eleven years
after their first emigration from the land of their fathers. Georee lohnson
was born August 8, i8i8. His wife, !Mary \\'ilson, was born Ma}- 5, 1820.

W. A\'. Johnson enlisted in the Union service at Iowa Cit\- August 9.
1862, joining Companv .\, Twenty-second A'olunteer Infantry, which was a
component ]>art of the Second Division. Eourth .\rmy Corps. He was pro-
moted to eighth corporal llarch i. 1863. and promoted to seventh corporal
May 15. 1863. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg. and on May 22,

S^y H ^"^- ^''''f!"^s SSfr //]^

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 755

7863, received a se\ere gunshot wound in the left shoulder. He was dis-
charged at X'ermillion. Louisiana, Octoher 19, 1863.

Mr. Johnson was married Xo\-ember 19, t868, to Louisa Jacobs, who
was born Xoveniber 13, 1847, in Johnson count}, Iowa, the daughter of
John Jacobs, a pioneer settler of Johnson county, and a nati\e of Berne,
Switzerland. The wife of John Jacobs was a Miss Fankhauser, whose place
of birth was in Ohio.

In March, 1871, W. W. Johnson removed to O'Brien county with his
family and homesteaded on one hundred and sixty acres of land in section
20, of Highland township. He resided on this farm until 1880, when he
removed to Primghar and engaged in the lumber business for one year. In
the following year he went to Paullina and there operated a lumber yard
until 1889. He then returned to Cedar county and invested in a farm near
Cedar Bluffs, which he purchased for forty dollars an acre and sold three
years later for fifty dollars an acre. In 1892 he returned to O'Brien county
and made his home in Sanborn. He engaged in the lumber business here
and also became connected with the First National Bank of Sanborn, which
he conducted until 1899, when the Sanborn Savings Bank was organized to
succeed it. He at that time disposed of his lumber business and has since
been engaged in the buying and selling of farm lands in O'Brien county and
Minnesota. At present he is the owner of one thousand three hundred
acres of land in Stevens county, Minnesota, which he manages and to which
he gives his direct supervision for six months of every year.

W. W. Johnson has been affiliated with the Republican party and
served the county as a member of the board of super\-isors from 1876 to
1878 and again in 1894, serving until 1899, inclusive. He is fraternally
allied with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of
Kenyon Post, No. 339, at Sanborn. While a member of the county board of
supervisors he took an active and influential part in rehabilitating the countv
finances, and cast his vote for the measure which made the countv war-
rants worth par instead of fifty cents on the dollar. He is the father of the
following children: Mayme. deceased; John A.; Charles A., in railroad
construction work at Tama City ; Frank, a railroad man employed on the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad out of Sanborn ; Mrs. Hannah
Jenkins, of Milford, Iowa.

John A. Johnson was educated in the common schools of his native
county, the Paullina high school and the Cedar Rapids Business College.
(49)

756 o'bRIEX AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

graduating from the latter institution in 1892. He became engaged with his
father in business and has been connected with the Sanborn Savings Bank
since 1899, having served in the capacity of cashier since 1911. He is hke-
wise a director of the bank and is heavily interested in Minnesota farm
lands, holding three hundred and twenty acres of land in the bordering state
and being the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of fine O'Brien county
land.

Politically, John A. Johnson is a Republican, and has served as town-
ship clerk and city treasurer. He is treasurer of several local lodges in
which he holds acti\'e memberships. He is affiliated with the various Ma-
sonic bodies and is a member of the Mystic Shriners at Sioux Citv, being a
Scottish Rite Mason of the thirty-second degree; he is also a meml^er of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Brother-
hood of American Yeoman.

John A. John.son was married May 24, 1899, to Edna C. Green and is
the father of two children, William Valorus, born in May, 1900. and Glenn
Green, born in May, 1903.

Mrs. Edna C. (Green) Johnson is the daughter of William Clark
Green, one of the famous pioneer characters of O'Brien county. He was
born in 1842 on a farm in Indiana, the son of McAllen Green, who migrated
to Illinois and thence to Iowa in 1869. Father and son settled in Waterman
township at this ver}- early day, when there were very few settlers in the
county. W. C. Green was married in Dixon, Illinois, to Malvenah Kidder,
a daughter of Adoniram and Lydia A. (Powell) Kidder, natives of New
Hampshire. Malvenah was born in New Hampshire in 1847. The Kidder
family moved to Illinois in 1858. This marriage occurred in 1869. They
immediately set out for Iowa, coming by rail as far as Cherokee and then
driving overland to Waterman township. This pioneer couple enjoyed life
in the early days to the fullest extent, there being plenty of timber for fuel
along Waterman creek and the woods and prairie abounding in game of all
kinds. Life was good to them until the ''grasshopper days," when they were
forced to endure several bad years. Mr. Green conducted a general store in
Old O'Brien town until 1874. when he removed to the new county seat of.
Primghar with his stock of goods. In 1881 he engaged in the mercantile
business at Sanborn, where he resided until his death, in May, 1911. He left
a considerable estate at his demise, and during his later years he was success-
fully engaged in land speculation and real estate. He was a Democrat in
politics and served as one of the first sheriffs of the county. He was an Odd
Fellow.

O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 757

\V. C. Green was the father of three children: NelHe, deceased; Mrs.
Edna Johnson, and Airs. Lulu Anderson, a resident of Mitchell, South Da-
kota, and who is the mother of one child, Carl. Mrs. Green resides with her
son-in-law, Mr. Johnson.

Two famous pioneer families of a famous county have thus been linked
together b\' the best of bonds. It is as it should be — the children will, in
turn, become useful members of the body politic, and this memoir will serve
as a valued souvenir of the days when their forbears were among the first
comers to this fair and fruitful land and took such an important part in its
development and emergence from the chrysalis state.

WILLIAM JAMES EDWARD THATCHER.

A lawyer by profession and for a number of years the efficient clerk of
the district court of O'Brien county, William James Edward Thatcher has
made his presence felt in this county, and as a public-spirited citizen, inter-
ested in whatever tends to promote the material progress of the community
and the social and moral advancement of his fellow men, his influence has
been salutary and his example worthy of imitation. Although still a young
man in vears, he has already assumed heavy responsibility and has proven
himself equal to every emergency which has been thrust upon him. He is
essentiallv a self-made man, teaching to earn his way through college and
being from his earliest boyhood a youth of ambition and determination.

William James Edward Thatcher, the present clerk of the district court
of the county of O'Brien, was born ]\Iay 8, 1882, in Spencer, Iowa. His
parents were Wiley Washburn and Mary (Kelly) Thatcher. Wiley W.
Thatcher was a decorator by trade and was born in Peoria, Illinois. After
his marriage he came to Iowa and located in Spencer about 1880. He is now
engaged in the furniture business at Hartley.

William J. E. Thatcher is the only child of his parents and went with
them from Spencer to Hartley in 1884. Shortly afterward they moved to
Sanborn, where they remained two years, then returned to Hartley, where they
are still living. He was educated in the Hartley high school and studied one
year in the University of South Dakota and one year in the Commercial Col-
lege. While he was attending school he taught in this county in order to pay
his expenses in college, spending three years as a teacher in the public schools
of the rounty. While teaching he began the study of law under Mr. Conn, of

758 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Hartley. In 1906 he was appointed deputy clerk under H. C. May and two
years later was elected to the important office of clerk of the district courts.
Such was his excellent service in this office that he was re-elected and is now
serving his third term, a fact which testifies to his efficiency in office as well
as his popularity throughout the county. He was admitted to the bar in Oc-
tober, 19 12. but, owing to the fact that he is still serving as clerk, he has not
yet entered the active practice of his profession.

Politically, Mr. Thatcher is a Republican and ver}^ naturally has taken
an important part in the interests of his party. He is a member of the An-
cient Free and Accepted Masons and also of the Order of the Eastern Star,
r^lr. Thatcher was married in August, 1908, to Hilma Johnson, daughter of
August Johnson, and to this union has been born one son, Sherwood Yale,
born January 23, 1912. Mr. Thatcher's straightforward methods have given
him the confidence and good will of the people of the county and he is in
every way deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all classes. He
keeps well abreast of the times, being a wide reader and a clear thinker. He
is now in the prime of his life and many years of usefulness are still before
him.

ORLANDO B. HARDING.

A retired farmer of Sibley, Iowa, who has been identified with the his-
tor}'' of Osceola county for more than forty years is Orlando B. Harding. He
is one of the men who came to this county when it was a trackless prairie and
by ability and industry won a success through his farming operations. He
has not only contributed to the material advancement of his county, but dur-
ing the course of an honorable career he has been an influential factor in bet-
tering the moral, social and intellectual welfare of his community.

Orlando B. Harding was born in Pennsylvania September 20, 1847, and
is the son of Curtis and Elizabeth (Sands) Harding. Curtis Harding was
born and reared in Pennsylvania of English parentage and in 1868 came to
central Wisconsin from the state of Pennsylvania, where he lived until his
death. Curtis Harding was twice married, and by his first marriage had six
children, while to the second marriage nine children were born. Five of the
children b}^ his second wife finally settled in Iowa.

Orlando B. Harding was a son of the second marriage of his father and
was reared and educated in the schools of Pennsylvania. In the spring of

ORLANDO B. HARDING

TILDf

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 759

1868 he was married and he and his young wife came with his father and the
remainder of the family to Wisconsin, where Orlando and his wife settled in
the central part of the state and lived there until 1873. He then moved to
Osceola county, Iowa, and settled on section 2, town.ship 98, range 41. Here
thev lived for twenty-seven years and reared their family to majority. They
passed through all the experiences incident to the "grasshopper" period and
although there were many times when things looked very gloomy, they re-
mained with the farm and made a success of it. In 1900 the father and
mother moved to Sioux City, where they lived until 1907, when they moved
to Sihlev, where they are now living. Mr. Harding still owns three hundred
and twent}- acres of fine land in Osceola county, having sold two hundred and
iortv acres in 191 1 at a good price.

Orlando B. Harding was married May 17, 1868, to Emily Moyer, the
daughter i^i Mr. and Mrs. Philip Moyer, of Pennsylvania. To this marriage
have been horn be\en children : E. L.. who is on the father's farm in Osceola
county; O. M.. who is li\'ing in Idaho on a ranch; Mrs. Almira Barkhuff, of
South Dakota; W. L.. wlio is lieutenant-go\ernor of Iowa, and is a candidate
for re-election ; C. E.. who graduated from the University of Iowa and is now
publisher and postmaster in Church's Ferry, North Dakota ; Mrs. Stella Hall,
whose husi.-itid is a farmer in Osceola county, and VV. W., an architect of
Sioux Ciiy.

W. L. Harding, one of the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Harding, was
born in Osceola count}' in 1875. After receiving a good common school edu-
cation, he studied in Morningside College, later studied law in the State Uni-
Acrsii}' of South Dakota, then located in Sioux City, Iowa, where he has been
a ])rosperous lawyer. He has served three terms in the Legislature from
Woodbury county and in the fall of 191 2 was elected lieutenant-governor of
the state.

Politically. O. B. Harding is a Republican and has held various township
offices at the hands of his party. He and his family are loyal members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and have always taken an active part in all the
activities of that denomination. Air. Harding is one of the industrious pio-
neers of the count}', who has always been firm in his convictions, whether
religious, political, intellectual or financial, and it can be said that he has al-
ways taken the right stand on every important question. He and his wife
have reared a large family to lives of usefulness and have the satisfaction of
knowing that their children are performing well their part in the world of
todav.

760 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

AIILO AVERY, "Al. D.

O'Brien county, Iowa, has reason to take pride in the personnel of her
corps of medical men from the earliest days in her history to the present time,
and on the roll of honored names that indicates the services of distinguished
citizens in this field of endeavor there is reason in reverting with gratification
to that of Dr. Milo Avery, of Primghar, wdio has attained eminence in his
chosen calling and for a number of years has stood among the scholarlv and
enterprising physicians in a community long distinguished for the high order
of its medical talent. He realized early that there is a purpose in life and
that there is no honor not founded on worth and no respect not founded on
accomplishment. His life and labors have been eminently worthy because
they have contributed to a proper understanding of life and its problems.

Dr. Milo Avery, one of the most prominent physicians of Primghar and
vicinity, was born October 27, 1853, in Vermont. His parents, Melwell Mal-
colm and Abby ( Robie) Avery, were natives of the same state and descended
from an old New England family. Mehvell M. Avery came west after the
Civil War, in 1865, and bought land near Montour, Tama county. Later he
moved to Cherokee county, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Avery were
the parents of four chiklren : Doctor Milo; Delno, deceased; Mrs. Abby
Brown, of Texas, and Jonathan R., of Montour, Iowa.

Doctor Avery was educated in the Montour high school and later en-
tered the Wilton Collegiate Institute. His medical education w^as received al
the State University at Iowa City and Rush Medical College at Chicago,
graduating from the latter institution in 1884. He commenced practice at
Springdale, Iowa, and after three }-ears moved to Aurelia, in Cherokee
county, where he practiced for the following seventeen years. He then spent
a half year in Canon City. Colorado, for his health, and in May, 1907, lo-
cated in Primghar, w'here he has since resided.

Doctor Avery was married October 8, 1878, to Jennie Dudley, the daugh-
ter of Jonathan and Rachel (Emery) Dudley. Jonathan Dudley was born in
Ohio, June 28, 1833. and was one of the early pioneers of Muscatine county,
Iowa. Mrs. Dudley died in the winter of 191 3, at the advanced age of
eighty years. Doctor and Mrs. Avery have two sons of their own and one
adopted daughter, who was the niece of Doctor Avery. The oldest son. Dr.
Harold Leroy. was a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and
the Universitv of Illinois ; Dr. Geors^e Emerv. the second son. is a dentist at
Cherokee. Iowa ; the daughter. Gladys Catherine Dudley, is still at home and
is now fourteen years of age.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 76 1

Doctor Aveiy has devoted his whole Hfe to the alleviation of sut^erino-
and has always been interested in e\-er}'thing whicli pertains to his chosen
profession. He is a member of all of the various medical societies which
might assist him in any way in keeping abreast of the times and is now servinp-
his third term as president of the O'Brien County Medical Society. He also
has acted as coroner of his county for the past five years. Fraternally, he is
a member of the Knights of Pythias, while in his religious affiliations he is
connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he gives generously
of his means. Doctor Avery is a genial hearted man. and since residing in
the county seat he has secured his share of the medical practice and is widely
recognized as a man of superior talent.

REV. JOHN PETER HOFFMAXX.

The amount of good which comes from the work done b\- the church can
never be calculated, for the reason that its results are not in a tangible form.
In no profession do men lead such unselfish lives as those who minister to
our spiritual wants. Their sole desire is to make the world better and lead
men to higher and better things. Among the men of Osceola countv who are
devoting their lives to the uplifting of their fellow men there is no one who
deserves a greater amount of praise than Rev. John Peter Hofifmann. the
pastor of the Ashton Catholic church. He is entirely unassuming and un-
pretentious and content in the thought that he is continuously putting forth
his best efforts in following in the footsteps of the lowly Xazartne and in-
ducing others to follow' in the same path.

Rev. John P. Hoft'mann, the pastor of Our Lady of Per|)etual Help,
Ashton, Iowa, was born X'^ovember ii, 1855. in the grand duchy of Luxem-
burg. His parents, John and Alary (Weber) Hoffmann, came to America in
187 1 and located in Council Bluff's, in the Plumber settlement. Mills county.
Iowa, upon a farm. Reverend Hoffmann received the elements of his educa-
tion in his native country and upon arriving in this state with his parents he
assisted his father upon the farm until he was twenty-three years of age. He
then began his studies for the priesthood ; he entered Calvary College in Wis-
consin and took the classical course as outlined in that institution. He later
took the philosophical courses at St. Joseph's College in Dubuciue, Iowa, and
followed this with the theological course in Montreal, Canada. He was or-
dained by his grace, Archbishop John Hennessey at St. Rafel's Cathedral,

762 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

at Dnbuf|ne on December 8, 1886, and assigned to the parish at Pleasant
Vallev, Carroll county. Iowa, immediately after his ordination. He re-
mained here nine months and in September. 1887. was transferred to Festina.
Winneshiek county, Iowa. He came to Ashton, January 2^], 1890, and has
been in continuous charge of the church at this place since that time.

Since coming to Ashton Father Hoffmann has had the satisfaction of
seeing the church grow in members and influence, so that today it occuj^ies a
prominent place in the spiritual life of this community. In 1893 he built the
church at a cost of eight thousand three hundred dollars and in 19 10 built an
addition whicli cost fourteen thousand dollars. The church is now modern
throughout and is sufficient for the needs of the rapidly growing congrega-
tion. In [898 he was instrumental in having a five-room parochial school
building erected, which is now under the charge of five Sisters. Later the
parsonage was remodeled for a Sisters' dwelling, while the old school build-
ing was arranged as the parsonage. The First church building is now used
as a i^ublic hall and opera house in Ashton. Thp church is
now in a flourishing condition and is one of the important features in the
spiritual life of the people of this community. Reverend Hoffmann is a man
of genial personality and is untiring in his efforts to advance the good of his
church in this communitv.

JOSEPH B. STAMP.

Official position usuall}^ tests a man's ability and qualifications to an
extent that few situations do. and it is generally found that when a citizen
measures up to the standard required in the conduct of an office within the
gift of the people, he is well rewarded with further emoluments in appre-
ciation of his manifold attainmenfs. It is frequently found tliat a man will
become matured and have proceeded along ordinary lines for nian\' years
before his real worth is developed and he is able to fit in the special niche for
which he was originally intended. These things we cannot control, but the
historian can record for all time the plain facts incidental to each life which
comes within the scope of his field. This review will especially treat of
Joseph B. Stamp, the genial and kindly auditor of O'Brien county, whose
success in politics and rise in public life has been little short of meteoric
since he first held office in his home town.

Mr. Stamp was born November 3. 1861. in the town of Gaines^•ille.

o'bUIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 763

Wyoming county, New York. Hi.s father was William Stamp, who was
born February 24. 1822. in Yacldlethorpe, Lincolnshire, England, the son
of William Stamp, who died March i, 1833, at the age of forty-five years
and who was born at Frodingham, Lincolnshire, England, and took to wife
Catharine Altoft. The latter was born at Botsford, England, county of
Lincolnshire, and died April 27, 1862, at the age of seventy-one vears. The
father of Joseph B., who is better known as William, Sr.. was married to
Sarah Pinder, who was born at Crowley, Lincolnshire, England, April 27,
1825. Mr. and Mrs. William Stamp reared the following children : George,
born July 14, 1845; Jobn, born November 15, 1847; Catharine, born August
13, 1849; Rebecca, born October 25, 1851; Edward, born May 17. 1853,
and deceased at the age of twenty-five years; William, Jr., born August 15,
1855; Isaac, born July 5, 1857; Mary, born August 6, 1859: Joseph, born
November 3, 1861: Sarah, born November 2, 1863; Adelbert and Adell,
twins, born February 6, 1868. ^^'illiam Stamp migrated to America and
settled in New York in about 1850. His demise occurred in the land of his
adoption, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. G€orge Stamp died
in 1904; John still resides in New York; Mrs. Catharine Quick lives in San
Diego, California; Rebecca died in 1903 : Edward is a resident of San Diego.
California; William died in New York in 1878; Isaac is a resident of New
York ; Mrs. Alary Brewer lives at Bliss Station, Wyoming county. New
York ; Mrs. Sarah Kaynor resides in Ellensburg, Washington ; Mrs. Adell
Copeland and Adelbert reside in New York.

It is with the life and fortunes of Joseph B. Stamp, however, that this
chronicle is directly concerned. He received a good education in the schools
in the locality of his New ^'ork home and early engaged in teaching at the
age of twenty years. In 1882 he became employed as clerk in a general mer-
chandise store in New York, but became dissatisfied with his job. its emolu-
ments and dreary outlook for the future, and "pulled out" for the West. He
landed at Ames, Iowa, and secured a position in a general store in Straw-
berr\- Point, a nearb}' town. He worked here for about nine months and then
returned to Ames and again took employment in a general store and cream-
ery. He remained at Ames for three years, then removed to Clinton, Iowa,
where he had similar employment for one year. For three years he then
managed a shoe store at Rochelle, Illinois. In 1887 he came to Sanborn,
O'Brien county, and operated the Clark Hotel. In 1888 he went to Spencer,
Iowa, and opened a large hostelry, which he conducted for thir-
teen years. For a short time thereafter he was engaged in the real estate

764 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

business at Clear Lake, Iowa, and in 1902 went to South Dakota. He led
the life of a rancher for five years in South Dakota, and in 1907 returned to
Spencer, where he was employed in a tile factory from April to September.
He again returned to Sanborn and became transfer foreman for the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. A few months later he was promoted to
the chief clerkship of the railroad business at this division point. It is well
to add here that Mr. Stamp has been engaged in railroad work off and on for
over twenty-five years. He served as president of the Sanborn school board
for six years and was elected mayor of the city in the spring of 1912. He
defeated a very strong man for the mayoralty and his political opponents
so admired him that they ran him for county auditor. It is a remarkable
fact that when he was elected auditor, in the fall of 1912, he received two
hundred votes out of a total of two hundred and eighteen cast in the city of
Sanborn. This is evidence of the high esteem in which Auditor Stamp is
held by those who know him. He is a Republican in politics. His fraternal
connections are with the Knights of Pythias at Spencer, of which lodge he
is a charter member; the blue lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
at Sanborn, and the chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Primghar.

Mr. Stamp's happy wedded life began in 1888, when he was married to
Anna W. Kaynor, who has borne him three children : Joseph, who assists
his father in the auditor's office : Dorothy Sarah, a teacher in the Primghar
schools; Donald H., now in Seattle, Washington. By a first marriage Mrs.
Anna Kaynor Stamp had six children, namely : Kathr\ n, a trained nurse,
who specializes in obstetrics and performs the duties of her calling in
Primghar and Sheldon ; Beatrice Kaynor Schroeder. who died at Spencer
in 1904; Frank K., residing in Seattle, Washington; \\'arren F., at Beacon
Falls, Connecticut; William Kirk, of Springfield, Massachusetts: William
Kaynor, a resident of Dubuque, Iowa.

It is characters such as is possessed by Mr. Stamp that lea\e an im-
pression upon the understanding which means much for good in the com-
munity. His conduct of the high office to which the people have called him
has been such as to commend him favorably to all classes in O'Brien county.
He possesses one of those rare, genial, whole-souled dispositions which com-
pels an immediate and sincere liking on the part of the people with whom he
comes in contact in the routine of his duties and daily life. Xo citizen of
O'Brien county is eminently more entitled to representation in this valuable
work, and this review is presented for the perusal of his many friends and
acquaintances.

o'hRIKN and OSCEOl.A COUN'TIES. IOWA. 765

HOMER E. RICHARDS.

A man of strong character, good business ability and possessing all of
those qualities which make an efficient public official is Homer E. Richards,
the present treasurer of Osceola county. Iowa. Starting in life as a teacher
in the public schools and later serving many years as a railroad telegrapher,
he acquired habits of industry and integrity which have made him an impor-
tant figure in the life of his county. He has also served as a postmaster, and
was for many years bookkeeper and assistant cashier of a bank, and in all of
these various capacities he has acquitted himself with credit. He has per-
formed all of his duties in a way which w^as highly satisfactory to all of those
concerned.

Homer E. Richards, treasurer of Osceola county, Iowa, was born in
Pepin, Pepin county, Wisconsin, in January, 1866, the son of Linus and Isa-
bel (Lowry) Richards, natives of New York and Michigan, respectively.
Linus Richards w^as born in 1823 and died in 1878. He came west to Galena,
Illinois, in the early fifties, and from there freighted goods to Reed's Landing.
Minnesota, where he opened a general grocery store. During the Civil
War he was provost marshal of Minnesota, and at the close of the war moved
to Pepin county. Wisconsin, where he again engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness until his death. He was twice married, having one child by tlie first mar-
riage, Linus G., and l)y his second marriage there were three children: Ho-
mer E.. whose hLstory is here delineated; Clarence A., who lives at Langford,
South Dakota, and Mrs. Althea Robertson, who is a resident of Steele, North
Dakota. The second wife of Linus Richards is now living in Steele, North
Dakota, with her daughter.

Homer E. Richards graduated from the Pepin high school in Wisconsin,
a::d while attending school worked at the printer's trade. However, at the
age of fifteen an unfortunate accident changed his whole career. At this time
he lost his right arm while working in a sorghum mill. After this accident he
went back to school and graduated from the high school and then taught in
the public schools for two years, after which he learned the trade of a teleg-
rapher and w^orked in Minneapolis for the first three years after qualifying
for actual service. From that city he was transferred to Ellsworth, Minne-
sota, and from thence to Lake Park, Dickinson county, Iowa. In the fall of
1892 he became telegrapher and agent for the Rock Island Railway at Harris,
Osceola county, Iowa, and has lived in this county since that time. He re-
mained at Harris for thirteen years. Upon the organization of a bank there

766 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

in 1905 he became the bookkeeper and assistant cashier of the institution and
remained in that capacity until 191 1. In the fall of 1910 he was elected
treasurer of Osceola county, and took his office January i, 191 1, at Sibley.
In the fall of 1912 he was re-elected to this responsible position and will hold
until January i. 191 3. While livinc; at Harris Mr. Richards was postmaster
from 1900 to 19 10.

yir. Richards was married in 1893 to Ida ^NI. \\'ard, the daughter of
Mr. and I^irs. J. C. \\'ard. of Ocheyedan, Iowa, and to this marriage have
been born two children, Clarence C, born October 17. 1894. and Marie M.,
born April zy, 1896.

Mr. Richards has been actively identified with Republican principles
and politics since reaching his majority and has always taken a prominent
part in local political affairs. The Republican party nominated him for the
office of county treasurer and as a Republican he was appointed postmaster
at Harris. He and his family are attendants of the Congregational church
and give to it their earnest support. Fraternally, he is a member of the In-
dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Richards has always taken an active part in the various public enter-
prises which affected his community and has never withheld his hearty sup-
port from any movement which would be of benefit to the community at
large. He is a man who keeps in close touch with current events and is al-
ways found on the right side of all questions affecting the welfare of his
localitv.

MRS. EVELYN (PEASE) STEARNS.

Among the women of O'Brien county, Iowa, who have witnessed the
growth of this county from the time when it was largely a broad expanse
of prairie to its ])resent condition of finely cultivated farms, is Mrs. Evelyn
(Pease) Steams, who was the third woman to live in the town of Sheldon.
She and her husband, who has now been dead many years, were important
factors in the material advancement of this county, and her husband will
long be remembered as a man who stood for the rights of the settlers who
were struggling to secure homes in this county.

John Tyler Stearns, the friend of the settler, and the husband of Mrs.
Evelyn (Pease) Stearns, was born at Castleton, Rensselaer county. New
Vork, April t2, 1841. and died after a long and useful career at Primghar,
O'Brien county, Iowa, in 1906. He was the son of John E. and Elizabeth

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOVVa. 767

(Proseus) Stearns. John E. Stearns was born February 5. 18 10. in Lee,
Massachusetts.

The Stearns ancestry has been traced back to the colonial days, and has
been worked out from generation to generation to the great-great-grand-
father of Mr^ Evelyn P. Stearns. The first Stearns whose history is on rec-
ord was living at the time when Governor Bradford, of Massachusetts, was
in office. He moved to Waltham, ten miles west of Cambridge, Massachu-
setts, and there reared a family of ten children, and the names of four of
the sons have been preserved. David, Jonathan, Daniel and John. Jonathan,
the second in line and the direct ancestor of John T. Stearns, of this nar-
rative, married Beulah Chadwick, and moved to Mil ford, Massachusetts,
where they reared a large family of children, Jonathan, Beulah, George,
Ebenezer, Lydia, Abigail, David, John, Mary, Abraham, Hannah and Jona-
than. John, the eighth child born to this marriage, became the direct an-
cestor of the branch with which we are interested. This John settled in Berk-
shire county, Massachusetts, and was a soldier in the War of the Revolu-
tion. At the close of that war he was married to Lucy Merrill, and to this
union were born eleven children, Polly, Sally, John, Abigail, Fanny, Thomas,
Betsy, James, Beulah. Dumby and Betsy. Of these eleven children. John,
the first son born and the third child, became the progenitor of the Iowa
family of Stearns. This John married Nancy Esleeck, at Castleton, New
York, August 28, 1808, and two years later John E., the father of John T..
whose history is here presented, was born.

John E. Stearns moved from New York state to Iowa in 1856. settling
in East Waterloo township. Black Hawk county. His wife, Elizabeth Pro-
seus, was born in Castleton, New York, and died at Primghar in 1905. The
familv remained but a short time in East Waterloo township, afterwards re-
moving to Cedar Falls, where they lived for a short period, then went to
]\Ir. Stearns' farm, where his death occurred. The following children were
born to Mr. and ]\lrs. John E. Stearns: John Tyler, the husband of Mrs.
Evelyn Stearns, and Esleeck. The latter was born at Castleton. New York,
in 1833. and was one of the early settlers of Waterloo, Iowa, and was one of
the first engineers on the Iowa Central railroad and died in AA'aterloo. Iowa,
in ino8.

Jolm Tyler Stearns was educated in Castleton, New York, and came to
this slate with his parents when he was about fifteen years of age. After
reaching manhood he I^ecame engaged in the hardware business at Hampton,
Franklin county, Iowa, and was postmaster of that town when he was mar-
rie^l to Evelyn Pease. \\nn'le in Hampton he took up the stud\- of law and

768 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

engaged in partnership with Attorney Davidson. Later he was admitted
to the bar at Des Moines, and still later was admitted to the practice of law
at Chamberlain, after which he was known as a land lawyer and eligible
to participate in land litigation. He first came to Sheldon in 1873, and the
following year came to Primghar. where he opened a real estate and abstract
office. Two years later, however, we lind him back in F'ranklin conntv. the
grasshopper plague practically driving out the settlers of O'Brien county.
In 1880 he went to Chamberlain, where he remained for tiie next seventeen
years. In 1897 he went to Primghar and took full charge of all the litiga-
tion which was connected with the "Squatters' Associati(_)n," and carried
their causes to a successful conclusion, winning man}' famous cases, some
of the more celebrated ones being given elsewhere in this volume and are
only briefly mentioned here. It is sufficient to say here that Mr. Stearns was
looked upon as a friend of the settlers in every sense of the word. He be-
came the C(junty sur\-e}or of O'Brien county and a city councilman of
Primghar.

Mr. Stearns was married on October 13, 1869. to Evelyn Pease, the
daughter of Jesse Thompson and Laura Ann (Mallett) Pease, and who was
born March 14, 1848, at Hazel Green, Grant county, Wisconsin. Jesse T.
Pease was born February 9, 1808. in Ohio, and was a descendant of an old
Massachusetts family. One ancestor of the family served throughout the
War of the Revolution. Jesse Pease moved from Ohio to Wisconsin, set-
tling in Grant county before that state was admitted to the Union. He
worked in the lead mines in Wisconsin in the early forties and in the later
forties he went to California, being one of the many "Forty-niners" who
made the overland trip to the Pacific in search of gold. Later the Pease
familv moved to Iowa and settled in Franklin countv, that state, where thev
bought a farm, and Mr. Pease died in this state March 15, 1882. Mrs. Pease
was born April 2;^, 18 15, in Medina county, Ohio, and died in Franklin
county, Iowa. September 8, 1901. Mr. Pease and wife were married October
4, 1833, and to their union were born six children: Harriet A., born July 4,
1836, died March 16, 1839; George W., born October 25, 1838; Margaret
A., born May 23, 1841 ; Esther, born February 20, 1844; Evelyn, of whom
this chronicle speaks, born March 14, 1848; Charles H., born June 10, 1855.

]\Ir. Stearns was a prominent member of the Masonic order and was a
life-long Republican in politics. They were the parents of three children :
John Jesse, who died in infancy; Mrs. Laura Elizabeth Gregg, of Esther-
ville, Iowa: and she has two children, John Ebenezer and Mary E\-elyn : Mrs.
Glow Esleeck Brooks, of Linton, North Dakota. Mrs. Stearns is a member

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 76')

of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Estherville, Iowa, and holds
membership in the Order of the Eastern Star at Primghar. Mr. and Mrs.
Stearns took up a claim in South Dakota and homesteaded it in 1881. In
1909 ]\Irs. Stearns went to North Dakota and for sixteen months home-
steaded on a claim of one hundred and seventy-two acres, which she still
owns and which is now worth in the neighborhood of three thousand dollars.
The clain.i is well improx'ed willi a stone house, well, and forty acres under
cultivation.

Air. Stearns was a plain, simple, dignihed man, who despised sham and
pretense of all kinds. Although his life was a busy one, his private affairs
and his home making heavy demands on his time, he never allowed it to in-
terfere with his Christian obligations or the faithful performance of all his
duties to the public. He had the greatest sympathy for his fellow men and
was always ready to aid and encourage those who were willing to aid them-
selves. He commanded the respect of all classes by his exemplary life and
his memory will long be revered by his many friends and acquaintances.

THOMAS D. KAS, M. D.

The man who devotes his talent and energies to the noble work of ad-
ministering to the ills and alleviating the sufferings of humanity pursues a
calling which in dignity and importance and beneficial results is second to
no other. If true to his profession and earnest in his efforts to enlarge his
sphere of usefulness, he is indeed a benefactor to all of his kind, for to him
more than to any other man are entrusted the safety, the comfort and in
many instances the lives of those who place themselves under his care. Among
this class of professional men is Dr. Thomas D. Kas, whose name appears
at the head of this sketch. He early realized that to those who attain de-
terminate success in the medical profession there must be not only given
technical ability but also a broad human sympathy which must pass from
mere sentiment to be an actuating motive for helpfulness, so he has digni-
fied and honored his profession by noble services, in which he has attained
unqualified success.

Dr. Thomas D. Kas, a practicing physician and surgeon of Suther-
land, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, in
1883. His father was born in Germany in 185 1 and came to Wisconsin with
his parents when he was four years of age. Upon reaching his majority

770 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

he engaged in farming and continued in that occupation until 19 ii when
he retired and moved to Randon Lake, Wisconsin. Peter Kas was married
in 1871 to Margaret Block, who was born in Germany in 1853. To this
marriage were born eight children : Mrs. Margaret Hann, of Wisconsin ;
Nicholas P., a farmer of Wisconsin; Mrs. Mary Dimmer, of ^^'isconsin ;
Mrs. Kathryn Schomer; John, who is farming the home place in Wiscon-
sin; Jacob; Theresa, and Dr. Thomas D., with whom this narratixe deals.

Doctor Kas graduated from the common school and high school at
Waldon, Wisconsin, finishing his high school course in 1902. He then
taught school for two years and went to the Sheboygan Falls high school,
where he studied higher mathematics, chemistry and German. In 1905 he
marticulated in the Medical College at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated
in 1909. Immediately after graduating he came to Sutherland, OBrien
county, Iowa, and started to practice in his chosen profession, and has built
up a large and lucrative practice in Sutherland and tlie surrounding com-
munity.

The nature of Doctor Kas's profession prevents him from taking an
active part in politics. However, he takes an intelligent interest in politi-
cal affairs and never fails to cast his vote at election time. He prefers to
cast his vote for the best men, irrespective of their politics. He is a mem-
ber of that large and extensive class of citizens who are not tied down by
party allegiance. Doctor Kas is still a young man and has a brilliant career
before him, and, with the start which he has already made, it is safe to say
that the future holds much in store for him.

CAPT. FRANCIS A. GERE.

The life of a veteran pioneer is full of interesting details which are not
usually discernable in the writings concerning the commonplace and the
mediocre. The story of the settlement of the great West will ahva\s have a
fascinating effect upon the discriminating reader. What at one time was
ignorantly referred to as the Great American Desert has been made to
blossom like the rose and has been transformed into a garden of luxuriant
fertility unsurpassed on the American continent. Many of the earl\- pio-
neers of this section were Union ^■eterans, who, becoming restless in the
environment of their earlier homes, moved westward, often in companv with
their parents, and joined the tide of empire, thus becoming important and

CAPT. FRANCIS A. GERE

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 77I

influential fixtures in the stable conditions which naturally followed the con-
quest of a wilderness and its subsequent transformation. One of those, who
lived a useful and honorable life and was an honored figure in his commun-
ity, was Francis A. Gere, of Primghar, who died !\Iarch 17. 1914.

Francis A. (iere was born April 25, 1835, near the city of Binghamton,
New^ York, the son of Eleazar W. and Polly (Brown) Gere, natives of the
state of Massachusetts. Eleazar was born December 7. 1796, in Chester,
Massachusetts, and was married to Polly Brown on July 3, 1822. Both w^ere
descendants of old New England families. Polly Brown Gere was born
October 16, 1802. In 1856 they migrated to Dodge county. Minnesota, at a
time w'hen Minnesota was sparsely settled and Indians roamed the prairies
and forests of the Northwest. They resided in Minnesota until 1869. when
they located in Cherokee county. Towa. Here they ended their days and lie
sleeping in the Gere burying ground on the old homestead in Cherokee
county. They were the parents of the following children: Le\i. born March
29, 1823; William Nelson, born December 21,, 1823: Mary, born June 2y,
1828; John Avery, born July 20. 1829: Samuel Allen, born June 14. 1832;
Francis Asbury; Catherine Ann. born June 27, 1838: James Burris, born
June 19, 1842; Sarah Jane, born ^Iarch 4. 1843. Eleazar Gere was a pioneer
settler in New York, Minnesota and Iowa, a distinction which falls to but
very few men in the course of their natural lifetime.

Francis A., or "Captain Gere," as he was affectionately called, left New
York state at the age of nineteen years en route to Illinois. He traveled by
steamer from Buffalo to Chicago in 1854 and after his arrival in Illinois
was employed in farm work for the summer season. He then went to Dodge
county, Minnesota, and varied the time with farm labor and in the timber
camps. He became an expert timber man and could run the rivers with a
raft of logs with the most expert among* the followers of this arduous and
dangerous vocation. He resided in Dodge county until 1867. when he re-
moved to Lucas count}-. Iowa. After two years' residence there he came to
Cherokee county, traveling by prairie schooner hauled by a team of oxen.

Durine the Civil War Mr. Gere staved at home hv agreement with his

o - - -

brothers that he should be the one to assume the burden of caring for the
family while they were aw^ay fighting for the preservation of the Union.
However, he enlisted Februar>- i, 1865, in Company A. One Hundred and
Fifty- third Illinois Infantry. He refused a captain's commission and saw
active service under General Thomas, his command being assigned to the
Thomas brigade. He served under the direct command of Generals Milroy

']'J2 O BRIEN AXL) OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

and Dudley. During his service he was among the provost guards in Texas
and Mississippi and was in many skirmishes with Ijushw hackers. He was
mustered out September 9, 1865.

Mr. Gere homesteaded on eighty acres of land in Cherokee county and
eventually increased his holding to two hundred acres. In the spring of
1888 he disposed of his holdings in Cherokee count}' and came to O'Brien
county, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in Dale township. In the
year 1900 he sold his acreage to his son and retired to a well-earned rest in
Primghar. where he and his estimable wife lived comfortably and happily
in a prett}- cottage until his death.

Mr. Gere was a member of S. F. Jordan Post Xo. 417. Grand Arm\- of
the Republic, and was a regular attendant at the post meetings. He wasr a
charter member of the Cherokee post and has served as commander of the
local post. He was a Progressive in politics. ]\Ir. Gere was descended from
a long line of soldier forbears. His brothers were all enlisted during the
War of the Rebellion and it is recorded that his maternal grandfather was a
continental soldier who served in the Revolutionary \\'ar.

Captain Gere always took an active part in Republican politics and was
keenly interested in count}- and local ci\ic affairs. He held the office of
township trustee and frequently was a delegate to state conventions, where
he lent his active influence and support to the promulgating of right princi-
ples and the nomination of worthy candidates. He was always a man of
force and influence in the community in which he resided, and for many
years was a well known political leader of recognized power and aliility.

Francis A. Gere was married in Dodge count}-. Minnesota, in 1857, to
Nancy Maritta Alden, a direct descendant of John and Priscilla Alden, of
New England (Doxbury. Massachusetts). The Alden genealogy reads as
follows: John Alden married Priscilla Mollens, who bore him eleven chil-
dren. The second in line was Ca])t. John Alden H, who took to wife Eliza-
beth Everell and had fourteen children. The third in line was Capt. John
Alden HI. whose wife was Elizabeth Phelps and who bore him twelve chil-
dren. The fourth in line was John Alden IV, whose wife was Anna Brawe.
Fifth in order of ancestr}- was John Alden, of Needham, who married
Thankful Parker. Sixth in succession was John Adams Alden, a soldier of
the Revolution, who was born at Midway, Massachusetts, July 11, 1762, and
fought for independence on the battlefields of Rhode Island : he was married
to Hannah Daniels and was the father of Rachel, Reuben, Phineas, Sally,
Luther, Hannah. Ira, ^larv, John and Lymon. Lymon Alden is the next in

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. "]']},

direct line and was born March ij , 1806; he married Anna Halbert, came
west to Dodge count}-, Minnesota, died there and hes buried in Dodge Center.
The children of Lymon Alden were Hannah A., William Halbert, Albert
Martin, Wealthy Ann, Xancy Maritta. Charles Luther, Mary Alice and
Catharine Emma.

Mrs. Nancy Maritta Gere was born April 28, 1842, and is the mother of
the following offspring: Lymon W., now deceased; William Francis, de-
ceased: Mrs. Minnie M. (Schofield) Johnson, of North Dakota, is the mothei
of four children, Charles E., Walter Francis. Schofield, Herbert Leroy Scho-
field and James Arthur: Mrs. ]Mary E. Fraser is a resident of Sorum, South
Dakota, and is the mother of one child, Maritta, named after her grand-
mother; Mrs. Eva Frances Reaney, of Sheldon, Iowa, has three children,
Ethel -\rline, Ritta Alice and James Archie : Charles, now deceased ; Anna,
deceased: Mrs. Kate Alden Smith, of Sorum, South Dakota: James E. Gere,
a farmer of this county.

In the full enjoyment of the closing years of a long and eventful life
which was replete with good and useful deeds, this worthy couple resided in
their cottage home at Primghar. They enjoyed the friendship and esteem
of all who knew them and, because of the eminently noble lives which they
led, fully deserved this re^•iew in the pages of this memoir of O'Brien count^^

WILLIAM H. BROWX.

The office of biography is not to gi\'e voice to a man's modest estimate
of hiniseir and liis in(li\i(lua] acconi[)lishments, but rather to leave upon the
record i; concise account of his career from Ijirtli to the final rounding out
of a life of usefulness, such as has been enjoyed I)}- the citizen whose name
is insciilted at the head of this narratixe. His character has been established
throngli the estimation in which he is held 1)}' his friends and neighbors.
Like man\- successful pioneer settlers of the West, he is self-made and, from
modest and small Ijeginnings. he has amassed a competence through the ex-
ercise of industr}' and a close application to the promotion of agricultural
pursuit>. William H. Brown, retired \eteran farmer of Primghar, is one
of tiie respected and substantial citizens of the town. His sterling worth
and great personal integrity are beyond question in the land of his adoption.

A\'illiam H. Brown was born in Ross county, Ohio, July 12, 1842.
The ])atenial farm was located near the citv of Chillicothe. His father

774 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

was Samuel Brown, a native of \"irginia. His mother was Alargaret Clark,
a native of Pennsylvania and descendant of an old colonial family. The
earliest known ancestor of the Clark family in America was John Alexander,
a native of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and who emigrated to America and set-
tled in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1732. Hugh, a son of John Alexan-
der, also resided in Pennsvlvania. Alarv, a dauohter of Huoh Alexan-
der, was born in 1762 and married Robert Clark. A son of this union,
Robert Clark, born in January 15, 1781, was the grandfather of William
H Brown. Margaret B. Clark. Robert's daughter, married Samuel Brown,
October 17, 1833. They mig"rated to Linn count}', Iowa, in 1852 and resided
near Springville. They were the parents of the following children : Mary
Frances, born October 10, 1834. and died July 2, 1854; Thomas Clark,
born July 12, 1837, and who was a soldier of the Union in the Civil War;
John Benjamin, born September 24, 1839. and who also enlisted in the Union
service; James Allen, born September 28, 1845; Samuel Milton, born Au-
gust 5, 1848, and died June 8. 1862; Susannah Catharine, born June 15,
1851. The mother of these children died April 4, 1856: the father died
September 10, 1875.

William Hugh Brown received his education in the Springville, Iowa,
schools. He enlisted in the year 1863 in Company H, Twenty-fourth Iowa
Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and served for one year and seven months.
His service was principally along the Mississippi ri\'er and in Louisiana,
participating in the Red river campaign. His command saw severe ser^■ice
around the city of Washington, in pursuit of General Early and down through
the Shenandoah valley, thence by boat to Savannah, Georgia, and there met
the army of General Sherman. His command was again sent by water to
meet Sherman at Morehead City, Xorth Carolina, on his northward march
after the \ ictorious march to the sea. He was discharged at Sa^•annah and
re-enlisted December 13. 1863. Mr. Brown's company belonged to the Fourth
Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth Amiy Corps, which was under the
command of General Banks on the Red river expedition and fought at Mans-
field., Moss Lane and Pleasant Hill.

This valiant soldier was wounded and crippled in the right knee at
the battle of Winchester where he served under the dashing General Sheri-
dan. He fought also in the battles of Opecjuon, Cedar Creek and Fort
Fisher. He w^as honorably discharged from the army July 17, 1865.

In the year 1871 he came to O'Brien county and homesteaded on the
southwest quarter of section 8, Center towaiship. He and his family went
safely through the grasshopper period of devastation in O'Brien county and.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 775

niiHke others who left the county to their future regret, they were too poor
to get away from the county. He has added to his acreage, reared a
family of seven children and has two hundred and forty acres of the finest
land in O'Brien county. He removed to Primghar in 1904.

Mr. Brown was one of the first trustees of Center township and in con-
cert with other settlers organized and named the township. He is a comrade
of Sanborn Post, Grand Army of the Republic ; has been a Freemason since
1868 and was a charter member of the Abiff Lodge, which was removed
to Sutherland, and is also a charter member of the Primghar Lodge of
Masons.

Mr. Brown was wedded July 16, 1864, to Anna Robinson, who was born
October 26. 1862, in England, and is the daughter of William and Frances
(Currah) Robinson. Her family emigrated to America in 1853 and first
settled in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where they owned a fine farm. After
a residence there of nineteen years they came to O'Brien county and Mr.
Robinson homesteaded on the west half of the southwest half of section 32,
Center township. ]\Ir. Robinson's sons purchased additional land. The
father died in 1882 on the old homestead, leaving the following children:
Mrs. Anna Brown; James, who died in Louisiana; Joseph E., of Jackson,
Mississippi; George W., who resides near Madison, South Dakota. The
mother of these children died in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were charter
members of the Primghar Alethodist Episcopal church.

^Ir. and Mrs. Brown's children are as follows: Mrs. Frances Ann
Barkley served three years in India as a missionary of the Methodist Epis-
copal church, and married Rev. Barkley, who is a Methodist minister at
Merrill ; she is the mother of four children, Anna E\'elyn, Ada Frances and
twins. Alonzo John and Alice Jean ; Samuel L. Brown, who is a resident
of Madison, South Dakota, and is the father of two children, Vernon Will-
iam and Lewis Rowland ; Hugh Ernest, who resides two miles south of
Primghar; Alice, who is working in the county treasurer's office; Edith
M., a teacher in the Sheldon, Liwa, schools; Clara Emma, who teaches in
South Dakota; William R., a farmer, and who has one son, Trueman George.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown have reared and educated an excellent family who
are a credit to their parents and well known for their sterling qualities.
They are among the most highh' esteemed people of the county and enjoy
the confidence and good will of all who know them. Kind and courteous
in their relations with others, in private life and in the home they shine
with a spirit which is always wholesome and elevating to those who come
within the range of their influence.

776 O'URIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, lOWA.

A. W. AIcCALLUM.

A nativ^e son of Osceola county who has never wandered from the hmits
of his native heath is A. W. McCallum, formerly clerk of the district court
and now a prominent abstracter of titles in Sibley. He is a man of force of
will and. with a laudable ambition, has forged to the front in a responsible
and exacting- calling and earned an honorable reputation in his chosen line
of business. His life has been one of hard study and research from his
youth and the position to which he has attained is evidence that he possesses
qualities of a high order.

A. W. McCallum, the son of Daniel D. and Angelina M. (Orr) Mc-
Calluni. was born April 22, 1873, in Osceola county on a farm in what is now
Ocheyedan township. Daniel D. McCallum was a native of Canada and his
wife of Wisconsin. Daniel D. was the son of Daniel McCallum. a native of
Scotland. He first settled in Canada and in 1856 located in Clayton county.
Iowa. Daniel D. homesteaded on section 14 in Ocheyedan township, Osceola
count}', in June. 1872. He had been married two years pre\ious in Grant
coimty. Wisconsin, to Angeline M. Orr. He had served in the Civil War,
enlisting in Company I, Twenty-seventh Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
and later in the Twelfth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served
altogether fourteen months. He resided on his homestead in Ocheyedan
township for seven years and then moved to Sibley and engaged in the prac-
tice of law. He served two years as judge of the old circuit court and ser\ed
for several years as countv attorney, holding this position at the time of his
death. August 10, 1895. His wife was born in 1840 and is still living and
now makes her home with her son, A. W., in Sibley. Daniel D. McCalluiu .
and wife were the parents of three children: A. W., whose history is here
briefly delineated; Alary L., deceased, and Mrs. Florence A. Townsend, of
Murdo, South Dakota.

A. ^^^ McCallum was born in a genuine old-fashioned sod house. It
was built In- his father in 1872. when he homesteaded his farm. In this he
lived for only the first year after his ])irth. accordingly does not ]ia\e a very
vivid remembrance of his first home. He was educated in th.e Sibley schools,
but most of his education has been acquired from wide and extensive read-
ing since leaving school. He has been an omnivorous reader all of his life
and has never given up the habit of l)eing a student. Earl}- in life he l)egan
to take a part in public affairs and when only twenty-four years of age was
elected as clerk of the district court of his county. Retiring from this four-

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. ']']■]

year office, he engaged in the ahstracting of land titles and in tliis line of
business he has been contimiously engaged since tliat time. To be a success-
ful abstracter demands the closest scrutiny of details and a preciseness which
only comes from good training. It is not too much to say that Air. McCal-
lum has all of those qualities which are necessary for the successful ab-
stracter.

Air. AlcCallum was married in 1902 to Beulah Burris. Fraternally,
Mr. McCallum is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and
the Knights of Pyihias. Mr. McCallum is a man of strong character and
courteous demeanor, a man who has earned the respect and admiration of
all of those who have been associated with him in anv wav.

HENRY W. GEISTER.

The office of biugraph}- is nut to give v(;ice to a man's modest estimate of
himself and his accomi)lishments. but rather to leave upon the record the ver-
dict establishing" his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his
neigh])ors and friends. The life of the honorable suljject of this re\iew has
been such as to elicit just praise from those who know him best, owing to the
fact that he has always been loyal to trusts imposed upon him as sherifif of
O'Brien county, and has been upright in his dealings with his fellow men, at
the same time lending his support to the advancement of any cause looking to
the v.elfare of the community at large.

Henry W. Geister, who is now serving his second term as sheriff of
O'Brien county. Iowa, was born November 23, i<S68. in Cook count\'. Illinois,
and is the son of Joseph and Marie (Stalbaum) Geister, both of whom were
born, reared and married in their native land of Germany. After their mar-
riage they came to America and first settled on a farm in Cook countx', Illi-
nois, and in 1876 came to Iowa and located in Marshall county. Six vears
later the family moved to Cherokee count}', where the father and mother died,
the father passing awa}" in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Geister were the jjar-
ents of six children: William, of Colorado; J. G., of O'Brien countv. Iowa :
George, of South Dakota ; Mrs. Augusta Krekow, of Cherokee countv, this
state; Mrs. Caroline Grauer, of Cherokee county, and Henry \\'.. the present
sheriff of O'Brien county.

Henry W. Geister was reared and educated in Cherokee count\-, his
parents mo^•ing there when he was about eight years of age. After reaching

//S o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

his maturity he farmed in Cherokee county for a few years and in 1894 lie
came to O'Brien county, where he purchased a farm. However, owing to an
unfortunate accident in 1892. by which he lost his right arm below the elbow
by the accidental discharge of a shot gun, he was severely handicapped as a
farmer. Consequently he gave up this pursuit and engaged in the imple-
ment business for a couple of years, after which he managed a bowling alley
for four years, then put a dray line into operation in Sheldon, which he man-
aged for three years. In 1907 he was appointed deputy sheriff and three
years later was elected sheriff oi O'Brien county. His honest administration
of this important office proved so satisfactory to his party that he was re-
nominated and in 19 12 was triumphantly re-elected. In the discharge of the
duties of this office he has proved faithful to the trust reposed in him by the
citizens of the county, and it is safe to say that there is no more popular offi-
cial in the county than he.

j\Ir. Geister is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
the Modern \\^oodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican and, being
a county official, has naturally been closely identified with the politics of his
county for several years.

Mr. Geister was married March 8, 1890, to Anna Ault, of Haverhill,
Ohio, and to this union there have been born five children, Adda A.. Marie M.,
Jennie C, Leroy O. and Fern A. Mr. Geister is a man of pleasing appear-
ance and easily makes friends wherever he goes and he now has scattered
throughout the county a host of warm friends who admire him for his many
ood qualities.

WILLIAM H. DOWNING.

One of the well known names in O'Brien county is that of William H.
Downing, a counselor-at-law who, though not long a resident of the county,
is making his influence felt for good in the community. He is a close student,
thoroughly understands the law, and is known as a man of steadfast in-
tegrity, not only in his professional capacity, but as a citizen and able public
official. As mayor of Primghar he is giving his adopted city a good admin-
istration, and is fast becoming widely known as a lawyer of ability and force.

Mr. Downing was born September 16, 1876. on a farm in Bennezette
township, Butler county, Iowa. He is the son of John E. and Catharine
(Maroney) Downing, natives of Ireland, the former a native of county
Cork, and the latter a native of county Clare. John E. Downing was born

WILLIAM H. DOWNING

NS ^

.O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 779

June 22, 1837, and came to America when twelve years of age, in the year
1849. For a period of five years he was employed in the woolen mills at
Boston, Massachusetts. In 1854 he went to the copper mining region of
Lake Superior and worked in the mines of that locality for ten years. In
1864 he removed to Buchanan county, Iowa, and resided on a farm in this
county until 1867, when he traveled to Butler county and filed on a govern-
ment homestead. He developed and improved his land and in January,
1893, he retired to the town of Greene, in Butler county. He was one of the
best known pioneer settlers of Butler county and was connected with the
official life of the township in various capacities, being frequently called upon
to serve in different township offices. He served seventeen years as town-
ship trustee and was prominently identified with the Democratic party in
Butler county. John E. Downing was the father of twelve children, ten of
whom are yet living: Patrick J., a farmer in Butler county, Iowa; Mrs.
Josie Lovell, of Greene, Iowa ; Mary, a resident of Waterloo, Iowa ; Mrs.
Ella Moss, of Greene; M. J., a citizen of Elmore, Minnesota; J. L., a Butler
county farmer; Mrs. Theresa Stanton, of Greene; Bid, who resides in Water-
loo; William H. ; Mrs. Celia Kirk, of Waterloo.

William H. Downing was brought up on the farm and attended the dis-
trict schools of his native county and the high school at Greene. He became
ambitious to become a lawyer and, entering the law department of the State
University, he graduated in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In
September, 1900, he located in Primghar and has built up a lucrative prac-
tice in his chosen profession.

Mr. Downing is politically allied with the Democratic party, and has
been the local central committeeman for several years. He was elected mayor
of Primghar in April, 19 12. For ten years to this date he had served as
city clerk. Mr. Downing is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Lodge
No. 1564, at Sheldon, Iowa; is affiliated with the Yeomen and is a member
of the Catholic church.

Mr. Downing was married June 10, 1903, to Mary E. Earle, of Tipton,
Iowa, and thev had two children, one of whom is yet living, Marian A., born
March 31, 1904. and died May 16. 1913, at the age of nine years, and Anna
Catharine, born October 25, 1907.

Mr. Downing is recognized as a progressive citizen and an attorney of
ability who is making his influence known in his adopted county. He is an
earnest, forceful character who is well liked and highly esteemed by a host
of friends and well wishers in O'Brien countv.

/So o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA

JOSEPH GILL.

It is a matter of great satisfaction to those citizens who are looking-
to the day when better government will be in vogue to find that public
opinion is demanding and choosing better public officials. In times gone by
Osceola county, Iowa, has had men in public offices who were not altogether
efficient and faithful in their administration of their duties, but the county
officials who are now in charge of the affairs of the county are a group
of men who are of exceptionally high merit. Many of them are repre-
sented by biographical sketches in this volume, and without exception they
are performing their duties faithfully and well and to the entire satisfaction
of the citizens of the county. No more popular sheriff ever haled a pris-
oner into the courts of this county than Joseph Gill, who was elected in
the fall of 191 2.

Joseph Gill was born July 22, 1859, in Illinois, and is the son ot
Samuel and Xancy (Ulm) Gill. Samuel Gill was born in Pennsylvania,
a!id when a small boy went to Ohio with his parents where he was reared
to maturity. He married in that state and moved to Illinois in the spring
of 1859, where lie lived the remainder of his days. Samuel Gill and wife
were the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters : Mrs.
Lydia Hulble, who lives in Clay City, Illinois; Mrs. Mary Campbell, also
a resident of Illinois ; Rosa, whose husband is a banker at Puyallup, Wash-
ington ; Mrs. Sally Tetrick, of Illinois; Minnie, who died in 1906: John E.,
of Clay City, Illinois; Jacolj, who is a resident of Beaxer City, Nebraska;
George and Samuel, who are farmers near Clay City, Illinois ; Ahtrris, de-
ceased in 1870, and Joseph, whose history is here briefly set forth.

Joseph Gill was educated in the district schools of his home county in
Illinois and later attended the schools of Clay City in that state. He spent
his boyhood days on the home farm and at the age of sixteen he left school
and l)egan to work. When lie was twenty-one years of age he came to
Black Hawk county, Iowa, and worked for two years at farm labor. In the
fall of 1882 he came to Sibley, Osceola county, where he purchased a
livery barn, and has lived in this city since that time. Since acquiring
interest in the livery business in Sibley he has erected a new and commodious
livery stable and has been doing a prosperous business ever since starting
in this line. Upon his election to the office of county sheriff, in the fall
of 191 2, he sold his stock and barn in order to devote all of his time to the
arduous duties of the sheriff's office. He is a man of great force of character

o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 781

and his election to this office shows the confidence which people reposed in
him throughout the county. He has always taken a prominent part in
Republican politics of the county and his services have been recognized by
its leaders.

Mr. Gill was married in March, 1887. to Alice Buckley, who died hi
October, 1902. leaving three children; George E., Sidney J. and Thelma. In
March, 1904. Mr. Gill was married to Mrs. L. M. Ellison, of Sibley, who was
the mother of two children by a former marriage. Zella and Ila.

Fraternallv, Mr. Gill is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America
and Ancient Order of United Workmen, holding his membership in thes.'
lodges at Sibley. He has taken an active interest in all of the public en-
terprises of Sibley and vicinity since coming here and has given his hearty
support to every measure bearing upon the public welfare of the city where
he has spent so many years. Mr. Gill has been veiy successful as a busi-
ness man and in his various transactions has so conducted himself as to
win the confidence and esteem of all those with whom he has come in
contact.

HENRY L. WILLIAMS.

Trade and commerce have ever had an attraction for the class of in-
dividuals who seem best adapted to succeed in this oldest of callings. Of
necessity, man himself is compelled to buy; likewise, it is necessary that
others do the selling. The raw material is first prepared by skilled artisans
in all corners of the earth so that the buyer can use it at first hand to supply
his needs in every particular. A few out of the vast army of those en-
gaged in merchandising" seem chosen from among the aggregate for marked
preference and are noted as being more successful than the av^erage. W'e are
often puzzled by this seeming discrepancy and wonder why more persons,
who venture into the channels of trade and barter, do not succeed in this
attractive vocation ; but upon investigation, we find that tlie underlying
causes for the success of one individual and the possible failure of the other
to advance is due, in part, to the possession of different qualifications — in
some measure to heredity and, above all, to the decisive ability of the suc-
cessful one to win where others fail or may be contented with a mediocre
return for his exertions. It is evident tliat he of whom the biographer is
pleased to write is a successful business man and a wide-awake citizen.
Henry L. Williams, mercliant of Primghar. is one of those broad-minded.

782 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

warm-hearted persons \\ hose friends are loyal and who has succeeded far be-
yond the average in building up a substantial and remunerative business.

Henry L. \\'illiams located in Primghar in October, 1887. He pur-
chased a lo:; on the west side of the court house square and erected a
store building, twenty-two by ninety-six feet in extent, in which he placed
a line of dry goods, groceries, clothing and queensware. Until 1889 he
conducted a general store. He then added another Ijuilding of the same
size and placed a stock of hardware. In i8qi he again increased the scope
of the business by the addition of a large building, forty-four by ninety-six
feet in dimension, in wliich he opened a furniture and undertaking depart-
ment. In 1893 the l3uildings were remodeled and arranged on the depart-
mental plan, with practically each department separate and under a different
head. A drug store is included, operated under the name of the Primghar
Drug Compan\-, and received its inception in 1888, it being the oldest es-
tablished drug business in the city. The Williams store buildings occupy
nine lots in their entirety. The stock of goods usually carried will exceed
twenty-fne thousand dollars in value. In 1890 Mr. Williams erected an opera
house, wliich was co::ducted by a stock company until 1892, when he became
the sole owner.

Henry L. Williams was born in January, i860, in W'hite countv, Illi-
nois, on a farm six miles distant from Grayville. His father was Jacob
Williams, a nati\'e of White county and a descendant c^f an old Kentucky
family. His mother was Mary Rawls, also a descendant of Kentucky for-
bears. Jacob Williams migrated from Illinois to Marshall county, Iowa, in
1868. He resided there on his farm until 1903, when he made his final home
in Primghar, where he died in 1905. He was the father of the following
children: R. \\\, a citizen of Primghar; Mrs. Susie M. King, of Primghar;
Henry L. ; .Sarah, wife of Harry Russell, grain dealer of Allendorf ; Charles
N., of Primghar: Mrs. Belle Machinson, a resident of Sibley.

Henry L. Williams was educated in the district schools and was reared
to farm life. He followed farming as an occupation until he was twenty-
four years of age. In 1884 he and his brother embarked in the hardware
business at Morris, Iowa. One year later they traded the store for a tract
of land and then traded the land for a general store at Panama, Iowa.
They then conducted a general store at Laurel for about seven months and
were engaged in business at Oilman, Iowa, for about six months after-
wards. They opened stores at Dillon and Ferguson, in Marshall countv.
Iowa, and, success following their efforts in the mercantile line, they branch-
ed out with a store at Correctionville, and in 1887 established the Primghar

o'r.KlEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 783

Store. For se\eral years Williams Brothers conducted mercantile concerns
at Gaza, Archer, Hartley, Primghar and other places. In the con.rse of
time, however, their other holdings were disposed of and Henry L. be-
came the sole owner of the large establishment at Primghar.

>.lr. Williams has been an active and influential factor in Democratic
politics and at one time rose to the position of being one of the state leaders
of the Democracy and was talked of as a candidate for governor of the
state. He has held various positions of trust, having served as postmaster
of the town of Archer during President Cleveland's administration. He has
had the unique distinction of being the only postmaster being appointed to
fill office in a town of which he was a non-resident. This peculiar situation
evoked considerable comment and Mr. Williams became a widely known
personage as the logical result. He is descended from a long line (jf old-
fashioned Southern Democrats, but was not an advocate of free sih er in the
national campaign of 1896. He was a candidate for the ofiice of state
treasurer on the Democratic state ticket in 1894 and was a candidate for
the governorship in 1896. For a number of years he has been a regular
attendant at state conventions and is a well known figure among the mem-
bers of tlie state Democracy. Of late years he has retired somewhat from
a;ctive political affairs, but is still recognized as one of the leaders of the
party in O'Brien county, having been for several years the practical and mili-
tant leader of his party in the county. In the year 1894 he, with three others,
established the O'Brien County Democrat, the outcome of which deal in
the er.d was that he became the sole owner of the newspaper, which he later
sold.

^.lr. Williams is a member of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, taking
all the degrees and being a member of the Mystic Shrine at Sioux City.
He is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the
Eastern Star chapter and the Modern Woodmen. His people have always
espoused the Baptist faith and, while Mr. Williams himself is not identified
with anv church organization, he is very lil)eral in ins support of religious
institutions.

Air. W^illiams has been twice married. In 1889 he was united in wedlock
with Emma Hilsabeck, of Ferguson, Marshall county, and who died May
3, 1900. She was the mother of two children, as follows: Mrs. Marie
Bossert, of Primghar; Russell, who is his father's assistant in the store, was
bom July 31, 1891, was educated in the Primghar public and high schools,
and is married to Elsie Carr. The second marriage of this well-known gen-

784 ' o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

tleman occurred December 2},. 1900, when he was wedded to Effie Pittsen-
berg. daughter of Mrs. Clark, deceased.

^Ir. ^^"i^iams is one of these whole-souled, liberal gentleman, who in-
spires a sincere liking for his man}' manly qualities and is well worthy of
a fitting representation in this biographical department of the history of
O'Brien county.

ISAAC CLEMENTS.

It is the progressive, wide-awake men of affairs that make the real his-
tory of a community and their influence as potential factors of the body pol-
itic is difficult to estimate. The examples such men furnish of patient pur-
pose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each
to accomplish, and there is always a full measure of satisfaction in adverting
even in a casual way to their achievements in advancing the interests of their
fellow men and in giving strength and solidity to the institutions which make
so much for the prosperity of a community. Such a man is he whose name
appears at the head of this article, and as such it is proper that a review of his
career be accorded a place among the representative citizens of the citv and
count}' in which he resides.

Isaac Clements, ex-county recorder of O'Brien county, and now a pros-
perous merchant of Primghar, was born January 15, 1842, in Sangamon
county, Illinois, the son of John and Lydia (Smick) Clements, natives, re-
spectively,, of \"irginia and Kentucky. John Clements was born in \'irginia
in 1800. apd removed to Kentucky in early life, where he married Lydia
Smick. after which they moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, and were among
the pioneer settlers of the county which has been rendered famous through
its being the home of Abraham Lincoln. John Clements built one of the
first houses in Springfield, Illinois. In 1846 Mr. Clements and his family
came to Dubuque county, Iowa, where they entered land ten miles west of
Dubuque. He improved and developed his farm and sold it in 1855. after
which the family moved to Centralia, in Dubuque county. During the Civil
War he traded his property for a farm in Buchanan county, Iowa, where he
lived until 1877, at which time he removed to Sangamon county. Illinois,
where his death occurred February 3, 1877. on the anniversary of his birth.
Mrs. Clements died in 1864 on the farm in Buchanan county, Iowa. To this
union were Ijorn tweh'e children: William, who died at the age of twenty-
one; Susan, wlio died in her girlhood; Thornton, who died at the age of

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 785

fortv-five : Marv Jane, deceased : James, deceased ; Xancy Arlinda. deceased ;
Sarah, deceased; Isaac, whose history is presented herewith: John, deceased;
Eliza and Catherine, both deceased.

^ Isaac Clements enlisted in Company H. Sixteenth Regiment Iowa \'olun-
teer Infantrx'. in August. 1862. The colonel of his regiment was Alexander
Chambers and the captain of his company was E. ^L Newcomb. His com-
pany was assigned to the Seventh Army Corps, and participated in the bat-
tles of Lafavette. Tennessee. Vicksburg, Rome. Jackson, Grand Gulf. Re-
saca. Kenesaw Mountain and Ezra Church. He was with Sherman on his
famous Atlanta campaign, followed him to the sea, and later took the north-
ern trip through North and South Carolina. He was present at the Grand
Review which took place in Alay. 1865, at Washington. D. C. and was mus-
tered out in that city on the last day of May, 1865. Immediately after the
close of the war Air. Clements returned to Iowa and worked in Delaware
and Buchanan counties until his marriage on December 20. 1865. Shortly-
after his marriage he and his wife moved to O'Brien county, where the}'
homesteaded in Floyd township. They ])ut up a board shack, twelve feet
square and se\-en feet in height, hauling the lumber from Cherokee. They
had two cows, one team of horses, and. as Mr. Clements says, 'T had a good
time and a hard time." He suffered the grasshopper plague in the seventies,
as did everv other settler in the county, but. unlike many of the others. i\Ir.
and ]\Irs. Clements stayed with their farm, although by the third year the
grasshoppers had actually eaten up everything within sight. In 1882 they
sold their farm and rented a farm in this county for the next four years.

Mr. Clements was elected recorder of O'Brien county in 1886. and has
never done any farming since that time. After serving four years in this im-
portant office to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county he en-
gaged in the mercantile business in Primghar. which he has been successfully
conducting up to the present time. In politics he is a Republican and has
always taken an active interest in the campaigns of his party. Fraternally,
he is a meml^er of Jordan Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has served
as commander of the local post. He is a member of the order of Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern \\'oodmen of America. The
family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have one
daughter. Mrs. Ella Johnston, of Primghar, who is the mother of three chil-
dren, Bernice. Laverne and Judson.

Mr. Clements has passed through enough in the past three score years
to satisfy an ordinary man, Init he has never complained in any way. Since
he established his mercantile Imsiness nearlv twentv-five vears ago he has

786 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

been very successful. He first established this business in 1891, in partner-
ship with W. A. Rosecrans, and since 1903 has been in partnersliip with Earl
Rosecrans, the son of his former partner. The firm enjoys a full share of the
public patronage, and by earnest effort, strict business integrity and sound
methods, have earned the confidence and regard of the public at large. Start-
ing in life with practically nothing. Mr. Clements has, Ijy his indomitable
will, attained to a very comfortable competence, and because of his attain-
ments he is entitled to the eminent standing which he enjoys in his com-
munitv.

THOMAS S. REDMOND.

It is proper to judge of the success of a man's lift* by the estimation in
which he is held by his fellow citizens, and nowhere can this be shown better
than in the lives of men who take part in the public life of their respective
communities. Ha man in any county seat of Iowa should be elected to the
position of mayor of his city for two terms, it would be some exidence that
he was a man of influence in his community. Furthermore, if this same man
had formerly been county superintendent of schools and a puljlic and normal
school teacher, it would be additional exidence of the worth t:)f the man.
Then if it were shown that, aside from public affairs, the man had made a
pronounced success in the business world, it would show that he was well
rounded in those attributes which make a man influential in his community.
This statement indicates briefly the career of Thomas S. Redmond, who is
now secretary of the Sibley Commercial Club and one of the most prominent
business men of his city.

Thomas S. Redmond, the son of Patrick and ]\Iary ( Sullixan ) Red-
mond, was born August i, 1866, in Monmouth. Illinois. His father was a
native of Ireland, his birth having occurred in that country in 1834, and his
mother was born in the same country in 1839. Patrick Redmond came to
America when a young man and first located in Doylestown. Pennsyhania.
where he followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1865 he mo\ed to Illinois
and resumed the occupation of farming in that state, in which pursuit he was
engaged for the next seven years, after which he moved to Henry county,
Iowa, where he lived until 1889. ^^ ^i^^t settled in Sible}'. Osceola county,
where he farmed for a short time and then moved to Sanborn, O'Brien
county, in 1895. where he is still living. His wife. Mary Sullivan, came' to
this country with her parents \vhen a young girl. Patrick Redmond and wife

THOMAS S. REDMOxXD

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COL'NTIES, IOWA. 787

were llie [jurents of five children: Alary, who is a resident of Sanborn; Lena,
also of Sanborn: S. D., of Sanborn; jMargaretta. the wife of Dr. E. J. \\'hit-
ley, chief sur^^eon of the National Soldiers' Home at Danville. Illinois, and
Thomas S.. whose history is briefly outlined here.

Thomas S. Redmond is a man of unusual ability in many di.fferent lines.
InheritiuL': a keen intellect from his parents, he has trained it in a way which
has brouglit fortli its latent possibilities, .\fter 'receiving an education in
the Common schools of the state, he attended Mt. Pleasant Acadenn- in Iowa,
and then Ijegan teaching school in Henr}- county, this state. When twent}'-
three }ears of age he came to Osceola county with his parents, and for
fifteen years taught school in this county. His service, including teaching in
the TeMars Normal School and .Ashton public schools, where he served as
l)rincipal. extended o\er the abo\e mentioned period. In 1895 he \\as ap-
jjointed count}- superintendent of schools of Osceola count}- to fill out six
months of a term. L'pon the expiration of his appointixe tenu, he was elected
to this offi.ce rmd was subse(|uently elected three times, ser\ing until uj02 with
signal success. While teaching he was president of the Xorthwcstern Iowa
Teachers' Association, an honor which came to him unsought. Upon retiring
from the ofiice of count}- superintendent he decided to engage in the real
estate business in Sible\', and has been no less successful in the business world
than he was in the work of education. He deals in Osceola county land, as
Avell as land in Alinnesota. Dakota and Canada. During the course of a
vear he handles several thousands of acres, and in all of his transactions he
has so conducted himself that he has won and retains the confidence of all of
his business associates. He is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of
land two miles east of Sibley, which he has improved and brought to a high
state of cultivation. This farm he now rents and realizes a handsome profit
upon his investment.

Air. Redmond was married in 1896 to Edith Finster, of Siblev. and to
this union there have been born two children. Alarion and Donald. He and
his family are loyal members of the Catholic church and render to it their
zealous support at all times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of
Columbus. In his political alliliations he has been identified with the Repub-
lican party since coming to this county and he has been one of the leaders
of his party for many years. In addition to his services as county superin-
tendent, to which office he was elected by the suffrages of the people of the
countv. he lias also served two terms as mayor of the city of Siblev. While
mavor, he took e^•ery advantage to further the interests of the city and sup-

-' (51)

788 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA counties, IOWA.

ported e\ery measure which he felt would redound to its credit. He was
elected in the spring of 1908 and 1912, and it is safe to say that no more
popular mayor ever held the oftice in the cit}' than ^^Ir. Redmond. He has
been secretary of the Sibley Commercial Club ever since its organization in
1904. and has been largely instrumental in promoting all public measures
affecting his city's welfare. In fact, no man has been more active in the
general upbuilding and improvement of Sibley than he. and he is certainly
earning the title of "progressive." and, in fact, in all matters of advancement
he has taken the initiative and urged others to follow. Personally, Mr.
Redmond is a most companionable man. uniformly courteous, strictly honest
in all the relations of life, and a man who merits in every way the esteem of
the people of his county and city.

GEORGE COLEAL^N.

O'Brien count}' has been fortunate in the number and character of its
business men, those men who, with aid of the excellent farms of the county,
have put this county to the front ranks of the counties of Iowa. As a farmer,
as a public official, and as a business man, the subject of this sketch has
done ever}-thing within his power to advance the interests of the county,
and the \arious enterprises with which he has been connected have been con-
ducive to the prosperity- of the county to a marked degree. He has always
exerted a strong influence for good in his community, being a man of up-
right jjrinciples and desirous of seeing the advancement of his community
alons: moral, educational and material lines.

George Coleman, the son of Hiram and Anna Eliza (Boyle) Coleman,
was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1862. Hiram Coleman was born in
Ohio in 1822 and was a merchant all of his life. d\ing in 1878. He was
married in 1847 t*' Anna Eliza Boyle, who was born .\ugust 8, 1824. and died
April 13, 1912. To Hiram Coleman and wife were born four children:
James C, deceased: Chauncey E., deceased; Charles Burgess, deceased, and
George, with whom this narrative deals.

Georsfe Coleman received a common school education in the schools of
Ohio and in 1883, after the death of his father, he came with his mother and
two brothers to O'Brien county, Iowa. His mother bought two hundred
and forty acres of unimproved land for fifteen dollars an acre, adjoining the
corporation of Sanborn. The three brothers then began to improxe the farm

o'bRIEX AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 789

h\- constructing- bniMings. erecting- fences and installing a drainage system,
antl set out four acres of mixed grove and orchard,, and in a short time
had greatly enhanced the value of the farm and placed it in a position where
it was yielding handsome returns on the original investment. They bought
and sold stock of \arious kinds and did a g-reat deal of feeding on the fa\-^Ti
Thev marketed on an axerage of two car loads of cattle each year.

George Coleman remained with his mother on the farm until 1899, when
he was married to Xellie McConnack, who was Ijorn in Clay county, Iowa,
in 1876, and came to O'Brien county with her parents when a small child.
Before his marriage Mr. Coleman \\as elected sheriff of O'Brien county
and served from 1897 to 190J. While holding this office he maintained
his residence in Primghar. the county seat of the county. In 1904 Mr.
Colenian moved from Primghar to Hartlev and became interested in the
telephone business and now owns and controls the Hartley Telephone Ex-
change, and has jnit the exchange into a position where it is giving- efficient
service to the people of Hartley and vicinit}'. Air. Coleman, as a Repulilican.
has always been actively interested in politics and. in fact, has held some
sort of an office e\-er since he was twenty-one years of age. In 19 12 he
was elected mavor of Hartley, a position whicli he filled to the entire
satisfaction of all the citizens of the city. He is a man of wonderful energy
and determination and when he has a goal in \-iew he lets nothing swerve
him from his path until he reaches it. Mr. Coleman is the owner of three
liundred and thirty-five acres of land in Minnesota and owns six lots in
the city of Primghar. which he recently donated to that city for a public play-
ground for the children.

Mr. Coleman and his wife are people of culture and refinement and
ha\-e a host of friends who delight in sharing with them their hospitable
home. He is a man who has taken an interest in even,' movement which he
felt would help his city in an}- way and for this reason is regarded as one
of the most representative citizens of Hartley and O'Brien county.

ERNEST F. BRODERS.

It is a well attested maxim that the greatness of a community or a state
lies not in the niachiner}- of government nor e\-en in its institutions, but
rather in the sterling qualities of the individual citizen, in his capacity for
high and unselfish effort and his devotion to the ]mblic welfare. In these

790 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Ijarticulars he whose name appears at the liead of this re\'iew lias conferred
honor and dignity upon his locahty. and as an elemental part of history it is
consonant that there should be recorded a resume of his career, with the
object in \-ie\v of noting his connection \\ ith the advancement of one of the
most tiourishing and progressive sections of the commonwealth.

Ernest F. Broders. a banker and real estate man of Hartley, O'Brien
ctninty, Iowa, was born December 6, 1869, ""i Muscatine county, Iowa. He
is the son of Peter F. and Sophia (Hanson) Broders. Peter F. Broders
was ])orn in (Jerman_\- in 1840 and liis wife was born in the same countr\- in
1845. They were married in Muscatine county, Iowa, where they pur-
chased eight}' acres of land. Peter F. Broders grew to Ije a successful farmer
and u]nm his retirement, a few years ago, to Durant, Iowa, he owned six
hundred acres of land in this count}'. Mr. and Mrs. Peter F. Broders are
tlie ])arents of eleven children : Airs. Augusta Goettch. of Cedar county,
Iowa; Mrs. Amelia Bernick, of Durant, Iowa: Henry, who is farming the
home place; Mrs. Emma Denkman, of Scott count}', Iowa; Airs. Agnes Paul-
sen, of Da^"enport, Iowa; Airs. Laura Telsrow, of Aluscatine county, Iowa;
George, of Saskatchewan, Canada: Emiel. deceased; Harry, cashier of the
First National Bank of Hartley, and Ernest F., whose history forms the
theme of this narrati\e.

Ernest V. Broders received a good coiumon school education and at the
ap'e of sixteen went to Durant, Iowa, and worked in a general mercantile
store for two years at seven dollars a month. He then took a course in the
Davenport Business College at Davenport, Io^va, and lifter graduating toured
the Western states for a few years. Fie then came back to Durant, Iowa,
and clerked in a store for two years. When he was twent}'-tive years of
age he came to Hartley, Iowa, and opened a general mercantile store, which
he managed until IQ13. lu 1905 he was elected president of the First
National Bank of Hartley and is still filling that responsible position. In
addition to his other interests, he lias extensive land holdings in various
states in the United States, as well as in Canada. He is a fine type of the
sturdy German who started in with practically nothing and has accumulated a
very C(jmfortable fortune.

Mr. Broders was married in 1908 to Bessie Waterhouse, who was born
in Wisconsin in 1881. They have two children who are still at home,
Ernest F., Jr., and Elizabeth. Politically, Air. Broders is a Democrat, Ijut
has always been so busy with his many affairs that he has not had time to
take an active |)art in politics. He is a believer in the efficiency of church
work and is a lil)eral subscriber to the support of the \'arious denomina-

O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 7yi

tions in Hartley. Frateniall}-, lie is a member of the Knights of Pvthias
antl the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and takes a deep interest in
the welfare of these two fraternal org-anizations. He is liberal minded,
whole souled, kind hearted and a usefnl and noble man, and has won the
praise and respect of all who know him. His life has been characterized
b}' strict integrity of word and action, and among those who have known him
long and intimately he is held in high regard because of his personal charac-
ter and genial qualities.

GEORGE F. SOKOL.

The business man to a brief re\iew of whose life and characteristics the
reader's attention is herewith directed, is among the prominent business men
of Sible}". Iowa, and has by his enterprise and progressive methods con-
tributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial achancement
of Osceola county. Although still a voung man, he has in the course of a
business career. 1)een most successful in the enterprise with wliich he is con-
nected. He is a man of strong- intelligence, good judgment and has been
acti\e in the affairs of his community and uses his influence in e\ery wa\- to
better its development.

George F. Sokol, the secretary and treasurer of the Shell Lumber Com-
pau}- of Sibley, Iowa, was born August i8. 1880, in Jackson count}-. Iowa.
He is the son of F. J. an.d Anna Sokol, both of whom were born in Bo-
hemia. F. J. Sokol came to Iowa in 1855. where he followed the occupa-
tion of a farnier and merchant in Jackson count}-. In 1880 he moved to
Jones county, Iowa, and eng-aged in the lumber l)usiness. building up a
prosperous business there during the twenty-five years he was engaged in that
particular line. His wife died in igio and since then he has lived a retired
life in California. J. J. Sokol was one of the leading citizens of Jones
county and was one of the most influential men of the county. He was a
member of the county board of supervisors for seven years and
represented the county in the Legislature for two temis. For several years
before leaving Jones county he was heavily interested in the banking busi-
ness in the county. F. J. Sokol and wife were the parents of four children :
]\Irs. Blanche Shuttleworth. of Sibley. Iowa : ^hs. Emma Shimerda. of Ox-
ford Junction, Iowa: Dr. J. M. Sokol. of Spencer. Iowa, and George F.,
whose history is here briefly related.

George F. Sokol was educated in the district schools of his home county

792 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

and when eighteen years of age he entered Ames College, and three years
later graduated in the agricultural course from that institution. He then
engaged in the lumber business in Jones county, at Onslow, and remained
there for two years. During the next two years and a half he was at
Clermont, Iowa, in the lumber business, and in 1906 came to Sibley and be-
came connected with the Shell Lumber Company as secretary and treasurer.
He' is a man of culture and refinement and of marked business ability. Since
becoming connected with the firm he has shown luisiness ability of a high
rank and he is rapidly impressing those with \\hom he is associated as a
man of unusual attainment.

Mr. Sokol was married .\pril 6, 1910, to Agnes Nisbet, of Sibley,
Iowa, and to this union ha\e l)een born two children, Howard and .Vnna
May. Fraternally, Mr. Sokol is a member of the Ancient Free and Accept-
ed Masons at Sibley and also holds membershi]) in the chapter of that fra-
ternity. He is now treasurer of the l)lue lodge and chapter in Sibley. Mr.
Sokol is one of the sterling and substantial citizens of Sibley, a man whose
strong qualities demand respect and his genial dis])osition has won him many
friends since l)ecoming a resident of the city.

WILLARD A. BURLET.

It is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking
that the history of so-called great men onl}- is worthy of preservation and
that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the
historian or tlie cheers and the ai)preciation of mankind. A greater mis-
take was ne\'er made. Xo man is great in all things and ^•ery few are
great in man}- things. Many ])y a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame, who
before that had n.o reputation beyond the limits of their neighborhoods. It
is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most, but
the long study and effort which made the lucky stroke possible. It is
the preliminary work, the method that serves as a guide for the success of
others. Among those in tliis count}- who have achieved success along steadv
lines of action is Willard A. Burlet, who is now rendering efficient service
as cashier of the Bank of Moneta.

Willard A. Burlet, the son of John J. and Sarah (Bishop) Burlet, was
born in Delaware county, Iowa, in 1866. John J. Burlet was born m 1836
in Switzerland. When a young men he came to this country and first settled
in Indiana and later went to Chicago. He remained in Chicago for several

O JIRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 793

veai'S working on the canal antl on the steam ships, on the lakes. When he
was thirty-one years of age John J. Burlet came to Delaware county, Iowa,
and bought ninety acres of land. He continued to follow the life of a
farmer until he retired in 1896 to Earlville, Iowa, where he died a few vears
later. His wife, Sarah Bishop, was born in Lapoite, Indiana, in 1836.
To their union were burn three children: Charles, deceased; Flora, the
wife of F. W. Anders, of Des ^^loines, Iowa, and Willard A., with whom
this sketch deals.

Willard A. Burlet remained at home until twenty-one years of age. He
recei\-ed a good common school education and then graduated from the Earl-
\ ille high school, later graduating" from Bailey's Commercial College and
thus being well equipped for a successful career. In 1888 he came to O'Brien
county and purchased one hundred and sixt}' acres of prairie land, put six
thousand dollars worth of improvements on the land and became interested
in raising a high grade of li\e stock. He made a specialty of thoroughbred
Durham cattle and Poland China h.ogs. He now owns four Imndred and
forty acres of land and a home in Hartley. He continued to work on the
farm until 1908, when he retired from acti\"e fanuing and moved to Hart-
ley. A short time later he took full charge of the bank at Aloneta.

Air. Burlet was married in 1888 to Francelia AEedland. who was born in
1870 in Delaware countw Iowa. To this union have been born three children:
Charles, a graduate of the l)usiness college at Spencer. Iowa, and now as-
sistant cashier of the Moneta bank. He married Alaggie Albright, of Hart-
ley. Alilo, the second child of Air. and Mrs. Burlet. graduated from the
Hartley high school and then took a course in the "Four C's" College of
Des Moines. At the present time he is the onl}- stenotype writer in O'Brien
county. He is also connected with the bank at Aloneta. Ethel, the young-
est child, graduated from Hartley high school and later attended Drake
College for one term. She is still at home with her parents.

Politically. Air. Burlet is a member of the increasing class of men who
cast their \-ote for the best man irrespective of party affiliations; in other
words, he is independent in politics, with progressive inclinations. He has
held various pul^lic offices, being at one time tow^nship assessor and at the
present time secretary and treasurer of the school board of Omega town-
ship. He is a member of the Congregational church, but is now attend-
ing the Alethodist Episcopal church in Hartley. Fraternally, he is a mem-
ber of the Ancient Free and Accepted Alasons and the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, and takes a deep interest in the welfare and the work of
these two fraternal organizations.

794 o'briex and osceola counties, iowa.

GEORGE W. WARD.

The rolling prairie between the fortieth and forty-fifth parallels of north
latitude, which is folded in the loving embrace of tlgie limpid silver of the
Father of \\'aters on the east and the tawny gold of the Big ]\liiddy on our
western slope, is a garden of the Lord, which, in the liquid music of the
Indian tongue, appropriately was named Iowa, "beautiful land." From the
day when the first meadow lark intones her song of spring, which no
Mendelssohn, no Mozart, no Grieg, or other inspired human genius can
approach in its glorious motif of the ever-recurring miracle of the re-birth
of nature, till that perfect season in the Middle ^^'est known as Indian sum-
mer, .when the "frost is on the pumpkin and the fodder's in the shock," the
sixty thousand square miles of Iowa soil are one \ast workshop for the pro-
duction of the "corn, the royal corn" which has within its yellow heart
enough of food and wealth for all nations.

George W. Ward, who has been one of the largest farmers of the county,
and is now living at Primghar. was born August 3, 1862, in Niagara county,
New ^^jrk. His parents were Charles and Amanda ( Mitchell ) Ward, both
of whom were natives of the Empire state. Charles Ward came west in
1864, locating in Whiteside county. Illinois, where he lived the life of a
farmer until his death, in August, 1898. Charles Ward and wife were the
parents of four children, Harriet, May, Edward M. and George W., whose
history is set forth in this narrative.

George W. W^ard left Illinois when he was twenty-seven years of age
and settled three miles south of Primghar. in Dale township, this county,
where he bought the eastern half of section 24. for seventeen dollars an acre.
and sold this same farm in the spring of 19 13 for one hundred and twenty-
five dollars an acre. When he came here he knew little of the possibilities
of this county, but by hard work and close application to his agricultural
interests, he added to his land holdings from time to time until he l^ecame
one of the wealthiest men in his township. He is now the owner of three hun-
dred and sixty acres in Center township ; one hundred and sixty in Osceola
county, Iowa; five hundred and sixty acres in Dickinson county, this state;
eighty acres in Alinnesota ; eighty acres in Nebraska, and. in addition to his
land holdings, owns a considerable amount of propert} in Primghar. He
has accumulated his land by farming it in the best possible manner and
investing his annual proceeds in additional land. He has erected buildings
on his various farms and during the last six }-ears has purchased more than
twentv-five miles of tiling on his land. He has built many stock silos, barns,

THE : "I

PUBLIC Li^..^.Ry'

A?TC~
TILCfN -^^

'ONS

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 795

outbuildings, several miles of fence and has stocked all his farms with the
latest improved farm machinery and implements. He has been a man of
progressive tendencies all, along the line and has never failed to take advan-
tage of the latest improved machinery and scientific methods of agriculture.

Mr. \\'ard was married in November, 1893, to Amy Hatch, the daugh-
ter of E. W. Hatch, of O'Brien county, and to tins union there have been
born two daughters. May. born April 17, 1896. and Lois, born in September,
1899. The Ward family are all members of the Congregational church and
are very much interested in the \arious activities of that denomination. Mr.
Ward has recently built a fine, modern residence for the use of the church.
Politically, Mr. \\'ar(l is a member of the Progressive party and heartily
lends his support to its tenets. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America and the Yeomen. By a life of earnest and conscientious endeavor
Mr. Ward has won for himself the respect of all who have come in contact
with him. For matiy years he has been an important factor in the civic,
moral and educational life of his community, and no man stands higher today
in the estimation of his fellow citizens than he.

A generous act on the part of Mr. \\'ard. and one which has earned the
commendation of his fellow citizens generally, was his donation to the county
of what is known as the O'Brien County Hospital, and which is to be main-
tained by the county. This splendid institution cost Mr. Ward between six
and seven thousand dollar^; and any doctor in the county has the privilege
of bringing his patients to this hospital for treatment.

WILLIS \\\ OVERHOLSER.

It is universally conceded that there are three factors which are more
])()tent than all others in the advancement of civilization — pulpit, platform
and press. Of these three the press reaches places and conditions which the
(itlier two ne\'er touch. Public opinion, as \-oice(l in the newspapers of our
couu.tr\-. has as much influence in moulding legislation, advancing reforms
and eliminating- corrupt politics as all other agencies put together. A good
newspaper, one which stands for the best interests of a community, is a
blessing and tlie good that it can do is incalculable. It is the paper of the
town which often is the only means of driving graft out of city affairs. The
editor of a good newspaper is a man who touches the daih- life of the com-
nninitv on everv side and tlie editor who does his work honestlv, fearlesslv

796 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

and conscientiously deserves the praise of the community. Such a man is
the subject of this brief review.

Wilhs W. Overholser, the pubhsher of the Sibley Ga::cffc, was l^orn
November 20, 1868. in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His parents, J.
W. and Mary ( Kurtz ) Overholser, were natives of Pennsyhania, of Ger-
man descent. They migrated to Iowa in 1880, settling at Correctionville, in
Woodbury county, and for a time Mr. Overholser farmed and then engaged
in the groceiy business in Correctionville for a numlier of years. J. W.
Overholser and wife were the parents (^f three children : Alargaret, a teacher
in the Sioux City schools ; Mrs. Anna Bryan, of Daxenport, Iowa, and Willis
W., whose history is related in this conection.

Willis W. Overholser was twehe years of age when his parents came
fn^m Pennsyh'ania, consequently he received the beginning of a common
school education in his native state. After coming to this county he attended
and graduated from tlie high school in Correctionville and later went to Cor-
nell College, where he finished his education.

Mr. 0\'erholser served one term as postmaster of Correction\ille under
President Harrison and one term as postmaster of Ireton under President
McKinley. From 1894 to 1905 he was editor and publisher of the I ret on
(Iowa) Clipper. In 1906 he purchased the Sibley Gazette and has l^een pub-
lishing this continuciusl}' since March of that }-ear. The Gazette is a large
eight-page, se\-en-column paper, and has a circulation of o\-er two thousand.
It is the oldest paper in the county, having been established in 1S72, and from
the beginning has been one of the leading papers of the county. He has a
stafT of country correspondents and has a good share of the ad\ertisements of
Sil^ley. During the past few years the press of tlie Gazette has printed a
count}- map and county directorw The paper espoused the Republican cause
and is the official organ of the party in Osceola county. Mr. Overholser him-
self is an active supporter of his party and is at present the chairman of the
Republican county central committee.

Mr. Overholser was married in September, 1892, to Bertha Lothian,
of Correction.ville, and to this union have been born four children, Ralph,
Craig, Russell and Maxine. The family are earnest memljers of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church and render it their hearty support at all times. Fra-
ternally, ]\.Ir. 0\'erholser is a member of the Knights of Pythias and takes an
interest in the work of that fraternal organization. Personally, he is a man
of genial disposition and kindly impulses and since coming to this county has
won a large number of friends who were attracted to him because of his
many excellent qualities.

(> BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 797

FREEMAX R. PATCH.

7'liere is no profession which demands keener Ixisiness ability than that
of banking- and the most snccessfnl Ijankers are those who liave not only keen
business ability, but force of character and good judgment and foresight. It
is true there are other elements that enter and reinforce these, such as perse-
verance and discrimination. In the beginning of his career in public life.
Freeman R. Patch recognized that the foundation of success is earnest, per-
sistent labor and with this in view he l)egan to work earnestly and diligentlv
in order to advance himself. The result has been that he has not only placed
himself in the front ranks of the business men of this county. Imt has also
taken his full share in the ci\ic life of his community.

Freeman R. Patch, the cashier of the Hartley State Bank, and the son
of Freeman R. and Malinda (Wier) Patch, was born in 1861 in Whiteside
county, Illinois. His father was born in V'eruKjnt and was one of the early
settlers of Whiteside count}-, Illinois. He followed farming until his death in
1862. He was twice married and the Patch brothers of Hartley, Iowa, were
the two children b}- the second marriage.

Freeman R. Patch was onl}' one year of age when his father died and
he and his brother Frank were reared to manhood by their devoted mother,
wh») (lied in 1907. He received a good common school education, finishing
his .schooling in Toledo, Whiteside county, Illinois. At the age of twenty-
one he began farming in his nati\-e state and within a year he had come to
O'Brien county, Iowa, to take a position in the bank established at Hart-
ley l)y his brother, b'rank. He has been the cashier of the bank since its or-
ganization, in. 1882 and has seen it grow from a beginning to its present pros-
perous condition. It was the first bank in the county and on January i, 1887,
was reorganized as a state bank. .Mr. Patch owns a share in the bank and
has, in addition, extensive land holdings in O'Brien county and Canada in
])artnership with his brother Frank. He has an interest in the Hartley Lum-
ber Company, also owns his beautiful home in Hartley.

A/[r. Patch was married in 1886, at Algona. Iowa, to Myrtle Tennant, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Tennant, of O'Brien count}-. Her father was
one of the pioneer settlers of the countv and a distinguished A'eteran of the
Civil War. To this union have been born two children: Mrs. Delia Marie
Randolpli, a graduate of the Hartley high school and also of the musical de-
partment of Northwestern University of Evanston, Illinois. Her husband is
the proprietor of the Pantatorium in Hartley. Roscoe F., the other child of

798 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Air. and Airs. Patch, was born in 1891. is a graduate of the Hartley high
school, also of the oratorical department of X^orthwestern University and is
now a student in Xew York city.

Air. Patch has always been so busy with his own interests that he has
ne\'er taken an active part in political affairs other than to cast his vote at
election time, adhering to the Democratic party. He and his wife are earnest
members of the Presbyterian church and yield it their loval support at all
times. Afr. Patch has ahvaN^s taken an interest in the ci\ic life of the com-
munity where he has lived and in all of his relations his highest ambitions
ha\e Ijeen to Ijenefit his community and ad\'ance its \arinus interests. For
this reason he enjoys a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout
the county, who hold him in high esteem for his upright and straightforward
way of living.

DR. AI. AI. TRAINER.

Success in what are popularly termed the learned professions is the legiti-
mate result of merit and painstaking endeavor. In commercial life one mav
come into possession of a lucrati\'e business through inheritance or gift, but
professional advancement is gained only by critical study and consecutive
research long continued. Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional
knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes es-
sential to success have made Dr. M. AI. Trainer eminent in his chosen calling
and he stands today among the scholarly and enterprising- dentists of his
community.

Dr. AI. AI. Trainer, a successful denti.-t of Sibley, Iowa, w^as born No-
vember 2, 1850, in Penns}l\'ania. His parents, John and Caroline (Burn-
ham) Trainer, were natives of the same state. The Trainers are of Irish
descent, the American branch of the family going back to the time when three
brothers came from Ireland in the earlv history of the country. One of the
three brothers, Alichael, settled in Penns}'h'ania, and married Betsey Allison,
who was of English extraction. l"o this union were l)orn nine children: John
(the father of Doctor Trainer), Hannah, Sarah. Wallace, Joseph, Grimes.
Esther, Jane and James. John Trainer ^^•as l;)orn in Pennsylvania Jul}' 4,
1804, and died in 1886. His wife, Caroline Burnham, was born in 181 6, and
is one of ten children liorn to Air. and Airs. Charles Chester Burnham.
Charles C. Burnham was twice married and had two families of ten chil-
dren each.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 799

Charles C. Buniliam has an interesting" history. He was born in the ht-
tle cuuntr\' of W ales and came to Philadelphia in 1800 and when a yonng
man learned paj^er making. In iSi i he went with the ^Spanish to LaGnayra,
South America, and worked in a paper mill which had just been completed
there. The paper mill had l)een put into operation for the purpose of mann-
factiu'ing paper on wliich to prir.t the laws of the country. The famous
Caracas earthcjuake in X'enezuela destroyed the mill and at the same time
Ijrought death to thousands of people. Mr. Burnham, howexer, fortunately
escaped, ddie country paid him in a cargo of sugar and coffee and with thi.^
he set sail for Baltimore in iSi i and was captured by the British. They con-
fiscated his cargo and took him as a prisoner to the Bahama islands, from
whence he escaped on a Spanish shij). His knowledge of Spanish probably
sa\-ed his life at this time, since he arranged with the captain to take him to
Baltimore and set him free. He immediately enlisted in the American na\y,
and no doubt the fact tliat the Rritish had confiscated his cargo induced him
to join the Americans in order to fight against them. He ser^■ed in many
famous engagements, among which was the sea fig'ht between the "Frolic"
and the "Wasp." He later enlisted in tlie militia during the War of 1812 and
serxed to the end of tliat struggle. He then married tlie daughter of his
captain ( Capt. Wihiam .^tearn. \ and later receix'ed grants of Pennsylvania
land in return for his serxices in tlie x\ar. He receix-ed two tracts of land in
Cuml)erland county. Pennsylvania, one of four hundred and forty-four acres
and another of somewhat less acreage. He immediately moved upon one
of these tracts, but, despairing of making a living upon the land, he leased it
to a tenant for twenty-one years and never went back to it. Subsecjuently he
lost track of the land and although the Trainers still have the original title
deed to the land, they haxe nexer ])resented their claim. Charles C. Burn-
ham died at the ag"e of eight\'-four }'ears.

John Trainer and wife ^^■ere the j^arents of seven children: James, de-
ceased, a former ])rinciprd of the Sibley schools; John Core, of Carroll count)',
Iowa, and a former superintendent of the vSioux county, Iowa, schools for
two years ; W^infield Scott, deceased, former principal of the Indiana, Penn-
sylvania, schools; Morris M., wdiose history is here related; Mrs. Emma
Moore, of Knox, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Anna Stratton, of Strattonville, Penn-
syh-ania ; Jennie, a music teacher of Grandview\ W^ashington.

Dr. ^Morris M. Trainer was educated in the common schools of his county
in Pennsylvania and later attended an acadeni}- and normal college in Penn-
sylvania, after which he taught school in Pennsylvania for a time and then
studied dentistrv for two vears. Still later he pursuerl a ])ost-graduate course

'^^" (58

fidS'^

SOO o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

in dentistry in Chicago in order to better equip himself for the practice of his
present ]:)rofession. He practiced for a time in Pennsyhania and in 1881
came t(j Iowa and settled in Sibley, where he has pursued his profession for
the past thirtv-three }'ears. He was a pioneer dentist of northwestern Iowa.
P^or a time he and another dentist at Sheldon were the only ones within the
radius of hitx miles. Doctor d'rainer has kept a]:)reast of the ad\ances in his
profession and has l^een eminentl}" successful since coming" to this state. He
has enjoyed a large practice ever since coming to the county.

Doctor Trainer has been twice married, the first marriage occurring in
1883 to Irene Stear. who died many years ago. To this first marriage two
sons were born. Kenneth, a stenographer at Kansas City with the Armour
Grain Company, and Don. a bookkeeper for the Illinois Life Insurance Com-
pany at Chicago. Some years after the death of his first wife Doctor Trainer
married Mrs. A^iola Jones, who had two children by a former marriage.

Doctor Trainer has always taken an active part in the ci\ic life of his
cit}' and lias ser\-ed as city clerk for eight }'ears. Fraternally, he is a member
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He and his wife are earnest members of the Congregational church
and render it their zealous support. He has always ])een interested in every-
thing which afi^ected the welfare of the people, particularly from the view-
point of their health. Accordingly he has taken an active interest in the Na-
tional Hygiene Association as well as the National Congress of School Hy-
giene, in l)otli of whicli organizations he holds membership. His long career
in this community has been fraught witli much good to its people and no
movement Avhich might better his community has been made which did not
find in him a hearty and enthusiastic supporter.

HON. JOHN F. FIINMAN.

Invulnerable integrity and high purpose characterized the life of Hon.
John F. Hinman, an honored citizen and former honest official of O'Brien
count}', who left an indellible impress upon the ci\'ic and industrial annals of
the county and upon whose record rests no shadow or blemish. His strength
was as the number of his days, and not only did he accomplish much in
connection with the practical afi^airs of life, but his nature, strong' and vigor-
ous, found denotement in kindly tolerance and human sympathy, generous
deeds and worthv ser\'ice. He was a farmer by occupation, but was a man

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 8oT

of high educational attainments, who placed his abilities at the service of his
fellow men. and who served his county in a position of honor and re-
sponsibility.

Hon. bthn F. Hinman was Ixirn in Derby. Orleans county. Vermont.
Aui^ust J/. 1827. He was reared to yonn^- manhood and educated in Ver-
mont. W'lien \-et a }-oung- man he came to Iowa to seek his fortunes in the
western land op[)()rtunity. He located in Marshall count}' on a fann. Here
it was that he married h^llen A. Foote. December 20. 1866, in the city of
}.larshallto\\ n. Th.e}' resided in Marshall c<nuit\' until 1882, when they re-
moved to O'Brien county and settled on a farm in Baker township. On Mr.
Hinman's election to a seat in the Iowa Legislature in 1892 they moved to
Primghar and there made their final home. Mr. Hinman's services in the
Legislature were alwavs found to l)e in l)ehalf of the l)est interests of the
l)eople of the state and his home county and he seemed peculiarly fitted to
])erform the duties of his official position.

Mr. Hinman was duc of the pioneer live stock men of western and cen-
tral Iowa at a time wlien markets were far distant. For years he made a
business of buying up and feeding" large herds of cattle and great droves of
hogs, which lie would fatten for marketing and then dri\"e them to Iowa City
for shi])ment to Pittsburgh and the Fastern centers. He was the owner of a
half section of land in Baker townslhp. O'Brien count}-, wdiich he bought for
eight dollars an acre. He died November 1, 1904. sincerely mourned by all
who knew him as a good and useful citien. a Christian gentleman of scholarly
attainments upon whose name no stain rests.

His widow. Mrs. Ellen A. (Foote) Flinman, was born October 20, 1839.
at Xelson. Portage county, Ohio, the daughter of Asel and Caroline Foote,
natives of the state of Connecticut. The Foote family is of English extraction
and settled in Connecticut in the }'ear 1630. Nathaniel Foote was the orig-
inal progenitor of a large and worth}' list of descendants. Samuel Foote
fought for his country in the Revolutionary War. Commodore Foote was
a commander of vessels in the W'nv of 18 12. Nathaniel Foote was born in
the town of Colchester, England, and came to Watertown, Massachusetts,
in 1630. A descendant of his, Rodger Foote, settled in Ashtabula county,
Ohio, in about 1820. The Foote famih^ boasts a g'enealogy embracing' eleven
generations in an unl^roken line from the time of Nathaniel Foote, of Eng'-
land. Mrs. Hinman came to Iowa alone and here met and married Mr. Hin-
man. The children of this estimable couple were as follows: Ralph T., of
whom a review is presented in this volume; Bert, who was born December 12,
1870, and died October 28. 1875; Ethel, born October 15. 1876. and died July

Soj o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

17,1878; Xellie, wile of \\'illiani H. Eddy, born October 2, 1879, and married
to Mr. Eddy at Boyden, Sioux county. Jnne 17. 1902, and is the mother of
two sons. Plinman and Warren.

yirs. Ellen Hinman passed away on U'ednesday, November 5. 1913.
.She was a member of the Congregational church, and was favorably known
as a oood Christian ladv, a kind and faithful mother and an excellent neighbor.

JOSEPH SHINSKI.

Notable successes have been achieved by the pioneers of this favored,
fertile section who ha\e had from the outset an abiding faith in its ine\ itable
development and could see in the distant future the transformation of the
wilderness of prairie into a rich and smiling landscape of fertile and produc-
ti\"e farms and prosperous cities and villages. Some men seem born to the
accomplishment of great things and mo\e irresistably onward toward the
goal of achievement, with fortune smiling on their pathway at every turn.
Thev are optimists in every sense of the word, who see in the darkest hour
of impending fhsaster a brightening of the ways and a certainty tliat the out-
come of it all will eventually be for the best. The pioneers of O'Brien county
were men of hardihood, ^^•ho were not daunted by reverses. The foregoing
applies especially to the men of iron determination who had the courage to
remain and face the bitter .struggles of the "lean years" and have lived in the
plenteous aftermath which followed. One of these is Joseph Shinski. capital-
ist and leading" citizen of Sheldon, who has seen the city develop from a
mere railroad station into its present opulence and has taken an acti\e and
influential part in its onward progress.

Mr. Shinski was born in Xew York city, the son of Basil Shinski, a
native of Poland. His mother was Catharine ^Morgan, who was born in
Ireland. Basil left his native country and emigrated to America when a
young man. He located in Xew York city and there met and married
Catharine Morgan. He was a hatter by trade and had a store of his own
hi X'ew York citv. Being ambitious to do more for his family than the great
citv afforded in the way of opportunity, he came west and located in Lake
countv, Illinois, where he homesteaded on government land in the year 1845.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he endeavored to enlist in the Union service
in behalf of his adopted country. Mayhap the warrior blood of his fighting
forefathers stirred him to this patriotic resolve and he was successful in being

JOSEPH SHINSKI

O BRIEX AXl) OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 8o ^

accepted, but was persuaded by friends and neighbors that lie should not go
to war on account of his age. He was then nearly sixty years of age, having
been born in 1808. His death occurred in Xovember, 1869. Catharine, his
faithful wife, died in 1868. having been born in 181 8. Thev were the par-
ents of the following children: Mary, deceased; Basil, deceased: Adeline,
deceased : Elizabeth, a resident of Wisconsin ; Jacob, a citizen of Los Angeles,
California.

Mr. Shinski attended the schools in the neighborhood of the Lake county
farm and studied two vears in the W'aukegan Academv. He tauyht school
for four years and then entered the L'niversity of Notre Dame, Indiana, and
studied there in the }ear 1865. He was very poor and of necessity earned
his own way through the academy and the universitw The parental farm
was a rather poor, stony piece of land and was barely capable of giving the
family sustenance. Consequentlw Joseph Shinski is a self-made man in
every particular. After completing his studies in the university, he taught
school in Lake county for a number of vears during the winters, \\orking at
various pursuits in vacation time, and also speculating in tax titles to some
extent. In the spring of 1873 he journeyed to Sioux Citv, Iowa, and from
there came to the new town of Sheldon, where he opened a general merchan-
dise store. He staged in business through the lean "grasshopper" years,
when failure after failure occurred. At one time he would have sold out if
he possibly could, but there ha])pened to be no (.me within range who had
money enough to bu}- his stock. During this period he carried manv people
upon his books who were unable to pay. All business was mostly done on
credit during the "hopper" invasion, as there was no money in circulation
and many ga.ye up the fight. Howe\er, ^\v. Shinski sur\iyed and i^'ospered
according to his deserts for sixteen years. In 1889 he disposed of his l)usi-
ness and has since been engaged in liandling land and the loan business. He
has been very active in buying and selling L)wa land. At the present time
his land holdings are considerable. He ov>-ns one thousand acres of land near
the city, which is valued at two hundred dollars an acre. He resides in one
of the finest residences in Sheldon and is the owner of six residence and
rental properties.

Mr. Shinski is politically allied with the Republican party and has served
his home cit}' two terms as mayor, has been justice of the peace, and has
been a member of the school board. It is said of him that he made an able
executive during his mayoralt}- incumbency. He ser\-ed as a member of the
county board of supervisors from 1900 to 1903 inclusive.
(52)

804 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA counties, IOWA.

His religious connection is with the Cathohc church, of which he is an
influential and valued member. His business judgment was in demand when
the congregation of this church set about the erection of the magnificent
cathedral at a cost of forty thousand dollars. He had practical charge of
the erection of this fine building and was a \ery liberal contributor to the
financing of the same.

Mr. Shinski was married in 1875 to Helen M. Kelley, of Sioux City,
who has borne him two children : ]\Irs. Maude E. Brock, wife of Dr. \\\ R.
Brock, of Sheldon, and Mrs. Margaret McKillip. whose husband is engaged
in the wholesale produce business in Sheldon. He is one of those earlv
settlers who had a sublime faith in the future of his adopted city and county.
He stayed during the lean years and consequentl}- reaped a harvest and
gained through an abiding foresight. O'Brien county land has been his in-
vesting field and he has been actively engaged in building up his home city.
While Mr. Shinski has traveled extensively during late years, he is of the
firm opinion that O'Brien county well deserves the name "Garden Spot of the
World," which has frequently been applied to its sixteen miles square of
territory. Such citizens as he are a l^enefit to their communitv and are well
worthy of a fitting representation in the annals of O'Brien county.

JAMES T. DEWEY.

The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is widely known in
O'Brien county and is one of the honored citizens of Primghar, where he is
li\ing in honorable retirement after a strenuous life of activitv in connection
with agricultural pursuits. His well directed efforts in the practical affairs
of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judg-
ment ha\e Ijrought to him prosperity, and his life demonstrates what may be
accomplished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work
and has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of any disaster
or discouragement that may arise. In all the relations of life Mr. Dewev
has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been
brought into contact and a biographical history of this locality would not be
complete without a record of his career.

James T. Dewey, a gallant veteran of the Civil War and a retired farmer
of Primghar, was born August 8. 1842, in York. Washtenaw county,
]Michigan, the son of Cyrenus and Beulah (Wilcox) Dewey, both of whom

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 805

were nati\'es of Vermont, l)ut died in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Cyrenns
Dewey reared a family of nine children, Alartin, Maria, Sarah, Harrell, Marv.
James. Martha. C}'riis and Esther.

James Dewey grew to manhood in his native state and wlien he was
nineteen years of age enhsted in Company H, First Regiment Alichigan Vol-
unteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a corporal at Adrian. He was
wounded in action and later attached to Company K, Fifth United States Ar-
tillery, from August, 1862, until April, 1864. ^^t the expiration of his three
years' service he was discharged on August 30, 1864, but re-enlisted on
?\Iarch 15, 1865, ''1 Company H, Eighteenth Regiment Michigan Volunteer
Infantry, and was mustered on March 26th of that year, joined his regiment
at Hunts\ille, Alahama, on ^larch 2gth, and was immediately transferred to
Company E, Xinth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, on June 2^,
1865. He was mustered out of the service at Nashville. Tennessee, September
15. 1865. He served in the battles of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gaines Mill,
Malvern Hills, Spottsylvania Court House, North Amie River, Petersburg,
Gettysburg, and many others of minor importance. He was slightlv wounded
at the battle of Mahern Hills, but was able to continue in the service. He
attended the reunion at the Gettysburg battlefield on June 30, 1913. Imme-
diately after the close of the war Mr. Dewey went to Iowa and settled in
Buchanan count}'. Two years later he married Lizzie E. Bascom in that
county, who was born in Okemos, Ingham county, Michigan, and was the
daughter of W'illard and Hannah (Stewart) Bascom, who were early set-
tlers in Michigan and natives of New York state. They came to Michigan
in 1842 and to Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1865. Later they moved to
O'Brien county, this state, in 1871, and homesteaded in Highland township
on section 12. Mr. Bascom died in 1879, while his widow survived him un-
til 1897. They were the parents of four children, Mary Ann. Maria, Eliza-
l^eth, the wife of Mr. Dewey, and Henry.

Four years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dewe}- moved to O'Brien
county and homesteaded in Highland township. They managed to exist
through the famous grasshopper period and other troubles of the time. In
1905 they sold their quarter section and bought a tract of land near Suther-
land. ha^•ing moved to Primghar in 1898.

Mr. and Mrs. Dewey are the parents of three children : Hattie is the
wife of Dr. H. C. Rogers, and they have three children, Cecil. Helen Cath-
erine and Evelyn; Nellie is the wife of L. L. Funk, of Kansas City, Missouri,
and they have two children. Donald and Dorothy Edward, who died in 1882.
Air. Dewey is a Prohibitionist in politics. . He is a firm believer in the princi-

3o6 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COI'NTIES, IOWA.

l)les ()f this part}- and is known as one of the stanchest temperance advocates
in the conntv. He is abstemious in all of his habits and has lived a clean and
wholesome life during his whole career. He and the members of his family
are devout adherents of the Alethodist Episcopal church, to which they con-
tribute liberallv of their means.

ANDREW CULVER.

One of the first settlers of Osceola county, Iowa, was Andrew Culver.
He settled in this county on June 13, 1871. on a soldier's claim. This was
at the \erv beginning of the influx of settlers in this county and accordingly
he is conversant with the entire history of the county from its beginning.
His father was one of the most influential men of the county in its early his-
tory and was the first county treasurer elected. Mr. Culver has arisen to his
present position without other assistance than a strong will and a willing
heart, coupled with those qualities of integrity and honor which are always
in concomitance of the successful man's career.

Andrew Culver, a contracting carpenter of Sibley, Iowa, and the son of
Andrew M. and Anna (Kennedy) Culver, was born February i, 1846, in
Portage county, Iowa. His father was born in August, 181 1, near Spring-
field. Xew York, and was married in Portage county. Ohio, to Anna Kennedy.
Andrew AI. Culver's father settled in the Western Reserve of Ohio early in
the last cen'tur}' and in 1850 the family moved to Albany. Athens county,
Ohio. Wliile living here Andrew M. was mustered into the Ohio National
Guard and later served in the Union army in the one-hundred-days' service.
Andrew ]\I. and his son Andrew were both in Company H, One Hundred
and l<"ortN--first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served for one hun-
dred days. The Culver family lived in Athens county until March, 1865, and
then moved to Wisconsin, where they lived six years. In the fall of 1870 they
mo\ed to southwestern Iowa and in the following spring came to Osceola
countw where they homesteaded on section 24, township 29, range 42, about
one and one-h.alf miles south of Sibley. During the first summer the family
lived in a board shanty, twelve by eighteen feet and seven feet high. In the
fall of 1 87 1 they built a house fourteen by twenty-four feet and fourteen
feet high and also a sod stable with a roof. The first year Andrew broke u|.
twenty-five acres of land. During the grasshopper years they suffered as did
all the other settlers of this section of the state and were oftentimes practi-

o'bRIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 807

cally on the \erge of starvation. One summer the grasshoppers ate u])
twenty-tive acres of fine corn, after it had a good start. Andrew M. Culver
was elected county treasurer in the fall of the first year that they lived in
the count}' and served for two years. He lived on his homestead until about
1879, and then sold out and bought eighty acres near Sibley, where he lived
three years. He then moved to Sibley where he lived until his death, April
10, 1904. His wife died June 2, 1876. Andrew M. Culver and wife were the
parents of a large family of children: One who died in youth; Alonzo. a
soldier in the Thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was killed at
Lewisburg, West Virginia, in a battle on May 23, 1862 ; Mrs. Drusilla Bean,
deceased: Mrs. Melissa Thomas, deceased; Andrew, whose life history is here
presented to the reader.

Andrew Cuher received a limited common school education in the
schools of Ohio and, as had been indicated, muxed with his family from place
to place until he finally reached Osceola count}' in the spring of 1871. Like
his father, he receixed a soldier's claim and at once set to work to improve his
land. He was married in the fall of 1871 and then started to housekeeping
upon his homestead. Here they lived for ten years, starting in with a very
small shant}' in wliicli they lived for a few months. In 188 1 they sold their
farm and moved to Sibley where they have since lived with the exception of
one year when they resided in Morrison, Iowa. For twelve years Mr. Culver
was employed in the Sibley Flouring Mills, but, the work proving too ardu-
ous, he engaged in carpentering and contracting. Since engaging in this
business he has been ver}' successful and now owns three \'aluable residences
in Sibley as well as several lots.

Mr. Culver was married on November 29, 1871, to Fanny Marden, wh
was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 29, 185 1. She is the daughter of Ed-
ward and ?\[ar\' (Hayter) Marden, natives of England. Her parents came
from England and settled in Wisconsin, where they were married, living all
of their days in that state. The father died in 1869 and the mother in 1894.
Mr. Culver had met his wife while his parents were living in Wisconsin.
Thev were sweethearts in that state before he left for Iowa. Accordingly
as soon as he- had established his claim in Iowa he returned to Wisconsin,
where the^■ were married. .They are the parents of six children: Edgar, a
druggist and chennst in a wholesale drug house in Sioux City, Iowa; Cleo. a
trained nurse and the widow of H. N. Aplin, has three children, Mildred,
Bruce and Warren; Mrs. Lottie Mittinger, of Minneapolis; Bruce, who is as-
sisting his father in the carpenter work, and Arthur, who died at the age of
four, in 1882. Theer are now four generations of the Culver family living

( )

8o8 O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA counties, IOWA.

in Osceola county, as follows : Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Culver ; their daugh-
ter, >Jrs. Leo Aplin ; Mrs. Aplin's daughter, Mrs. Mildred Whitacre, and
Mrs. W'hitacre's daughter, Miss Elva Whitacre.

Mr. Culver is a Republican in politics, but has ne\er had inclination for
public office. Religiously, he and his family have been loyal members of tlie
Methodist Episcopal church, while, fraternally, he is a member of the Mod-
ern Brotherhood of America and the Grand Army of the Republic. 'Sir.
Culver is a man of optimistic nature and during his long residence in this
county he has won a host of friends who admire him for his genial and un-
assuming nature.

GEORGE G. BLAKE.

Among the many foreign nations which liave contril)uted their quota to
tlie cosmopolitan population of O'Brien county, there is no country which has
furnished a finer type of citizens than has Ireland, and this county ma}' justh'
be proud of its hundreds of substantial citizens. There is at least one son of
the Emerald Isle who is now living in Primghar. who is a gallant veteran
of the Civil War, and George G. Blake, who is now residing in the county seat
with his children, is one of those deserving men who ha^'e cast their for-
tunes with the vast territory west of the Mississippi.

George G. Blake, while not a resident of long standing in the county, \"et
is ne\'ertheless ably represented l)y his worth}" chihlren, who are now li\ing
in the county seat. He was born July lo, 1833, in Belfast, Ireland, his ])arents
being of English descent. His father was an English tithe collector, and at
the time of George's birth was residing temporarily in Belfast. Robert and
Anne (McWilliams) Blake were the parents of eight children, Eliza, Anna,
Rachel, Margaret, ]\Iaria, George S., Robert and James. The Blake family
came to America in 1842, settling near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they
remained for about twelve years, when they went to Illinois, where R<)l)ert
Blake died in 1863.

George G. Blake receixed part of his education in Ireland and the re-
mainder of it in Wisconsin. At the opening of the Civil War he enlisted in
Companv E, Ninety-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, August 22.
1862. and served for three years. He partici])ated in twelve battles of im-
portance, auK^ng which were Germantown, \"icksburg, and the siege of
Petersburg in the spring of 1865. In this latter battle he was engaged in two
fierce charges on the works. After the battle of Vicksburg, General Grant's
army was di\-ided, and about one-third of the troops were sent to Sherman

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 809

in ihe eastern part of Tennessee, and the remainder were attached to the army
of General Banks on the Red River expedition. Mr. Blake was attached to
the Red River expedition and was later transferred with his regiment to
Petersburg, where he i)articipated in the linal charges upon that city. He was
a participant in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C, in May, 1865, ^^^^
was mustered out in August of the same year. He arrived in Illinois August
22, 1865, and shortly afterward went to Minnesota, where he worked as a
missionarv among the Indians. He received twenty-six dollars a month and
his board, and continued at this work for the next four years.

Mr. Blake was married in 1869 '^"^^ '^t once bought a farm at Shell
Rock, Minnesota. Idie land for which he i)aid seven dollars an acre in 1869
is now worth one hundred aiid sixty dollars an acre up to two hundred dol-
lars an acre. After buying his farm he settled down to the life of a farmer
and became one of the most successful agriculturists of his neighborhood.
He appliefl with cpiiet determination to the task of improving and developing
his farm and bringing it to a high state of cultivation, with the result that
his efforts were abundantly successful. Several years ago he retired from
active work on the farm and went to Primghar to spend the rest of his days
with his children.

Mr. Blake was married to Mary Little and to this union were born six
children : Mrs. Nettie Smith, of Primghar, who has four children ; Mrs.
Minnie Metcalfe, \vho is the mother of three children; Clara, the wife of
J. W. Boyd, of Clarksville, Iowa, has one child living; Mrs. Abigail White-
house, of Sioux Falls. Iowa, wdio has three children; Mrs. Julia Soules, of
Tolly, North Dakota, who has tw'O children, and Robert, who is living on his.
father's farm in Minnesota, and is married and has four children.

Mrs. Blake died several years ago and Mr. Blake, at the earnest solicita-
tion of his cliildren in Primghar, left his farm in Minnesota and took up his
residence with them in Primghar, and he is now making his home with his
daughter, Airs. Nettie Smith.

Fraternally. Mr. Blake is a member of the Masonic order and is a loyal
adherent of the Baptist church. In politics he has always advocated the prin-
ciples of tlie Republican party, Init has never been an active worker in the
ranks of his partv. Mr. Blake has lived a useful life. He and his good wife
reared a family of children who have become useful members of society, and
now. in his declining years, he can look back over a life which has been well
spent. The gallant old veterans are fast passing aw^ay, and we can not do
them too much honor while they are still lix'ing, and his tribute to this vet-
eran is l)ut a feeble expression of what is due to him.

■ 8lO u'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

FRANK PAUL WINKLER. M. D.

Professional success results from merit. Frequently in commercial life
one mav come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or
gift, but in what are known as the learned professions advancement is gained
onlv through painstaking and long-continued effort. Prestige in the healing
art is the outcome of strong mentality, close application, thorough mastery
of its great underl}-ing principles and/ the ability to apply theory to practice
in the treatment of diseases. Good intellectual training, thorough profes-
sional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attri-
butes essential to success have made Dr. Frank Paul Winkler eminent in his
chosen calling and lie stands today among the scholarly and enterprising
phvsicians in a count} noted for the liigh order of its medical talent.

Dr. Frank P. Winkler, a practicing physician and surgeon of Sibley.
Iowa, was born June 24, 1882, at Ida Grove. He is the son of William
and Caroline ( Rudlofif) Winkler, who are natives of Germany and early
setlers in Ida county, Iowa. In 1891 William Winkler and family left Ida
Gro\e and settled in Lyon county, where they lived until 1909, then moved
to Luverne, Minnesota, where they are now living.

Doctor Winkler was educated in the public schools of Doon, L}(jn
county, Iowa; attended Charles City College of Charles City, Iowa; State
Universitv of South Dakota; L'ni\ersity of St. Louis, and finally was granted
his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Uni\-ersity of Illinois on June
6. 1906. He has also taken post-graduate work in the University of Illinois
since graduating. With this excellent training it can be seen that Doctor
Winkler has the practical training which is the first ref|uisite of the suc-
cessful physician of today. He keeps fairl}- abreast of the times by keeping
in close touch with the latest literature on medical science and also by attend-
ing the various medical societies of the country. He is a member of the
Osceola County, Iowa State, Sioux \'alley and American Medical Associa-
tions, and the American Association of Railway Surgeons, and he is attend-
ing surgeon of the Samaritan Hospital, at Sibley.

Doctor W'inkler began the practice of his profession in Scotland, South
Dakota, and remained there three years. He then went to Bryant, South
Dakota, where he practiced for the next three years.. He came to Sibley,
September i. 1912. succeeding the practice of Dr. Hiram Neill. and has
continued to practice here since that time.

Doctor Winkler was married in 1903 to Julia Ella Catobius. of St.

FRANK P. WINKLER, M. D.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 8il

Louis, Missouri, who died December 3. IQ09. at the age of thirty year>^.
Fraternally, Doctor Winkler is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Brotherhood of
American Yeomen. He is alsr> identified with the Eastern Star and the
Daughters of Rebekah. At the present time he is a local surgeon for the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, as well as the Chicago, ^Minnesota & Omaha
Railways. Doctor Winkler is still a young man and has a long and brilliant
career before him. The success which he has attained since coming to this
city indicates that the future holds much in store for him. He is a man of
pleasing personality and makes friends easily.

C. W. LEWIS.

It would 1)e interesting to kn(jw the underlying reasons which go\'ern the
choice of occupation and if it were possible to determine in any way the best
occupation for a young man to enter, much of the failure in life would be
eliminated. Undoul)tedl)' there are man}- i)reachers who ought to be farmers,
while, on the (ither hand, there are man}' farmers who woukl fill the pulpit
with distinction. At this present day and generation tliere is such a multi-
plicity of professions offered to the young man tliat he is often bewildered
bv reason of their large number. Toda}' there art thousands of occupations
calling for voung men where there was a scarce hundred a century ago. The
important thing, after all, is for the young man to pick that occupation for
which he is best fitted, then to equip himself that he may be an honor to the
profession v>inch he chooses. The life history of C. \\'. Lewis, one of the
enterprising newspaper men of Osceola count}', is an example of a man who
is peculiarly trained for his chosen life work. As a son of a printer, he has
learned the trade from the ground up and consequently there is no angle of
the business which he does not thoroughl}' understand.

C. W. Lewis, the editor and publisher of the Jshtoii Leader, was born
March 2, 1887, in Marcus, Iowa. He is the son of F. A. and Nettie (Watt)
Lewis, who are natives of Wisconsin and Iowa, respectively. His father
was a newspaper man and was editor and publisher of the Marcus Nezus for
twentv-five vears. He was postmaster of Alarcus for nine years, holding that
position at the time of his death in 1906. F. A. Lewis and wife were the
parents of three children: C. F., a farmer of Woodstock, Minnesota: W^il-
son, who resides with his mother, and C. W., with whom this narrative deals.

8l2 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

C. W. Lewis was educated in the Marcus schools and graduated from
the high school at the age of eighteen. Before graduating from the high
school he had worked in his father's printing office after school hours and in
this wa}' became acquainted with the mechanical side of the business at an
early age. For the past fourteen years he has been a printer and in active
service, witli the exception of three years, when he was assistant
postmaster of Marcus. He came to Ashton and began the publication of the
Leader Decem1:)er 17. 1909, and has had the satisfaction of seeing this paper
increase its circulation and widen its influence in this community.

Mr. Lewis was married May 2}^, 191 1. to hdorence Hockert, the daugh-
ter oi J. S. Hockert, a retired merchant of Sutherland, Iowa. To this union
ha\e been ])orn two chi]<lren. Merton, born in June. 1912, and Merna, born
in Julv. 191 3. h'raternally, ^Iv. Lewis is a member of the Modern Woodmen
of .\merica. Politically, he is Democratic, but is not a partisan in any sense
of tlie word. He ach'ocates the best measures in his paper in a fluent and
forcible manner and yet in a way which indicates his independence of ex-
pression.

FRITZ HINZ.

Our nation owes much of its prog'ressiveness to the infusion of the Ger-
manic element amongst its population, for in all walks of life they have been
found efficient, energetic and patient, enduring with fortitude the hardships
of pioneer life and doing their full share in the work of pushing forward the
wheels of progress wherever they are located. There is scarcely a localit}'
in the Union that has not felt their strong and ameliorating influence, conse-
((uently they have ever been most welcome here and all honor is due them.

Fritz Hinz, a retired farmer of Primghar, is a worthy representative of
the stm"dy and energetic Germans who have come to this county from their
faraway native land, and is one of the twenty-five hundred Germans \\\\o
ha\e honored O'Brien county with their citizenship. Mr. Hinz was born in
Holstein, Germany, January 3, 1838, and was the son of Franz and Elzaba
( Yotmgley ) Flinz, who were the parents of five children: John, of Suther-
land, Iowa; Henn-, who still resides in the fatherland; Peter, deceased; j\Iar-
garet, deceased, and Fritz, whose history is here presented.

Fritz Hinz grew up on his father's farm in Germany and at the age of
tliirt}' married W'ieloke Ehleis, who was born in Germany in 1842. Imme-
diately after their marriage they came to America and first settled temporarily

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 813

in Davenport. Iowa, where they stayed for six weeks, after which they went
to Tama countw this state, where they bought one hundred and twenty acres
of hmd which they improved and developed to such an extent that they wer.
able to sell it at a considerable profit. In 1885 they came to O'Brien county,
bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres adjoining the town of Gaza,
a town which is partially built on the Hinz farm. After moving to this farm
Mr. Hinz also engaged in the lumber business and was successful from the
first. At one time he was the owner of nearly one thousand acres of land in
the count}-, as well as four hundred acres of Dakota land, and also land in
other adjoining- states. In 1903 Mr. Hinz retired to Primghar after selling
his farm and bought seven acres in the town of Primghar. He still holds
two hundred and forty acres in Alinnesota, and does a real estate business in
connection with George W. Schee.

Mr. Hinz adheres to tlie i)rinciples of the Democratic party and, al-
though not an ijffice seeker, he has always taken an intelligent interest in the
issues of the da}'. He and the members of his family are loyal members of
the German Lutheran church and they gixe it their earnest support. Mr. and
Mrs. Hinz are the parents of four children: Mrs. Minnie Manly, of Dakota;
Frank, whose wife is deceased and who is now living at home with his par-
ents, together with his daughter, Celia ; Charles, who is running a store in
Sanborn, and Mrs. Kate Hendrey, of Primghar.

Mr. Hinz represents the fine type of emigrants who b}- thrift and in-
ilustry ha\e become the present substantial citizens in the various coi-nmuni-
ties in which they have settled, who combine business talent with sound busi-
ness judgrnent and foresight to perceive the Aalue of land, all of which has
enabled Mr. Hinz to attain to a respectable and eminent position in the af-
fairs of his community and enjoy a very comfortable competence. He is tlie
exemplification of the self-made man who has achieved a reputation in this
county which places him among the first of his county's business and pulj-
hc men.

PATRICK REDMOND.

Among the i»rosperous farmers of O'Brien county of Irish descent there
is no one wh(^ deserves more honorable mention than Patrick Redmond, a
retired farmer of Lincoln township. He was born in Ireland in 1835 and is
the son of Peter and Mar}- fWhalen) Redmond. Peter Redmond was a
farmer and teamster in Ireland and lived there all of his days, dying in 1863.

3l4 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Peter Redmond \\as twice married and iw his first marriage the following
children were born: James, of Pennsyhania ; John, deceased; Peter, of Los
Angeles, California; Mrs. Marie Clerey, of Ireland; Alary, who was burned
to death when a baby, and Patrick, whose histor}- is here briefly delineated.
In 1862 lie was married to Marie Harris. There were no children by this
second marriage, he dying a year after his second marriage.

Patrick Redmond left his native land when he was twentv years of ae'e
and came to America, settling in Bncks coun.ty. Pennsylvania. He engaged
in farming in Pennsylvania until 1865 and then went to Illinois, where he re-
mained until 1873. The latter year he went to Henry county, Iowa, and
fanned until 1880. His next mo\-e took him into Osceola county where he
farmed for the next six years. He settled upon his last farm in Lincoln
township, O'Brien count), in 1891. ])nrc]iased two hundred and forty acres
of land and improved in such a way that its i)roducti\ity was greatly in-
creased. He set out fixe acres of trees, which was the custom of most of the
farmers of the county. He has always been interested in the raising of live
stock and has been a breeder of registered stock. He makes a specialty of
French Percheron horses and has taken many ])rizes at the county fairs of
Osceola and O'Brien ccnmties. He now owns a young French Percheron
stalli(Mi, two }-ears of age. wliich he \alues at two thousand dollars. He is a
stockholder in the Percheron Society of America at Chicago, Illinois. Mr.
Redmond owns a home in Sanborn where he is spending his declining years.

Air. Redmond was married in 1863, in Pennsylvania, to Mary Sulli\'an
and to lliis union ha\e been born se\en children: Mar}', a graduate of the
Howe Academy of Alt. Pleasant, Iowa, and now a school teacher in Sanborn ;
Thomas, a real estate business man of Sibley, Iowa; Helen, who is teaching
school in Sioux b'alls, South Dakota, after taking a college course in Drake
University, University of Alinnesota and other schools; Steven, a farmer of
O'Brien county ; Alargaret, the wife of Doctor Wheatley, government phy-
sician at the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio, and two children, Catherine
and Steven, who died in infancy.

Politically, Air. Redmond has always identified himself with the Repub-
lican party and, while interested in politics, yet he has never been an active
factor in the campaigns. He and all of his family are earnest members of
the Catholic church and contribute generously of their substance to its sup-
port. He is a member of the Catholic organization, the Knights of Colum-
bus. Air. and Airs. Redmond ha\'e reared a large famih' to lives of useful-
ness and have given them the best of educational adx'antages. The best citi-
zen is he who takes his full share in the advancement of his communitv and

o'bKIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 815

rears a family of children so that they will be able to take their places among
the men and women who are advancing civilization in this country, and by
this standard Patrick Redmond has met with unusual success. It is better to
give a half dozen children, well trained, to the service of the state than to
lea\e a fortune of one hundred thousand dollars to charity or any other or-
ganization and no children for the good of society. Mr. Redmond is highly
esteemed bv every one wlio knows him .and few men in the county have a
wider acquaintance than he.

OLIVER A. METZ.

(3ne of the most popular and efficient county officials who has ever held
office by the grace of the suffrages of his fellow citizens is Oliver A. Metz,
the present county recorder of Osceola county, who has been elected to this
office four times in succession and is still holding it, while his previous offi-
cial record was one of merit. Before moving to Sibley he was a resident of
.Vllison township, and was nine years the sch(iol treasurer of his township and
for eight years was township trustee. He is not only recognized in his own
county as a man of more than ordinary ability, but at the last annual meet-
ing of the State Recorders" Association of Iowa. Mr. Metz was unanimously
elected as president of the state association. This lionor came to him abso-
lutely unsoliciied and is a marked tribute to his ability and popularity.

Oliver A. Met/:, the son of Samuel J. and Susan (Diamond) Metz, was
born July i. 1853, in Pennsylvania. His parents were natives of Maryland
and Penns\ Ivania. respectively, and migrated to Black Hawk county. Iowa,
in j<SD5, where they purchased land and lived until i88i, when they returned
to Pennsylvania, and two years later came west and settled in Kansas, where
Samuel J. ^letz died in igoi. He and his wife were the parents of eight
children, six of whom are living: X. D., of Lake Park, Iowa; Mrs. Mary
Jacobs, of Hay Springs. Nebraska; Mrs. Florence Secoy. of Hutchinson,
Kansas: Airs. Belle Crandall, who lives in Colorado; William H., of Little
River, Kansas, and Oliver A., with whom this narrative deals.

Oliver A. ]\Ietz was twelve years of age when his parents came from
Pennsylvania to this state and consequently he received some of his educa-
tion in liis native state. When he was twenty-four years of age he began
farming for himself in Black Ha^vk and Grundy counties, living on rented
land. In the spring of 1896 he came to Osceola county and purchased the

8l6 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

south half of the 'southwest quarter of section 14, in Allison township, and
the north half of the northwest quarter of section 23. in this township, for
which he paid thirty dollars an acre, and this land is now worth easily one
hundred and twenty dollars an acre. He has put many improvements on the
land in the way of huildings, fences and drainage, and his farm today pre-
sents a very attractive appearance. He continued to reside on this farm until
1907, when he mo\ed to Sibley to take the office of county recorder, to which
he had l^een elected in the fall of 1906. So popular was his administration of
the duties of this important otTice that he was re-elected in 1908, 19TO anrl
1912. Previous to moving to the county seat lie had served in his home town-
slii]) as trustee and school treasurer.

Mr. ^letz was married in 1877 to Lucy Waters, the daughter of Daniel
^^'aters, an early settler of Black Hawk count}'. I(^wa. Daniel \\^aters was a
native of Pennsylvania, and came to Linn county, Iowa, in 1855. and per-
manently settled in Black Hawk county in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Metz are
the parents of three children : Mrs. Eva M. Strayer. who lives in Ocheyedan.
has one daughter, Neva; A. C. a grain buyer of Underwood, North Dakota,
who is married and has one daughter. Lucv Elnora. and R. T-. a li\'erv man
of Undenvood, North Dakota.

Politically, Mr. Metz is a stanch Republican and has been honored by
his party on numerous occasions and it is needless to say that he has well
merited the confidence which has been reposed in him by his party, as well as
the citizens of the county. He and his wife are both members of the
Brethren church, but attend the Methodist Ej^iscopal church at Sibley. He is
a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Mr. Metz has proven
one of the most ])opular and efficient count}- officials which the county has
ever had. He is courteous in his dealings with the citizens of the county, and,
l)eino a man of intellig-ence, he is able to ser\'e tliem in a \'ery efficient manner.

WILLIAM W. TURNBULL.

One of the residents of Sibley, Iowa, who has had an interesting career
is William W. Turnbull, a prominent real estate dealer of the county seat.
He has been identified with the history of this county for more than twenty-
five years, and in that time has made his impress upon the community. Be-
ginning the battle of life at the age of eleven, he has never ceased his efforts
and today is reaping the results of his many years of hard work.

/
o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 817

William W. Tiirnbiill, the son of John and Margaret (Davidson) Tnrn-
bnll, was born in Brushland, Delaware county, New York, October 7, 1852.
His parents were lx)th natives of New York, and his father died in that state
in 1857, while his mother died in Sibley, Iowa, in April, 1892.

Shortly after the death of his father, W. \\'. Turnbnll started to school.
1)ut when he was eleven years of age he felt that he had to get out and help
support his mother. Consequently, he hired out to a farmer for six months
at eleven dollars a month. As he grew older he was able to command better
wages, and l)ef()re he was fourteen years of age was working in the tan-bark
forests of Pennsylvania and doing the heaviest kinds of farm labor. A strav
circular fell into his hands one day when he was fourteen years of age and
changed his whole career. This innocent advertisement was from Lowell Com-
mercial College, of Binghamton, New York, and the youth read it through
eagerly. He got the idea that he could work his way through college and im-
mediately wrote to the president of the college for information. President
Lowell told him to come to Binghamton and upon his arrival there he was
warnil\- receixed l)y the president. He had one hundred dollars saved and
witli tliis and the work which he was able to get to do in Binghamton he suc-
ceeded in staying in college until he graduated. He received his tuition and
board for keeping the college rooms clean and soon after graduation came
west, where he felt there were opportunities for a young man.

Mr. Turn1)ull was only seventeen years of age when he and his mother
came to bnxa from Xew York and settled in Traer. Tama county, where
he engaged in farming and incidentally learned the trade of a mason. For
the next six years he followed the mason's trade, and in 1878 returned to
New York and married Belle J. Winter. His marriage occurred December
26, 1878, and he immediatel}- brought his young bride to Tama county, this
state, to li\e. In 1882 he moved to Sibley, where he followed his trade as a
mason until 1891. Since that time he has been engaged in the real estate
business, handling Minnesota lands especially. He has sold thousands of
acres (Du commission, as well as much land on his own account. He has made
good in the best sense of the term and is recognized as one of the leading and
substantial citizens of Sibley.

Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull are the parents of six children: Mrs. Bertha
M. Worrell, deputy postmistress of Sibley; A. C, who is a railroad conductor
at St. James. Minnesota ; Mrs. Mable E. Regan, whose husband is a salesman
at Sibley; John H., deputy postmaster at Sibley for six years, and now assist-
ant county surveyor and superintendent of public construction; Will P., who

8l8 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

is also a salesman of Sibley, and X'iola M.. who is in the Gazette printing
office of Sibley.

Mr. Turnl^ul! has always been a Repnblican in politics and has been a
great student of the issues of the day. He has never been a seeker for polit-
ical office, although he held the office of township clerk and town clerk while
living in Tama countv. He and his family are loyal members of the Congre-
gational church and ontribute liberally to its support. 'Mr. Turnbull is a
great reader and Miulent and keeps fully abreast of the times. He is a man
of essentiallv domestic ta^tes and is ne\'er as happ}* as wlien by his own fire-
side, surrounded \)\ his f.an.ily and with good books to while away his idle
hours. He has always taken, an acti\-e interest in e\ery enterprise wdiich
might benefit Ins city and lias always thrown his infiuence in favor of good
government.

CHARLES E. EOOTE.

The Foote family, of which Charles E. Foote is a member, trace their
ancestry back to Nathaniel Foote, of Colchester, Emgland, who came to
\Vatertown, Massachusetts, about 1630. Rodger Foote, the grandfather of
Charles E., came from Connecticut to Ohio in about 1820 and settled in
Ashtabula county. He reared seven sons and one daughter, among whom
was Lauren B., the father of Charles E., whose history is here portrayed.
Lauren B. Foote was born in 1802 and is a direct descendant of Nathaniel,
who came to Massachusetts in 1630. Se\en generations of the Foote family
have been reared in America.

Charles E. Foote. of Sanborn. Iowa, a railroad conductor on the Chi-
cago. Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and a pronfinent business man of San-
born, was born x\ugust i. 1856. in Ashtabula county, Ohio. He was the son
of Lauren B. and Cornelia M. (Ballard) Foote. Cornelia Ballard was born
in New York in 1824 and was the second wife of Lauren B. Foote. Several
members of the Foote family fought in the Revolutionary War. the War of
1 81 2 and also the Civil War. The mother of Henry Ward Beecher was a
Foote and a distant relative of this familv. None of the children by the first
wife of Lauren B. Foote are living. Two of the sons Iw his first marriage,
Irenus and Derrow. served throughout the Civil War. Irenus was in the
Twenty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Derrow was in the
Seventh Regiment of Kansas Cavalry. To the second marriage of Lauren
B. Foote were born four children : Mrs. Ella A'anLeuven. of Howard

CHARLES E. FOOTE

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 819

counly. Iowa; Howard S.. who is superintendent of the Jefferson (Ohio)
schools; Charles E., with whom this narrative deals, and Mrs. Abbie C.
Metcalf, of Ashtabula, Ohio.

Charles E. Foote was educated in the drand River Institute in Ohio.
His brothers and sisters attend this school and receive instruction from J. B.
Tuckerman. Charles E. started in life as a school teacher, teaching his first
term of school in the countrA- in Xew Linn township, Ohio, at the age of
eighteen. He then taught two mure terms in small towns in Ohio and in
the fall of 1875 ^'ime to Iowa and taught the fall and winter in Howard
count}'. In the spring he returned to Ohio and attended school for the next
year. In the fall of 1877 he returned to Howard county, Iowa, and taught
until 1881. In f88i Mr. Foote came to Sanborn, O'Brien county, and in
the summer of 1881 taught four uK^nths and then taught the succeeding vear
in Sanborn. He was the first principal of the new school hf)use which was
opened for the hrst time in 1881. He then engaged in the real estate business
for two years with Harley Day. In 1883 he l)ecame a brakeman on the Chi-
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway west of Sanborn and the year following
became a freight conductor, being promoted after being in the ser\ice one
year, two months and eight days. He began running as an extra passenger
conductor in i88g and received liis regular assignment as a passenger con-
ductor in 1897. His regular run now is from Sanljorn to McGregor, a dis-
tance of two hinidred an-d forty-three miles.

Mr. Foote has saved his earnings and invested them in jjropertv in San-
born, built five houses in Sanborn and has done everything he could to
encourage home building and the growth of the town generallv. He is a
member of the school board at the present time, and takes a deep interest in
the educational affairs of the town.

Mr. Foote was married in 1878 to Jennie L. Lick, of Lime Springs,
Iowa, the daughter of A. and Helen ( \"an Leuven ) Lick, earlv settlers of
Howard county. Iowa. They were natives of Pennsylvania and Xew York
states respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Foote are the parents of five children :
Lome A., born in 1879, runs a dray line in Sanborn; Alfred K., born in
1881, is a conductor on the Chicago, ^Milwaukee & St. Paul railwav; Helen
C. who is at home; George V., born in 188^, is a conductor on the Chicaso
Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, running out of Mitchell, South Dakota;
Bernece C, who graduated at Oberlin, is married, her husband being in the
employ of the government at Washington, D. C, where they live.

In his politics. Mr. Foote is a stanch adherent of the Republican party,
(53)

^20 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

but, aside from his position on the school board, has never filled any public
positions in the county. The nature of his business keeps him from taking
an active part in politics. Mr. Foote's parents were members of the Congre-
gational church, while his wife is a member of the Presbvterian society.
He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and belongs to
the commandery at Cherokee. He also belongs to the Order of American
Railway Conductors. Mr. Foote is recognized as a man of strong mentality
and his several years of experience in the school room have made him a man
who is deeply interested in the educational welfare of his community. In
fact, he is interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of his com-
munity along- material, civic, educational and moral lines. He is a man who to
know is to respect and admire because of his sterling qualities of character
and upright life.

E. M. TAYLOR.

A man who l)ol(lly faces the responsibilities of life and bv untiring
energy wins for liimself an honorable success, exerts a powerful influence
upon the lives of those who follow him. To such men life is so real that
they find no time to do other than follow the best guide in their career. Their
lives are bound up in their e\'ery-day duties and their desire to appear
well among their fellow citizens gives them that standing which distinguishes
the good American citizen. The career of E. M. Taylor, whose life history
is here presented, illustrates what can be accomplished by the man who
adheres strictly to the line of duty which he marks out for himself.

E. M. Taylor, the son of Melvin B. and Emily A. (Hurlburt)
Taylor, was born in No\ember, 1865. i" Hubbleton. Wisconsin. His par-
ents were natives of Maine and Fort Jackson, New York, respectively. The
Taylors are a family of colonial descent. Isaac P. Taylor, the great-grand-
father of E. AI. Taylor, was a maker of silk hats in England, Avhile other
ancestors of the family fought in the Revolutionary War. Melvin B. Taylor
was a merchant and postmaster at Hubbleton at the time of his death in
1874. His widow came to Emmetsburg, Iowa, about 1880 with her sons,
h.a\ing pre^•iously lived at Wlnneconne and Oshkosh. Wisconsin. After her
husband's death she operated a store and postoffice at Hubbleton for a short
time and was engaged in the millinery business in Winneconne and Oshkosh.
Upon coming to Emmetsburg, Iowa, her son, E. M., became an employee in
one of the stores in that city.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 82 1

E. AI. Taylor was educated in the schools of Hubbleton. Winneconne
and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and when his mother came to Emmetsburg, in this
stale, he was fifteen years of age. He worked in a store here for about one
year and then farmed a }ear upon a fami in Eyon county. He also attended
school for a time in Silbey, in Osceola county. In 1884 he became assistant
postmaster at Sibley and served in that capacity for a year and a half, after
which he went to Emmetsburg and clerked in a store until 1888 when he be-
came a ])artner in the store. In 1889 he started a branch store under the
name of Schlegel, Taylor & Company at Sibley. In 1892 he and Mr. Hinkley
])urchased Mr. Schlegel's interest and conducted the business under the name
of Hinkley & Taylor. On January i. 1903, Mr. Taylor purchased Mr. Hink-
ley"s interest and since that time has l)een the sole proprietor of the store.
He carries an extensive line of clothing, shoes and men's outfitting at the
present time. Prexious to January. 1908, the store was a general department
store, but at that time he sold the dry goods department. He and Mr.
Hinkley established the first department store in Sibley. The store has
modern fixtures and at the present time carries a stock averaging twenty-two
thous;ind dollars. His business is now housed in a handsome brick building
on Alain street and ^Iv. Taylor has a full share of the patronage of Sibley
and the surrounding community.

Mr. Taylor was married in 1890 to Emma E. Fenton. of Siblev, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Fenton. Mr. Fenton was one of the
earliest pioneers of the county, having brought his family from eastern Iowa
to Osceola county in a covered wagon in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are
the parents of three children : Bernadena, a graduate from Grinnell College
in June, 1914; Melvin Fenton, the assistant postmaster at Sibley, and Ray-
mond, who is still in school. Mrs. Taylor is a woman of culture and refine-
ment and takes a prominent part in the club life of her city. She is a member
of the Eastern Star and was worthy matron of the Sibley Chapter in 191 2.
She and her husband have a fine modern home with all of the latest con-
^'eniences. It was one of the first modern homes to be erected in the city.

Polictically, Mr. Taylor is a member of the Republican party and has
always been actively interested in the civic afxairs of his city. For six years
he was a member of the school board and for sixteen years a member of
the city council. He and his family are loyal members of the Congregational
churcli and contribute liberally of their means to its support. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has attained
to the degree of the Royal Arch and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine.
He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor ha\'e

822 o'bRIEX AXD OSCEOLA COUXTIl.S, IOWA.

a wide acquaintance in the city and surrounding comniunit}" and their nian\'
friends admire them for their good quahties of mind and heart. They have
reared their children to Hves of usefuhiess and honor and are now seeino-
ihem take their places in societ\- in a wa}' which will do them credit and re-
llect lionor upon their parents.

CHARLES \\'. BRIGGS.

Among the progressive men of Sutherland, O'Brien county, Iowa, who
lia\'e l(jng Iieen identified with the interests of the city, is Charles \\'. Briggs,
the present postmaster of the cit_\'. As a public official in his home township,
and as a l)usiness man in Sutherland, he has shown rare business ability,
pul)lic spirit and un(|uestioned integrity. He is essentially a man of the peo-
]jle, ijrcxidminded, faithful and possessing an equipoise of attril)utes that
stamp him as a natural leader among his fellow citizens. He is a tine type of
the self-made man. and during a long and busy career has never sweiwed
from the path of dut}' as he saw it.

Cliarles W. Briggs, the i)resent postmaster of Sutherland, Iowa, was
])orn in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1852, the son of Edmond L. and Caro-
line ( Cranst(jn ) Briggs. Edmond L. Briggs was born in the state of Xevv
^'ork in 18:^0. and when a \-oung man he left the state and settled in A\'is-
consul. /\fter farmino" for a few \'ears in that state, he m(j\'ed to South
Dakota, ^\ here he followed the \ocati(jn of a farmer for twehe }'ears. He
then retired and came to Sutherland, Iowa, where he remained with his
children until his death in 1905. Caroline Cranston was born in Ohio.
Rdmond L. Briggs and wife were the parents of scncu children : James C,
who lives in Suth.erland : Charles \V., of this sketch; Waldo, a resident of
Sutherland: 3 Irs. Earla \\'aterhouse. of this county; Edward, of South
Dakota; Mrs. Edna Cheslew of Sutherland, whose husband is deceased;
Airs. Xori -\nderson. who lives in South Dakota.

I'hrirles '\V. Briggs recei\ed a good common school education and also
attended the academv at Patch (jrcjve, \\'isconsin. After finishing his educa-
tion a: the age of twenty he rented a farm in ^Visconsin and lived on it for
four years In 1876 he went to California and worked as a farm hand and
the following year returned to NA'isconsin, where he remained until 1882,
when ho came to O'Brien county, Iowa, and opened the first drug store in

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 823

SutlKiiand .After operating" this store for four years he sold it and moved to
western Xeirrask^i. where he remained for five years. In 1890 he returned
to Sutherland and lias lived in this city continucmsly since that time. For
the lirst three \ears after his return he engaged in the Iniying and selling
of grain and later hought stock fur H. A. Peck, in which business he was
engaged for a period of thirteen years. In 1907 he was appointed post-
master of Sutherland, a position which he is still holding.

Air. Briggs was married in 1884 to Rachel Townsend, who was a na-
tive of the state of Illinois, and to this union there have been born eight
cliildren : Airs. Alta AI. Schultz, of Sutherland, a graduate of the Suther-
land liigh school and Cornell College of Alusic at Alt. Vernon, Iowa; Edmond
C, a graduate of the Sutherland high school and now assistant cashier of
the l-'irst Savinefs Bank, of Sutherland: Arthur T.. also a graduate of the
hi"h school of Sutherland and now a jeweler at Lemmon, South Dakota;
Paul B.. a salesman in a clothing store at Sutherland: Ruth A., who is now
attending the Alorningside College at Sioux City, Iowa: Donald J., Bernice
anrl Alajorie. the last three named children being still at home with their
parents. Air. and Airs. Briggs are justly i)roud of their children, to whom
thev have given every educational advantage, as they feel that there is no
better asset for the young people of this day and age of the world than a
good education, and for this reason the\- have placed every possible advan-
tage l)efore them, and it is indeed gratifying to the parents to see that their
children have taken advantage of their opportimities and are now in a fair
wav to make successful careers for themselves in the world.

Air. Brigg-s is a Republican in his political belief and always takes an
active interest in public atfairs. He was an assessor in his home township
for several years and has been school treasurer of Sutherland and was also
one of the first town councilmen of the city. In all his public activities he
has so administered his duties as to gain the commendation of his fellow
citizens. He and his family are attendants of the Alethodist Episcopal church
and subscribe liberally to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Alasons. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and the Alodern Woodmen of America, and takes a personal interest in the
affairs of these fraternal organizations. Air. Briggs has lived a busy and
useful life, and his life history has been a career of unswerving integrity,
indefatigable industry and wholesome home and social living, a most com-
menda1;le career crowned with success. The best citizen is he who con-
tributes his share to tlie comm(_>nwealth in the wav of service and rears a

824 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

family to lives of usefulness and honor. In both respects Mr. Briggs has
done his full share as the true American citizen and for this reason is well
worth}- of mention in a biographical volume of the character of the one in
hand.

CORNELIUS VEDDER VAN EPPS.

This land of ours owes a debt of gratitude to the stalwart and hard-^
Fin^opean races whose sons have come in large numbers, especially durin.c
the past half century, where there was a crying need of fearless men to assisr
in the work of winning and developing the Western states from their prim'
tive wildness. The people of Gemiany have formed a large contingent and
ha\e ever Ijeen most welcome owing to their willingness to give their best
efforts to this work, being, almost without exception, industrious and law-
abiding, willing 'to upbuild and support our institutions and, while holding
in grateful remembrance the native land, yet at the same time cherishing the
Stars and Stripes. In their ranks were numbered Cornelius Vedder Vai:
Epps, one of Sheldon's best known business men and one of O'Brien county's
highly respected citizens.

Cornelius Vedder Van Epps, the son of Charles and Angelica (Vedder
Van Epi)s, was born September 16, 1837, in Albany county, New York. The-
\'an Epps family trace their ancestry directly back to the old Dutch familie;^
who came over to this country in the earliest of the colonial times
In 1620 Dirk \'an Epen left Delfthaven, Holland, and came to this country
where he settled on the Alohawk river, in what is now Schuylkill county. New
York. Later he settled in Beaverwyck, now New Albany, New York. Abou"
this time the name appeared to ha\e been changed from Van Epen to Var
Eps. This Dirk Van Epen. who came to this country in 1620, is separated
b^■ six generations from the Van Epps whose history is here related. The
direct descendants frum Dirk Van Epen to Cornelius X^edder Van Epps are
as follows : Jan or Johannes, the son of Dirk, was one of the first settler?
of Schenectady; his son, John Baptist, was taken captive in the "Massacre
of Schenectady" on February 9, 1690; Johannes, the son of John Baptist,
was born May 5. 1700; Jan Baptist, the son of Johannes, was born May 30.
1731 : Charles, the son of Jan Baptist, was born April 12. 1788, and married
May 16. 1806. He was in the A\'ar of 1812 and hauled ammunition from
Albany to Buft'alo, in New York. He was twice married and his second
wife, the mother of Cornelius Vedder Yciu Epps. whose history is herein

o'rrien and osceoj,a counties, IOWA. 825

recorded, was the mother of thirteen children: Charles Henry; Airs. Susan
Eleanor Hildebrant ; Elias Vedder, a soldier in the Mexican War, who was
born September 10, 1828, and died November 30, 1901 ; Albert C. ; Agnes;
Harmon V. ; Cornelius Vedder ; Mary Angelica ; William Henry Harrison ;
Rebecca V. ; Sarah ; Theodore ; Sebastian.

In 1852 Cornelius V. Van Epps left New York with his parents and
the family settled in Iowa near Davenport. They crossed the river on a
horse ferry-boat, and settled in Scott county, there being only two families
in the whole county at that time. They first moved on the LaGranger farm
and in the fall of 1852 moved to a farm one mile south, where they spent the
winter. Charles Van Epps died in Plesant Valley township, Scott county,
and his widow died later in Davenport. In the fall of 1856 the family moved
to Aluscatine county, where they lived seventeen years.

Cornelius V. Van Epps enlisted in April, 1864, in Company A, Missis-
sippi Marine Brigade, and saw service on the lower part of the Mississippi
river. He participated in the battles of Coleman's Cross Roads, Old River
Lake in Arkansas, where he was wounded in his right leg, which continued
to bother him for several years and as a result his leg had to be amputated
in 1888. After his return from the war. Mr. Van Epps was married,
September 16, 1867, to Isabella McElroy, the daughter of James E. and
Margaret (Jordan) McElroy, who were of Scotch-Irish and Irish Protestant
ancestry, respectively. Mrs. Van Epps was born May 6, 1842, in Allegheny
county, Pennsylvania, and came with her parents to Muscatine county, Iowa,
in 1855. where her father taught scliool for some time. Mr. McElroy died
in 1863. ^^1'- ^1^*^^ Mrs. Van Epps are the parents of two children, Mrs. May
Gifford, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Ervin M., a barber and printer.

Cornelius V. Van Epps and his family came to O'Brien county in 1872
and homesteaded on the southeast corner of section 10 in Carroll township.
I'liev erected a frame house, foiu'teen by eighteen feet, and suffered severe
hardships for the first few years. At that time fuel was very scarce and
the)- had to tra\-el many miles in order to secure it. The nearest place where
the)' could get wood was in Rock \^alley in Cherokee county. Mr. Van Epps
hauled the first load of lumber which went into the construction of the first
house in Primghar, the county seat. He continued to live on the farm which
he entered in 1872 until 1890, when he came to Sheldon, where he has since
lived. He sold his farm in the fall of 1892.

Politically, Mr. Van Epps is a Progressive, having allied himself with
tliis new party upon its organization in the summer of 1912. He has always
taken an active interest in politics and in all the public aft'airs of the town-

826 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

ship. For some years he served as justice of the peace in Carroll township.
He and his wife are menil^ers of the Congregational church of Sheldon and
contribute liberally to its various activities. Mr. Van Epps is a pleasant, con-
genial man to know and has a ho'^t of friends in Sheldon and vicinity, who
lionor him because of the clean and open life which he has lived in this com-
munitv.

JAMES S. CAMPBELL.

The history of Osceola county is but a record of the doings of its people
and the value of the present volume is greatly enhanced because it is written
while many of the first pioneers of the county are still living. The story
of the plain, common people who came here in the sixties and seventies
attracts tlie attention and interest of all the succeeding generations of this
county. One hundred years from now this volume Avill be of intense interest
to people who will be then living here and the many incidents which gather
around the lives of the early settlers of the county will make interesting
reading at that far-away time. The "grasshopper war" will undoubtedly
cause much curiosity in the generations to come and yet the history of many
of the pioneers which are presented in this volume gives testimony of the
frightful ravages wrought bv these little in\aders. The life history of James
S. Campbell, who is now living retired in his comfortable home in Sibley,
is a record of a life true to its highest ideal and there is much in it that should
stimulate future generations of Osceola county to higher and better things.

James S. Campbell, the son of J. M. and Elizabeth (Hazelwood) Camp-
bell, was born in Jefferson county, New York, May 9, 1851. His father was
bcirn in Xew ^'ork. while his mother was a native of England. J. M. Camp-
bell was the son of James Campbell, a native of Scotland. The wife of J. M.
Campbell came to America with her father from England when she was
twelve years of age. In 1858 the Campbell family left New York state and
moved westward, finally locating at Beaver Dam, Dodge county, Wisconsin.
In 1886 they removed to Crawford county, Iowa, where they lived until the
death of father and mother. J. M. Campbell was born April 3, 1827, and
died in August, 1906. He was twice married. His first wife, the mother of
James S. whose history is here portrayed, died in 1856 and he subsequently
married his first wife's sister, Mary Maria Hazelwood, who died January i,
T910, at the age of seventy-five. There were two children by the first mar-
riage, James S.. with whom this narrative deals, and Mrs. Ida Elizabeth

MR. AND MRS. JAMES S. CAMPBELL

o'bRIEN AN' I) OSCEOLA COL'NTIES. IOWA. 827

Kellips, ot Alihvaukee, \\ isconsin. To the second marriage were born six
children: Walter J., of South Dakota; Charles Ambert, of Iowa; Mrs.
Louise Beaumont, of Denison. Iowa; W'ilmer, of South Dakota; Mrs. Martha
Woodruff, of Denison, Iowa, and Rev. Albert Gilliver, a Methodist minister,
now preaching at Rapid City, South Dakota. In this connection it might be
noted that the father of the two Hazelwood sisters was a Methodist minister.

James S. Campbell was se\-en years of age when his father left New
York for Wisconsin and consecpiently recei\-ed most of his education in the
latter state. He was reared to manhood in Wisconsin and married in that
state, lixing the life of a farmer there until the spring of 1889. He then
migrated to Crawford county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm on which he
lived for two years, after which he sold it and moved to Osceola county,
Iowa, where he bought two hundred and fort\' acres of land in East Holman
township for twenty dollars an acre. On this farm he lived for nine vears.
when he sold it and built a modern home in Siblev, where he is now li\in2".
He moved to Sibley in order to give his children better educational advan-
tages. Three years after moving to Sibley he purchased one hundred and
sixty acres in East Holman township adjoining the town of Siblev on the
east and still later purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Wilson town-
ship. For some years he resided at times during the summer season on these
farms. He owns two residences in Sibley, also the Tribune building, the
opera house block and a half interest in the store Ijuilding adjoining the opera
house. ]Mr. Campbell has been remarkably successful as a business man, a
success which has come about solely through his own business ability, together
with the strictest integrity in all of his financial dealings.

Mr. Campbell was married March 9, 1874, to Ellen Janes, the daughter
of ]\Ir. and Mrs. William Janes, early settlers of Wisconsin. To this union
have been born three children : William Madison, a farmer of South Dakota
and. the father of four children; Clarence Eugene, a farmer of Alberta,
Canada, and Mrs. Katie Elizabeth -Jones, of South Dakota. Mr. Campbell
was married a second time on September i, 1908. to Mrs. Alice Bishop
O'Connor, a wndow. of Janesville, Wisconsin. She was born, reared and
educated in Wisconsin and has been a prominent church worker all of he:
life. She is a member of the Northw^estern Io\^■a Conference Board and
now secretar}- of the Home Missionary Society. In October, 191 3, she was
selected as secretary to the national convention of the W^oman's Home Mis-
sionary Society. She is a vevy able and intelligent w-oman and has devoted
several years of her life to church and missionary work. In this she is now
ably assisted by Mr. Campbell, w^ho has been a church worker all of his life.

828 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

In the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he belongs, he has been class
leader and a member of the official board for many years. He is a strong
temperance advocate and ne\-er loses an opportunity to give the liquor traffic
a blow.

Politically, Mr. Campbell has usually voted the Republican ticket,
although he now classes himself as an independent voter. It is a fact that
thousands of our best citizens are now breaking away from party ties and,
especially in local elections, voting for the best man irrespecti\e of their
party affiliations. To this large and intelligent class Mr. Cam])l)el] belongs
and if there were more such men of independent thinking the country would
be far better ofif than it is. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and has always taken an interest in the work of this
old fraternal organization. Such is the 'outline of the life of ]\Ir. Campbell,
which indicates that his career has been the result of careful and conscien-
tious work and that in all the relations of life he has performed his full
duty. Successful in business, respected in social life and as a citizen dis-
charging his every duty in a manner becoming an intelligent, patriotic man,
he has earned and retained the good will and regard of all who know him.

GEORGE W. NELSON.

.\n honored pioneer of this county and a distinguished veteran of the
Cixil War is George W. Nelson, who is now living a retired life at Sutherland,
O'Brien county, Iowa. Fie came to this state in 1870. He has been an active
figure in his state from the beginning and has always taken his full share in all
of those enterprises which promise to benefit his community in an}^ way.
When the rebellion was raging throughout the Southland and threatening to
destro} our Union, he responded with patriotic fervor to Lincoln's call for
troops and in many of the hardest fought battles of that memoral^le struggle
lie ])r()^'e<l liis loyalty to the government whose flag he had promised to serve.
Fie has been no less loyal to his government in times of peace and no citizen
of the couiity is more worth}^ of representation in this ^•(tlume. He deserves
tlie commendation which comes to him from his fellow citizens because he
has always led a clean and wholesome life and never done anything which
might bring upon him the censure of his neighbors.

George \\\ Nelson, the son of Underbill and Harriett (Hauley) Nelson,
was born in Wisconsin in 1843. Underbill Nelson was born in 1798 and as

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 829

a young- man learned the tanner's trade, following it for twelve years. He
then, left his native state and moved to Albany, New York, and later to
Wisconsin. He was married in the latter state in 1846 to Harriett Hauley,
who was born in 1804 and died in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, in 1855.
Mr. Xelson and wife were the parents of six children: Mary, Beach H.,
Elizabeth, Edward, Elias. deceased, and George W., who is the only one
alive.

Georp-e W. Nelson received a limited common school education in his
native state and when thirteen years of age began farming for himself near
Mil ford, Wisconsin. He was working upon a farm when the Civil War
broke out and tlien \olunteered his services for the defense of his country.
He enlisted August 22. 1862, in the Twenty-ninth Regiment Wisconsin
\'ol;mteer Infantry and served until he was finally mustered out. June 22,
1865. "^t Shreveport, Louisiana. During his service of three years he was
always ready for duty and served with distinction throughout the whole
period of his service.

After the close of the war Mr. Nelson returned to his home in Wiscon-
sin and in 1870 came to O'Brien county and h.omesteaded on a quarter of a
seclicju in this county. In 1873 he was married and from that time on he and
his wife worked hard io make a substantial home for themselves and their
chihh'en. He succeeded to a most gratifying degree, and now has a most
attracti\e farm as well as one of the most productive in this section of the
county. Mr. Nelson carries on general farming and also raises as much
stock as he can feed with his crops.

Mr. Nelson was married in 1873 to Ann Elizabeth Bookman, who was
born in New York state in 1857. To this marriage have been born eight
cliildren.: Elias, a farmer of this county, who married Cora Steele; Alma,
deceased: Beach H.. who married Edith Thompson and is li\'ing on the old
Iiome farm: Elva. the wife of Edward E. C. Propp. manager of the Farm-
ers' Elevator at Sutherland, Iowa: Grace, deceased; Elizabeth, who married
W. M. Andrews and lives in Sutherland: Berton, a farmer of this county,
and George W.. Jr., who is still with his parents.

Politically, Mr. Nelson belongs to that large and intelligent class of
citizens who reserve the right to cast their votes f(^r the best men, irrespective
of their i)arty affiliation, and for such men the term Independent Progressive
is ])eculiarly applicable. Mr. Nelson has always taken an active interest in
])oliiica] alTairs and while he was never an office seeker in any sense of the
word, yet he has .served his fellow citizens in two official capacities with credit
to liis towiiship and honor to himself. He has served as road supervisor for

830 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

three years in his township, as well as school director, filling the latter office
for three years. I^^raternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Order of the
Eastern Star and the Danghters of Rebekah. As he was an acti\'e veteran
of the Civil War, it is bnt natnral that he should take an active part in the
( rrand Army of the Repnblic post at Sutherland, where he has belonged for
many years. Too much honor can not be accorded these boys in blue who
fought the bra^•e fight which enabled our country to remain a united nation.
They are fast passing away and when taps are sounded for them our nation
will liave lost those men who made it possible for the flag to wave from
coast to coast and from the lakes to the gulf.

ALFRED MORTON.

Few residents of Osceola county, Iowa, are better or more fayorably
known than the enterprising business man and representative citizen whose
life history is brietiy told in the following lines, and none stands higher than
he in the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides. His
influence has been ])otent and his sympathies broad, so that he has been able
to ])ecome an influential factor in the life of his locality. He is mindful of
tlie duties he owes to the community and discharges the same as becomes a
man of character and a citizen thoroughly abreast of the times.

Alfred Morton, the son of Alfred and Mary (Mover) Morton, was
born lulv 19, 1868, in the state of New York near Syracuse. Alfred Morton,
Sr., was born in Oswego, New York, in 1836, and was married to Mary A.
Mcner November 13. i86t. He enlisted in the Civil War on March 29,
1865. at Aul)urn, New York, in the One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment
New York V^)lunteer Infantry, and was commissioned as major on May 6,
1865, with his rank dating from March 29th of the same year. He was
later commissioned as brevet lieutenant-colonel and with this rank was dis-
charged January 18. 1866. at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Early in the recon-
struction period President Grant appointed him circuit judge in Virginia,
with headquarters at Richmond. In 1879 he removed to Iowa and settled at
Sheldon, where he practiced law until his death, April 19, 1896. He was a
man of o-reat streno-th of character, one of the leaders of the bar in Iowa.

't>"

Fle was a meml3er of the Congregational church and was very much inter-
ested in the work of that denomination. Fraternally, he was a member of

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 83I

tlie Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the (Irand Army of the Republic
at Sheldon. At the time of his death he was the city attorney of Sheldon.
Alfred Morton, Sr., and wife were the parents of three children: Joe, of
Sioux Citw Iowa, and secretary of the Interstate Fair Association; Mrs.
E. G. Hutchinson, of Phoenix, New York, and Alfred, with whom this nar-
rati\'e deals.

Alfred Morton, Jr., was educated in the schools of Sheldon, Iowa, and
later graduated from Phoenix, New York, Academy in 1886. Upon return-
ing to Iowa after graduating from the acadeni}-, he became interested in the
lianking profession and has l)een engaged in the banking l)usiness in George,
Oc]ie\'edan and Sibley, in this state. He was cashier of the Sibley State
P)aiil< from ic)05 to 1910, when he disposed of his interest in the bank and
became interested in the real estate and automobile business.

The Sibley Auto Company was organized in igio and Mr. Morton
has been proprietor of the compau}- since it was estal)lished. The company
occupies a Iniilding which is se\enty 1)y eighty-hve feet. It is built uf con-
crete block and contains a large show room, well c(|uippe(l othce, repair shop,
with all of the latest machinery for automobile repairing, besides other small
r(»onis. The origiual building- was l)uilt Ijv Doctor Xeill and an addition was
buill b\- Morton, who took charge of the compan\'. Besides the retailing
of cars, the compan\- does a general ]i\-er_\' business in addition to the rej^air
work. They handle the Chalmers and Reo automobiles and ha\'e built up
an extensive business throughout this section of the state.

Mr. Morton w'as married in 1897 to Maud Barclay, who died four years
later, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth. She w^as the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James T. Barclay, pioneers of Osceola county and has the honor of
being the first child born in Sibley. Her death occurred in 1902. Mr. ^Morton
was married a second time in September, 19 10, to Mrs. Leona Fralick, of
Syracuse, New York, wdio had one daughter, Muriel, by a former marriage.
To this second marriage have been born two children, John and Josephine.

Politically, Mr. Morton is identified with the Republican party and in the
ci\'ic affairs of his community has always taken an active interest. He is a
memljer of the Sibley school board and for several years has been a member
of the city council. Fraternall\ , he is a member of the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons and has attained to the thirty-second Scottish-rite degree
and the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias at
Siblev. ]\Ir. Morton is w^ell known throughout the countv and his manv
excellent qualities hax'e won for him many loyal friends.

832 0"r,RIExV AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

FRAXK FRISBEE.

The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and the
West are combined in the residents of Iowa. The enthusiastic enterprise
which overleaps all obstacles and makes possible almost any undertaking in
the com|)aratively new and vigorous Western states is here tempered by the
stable and more careful policy that we have borrowed from our Eastern
neighbors, and the combination is one of unusual force and power. It has
been the means of placing this section of the country on a par with the older
East, at the same time producing a reliability and certaint}' in business alTairs
which is frequently lacking in the ^Vest. This happy combination of char-
acteristics is possessed to a notable degree by the subject of this history,
Frank Frisbee, of Sheldon. He is too well known to the readers of this
work to need an}- formal introduction here, for he not only comes of a
family whose name is deeply engra\ed in the financial, commercial, profes-
sional and industrial histor}- of this section of the state, but he himself is
filling a large place in the public affairs of this community. Recognized as
a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertain-
ing to the welfare of the community along material and civic lines, he is re-
garded as one of the progressive and enterprising men of his city and county.

Frank Frisbee, a retired farmer and banker of Sheldon, was born at
Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, May 9, 1847, ^'"'•^ ^^^'^ ^^ Chester and Emeline
( Stevens) Frisbee. Chester Frisbee was a nati^■e of New York, and came
to Wisconsin in the early forties, where he lived for seven years at Geneva
Lake. He then mo\ed to the southern part of Dane county, in which the
capitol of the state is located, and resided there for the next twenty- five years.
In about 1880 he went to Sheldon, Iowa, where he resided with his daughter
until his deatli. ]\lrs. Frisbee died in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Frisbee were the
parents of eight children : Mrs. Elizabeth Vaughn, who died some years ago
in San Diego, California; Adeline, who began teaching in Wisconsin at the
age of sixteen and taught for ten years in that state ; Mrs. Ruth Fox, who
died in Sheldon; Janette, who died in California in 1908; James B., who
came to O'Brien county with his brother Frank in the spring of 1871 and died
in 1891; Frank, whose history is herein delineated; Fred, whose career is
given elsewhere in this Avork; Bessie, the wife of F"rank Webster, of Sheldon.

Frank Frisbee received a good practical education in the common
schools of Wisconsin and worked on his father's farm until he came to this
county in 1871. He came by rail to Algona, Iowa, and from there drove the

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 833

rest of the wav. There were three of them who made this trip, Mr. Frisbee,
his I)rother, James B., and Noah Stevens, tlie nncle of the two brothers and
a \eteran of the Civil W^ar. When they came here in 1871, O'Brien county
had a pojmlation of less than eight hundred and most of these were in the
southeastern part of the county. \'ery little of the land had been homesteaded
or pre-empted, Imt the settlers were fast rushing in to take hold of the choice
land. Frank Frisbee located on half of section 14 in Carroll township, and
with James immediately put up a shack and started to break the land and put
in their hrst crop. They had to haul all of their lumber from Cherokee, the
county seat of Cherokee county, on the south, and their rude cabin, built in
1876, was the home of the second family to locate in Carroll township. Here
thev lived until the fall of 1878. The grasshoppers became so bad that they
decided to forsake their farm temporarily and engaged in the livery business
at Sheldon. For the next thirty years the brothers were in this business,
selling out in 1906.

The real fortune of the Frisbee brothers dates from the opening of their
liverv Imsiness in Sheldon. As fast as they had any money saved from their
business they invested it in land, buying it from two and a half to forty-five
dollars an acre, although the majority of it cost them only about fifteen
dollars an acre. The next twenty years they bought five thousand acres, most
of which they still retain. Frank Frisbee now has fifteen hundred acres in
O'Brien county. He is a large stockholder in a land firm in Winnipeg which
owns twent\- thousand acres and forty elevators. While he has been largely
interested in real estate, he has also been an important factor in the banking-
interests of this section of the state. He assisted in organizing the Primghar
State Bank, First National Bank of Sheldon, First National Bank of Hartley,
the Ocheyedan Savings Bank, the Sanborn Savings Bank, the Farmers'
Savings Bank of Boyden and a bank in Minnesota, of which he was president
for some time. The Frisbee brothers now own the controlling interest in the
Sheldon First National Bank. In addition to their land holdings and bank
interests, the Frisbee brothers also have large holdings in business blocks and
other real estate in Sheldon.

\lr. Frisbee is a Republican in politics and has ser^•ed on the school
board. Although his name does not appear on the roll of any church, yet he.
is interested in the work of the churches and gives generously of his means
to the su])port of more than one denomination. Fraternally, he is a member
of the Knights of Pythias and is one of the charter members of Malta Lodge
No. 144 of Sheldon. Mr. Frisbee was married October 15, 1868, in Wiscon-
sin to Myra McLaughlin, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. McLaughlin.

834 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Airs. Frisbee's mother was tlie first woman in the township where the AIc-
Laiighhns settled in Wisconsin. Mrs. Frisbee's mother spent her dechning-
years with her daughter in Sheldon. Mr. and Mrs. Frisbie are the parents of
four children: Fred E., president of the First National Bank of Sheldon;
Chester, who died at the age of four: Archie Lee, who died in infancy, and
Gertrude, the wife of C. PI. Woodruff, of Pasadena, California. Mr. Fris-
bee is a self-made man, having attained his success soleh- through his own
etiforts. His life and character forcibly illustrate what a man of right prin-
ciples and high ideals can accomplish when his plans are wisely laid. Success-
ful in l)usiness, respected in social life and as a citizen and neighbor dis-
cliarging his duties in a manner becoming an intelligent citizen of the com-
munity, he has earned and retained the "ood will of all who know him.

TOBIAS E. DIAMOND.

Life is what we make it. If we but exercise the powers becjueathed
to us by virtue ot birth, upbringing, and through inheritance from the Ijenef-
icence of the Cnkncnvn Power which influences the actions of the indixidual,
we are accomplishing the mission in life which may ha\e l^een planned for
us' even before our births. The lives of self-made men always ha\e some
noticeable points worthy of recording which are of the unusual and strik-
ing order. T. E. Diamond, a brilliant and rising young attorney of the
city of Sheldon, O'Brien county, is a self-made man who has overcome
difficulties which would pro\e to be well-nigh unsurmountal)le to tht- a\'erage
individual.

Mr. Diamond was born in the village of Tilsit, Germany, March 18,
1876, the son of Hyman and Lena (Epstein) Diamond. His father is now
a resident of Liverpiool, England, and his mother died when he was a lad of
eleven years, at which early age he came, alone, to America in Ma^^ 1887.
He first located in Philadelphia. He resided in and about Philadelphia tot
nearly three years and earned his li\ing by doing chores on nearl3\- farms
for his board during the summer seasons and attended school during the
winters. \\'hen Mr. Diamond came to America he was familiar with but
two English words. Six years later he was teaching school. This remark-
able accomplishment was brought about b}- close application and an iron
determination to succeed in the land of his adoption. In the year 1890 he
journeyed to Minneapolis and worked in a candy factory for one year. From

^-w ^^fJT^ ^l^/'A^i'ns i£^r2-

^l\

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 835

this city he went to eastern South Dakota and there worked on farms and
attended school during the winter months. In the summer of 1892 he went
to northwestern Iowa and did farm work. From here he went to Dixon,
IlHnois, in the fall and in less than two years he completed the four-year
normal course provided for students. Although the regular work at the
Dixon Normal College called for fifteen hours weekly, he succeeded in
doing thirty-five hours' work. This remarkable feat required the hardest
kind of study and the closest application on his part. He taught school in
Illinois and Iowa for a number of years and held the position of principal
of tlie Orange City (Iowa) high school. He entered the Iowa State Uni-
versity, and completed the law course in 1904. He was then employed as
traveling salesman from June. 1904, to November 15th of the same year.
He then came to Sheldon and for the first four _\ears of his residence in this
city he had his office with Judge Boies. In 1909 he opened an office of his
own and has been very successful in his practice. On January i, 1913, he
took over a considerable part of Judge Boies' law practice on account of the
Judge having taken his seat on the district bench. Mr. Diamond has had
cases before the federal courts and in the supreme court of this state and of
Minnesota, and enjoys a constantly increasing clientele. He served for four
years as city attorney of Sheldon.

Mr. Diamond is a pronounced Democrat in politics and is one of the
known leaders of his party in the state. In 1896 Mr. Diamond, when but
twenty years of age, stumped the country and made speeches in behalf of the
candidacy of William Jennings Bryan. He continues to take an active part
in Democratic politics, and had the distinction of presenting the minority re-
port in the Burlington (Iowa) Democratic convention of 1912 which
endorsed the candidacy of \\'oodrow Wilson in preference to the choice of
the convention. He made a notable address in l)ehalf of ]\Ir. Wilson and led
a strenuous fight which attracted attention throughout the state. He firmly
believed then, as now. that Woodrow Wilson was the logical candidate of
the Democratic party for the Presidency and his contention has been borne
out by the subsequent choice of his favorite for the highest office in the land.
During the campaign of 191 2 he devoted three weeks of his time to cam-
paigning in behalf of the Democratic national ticket, and was gratified by the
great Democratic success which followed. His religious associations are with
the Congregational church. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, having
taken thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite.

Mr. Diamond was married November 12, 1907. to Maude E. Peck, a

(54)

836 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

daughter of John F. Peck, formerly a resident of Sheldon, Iowa, but now
residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is the father of two children.
Marion Lou and Dorothy Ruth.

The biographer believes that a perusal of this foregoing review and
an analysis of the life work of this rising and gifted young man will provide
inspiration to ambitious youths who are alike desirous of climbing the ladder
of fame and winning renown. It is reviews such as this one that embellish
the pages of this history.

PROF. EDWARD E. RICHARDS.

Tlie men most influential in promoting the advancement of society and
in giving" character to the times in which they live, are two classes, to wit,
tlie men of study and the men of action. Whether we are more indebted
for the improvement of the age to the one class or the other is a question of
honest difference in opinion; neither class can be spared and both should be
encouraged to occupy their several spheres of labor and influence, zealously
and without mutual distrust. In the following paragraphs are briefly out-
lined tlie leading facts and characteristics in the career of a gentleman who
combines in his make-up the elements of the scholar and the energy of the
]niblic-spirited man of affairs.

Prof. Edward E. Richards, the son of E. James and Catherine (Smith)
Richards, was born Ma}- 14, 1880. in Warren, Illinois. James Richards was
born in 1847 '" Ihinois, and his wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1850.
James Richards li\ed for many years near Galena, Illinois, where his father.
William, worked in the lead mines. James Richards sjient his younger days
working in the mines, and since 1870 has lived in Warren, Illinois. Mr.
and ^Irs. James Richards had three children : James, a merchant of North
Yakima. Washington : Mrs. Bertha Fitzgerald, of Kankakee, Illinois, and
Prof. Edward E.. whose history is herein recorded.

Prof. Edward E. Richards was educated in the common and hieh
schools of Warren. Illinois, and later attended Warren Academy. He then
entered the E'niversity of Nebraska, from which he graduated in 1904.
Before entering the university he had been teaching in the country schools,
having taught from 1898 to 1902; the first two years he spent in the countrv
schools and from 1900 to 1902 he was teaching in O'Brien county. Iowa.
After graduating from the university, he became superintendent of the South
Bend, Nebraska, schools and a year later was elected superintendent of the

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. ^T^y

Sargent. Xel)raska. schools, a jjosition which he held for three \'ears ; he
then taiii^lit one )-ear in Long Pine, Nebraska, and followed this with the
position of superintendent of the Cumberland, Iowa, schools. In the fall of
19 IJ he was elected superintendent of the Primg-har schools and has l)een
efhcientl}- tilling- tliat position up to the present time. He has brought to
his school work a well drilled mind and the tact and personality which are
I he requisites of ex'ery successful teacher. He is rapidly bringing the Primg-
har schools to the front, and is placing them in a position where they are be-
coming of increasing value to the town and vicinity. He now has ten
teachers under his charge, and has made the hig'h school one of the accredited
high schools of the state. In the year 191 3 the high school enrolled ninety
pupils and graduated seventeen.

Professor Richards was married October 20, 1902, in Orange City,
Iowa, to Daisy M. Allard, the daughter of Benjamin H. and Rectinia L.
Allard. This marriage has been blessed with two children, Hazel, born
March 2, 1905, and Onine, born November 15, 1908.

Professor Richards is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He takes an active in-
terest in the atTairs of the Democratic party and for two years was county
chairman of the Cass county, Iowa, Democratic organization. Since coming
to Nebraska he has twice been elected delegate to the Democratic state con-
ventions, having previously served twice as delegate in Nebraska. However,
Professor Richards' interests are now directed towards the reorganization
and upbuilding of the schools of Primghar. When he came here in the fall
of 1 9 12 he found the schools badly disorganized, but during his administra-
tion as superintendent he has brought about a wonderful change. He now
has the schools in good working order and in a position where they are able
to do ef^cient work.

JOHN V. ADKINS.

A record of the representative citizens of O'Brien county, Iowa, would
be incomplete should there be failure to make mention of the name of John
V. Adkins. one of the leading citizens of the town of Paullina. Mr. Adkins
has been a resident here for over thirt}- years, during which time great and
marked improvements have been made in this locality, in all of which he
has taken more than a passing pleasure, being a man of high ideals and more
than ordinary civic pride.

838 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Tohn V. Adkins. associated with the Bank of PaulHna, Iowa, was born
ill Schuyler county, IlHnois, in 185 1. the son of Ezra and Lydia (V^ertner)
Adkins, the latter being- a native of the state of Ohio. Ezra Adkins was an
Easterner, born in Connecticut in 1824, and during the earlier years of his
manhood he followed the vocation of farming. Previous to the time of the
Civil War he came westward, locating in Illinois, where he had farming in-
terests. There, at Camp Illinois, he enlisted as a private in the One Hundred
and Twelfth Reeiment Illinois Volunteer Infantrv. He saw much active
ser\-ice and during the siege of Knoxville. Tennessee, he was so unfortunate
as to lose an ann. This was in 1864 and after receiving his injury he was
given an honorable discharge, whereupon he returned to his former home in
Illinois, and in 1865 became interested in the hotel business at Prairie City,
Ljwa. In this enterprise he was quite successful and with it remained for a
number of years. He followed the hotel business here for some twenty years,
when he disposed of his horel and became county auditor of Jasper county,
and about five years later his death occurred in 1898 in the town of Xewton.
He was the father of seven children, but three of whom are now living.

John V. Adkins received his schooling in his native county in Illinois and
at tlie age of eighteen secured a position as clerk in a general merchandise
store in Prairie City, this state. In this connection he remained for twelve
years, when, desiring to be better equipped for the battle of life, he left
Prairie City, going to Keokuk in 1876, where he took a complete business
course, which was of inestimable advantage to him in later years. In 1883
he first came to Paullina and became associated with his brother David in the
general merchandise business, selling out his interest therein three years
later. David Adkins had the distinction of being the first settler in the town
of Paullina and followed it from its earliest beginnings up to a thriving city
with Aaried interests and fully in touch v\ith the outside world. After sever-
ino- his connection with his brother, ]\Ir. Adkins became identified with the
banking Ijusiness, which has since claimed his best efforts and to its present
satisfactory state of prosperity his industry and judgment has largely con-
tributed. In addition to his interest in the bank, he has large landed hold-
ings in O'Brien county and also owns his residence and several lots in the
town of Paullina.

In 1877 ^J^i'- Adkins was united in marriage with Allie White, who was
born in 1853 ^^ A^alparaiso, Indiana, and their union has been blessed with
two sons, the elder of whom, Harry C, is a civil engineer, located at present
in Tennessee, while Leigh W., the younger, follows the same profession, be-
ing connected with the Northern Pacific Railroad, having his headquarters

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 839

at St. Paul, ^linnesota. Mr. Adkins is a stanch supporter of old-line Re-
publican ])rin,ciples. taking- more than a passive interest in the party's affairs.
The tamil}- is iclentilied with the Presbyterian church, to the support of
which society Mr. Adkins gives liberally of both time and means. He is also
a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Adkins has ever
had the best interests of the community at heart and is one of the citizens
of the town who is willing to give something of his own time and effort to
l)ring about better things for the community. At present, he is serving
Paullina as its city treasurer and e\-ery movement for the betterment of social,
moral or material conditions finds in him a more than interested advocate.
The qualities which have made him one of the successful and prominent men
of Paullina have also brought him the esteem of his fellow townsmen, for
his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and
honorable methods.

J. W. HICKOK.

In e\'er}- town and city in the L'nited States there are men whose busi-
ness it is to minister to the material wants of man, and no more genial people
are to be found than the men who manage the hotels and taverns of our
countr}-. [•'or more than thirty-two years J. W. Hickok has been the pro-
prietor of the hotel at Sibley, Iowa, known as the Osceola House, and during
that long period of time thousands of people have partaken of his hospitality.
It can not l)e gainsaid that many people get their first view of a town from
the hotel where they stop, and for this reason a good hotel is one of the most
valuable assets of a town or city. It is safe to say that there is no more
popular proprietor in Iowa than Air. Hickok, who has dispensed his generous
hospitality for so many years in this city.

J. W. Hickok, the son of John M. and Mary (Stark) Hickok, was born
December 15, 1850, in Grant county, Wisconsin, on a farm. His parents
were born, reared and married in Pennsylvania, and in the early forties left
their native state for Wisconsin, making the trip by lake and team. The}'
passed through Chicago when there was only one building in that now famous
city, and arrived in Grant county, Wisconsin, among the earliest pioneers of
that state. One year after they settled in Wisconsin they drove back to
Pennsylvania with Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff for a year's visit, the trip taking
them tweh'e weeks. Thev reared a familv of nine children in \\"isconsin

840 o'bRIEX AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

and li\-e(l there the remainder of their da}'S. John 'M. Hickok dying- in 1869-
and his wife passing away in 1897 in Iowa. The nine chikh'en of ]\Ir. and
Airs. John AI. Hickok are as follows: Alnion. deceased; James, deceased;
one who died in infancy in Pennsylvania; Cornelia, who died in Wisconsin;
J. W., with whom this narrative deals; George V., who lives in Grant county,
Wisconsin; Charles, who is a resident of California; Airs. Alinerva Bradley,
also of California, and Airs. Ettie Suter, who lives in Sibley, Iowa.

J. W. Hickok was educated in the schools of Grant county, Wisconsin,
and assisted his father to till the home farm until his marriage, at the earlv
age of nineteen. He followed the vocation of agriculture in his native state
until 1880, when he disposed of his interests in his native state with the in-
tention of going West and investing in land in Iowa. He arrived in Osceola
county, Iowa, on April 8, 1881, with his wife and five children. .Vfter look-
ing over the county he decided to embark in the lnjtel business and accord-
ingly purchased the Osceola House in Siblew where he has continued as pro-
prietor down to the present time. He took charge of the hotel on Julv 2^.
1881, and since that time has been an active factor in the civic life of his
town and community. He holds the record in Iowa for the continuous owner-
sliip of one hotel, an honor which speaks well for his successful management.

Air. Hickok was married in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1869, to Frances
R. Stevens, and to this marriage have been born five children : Airs. Agnes
Briggs, of Leeds, South Dakota; A'Irs. Anna Frick, who lives in Yankton,
South Dakota; Airs. Xellie Romey. of Alelvin, Iowa: Gertie Hickok, who
died in AVisconsin, and Edna, who is still living with her parents. George A.
Romey. the lnisl)and of Nellie Hickok, is represented elsewhere in this work
with a biographical sketch. He is cashier of the First National Bank at
Aleh'in, in this county.

Politically, Mr. Hickok is a Democrat, but the nature of his business
has kept him from taking an active part in political affairs. However, he
has always been a wide reader of current events and keeps well informed
upon the political questions of the day. He is an Odd Fellow of thirty years'
standing and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of that fraternal
organization. He also holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of
America. Air. Hickok has carried on his hotel enterprise with that discre-
tion and energy whicli are sure to find their natural sequence in definite
success. He has always lieen a hard worker, a good manager and a man
of economical habits, and, being pleasantly situated in a thriving state and
in a thriving countv, it is no wonder that he has oained substantial material

u"l3RIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 84I

success in his chosen vocation. 'There is no more widely known, popular hotel
man in the state than he, a tribute indeed to his genial nature and upright-
ness of character.

JOHN C. HANON.

A sterling and useful citizen is John C. Hanon, who is now living a re-
tired life in Sibley, Iowa. His history should be an inspiration and incentive
to those who are now living in this county and especially to the coming gen-
eration. The young man who is hestitating at the parting of the ways could
do no better than to take his career as an object from which to pattern his
individual course in life. Coming here during the pioneer times, he has lived
through the whole history of the county and has taken his full share in mak-
ing it the prosperous county it is today.

John C. Hanon, son of Michael and Margaret (Egan) Hanon, was born
in Burlington, \>rmont, April 23, 1850. His parents were both natives of
Ireland and settled first in Vermont after coming to this country. They
later moved to Ohio, and in 1854 settled at Baraboo, Sauk county, Wisconsin,
and here ^Michael Hanon farmed until his death, which occurred in 1866, his
wife having passed away in 1858. ^lichael Hanon and wife were the parents
of five children, four of whom are living: Mrs. Birdie Desmond, who lives
in Baraboo, Wisconsin; Michael, who is a resident of Reedsburg, Wisconsin;
Airs. Margaret Tierney, of Portland, Oregon, and John C, with whom this
narrative deals.

In 1 87 1 John C. Hanon came to Osceola county, Iowa, and homesteaded
on the west half of section 8 in Ocheyedan township, being one of the first
settlers of this township. He put up a small shanty and proved his claim so
as to satisfy the government's requirements. The first year he broke up
twenty acres and was fortunate in having a good crop. The next year the
grasshoppers came and these pests became so bad that he left his farm and
went to Sibley, where he worked at odd jobs for a time. In 1876 he entered
the old Sibley House as clerk and in four years became the proprietor of the
hotel, which he managed for a period of four years and then sold it and en-
gaged in the implement business for the next five years. In 1889 he became
interested in the real estate and insurance business and also gave some atten-
tion to agriculture. In 1905 he retired from active work on account of his
health and is now living a retired life in his handsome home in Sibley. He
has owned and handled over five thousand acres of land in Osceola countv

842 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

(luring- the past thirty years and in all of these transactions he has so con>
ducted himself as to win the esteem of his fellow citizens.

'Sir. Hanon was married April 6, 1879, to Mahala Nixon, a native of
Grant count}-. Wisconsin, and the daughter of George Nixon, a Union vet-
eran and a pioneer settler of Osecola county, and to this union there have
been born seven children : Charles, a lumber dealer of Pierre, South Dakota ;
Fred, an employee of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Companv;
Blanche, who is still at home with her parents: Julian, who died at the age of
twenty, of typhoid fever ; George, a groceryman in Sibley, and Clifford, who
is still attending the public schools of Sibley.

The Democratic party has always claimed the support of Mr. Hanon,
and in its affairs he has always taken an active interest. He was city council-
man of the town of Sibley when it was first incorporated and has always
taken an active interest in the welfare of his home city. He and his family
are loyal and earnest members of the Catholic church, and give to it their
earnest and zealous support at all times. In disposition Mr. Hanon is frank,
earnest and straightforward, and his popularity is due to the fact that he has
never done anything which would bring down upon him the censure or dis-
approval of his fellow citizens.

ROSCOE JANVRIN LOCKE.

It is not an easy task to adequately describe the character of a man who
has led an eminently active and busy life in connection with the great legal
profession and who has stamped his individuality on the plane of definite
accomplishment in one of the most exacting fields of human endeavor. Yet
there is always full measure of satisfaction in adverting, even in a casual
way, to the career of an able and conscientious worker in any phase of life.
Among the truly self-made and representative men of O'Brien county none
rank higher than the honorable gentleman whose name heads this sketch, who
is a conspicuous figure in the civic life of the community. A man of tireless
energy and indomitable courage, he has won and held the unqualified esteem
of his fellow citizens. With the law as his profession from young manhood,
he has won a brilliant reputation and the future gives promise of still much
greater things for him.

Roscoe Janvrin Locke, attorney, of O'Brien county, was born June 16,
1877, in Dover, New Hampshire. His parents were E. F. and Julia E.

ROSCOE J. LOCKE AND FAMILY

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 84^

(Janvrin) Locke, both of whom were natives of Strafford county, New
Hampshire, where they were born in 1843. E. F. Locke was the son of
James Locke, a native of New Hampshire, and Julia, the wife of E. F. Locke,
was the daughter of Rufus Janvrin, who was also born in New Hampshire.
The Locke family is descended from Scotch English on the father's side and
French and Scotch ancestry on the mother's side. When Roscoe J. Locke
was about one year of age his parents moved to the northern part of Missouri,
where they permanently located in 1878. They had previously resided in
Missouri several years before this, but had returned to their native state
again. 'Mv. and Mrs. E. F. Locke were the parents of six children, three of
whom are still living: Roscoe J.; Frank R., of Rockport, Missouri, and
James R., of Lenox, Iowa.

Roscoe Janvrin Locke was educated in the district and high schools of
Rockport, Missouri, and later graduated from the State University of
Nebraska in the legal department, securing his Bachelor of Laws degree in
1901. Mr. Locke first came into the northwestern part of Iowa in 1896 and
located south of Paullina, in this county, where he taught school during the
winter and worked on farms during the summer. L'pon his graduation from
college he immediately began the practice of law at Sutherland, Iowa, where
he remained until the spring of 1906, then removed to Primghar, the county
seat of O'Brien county, and shortly afterwards was elected county attorney.
He was appointed February 13, 1906. to this office to fill a vacancy, and upon
the expiration of his appointed term he was elected, and has been re-elected
four times since. He enjoys the utmost confidence and esteem of the people
of the county, as is justified by their keeping him in the important office
which he now holds.

Mr. Locke was married May 22, 1906, to Laura Ewoldt, the daughter
of Hans and Mary Ewoldt, of Paullina, in this county. To this marriage have
been ]:)orn two children, Marian Julia, aged six, and Ruth, who died December
10, 19 1 3. Fraternally, Mr. Locke is a member of the Free and Accepted
Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Yeomen. Politically, he
is a Republican and takes an active interest in the affairs of his party. He
and his wife are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr.
Locke is a man of wide and accurate knowledge of law and is a close reader
and keen observer of men and events. He is successful in his law practice
and is also largely interested in the welfare of his community, giving his
unreserved support to every enterprise which is to the advancement of his
fellow citizens.

844 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

FRANK E. KENNEDY.

The countv seat of Osceola county boasts of many progressive and en-
terprising citizens who are engaged in a great variety of different occupa-
tions. Among these business men who have taken their share in making
Sibley the j^rosperous town which it is today there is no one who is more
deservine of mention in this volume than Frank E. Kennedv, a real estate
man and a prominent stock buyer and shipper. With few opportunities
except what his own efforts were capable of mastering, and many discour-
agements to overcome in. his younger years, he has made an exceptional suc-
cess in life and now has the gratification of knowing tliat he has a competency
to insure against future wants, and that it has been won by honest effort.

Frank E. Kennedy, the son of Michael and Mary (Murray) Kennedy,
was born in Illinois in March. 1864. The parental home at that time was on
a farm in LaSalle county, where his parents had previously settled. Michael
and Mary Kennedy came to Connecticut before they were married and were
subsequently married in that state. In the early fifties they came to Illinois
and bought a farm in LaSalle county where they lived until 1878. They
then mo\ed to l^ama county, Iowa, and bought a farm, rernaining there until
the death of Michael in the fall of 1909 at tlie age of eighty-four. The
motlier now lives in Chicago Vv'ith one of her daughters. Michael Kennedy
and v\"ife were the i)arents of h\'e children, who are still living: Michael,
of Traer, Iowa; Julia, ]\larv and Mrs. Ella Pollard, wlio are living in Chicago,
and I'rank F,., whose history is here l^riefly sketched.

Frank F. Kennedy was educated in the country schools of LaSalle
countv. Illinois, and later attended an academy in his home C(_)unt}' for a
short time All of his spare time in his boyhood was spent upon the farm
and he was able to attend school for only a few months each year, during
the winter months. ' When he was twenty-two years of age he left home and
began to work for himself and in the spring of 1889 he came to Osceola
countv and jjurchased one hundred and sixty acres in Viola township, which
he farmed for five vears. He then sold it and bought another farm in Viola
town.ship, where he lived until 1897, ^^ter which he Ixiught a farm of two
hundred and ten acres east of Sibley, in East Holman township, on which
he resided for fourteen vears. For the past three years he has lived in Sibley,
where he has a fine modern residence in the eastern part of the city. Since
confing to Sibley he has been engaged in the buying and shipping of live
stock, handling about one hundred and twenty-five car loads of live stock

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 845

annnalh'. He has his home farm of two liundred and ten acres in East
Hohnan township. In addition to his other interests he is a stockholder in
the Sibley State Bank and is a director and vice-president of that financial
institution at the present time.

Mr. Kennedy was married in 1891 to Mary Ca Jacob, the daughter of
P. A. Cajacob and wife, pioneer settlers of Osceola county. The reader is
referred to the sketch of P. A. Cajacob, elsewhere in this work, for further
details as to the famil}' history. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are the parents of
seven children, Edward, Ruth, Winifred, Martin, Helen, Lucille and Lorinda.
All of these children except Lorinda are now in school, and Lorinda is now a
teacher in the schools of Harris, in this coimty. She studied at St. ]\Iary"s
Academy, South Bend, Indiana, while Lucille is a student in Winona College
at Winona, Indiana. The other children are attending the schools of their
liome citw Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are firm believers in the value of a good
education and are anxious that their children l)e gi\en the best attainable.

}slv. Kenned}' is a stanch Democrat in pohtics and has been one of the
leaders in his ]jart}' for many years. He has lield various city offices since
mo\ing t(; Si])ley and in all of them has [)erformed faithful and efficient
serx'ice. He and liis family are earnest members of the (Jat'iolic church and
give it ih.eir support at all times. Fraternally, lie is a member 01 the Knights
of Columl)us at Sheldon, Sac county, Iowa. Mr. Kennedy has Ix^en. a useful
citizen of his county and has at all times done his full sliare in developing
and improving- the comnninit\- in which he has li\ed. His strenuous life has
lieen. lewarded with a large measure of sticcess. Since he has alwaNS con-
ducted his business in strict accordance with the highest business ethics he is
highly esteemed by e\'er}-one with whom he has been associated.

THEODORE J. STAGE.

llie history of any man is interesting inasfar as he has taken a more or
less prominent part in the history of his country and it is often the force of
circumstances which puts a man into the limelight. While it is not true that
we are mere creatures of circumstances, yet there is much truth in the state-
ment of the poet. He said that "^lany a mute and inglorious Milton" is
nexer recognized by his fellow men. It is easily understood that the history
of a man. who, when a mere lad of fourteen, enlisted in the war for the
Lnion and foueiit throu"-h four vears of the l^loodiest fighting which the

846 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

world has ever seen, conld not be otherwise than interesting. After serving-
through the entire war Theodore J. Stage became a prominent raih'oad man
before he was twenty years of age and was one of the first settlers of Osceola
county.

Theodore J. Stage, who is now living a retired life in the county seat
of Osceola county, was born August 5, 1845, at Wassaic, Dutchess county,
Xew York. His parents, James J. and Martha A. (Brinton) Stage, were
natives of Scotland and Connecticut, respectively. In 1854 James J. Stage
went West to bu}- land and was killed in a railroad wreck on the Great West-
ern Railway in Canada on his return to Xew York. His widow married Solon
D. McLane in 1857. In 1855 the mother and two children, Theodore and his
sister, now Mrs. Martha Ann Morrison, moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin,
where thev li\ed one year. After her marriage to Mr. McLane the family
moved to Freeport, Illinois, in 1858 and a year later moved to Davis. Stephen-
son countv, Illinois. In 1861 the family moved to Rockton, Illinois, where
Mr. McLane was foreman of all the masonry construction on the railroad
from Weston to Beloit in Wisconsin. In 1866 the family moved to Jessup.
Buclianan county. Iowa, wliere they lived until Mr. YIcLane died. Mrs. Mc-
Lane. the mother of l^lieodore J. Stage, then sold the home and went to Spo-
kane, where she lived until her death.

Theodore J. Stage was only about a month past his sixteenth l)irthday
when he enlisted for the Civil War at Freeport. Illinois. He enlisted on
September 25. 1861, in Company B, Twenty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry, and was in continuous service until March 9. 1864, having
seen three full vears of service and. being then a veteran of nineteen years,
he decided to re-enlist and accordingly he re-entered the service and was not
mustered out until July 20. 1865. He had served four years and two months
and was mustered out before he reached his twentieth birthday. It is im-
possible in this brief historical sketch to detail the war record of Mr. Stage,
but enough is given to show that he was in some of the hardest fought bat-
tles of that memorable struggle. The battles and sieges in which he par-
ticipated may he briefl}- enumerated as follows : New Madrid ; Island No.
Ten ; Farmington ; three days' battle of Corinth ; siege of Corinth ; luka ;
battles and siege of Vicksburg; siege of Jackson. Mississippi; Missionary
Ridge ; Lookout Mountain ; all the battles of the Atlanta campaign and siege ;
Sherman's march to the sea; burning of Columbia. South Carolina; Benton-
ville and Raleigh. North Carolina. He was present at the final surrender of
Johnston in North Carolina and. with his regiment, marched to Richmond,
Virginia, and thence to Washington, where he was in the Grand Review.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 847

This is truely a marvelous record and is rendered more striking because of
the youth of Mr. Stage.

Mr. Stage returned to Iowa after he was mustered out in July, 1865,
and began to work in the railroad shops of Woodbine, in this state. Shortly
after he was made a railroad engineer, but ser\-ed only three months in this
capacity. His disability incurred in the service compelled him to retire from
the strenuous work of an engineer. He was then a brakeman, baggageman
and conductor until 1870, being employed part of the time on the Union
Pacific Railroad. He was then twenty-three years of age an.d had seen
enough ser\'ice for a man of twice his age. His last work as a conductor
was on the Missouri Pacific fn^m Kansas City to Holden, Missouri. In the
winter of 1871 he returned to Jessup, Iowa, and in the spring of 1872 came
to Osceola county with a team and homesteaded in Viola township in section
30. He reached this county at a most unfortunate time, for the grasshoppers
came along and ate his first crops, with the result that he was so discouraged
that he left his farm to the grasshoppers. He again returned to railroading
and was conductor on the Illinois Central from Waterloo to Fort Dodge,
Iowa, and remained with the company for a few years. He then returned
to his farm, wdiere he lived until 1892, having been married in 1883. He was
successful as a farmer and still owns his homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres, which is one of the finest farms in the township. In 1892 he moved
to Little Rock, in Lyon county, where he lived for one year. In 1893 he
moved to Sibley, where he has since resided.

Mr. Stage was married September 4, 1883, in Sibley, Iowa, to Mrs.
Ida Kizer, who was born in 1866 near Independence, Iowa. To this union
have been born four children: Dana, born July 16, 1884, now in Seattle,
Washington; Adelbert. deceased; Emory, born July 26, 1888, a hotel pro-
prietor in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Cecil, born November 2^, 1892, a
lyceum entertainer and professional musician. He is now a student of
Grinnell College and has studied in Chicago under one of Richard Mansfield's
students. Mr. and Mrs. Stage are justly proud of their children, who are
making an en^'iable record for themselves in the world.

In politics, Mr. Stage has been a stanch Republican all his life and has
filled i)ractically every office in his township. Religiously, lie and his family
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he is a member
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the thirty-
second degree. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the In-
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, while he and his wife are both members
of the Daughters of Rebekah. As might be expected, he is a loyal member

848 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

of the Grand Army of the RepubHc of Sibley. Such is the Hfe history of
Theodore J. Stage, a man who is well deserving of being remembered in a
history of his county. He has always done his duty as he saw it and whether
upon the battle field or in the official chair, he has never wearied of his duties.
It is needless to say that he is widely respected and highly honored by every-
one in the county, for the clean life he has lived and the good he has done.

FREDERICK WARREN CRAM, M. D,

It is not aUvavs easv to discover and define the hidden forces that have
moved a life of ceaseless activit}- and large professional success; little more
can be done than to note their manifestation in the career of the individual
under consideration. In view of this fact, the life of the physician and
public-spirited man of afl^airs whose name appears above affords a striking
example of well defined purpose, with the al)ility to make that purpose sub-
serve not onlv his own ends l)ut the good of his fellow men as well. Doctor
Cram, the oldest practicing physician in O'Brien county, has long held prestige
in a calling which requires for its basis sound mentality and intellectual disci-
pline of a high order, supplemented by the rigid professional training and
thorough mastery of technical knowledge with the skill to apply the same,
without which one cannot hope to rise above mediocrity in ministering to
human ills. In his chosen field of endeavor Doctor Cram has achieved a
notable success, which has been duly recognized and appreciated throughout
the section of the state in which he lives. In addition to his long and credit-
able career in one of the most useful and exacting of professions, he has
proved an honorable member of the body politic and in every relation of life
he has never fallen below the dignity of true manhood nor in any way re-
sorted to methods that have invited censure.

Dr. Frederick ^^'arren Cram, successful ph3^sician, business man and
public-spirited citizen of Sheldon, was born November 15, 1854, in Bangor,
Maine. His parents were Jacob Haskill and Sarah (AVing) Cram. Jacob
H. Cram was born in Bangor, Maine, January 12, 1823, and was the son of
loseph Cram, who was a native of New Hampshire. The Crams trace their
ancestrv back to colonial times, when two Cram brothers, Avho were natives
of England originally, received a large grant of land on the Hudson river on
the Connecticut side. Here they settled and their descendants eventually
scattered over the United States and formed a large family. Jacob Cram.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 849

the father of Doctor Cram, married Sarah M. \^'ing^ who was born in Stet-
son, Maine, Jnne 22. 1827. After his marriage Jacob Cram and his family
came west and located where he died October 29, 1893; the widow died
February 27, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob H. Cram were the parents of
seven children: William, deceased: Frank, deceased; Henry, a traveling
salesman of Sheldon, Iowa: Charles of St. Paul, Minnesota; Georgia, de-
ceased ; Ida, deceased, and Dr. Frederick W. Cram, whose history is herein
presented.

Doctoi" Cram was educated in the common schools of Minnesota and the
St. Croix \^alley Academy. He took part of his medical work in the Uni-
versity of [Michigan and finished his course at the Rush Medical College at
Chicago, graduating" with tlie class of 1878. Since then he has taken post-
graduate courses in that institution and makes annual visits to the Chicago
clinic, in order to keep fully abreast of the time in his chosen field.

Doctor Cram first located in Jordan, Minnesota, upon his graduatio'i in
1878, and a }-ear later located in Sheldon, where he has been continuously
practicing since that time. He established Cram's Hospital in 1903 and in
1906 established, his present hospital, which accommodates twelve patients
and has two nurses in constant attendance, and is a very successful institu-
tion for a town of this size, being of untold benefit to the city and community.
Doctor Cram has been a successful physician here from the first and is recog-
nized throughout this section of the state and. in fact, throughout this sec-
tion of the country, as one of the leading' physicians. He is a member of
the O'Brien County, Sioux \'alley, Iowa State and National medical associa-
tions, in all of ^\•hich he takes an active interest. He is at present the surgeon
for the Illinois Central. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and Omaha railways.

In addition to his medical practice. Doctor Cram has been one of the
most public-spirited citizens, of Sheldon. In 1898 he ])uilt the first telephone
exchange and when he sold it a few years later he had built it up to a high
state of eflicienc}-. having increased its subscribers to two hundred. How-
ever, it was becoming too much of an enterprise for him to manage suc-
cessfulh' and attend to his medical practice, so he sold it. Doctor Cram
owned the first automobile in northwestern Iowa in 1881 and the third in
the state. In fact, he has always been prominent in all enterprises and lends
his heartv support to every cause which he thinks will benefit the city.

Fraternally, Doctor Cram is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. He has been twice married, his first marriage occurring in
1880 to Dora Walter, who died in 1888, leaving two children, Mrs. Georgia

850 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Xerbovig, of Sheldon, and Walter W., who will graduate from the Rush
Medical College of Chicago in June, 191 5. In 1900 Doctor Cram was mar-
ried to Mrs. Hattie L. Lanning, who had two children by her former mar-
riage : Frederick is now twelve years of age, and Frank H., who died at the
age 01 eight months.

Personally, Doctor Cram is a pleasant gentleman to meet, kind, bene\'o-
lent and honest in all relations of life, and consequently is eminently deserving
of the large success which he has attained by his own efforts. He enjovs the
confidence of the city of Sheldon and community and is justly held in high
esteem by everyone.

ARTHUR THEODORE FILLENWARTH.

Among the }'ounger attorneys of O'Brien county, Iowa, who are fast
rising to prominence is Arthur T. Fillenwarth, of Sanborn. He came to
this place in the spring of 19 13, after having" been educated in the best schools
of the United States, and such has been his legal training that he has already
acquired a very satisfactory practice. The law departments of the University
of Michigan and Harvard University are recognized as among the best in the
country and a graduate from either school has the best training which can
be received. To his wide college education, Mr. Fillenwarth has added a
fund of valuable experience gained by extensive travel abroad. After leav-
ing college he made an extended tour through Europe and the British Isles,
visiting Holland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and other conti-
nental countries.

Arthur T. Fillenwarth, the son of John and Louisa (Trappa) Fillen-
warth, was born August i, 1887, in Monona, Iowa. John Fillenwarth was
the son of Peter, a native of Germany. The Fillenwarth family was one of
the early pioneer families of Clayton county, Iowa, and prominently identified
with its history for many years. John Fillenwarth, now living a retired life
at Britt. Iowa, was one of the most substantial farmers of his county. He
and his wife reared a family of five children, three of whom are still living,
Mrs. Clara Zuehl, William and Arthur T. The two former are now living
in Britt, Iowa.

Mr. Fillenwarth was reared on a farm, received his elementary education
in the graded schools and later graduated from the high school at Britt in
1905. He then entered the University of Iowa and took the four-years
course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, graduating in the spring

■ ^a* ^ £^ i^^/^a^frjs cSr ^ri^ Ji-y

(a . c^ cy^cAAjz^-^-^-v^L/z^'c^^

o'brIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 85 1

of 1909. Having- decided to make the law his hfe work, he at once entered
the College of Law of the University of Iowa, where he has received much
legal training. Later he studied in the law schools of Harvard and Michigan
Universities under some of the foremost legal authorities and law book
writers of the world. During the summer of 1911 he made an extended'
trip abroad, returning home in the fall and being admitted to the state bar of
Iowa on October 3, 1912. In the spring of the following year he came to
O'Brien county and opened his office on April 14, 1913. His splendid legal
training, together with his great natural ability, has enabled him to build
up a good practice in a short time. He has a keen mind and can grasp legal
problems in a way which indicates that he will be one of the leaders at the
O'Brien county bar within a few years. He is a Progressive in politics and
at the June primaries his party nominated him for the office of county
attorney, a position which he is abundantly qualified to fill.

Mr. Fillenwarth was married on June 30, 19 13. to Sadie Raecker, of
Britt, Iowa, the daughter of Rev. Henry Raecker. He was formerly the
minister of the Evangelical church at Hartley, Iowa, but is now stationed at
Britt. Mr. Fillenwarth and his wife are the center of a popular social circle
in Sanborn and have made many warm friends since their marriage. They
are people of winning pers(jnalit\ and charm and are admired for their whole-
souled hospitality.

A. C. WINTERFIELD.

It is the wise foresight and enterprise of the business men of any com-
munit\- which is, in a large measure, responsible for its prosperity and wel-
fare. The county which has progressive, wide-awake men of afifairs is to be
congratulated, for it is such men who shape and direct the varied interests
which make for the welfare of their respective communities. A. C. Winter-
field, although not a resident of Sibley for many years, has nevertheless
shown his ability as a business man since coming to this county and while
ach'ancing his own material interests he has not failed to take his proper share
of the burden of promoting the civic welfare of the county.

A. C. Winterfield, the son of Frederick and Christina (Wagner)
W'interfield, was born November i. 1862, in Waukesha county, Wisconsin.
l)Oth of his parents were twice married, their first marriages occurring in
Germanv. Both families came to Wisconsin in the earl\- fifties and were

(55)

852 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

li\ing in Milwaukee at the time the Asiatic cholera was prevalent in that
cit\'. While this was raging in that city both of them lost their first spouses.
Mrs. W'interfiekl had two children by her first marriage and Mr. Winterfield
had four children. After the death of their first spouses they were married
in Milwaukee about 1854 and subsequently moved to Waukesha county, Wis-
consin, where they lived for about ten years. In 1869 they came to Hardin
county, Iowa, and settled on a farm where both died, Frederick Winterfield
dying in 1894 and his wife four years later. The children of Frederick
Winterfield by his first wife, who are now living, are Fred, of Iowa Falls,
Iowa, and William, of Radcliffe, Iowa. The two children of his wife by her
first marriage are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Winterfield are the parents
of four children: Albert and Henry, of Radcliffe, Iowa; Andrew, of Osceola
county, and A. C, whose history is here presented.

A. C. W^interfield received his schooling in the countrv schools of his home
county and later studied one year in Des Moines. In 1890 he left home and
came to Sibley, but one year later returned to Hardin county and lived one
year in Alden. He then located in Harris, in this county, and was engaged
in the grain business from 1892 to 1904. He also conducted a lumber yard
in connection with his grain business while living in Harris. In 1904 he
disposed of his business in Harris and came to Sibley, where he engaged in
the real estate and loan business. In 191 1 he became a partner of T. S. Red-
mond and the firm is now doing a flourishing and prosperous real estate
business in Sibley and this section of the state. He owns a fine farm of his
own near Harris which yielded him eight dollars an acre on shares in 191 3.
He also owns four hundred and thirty acres in Osceola county and eighty
acres- in Minnesota. He is a stockholder and director of the Sibley State
Bank, a prosperous institution of the county seat.

Mr. Winterfield v^^as married in 1895 to Orphan M. Glass, of Harris,
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Glass. Mrs. Winterfield died in De-
cember, 19 10. in Harris, leaving two children, Loraine, who is now seven-
teen and a student in the Sibley high school, and Lenore, who is now nme
years of age. Mrs. Winterfield was a woman of winning personality and
her death was deeply moi^irned by the family and her numerous friends. She
was a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a faithful worker
in that denomination.

Mr. Winterfield is a stanch Republican in politics and has always taken
an active interest in public afifairs. He was county supervisor from 1898 to
1902 and while a member of the county board helped to select the plan of the
magnificent court house which adorns the county seat. Fraternally, he is a

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 853

member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is also a member of
the cliapter. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and the Knights of Pythias.

HEZEKIAH G. DOOLITTLE.

One of the finest and most distinguished men of Osceola county is
Hezekiah G. Doolittle, a man who has been as intimately associated with the
history of the county as any other resident. There is no phase of the history
of the county with which he is not familiar and for this reason the biography
of his life should be of intense interest to everyone in the county. He was
born in Evans, Erie county. New York, June i8, 1838, and is the son of
Arison S. and Frances (Smith) Doolittle. Anson Doolittle was born in
Pine Creek. Delaware county, New York. February 28, 1809, while his wife
was born in the same town August 25, 1810. Their marriage occurred in
Bovina, Delaware county. New York, J^ine 14, 1832.

The children of Anson and Frances Doolittle are as follows: Julia A.,
of Bovina, Delaware county, New York, born November 11, 1833, and now
a resident of Sibley, Iowa; Houston A., born September 25. 1836. in Evans,
New York, and now a resident of Sibley; Hezekiah G., with whom this nar-
rative deals; Caroline R.. born August 4. 1840, in Byron, New York, and
now a resident of Fayette county, Iowa; William A., born in Oakfield, New
York, October 19. 1842, and now a resident of Sibley; Charles S.. born in
Oakfield, New York, November 10, 1845, ^^^ ^^^' resides in Florida, near
Tampa; Addison K., born in Aurora, Illinois, November 18. 1847. ^^^ ^^^^
November 6, 1895, in Indian Territory; Jonathan A., born January, 1849, ^^
Bradford, Illinois, and died in infancy; Albert G., born in Grand Detour,
February 20, 1851, and died February 7. 1899; Esther Melinda, born August
19, 1853, and died in infancy, and Dayton S. and Fremont G., twins, who
were born in New Amsterdam, Wisconsin, August 19, 1856, and are both
deceased.

The Doolittles left New York state in 1846 and located at Aurora,
Illinois. Anson Doolittle was a wagon-maker by trade. In 1850 the family
moved to Bradford. Lee county. Illinois, and still later to Grand Detour,
Illinois. In 1856 they settled in New Amsterdam, Wisconsin, and three
years later moved to Delhi, Delaware county, Iowa. The parents later
moved to Earlville. Delaware county, where they lived for twenty-two years

854 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

and then moved to Osceola county, where they lived seven years, moving to
Hancock county in 1888. Mrs. Anson Doolittle died in March, 1898, and
Anson Doolittle in 1901.

H. G. Doolittle enlisted July 15, 1861, in Delaware county, Iowa, in
Company K, Fifth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served over
three years. He was in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. Ten, Pitts-
l)urg Landing, siege of Corinth, luka, and was wounded in the right leg at
the latter battle. The bullet passed through his leg and he was laid up three
months in the hospital at Jackson, Tennessee. He later participated in the
battles at Fort Gibson, Champion's Hill, Baker's Creek and all of the fighting
around Vicksburg up until it was finally captured on July 4. 1863. He was
then transferred to the East and followed Shemian to Chattanooga, partici-
pating in the battles of Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge. He was captured at the battle of Missionary Ridge and taken to the
Rebel prison at Belle Island near Richmond. He was captured on November
25th and escaped on March 16, 1864, by cutting a hole in the bottom of a
railroad car, while being transferred to Andersonville in Georgia. He and
two others made their thrilling escape at Gaston. North Carolina, and spent
the next twenty-four days in the swamps. On April 8th thev arri\ed at
Suffolk, Virginia, wading continuously through swamps for eighteen days
during the rainy time of the year. They finally reached the Lnion line and
in the summer of 1864 he was sent back to Chattanooga and thence to the
camp at Indian Creek, and finally discharged at Chattanooga, July 30, 1864.
He was elected sergeant of his company after being mustered in and was
appointed first sergeant in 1863.

Immediately after the war Mr. Doolittle returned to Delaware county,
Iowa, and was elected county surveyor, serving in that capacity until 1871.
In the spring of that year he came to Osceola county, arriving on the
first day of May, and spent the summer as a surveyor, locating the claims
of the settlers who were fast arriving. On July 4, 1871, a convention was
called on section 24, township 99, range 42, on Culver's homestead, for the
purpose of nominating county officers. Mr. Doolittle was made the chair-
man of the assembled settlers and F. AI. Robinson was elected as secretary.
The convention nominated A. M. Culver, Horace Fenton and Air. Spalding
for county supervisors. Captain Huff for treasurer, F. M. Robinson for
auditor, Frank Messenger for sheriff. D. L. McCausland for recorder, and
C. M. Brooks for clerk. It is interesting to note in connection with this
convention that a gang later came into the county and nominated Culver for

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 855

treasurer and looted the county to the extent of twenty-two thousand dollars
the first year.

After his experience in Osceola county as surxeyor, in 1871, Mr. Doo-
little went back to Delaware county where he taught school during the fol-
lowing winter and returned again in the spring. He was chairman of the
first grand jury in Osceola count}- in the spring of 1872. when the grand
jur}' returned twent}-two indictments against the gangsters who had been
swindling for the past \'ear. lliey were put under small bond of one hun-
dred dollars each and no one was surprised when they skipped the country
and never showed up again in the county.

From 1872 down to the present time Mr. Doolittle has been an im-
portant factor in the history of the county. He has served as county sur-
t^eyor for twelve years, was postmaster at Sil)le\- under President Harrison,
has been United States official weather observer since 1893, ser\-ed as city
assessor of Sibley two terms, was the census enumerator in 1900 for his
town, served as rural carrier from 1902 to 19 10 and has taught four years
in the public schools of the county.

Mr. Doolittle had homesteaded on section 24, township 99, range 41,
and lived here for twelve years after coming to the county. He then moved
ro Siblew where he conducted a photograph gallery for the next eighteen
years. He has always taken a very prominent part in all the civic affairs
of his city, as is shown b}' the offices which he has held. He has been an
exponent of clean government and wholesome politics and has never sup-
ported anything which sa\'ors of dishonesty in municipal politics.

Mr. Doolittle was married January 12, 1885, to Alice A. Walters, the
daughter of Harvey and Charlotte ]\I. (Allen) Walters. Her parents were
natives of X'ew York and were married at Ravenna, Ohio. The}' subse-
quently settled in Xew Hampton, Iowa, where Alice A. was born. The'
Walters family came to Osceola county in 1872 and homesteaded on section
10. township 99. range 41, where they lived until 1877. The father died on
August 10, 1901 : the widow is still living. Harvey Walters and wife were
the parents of six children: Nelson J., who is now li\'ing in the state of
Washington: Sidne}' S.. of Tacoma, \\'ashington : ]\Irs. Julia T. \\'ynne, of
Beloit, Wisconsin; Mrs. Alice .\. Doolittle, the wife of the subject of this
sketch; John F., Ijorn Februar}' 16. 1867, who strayed from home and was
found (lead two and tlu'ee-fourths miles from home. He was only two years
of age at the time; Willie S.. the voungest of the six children born to Mr. and
Mrs. Walters, is deceased. The \\'alters lived on the homestead farm for
years and then moved to Sibley in 1877, where the father kept the Pioneer

856 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

House for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle have two children Hving
and one deceased: Jessie W., born August 5, 1888, graduated from Morning-
side College and is now doing post-graduate work at the State University in
Iowa City; Frances Charlotte, a graduate of Morningside College, is now
teaching at Inwood. She is known among her friends as Margie Doolittle.
Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle are both loyal members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church and Mr. Doolittle is a member of the Grand Army of the
Republic and is commander of the L. G. Ireland Post at Sibley. Thus is
outlined briefly the interesting career of Mr. Doolittle, a man who has been
interested in his county for more than forty years, and in no position in
which he has been found has he ever been delinquent to the slightest duty,
and for this reason he has won the earnest approval of everyone who has
known him.

LOUIS YOUNGERS.

Many of the finest homes in Sheldon, O'Brien county. Iowa, have been
built by farmers who have made their fortunes in the fertile field of this
county and then retired to this city to spend their declining years. Among
these farmers who have made a notable success of farming in this county is
Louis Youngers, who has a modern residence in the southern part of Sheldon,
which he erected in 191 1.

Louis Youngers was born February 17, 1853, in Ozaukee county, Wis-
consin. He is the son of Nicholas and Margaret ( Robbenet) Youngers,
who were both born in Luxemburg. Germany. The\- were born, reared and
married in that country and immediately after their marriage came to this
country and located in the forests of Wisconsin, about twenty-fi^•e miles from
Milwaukee. They reached this country in 1849 ^^^^ literally carved their
farm out of the dense wilderness where they settled. In 1883, Nicholas, his
wife and two youngest children came to O'Brien county and lived in Sheldon
on one of his son's farms until his death in 1898. His wife died in 1894.
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Youngers were the parents of seven children:
Nicholas, Jr., of Sioux county, Iowa; Louis, whose history is here sketched;
Mrs. Mary Ludovise, of Lynn township; Peter, of Kansas: Dominic, of
Lynn township, in this county ; Mrs. Anna Croat, of Sioux county. Iowa, and
John, of Sioux county.

Louis Youngers came to LeJMars in 1875 and worked his way to O'Brien
county, where he hired out to a farmer in Carroll township. He worked

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 857

here for one year and in 1876 his brother Nicholas joined him and they
farmed the west half of the southwest corner of section 30. in Carroll town-
ship. The brothers then bought the western half of the northeastern corner
of this section. Louis later sold his interest in this to his brother Nicholas
and rented eighty acres from Air. Holmes, whicli they fanned together.
Each of the brothers had a team and they not only farmed their own farm,
but broke ground for their neighbors. They went through the terrible ex-
perience of the famous "grasshopper war'' and remember distinctly that on
July 28, 1876, the grasshoppers came so thick from the west the boys were
hardly able to reach their shack. The grasshoppers fell like hail stones and
within two days ate up twenty acres of oats and all of their other crops. The
grasshoppers left eggs scattered everywhere and in the spring of 1877 they
appeared again and ate up all the crops of that year. In 1878 the brothers
managed to secure a fair crop and then Louis married and settled on his farm
permanently. In the winter of 1880 and 1881 came the famous big snow,
the worst in the history of this county. The snow came on October 15, 1880.
and lay on the ground continuously until April 15, 1881. This was the last
disaster which befell the brothers and after that things moved on without any
interruption. Mr. Youngers lived on his farm until 1896 and then bought
eighty acres in section 6, in Carroll township, adjoining the city of Sheldon.
He now owns eleven hundred acres in the county, having bought his land at
prices ranging from one dollar and a quarter to eighty-five dollars an acre.
The prices which he paid for his land as he bought, tract by tract, are inter-
esting in showing the increase of land values. Commencing at one dollar and
a quarter an acre, twelve dollars, twenty dollars, thirty-two dollars, fifty-five
dollars, sixty-two dollars and eighty-five dollars. This land is all worth from
one hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars an acre at the present time. In
addition to his holdings in .O'Brien county, he owns two hundred acres in
Sioux county.

Mr. Youngers was married in 1878 to Margaret Ludovisie and to this
union have been born fourteen children: Nicholas L.. a farmer of this
county; Tracy, of Canada: Louis L., a farmer of this county: Mrs. Mary
J. Giefer, of LeMars township; Peter, of Washington township; Theodore
L., of Parker, South Dakota, where he is a bank cashier; Andrew, a fanner
of this county: Clara M., who is keeping house for her brother: Martha M.,
who graduated from the Sheldon high school and is at home and teaching in
the public schools of Sheldon: Matilda, who is in the high school; Clarence,
Daniel, Leona and Eugene.

Politically, Mr. Youngers is a Democrat, but his interests hd.\e been so

858 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

heavy that lie has never had the time to indulge in the game of pohlics.
Though successful in his private affairs. Mr. Youngers has also been inter-
ested in the welfare of his community and gi\'es his unreserved support to
every enterprise which is for the advancement of the welfare of his fellow
citizens.

WILL A. SOLON.

It is a well-attested maxim that the greatness of a community or state
lies not in the machinery of government, nor even in its institutions, but
rather in the sterling c[ualities of the individual citizen, in hi^^ capacity for
high and unselfish effort and his devotion to the public welfare. In these
particulars he whose name appears at the head of this paragraph has con-
ferred honor and dignity on his county, and as an elemental part of history
it is consonant that there should be recorded here a resume of his career,
with the object in view of noting his connection with the advancement of
one of the most flourishing and progressive sections of the commonwealth,
as well as his career in the banking business, one of the most exacting pro-
fessions to which a man can devote his talents and energies.

Will A. Solon, the cashier of the Sanborn State Bank, was born in
February, 1882, in Mason City. Iowa, the son of A. \\\ and Katherine
CFarrell) Solon. The reader is referred to the life of A. W. Solon, else-
where in this volume, for details concerning the Solon ancestrw Mr. Solon
was educated in the Sanborn public schools, having come with his parents to
this city when he was eighty years of age. He graduated from the Sanborn
high school in 1899, and then took the commercial course in the Capital
City Commercial College of Des Moines. In 1900 he entered the Sanborn
State Bank as assistant cashier and on April i, 191 1. he became cashier.

Mr. Solon was married in July, 1908, to Gertrude McKone, the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. James McKone, of Lawler, Iowa. Politically. Mr. Solon
is a Democrat, and has served as secretary of the school board since 190 1,
and is now city clerk of Sanborn, having been elected to that ofiice in 1909.
He and his wife are earnest and faithful members of the Catholic church, and
belong to the congregation of St. Cecilia church of Sanborn. Fraternally,
Mr. Solon is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

The Sanborn State Bank was established April i, 1883, by C. D. and
A. E. Ellis, of Charles City, Iowa, and Morton Wilbur. George B. Davis
and F. A. Ellis, of Sanborn. Mr. Wilbur was cashier of the bank until

WILL A. SOLON

IT T- T- '- TT.

o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 859

1900. when he was succeeded 1j\- G. M. Slocuni. who had been assistant
cashier previous to that time. In 1900 W. A. Solon l3ecame assistant cashier
of the bank, and (^n April i, 1911. he took the position of cashier. This
bank has a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars, a surplus of twenty-
five hundred dollars, deposits of two hundred thousand dollars and total re-
sources of two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. The bank owns its own
two-stor}- brick Ijuilding on Alain street, and has handsome fixtures. The
banking- room is floored with a fireproof tile and the room also contains a
number of safe deposit vaults for rent. The bank issues certificates of de-
posit parable in six or twelve months, on which interest is allowed at fotir
and five per cent. It issues bank money orders and bank money drafts for
domestic or foreign use and payable at all points in the world at the most
reasonable rates. It loans money to responsible parties on approved col-
lateral or other securities, writes fire insurance on desirable property in strong
companies at the prevailing rates. The record of the Sanborn State Bank
for the past thirty-one years has certainly been an enviable one. It has stood
the storms of nearly one and one-half score of years and shows a clean record,
all of the time afl^ording a place of safety for depositing idle funds and a
place where accommodations may be secured by those worthy of credit at any
and all times. The bank has alwa>s endeavored to give the people of this
vicinitv the best of service and under the new mana^ment. which went into
effect in 1911. this endeavor will be redoubled. It cordially invites the
people to make use of its facilities and to consult freely with its officers on
anv matters pertaining to any of its branches of business.

WILLIAM H. SLEEPER.

The character of a community is determined in a large measure by the
lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual
status is good: if in a social way it is a pleasant place to live; if its reputa-
tion for the integritv of its citizens has extended into other localities, it will
be found that the standards set by the leading men ha\e been high and that
their influence has been such as to mold the character and shape the lives of
those with whom they mingle. In placing ^^^illiam IT. Sleeper in the front
rank of such men. a biographical fact is thus stated with an accuracy and
justice which is deserving to the individual with whom the biographer is
directlv concerned. For thirty-five years the pioneer banker of Sheldon.

86o o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA counties, IOWA.

and having figured in the building up of the city, he occupies a unique place
in the history of the city and county. Although modest to a high degree,
he is one of the most approachable and public spirited men in the community.

Mr. Sleeper was born in New Jersey, on October 8. 1853. the son of
Aaron' and Maria Sleeper, both deceased, having lived their lives in their
native state of New Jersey. The mother of ^^"illiam H. died when he was
but a child. He was educated in the public schools of his native state. Be-
coming imbued with the western spirit, he traveled westward in 1878 and
located in Sheldon, where he became the pioneer banker of the town. For a
period of twenty years his banking institution was conducted as a state bank :
in 19 1 4 it became a private bank and is now operated under the firm name
of Sherwood & Sleeper.

Mr. Sleeper has been interested in O'Brien county land and has owned
and sold several tracts during his long residence in the county. At present
he is the owner of a section of land in Monona county, Iowa. He is affiliated
politically with the Republican party and has served as a member of the city
council. In many ways he has been a useful citizen and is accounted one of
the substantial citizens of the community. He is ever ready and willing to
assist in meritorious public enterprises and has made his influence felt in be-
half of good things which were intended to benefit the body politic in vari-
ous ways.

Mr. Sleeper was married in 1883 to Etta Sherwood, daughter of George
W. Sherwood, now a resident of St. Paul. They have had three children:
Sherwood, deceased ; Raymond, in Sheldon, and George, deceased.

RICHARD M. BOYD.

How much we owe the pioneers of O'Brien count}- ! A\'hat a fine body
of good and true men they were! Many of them were of the finest tvpe of
manliood. They entered a wilderness of unbroken prairie country and passed
through a period which tried men's souls and which brought out the best
there was in them. Some gave up the fight for even l)are existence during the
first lean and poor years, but those who remained have reaped a harvest of
good things and are now honored and respected in their neighborhoods. They
were of a cosmopolitan class, embracing some of the best blood of New Eng-
land, Pennsylvania, the South, and from far-away Ireland, England, Scot-
land and Wales. Manv were Union soldiers, who, restless for a change for

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 86l

the better in their circrmstances after juissiiij^' tirrough tlic harro\vint; scenes
of four years of awfnl warfare, set their faces westward, there to hew out a
home and rear their famihes to good and useful citizenship.

Richard M. Boytl, or "Dick" Boyd, as he is more alTectionatelv known,
of Sanborn, is a oeniiiic picMieer of the hardy class who homesteaded in
Grant township and has prospered as he well deserved. He was born May
i8, 1843, in Ireland, the son of Robert and Mary Ann ( Pogue ) Bovd. of
Scotch-Irish and Cox'enanter descent. Their immediate ancestors left Scot-
land to obtain freedom of worship in their chosen faith in northern Ireland.
It is of record that the father of Mary Ann Pogue held a grant of consider-
able land in the North countrw but unfortunately lost the same bv going note
security for a friend at the time of his marriage. Robert and Mary Ann Boyd
and their children emigrated to America in 1853. For several years they
lived in New York City, where the father died of ship fever contracted while
on a trip to Rhode Island, whither he had gone to arrange for another place
of abode for his family. The widow and children soon afterward moved to
Rhode Island and located in the town of Bristol. There were six children in
the Boyd family, as follows: Isaiah P., deceased; Richard M. ; Robert W.,
of Sutherland; Mrs. Annie J. Magee, of Sanborn; Alex., of whose where-
abouts nothing is now known ; Mrs. Mary Corrall, deceased ; John, deceased.

In 1861 Richard Boyd and his mother decided to come west and they
journeyed to Iowa. They deemed this eventful step necessary on account of
the fact that factories in Rhode Island had shut down and a kind of panic
prevailed when the Civil War broke out between the states. They settled on
a farm in Lynn county, Iowa. Here it was that Richard Boyd enlisted in the
Union army and made an enviable record as a brave soldier. He enlisted in
Company H, Fourteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, October 5,
i26i, and was honorably discharged from the service November 16, 1864.
at Davenport, Iowa. He enlisted under Capt. Roy A. Cranes and fought at
Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Shiloh. Corinth and Tupelo, Mississippi. He
was taken seriously sick at Tupelo of typhoid fever and lay in the hospital for
se\-eral months, suffering severe setbacks and being an invalid for a long
time at Mound City, Illinois. At Shiloh he was one of the personal body
guard for Gen. C. J. Smith. He finally got to St. Louis while still in a sadly
weakened condition and being the ghost of his former robust manhood. It
was a very long time before he became a well man. In fact, he was so dis-
figured by disease that his boon companions in his old command even failed
to recognize him. After they discovered that their old comrade "Dick"
needed their care they insisted on his being transferred to their quarters and

862 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

then tenderly cared for him and assisted him in building up his wasted
physitiue. Later, down in Missouri, he was engaged in many skirmishes
with the bushwhackers. He also saw active service in Kentucky and Missis-
sippi. Previous to this he had participated in the engagement at Meridian,
Mississippi. His last service was during the historic chase after Gen. Mar-
maduke Price and his rebel army, who were driven out of Missouri. He re-
turned home after his discharge, but went again to the front and was in the
employ of the United States government at Nashville, Tennessee, until the
close of the war. Mr. Boyd recalls that the lamentable news of President
Lincoln's assassination, when received in the Southern city, quieted the bitter-
ness and quarreling among all classes of the people. Southerners and con-
querors alike. When peace was declared he was retained in Nashville dur-
ing 1866 and had personal charge of the government live stock.

For a period of four years after the end of his service Mr. Boyd lived in
Linn cuuntw and in 1871 came to O'Brien count}'. He filed on a government
homestead in Grant township, the southwest quarter of section 14, township
95, range 39. He improved his homestead and developed it into a fine farm,
which he }'et owns. Li 1883 he came to the town of Sanborn, where he has
since resided and is considered affectionately as the "Father of the Town."
For se^•eral }-ears he served as city marshal and constable and was also in
the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for some years.
He was appointed postmaster February 15, 1900, and served continuously
until August. 19 1 3. He was one of the best and most accommodating post-
masters the city ever had. He was recommended by President Taft for an-
other term, Init declined to become an applicant for the position. Li politics
he has always been a Republican.

Religiously, Mr. Boyd has always been affiliated with the faith of his
forefathers and is a stanch member of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally,
he is allied with the Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, being
one of the few remaining members of the local post.

Mr. Boyd was married November 16, 1866, to Eliza J. Swecker, of Linn
county, wlio has borne him six children, as follows: M. R., a citizen of far-
away Fairbanks, Alaska: Seldon, a resident of Sanborn; Fay Devere, of
Minneapolis: Neva L., of Chicago; Mrs. Ina Lee, of Ladysmith, Wisconsin;
Erma. at home with her father. Mrs. Boyd died on September 22, 191 3.

Mr. Boyd is the owner of eighty acres of rich and valuable land adja-
cent to the city of Sanborn. He is the owner of the postoffice building and
another business house in the adjoining block. It is a matter of record that
he sold the first load of wheat handled in Sheldon, Iowa, by Benjamin Jones

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 863

in the early seventies. He is a very popular, substantial citizen, who is highly
esteemed for his many excellent qualities by his fellow citizens in Sanborn
and throughout O'Brien county.

CHARLES F. PETERS.

The city of Sheldon. O'Brien county. Iowa, boasts of many farmers who
have retired to this beautiful little city to pass their declining years. Fortu-
nate indeed is a man who has sufficient wealth to retire in his declining years
and live a life of ease. Among the many retired farmers of Sheldon who
have made their fortune in the fertile soil of this section of the state is
Charles F. Peters, who was born in 1850 in Prussia. He is another example
of the many Germans who have arisen to positions of affluence in this county.
He is the son of David and Fredericka (Mellithin) Peters, who lived all of
their days in the land of their birth. David Peters was an innkeeper and
operated a distillery in his native land and died in 1857.

Charles F. Peters came to America when he was eighteen }ears of age
and at once settled in Lee county, Illinois, w^here he worked on a farm. For
the first five years he worked at day labor on farms in the county and then
operated a threshing machine and corn shelling outfit for nine years. In the
meantime he had married and in 1882 he came to Lyons county, Iowa, and
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at fourteen dollars and a half
an acre. Since he was a native of Germany, it is needless to add that he
prospered on his farm. When he moved to Sheldon in 1907 he owned eight
hundred and sixty-five acres which was worth one hundred and fifty dollar.^
an acre. He recently sold a farm near Sheldon for two hundred dollars an
acre and has sold several hundreds of acres in the last three years in this
and surrounding counties. His farm in Lyons county is the finest in north-
western Iowa and is a model in every respect and is easily worth over one
hundred and fifty dollars an acre. Mr. Peters has a fine residence in Sheldon
where he is now living.

Mr. Peters was married in 1878 to Christina Gartz, of German}-, and
to this marriage have been born five children, three of whom are living, Fred
and Charles, who are operating their father's farm, and William, an attorney
and Idaho.

Politically, Mr. Peters has long been identified with the Republican party,
but, ow'ing to his heavy agricultural interests, he has not been aiile to take an

86-J. o'bKIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

active part in politics. He was reared to the German Lutheran faith, but lie
and his family attend the Congregational church in Sheldon, to which ihev
contribute of their substance. Mr. Peters has had a remarkable success in
farming since coming to Iowa. He owes his success solely to his own initia-
tive and determination, but wh.at he has accomplished has not been without
hard work and that application which is necessary for success in anv line of
business. The acquisition of wealth has not blinded him tD his dut\' as a
member of the body politic and he is ahvays interested in e\ery enterjirise and
measure which he felt would better the communitv in which he li\ed.

JAMES H. DALY.

The city of Sanborn has reason to pride itself upon its progressiveness,
its hnancial and commercial institutions, and, above all, in its citizenry, which
has no superior in OTJrien county or western Iowa. One of the best known
and al)le young men of this excellent community is he of whom this review is
written and who ranks high among the bankers of the county. James H.
Daly is a man of unquestioned ability and superior attainments, who is, withal,
self made and has attained a position of substance and standing in the com-
munity practicalh' through the exercise of talents which were his by right of
heritage and development.

Mr. Dal}- was born in the city of Aurora, Illinois, August 8, 1864. He
is the son of P. J. and Margaret Jackson Daly, the former a native of Ireland
and the latter of England. Margaret Jackson was born in the city of Lon-
don, England, and emigrated with her parents to Canada, where she was
reared to young womanhood. P. J. Daly removed with his family to Boone,
Iowa, in the year 1869. He w^as a railroad engineer and a mechanical
draughtsman in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad for sev-
eral years. Previous to locating in Iowa his headquarters had been in Chi-
cago, while he made his residence in Aurora. He died in Fremont, Nebraska,
in 1908, at the home of his son. Mrs. Daly resides at Boone. They were the
parents of three children : J. J. Daly, a resident of Fremont, Nebraska ;
Elizabeth, at Boone, and James H., of Sanborn.

James H. Daly was educated in the schools of his native city and, when
still a youth, became a member of a surveying corps. He learned the ma-
chinist's trade in the railroad shops and became a fireman on the Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad. Later he had charge of the air pumps in the Union

o'bRIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 865

Pacific shops at Omaha. In 1882 he came to Sanborn and was employed as a
machinist in the shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for a
period of three vears. He also spent one year in Chadron. Nebraska, in the
employ of the same company. On his return to Sanborn from Chadron, he
was employed as bookkeeper for William Harper, the organizer of the
O'Brien County Bank. He has been with this bank for twenty-six years and
has assisted in its reorganization. He was first bookkeeper, then cashier and
is now the president of the bank, having filled this position for the past three
years. v

The Sanborn Savings Bank was organized in 1898, succeeding the First
National Bank, which likewise succeeded the O'Brien County Bank, which
began operations in the early seventies. The capital, of the bank is $50,000;
surplus, $16,000: deposits, $300,000. The officers are as follows: Presi-
dent, J- H. Daly : cashier, John A. Johnson : directors, J. H. Daly. J. A. John-
son, W. W. Johnson, S. C. Kerberg, Frank Frisbie and Fred Frisbie. The
original organizers of the bank were : W. \\'. Johnson, J. H. Daly. J. A.
Johnson, Frank and Fred Frisbie and W. M. Smith. The bank is located in
its own building and also owns the adjacent building. It has the strongest list
of stockliolders from a financial standpoint of any bank in O'Brien county.
The principal stockholders are as follows : S. L. Moore, of Boone, Iowa :
J. H. Mermon. of tlie old established Herman Banking Company, and present
cashier of the First National Bank of Boone, Iowa, and also president of
another strong bank: C. H. Zanzinger, of Boston, Massachusetts, a very
prominent man in financial and banking circles of the Hub City. Its cor-
responding banks are as follows: The Continental and Commercial, of Chi-
cago; the First National, of Sioux City: the First National, of Boone, in
which the bank's reserve is carried, and the First National, of Sheldon.

Mr. Daly is politically allied with the Republican party and is affiliated
with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of the Scot-
tish Rite consistory of Sioux City and a Mason of the thirty-second degree.

Mr. Daly was married in 1890 to Mettie G. Conkur. of Sanborn, and is
the father of one child, Bernice. Like other successful men of this western
country, he has implicit faith in land as the basis of values and the source of
all wealth. He is buying and selling land continuously and thoroughly under-
stands land values in the vicinity and throughout the country. At the present
time he is the owner of eisfht hundred and eio-htv acres of O'Brien countv
land, and has land holdings in Texas, South Dakota, Nebraska. Minnesota
and Kentuckv.

866 o'briex and osceola counties, iowa.

FRANK W. HORTOX, M. D.

It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that move
a life of ceaseless activity and large professional success : little more can be
done than to note their manifestation in the career of the individual under
consideration. In view of this fact, the life of the physician and public-
spirited man of affairs whose name appears above affords a striking example
of well-defined purpose, with the ability to make that purpose subserve not
only his own ends but the good of his fellow men as well. He has long held
distinctive prestige in a calling which requires for its basis sound judgment
and discipline of a high order, supplemented by the rigid professional train-
ing and thorough mastery of technical knowledge, with the skill to apply the
same, without which one cannot hope to rise above mediocrity in ministering
to human ills. In his chosen field of endeavor Doctor Horton has achieved
a distinctive success and his present standing among the leading medical men
of northwestern Iowa is duly recognized and appreciated.

Dr. Frank W. Horton, of Sanborn, Iowa, was born Xo\"ember 7. 1870,
at Fort Atkinson, Iowa. He is the son of Warren H. and Ella (Beman)
Horton. natives of New York state. Warren H. was the son of William
Horton. Ella Beman is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Beman. early
pioneers of Wisconsin, where Mr. Beman is now residing with one of his
sons. Doctor Horton's mother is still living and, tht father died April 5,
1914. the Doctor being the only child of the four born to them who is living.

Doctor Horton was educated in the \"olga and Belmont ( Iowa ) high
schools, graduating from the latter high school in 1889. He then entered the
University of Iowa and graduated from the medical department in March.
1894. Mr. Horton worked his way through school and college b}- clerking
in a mercantile establishment during vacation. During his third year in
college he served as house physician of a hospital at Iowa City. It is to be
noted that the men who work their way through school are usually those
who make the better students. This is strikingly true in the case of Doctor
Horton. The fact that he had to work his way through college is an indica-
tion that he was a student of much more than ordinary ability.

Immediately after graduating from the University of Iowa. Doctor
Horton located in Sanborn and has now practiced just twenty years in this
community. He has built up an excellent practice in Sanborn and the sur-
rounding country and has achieved unusual success in his profession. He
has handled a large number of very important cases successfully and is de-
serving of the high stanading which he has secured throughout this section

FRANK W. HORTOX, M. D.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 867

of the state. He is a member of the O'Brien County Medical Society, the
Hahnemann Association of Iowa, the Iowa State Medical Society and the
American Institute of Homeopathy, and takes an interest in all organiza-
tions which he thinks will help him in his business.

Doctor Horton was married in September, 1895, to Harriet Smilev. a
trained nurse of Iowa City. She was born in Indiana. To this marriage
have been born four children, Leon, deceased, Ruth, W'ilma and ]^[argaret.
Doctor Horton and his wife are members of the Presley terian church and
contribute liberally of their means to its support. Politically, he is a member
of the Republican party and identifies himself with the Progressive branch
of that organization. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons and has attained to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite.
He is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. While he has been entirelv de-
voted to his profession, he has not neglected to take his part in the affairs of
his town and community. He is a man who believes in progress and impro\e-
ment and takes an interest in whatever he feels will be for the material ad-
vancement of the city and the social, intellectual and moral good of its people.

WALTER RALEIGH BROCK, M. D.

There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at
large than the self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble-minded men whose life
work is the alleviation of suffering and the ministering of comfort to tlie af-
flicted, to the end that the span of human existence may be lengthened and a
great degree of satisfaction enjoyed during the remainder of the earthly so-
journ. There is no standard by which their beneficent influence can be meas-
ured ; their helpfulness is limited only by the extent of their knowledge and
skill, while their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of na-
ture that spring from the very source of life itself. Some one has aptly said,
"He serves God best who serves humanity most." Among the physicians
and surgeons of O'Brien county who have risen to eminence in their chosen
field of endeavor is the subject of this review, whose career has ])een that of
a broad-minded, conscientious worker in the sphere to which his life and-
energies have been devoted and whose profound knowledge of his profession
has won for him a leading place among the most distinguished medical men
of his day and generation in the city of his residence.
(56)

868 o'brien and osceola counties, iowa.

Dr. Walter Raleigh Brock was born May 7, 1870, near Ypsilanti, Mich-
igan, and is the son of Dr. C. L. and Marion (Morrison) Brock. Dr. C. L.
Brock was a native of Vermont, his birth occurring on January 17, 1818, and
he was reared, educated and taught school there and later migrated to the
state of Michigan, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1866.
He immediately began the active practice of medicine in Michigan, and in
187 1 moved to Tama county, Iowa, and later to Rock county, Minnesota.
In 1896 he moved to Sheldon and resided with his son. Dr. W. B. Brock,
until his death, which occurred in 1901. Marion Morrison, the wife of Dr.
C. L. Brock, was born of Scotch parentage, in Blenham. Ontario. Canada, and
is still living in Sheldon with her children. Dr. C. L. Brock and wife were
the parents of nine children, all of whom are living : Chauncey, who resides
in Aiinnesota; Lowell, of Wyoming; Sydney, of Des Moines. Iowa; Dr.
George Brock, a dentist of Redlands, California ; Charles Francis, of Gettys-
burg, Michigan ; Horace Mann, of Xew York City ; Mrs. Ellen Kramer, of
James, Iowa, and Mrs. Phoebe Beadle, of Wyandot, Nebraska.

Dr. Walter R. Brock was educated in the public schools of Rock county,
Minnesota, and later attended Drake University, graduating from the medical
department of that institution in 1894. Since his graduation from Drake he
has pursued several courses in Chicago University and other post-graduate
medical schools. He practiced two years in Hills, Minnesota, and then lo-
cated in Sheldon, Iowa, where he has practiced continuously up to the pres-
ent time. He has liis full share of the patronage of Sheldon and vicinity and
is regarded as one of the leading practitioners of this section of the state.
He is a member of the O'Brien County, Iowa State, Sioux Valley and Amer-
ican medical associations, and is treasurer of the Sionx Valle\' Medical So-
ciety at the present time.

Doctor Brock was married in 1901 to Maude Shinski. the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shinski. and they are the parents of two children. Jo-
seph, born Se])teml)er 28, 1904. and Helen, born December 7, 1908.

Doctor Brock affiliates with the Universalists and Mrs. Brock is a mem-
ber of the Catholic church. The Doctor is a member of the fraternal order of
Knights of Pythias. He is actuated by only the highest motives in the prac-
tice of his profession and has brought rare skill and resource in the care of
many of his cases which have a serious feature. Quick perception and al-
most intuitive judgment have rendered him exceptionally strong in diagnosis,
though ever willing to lend any aid or suggestion.

Throughout his busy life he has ever been a hard and enthusiastic stu-
dent and keeps well abreast of the times, as he has realized that in the science

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 869

of medicine, as in other departments of modern research, there have been con-
stant and steady advances and discoveries. He has been very successful in
his large practice during the years that he has been in this county, and be-
cause of his ability and high personal character, he enjoys a high standing
among his professional colleagues and among the people generally.

HERMAN JOHN BRACKNEY, M. D.

Although but a short time a resident of the communit}' of which this
volume is a record, the subject of this sketch has by his professional ability
and high personal character stamped his impress on those with whom he has
come in contact and is numbered among the progressive and enterprising
residents of Sheldon. In the realm of medicine and surgery he has achieved
a splendid reputation, for by training. and experience he has well qualified
himself to combat disease in all its forms, and among his |)rofessional col-
leagues he is held in the highest regard.

Dr. Herman J. Brackney, the son of John \\'. and Janie ( Felter ) Brack-
ney, was born in Tama county, Iowa, October 29, 1881. His father was a
native of Indiana and his mother of Illinois. John W. Brackney was born
in 185 1 and came from Indiana to Iowa with his parents when he was nine
years of age. The Brackneys purchased a farm in Tama county and here
John W. grew to maturity, and married Janie Felter, the daughter of Nelson
Felter and wife. Nelson Felter was the first settler in Crystal township,
Tama county. Iowa, ha\'ing settled there in 1854. coming from Cook county.
Illinois. In 1886 John \\\ and the famil}- moved to Cherokee county, Iowa,
and shortlv afterwards he engaged in the mercantile business in Cherokee.
Mr. and Mrs. John Brackney w^ere the parents of three children: H. W.,
an attorney of Sioux City, Iowa ; Dr. Herman J. and Mrs Maud R.
Christianson.

Doctor Brackney was educated in the Washta, Iowa, high school and
later attended the Western College of Toledo, Iowa. In 1905 he received
his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees in the State Uni-
versity of Iowa and immediately located in Sheldon for the practice of medi-
cine. Doctor Brackney has rapidly forged to the front as one of the leading
practitioners of the citv and now enjoys his full share of the practice of the
city and vicinitv. Fle keeps in close touch with the advancement of the
medical profession, through wide reading and dependence upon \arious

870 o'bRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

medical associations. He is a member of the O'Brien County. Iowa State
and American medical associations, and takes an active interest in the annual
meetings of these organizations.

Doctor Brackney was married in 1906 to May Soesbe, of Greene. Iowa.
To this union there has been born one daughter, Helen. Fraternally, he is
a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Alasons, the Knights of Pythias
and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are members of
the Congregational church and gi\e freely of their means to its support.
Doctor Brackney has a large and well selected jirofessional library, as well
as many other valuable works, of which he is a close and constant reader.
Personally, he is a man of social impulses and is genial and companionable in
his relations to his fellow men. Since locating in Sheldon, he has taken a
deep interest in the welfare of the community and gives his ardent support
to all measures for local improvement.

J. H. McNeill.

J. H. McNeill belongs to that class of men who win in life's battles by
force of personality and determination and these qualities he has inherited
from his Scotch ancestors. Since coming to this county he has proved him-
self to be a man of ability and honor and always ready to lend his aid in de-
fending principles affecting the public good. As a farmer he was working
early and late to make his farm a paying proposition ; as an insurance man
in Sanborn he worked no less diligently, while as a mayor of the city of San-
born since March, 1913. he has ably and conscientiously served his city in the
capacity of an executive.

J. H. McNeill, the present mayor of Sanborn, Iowa, was born August
II, 1861, in Delaware county, low^a, near Manchester. He is the son of
David and Jean (Robertson) AIcNeill, both of whom were natives of Scot-
land. David McNeill came from Scotland with his parents to America when
he was seven years of age and settled on Prince Edward Island, in the gulf
of St. Lawrence. On this rocky island David McNeill was reared and mar-
ried. When a young man he had been a sailor in the British navy and trav-
eled over the entire world. He tlien returned to his home in Prince Edward
Island and married. In 1854 he came to Iowa, where he secured a farm in
Delaware county. He died at Manchester in 1883.

J. H. McNeill came to O'Brien county, Iowa, in 1880 and for the first
two years worked upon farms in this county. He then worked at the car-

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 8/1

penter trade awhile, then married and moved onto his farm, which he pur-
chased in 1888. He Hved on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres until
1906, when he came to Sanborn, where he has been engaged in the insur-
ance business. He has some of the strongest and best insurance companies
and has built up a large and lucrative business since coming to Sanborn. In
recognition of his ability as an administrator of public afifairs, the city coun-
cil of Sanborn appointed him mayor in March, 19 13, and this position he is
now filling to the entire satisfaction of the city.

Air. AlcXeill was married in 1888 to Louise Davids, the daughter of
George B. and Sarah A. ( Rogers) Davids. Mr. and Mrs. McNeill have two
children, Irene, who is librarian of the Sanborn library, and Isabel, who is a
graduate of the Sanborn high school.

George B. Davids was born July 4, 1836, at Brandon, Vermont, and died
July 9. 1903. He was the son of a miller and during the early part of his life
operated flouring mills in the eastern part of New York and Vermont. In
about 18^8 he located in Wisconsin, but a few vears later returned to New
York. During the Civil W'ar he enlisted as a sailor in the United States navy
and ser\-ed for six months. Before the war was over he returned to Wis-
consin and sold farm machinery and during one of his trips over the country
he visited Lyons, Iowa, where he met Sarah A. Rogers, who afterward be-
came his wife. In 1870 he moved to Madison, Wisconsin, still retaining his
connection with the implement business and traveled over northern Iowa,
southern Minnesota and Wisconsin as a collector for the company. On his
second visit to O'Brien county in 1878, he bought a half section of land in
Summit township, O'Brien county, for one dollar and a half an acre. In
1880 he moved to Sheldon, Iowa, and three years later he quit the machinery
business and came to Sanborn and. in partnership with Ellis & Ellis and Mor-
ton Wilbur, he started the Sanborn State Bank. In 1886 he sold out to his
partners and moved to his farm in Summit township. In 1900 he sold his
farm and shortly after the death of his wife he returned to Wisconsin, where
he died in Green Lake county, July 9, 1903. He and his wife had but one
child, Louise, the wife of Mr. McNeill.

Politically, Mr. McNeill is a Progressive, having joined that party upon
its organization in the summer of 1912. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the Mystic Shrine and has
attained to the honor of the thirty-second degree. In all the relations of life
Mr. McNeill has been an advocate of wholesome living, cleanliness in poli-
tics as well, and has ever been outspoken in his denunciation of wrongdoing
of e\'ery kind. He is a man who, in every respect, has merited the high es-
teem in which he is universallv held.

8/2 o'bKIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

PATRICK KELLEY.

From the far-famed and beloved Emerald Isle have come to the new
republic of the west during the past three centuries a large percentage of its
best and most enterprising citizens. They are found, too few. within the
borders of O'Brien county. One of the worthiest and best known of the
agricultural element of this horde of Erin's fair land is Patrick Kelley, of
Sheldon, who was born in 1838 and he is therefore now advanced in years;
but. having lived a wholesome life along conservative paths, he is hearty and
can look backward over a life well spent and forward with no apprehension
for the future.

Mr. Kelley emigrated to America with his parents. James and Mary
(Griffin) Kelley, in 1846 and the first year lived in New Jersey. The family
then moved to Connecticut, where the father of Patrick worked in a cotton
and woolen mill in that state from the time that he was nine years of age.
During the Civil War he worked at Norwich, Connecticut, in the arsenal and
gun manufacturing works. In about 1868 he went west and settled in Minne-
sota, where he found employment on a railroad gang which was constructing
a railroad through that state. After living ten years in Minnesota he came to
Sheldon in the spring of 1878 and was employed by a compan}- constructing .'i
railroad through O'Brien county. The early part of the eighties he "squatted"
on railroad land, three miles east of Sheldon, in Floyd township. Likt-
scores of other "squatters" in the coimty. he later had difficulty in proving
his title, but was eventually given possession of the land on which he settled.
He has a fine farm of one hundred and sixt}- acres, which is now worth
two hundred dollars an acre. In 1901 he retired from active farming an-l
moved into Sheldon, where he is now living.

Mr Kellev was married in 1872 to Marv Brav. who died in February,
1908. To this union were born eight children: James, deceased; Mrs. May
l^ougherty, of .Sanborn, who has two children, John and \A^inifred; Wini-
fred, deceased; Mrs. Margaret Kearney, of Plevna, ^Montana, who has one
son, Joseph ; Jennie, a teacher in the Sheldon schools ; Gertrude, an art
teacher in St. Theresa College at Winona, ^Minnesota; Joseph, of San-
born; Mrs. Catherine Donahue, east of Sheldon, and three children who are
still at home, Daniel, Margaret and Marcella ; James, of Plevna, Montana,
was in the grain business, but was killed December 5, 1912. ^Ir. Kelley has
given his children the best of educational advantages and has had the satis-
faction of seeing them become useful members of society.

Mr. Kelley and the members of his family are faithful adherents of the

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 873

Roman Catholic church and arc attached to St. Patrick's cathedral at Sheldon.
Politically, he is a Democrat and takes an intelligent interest in the affairs
of his party, although he has ne\er held any public office except that of school
director. In 1906 Mr. Kelley became the heir of property in Connecticut to
the value of ten thousand dollars at the death of a wealthy brother, Timothy,
of Norwich, in that state. His honorable and successful career has not been
a path of roses, for he has had to work hard all of his life and often against
adverse conditions, which would have discouraged many other men. While
primarily interested in his own affairs, he has not been unmindful of the inter-
ests of others, as his effort to promote the welfare of the community abund-
antly justifies. Because of his upright life and business ability, he is emi-
nently worth}- of a place in the annals of his county.

EDWARD A. MAYXE.

It is generally considered by those in the habit of superficial thinking
that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation, and
that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the his-
torian or the cheers and the appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake was
never made. No man is great in all things. Many by a lucky stroke achieve
lasting fame who before that had no reputation beyond the limits of their im-
mediate neighborhoods. It is not a historv of the luckv stroke which benefits
humanity most, but the long study and eft'ort which made the lucky stroke
possible. It is the preliminary v^^ork, the method, that serves as a guide for
the success of others. Among those in O'Brien countw Ljwa. who have
achieved success along steady lines of action is the subject of this brief review.

Edward A. Mayne, a prosperous merchant of Sanborn. Iowa, was born
December 13, 1858, in Bea\'er Dam, Wisconsin, the son of John and Ellen
(McKinstrv) Alayne, natives of England and Canada, respectively. John
Mayne was a tailor b}- trade, who in his later years engaged in farming, and
whose death occurred in W'isconsin. His wife was of Scotch ancestry, and
they were the parents of three children: Jennie, deceased: Mrs. Anna \>lie,
of Sanborn, and E. A., whose history is here portrayed.

Edward A. Mayne was educated in the common schools of W^isconsin
and engaged in farming until lie came here in 1884. He came to Sanborn,
Iowa, in November, 1884, and on ]March i, 1885, he entered the employ of
Slocum & Sweet, general merchants of Sanborn, and continued in the em-

874 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

plov of this firm for five years, after which he worked for W. A. Wasson in
his store for the next eig'ht years, at the expiration of which time he bong"ht
Mr. W'asson's interest in the bnsiness and continued to operate the store him-
self, and has been engaged in the mercantile business from 1898 until the
present time. He has the largest and best store in the city of Sanborn and
carries a stock valued at eighteen thousand dollars. His store occupies a
two-story brick l)U!lding and is well equipped with all of the latest conven-
iences for the trade. He does an annual business of oxer sixty thousand dol-
lars and handles those goods which are usually found in department stores of
towns of this size, and has a very large share of the patronage of the town
and surrounding country.

Mr. Mayne was married September 8, 1887, to Clara Woolworth, and
to this union have been born two children, Earl W., who is now twenty-five
years of age and is assisting his father in the store, and Nellie, who gradu-
ated from the high school of Sanborn in the spring of 19 14.

Politically, Mr. Mayne is a Republican, l)ut classes himself with the Pro-
gressive branch of his party. He and his family are earnest members of the
Presbyterian church and to this denomination contribute generously of
their means and time. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
He has been a busy man all of his life and none have done more to advance
the material interests of his town and community, and as a citizen of the
body politic no one stands higher in the esteem and confidence of the people
generally.

HON. WILLIAM S. ARMSTRONG.

It is a gratification and at once a pleasure for the historian or biog-
rapher to be permitted to write at some length concerning truly able and
lovable characters who have unselfishly given their services in the bringing
about and accomplishing of truly noble things which have made life more
worth living and enjoyable for a considerable number of people in the com-
munity.

Such individuals as he to whom the foregoing paragraph has reference
are indeed rarely found in these advanced days of more or less personal
selfishness among mankind. Their services to the community are alike
unpurchasable and beyond proper estimation. To men of this class their
work is indeed a labor of love, and their greatest reward in living and

o'bKIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 8/5

doing things for others is to see the fruit of their handiwork expand and
ripen in the fruition of the happiness of others. Primghar is fortunate in
having for one of its leading citizens a man who can easily be classed among
those valuable individuals to whom the preceding introduction plainly refers.
In William S. Armstrong is embodied the highest and best tvpe of citizen-
ship and it is of him that the following brief epitome is inscribed for inser-
tion in the pages of this memoir of O'Brien county. The people of the
county owe him a debt for honest and diligent service which can never be
repaid ; his work since he became a resident of the county has been mainly
and unselfishl}- in the interests of the people, who are all his friends and well
wishers.

William S. Armstrong was born January 4, 1853, '^^ Lafayette county,
Wisconsin. His father. John Armstrong, was born in 1816 and died in
1888. He emigrated in 1847 from Mercer county, Pennsylvania, with his
wife, Elizabeth Swan, an Ohio lady. John Armstrong was a farmer and
also a contractor and builder, as likewise a lawyer, and took a prominent part
in political affairs. He was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal
church, and served several terms in the Legislature of his adopted state.

The subject had two brothers, both of whom, with their mother, died
from cholera morbus in 1868. In addition, William S. Armstrong had four
sisters, namely : Jane Perrigo, late of Inwood, Lyon county, Iowa, where
she located in 1885 and died in 1908; Lacy Gierhart, late of Argyle, Wiscon-
sin, deceased ; Belle Hunnell, of Finley, Wisconsin, and Margaret Close, of
Fedora. South Dakota.

The subject of this sketch attended the district school in his home
county until he was fourteen years of age. He then enjoyed the very special
advantages of two years' instruction in a select school under the tutorage
of Professor Parkinson, later and no^^' engaged for many years in the State
University of Wisconsin. The Hon. Robert M. LaFollette, ex-governor
and now United States senator from that state, was his classmate. Mr.
Armstrong then put in one year further in school at Juda, Wisconsin. He
then taught school for fi\e years in the rural schools. He was married in
1875 to Caroline Curry, who was born in Ohio in 1853, the daughter of
William C. Currv, a Wisconsin farmer. Mr. and A/Trs. Armstrong have two
children. Earl Armstrong was married in 1906 to Hazel Andrews, and they
now have three children : William Stanley Armstrong, aged six years,
named for his grandfather; Paul Armstrong, aged two years, and Esther
Jane. Minnie Armstrong, born in 1892, first graduated at the Primghar

876 o'bRIEN and- OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

high school in 19 10, after which she spent three years in special course in
music at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, and noAV (1913) is attending a
further course in the Minneapolis Musical Conservatory. Mrs. Armstrong
passed away November 5, 191 3, her death resulting from a fall.

Mr. Armstrong, immediately after his marriage, took up the occupation
of dairying. Having in the meantime taken a full course, he l)ecame an expert
cheese maker and opened up a cheese factory in his home county. The whole
state became noted as a great cheese state and he had the advantages of at-
tendance on the many cheese and dairy conventions. All this was preparing
him not only as a first class judge of cheese and dairy, but also as a quick and
reliable judge of all connected questions of farming and stock raising and the
questions of the good qualities of all classes of the best stock, which served
him so well in his large field as auctioneer in all parts of O'Brien and sur-
rounding counties later on. He came to Primghar in 1885 and at once built
and equipped a cheese factory, which he conducted for three years. He
brought with him an expert cheese man. \\\ H. Morrison, who remained
with him during the whole four years. This at once brought him into touch
with the best farming conditions in the county. He at once announced him-
self as an auctioneer. He has probably sold more in dollars of value in his
twenty-eight years as an auctioneer than any other man ever in the county.
His great strength as an auctioneer lies in the fact that he has been during
his whole life schooled in the best practical farming and in a practical way
understands the needs and surroundings of an agricultural community. He
has kept himself informed to the very hour of each sale he conducts as to
the trend and prospects of the times and markets and has kept such a hold
on the public pulse and needs that his judgment has been accepted by the
public not only as an auctioneer, but as a farmer also. He has not only
talked farming, but has himself conducted a farm just south of Primghar.
He is a readv talker and gives out much information in his sundry auction
talks that brings many to his sales not only to buy. but to hear the
general matters thus set forth.

Mr. Armstrong has taken a hand in whatever has come up in public
affairs, whether in politics, church, school or town. He was chairman of the
Republican county central committee at various times and has been a member
of the board of education of Primghar for sixteen years of his time here.
He has always been a Republican, with all that the strict meaning of that
word carries with it. He w^as elected clerk of the district court for two sue-

o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 877

cessive terms. Whik- tilling this office he has become so proficient in the
details of court matters that the court of four judges has retained him for
ten successive years as referee in probate to make special examination of ali
estate and orphanage proceedings that the court itself could not give atten-
tion to in detail, which position he still holds.

Mr. Armstrong took an active part in the establishment of the first
lecture course in Primghar in 1886. and has developed it from a two-hun-
dred-and-fifty-dollar course until now it is a twelve-hundred-dollar course.
He first organized it in connection with the high school, and succeeded under
difficulties. This lecture course, both under Mr. Armstrong and under the
management of Free] B. Wolf and Roy King, developed until Primghar has
the reputation of being one of the best lecture towns of its size west of
Chicago. During Mr. Armstrong's management he put on as his first lec-
turer "Eli Perkins," and later such attractions of Gen. John B. Gordon,
John Temple Graves. Doctor Gunsaulus. Maud Ballington Booth and many
others.

Mr. Armstrong was one of the ten men who signed the written agree-
ment on the part of Primghar guaranteeing twenty-two miles of right of
way to the Illinois Central railroad as Primghar's bonus to secure the road,
and as a stock shipper he shipped the first load of hogs and shee]3 over this
branch of the Illinois Central road. He also attended that railroad meeting
at Sioux Falls by committees from Cherokee, Primghar, Sheldon. Rock
Rapids and along the line at which it was decided to build this line as finally
constructed, from Cherokee up. instead of from Fort Dodge and further
east of us. which would have meant defeat to this line and the towns in
O'Brien county.

Mr. Armstrong was mayor of Primghar for two years, from 1905 to
1906. He has always been one of the boosters in the old settlers and Fourth
of Tulv meetings and other big days and occasions. He is a member and
official in the Congregational church and Sunday school superintendent.

Mr. Armstrong has been a large shipper of all kinds of stock. Init es-
peciallv of sheep from the ranges in the states west and of fine stock from
many places, when the demand seemed to call for same. He has also been
active in the fraternal societies, especially in his connections with the An-
cient Free and Accepted Masons, including the chapter and commandery.
and the Mystic Shriners. His twenty-eight years in O'Brien county has in-
deed been a varied and active career.

878 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

THEODORE ZIMMERMAN.

The many revolutions which Germany suffered from 1800 to 1850
were a great harflsliip on the people of that nation, but a blessing- to this coun-
try. Thousands and tens of thousands of the best citizens of Germany came
to this country after the revolutions of 1820 and 1848 in Germany, and among
those was E. A. Zimmerman, the father of Theodore Zimmerman, whose his-
tory is liere presented. E. A. Zimmerman was a man of excellent education,
and it was because of his education that he left his native land for America.
He recei\-ed his education in the best universities of Germany and because
he wanted to ha\T freedom of thought, speech and action, and could not se-
cure it in Germany he left his native land and came to America in March,
1854. He secured a position as a teacher at once and sent back for his fam-
ily. By the time the family reached this country, in the summer of 1854, he
was dead.

Th.eodcTre Zimmerman, the secretary of the Farmers Mutual Insurance
Association of OT^rien County, was born in Germany on April 7, 1854, the
son of E. A. and Caroline (Gleasman) Zimmerman. He came to this coun-
try witli liis mother and two sisters, Minnie and Louise, in September, 1854,
and upon their arri\al in the new country they were met with the sad news
that tlie husband and father was dead. The mother and her children re-
mained in Xew York and Theodore received his education in that city. He
was twenty years old when he left his mother's home and came to Butler
county, Iowa, locating on a farm in Shellrock township, where he farmed for
seven \ears. In 1882 he came to O'Brien county, locating on a farm in
Franklin township, where he lived until 1902. He was a very successful
farmer and at the time he removed to Sanborn he was the owner of six hun-
dred and forty acres of fine farming land in one tract. He is also the owner
of four hundred acres of land in Murray county and in the state of Minne-
sota. He has been interested in the buying and selling of farms for several
3'^ears. For the past seventeen years he has been a director of the Farmers
Mutual Insurance Association of O'Brien County and was elected secretary
of that organization in 1909. He has been connected with the Sanborn State
Bank for the past three years as director and is now president of a bank in
Currie, Minnesota, which is near his landed interests in that state.

Mr. Zimmerman was married to Lou E. Mullen, of Butler county, Iowa,
aid to this union have been born five children : Olive, deceased ; Roy, de-
ceased ; ]\Irs. Minnie Dummett, of Currie, Minnesota; Lelah L. and Zola L. ,
who are still at home with their parents.

O'JJRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, I,)\VA. 879

Politically, Air. Zimmerman is a Republican and has allied himself witli
the Progressive wing- of that party. He has served one term from 1904 to
1907 as county supervisor, but has never asked for any public office at the
hands of his party. Religiously, he and the members of his family are ear-
nest and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern
Woodmen of America. Mr. Zimmerman is intensely optimistic and far-
sighted and has entered heart and soul into the life of this community. He is
strictly a self-made man and in his business affairs he has been strict, and yet
kindl}^ and just in all liis dealings. He is broad-minded and generous and in
his private life has performed many acts of charity known onlv to himself
and the beneficiary. He has worked hard and honorably earned the enviable
reputation which he enjoys as one of the leading ])ublic spirited citizens of
this locality, and it is needless to add that he is held in high regard and es-
teem bv all with whom he has come into contact.

IRA SOOP.

Idle two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and the
West are combined in the residents of the section of country of which this
volume treats. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and
makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively new and vigor-
ous Western states is here tempered by the stable and more careful policy
that we have borrowed from our Eastern neighbors, and the combination
is one of peculiar force and power. It has been the means of placing this
.section of the country on a par with the older East, at the same time pro-
ducing a reliability and certainty in business which is frequently lacking in
the West. This happy combination of characteristics is possessed bv the
subject of this brief sketch.

Ira Soop, insurance man of Sanborn, Iowa, was born in New York
state September i, 1-864, and is the son of Alexander and Rachel (Wiltsey)
Soop, both of whom are natives of the same state. The Soop family orig-
inally came from Germany. Rachel Wiltsey was the daughter of Isaac Wilt-
sey, who also was a native of Germany. Alexander Soop and family left
New York in 1866 and settled in Hamilton county, Iowa, near Webster City,
on a farm, where he lived until 1892, when he moved to O'Brien county and
lived with his children until his death in 1896. Alexander Soop and wife

88o o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA counties. IOWA.

were the parents of four children : Rose, who is the wife of Charles Murrey,
an early settler of this county, but now living in Medford, Oregon ; Ira, whose
sketch is here presented; Mary, the wife of John Sawin, of Webster City,
Iowa ; Tolman. of Webster Citv, Iowa.

Ira Soop was educated in the schools of W^ebster City, Iowa, and came
to O'Brien county in 1881, when he was about seventeen years of age. He
worked by the month in order to secure money to attend school at Webster
City. He would work out by the month during the summer seasons and go
to school during the winter months. In 1886 he taught his first term of
school in O'Brien county, and followed the vocation of teaching for the next
five years, farming between terms. In 1887 he purchased his first farm of
eighty acres in Lincoln township, for which he paid eleven dollars an acre.
In 1893 ^^^ ^'^1*^ this tract for thirty-one and a (|narter dollars an acre. .Sim c
then he has purchased three different farms and sold them, making a hand-
some profit on each transaction. He has one hundred and sixty acres now
in Lincoln township, this county, although he formerly owned four hundred
acres in that township. For the past seventeen years he has been handling
the fire insurance business in Sanborn. He represents the Hawkeye Insur-
ance Company, the Des Moines department of Firemen's Fund and other
companies.

Mr. Soop was married in 1885 to Anna Moon, the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Moon, who were homesteaders of Iowa and settled in O'Brien
county in 187 1 in Center township. The "grasshopper" years drove him
back to Illinois, where he remained. Mr. and Mrs. Soop are the parents of
four children : Florence and Sadie, who are both teachers, and Fred and
Marie, who are in attendance at the common schools of their home city. The
two oldest daughters graduated from the Sanborn high school, from the
Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, while the oldest daughter, Florence, gradu-
ated from the college at Des Moines.

Politically, Mr. Soop is a Republican and has filled various offices in the
city of Sanborn. He has been a member of the city council and a member of
the Sanborn school board for six years, during part of which time he was
the president of the board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern
Woodmen of America and is consul of the camp at Sanborn.

Mr. Soop is a good exam])le of the successful O'Brien county citizens,
who have started in with practically nothing and have risen to a position of
affluence. In order to get money with which to come to O'Brien county from
Webster City when a young man. he sold his favorite hunting dog, and when
he arrived here he had twenty-five cents in his pocket, and with this slender

o'hRJEN and ().SCK()I>A counties, IOWA. S8i

capital he started in to secure his education in order to prepare himself for a
teacher. He taught his way through school and saved money while teaching
in order to apply on the purchase price of his first farm. He has worked hard
to gain a competency for his declining years, and while he has been success-
ful in a material way. he has not neglected to assist in the general welfare
of his Community. He and iiis wife are justly proud of their daughters and
have given them the advantage of the best colleges in the state, and they have
benefited from their educational training so as to take high rank among the
teachers of the county.

WILLIAM BOXNLR.

.\mong the enterprising and progressive citizens of O'Brien county,
Iowa, none stands higher in the esteem of his fellow citizens than the gentle-
man whose name forms the caption of this brief review. He has long been
actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county and the years of his
residence here ha\e but served to strengthen the feeling of admiration on the
part of his fellow men owing to the honorable life he has led and the worthy
example he has set the younger generation, consequently the publishers of
tliis work are glad to give such worthy character representation in this work.
William Bonner, a distinguished veteran of the Civil War, and now liv-
ing a retired life in Sanborn, was born in 1834, in Y(jrkshire, England, the
son of Robert and Mary Bonner. He was educated in his native land and
when twenty-fi\e years of age came to America and located in Ingersoll,
Canada. Here he worked on a farm for two years and in 1861 moved to
Illinois, where he worked at the lead mines for a short time, after which he
went to Benton, Wisconsin, and followed farming and lead mining. In 1865
he enlisted in Company C, Fiftieth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry,
and served for the Union until the close of the war. He was mustered in the
ser\'ice at Madison, Wisconsin, and served in the SouthAvest. After the close
of the war he returned to Wisconsin, where he continued to follow agricul-
tural pursuits. In 1884 he came to O'Brien county, Iowa, where he pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in h'ranklin township. He has
prospered since coming to this county and is now the owner of three hun-
dred and twenty acres of fine farming land in Franklin township and one
hundred and thirteen and a half acres in Lincoln township.

Mr. Bonner was married in i860 to Helen White, the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. David White. She was a native of England and came to America

882 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

with her father when she was four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. WilHani
Bonner are the parents of seven children: WilHam L., of Sanborn; John
E., of Montana; Robert A., of Max, North Dakota; Thomas G., of Shekin,
Minnesota; Mrs. Nora M. Dodson, of Waterloo, Iowa; Mrs. Mary E. Miller,
of Sanborn; Mrs. Anna B. Hansen, of Sanborn. Mr. and Mrs. Bonner have
five grandchildren: Dorothy, the daughter of Thomas Bonner; Ruth, the
daughter of Nora: Esther, Elinor and Robert, the children of their daugh-
ter, Anna.

The Republican party has always claimed the vote of Mr. Bonner, and
although interested in political affairs, he has never been a candidate for any
office. He and his family are loyal and earnest members of the Methodist
Episcopal church and are interested in its various activities. Mr. Bonner has
spent thirty years of his life in this county, and in that time his fellow men
have come to know him as a man who desires to do the rie:ht thino- at all
times. As a citizen he stands high in the esteem and confidence of his fellow
men, and as a man of family he has given his children every possible ad-
vantage. There are not many of the old veterans of the Civil War left, and
if is a pleasure to accord them a position of honor in this biographical volume.

JAMES BRUCE LINSDAY AND SPExNCER A. PHELPS.

The members of the legal profession who are in O'Brien county at the
present time are the equal in ability to any of the attorneys of the younger
counties of the state. Among the legal firms of Sheldon which are rapidly
forcing to the front is the firm of Linsday & Phelps, two brilliant young-
lawyers who came to this city immediately after their graduation from the
University of Michigan in 191 1. These young barristers have already made
their impress upon the community, and from the ability which they have
already shown they promise to be heard from in the years to come.

James Bruce Linsday. the son of E. C. and Ada (Allen) Linsday, was
born May 11, 1889, in Litchfield, Michigan. His father is deceased and his
mother is still residing in Michigan. Mr. Linsday was educated in the public
schools of Litchfield and graduated from the University of Michigan in
1911, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, being admitted to the practice
of law in Michigan and Iowa. Immediately upon his graduation he came
here with his classmate, Spencer A. Phelps, and in the following April was
elected attorney of the city of Sheldon. He is a Republican and a member
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Sj t! i^ * '"'

M:„vii,^,s.f<^/ii^'mi ^Bj-v 7^:ir

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 883

Spencer A. Phelps, who is the son of Dr. D. I. and EHzabeth
(Spencer) Phelps, was born in Faribault, Minnesota, May 27, 1889. His
father is a practicing dentist at Faribault, and has been following that pro-
fession for the past thirty years. Doctor Phelps' wife was a native of Rhode
Island, and came with her parents from that state to Minnesota in 1868.

Mr. Phelps was educated in the public schools of Faribault and Shattuck
Military Academy, which is located at that place, and later attended the
University of Minnesota, Having decided to enter the legal profession, he
entered the University of Michigan, it being one of the best law schools of
the country, and became a classmate of his present partner, James B. Lins-
day, graduating with him in the class of 191 1. He was at once admitted to
the bar in Michigan and in the same month came to Sheldon, passed the
state examination of Iowa and was admitted to the bar in this state. He is
the first lieutenant of Company E, Fifty-sixth Regiment of Iowa National
Guard. In January, 191 2, the United States district judge, Henry T. Reed,
appointed Mr. Phelps as referee in bankrupty for the district of O'Brien,
Clay, Osceola, Lyon, Dickinson and Sioux counties. This appointment was
certainly a tribute to the recognized ability of Mr. Phelps. He is a Repub-
lican in politics, a member of the Congregational church, and a member of
the Masonic lodge.

The firm of Linsday & Phelps is located above the First National Bank
of Sheldon and has one of the most extensive libraries in this part of the
state. Although these young men have been in this state but a short time,
they are meeting with great success in this profession and are deservedly
popular with all classes of people.

CHARLES BURNS.

The citizens who have come to O'Brien county, Iowa, from the Emerald
isle have been uniformly prosperous, and no family has had a greater degree
of prosperity than the Burns family, who were among the earlier settlers
of this county. The history of Charles Burns, which is herewith presented,
together with that of his father, Thomas Burns, makes an interesting chap-
ter of the history of the representative men of O'Brien county.

Charles Burns was born September 18, 1857, in Columbus county, Wis-
consin, on a farm, and is the son of Thomas and Bridget (Cowan) Burns,

(57)

884 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COIXTIE.S. IOWA.

both of whom were natives of Ireland. Thomas Burns was born in Ireland
in 1833, and came to America \\ ith his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael
Burns, in 1847. ^Michael Burns and family settled in Columbus county, Wis-
consin. Bridget Cowan, the wife of Thomas Burns, came to America from
Ireland when she was seven years of age with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pat-
rick Cowan. Thomas Burns and Bridget Cowan were married in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, and in 1864 they migrated to Iowa and arrived in Steel county
on June 8th of that year. In 1874 they came to O'Brien county and settled
in Franklin township on the west half of section 30, paying three dollars an
acre for one hundred and sixty acres, and three dollars and a half for an-
other one hundred and sixty acres. They improved this land and resided on it
until about 1907, when they mo\ed to Sanborn, where Thomas Burns died in
1910, and his wife is still living at the advanced age of eighty years in San-
born. Thomas Burns and wife were the parents of seventeen children.
Twelve of these children grew to maturity and ten are now living : Charles,
whose history is here delineated; J. H., of Carroll township; Mrs. Margaret
Matson, uf Sanborn; William, a farmer of Floyd township; Thomas, of
Floyd township; Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald, who lives in North Dakota; James,
of Sheldon; Mrs. Xellie Donahue, of Sheldon. Iowa; Katie, deceased; Mrs.
Jennie Maroney, of Worthington. Minnesota; Edward, a farmer of Frank-
lin township; Fuc\-, who died in infancy, and f^^e others who also died in
infancy.

Charles Burns was educated in the schools of O'Brien county and lived
on the home farm with his jiarents until twenty-two years of age. The first
mone} he ever earned was one hundred dollars, which he made by breaking
prairie land for his neighliors, and while still a young man he purchased one
hundred and si.xty acres of land' in Summit township, this county, for four
dollars an acre, and lived on this farm for thirty-one years. Tie then mo\ed
to Sanborn, where he has a fine home, and rents his farm out at the rate of
six and a ({uarter dollars an acre. He is the owner of three hundred and
twenty acres of fine farming land in this county and a quarter section in
Murray county, A[innesota. The Burns brothers are among the heavy land
owners of the county, taken collectively; John H. is the owner of five hun-
dred and eighty acres ; Thomas, five hundred ; James, two hundred and fortv :
William, two hundred and fort}- : Edward, two hundred and sixty, and
Charles, four hundred and eighty. This gi\es a total of two thousand two
hundred acres which are owned l)y the six brothers. In addition to this, the
mother of these children still owns three hundred and twenty acres on the
old home farm.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 885

Charles Burns was married Xo\-ember i6, 1892, to Carrie Mullacly, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Mullady, early settlers of this county, and to
this marriage have been born two daughters, Norene, who is a Latin teacher
in Halstene, Iowa. She is a graduate of the Sanborn high school, and later
from the Cedar Falls Teachers' College. Pauline, the other daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Burns, is in the eighth grade in th€ Sanborn schools.

Politically, Mr. Burns is a Democrat, and has held the office of township
trustee and school director with eminent satisfaction to the citizens of the
county and township. Religiously, he and all the members of the family are
earnest and zealous adh.erents of tlie Catliolic clinrch and give freely of their
sulistance for its support.

The Burns family were the fourth to settle in b^ranklin township, O'Brien
count}-, and Charles, being the oldest son, had to bear a good share of the
res])onsiljilities in the struggle for the new home in the prairie. He broke
prairie land for incoming settlers and earned mone}' in this wa\' to help sup-
port the family. It is a fact that there is hardly a section of land in the
count}' which he has not tramped over during his fort}' years of residence
in tlie county. Although he had only a very meager schooling, yet he is re-
markaljl}- well informed, which is due to the fact that he is a great reader all
the time. It is recorded that he is one of the twelve men who voted to or-
ganize Summit township, and since that time no citizen has taken a greater
interest in the development of the county. In his younger days Charley Burns
drove teams to supply headquarters in Rock Rapids when there was but the
merest track for a road. Although in his prime, he has seen O'Brien county
change from a treeless, trackless waste of prairie to smiling farm lands,
dotted with groves of large trees, well-laid towns and substantial farm
buildings.

PAUL C. WOODS.

It is a well recognized fact that the most powerful influence in shaping
and controlling public life is the press. It reaches a greater number of peo-
ple than any other agency and thus has always been and always will be a
most important factor in moulding public opinion and, in a definite sense,
shaping the destiny of the nation. The gentleman to a brief review of whose
life the following lines are devoted is prominently connected with the jour-
nalism of Iowa, and at this time is editor and publisher of the Sheldon Mail,
the oldest paper of O'Brien county, comparing favorably with the best local

886 o'brien and osceola counties, iowa.

sheets in this section of the state in news, echtorial abihty and mechanical exe-
cution. The county recognizes in Mr. Woods not only a keen newspaper
man. but also a representative citizen, whose interest in all that affects the
general welfare has been of such a character as to win for him a high place
in the confidence and esteem of the people.

Paul C. \\'oods, the editor and publisher of the Sheldon Mail, the oldest
established newspaper in Sheldon, Iowa, w-as born September lo, 1876, in
Ossian, Iowa. He is the son of P. R. and Emily J. (Churchill) \\'oods.
His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1840 and his mother in New York
state in 1S45. P. R. AX'oods came to Iowa with his i^arents in aljout 1855 and
settled in Jackson county and later moved to Benton county. At the time of
the opening- of the Civil AA'ar his parents lived in Fayette county. P. R.
Woods enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
from h'ayette county and served under Col. C. P. Henderson for four and
one-half years. He was in man}- of the hardest-fought battles in the Cix'il
W^w among which were Shiloh. Fort Donelson. Fort Henry and numerous
others. At Shiloh he was taken prisoner and w^as not exchanged until three
months later. P. R. \\'oods is a finely educated man, being a graduate of
Upper Iowa Un.i\ersit\' at I^^iyette. Iowa. He lias l)een a teacher and school
princi])al in Iowa for many years and taught mathematics at Upper Iowa
University at h'ayette. Previous to his retiring from active life he was in
the railway mail service. He is now li\ing in Tama county. Mr. and ^Irs.
P. R. Woods are the parents of two sons. Herbert was born in 1869 and is
a practicing physician in Tama county and Paul C, with whom this narrative
deals.

Paul C. Woods was educated in the public scIk^oIs and later attended
Upper Iowa Uni\-ersity at Faxette. from which he graduated in 1898 with the
degree of Bachelor of Science. His first experience in newspaper work was
in college, where lie was editor of The Collegian, and thus gained his first
pre])aration for his future career. Since leaving C(jllege he has been engaged
in the newspai)er ])usiness and with a success which shows that he has a
natural aptitude for this line of lousiness. He was first editor of tlie Iowa
I'iines at ^McGregor and in 1904 Avent to Eldora and published tlie Eldora
Ledger for eight years. The }-ear following his connection with the Eldora
Ledger he spent on his ranch in Texas, and on August i, 19 13, he purchased
the Sheldon Mail and takes complete charge of the paper, wdiich is the old-
est paper in Sheldon, its first issue being on January i, 1873. It has a cir-
culation of two tliousand through.ont this countv a'.id adjoining counties. The
paper is a large twelve-page, six-column sheet which is edited with marked

o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 887

a1)ilitv. The printing- plant is well equipped with the latest improved ma-
chinery and in addition to his paper he conducts a job printing plant and
tinds it a lucrative part of the business.

Mr. Woods was married December r, 1898, in Xew Albin, Iowa, to
Amv Luther, whom he had met while a student in Upper Iowa University.
He and his wife were students in the university at the same time. Three
children have come to bless their union. Kenneth, Lucile and Carol.

Politically, Mr. Woods is a Republican and reflects his political views
in his paper. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the
^Modern W^ooclmen of America, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Yeo-
men. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal
church and contribute liberally of their time and means to its support. The\"
are both workers in the church and do everything they can to enhance its
xaridus acti\ities. Mr. Woods is a member of the official board at the
present time, and superintendent of the Sunday school.

]^[r. and }klrs. Woods are useful citizens of the community and stand
for the best things in the welfare of their town. Mr. Woods is an able news-
paper man and always advocates the right side of questions which affect his
community's welfare. He is keenly alive to the needs of Sheldon and com-
munity and never hesitates to express his opinion as to the value of any sug-
gestions Avhicli might 1)e made for the improvement of his town. The good
which a newspaper can do to any community is not measured in dollars and
cents, but rather in the effect it has upon the community in awakening its
readers to a sense of their duties toward the public. In his paper Mr. Woods
always tries to reflect the best means of elevating the intellectual, moral and
material tone of his communitv and in so doing he has the heartv commenda-
tion of even^ one in the countv.

FRANK PATCH.

The gentleman to a review of whose life the reader's attention is here
respectfully directed is recognized as one of the energetic, well known busi-
ness men of O'Brien county. Iowa, who, by his enterprise and progressive
methods, has contributed in a material way to the commercial advancement
of the locality where he lives. In the course of an honorable career he has
been successful in the manifold lines to which his efYorts have been directed,
and, enjoying distinctive prestige among the representative men of his com-

885 o'brien and osceola counties, iowa.

miinity, it is eminently proper that attention be called to his achievements and
due credit be accorded to his worth as an enterprising citizen.

Frank Patch, the president of the Hartley State Bank, of Hartley, Iowa,
was born Alarch 4, 1858. in Whiteside county, Illinois, the son of Freeman
R. and Malinda (Wier) Patch, natives of Vermont and Indiana, respectively.
Freeman R. Patch was an early settler of Whiteside county, Illinois, and was
twice married. He died in 1862, leaving two children by his second mar-
riage, Frank whose history is here portrayed, and F. R. The moHier reared
her two sons to manhood and died in 1913.

Frank Patch was only four years of age when his father died and he was
reared and educated in the schools of his native county in Illinois. He com-
pleted his education by taking a course in St. Cloud's College, at St. Cloud.
Minnesota. In 1878, when twenty years of age, he came to O'Brien county,
Iowa, and taught school here for one year, after which he located in the ris-
ing town of Sanborn in this county, and for the next three years operated a
li\erv and stage in Sanborn in partnership with L. C. Green. He then sold
out his interests in the livery business and engaged in the banking business in
Hartlev, orsfanizingf the bank in 1882, when he was onlv twentv-four vears
of age. He organized the first bank in this town and on January i, 1887, the
bank was reorganized and made a state bank. It now has a capital stock of
fiftv thousand dollars, with a surplus of fifteen thousand dollars and deposits
of two hundred and eighty thousand dollars. Its total resources are three
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The officials of the bank are as follows:
Frank Patch, president; D. A. Patch, vice-president: F. R. Patch, cashier.
Mr. Patch is also interested in the Gem Savings Bank, at Melvin, Osceola
county, this state. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Patch has heavy
landed interests in Osceola county and in Canada. He owns six hundred and
fortv acres in Osceola county, this state, and ten thousand acres in Canada,
near Winnipeg. Mr. Patch was married September 6, 1881, to Delia A.
Peck, the daughter of Doctor Peck, who was a practitioner at Springville,
Iowa, for thirty years, l^ut has recently retired to his farm in Floyd town-
ship, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Patch are the parent'^ of one daughter,
Nellie I., who is still with her parents.

Mr. Patch is a Democrat in politics, but, owing to his heavy business in-
terests, he has never felt that he had the time to participate in political af-
fairs. Fraternallv, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Ala-
sons and is a Knight Templar. He is also a member of the Independent Or-
der of Odd Fellows. .\s president of the Hartley State Bank Mr. Patch has
demonstrated his possession of lousiness abilities of a high order. The splen.-

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 889

tlid success which has characterized this institution from its organization is
due in a great measure to his energetic efforts and personal supervision.
He enjoys a large acquaintance throughout the county and has a host of
friends who admire him for his many good qualities of head and heart.

BESSIE J. BEERS.

In this twentieth century, women are playing an increasingly important
part in the public affairs of the nation. Many states now have women suft'rage
and within the next generation the possibility is that women will be admitted
to all the rights and privileges as are enjoyed by their brothers and husbands
today. Ten states now admit women to full suffrage and allow them every
privilege within the state. In Iowa, women may hold county offices and it is
to the credit of the women of this state that many of them are efficiently
filling official positions in the \arious counties of the state.

Bessie J. Beers, who is now serving her second term as the recorder of
O'Brien county, was the first woman ever elected to office in this county. She
was born in Essex county, New York, the daughter of Charles A. and Eliza-
beth (Denio) Beers. Chjfrles A. Beers was born in 1825 in Essex county,
Xew York, of German and English descent, and migrated to Buchanan
county, the eastern part of Iowa, in July, 1866, and engaged in farming. In
New York he had followed the occupation of a canal boatman on the Erie
canal and Hudson ri\er for several years. In 1873 Mr. Beers came to
O'Brien county, bought land in Baker township, the northeast quarter of
section 2, and there resided until 1893, when he went to Primghar, where he
is now living a retired life. ]vlrs. Beers was born in Washington countw
Xew York, in 1830. of French Hugyenot parentage, and died in Primghar,
Iowa, in 1907. Mr. and ]Mrs. Charles A. Beers were the parents of five
children: Mrs. Ella B. Crossland. of Primghar: Fred A., of Corwith, Iowa;
fames S., of Armstrong, Iowa, formerly recorder of O'Brien county for four
vears ; Mrs. Iowa M. Gere, of this county, and Bessie J.

Bessie J. Beers was educated in the township schools of this county and
then took one year in the Sheldon high school. Following this she taught
in the district schools of the county for twenty years, with remarkable suc-
cess. Her first entrance into the political life of the county occurred in 1910,
on the Republican ticket for county recorder, and in November of the fol-
lowing year she was elected, being the first woman of the county to hold this

890 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

office. Her administration was so efficient and profitable that she was re-
elected in 1912 and is now finishing" her second term as county recorder. In
her last race for the office she was opposed by two strong opponents, yet such
lias Ijeen her official record that she was elected without trouble. She was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to the Daughters of
Reljekah and the Yeomen.

PLATCY A. CAJACOB.

A pioneer farmer, business man, public official and booster for Osceula
county, Iowa, is Platcy A. Cajacob. an adopted son of this county. For
more than forty years he has lived within the limits of this county, and in
that time has endured as many hardships as any of the men who came here
in the early seventies. He has seen the time when it seemed that there was
no hope for success for a farmer in this county, and yet he had the deter-
mination to remain here, and now has the satisfaction of knowing that his
foresight was not mistaken. Much of the land which he held thirty-odd
years ago and could not sell at all. is now worth from one hundred to two
hundred dollars an acre. As a public official he has been one of the most
efficient and faithful servants which the county has ever had, and in e\'ery
capacitv where he has been found he has given a good account of himself.

Platcv A. Cajacob, who is now living a retired life in Sibley, Iowa,
was born Januarv i, 1843, '^ ^^""^ little moimtainous country of Switzerland,
in Europe. His parents, Martin and Margret Cajacol), li\ed in the little
village of Sunvicks, canton of Groeson, which was situated high up in the
Alps. In this lovely Alpine scenery Mr. Cajacob was reared to manhood.
In the little schools of his neighborhood he received a good education, for
there are no better schools in Europe than those of Switzerland. The success
of Mr. Cajacobs is due in a great measure to the excellent training he re-
ceived at the public schools of his native land. However, upon reaching
manhood he felt that better opportunities awaited a }oung man in America
than in his own country and, with the intention of ^'erifying this fact, he
came to this country in 1866, when twenty-three years of age. He at once
went to Ohio, where he worked on a railroad for a few months at Piqua,
and from thence he went to Wapakoneta, Auglaize count)-, Ohio, where he
worked at the cabinet trade for two years. He then went to Tiffin, Ohio,

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PLATCY A. CAJACOB

o'bKIEX AXl) OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 89I

where he was eneasecl in the dair\- lousiness for one \-ear. and while in Tiii^.n
met and married Christina Brown.

In the spring of 1869 Mr. Cajacobs and his yonng wife went to Grant
county, Wisconsin, where they bought a farm and for four years worked
the same. He cleared the land, built a rude log house and barn, put up many
rods of rail fencing, and was on the road to a successful career in that state
as a farmer. However, hearing of the lands to be purchased in Iowa at a
low rate, he decided to sell out his holdings in Wisconsin and go farther
west. With this idea in mind, he disposed of his interests in AA'isconsin,
and in the fall of 1872 came to Osceola county. Iowa, where he homesteaded
on section 22, in Holman township. For se^'eral years things often looked
very gloomy and many of the settlers who came here full of faith left their
land to the grasshoppers and severe wind storms. In common with all of
the other settlers who lived in this section of the state in the latter part of
the seventies. i\Ir. Cajacobs had to suffer the horrible grasshopper period.
For the first ten }ears it seemed that he could not get a start. If the grass-
hoppers did not eat things up, it rained so that he could not get in any crops
at all. }*Iany of the settlers left the county, but a few stayed and among
these few were Mr. Cajacobs and his family. W^ithin four years after he
came here, ]\Ir. Cajacol)s was so downhearted that he practically gave away
his land. In fact, he sold one farm for four hundred and twenty-five dollars.
For the next seventeen years he engaged in the retail meat business and
graduallv became interested in land again and bought here and there over the
county until he became the owner of four hundred and fifty acres near Sib-
ley, the county seat. While operating his meat market Air. Cajacobs con-
tinued farming and in 1885 moved back on his farm, where he lived until
1908. Since that time he has been living in the county seat.

The history of the agricultural success of Mr. Cajacobs is only a part
of his history since coming to this county. For the past twent}- years he has
been an important factor in tlie public life of the county. In 1891 he was
elected county supervisor on the Democratic ticket and in 1901 was re-
elected to that responsible position. He was one of the officials who helped
build the new seventy-one-thousand-dollar court house which now graces the
county seat. This appropriation not only included the Ixiilding of the court
house, but the construction of the jail, as well as the grounds on wliich these
two buildings are now standing. An evidence of his worth as a man and
his popularity as a citizen of the county is shown in the fact that he was
elected over one of the strongest Republicans in the county and the first
Democrat ever elected in the county, it being a strongly Republican county.

892 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Nothing can speak higher of a man than the confidence which his fellow
citizens repose in him, and in no other way is it so plainly shown as when a
man runs for some public office.

Mr. Cajacobs was married in 1858 to Christina Brown, and to this
marriage have been born six children : ]\Irs. Alary Kennedy, of Sibley,
Iowa; Magdalene, deceased; John Robert, a druggist of Colusa, Cahfornia;
Mrs. Lorenca Funk, who is living in Chicago Heights, Illinois; Arthur and
George are proprietors of a large and well-stocked hardware store at Sibley.

Mr. Cajacobs and all the members of his family are loyal members of
the Catholic church and render to it their earnest and zealous support at all
times. The life of Mr. Cajacobs shows what can be accomplished !)}■ a voung
man who comes to this country with no capital whate\'er, and with no assets
but a willingness to work. He has shown the possibilities of farming in this
county, and had the good judgment to perceive many years ago that land
would rise in value. His good judgment told him when to buy and when to
sell, with the result that he is today regarded as one of the most enterprising
and substantial men of his county. He has keen business ability, which dis-
tinguishes the successful man from the one who is barely able to make ]:)0th
ends meet. His life is but another example of the many citizens of this
county who have come from foreign lands and made a pronounced success in
this favored state of the Union.

PETER SWENSEN.

The little country of Sweden in Europe has furnished some of the finest
citizens to be found in any county in Iowa today, and among these there is
no one who occupies a higher position in his county than Peter Swensen
the present chairman of the O'Brien count}' board of sui)er\'isors. Coming
to this county witli practicall}' nothing but his education and determination
to work, he has attained a success which is remarkable. His life story, which
is here briefly portrayed, is a conspicuous example of one who has lived ti >
good purpose and achieved a definite degree of success in life. While work
ing for his own material ad\'ancement, he has been one of the most public
spirited citizens who has ever lived in the county. No one toda}' enjoys ;i
wider acquaintance or is more appreciated than is he.

Peter Swensen was born December 7, 1855, in Sweden, and is the son
of Swen Tufveson and Bengta Tufveson Swensen. He was given a good

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COINIIIS, IOWA. 893

common school education in the schools of his native land and later studied
in an agricultural college, where he was granted a diploma for his excellence
in butter and cheese making.

In 1880 Air. Swensen, who was then twenty-five years of age, decided to
come to America to seek his fortune. He at once located in Delaware county,
in eastern Iowa, and worked on a farm for three years. He then went to
Earlville and clerked in a store for a time and became interested in the
creamery business for the next eight years. He then traveled for a New
York firm, buying butter and eggs for the next five years. His work was so
satisfactory that he was given a substantial increase in salary while in the
employ of this firm. John S. Martin & Company. On December i, 1898, he
resigned from the company and was married on the 15th of the same month
and came to Hartley where he has since resided. While traveling on the road
he sa\'ed his money and in\ested it in land in this county. He is now one of
die largest land owners m the countyy. He has built up se\'eral farms in
the countv and then ^^old tlieni. It has been his practice to
buy farms, improve them by erecting buildings, fencing and draining it, and
then sell them. He and his wife now own nine hundred and sixtv acres of
land in O'Brien county and sold nearly one thousand acres of improved land
in the fall of 191 3. During the past fifteen years he has handled nearly three
thousand acres in this county. While he has been a farmer of heavy interest,
yet his interests for se\ eral years have been largely concerned with the public
welfare of his county.

In the fall of 1906 Mr. Swensen was elected a member of the board of
super\'isors of O'Brien county and was re-elected in the fall of 1912. He was
elected chairman of the board on January i, 19 13. an honor which he has
earned because of the merit of his work since becoming" a member of the
board of super^•isors. The keynote to \lr. Swensen's career as a public offi-
cial of this county is his opposition to graft in eveiy way. He is an honest,
conscientious public official, and gives his personal attention to the county
business. An indication of the interest which he takes in public affairs is
shown In' the fact that he installed the heating plant in the new county home
out of his own private funds, the plant costing him eleven hundred dollars.
\\'hen he became a member of the board of supervisors, the county was in
debt thirt}--two thousand dollars. During his term of office this has been
paid off, the twenty-thousand-dollar home for the poor has been erected at
Primghar, concrete bridges and culverts have been built throughout the
county, many roads have been improved, sewerage system has been estal)-
lished in the court house and many other public enterprises have received as-
sistance at his hands.

894 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

While ht' has done much fur the count}", he has not neglected his duty
to his home town. He has served eight years on the town council at Hartley
and has pushed public improvements in a way which has made Hartley one of
the most progressive towns of this section of the state. He was instru-
mental in having the electric light plant installed, cement crossings instead
'of board crossings and many other improvements. He took a personal in-
terest in the electric light plant and opposed a franchise to an outside cor-
poration. By his personal influence he succeeded in pushing an election which
decided that the city should install the plant. It cost eighteen thousand dol-
lars and is now on a paying basis, nearly all of the plant being paid for
While the town made many improvements during his term of office in the
council it paid all of its debts and is now on as sound a footing as any towai
in the state of Iowa.

Mr. Swensen was married December 15, i8q8. to Ida Cole, of Clayton
■:ountv. the daughter of A[r. and Mrs. Tames Cole. Mr. Swensen is a mem-
l)er of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and belongs to the com-
mandery at Manchester. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias,
being a charter member of St. Omar Lodge No. 240 at Earlville, Iowa. He
is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Earlville and
assisted in buying the Odd Fellows building at that place. He helped to
build tlie Masonic temple at Earlville, Iowa, and is one of the largest stock-
holders in the temple at that place.

Mr. Sw^ensen is the kind of a man who is a real asset to his county. It
is interesting to note that when he came here in 1880 he could not speak a
word of English and that within a comparai;i\'eh' few years lie was in a posi-
tion where he was doing as much or more for his adopted coimty than any
citizen within it. He is held in high esteem throughout O'Brien county and
no man in the county is more worthy of a place among the representative
citizens of this countv than is Peter Swensen.

OTTO SAUPE.

In the history of O'Brien county as applying to the agricultiu^al inter-
ests, the name of Otto Saupe occupies a conspicuous place, for through a
number of years he has been one of the representative farmers of Carroll
township, progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities always

win success, sooner or later, and to Mr. Saupe they have brought a satisfac-

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 895

tory reward fur his well directed efforts. Wdiile he has benehted himself and
the coniniunitx' in a material wa}', he has also been an influential factor in the
educational, political and m(_)ral uplift of the communit}- favored by his
residence.

Otto Saupe, the present trustee of Carroll township, O'Brien county,
Iowa, was born in i<S05 in German)-, th.e son of llieo and Joliann ( Aliller)
Saupe. who spent their li\es in the land of their birth. They were the parents
of seven children, all of whom were born in Germany; William, living in
Illinois; Bruno, a farmer of O'Brien county, b)wa; Airs. Anna Baker, a resi-
dent of Illinois; Frank, deceased; Emil, a farmer of this county; Mrs. Minnie
Retus, living- in Illinois, and Otto, whose life history is here delineated.

Otto Saupe came to America when he was twelve years of age, going
first to Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand until 1887. He had re-
ceived a good common school education in his natix^e land and attended sev-
eral seasons here. In 1887 he came to O'Brien county, Iowa, where he pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Carroll township, at a cost of
fifteen and a half dollars an acre. This land had never been broken and he
has so improved it that it is today easily worth two hundred dollars an acre.
He has built a large and commodious bam, as well as a beautiful home, to-
gether with other buildings. He has three acres of orchard and a gro\c
which he set out himself when he came on the land. The same prosperity
which has come to all the other German settlers of the county has come to
him, and he is now the owner of four hundred acres of fine farming land \n
Carroll township. He has been a breeder of Durham cattle, Norman horses
and Chester White hogs, in addition to general farming, and he also holds a
share of stock in the Farmers Elevator Company of this county.

INIr. Saupe w^as married, in 1888, to Dora Schmidt, who was a resi-
dent of Illinois, and to this marriage have been born two sons, Frank and
Theo. Theo is at home and Frank is married and is li\ing on one of his fa-
ther's farms.

Politically, Mr. Saupe is a progressive voter of the independent type and
believes in casting his ballot in local elections for the best men, irrespective
of party affiliations, and the fact that he has been elected trustee of his town-
ship shows that there are other voters in the township who believe the same
way. It is an encouraging thing in our political situation of today to note
that many of our citizens are becoming independent in the matter of their
voting, and ^■ote for the best men, a change for the fjetter which has
come about in state and national politics. INIr. Saupe and the members of his
famil}- are strong adherents of the Lutheran church and contribute liberall}-

S96 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

of their substance to its support at all times. He is a member of the Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons at Primghar, Iowa. Mr. Saupe has won his suc-
cess solely through his own individual efforts and deserves a great deal of
credit for the clean and wholesome life he has led while accumulating his
portion of this world's goods. He is a man of pleasing personality and
easily wins friends wherever he goes.

ROY HAMLIN KING.

Roy Hamlin King, cashier of the First National Bank of Primghar,
was born April 15, 1886, in ^Nlarshalltown. Iowa. His parents were Lincoln
H. and Susan (Williams) King, both of whom are now living in the county
seat of O'Brien county. Lincoln H. King was born at State Center, Iowa,
in 1858. and has been a successful contractor and builder during the active
years of his life. He erected the Prudential Life Insurance building in New-
ark, New jerse}', and for inan\- years \\as employed on big contracts through-
out the country. Lincoln H. King and his wife had one child, Roy H., who
came to Primghar in 1902.

Roy H. King was educated in the Marshalltown and Primghar schools,
graduating" from the Primghar high school in 1902. Immediately upon his
graduation he entered the Farmers Bank as bookkeeper and two years later
became teller in the h'irst National Bank of Primghar. He accepted his
present position as cashier of the First National Bank in the spring of 1913.
He has shown marked ability along banking lines, and for this reason has
well deserved the promotions which have come to him. He has applied him-
self with all the enthusiasm of youth to his work, with the result that he
is rapidly acc[uiring an intimate knowledge of the many phases of banking.

Mr. King was married August 6, 1908, to Edith D. Hughes, the daugh-
ter of Ellis J. and Luella (Squier) Hughes.

Ellis J. Hughes was born November 19, 1856, in Story county, Iowa,
and was the son of Thomas and Elinor (Strawn) Hughes, who were natives
of Pennsylvania. Thomas Hughes and his wife came to Iowa and settled in
Story county in 1855, remaining there until their death, Thomas dying in
1893 and his wife six years later. To Thomas Hughes and wife were born
nine children, John, Richard, William, Ellis, Nathaniel, Ruth (deceased).
Mrs. Agnes Dodds, INIrs. Mary Brown and one which died in infancy. Ellis

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 897

y. Hughes, the fath.er of Airs. King, was reared in Story county on a farm
and was married in 1876 to Luella Squier, the daughter of Trueman and
Elzina (Robbins) Squier. Mrs. Hughes was born in 1859 in Story county,
Iowa. Trueman Squier was a native of Vermont and his wife of Ohio. The
Squiers came from Germany to this country and settled in Vermont, later
movine to Ohio, where Trueman was born in 1826. Elzina Robbins, the
mother of Airs. Hughes, was born in 1827 in Ohio and died in 1868. True-
man Squier lived to the ripe old age of seventy-six. He was married twice.
Later in his life Mr. Scjuier owned a farm in O'Brien county, but died in
the state of Minnesota. He had five children, Airs. Mornilva Sheffield, Mrs.
Alelissa Hamilton, Mrs. Eveline Upton, Mrs. Olive Wilkinson and Mrs.
Lueha Hughes, tlie mother of Mrs. King.

After their marriage Air. and Airs. Ellis J. Hughes moved to O'Brien
county and for the first two years lived on a farm two miles east of Prim-
ghar. In 1895 they moved to the count)- seat, where Air. Hughes engaged
in the real estate business. He was an extensive land owner and at one time
owned seventeen hundred acres of land in Iowa and Alinnesota ; he also han-
dled real estate in Dakota, and owned a considerable amount of land in that
state. Airs. Hughes still owns a lialf section of land in O'Brien county.

Air. Hughes was a member of the Alasonic lodge, the Methodist Epis-
copal church, and was a stanch Democrat in his political views. Mr. and Airs.
E. J. Hughes were the parents of five children: Earl T., born in 1877, de-
ceased: Alma Ruth, who died at the age of nine; Edith, the wife of Air.
King: Earl T., who married EA-a Powell and died at the age of twenty-four,
leaving his widow and one child ; and Golda Aledora, who is now twelve years
of age.

Air. and Airs. King have on.e son, Ralph Hughes, who was born in June,
1909. In his political faith. Air. King is an independent voter, preferring
to cast his vote for the best men irrespective of their party affiliations. In
doing this he feels that he is serving the best interests of his community, and
it is a fact that there is an increasingly large number of our best citizens who
are thus freeing themselves from the shackles of the old parties. Eraternally,
he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has taken all
of the degrees up to and including the thirty-second. He is a business man.
whose heart is in his work, and yet, although he is always busy, he is doing
his share to advance the general welfare of his community. He is a genial
and unassuming man, with a host of warm and loyal friends in this vicinit}-
where he has lived since entering the business world.

898 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

JACOB HENRY WOLF.

The press is the most powerful instrument in the shaping and molding
of public opinion which we have today. It enlightens the people and hghts
their battles individually and collectively. It makes and unmakes men at
will. Likewise it creates or tears down statutes, intended for the good or
ill being of the people at large. There is no one power its equal in the length
and breadth of the land in this respect. In this land of free speech and free
press, it is the most potent factor in the building up of communities. It is
conceded that the newspapers of the inland cities enjoy a greater and wider
prestige in their locality of circulation and accomplish more direct and last-
ing good than even the great metropolitan newspapers of today. The local
editor chronicles our successes ; he smoothes over and condones our failures :
he advises us out of the stores of his wisdom gained through long years of
experience. He espouses the cause of reform when needed ; he advocates
publicly in a clarion voice the need of improvments and assists us in pushing
them forward to completion. The newspapers of today have advanced with
the times and ever keep abreast and even ahead of the procession. O'Brien
county boasts an influential newspaper published by a gentleman who has
figured prominently in the life of the county for upwards of forty years. He
has had a long and distinguished career as a farmer, public official and
journalist.

Jacob Henry Wolf was born July 3, 1841, on a farm three miles west
of the city of Washington, Washington county, Pennsylvania. His parents
were John H. and Maria (Altar) Wolf. He lived on this farm for eighteen
years, doing the work incident to an agricultural life; gathering stones off
the meadow, so as to clear a way for the scythe; raking grain after the
cradlers; cradhng, mowing and plowing; making rails and building rail
fence; chopping wood, etc., all making a tine hardening process for the mus-
cles.

Mr. Wolf, as a boy and a man, was a keen hunter, a lover of outdoor
life, and a very close observer of birds, animals and nature generally. He
loved the rod and gun and few of his day could excel his skill in hunting and
marksmanship. He received a very meager school education, ha^'ing• to
walk a mile distant from his home to the "Log Pile" school house. He
rarely had the advantages of more than three months schooling in any one
vear, being either too small to go during the rigorous winters or being too
large to attend during the summer on account of his services ]:ieing needed on
the farm.

JACOB H. WOLF

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 899

In March, 1859, the faniil}- moved to Washington, where Mr. W'olf
worked with his father for a short time at the carpenter trade. On May 2,
1859, he entered the office of the Jrashington Examiner for the purpose of
learning" the printing trade, being bound out to his employer for four years,
w:th the understanding that he was to receive his board and clothing in re-
turn for his labor. He was always attentive to instructions and industrious
and soon became a valuable help in the office. W^hen the Civil War Ijroke
out he A'olunteered in 1861, and again proffered his services to the Union in
1862, but was not permitted to go until his indenture was finished. May 2,
1863.

On July 14th of that year Mr. Wolf enlisted in Company H. Forty-
sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, and served in that command until the close of
the war, and was honorably discharged July 16, 1865. The Forty-sixth
Regiment was attached to the First Brigade of the First Division of the
Twelfth Corps, Army of the Potomac. In the fall of 1863 the Twelfth and
Eleventh Corps were detached from the Army of the Potomac and made one
corps, called the Twentieth, under command of General Hooker and sent
west to reinforce the army at Chattanooga. This corps guarded the railroad
north of Chattanooga during the winter of 1863-4. Then followed the
Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea under command of General Sher-
man; the campaign through the Carolinas ; the close of the great conflict;
the march from Raleigh to the city of Washington; the Grand Review, and
the muster out and return home. Mr. Wolf served with his regiment all the
time except during part of the winter of 1863-4, when he was in the hospital
at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, first as patient and then as nurse.

The returning soldier reached his home on Monday, July 24, 1865, at
noon. At seven o'clock the next morning he was setting type at a case in the
Washington Reporter office. On September 14th of the same year he was
married to Sarah Jane Mickey, the "'Girl 1 Left Behind Me." She has been
his faithful and loving wife and devoted companion all these years. Five
children were born to them: Fannie E., wife of J. E. Turner, of Oskaloosa,
Iowa; Harry E., now deceased; Herbert A., with his father in the printing
office; William A. and Fred B., twins, born in Iowa, November 2, 1874.
William A. is now the proprietor of the Hawardcn Chronicle, Hawarden,
Iowa. Fred B. is in the employ of the Redpath Lyceum Bureau as Chautau-
qua superintendent and in booking lecture courses.

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Wolf and wife moved to Hopewell town-
ship, Washington county, Pennsyh'ania, and lived on the farm of Mrs.

(58J

900 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Wolf's fatlier for eight years, managing and working the farm in the ab-
sence of Mr. Micke>-. Tt was on this farm that the three first children were
born to them. In the spring of 1873 the family moved to O'Brien connty,
Iowa, and settled on a farm two miles north of Sanborn, the southwest
quarter of section 14. Here they lived for about ten and one-half years.
They were the second family to locate in the to^vnship, \A''illiam H. Dummit
and family, on section 8, being the first. The county was entirely new. The
nearest neighbor was four miles distant. Here they endured all the priva-
tions and hardships of pioneer life, seven years of grasshoppers. dri\ing"
oxen, burning hay for fuel, without school ])rivileges for their children, and
six miles away from Sunday school or church.

In November, 1883. Mr. Wolf bought the Sanborn Pioneer, which he
owned, managed and published, with the assistance of his sons, for fifteen
years. In 1894, in partnership with Thomas Gravenor, he purchased the
O'Brien County Bell, which he still owns and publishes in the Bell block,
erected by Wolf & Gravenor and the Odd Fellows lodge in 1895.

Mr. Wolf was among the first, if not the very first, newspaper men of
the county to attack in. the columns of his influential organ the old corrupt
political ring which dominated the county for years, and which was respon-
sible in part for the deplorable condition of the county's finances at that time.
He wrote, in his capacity as correspondent of the Sheldon Mail, under the
nom de plume of "97-41," that being the town and range of Franklin town-
ship as known at this time. In 1878, having been brought into prominence
by his writings above .referred to, he was nominated for county supervisor
on the Republican ticket without solicitation on his part, and elected, leading
the ticket by about three hundred \otes. He served on the Ijoard for three
years and took an active and influential part in placing the county in a stable
financial condition. During his term of oftice the county warrants rose in
value from thirty-fi\'e cents on the dollar to par, and the county debt was
refunded at a lower rate of interest. Mr. Wolf was afterward defeated for
the nomination for the county treasurership b}- W. X. Strong, of Sheldon,
who was, in turn, defeated by Frank N. Derby, Democrat. Mr. Wolf also
suflr'ered defeat at the pi^lls for the same office by Mr. Derby two years later.

Mr. Wolf was converted to the Methodist Episcopal faith and joined
the cluirch at Washington, Penns}-l\ania. in March, 1863, and still holds
membership in the Methodist church at Primghar. During the more than
forty years that he has lived in O'Brien county he has been Sunday school
superintendent for thirty-five of them. For thirty-nine years he has been a
member of the board of stewards, and was appointed exhorter in 1900, and

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 9OI

has served as class leader for some years. At this writing he is teacher of
the senior bible class in the Methodist Snndav school of Primghar. He
joined the Masonic lodge in Sanborn in 1880 and was master of the lodge
for fi\e years; he aftiliated with the Royal .Vrch chapter in 1885 and for
eight years was high priest of Samaria Chapter No. 105. In about 1898 he
became a member of the commandery of Knights Templar, Cherokee, Iowa,
and was for four years most excellent prelate in the same. He still holds
membership in all these bodies and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine at
Sioux City. In point of years of service Mr. Wolf is probably the oldest
Mason in the county. For some years he has been commander of the Grand
Army post at Primghar and is still in acti^•e command of the post. For
eight years, from March i. 1901, until 1909. he served as postmaster of
Primohar under Presidents McKinlev and Roosevelt.

This sturdy and highly esteemed gentleman is now in his seventy-fourth
year; his natural force is unabated, and he goes about his daily tasks with
the same zest he has used for a half century or more. His proud boast is
that he is seventv-three years young, that he is without physical defect, and
in excellent health and vigor, being wonderfully active for one of his years.
He is Scout Master No. 10,818 of the Boy Scouts of America and is re-
spected and loved b>' the twenty-five boys of the Primghar troop.

JOHN F. BISHOP.

This honored veteran of the Civil \\\ir is to be designated as one of the
progressive and intFiential citizens of O'Brien county, where for more than
tliirtx' ^•ea^s he has maintained his home, figuring as one of the builders of
the corl^nlunit^' and especially worth}' n{ consideration in this work. He
has, bv liis industr\' and sound judgment, not only im])ro\-ed a hue farm
and gained a fairlv large competency for his old age, l)ut has materially as-
sisted in the general welfare of the community, in man}- wa}-s lending his
valual)le time and influence in the pn)mulgati()n of \-arions uplifting move-
ments.

lohn F. Bishop, an ex-railroad man and now a retired farmer of Shel-
don. Iowa, was l)orn in [842 in New York state and is the son of John V.
and Allena (Brown) Bishop. John Bishop was liorn in 1808 at Belleville,
New York, and was a Ba])tist minister. He traveled over the state of New
York and preached for thirty years. He was married in Lorraine, New

g02 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

York, to Allena Brown in 1831, ar.d to this marriage were born ten children,
seven of whom are hving: Judson W., of St. Paul, Minnesota; Luther, of
Sheldon, Iowa; Mrs. Anna Chamless, of California; Mrs. Frankie Bidwell,
deceased : Levi, who is living on the old home place in Xew York state ; AL-s.
Cynthia Gardner, deceased, and John F., whose life history forms the theme
of this narrative.

John F. Bishop received his education in the schools of Xew York and
when se\'enteen years of age on the day after Christmas in 1859, left his
parents aiid settled in the state of Minnesota. He obtained work in a print-
ing- office on his arrival there and continued to work there until Fel)ruary 10,
1862, when he enlisted at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in Company B, Fifth
Reo-iment Minnesota Volunteer Lifantrv. He re-enlisted at Black River
Bridge, Mississippi, on February 12, 1864. and was mustered in as first
lieutenant. He was in thirt\"-three separate engagements and sieges during
his service in tlie war. Upon his discharge, on September 6, 1865. he re-
turned to Minnesota and became interested in railroad work. He was first
in the engineers' corps, at Belleplain, Minnesota, where he continued until it
was l)uih through to Sioux City, Liwa. Li 1870 he was made superin-
tendent of construction of the n)ad running l^etween St. James and Sioux
City. Li 1874 he was chief clerk of supplies of the shops in Sioux City and
in 1880 was made superintendent of a narrow gauge railroad from Sioux
City, Iowa, to Ponca, Iowa. Two years later he was made roadmaster of the
road between Sioux Cit\' and Omaha, Nebraska, and held that place until
1883. He was then appointed superintendent of construction of the Chicago,
^Milwaukee &' St. Paul Railwa\' from Perry to Council Bluffs. In the follow-
ing year he came to O'Brien county, Iowa, and rented nine hundred acres of
unimpro\ed land and which "he and his brother, Judson, began to farm. In
1902 he retired from active farm life and moved to Slieldon, where he
bought a home and has since lived.

Air. Bishop was married December 27, 1865, in New York, to Ann
Augusta Pinney. and to this marriage have been born nine children, seven of
Avhom are li\'ing : Afrs. Frankie Belle Clagg, deceased; Leroy, deceased; Dr.
Albert H., a practicing physician at West Bend, Iowa; Airs. Ella Reynolds,
a widow of Sheldon; Walter J., of LeAIars, Iowa; George H., a hotel man-
ager at X'ewell, Iowa; Airs. Florence Clagg, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Alable.
who is taking a shorthand course at Fort Dodge, and Arthur, of St. Paul.
Alinnesota.

In politics. Air. Bishop is an independent voter, with progressive in-
clinations. He is a member of that class of citizens who cast their vote for

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 903

the Ix'st men. regardless of their poHtical affihations. He and his faniilv are
regular attendants of the Congregational church. He is a member of the
Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion. He has always taken
an active interest in public affairs, and since moving to Sheldon has been a
member of the city council. The life of ]\lr. Bishop has been tilled with
many interesting incidents. Wherever he has been placed he has always tried
to do his full duty; whether upon the battlefield or in the superintendence of
construction of railway, he has been found equally efficient and faithful to
the tasks imposed upon him. As a public official and as a private citizen he
has measured up to the full duty of a true American citizen, and for this
reason is highly regarded b}' everyone who knows him.

WILLL\AI yiNKINSON.

There are certain qualities which e\"ery man must possess who wishes to
make a success of any profession. Among these are honesty and determina-
tion. The career of William Jinkinson, a gardener and commission mer-
chant of Sheldon. Iowa, has been strongly marked by these two characteris-
tics and lie to<lay enjoys a degree of success which is commensurate with his
efforts. He has never known what it was to lay aside the cares of life and
retire to ease, having been a hard working man all of his life. Because of his
honest endeax'or to lay aside a comfortable competency for his declining
N'ears and because he has spent such a life as to win the commendation of his
fellow men lie is eminently worthy of representation in this biographical
volume.

William Jinkinson was born in i860 in Woodford county, Illinois, and is
the son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Willie) Jinkinson. Benjamin Jinkin-
son was b(3rn in Yorkshire, England, and after coming to this countrv set-
tled in Lincoln, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. He lived in that
county until his death, in 1889. Benjamin Jinkinson and Mary Ann Willie
were married in 1856 and to this union were born ten children, five of whom
are living: Alfred, of Gifford, Illinois; Mrs. Lillian Headquest, of Minne-
sota ; Benjamin, of Sheldon, Iowa ; Mrs. Anna Monk, of Sioux county, Iowa,
and William, whose life history is here portrayed.

After receiving his common school education in his home countv in Illi-
nois. William continued to live with his parents until he came to O'Brien
coun.ty after his marriage in 1890. The first five years he engaged in the

904 O BRIEX AM) ()-clJj|..\ Col :.\ lli:S, I'JWA.

retail meat lousiness and also bought and sold cattle and hogs in Sheldon and
has always li\'ed liere since coming to the state. In 1906 he sold out his
business and since that time has been in the ^'eg■etable produce business in
Sheldon. He not or.ly raises considerable of liis own produce, but also Ijux'S
and sells on commission in the city. He owns one hundred and fortv acres
in FloN'd township and three hundred and twenty acres in L}'ons C(»unt^",
Iowa. In addition he has one acre of ground and a fine residence in Shel-
don, where he makes his home.

Mr. Jinkinson w'as married in 1890, in LeMars, Iowa, to Minnie Wolf,
and to this union ha\e 1)een born six children, all of whom are at home, Ethel,
F'ieuben, William, Rhoda, Earl and Donald.

Politically, ^Ir. Jinkinson is a Republican and lias alwa\s ])een inter-
ested in the success of his party. He has been an alderman in vSheldon, Iowa,
for four }ears and rendered efficient ser\-ice to the cit}-. He and his family
are attendants of the Congregational church and to this thev contribute of
tlicir means. Fraternall}'. Mr. Jinkinson is a member of the Modern Wood-
nien of America. He is weH known throughout Sheldon and O'Brien countv.
In the circles in wliicli he mo\-es he is lield in the higliest esteem because
of his u])right lite and liis wholesome manner of living.

XICK BLOES.

Prominent in tlie atiairs of Floyd townshii). O'Brien county. Iowa, and
distinguished as a citizen whose influence has reached beyond the limits of his
immediate communit}', is Xick Bloes, who is a nati\'e of Germany and a
successful farmer of the localit\" where he is li\-ing. Comin"- to this countr\-
at the age of twent_\--t\\-o, he has l)uilt up liis fortune solely througli liis own
efforts and his achievements represent the results which can l)e gained ])\ a
poor man who directs liis efforts along those lines where mature judgment
and discriminaticni lead the way.

Nick Bloes, a prosperous farmer and stt^ckman of bdo)'d township, this
county, was born in 1859, in Luxemburg, Germany, the son of jMartin and
Elizabeth ( Hemmer ) Bloes, who never left the land of their jjirth. Martin
Bloes was born in 1837 and lived the life of a farmer all his days, passing-
away in 1888. His wdfe was born cfn June 24, 1837, was married to Martin
Bloes in 1858, and died January 29. 1912. They were the pai-f;nts of nine
children : Mrs. Susan Weber, who is a resident of Black Hawk county, Iowa ;

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 905

Joseph, a farmer of Osceola county, this state; Eug"ene, a farmer of ^litcliell
county, Iowa; Peter, a hotel man of Luxemburg, Germany; Mrs. Lena
Smith, who lives in Minnesota; J"'rank, a farmer of Montana; Nick, the sul)-
ject of this brief review, and two who died in infancy.

Nick Bloes came to the I7nited States when he was twenty-two }ears
of age after ha\"ing' received an elementary education in his native land. He
first settled in St. Paul. Minnesota, and a year later went to Black Hawk
countw Iowa, where he worked out as a farm hand. In the meantime he
married and in 1886 he rented one hundred and twenty-six acres of land, and
about a vear later decided to come to O'Brien county. Accordingl}' he renteil
four hundred and eight}' acres of land in this count}' and within a short time
was al)le to ])urchase a (|uarter section of his own. He set out se\'en acres
of orchard ami o-^)^•e trees and has made ten thousand dollars worth of ini-
proxements on his f.arm. He has an interest in the Ritter Elevator Com-
pany, of which com])an\' he is now a director. He is an extensive breeder
of Hereford cattle and keeps from eighty to one hundred and twenty head
of these cattle on his farm at all tinies. He also s])ecializes in Poland China
hogs, and is known as one of the l)est growers of potatoes in the county.
In 1910 he W(^n the first ])rize on potatoes at the Sheldon fair.

Mr. Bloes \\as married in Black Hawk county. Iowa, in 1883, to Susan
Xie, and to this union have l)een born tweh'e children: Mrs. Maggie Krogh-
man, who is a resident of Osceola count\' ; li>hn, of the same countv ; Agnes,
of Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she is a teacher in the schools; ]\Irs. Lizzie Dillon,
who li\'es in LeMars. Iowa; Susan, of Osage, Iowa; Martin, who is farm-
ing the home place; Victorine, who is at home; Jose])h, who is attending
the Catholic College at .\shton, Iowa; as are Cecelia and (Iregor.

Politicall}', Mr. Bloes adheres to the Republican part\', and has always
been interested in. the alTairs of his part}'. He has Ijeen road overseer for
two }'ears and is now director of the school board of his township. Relig-
iousl}'. he and all the members of his famih' are earnest and dex'oted mem-
bers of the Catholic church at .\shton, and con.tribute freely of their means
to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Roman Catholic Mutual
Protective Society. Mr. Bloes is a good example of the man who comes to
our land from foreign shores without capital and without a knowledge of the
English language, and }'et, b}' his own determination and will power, rears
a family to lives of usefulness and lays asirle a sufficient competence for his
declining years. He has been a faithful citizen of his adopted country and
has measured up to the full standard of the good American citizen.

qo6 o'briex and osceola counties, iowa.

REV. JAMES McCORMACK.

O'Brien county has been the home and the scene of labor of many men
who have not only led lives which should serve as a lesson and an inspiration
to those who follow them onto the stage of life's activities, but who have also
been of important service through important a^'enues of usefulness in various
lines. The honored and highly esteemed subject of this sketch is a man of
well rounded character, sincere, devoted and loyal, so that there are manv
salient points which render consonant a tribute to him in this compilation.
Standing as he does today as the head of one of the most important
churches in O'Brien county, his labors have long been directed for the
amelioration of the people of this community and rewarded with gratifving
results.

Rev. James JVIcCormack, pastor of St. Patrick's church. Sheldon,
O'Brien county, Iowa, was born August 4, 1856, in county Langford. Ire-
land. His parents were John and Anna (Brennan) McCormack. who lived
all their lives in the land of their birth.

Father McCormack was educated in St. Mell's College, in his home
county in Ireland, taking work in view of entering the foreign missionarv
field. He was a student at St. Patrick's College, county Carlow, Ireland,
and upon his graduation from that college was ordained November 30, 1885.

Father McCormack at once came to Dubuque. Iowa, from Ireland and
became the assistant at Ackley. in this state. Fifteen months later he was
transferred to the cathedral at Dubuque, a position which he filled for the
following two years. He then became the first resident pastor of the Ashton.
Osceola county, church and had charge of the missions of Ashton and Sib-
ley, in that county, as well as those at Rock Rapids and Largewood, in Lvon
county. He first came to O'Brien county in 1890 and was pastor at Sheldon,
but four years later was transferred to the mission at Alvord. in Lyon
county. After four years' work at Alvord he was transferred to Sanborn,
in O'Brien county, with the missions of Primghar and Hartley under his
charge. Then, in April, 19 10, he came to Sheldon, where he is still in
charge. Since coming to Sheldon, he has erected a fine, large church, at a
cost of forty thousand dollars, an edifice which compares favorably with
any in the northwestern part of the state. He now has one hundred and
twenty families under his charge at Sheldon.

Father McCormack has been an indefatigable worker since coming to
this state, and has been of invaluable aid to the young missions of his

JV ia £- £: lUffums ^^

NOX

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COl'NTIES, IOWA. 907

church in this section of the state. He built the parsonage and first paro-
chial school in Ashton and taught there with three sisters of the Order of
St. Francis from Dubucjue. He purchased the land for the Catholic ceme-
tery at Alvord during his administration in that town. He erected the first
Catholic church in Primghar and remodeled the church and its property in
Sanborn at a cost of thirty-eight hundred dollars. During his first ministr}/
at Sanborn in the early part of the nineties, he raised money to liquidate a
four-thousand-dollar debt which was bearing heavily upon the mission at
Sheldon. He not only has the hearty support and afl:'ection of the members
of his own church, but is held in high esteem by men of every denomination,
because of his interest in the welfare of the various communities in which he
has lived and worked.

TOHX ]. O'DONXELL.

Amono- the most thriftv settlers who have come to this countv with no
other asset than willing hands and a strong heart, there have been none who
have attained greater success than the descendants of the Emerald Isle. With
these assets they have literally carved a fortune for themselves out of the
1)lack prairie land of O'Brien count}-. While John J. O'Donnell was not a
native of Ireland, yet he had those sterling qualities which marked his father's
career.

John J. O'Donnell was born in 1857 in X'irginia and is the son of
Thomas and ]^Iary (Kennedy) O'Donnell. Thomas O'Donnell was born in
1831 in Ireland and came to America when a young man and worked as a
railroad laborer. During the Ci\il \\'ar he ser\-ed in the Confederate arm\-
a short time and made an excellent record as a soldier. After the war he re-
turned to Massachusetts where he and his wife reared a family of seven
children: Patrick, deceased; James, a retired farmer of California; Maiy.
deceased; Bridget, deceased; two who died in infancy, and John J., whose
histor}' is here presented.

John J. O'Donnell recei\'e(l his common sc4"iool education in Virginia
and Massachusetts and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one
years of age. At that time his parents were living in Massachusetts and
John was working in a basket factoiy. In 1878 he left his home in Massa-
chusetts and settled in Minnesota and worked on a railroad. In 1883 he came
to O'Brien county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land.
He set out four acres of trees and since then has done five thousand dollars

(jOiS n'p.KIKX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

worth of improvements. He has been a successful farmer from the start
aiul now has liis place in a high state of cultivation. He raises good crops
and in addition keeps a good grade of live stock.

Mr. O'Donnell was married in 1891 to Sarah Carroll, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Carroll, of O'Brien county. To this union have been
born five children, Bernard, Emmet. >dary, Hubert and Margaret, all of
whom are li\ ing at home with their [)arents.

In politics. Mr. O'Donnell is affiliated with the Republican party and has
taken a deep interest in political afTairs in his township and county. He has
been a school director for twelve years and at one time served as justice of
the peace. In these \arious official capacities he has serxed liis people effi-
cienth' and faithfully. All nf tlie family are l(>\al meml)ers of the Catholic
church, to whicli they give their earnest support at all times. Two of his
sons, Bernard and Emmet, are members of the Knights of Columbus and Mr.
O'Donnell is a member of the Yeomen. Mr. O'Donnell is a fine example of
a self-made man — a man who came to this county with nothing but a will-
ingness to work, yet has succeeded in the course of thirty years in accumulat-
ing a xery comfortable competency for himself. He is a man who has worked
hard for liis famil\- and lias the gratification of knowing that in all of his
career in tliis cnunty he lias never done anything which would bring upon
him tlie cen.sure of his neighbors.

SAM LINOUIST.

A descendant of one of the (^Id families of Sweden and a worthy repre-
sentative of that excellent country is Sam Linquist, a prosperous farmer oi
Carroll tovv'ushi]). O'Brien county, Iowa. While he was born in this coun-
try, yet his father was a nati\'e of Sweden. Sam has inherited all of those
sterling qualities wliich ha\e made the people of his land famous the world
o\'er for their thrift. He was born in Illinois in 1866 and is the son of
Andrexx and Sophia (Longreen) Linquist.

Andrew Lin(juist was born in Sweden in 1837 ^'^^'^ ^^''^^ reared to the life
of a farmer. In 1862 he came to Cook county, Illinois, where he worked
on a farm and spent the remainder of his days. To Andrew Linquist and
wife were 1)orn three children: Alfred, deceased; Katherine, who lives in
Alichigan, and Sam, with whom this narrative deals.

Sam Linquist received a good common school education in Cook countx'.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 909

Illinois, and then worked on his father's farm and on the farms of his
neighbors until he was twenty-tive years of age. He then rented lands and
farmed for three years in O'Brien county. In 1805 he bought one hundred
and sixty acres of land in Carroll township and later bought one hundred and
six acres in Grant township, O'Brien county. Since buying the land he has
put four thousand dollars worth of improvements on it and thereby greatly-
enhanced its value. In addition to raising all of the crops which are grown
in this part of the state, he also raises graded stock and makes a handsome
addition to his annual income in this way. He is a director of the Farmers
Elevator Company at .\rcher, Iowa, and is also treasurer of the Grand Trunk
l^lephone Compan}% of Carroll township.

Mr. Linquist was married in 1891, in O'Brien county, Iowa, to Matilda
Tanner, and to this marriage have been born eight children: Alta, who
graduated from the Sheldon high school and is now teaching in this count}- :
W'illiard, Flossiq. Xellie, Elmer, Charlie, Gladys and Marion.

In politics, Mr. Linquist is an independent, reserving the right to cast
his vote at all times for the best man. irrespective of party affiliations. While
ad\-ancing his material interests, Mr. Linquist has not neglected his duty to
the l)0(ly politic and has taken his part in the public alYairs of his township.
He served one term as township trustee of Carroll township, a position which
he hlled to the entire satisfaction of all the citizens. Quiet and unassuming
in demeanor, Mr. Linquist has e\-er attended to his own affairs and because
of this is highh- regarded by ex'eryone with whom he associates.

CLARENCE C. SCHAAP.

It is proper to judge of the success and status of a man's life by the
estimation in which he is held In- his fellow citizens. They see him at his
work, in his family circle, in his ch.urch, at his devotions, hear his views on
public questions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he
conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus be-
come competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course (jf
years of such daily observation it would be out of the question for his neigh-
bors not to know his worth, because, as has been said, "Actions speak louder
than words." In this county there is nothing heard concerning the subject
of this sketch but good words. He has passed so many years here that his

910 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

worth is well known, but it will be of interest to run over the bus}' e\'ents
of his life in these pages.

Clarence C. Schaap. a clothing merchant of Sheldon, O'Brien county,
Iowa, was born in 1875 in Ackley, Iowa. He is the son of Cornelius C.
and Nellie ( Kuyper) Schaap. Cornelius Schaap was born in Holland in
1836 and was a seaman acting as shipmate on the sailing vessels on the high
seas. In 1865 he settled in Freeport, Illinois, and engaged in farming and
in 1867 he located near Ackle}'. Iowa, and again engaged in farming. At the
same time he began to buy and sell land, making a nice profit on his various
transactions. He finally sold out all of his land in Grundy and l^utler coun-
ties and bought land in Sioux county, Iowa. He continued in the real estate
business, buying and selling farms and city property, until he retired in 1900,
dying in 1904. His wife, Nellie Kuyper, was born in Holland in 1837. To
Cornelius Schaap and wife were born nine children: Cornelia, who died in
Holland; Emma, deceased; Mrs. Mary Bos, of Hull, Iowa; Mrs. Emma Bos,
of South Dakota; Mrs. Cornelia Overkamp. of New Jersey; Rev. John C.
and Clarence C. with whom this narrative deals. Rev. John C. Schaap is a
graduate of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a minister in charge of the First
Refonned church of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Clarence C. Schaap remained with his parents until he was sixteen years
of age, receiving a good elementary education. At the age of sixteen he
began to work in a dry goods store at Ackley, Iowa, as a clerk and remained
there for a number of years. He then went to Orange. Iowa, where he acted
as an agent for the selling of sewing machines, pianos and organs. Three
years later he sold out his stock and went to LeMars. Iowa, and clerked in a
dry goods store. In 1905 he came to Sheldon and clerked in a department
store for six years, and in 191 1 bought an interest in a clothing firm which
is now known as Hospers & Schaap. They carry from fifteen to twenty
thousand dollars worth of stock all the time and has a large and increasing-
trade in Sheldon and the surrounding country. His store is equipped with
up-to-date conveniences and presents a very attractive appearance. Mr.
Schaap has an attractive home in Sheldon, where he lives.

Mr. Schaap was married in 1902. at Orange City. Iowa, to Katherine
Vos and to this marriage has been born one son, Clare, who is now in the
public schools. *

In politics, Mr. Schaap is a Republican and has always taken an inter-
est in political affairs. At the present time he is a member of the board of
education of Sheldon and takes an active part in the educational affairs of his
city. He and his wife adhere to the Methodist Episcopal church and give

BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. <>' '

their earnest support to it at all times. Air. Schaap has been a hard working-
man and deserves the success which he has attained, which has been whoHy
through his own efforts. He is recognized as a pubhc-spirited man who is
ahvays wilhng to lend his assistance to such measures as will impro\'e the con-
dit'ons of his communit}'. h^)r this reason he is justly regarded as a repre-
sentatix'e man of his citv.

WILLIAM A. SIMS.

It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legiti-
mate and well applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in
a course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to smile
upon the idler or dreamer and she ne\'er courts the loafer, only the men who
have diligently sought her favor being crowned with the blessings. In trac-
ing the history of the influential commission merchant, creamery man and
representative citizen of Hartley, O'Brien county. Iowa, whose name forms
the caption of this review, it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he en-
jo}'s has ])een won b}- commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth
that has gained for him the high esteem of those who know him.

William A. Sims was born in Delaware county, Iowa, in 1874. He is
the son of Charles and bdora ( Eahard ) Sims. Charles Sims was born in
Clayton county, Iowa, in 1850, and is the son of Albert and Sarah (Joslin)
Sims. Albert Sims was born in 1830 in Pennsylvania.

Albert Sims, the grandfather of William A., whose histor}- is here pre-
sented, had nine children: Mrs. Harriet A. Park, deceased; William, who
was killed during the Civil War; Hiram, who died in the Civil War; Mrs.
Mary Horn, deceased; Thomas, of Dakota; Samuel, deceased; Beatrice,
deceased ; Mrs. Phoebe Harth, and Charles, the father of William A.

Charles Sims remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years
of age and then rented land in Delaware county and farmed for himself.
He ga^'e up farming and moved to Earlville. Iowa, where he engaged in the
produce business in the spring of 1888. He then sold out and settled in
Sheldon, Iowa, and followed the same business there for about six months.
He then came to Hartley, Iowa, and engaged in the produce and commission
lousiness until he retired in 1905. He now owns a hue residence in Hartley.
Charles Sims was married in 1873 to Flora Eahard and to this union have
been born four children : Clara, deceased ; Phoebe, deceased ; Arthur, de-
ceased, and William A., wdiose history is here briefly set forth. Charles Sims

912 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

has Ijeen a life-long Republican, but has never taken an active interest in
politics. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He was
a member of the Masonic fraternity.

William A. Sims remained with his parents until he was twenty-five
vears of age and then engaged in the commission business at Emmetsburg-.
Iowa, for a short time, after which he went to Sibley, in this state, and en-
g'aged in the same l)usiness. He sold out his business at Sible}- and came to
Hartle}' in 1905. where he has since remained. In addition to his regular
commission business, he is \'ice-president of the Hartley Creamery Company
and handles all of the output of that firm. He is an enterprising business
man, with keen l)usiness ability and a man who is absolutely honest in all of
his dealings. Mr. Sims is a conscientious and hard working member of the
cit}- coimcil.

Mr. Sims was married in 1901 to Nina Kroft. In his politics he is a
Republican, ])ut has been so busy with his interests that he has not had the
time to engage in the game of ]jolitics. He and his wife are earnest mem-
l)ers of the Presbyterian church and render it their zealous support at all
times. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Modern \A'oodmen of America. While he has been only a comparatively
short time in l)usiness here, vet he has won the esteem of all he has been
associated ^v^t]l 1)_\- liis frank manner and his sincerity of purpose.

WILLIAM LEMKE.

It can not be other than interesting to note in the series of personal
sketches appearing in this work the varying conditions that have compassed
those whose careers are outlined, and the effort has been made in each case to
thro\\- well focused light onto the individualit}- and to bring into proper per-
spective the scheme of each respecti\e career. Each man who strives to ful-
fill his part in connection with human life and human activities is deserving
of recognition, whate\'er may be his field of endeavor, and it is the function
of works of this nature to perpetuate for future generations an authentic
record concerning those represented in its pages. The value of such jjub-
lications is certain to be cumulative for all time to come, showing- forth the
indixidual and specific accomplishments of which generic history is ever
engendered.

William Lemke, a merchant of Hartlev, O'Brien county, Iowa, was

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 9I3

b(.ni in O'Brien county in 1883 and is the son of Fred and Fredricka (West-
tall ) Lemke. Fred Lenike was born in Germany in 1843 and came to this
conntn- after his marriage and settled in Illinois, where he became a success-
ful farmer and stock raiser. Later he came to Beuna Vista county, Iowa.
and purchased eit;hty acres of unimproved land. In 1881 he moved t<»
O'lh-ien countv and bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land,
which lie just got im])roved when the tornado of 1882 destroyed every build-
ing which be had erected. After this terrible disaster, he again erected build-
ings an.d in a few }car.s had recouped his losses. He died October 10, 189 1.
leaxing a comfortable estate to his widow and children. His wife, Fredricka
W'estfall. was also born in Germany and died in O'Brien county. October 10,
1904, at the age of lifty-six. They were married in 1869 and to their union
v;ere born sexen children: Rudolph, a farmer of Grant township; Anna,
deceased; Albert, deceased; Mrs. Mollie Brush, of O'Brien county; Robert
of O'Brien countv ; Mrs. Martha Eddingt(Mi. of O'Brien county, and ^^^illiam.
with whom this narrati\e deals.

William Lemke received his education in the O'Brien county schools
and helped his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He
then bought the home ])lace, which he farmed for three years, after which
he sold it and moved to Hartley. In 1907 he Ijought a grocery store, which
he soon sold and liought a half interest in a department store with W. C. Vo-
gel. He remained in the mercantile business for four years, when he. with his
two l)rothers. Robert and Rudolph, purchased a general mercantile estab-
lishment in Hartley, which they have since managed. They carry a large
and assorted stock of goods such as is usuall}' found in a department store
of a town the size of Hartle\'. The store is well equii)ped with modern con-
\'eniences and draws a large and lucrative trade from the town of Hartle}-
and surrounding C(^untry. In addition to his mercantile interests, Mr. Lemke
lias an interest in a hve-acre orchard tract in Idaho, as well as a share in the
])lo\v factory of Hartle)-. He also has a beautiful home which he has built
and improved in Hartle}- at a cost of six thousand dollars.

Mr. Lemke was married in 1905 to Pearl M. Stanley, the daughter of
Mr. and ]\Irs. ( Weightman ) Stanley, of O'Brien county. They have one
son. Kennith LeRo\". who is now in the public schools of this city. Politicall}'.
Mr. Lemke is a Rei)ul)lican. although he is independent in local politics. He
is rendering efficient ser\ice to the community as a member of the city coiuicil
and the school board. He and his wife are attendants of the Methodist
Episcopal church, to which they contribute generously of their means. He is
a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order

yi4 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen and takes an interest in the work of these
varions lodges. Mr. Lemke is a man of keen business ability and because
he has exercised tact and courtesy in dealing with his customers, as well as
honesty and uprightness in all his financial transactions, he is looked upon as
a successful business man in every sense of the word. He is a fine type of the
reliable, self-made American, a friend of the poor, charitable to his neigh-
bors and always stands ready to unite with them in every good work Avhich
promises to benefit the community at large. Although a comparatively young-
man in )'ears, yet he has already established a reputation which ranks him as
one of the representative men of Hartley.

LEVI SHELL.

A life of forty-two years in this county entitles one to the name of pio-
neer, and Levi Shell, who has lived here since 1871, is one of the distin-
guished pioneers of this county. Schooled in the humanitarian principles
which characterize life on the frontier, he caught the spirit of that larger life
that is not warped b\- the spirit of materialism, his life having been built on
the broad and generous lines that one seldom meets nowadays. He is a gen-
erous, open-hearted man and many are the burdens which he has lifted and
many are the tears which he has dried. Not only is he h(jnored today be-
cause of the work he did f(jr this count}' in pioneer times, but also for his
distinguished service during the Civil War.

Le\i Shell, the president of the Sible}- Cement Company, was born in
New York state, in St. Lawrence county, September 2, 1838, and is the son
of David and Lovina ( Kentner) Shell, who were of German extraction and
commonly known as "Pennsylvania Dutch.'" Le\'i Shell comes of a family
noted for its longe\ity, his grandmother ha\ing lived to the ad\anced age of
one hundred and two.

David Shell and his family moved from Xew York to Wisconsin in
1849, coming by boat to Buffalo, New York, and making the trip around
Niagara Falls by the horse car which was then in use. They embarked on
the lake at Lewiston again and continued b}' boat to Milwaukee, which at
that time contained only twenty houses, most of which were mere shacks.
From Milwaukee the family proceeded to Sauk county and settled on a ]3iece
of prairie land near Prairie due Sac. Here the family lived until the death
of David Shell, in 1883, the mother dying in 1898. To David Shell and

LEVI SHELL

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 915

wife were born a large family of children: Conrad, who died in 1908; Mrs.
Elizabeth Farnnm, of Sank Prairie, Wisconsin; William, of Sauk Prairie;
Levi; Mrs. Barbara Baxter; Daniel, of Worthington, Minnesota; David, of
Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Mary Hiland, of Sac City, Iowa; Airs. Laura Page,
of Sauk Prairie, \\'isconsin, and Alaria Hiland, of Sac City, Iowa.

Levi Shell received a good common school education in the schools of
Sauk county, Wisconsin, and left the school room to enlist in the service of
his country when it was threatened with disunion. He enlisted August 13,
1862, in Company K, Twent}-third Regiment \\'isconsin Infantry, and
served until May 22, 1863. when he was wounded at Vicksburg, Alississippi.
He was shot in the right jaw and shoulder and was so disaliled that he was
finally discharged on account of disability, in December, 1863. He partici-
pated in the battles of Fort Gibson, Arkansas Post, Grand Gulf, Champion's
Hill, Black River Bridge and many others. He was with Sherman before
Vicksburg. and fought in the skirmishes during the spring of 1862 around
Vicksburg. The battle of Champion's Hill, in which he was engaged, is
called by historians the bloodiest battle of the Civil War.

After receiving his final discharge from the service, Mr. Shell returned
home and then went to Monroe county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the
lumber business with his brothers, Daniel and Conrad. For two years he
drove a team. In 1865 he went to Salem, Wisconsin, and managed a lumber
yard for two years. In the spring of 1871 he came to Sibley, Osceola county.
Iowa, crossing the county by the aid of his compass. At that time there were
no settlers, no roads, no trees, except along the water places, and not much
encouragement for a prospective farmer. In making his trip across the
county he met only one man, but this did not discourage him and on Decem-
ber 6, 1871, he finally selected the southeast quarter of section 36. in Viola
township, and immediatel\- erected a house and began to improve the land.
In the spring of 1872 he opened a lumber yard at Sibley and when the rail-
road reached there, on June 5th of that year, he put in a good stock of lum-
ber, shipped from Alinneapolis. However, times were hard, money was
scarce and within two years he was six thousand dollars in debt. However,
the firm in Minneapolis which backed him had every confidence in his abilitv
to succeed, and carried him on their books until he w^as on his feet again.
The "grasshopper days," in the latter part of the seventies, affected not only
the farmers, but every other industry in this section of the state. During
that period he sold much of his lumber for wood. In the midst of this dis-
couraging period his wife died and everything began to have a very gloomy

(59)

9l6 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

appearance. They thought the county was on the verge of starvation and
had it not been for outside support many of the people would have actually
starved to death. The new Methodist church was turned into a relief depot
and the food and medical assistance was generously extended to all those in
distress. During the terrible conditions existing at that time, Mr. Shell kept
his credit good and managed to pull through. In 1893 he sold out his busi-
ness on account of ill health, but two years later bought back a half interest
in the business. He also owns a lumber yard at Little Rock, in Lyon county.
In 1908 the Shell Lumber Company was incorporated with the following
officers: President, \\'. D. Shuttleworth ; vice-president, .Levi Shell; secre-
tary, treasurer and general manager, G. F. Sokol. The company has yards at
Sibley, Little Rock and Allendorf and does an extensi\e business throughout
this section of the state.

Mr. Shell was married in 1868 to Alice Mack, a native of Vermont,
and upon her death, in 1874. he was left with two children, now ^Irs. Maud
Alice NcAvell, of Portland, Oregon, and Airs. Alabel Kate Lehman, whose
husband is now farming one of Mr. Shell's farms. In 1876 Mr. Shell was
married to Lucy Brown, a sister of C. E. Brown, one. of the earliest mer-
chants of Sibley. She had been a school teacher previous to her marriage
and was born in Patch Grove. Wisconsin. To this second marriage have
been born two daughters, Mrs. Nellie Clark, of Marquette, ?»Iichigan. and
Mrs. Vera Blanche Bahne, of Sibley, Iowa.

Mr. Shell has taken an important part in the life of Sibley in many ways.
He has served one term as treasurer of Osceola county and twelve years as
treasurer of the school board of Sibley. It is needless to say that in both of
these offi.cial capacities he served with eminent satisfaction to everyone of the
citizens of the county. His interests have always been identified with the
Republican party, yet he is not a i^artisan in the strict sense of the word.
He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he
has been a zealous worker in that denomination for the past forty years in
Sibley. In fact, he has been a trustee of the Methodist church of Sibley for
more than fortv vears, serving in that capacity since the first church of that
denomination was established in the city. He has also been a member of the
board of stewards for the same length of time. Fraternally, he is a member
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and holds membership in the
Royal Arch and the Knight Templar branches of Masonry. H^ is an en-
thusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Sibley and has been
commander of the local post. Such is the life history of Levi Shell, a man
who has been as prominently identified with the interests of Osceola county

o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 917

and its county seat as any other man in the county. Every enterprise which
he thought would be of benefit to the community at large found in him a
hearty supporter. For this reason he is one of the distinguished as well as
the representative men of his county.

JAMES S. WEBSTER.

The man whose life histor}' is presented in the following narrative is one
oi thi)se strong, self-reliant and eminent characters wdio are occasionally met
with and who are of such a distinct type as to seem to be born leaders of
their fellow men. It is safe to say that when you come across men in O'Brien
county toda}' who went to the front during the Ci\il War and fought through
some of the severest struggles of that immortal conflict, such men are bound
to be men of action. The roll of our honored war \eterans is fast melting
away with the flight of years and each Memorial d.ay fewer and fewer of the
o'rav haired veterans march to the sound of fife and dnun. Thev are fast
ans\vering the last roll call and we can not give them too much honor for the
fight they made to save the Stars and Stripes.

James S. Webster, a distinguished veteran of the Civil War and a prom-
inent business man of Hartley. O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in 1847 in
Clark county, Missouri, and is the son of Charles and Anna (Schee) Web-
ster. Charles Webster was born in 18 17 in Xew York state and was educated
at Oberlin College. He was a school teacher by profession and died in 1847,
when only thirty years of age. Charles Webster was twice married. By his
marriage in the year 1836 there were two children, Charlie, deceased, and a
daughter wdio died in infancy. In 1840 he was married to Anna Schee, who
Avas born in 1827 in Ohio and died in 1887 in Illinois. To this second mar-
riage were born three children : Mrs. Eleanor Millikan, of Riverside, Cali-
fornia ; West B.. of Gaza. Iowa, and James S., whose history is here delin-
eated.

Charles W^ebster died before James S. was born. Five years later, in
1852. his widow married Simon Shonkwiler, of Ohio, a farmer then living
in Illinois. To this marriage were born six children : Mrs. Phoebe J.
Welfley, of Illinois; Oliver M.. of O'Brien county; Mrs. Martha Moore, of
Atwood, Illinois; Frank M., a lawyer and judge of Monticello, Illinois; two
who died in infancy.

As has been stated, James S. Webster never saw his father, so he lived

9l8 o'BRIEN AP^D OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

with his mother and stepfather, who was an excellent man, until he was seven-
teen years of age. He received a good common school education and was
still in the school room when the war broke out in i86i. Although he de-
sired to go to the front, yet he was too young to enlist and it was not until
1864, when he was seventeen years of age, that he was mustered in. He
joined Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry, and served until he was mustered out, in September, 1865. He
came through the war uninjured and witli his liealth unimpaired. Imme-
diately after he was mustered out he returned to the farm in Illinois and re-
mained until he was twent3'-five years of age, then married and purchased
one hundred and sixty acres of land in Illinois, but sold it three years later
and took charge of his stepfather's farm of four hundred acres. He remained
here for eight years, at the end of which time he came to O'Brien county,
Iowa, arriving here in 1883. He at once purchased one hundred and sixt}-
acres of prairie land, set out three acres of groves and orchards and other-
wise improN'ed it so that when he sold it tliree x'ears later he realized a hand-
some profit on his investment. He then went to Hartley, in this county, and
bought an interest in a hardware store, where he worked for the next seven
years, after which, in 1890, he purchased an interest in the Hartley lumber
firm, with which he has been connected up to the present time. He is now
manager of the firm. He also has a share in the Fullerton Lumber and
Hardware Company, of Fullerton, North Dakota, as well as an interest in a
lumber and furniture company at Louisburg, Minnesota. He also is heavily
interested in land and has an interest in eight hundred and eighty acres of
land in North Dakota. Mr. Webster is regarded as a man of good business
ability and has won the confidence of the people by his uprightness and strict
honesty in everything which he does.

Mr. Webster has been twice married, first, in 1873, to Viola Holtz, and
to this marriage was born one daughter, Maud, whose husband, E. S. Thomas,
is manager of the Fullerton Lumber and Hardware Company of Fullerton,
North Dakota. She is a graduate of the Hartley high school and later at-
tended Highland Park College at Des Moines, after which she taught school
for four years. ]\Ir. Webster's second marriage, in 1887, was to Emma
Beach, who was born in 1858 in Indiana, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Cephas Beach. Cephas Beach was born in 1824 and died in i8qo and his wife
was born in 1824 and died in 191 2. Mrs. Beach made her home witli her
daughter, Mrs. James Webster, for the sixteen years previous to her death.
The second wife of Mr. Webster had taught school for ten years in O'Brien
county, five years being spent in the schools of Flartley. Mr. and Mrs. Web-

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 919

stcr adopted two children : Helen, the wife of L. A. Douglas, of Akron,
Iowa, graduated from the Hartley high school and went one term to Alorn-
ingside College at Des ]\Ioines, after which she taught school four years at
Akron. Iowa. May. the older child of ]\Ir. and Mrs. Webster, is still with
her parents and is now attending the Hartley high school.

Mr. Webster is a stanch Republican in politics, hut has never felt ii\
dined to take an active part in political affairs. He is an earnest member of
the Methodist Episcopal church, and a great worker in the church and Sunday
school. He is superintendent of the Sunday school at the present time and
president of the O'Brien County Sunday School Association. Fratenially,
he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted INIasons and the Grand
Army of the Republic at Hartley. Mr. Webster has lived a Inisy and useful
life and from the time he was seventeen years of age he has l)een an active
citizen of the commonwealth, serving his count}' faithfull}'. All ])u])lic
measures which promise to help his community have found in him a sympa-
thetic hel])er. On the other hand, everything whicli he felt would be a detri-
ment to his comnmnit\- has met with his strong opposition. Such a man is
a blessing to any community and it is such men who make this a better county
in which to live.

THOMAS BERNE.

Among the men of sterling worth and strength of character who Ivdve
made an impress on the life of the locality in which they live, no one has
received a larger regard than Thomas Berne, a popular furniture man and
funeral director of Hartley. Born of Irish parentage, he has those excellent,
characteristics which are common with the people of the Emerald Isle, and
the success which attended his father after coming to this country shows that
his son comes by his ability naturally. Although he has been in Hartley only
a comparatively short time, yet his life here has given the people an oppor-
tunity to know him in every phase of his character. That he has been true
to life in every phase is manifest in the degree of confidence and regard in
which he is held by all of those who know him. He is strictly a self-made
man and the success which he has attained was won by hard knocks.

Thomas Berne was born in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1866, and is
the son of John and Bridget (Croak) Berne, both of whom were natives of
Ireland. John Berne was born in Ireland in 18 18 and came to Niagara
Falls, New York, from his nati\-e land when he was thirty years of age.

920 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

For the next twenty years he followed railroading-, l)ut. feeling that there
were more opportunities for advancement in the West, he came to Independ-
ence, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land in 1868, on which he lived
until his death in 1902. He had all of those sterling characteristics which
mark the natives of the Emerald Isle and he and his good wife reared a large
familv of children t(^ useful lives. They were the parents of ten children:
Margaret, deceased; John, of Missoula, Montana; Mrs. Catherine Pohl, of
Montana; William, of ^Montana; Michael, of Montana; Elian, deceased;
James, of California; Martin, of California; Mrs. Agnes Sauntry, and
Thomas, whose life history is here briefly portrayed.

Thomas Berne came with his parents from Niagara Falls, New York,
to Independence, Iowa, when he was two years of age and received his educa-
tion in the schools of this state. When a small lad he began to assist his
father on the home farm, and tlius early learned those habits of industry
which have characterized his later career. He continued to reside at home
until he was thirty years of age, rented land adjoining his father's farm and
workiup- bv the dav's labor at anv honest toil which would vield him a fair
wage. During these years he was saving his money with the intention of
eoine into business for himself and in i8g6 he felt that he had laid bv a sufft-
cient amount of capital to indulge his desire for an independent career. Ac-
cordinoiy, he went to Hartlev. O'Brien countv. Iowa, and worked in an im-
plement store in order to become thoroughly acquainted with the business.
While working in the implement store he married and began to plan to pur-
chase a furniture store in Hartley and in 1906 he l^ought a furniture store
and undertaking establishment and has been conducting it successfully up
to the present time. In order to be a competent embalmer and undertaker,
he took a course in the Hohenschuh Carpenter Embalming School at Des
Moines and thus equipped himself for the embalming profession. He was
the third man in the state of Iowa to purchase and put in use an automobile
hearse, at a cost of $4,500, and the first one built by the Des Moines Casket
Company. The success which has attended him since embarking in his new
venture shows that he is a man of keen business ability. He needed but the
chance to show what he could do when he had a business of his own. Fie has
increased his stock in the furniture store from year to year and thereby
brought a better class of trade to his store. His courtesy in dealing with his
customers and his honesty in all of his dealings, has won for him the con-
fidence of the people of Hartley and the surrounding countiy.

Mr. Berne was married in 1901 to Barbara Wachtel and to this union
have been born two children, who are still with their parents, Clarence J. and

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 921

Mary A. Politically, .Mr. Berne adheres to the Democratic party, Init has
always been so busy with his own individual interests that he has not had
the time to take an active part in politics. However, he takes an interest in
al^. public enterprises such as he deems will benefit his community, by giving
his hearty and sympathetic support. He and his family are loyal members
of the Catholic church and contribute freely of their means to its support.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern
Woodmen of America. His interest in public affairs is shown by the fact
that he has been a member of the city council of Hartley. Every measure
which he felt would help the city has found in him an enthusiastic supporter.
In addition to his mercantile interests he has invested in property in the city
and now owns two liandsome houses which he has improved in various
ways. Such is the life history of Thomas Berne, who tries to do his every-
day duty as he see it, having taken the Golden Rule for his guide. The fact
that he has the unbounded confidence of everyone with whom he has been
associated indicates that he has done to others as he would that others should
do unto him.

ALBERT TAGGE.

Clearly defined pur^xjse and consecutive eft'ort in the aft'airs of life will
inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following-
out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes
into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible,
and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the
same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. The quali-
ties which have made Mr. Tagge one of the prominent and successful men of
Hartley have also brought him the esteem of his fellow townsmen, for his
career has been one of well-directed energ}^ strong determination and honor-
able methods.

Albert Tagge, for many years a prosperous merchant of Hartley,
O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in Scott county, Iowa, in 1871. He is the
son of Peter and Lena (Richie) Tagge, both of whom were born and reared
in Germany. Peter Tagge was born in 1824 and spent his boyhood days
working- on his father's farm in his native land. He was married in Germany
to Lena Richie in 1858 and they at once came across the ocean and settled
in Davenport, Iowa. There Peter bought two hundred and sixty acres of
land, which he improved and lived there for se^'eral years. He permanently

922 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

retired from farming in 1893 and moved to Durant, Iowa, where he died in
1906. Peter Tagge and wife were the parents of seven children: One who
died in infancy; Airs. Sophia Peterson, of Durant, Iowa; Fred, a farmer of
Canada ; Henry, of Hartley, Iowa ; Rudolph, a merchant of Durant ; Amanda,
of Durant. and Albert, with whom this narrative deals.

Albert Tagge lived with his parents until he reached his nineteenth year.
He received a good common school education in the schools of Scott county
and when nineteen years of age went to Durant where he clerked in his
brother Rudolph's store. In 1S94 he came to Hartley and 1;)ought an inter-
est in a mercantile establishment and later acquired the controlling interest
in the business. Here he continued until 19 12 when he sold the store and then
bought an interest in a clothing store. He also has a third interest in three
hundred and twenty acres of land in O'Brien county as well as property in the
citv of Hartlev.

]\Ir. Tagge was married in 1904 to Helen O'Brien, of Des Moines, Iowa,
and to this union have been born three children. Dorothy, Marguerette and
Edward, all of whom are still with their parents. Politically, ]\Ir. Tagge is
a Democrat, but owing to his business interests he has never had the time to
take an active part in political affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and takes an
interest in the various activities of these fraternal organizations. He has
always been a man of public spirit and one who takes a great deal of interest
in public affairs. He has been a member of the city council of Hartley and
in that position favored such measures as he thought would benefit his city.

E. L. hel:mer.

Any man who receives the official sanction of President Woodrow
Wilson is sure to be a man of sterling worth and integrity, for it is well
known that he does not appoint any man to a position in the United States
government without he first has his record thoroughly examined. E. L.
Helmer, whose histor}^ is here presented, was appointed postmaster of San-
born by President Wilson on July 23, 191 3, and is now filling that office to
the entire satisfaction of its patrons.

E. L. Helmer was born April 7. 185 1, in DeKalb county, Illinois, and
is the son of James and Charlotte (Crippen) Helmer, both of whom were
natives of New York, fames Helmer was born in 1816 and was the son of

O liKIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 923

John A. Helmer. who was born and reared in Herkimer county, Xew York,
and died in the state of his birth. James Hehner came to DeKalb county,
Ilhnois, in 1840, although he had previously come west and settled in Michi-
gan in 1838. He met his wife in DeKalb county. Illinois, and they were
married there and shortly after their marriage they entered land. In 1855
they sold their DeKalb county farm and came to Iowa and settled near
Anamosa, in Jones county. The first two years after coming to Iowa Mr.
Helmer followed the carpenter trade and then went on his farm, where he
remained until his death, in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. James Helmer were the
parents of the following children: Emily C, deceased; E. L., with whom
this narrative deals ; Frank, deceased ; Jesse, deceased ; May, deceased ; Mrs.
Leona Elart, of Anamost. Iowa.

E. L. Helmer was only four years of age when his parents left Illi-
nois and settled in Jones county, Iowa. He received his education in the
Jones county schools and remained there until 1885, when he came to O'Brien
county and located at Sanborn. He worked for a railroad company a short
time- and then npened a retail meat market, which he conducted until October,
191 1. Mr. Helmer conducted his retail meat market for twentv vears in
Sanborn.

Mr. Helmer was married in June, 1875, to Anne Ryan, of Jones county,
and to this union has been born one son. James, who is now a farmer of
South Dakota, living near Chester. Politically, Mr. Helmer is a Democrat
and has always taken an active part in politics. His services to his partv.
as well as his worth, were recognized by President Wilson in his appoint-
ment to the postmastership at Sanborn on July 23, 1913.

JULIUS F. EICHNER.

One of the influential citizens of Hartley is Julius F. Eichner, who
ranks as one of the city's leading merchants and re])rcsentative citizens. He
is a man of excellent endowment and upright character and is a valued factor
in local affairs, ha^'ing" ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his
fellow citizens. He takes an active and intelligent interest in public affairs
and as a member of the city council is doing everything he can to further
the interests of his home city.

Julius F. Eichner was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1875 and is the son
of Claus and Hannah f Peters) Eichner. His father was born in Germanv

924 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

in 185 1 and came with his parents to Scott county, Iowa, in 1861. iHe assisted
on the home farm until he was twenty-three years of age and then went to
Dixon, Iowa, where he managed a hotel and opera house for eight years,
after which he bought a meat market and in connection with this business
he bought and sold cattle in Dixon. In 1888 he disposed of his meat market
and came to O'Brien county, where he farmed and operated a threshing
machine. In 1898 he purchased two hundred acres of improved land, for
which he paid thirty dollars an acre. He farmed this land until 1905, when
he retired from acti\e work and removed to Hartley, where he owns three
acres of land and improvements, which are easily worth four thousand dol-
lars. He was married to Hannah Peters in 1873 in Davenport, Iowa. She
was born in 1853 in Germany and came to the United States when thirteen
years of age with her parents. To Claus Eichner and wife were born four
children: Leonard, who is a farmer at Spring Valley, Minnesota; William,
who is in partnership with liis brother, Julius F. ; Amil, who is with the Fail-
ing Hardware Company, of Hartley, and Julius, whose history is the theme
of tliis narrative.

Julius F. Eichner remained with his parents until twenty-four years of
age. After completing his common school education he assisted his father
with the farm work. He then married and rented two hundred and forty
acres in this county which he farmed for ten years, after which he came to
Hartley and bought a share in the clothing business with his l)r()ther-in-law,
William Vogt. They carry a stock valued at fourteen thousand dollars and
have a large trade in Hartley and the surrounding country. The store is
well arranged and presents a very attractive appearance. They are courteous
in the treatment of their customers and by their honesty in all of their deal-
ings they have won the confidence of everyone with whom they have trans-
acted business. Mr. Eichner also owns a share in the Moneta Elevator
Company of Moneta, Iowa.

Julius F. Eichner was married in iqoo to Anna Vogt, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. George Vogt, of Traer, Iowa, and born in 1878. Mr. and
Mrs. Eichner have four children, Sadie, Meh'in, Edna and Milo, all of
whom, except the youngest, are now in the public schools of Hartley.

In politics, Mr. Eichner is a stanch Republican and has taken an interest
in politics since reaching his majority. An indication of the esteem in which
he is held by his fellow citizens is shown by the fact that he was elected a
member of the city council of Hartley and in this position he finds many
opportunities to assist in the material advancement of his community. He is
also interested in music and is the president of the Hartley Band at the

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 925

present time. His main diversion is found in connection with the Gun CUib
of Hartley, of which organization he is president. He and his family are
members of the German Lutheran church and give it their earnest support
at all times. In his fraternal relations he is found affiliated with the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Eichner is still a young man and in the prime of life. He takes an active
part in the life of the city and as a public-spirited citizen never neglects to
give his support to everything which he feels will benefit the city and render
it a better and happier place in which to live. It is needless to say that such
a man is justly entitled to a place among the .representative men of his city
and countv.

HUGO EWOLDT.

It ma}' be taken for granted that in every history presented in this
volume which deals with the life of a German settler or his children, the two
words "successful" and "prosperous" are the keynotes to their life history.
It is said that only the most enterprising and ambitious people have the cour-
age to leave their native land and journey thousands of miles to a strange
land of which they can possibly know but little. This may account for the
fact that every German resident of O'Brien county has made an excellent
citizen in e\ery sense of the word. Such a word as failure was not in their
voca1)ulary. They dropped it into the ocean on their way across, for it is a
Word that is never found in current use among the Germans or their children
who are today living in O'Brien count}', Iowa.

Hugo Ewoldt, the proprietor of the retail meat market in Hartley, and
a prosperous stock dealer, was l)orn in Scott comity, Iowa, of German par-
entage, and is a son of J. H. and Lena Ewoldt, both of whom were natives
of Holstein, German}', the father being born in 1846 and the mother in 1848.
J. H. Ewoldt came to this country when eighteen years of age and came
direct to Scott county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming'. A few years
later he went to Tama county, in this state, where he rented land, and from
thence came to O'Brien county, where he purchased a half section of land in
Libert}' townshi]j in 1892. He planted an acre of fruit and forest trees, and
put eight thousand dollars worth of improvements upon his acreage. In 1905
he felt that he had worked hard enough to earn a rest for the remainder of
[lis days and accordingly purchased a house and lot in Sutherland, Iowa, and
moved there in that }'ear, ha\'ing built an attractive home on his place. His

926 o'bRIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

son, Emil, is now operating his farm in Liberty township. J. H. and Lena
Ewoldt were married in 1865, ^^^^ ^^ their union were born seven children:
Mrs. Augusta Tehelman, whose husband has a book store in Davenport, Iowa ;
Adolph, who is with his parents; Emil, who is operating the home place;
Cora; Hattie ; James, who has a hardware store in Calimiet, Iowa; Hugo,
whose history forms the theme of this sketch.

Hugo Ewoldt received a meager education in the public schools and
from the age of ten he began to work on the farm. He married at the age
of twenty-four and at that time began to rent land and for the next seven
vears followed the life of a farmer. He saved his money with true German
thrift and in IQ07 moved to Hartley and purchased a meat market and now
owns the only retail meat market in the city. Since moving to Hartley, he
has bought and sold stock and realizes a handsome return from his stock sales
each year. He owns a handsome home in Hartley, where he and his wife
dispense genuine hospitality to their many friends.

Mr. Ewoldt was married in Cherokee county, Iowa, in 1890, to Lelia M.
Cleghorn, and to this union has been born one daughter, Lillian, who, after
graduating from the Hartley high school, entered Oberlain and later, Grinnell
College, where she is now taking a course in i)iano and voice culture.

Politically, Mr. Ewoldt is a Republican and has been honored 1)y his
party by being nominated and elected as councilman of the city of Hartley.
While in this position he found opportunity to advocate such measures as
would benefit his city and he never failed to espouse those movements which
would redound to the credit of the town. Religiously, he and his family are
loyal and faithful members of the German Lutheran church and take an active
interest in all of the affairs of that denomination. Fraternally, he is a mem-
ber of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has taken the
consistory degrees, and the Knights of Pythias and Mystic Shrine. Mr.
Ewoldt has been working for himself from a very tender age, and has never
ceased from hard labor' from the time that he began to make his own fortunes.
He was one of the youngest pioneers in Tama and O'Brien counties, and ex-
perienced many hardships while living on the farm. Nevertheless the ob-
stacles which he met and conquered made him stronger to overcome succeed-
ing trouble and disaster, and he stands today an excellent type of the self-
made man and has the satisfaction of feeling that although he has won ma-
terial success that he has not done it at the expense of his fellowmen. He has
always been fair in his dealings and for this reason has won the admiration
of his fellow citizens and evervone with whom he has been connected.

() URIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 927

WILLIAAl C. VOGEL.

In the daily laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid
career on the part of a business or professional man there is little to attract
the casual reader in search of a sensational chapter, but to a mind t'horoughl}-
awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and im-
perishable lessons in the career of an individual who, without other means
than a clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed and controlled by cor-
rect principles and unerring judgment, conquers adversity and finally wins
not only pecuniary independence, but what is far greater and higher, the
deserved respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have
lieen spent.

W^illiam C. Vogel, a prosperous shoe merchant of Hartley, Iowa, was
l>)rn in Marshall county, this state, in 1858, the son of William and Freder-
icka (Alosehanka) \"ogel. Both his parents were natives of Germany, his
father Ijorn in 1823 and coming to this country at the age of thirty-one years
of age. He had learned the trade of a stone mason in his native land and
followed this occupation after coming to ^Marshall county, this state. Later
he bought a farm in that county, on which he lived until 1902, when he retired
from the active duties of life and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where
he is now living. He was married in 1853 to Fredericka Mosehanka, who
died in Kansas, and to this marriage were born five children : Bertha, whose
husband. \\\ B. ]\Iarsh, is pastor of the jMethodist Episcopal church at Taco-
ma, ^^'ashington ; Matilda, wife of John H. IMcXamara, who li\'es in Minne-
apolis: Mrs. Lulu Williams, of Hutchinson, Kansas; Henry, a newspaper re-
porter of Des Moines, Iowa, and William C, whose life history is here
delineated.

\\'illiam \'ogel remained with his parents until he was twenty-four years
of age and was given an excellent education, and after leaving school assisted
his father on the home farm. He then, married and accepted a clerkship in
a general mercantile establishment at Quarry, Iowa, where he remained for
twelve years. In 1887 he bought a general establishment at Dillon, in Mar-
shall county, which he managed for three years, after which he bought a
farm of eighty-seven acres : but, not finding the pursuit of agriculture to his
liking, he sold out his land interests and went to Latimer, Iowa, where he
managed a general merchandise store for Williams Brothers, of Primghar,
Iowa, and after spending three years at this place he came to Hartley, O'Brien
county, in 1895. where he continued to work for the same firm for eight

928 o'bKIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

months. He then went into business for himself by estabhshing a novelty
store, and gradually increasing his stock until he had a general merchandise
store. He then disposed of this business, and, in partnership with Edward
Ewoldt, purchased the general merchandise store of Williams Brothers. The
firm of Ewoldt & Vogel prospered for fifteen years, and in 191 1 they sold to
the Lemke Brothers. Mr. Vogel then opened a shoe store in Hartley and has
continued to manage this business up until the present time. He carries a
complete stock of the latest styles in shoes and has his full share of the patron-
age of Hartley and vicinity.

Mr. Vogel was married January i. 1883, to Elizabeth Steeptelon, who
was born in 1862, in Mahaska county, Iowa, and to this marriage have been
born four children: Mary, the wife of H. C. Guenther, of North Dakota;
Lessie, the wife of W. F. Arrowsmith, of Melvin, Iowa; Lucile and \\'illiam
D., who are still in school.

Politicallv, Mr. \^ogel is a member of the Progressive party, or, rather,
he is an independent in politics with progressive tendencies. He takes an
active interest in all public affairs and has been a member of the council of
the city of Hartley for four years. In his religious relations he is found
affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, while, fraternally, he is a
member of the Masonic order and the Yeomen. Mr. Vogel is a man of edu-
cation and has the command of seven languages. German was the language
of his parents, and to this he has added six other languages, an accomplish-
ment which is little short of remarkable. In every relation of life Mr. Vogel
has conducted himself as a true American citizen, taking his full part in the
public affairs of the da}' and throwing his influence to all measures which are
calculated to benefit his communitv.

JOHN C. MANSMITH.

A retired farmer and stockman of Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa, who
has long been identified with the agricultural and business life of this county,
is John C. Mansmith. A residence of more than twenty-five years in this
county has gi\-en him a reputation for honesty and strict integrity which has
made him a man of prominence in his community.

John C. Mansmith was born in 1866 in Ohio, the son of Anthony and
Amanda (Oswald) Mansmith. Anthony Mansmith was also a native of the
Buckeye state, his birth having occurred there in 1829, and he followed the

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 929

trade of a cabinet-maker. In 1869 he came to ^Marshall county, Iowa, where
he purchased two hundred and forty acres of unimproved land. After im-
proving this land and greatly increasing its value, he sold it and bought an-
other c|uarter section, which he farmed until his retirement in 1876. He
then moved to Hartley, O'Brien county, where he is now lixing at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-five years. He was married to Amanda Oswald, who
was born in Ohio in 1822. and to this marriage have been born two children.
Levi, deceased, and John C. whose life history is here presented.

John C. Mansmith received a good, common school education in the
schools of Marshall county, Iowa, and when thirteen years of age he came
to Iowa and settled in jNIarshall county. In 1887 he came to O'Brien county,
where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres which he impro\ed and then
sold at a handsome profit, after which he purchased the west one-half of
section 35, which he still owns. He has placed ten thousand dollars worth
of improvements on the farm since he became the owner of it. including"
1)uildings of all kinds, fencing, drainage and groves of fruit and forest trees.
He has always kept a high grade of live stock, and has made a specialty of
the breeding of Hereford cattle. He is now the owner of three hundred
and fourteen acres of excellent farm land, besides four acres in lots in the
city of Hartley.

]\Ir. Alansmith was married in 1874 to Julia Anna Paul, the daughter
of David and Sarah (Runkle) Paul, and who was born in Illinois in 1852.
Da\id Paul was born August 20, 1829. was a native of Germany, and was a
farmer in Pennsylvania for many years. He died February 11. 1901. He
was married to Sarah Runkle in 1857, in the state of Indiana, and to this
uni')n were born ten children, all of whom, except two. Airs. Mary C. Beye
and Mrs. Ida AI. Alartin. are living in Marshall county, Iowa. The eight
children who are living in Iowa are as follows: James I., William H.. John
R.. Georoe E.. Fred, Charles C. and David H.

Air. and Mrs. John C. Alansmith are the parents of eleven children :
Airs. Sarah ^^'illiams, who li\es in Hartley, Iowa: Wilbur, of this county;
John E., who is farming; on the old home place; Airs. Cora Loushen, who is
a resident of Hartley ; Airs. Ethel F. Vilmek. whose home is in Hartley.
Iowa: Jessie B., of Arnolds Park, this state; Airs. Bessie Hunt, of Hartley;
Claude C. of Alt. Plea.sant, Iowa: Ralph A.; Edith, deceased, and David,
deceased. Ethel is a graduate of Alorningside College. Des Aloines, Iowa,
and taught school for seven years in O'Brien and Cherokee 'counties. Her
husband is a merchant. Airs. Bessie Hunt has one daughter, Doris Violet.

Air. Alansmith is a Republican in politics and has always taken an active

930 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

interest in local politics. In fact, he has filled every township office except
that of justice of the peace and constable, and in all of these important posi-
tions he has rendered satisfactory services to his fellow citizens. He and
his family have been loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and
have given of their means and time to the support of this denomination at
all times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man who has a host
of friends throughout the community, who have been attracted to him be-
cause of his clean life and high character.

BEN OLSON.

O'Brien county has opened welcoming arms to all the world, and from
all parts of this country and many sections of Europe have come stalwart,
courageous men who were not afraid of the arduous labor required in a new
country if with it came hope of future competence. Among these, some
have come from the northlands of Europe, where the descendants of the
mighty Vikings still are noted for their strength of sinew and high moral
character. .Kmong the numerous immigrants who have sought the smile of
fickle fortune in this land of the free none have given more in return to the
land of their adoption than these hardy sons of the north, and it is of one of
these we would speak in this short article.

Ben Olson was born in the year 1856, in Sweden. His father, Ole J.
Olson, was a prosperous Swedish farmer who was born in the year 181 1,
and spent his days in the land of his birth. He was the father of eight
children, but three of whom are now living. Jens, Swan, Olof, Mouse and
Hagen are deceased, while Bessie, now Mrs. Johnson, is still a resident of
that country. Sarah is now making her home with her brother Ben, the
gentleman of whom we speak in this sketch.

]\Ir. Olson left his native land in the year 1872. finding his wa^' directly
to the city of Moline, Illinois, where he found employment in an iron foun-
dry. Here he remained until 1884, toiling diligently and living economically.
But Mr. Olson believed that greater opportunities for advancement awaited
him in the work of the open country, and as he thought of the fields and
meadows through \\hich he had roamed in his boyhood the determination
grew within him to return to the natural, wholesome life of the countrv.
Hearing of the opportunities open to homesteaders in the state of Iowa, he

BEN OLSOX

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 93 1

journeyed westward and settled upon a tract of railroad land, taking- a
claim of one hundred sixty acres. In 1902 he bought a tract of the same
size, which he sold at a profit in 1907. He reinvested this capital in Sum-
mit township, but moved to Archer, where he is living retired. His home-
stead at the present time comprises two hundred forty acres of well im-
proved ground, all in a high state of cultivation, a comfortable house and all
necessary buildings for the housing of his stock and the shelter of imple-
ments and produce of various kinds. His sister Sarah has been a faithful
friend and companion, keeping his house in order and performing the various
duties which fall to the mistress of an establishment of this size.

Mr. Olson has never married, but takes much pride in his home. As he
has demonstrated his ability to earn for himself a competence, so has he
shown the ability to enjoy the fruits of his toil, and now, in his later years,
he has retired from active farming, with its arduous labor, and husbands his
strength for the years that are to come. He is a member of the Lutheran
church, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politi-
calh'. he is deeply interested in the success of the Independent Progressive
party.

Mr. Olson is typically a self-made man, one who has started at the
foot of the ladder and by his o\\n efforts has risen to a position of affluence.
Industrious, conscientious and persevering in whatever he undertakes, he is
deserving of the position he now occupies in the community.

ISAAC M. SILVERTHORN.

One of the oldest patriarchs in O'Brien county, Iowa, and the first mar-
shal of the city of Hartley, is Isaac M. Silverthorn, who was a man past
middle age when the Civil War broke out. The threescore and ten years
which is said to be the allotted time of the average man was passed twenty
}'ears ago by him and within the next ten years he will reach the century
mark. He was a small boy running around when Thomas Jefferson was
still living and was born only twenty-five years after the death of George
Washington. This "grand old man" of Hartley was one of the earliest
pioneers of O'Brien county, and since coming here he has the pleasure of
seeing it emerge from a broad and treeless prairie to its present condition of
prosperity.
(60)

932 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Isaac Af. Siherthorn was born Octol:)er i, 1824. in Ohio, and conse-
quently will celebrate his ninetieth birthday anniversary in the fall of 1914.
He was the son of William D. and Polly (Ringland) Silverthorn. His father
was ijorn in Pennsylvania and lived the greater part of his life in Ohio and
died in the latter state. To \\'illiam Silverthorn and wife were born nine
children : John, deceased ; James, deceased ; Jacob, who is a resident of Ohio ;
Mrs. Lucretia Fields, who lives in Ohio ; Lusia, a resident of Michigan :
Augusta, who died in the C'ixil War: William fought in the ]slexican War,
but his subsec|uent history is unknown ; a daughter who died in infancy, and
Isaac M.. whose history is here presented.

Isaac M. Sih'ertliorn started out when he was but eleven years of age
to make his living at the time when Andrew Jackson w^as President of the
United States. He was tossed about from pillar to post until he came in
touch with a family by the name of Thorn, in the state of Ohio, with whom
he stayed two years, after which he went to. Ashtabula, Ohio, where he found
work in a carriage shop with Jesse Phillips. By this time he was sixteen
}-ears of age and was a boy of sturd}' constitution and eager to work. He
remained in the carriage shop at Ashtabula four years and in that time learned
the trade which earned him a livelihood for many years afterwards. He
then worked in different places for the succeeding eight years and in 1856
journeyed on west and finall}' landed in Hardin county, Iowa, and here he
settled down as a carpenter and wagon-maker and lived in this county for
twent} -one years. He was married many years before, in fact, he was mar-
ried the year before the Mexican ^^"ar broke out. He traded a hotel property
at Steamboat Rock. Hardin county. Iowa, for a section (^f land in O'Brien
count}'. Iowa. He came to O'Brien in 1876 and to this tract he added from
time to time. He made extensive improvements on his farm and set out
eight acres of fruit and orchard trees. When the terrible grasshopper plague
came on. in 1876. he had a fine prospect for crops. He had sixty acres of
corn, ninety acres of wheat, ten acres of oats, and in the short space of a
few days, during July of that memorable year, every vestige of his crop
disappeared before the \-oracious appetites of the grasshoppers. Bv actual
count he found that these insects ate two acres of potatoes in one hotu".
However, he was not to be discouraged by a mere grasshopper. He stayed
by his farm and laid aside a very comfortable fortune in the course of a
few \ears. He has now sold all of his farm with the exception of eighty
acres, which he still retains. In 1888 he retired from active fami life and
moved to Hartle}-, where he is still living. He is the owner of two lots in the
citv of Hartley.

O iiklEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 933

^f^. Sih'crthorn was married, in Ohio, nearly seventy years ag^o to Re-
becca A. W'illis, who was born September lo, 1826, in New York state, and
her death occurred October 30. 1899. To this marriage, which occurred in
1845. haye been born eight children: Alilo G.. who is a resident of Leayen-
worth, Kansas ; ]Mrs. Fannie ]\I. Doscher, deceased ; Mrs. Flora Kingman,
wln) liyes in Des Moines, Iowa: Frank E., who is in California: Cora C,
deceased ; Dwight. deceased : Mollie. who is now kee])ing" house for her father
in Hartley: John H.. manager of a cream station in Hartley.

Mr. Silyerthorn was yoting many years before the Republican party
was l)orn. in 1856. In fact, he has the distinction of being old enough to
yote for the second Whig candidate for President in 1845. He has neyer
been an aspirant for public office, although he has been justice of the peace
for many years and was the first marshal of the city of Hartle}-. Religious-
1}-. he is an earnest attendant of the Alethodist Episcopal church and tries
to liye a life consistent with its teachings.

Such in l)rief outline is the life history of one of the oldest and most
respected citizens of O'Brien county. Few men reach the patriarchal age of
ninety years, and the yery fact that a man liyes to such an age is an indica-
tion that he has liyed a clean and wholesome life. Mr. Silyerthorn is still
hale and hearty and able to enjo}- life and in his declining years has the
satisfaction of looking back oyer a long career which has not all been for
self, Init lias been deyoted to the adyancement of ciyilization in his communit}'
and tlie upljuilding of those interests which widely affected his fellow men.

JOSEPH O. SHELDON.

Any profession, if honorable, has its place in human existence, consti-
tuting a part of a plan whereby life's methods are pursued and man reaches
his ultimate destiny. It is not within the province of man to say that one
occupation is more important than another, nor is it possible to do more
than say that a profession is important so far as it is useful to the com-
munity. So dependent is man at the present time upon his fellow man that
the work of each individual is largely reckoned by what he has done for
humanity. There are more than one thousand different professions recog-
nized by the United States government, in the last census, and yet the occu-
pation of the farmer is really the one on which all others must depend.

Joseph O. Sheldon, the son of Irian and Katherine (Ellis) Sheldon.

934 o'brien and osceola counties, iowa.

was born in Clinton county, Iowa, in 1870. His father was a native of
New York state, his birth having occurred there in 1843, ^.nd who came to
Chnton county, this state, and engaged in farming. Shortly after coming
to this county his death occurred and his widow was remarried, in 1875,
to Xathan Hayes. To the first marriage were born nine children : Emma,
deceased; Samuel, deceased; William, who lives in the state of Washington;
Frank, a resident of Liberty township, this county; Mrs. Delia Carr, also
a resident of this county; Nelson, who is a manager of a feed store in
Missouri ; James, a farmer living in Nebraska, and Joseph, wdio forms the
theme of this narrative. To his mother's second marriage was born one
daughter, Mrs. Lulu Banister, who is now^ living in O'Brien county.

Joseph Sheldon received his education in the schools of his native county
and remained under the parental roof until he was nineteen years of age, and
then began to work out by the day at farm labor, after which he secured
employment in a brick yard. After a short time he rented a farm from his
stepfather, where he lived for eight years, at the expiration' of which time
he and his brother, James, purchased two hundred and forty acres of land
in Cherokee county, this state, where he fanned until 1900, when he sold
his interest in this tract and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in
O'Brien county. Since securing this farm he has made extensive improve-
ments on the place, expending more than five thousand dollars on it in
the way of buildings, fences, drainage, etc., until it is now rated as one
of the most productive and valuable farms in the county. Besides general
farming he is also engaged extensively in stock raising, niaking a specialty
of the breeding of Duroc Jersey hogs and he finds this a profitable source
of income. Li addition to his land holdinsrs in this countv, he is the owni-
er of thirty acres of land in Orange county, Florida, and also has an interest
in the Farmers Elevator Company and also the Hartley Lumber Com-
pan}^ both of Hartley, Iowa. Mr. Sheldon has always been very suc-
cessful in all of his business ventures until today he is the owner of three
hundred and forty-three acres of excellent farming land in this county and
thirty acres in Florida.

Mr. Sheldon was married in 1899, in Cherokee county, Iowa, to Lula
Johnson, who was born in 1873, and four children have been born to this
union. Rufus, Joseph. Lula and Vera, all of whom are at home with their
parents.

Politically, j\Ir. Sheldon is a Republican and always takes an active in
terest in politics and at the present time is holding the important ofiice of
trustee of Hartley township, filling this place to the entire satisfaction of

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 935

all the citizens of the community. He and his family are earnest and
faithful members of the Latter-Day Saints and contribute liberally of their
means to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Wood-
men of America. He enjoys the respect and esteem of those who know
him for his friendl}- and genial manner, business ability, his interest in
public affairs and upright living. For this reason he is regarded as one
of the substantial and worthy citizens of his community.

OLIVER EVANS.

Fortv-five vears have come and gone since Oliver Evans, a retired farmer
of Hartley, came into O'Brien county, Iowa. These forty-five years have
seen this county grow from a broad, barren prairie to its present prosperous
condition, covered with cities and villages and hundreds of prosperous farms.
According to the 1910 census there are eleven towns in O'Brien county, three
of which are over one thousand in population. The residents of O'Brien
county who have lived in this county for nearly two score and a half years
have had the opportunity to witness the great change which has come about,
not only in this county, but in this whole section of the state. In 1870 there
were no railroads in this county, not an improved road, and but one school
house had been built. Today there are over three hundred school buildings,
several hundred miles of improved highways, as well as five railroads running-
through the county. From the date of the first election in this county, Avhen
nineteen votes were cast, down to 19 10, there are several men living in the
county who can remember the whole history of the county.

• Oliver Evans, one of the earliest of the pioneers of this county, was
born December 3, 1841, in Utica, New York, and is the son of Edward and
^Margaret (Jones) Evans. Edward Evans was born in Wales in 1812 and his
wife was born two years earlier in the same country. They were reared and
educated in the land of their birth and married before they came to this
country. He landed in New York city in 1837, where he worked for a short
time as a laborer. In 1840 they moved to Utica, New York, where they lived
a few years. In 1848 they went to Martinsburg, New York, where they pur-
chased fifty acres of land and lived there the remainder of their lives. Edward
Evans proved to be a successful farmer and at the time of his death, in 1898,
he owned two hundred and fifty acres of land and died in 1880. To their
marriage were born four children : John, of Lowville, New York, and a

936 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

soldier of the Rebellion and later a homesteader of O'Brien county, Iowa :
Mrs. Margaret Boshart, deceased; Henry, deceased, and Oliver, with whom
this narrative deals.

Oliver Evans received his education in the schools of New York state
and remained at home until he was twenty years of age. He then left home
and worked out among the neighborhood farmers by the day for three years
and a half, after which he traveled for some time seeking a location. He came
to O'Brien county. Iowa, November 9, 1869, ^""^^ immediately homesteaded
eighty acres, the east one-half of southwest quarter of section 24, in Center
township, patent No. 9640. The )'ear fullowing he had no impr(>\-ements or
crops after the terril)le fire of 1870 swept across the whole county. In a short
time there was not a tree, not a house and no improvements whatever which
were left after that terrible disaster. Later he hauled wood and fuel from
near Old O'Brien, which is situated on the Sioux ri\cr. The postoftice was
O'Brien, where he recei\ed mail once a week. In order to ]M-ovide himself
with fuel for the coming years, as well as lumber, he planted what was then
the larg'est grove of forest trees in the county ; he put out hfteen acres of
forest trees and for the past twent}' years has had plenty for fuel. He also
planted two acres of orchard trees — in fact, he has put at least ten thousand
dollars worth of improvements upon his farm of three hundred and sixtv
acres of land. He also has other farms, making a total of seven hundred
and forty-nine acres in the state. Idie improvement on all his land is esti-
mated at between t\vent}-five and thirt\- thousand dollars. In addition to
raising all of the crops which are peculiar to this section of the countrv, he
has been a large Ijreeder of thorouglibred stock, including Shorthorn cattle
and Poland China hogs. He started to farm with a team of oxen, and during
the first summer all the}' had to eat was pancakes made of course flour and
creek water. In gixing the data for this histor}-, \h-. E\'ans remarked that
the food which the^• had to eat during this ^•ear was hardlv fit for a doe' to
eat, and \'ei they lived upon it and thrived and as the years came and went
Mr. Evans acc[uired more of this world's goods so that today he can look
])ack ui)on that period of depri\-ation and misfortune through which he went
during the early years of his life in this county. In addition to his large
land interests, he also has an interest in the Hartley Luml^er Company and in
the ^loneta Savings Bank. He has been president and \ice-president of the
First National Bank of Hartlev, Iowa. Some vears ago he sold all his inter-
est in this bank. He owns nine acres of land and a residence adjoining the
corporation of Hartley, where he has set out an acre of trees.

Mr. Evans was married in 1871, in Harrisburg, New York, to ]Marietta

o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 937

Eng-lish, who was born in Martinsburg, New York, in 1849. To their mar-
riage have been Ijorn fonr children: Harry J., a graduate of Ames College
in the dairyman course : he then taught in the dairy school of Ames, Iowa ;
he is now residing in Lovejoy, Montana, where he is raising stock and
homesteading- : Jesemine, the wife of J. M. Hawley, a farmer of Canada, is
a graduate from the Hartley high school and taught school ten years in
O'Brien county. Evelyn, the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Evans, is the wife
of George P. Powers, a fanner of Moneta, Iowa. She graduated from the
Hartlev high school and taught three vears. Edward O. is a farmer and
auctioneer in Omega township in this county. He attended Ames College
one year and then graduated from the Jones Auctioneer College at Chicago,
Illinois.

In politics, ]\lr. Evans is independent, reserving" the right to cast his
ballot at all times for tlie man he feels best c^ualified to hold the office. Reli-
giousl}-, he is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, as are the other
members of his family. He is a member of the Ancient Eree and Accepted
Masons and takes an intelligent interest in the work of that order. He has
always been a man who was interested in public affairs and has served as
trustee of Center townshi]) in his county.

THOMAS M. CORNS.

Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character ha\e
gained a prominent place in the community and the respect and confidence
of his fellow citizens is the honored subject of this sketch. A leading
farmer of the township in which he resides and a man of decided views
and laudable ambitions, his influence has ever been exerted for the advance-
ment of his kin.d, and in the \-ocation to which his energies are directed he
ranks among the representative agriculturists of the county.

Thomas M. Corns is a son of Thomas B. and Harriet (Hale) Corns.
The father is a native of England, in which country he supported his famih
l)y stock raising. In 185 1 he emigrated to the United States and settled .
on a farm in Illinois, near Rock Island, where he engaged in the cattle
and stock business. There were five children in this family: Sarah (Vivian),
of Colorado; John, of Illinois; Hattie (Grant), of Moneta, Iowa; Thomas,
the subject of this sketch, and George, who died a few years ago.

In 1883 Mr. Corns went to O'Brien county, Iowa, where he bought

938 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

raw land. He has made improvements on the place and now has a com-
fortable country home, with ample shade and a beautiful grove of about two
acres. The improvements on the farm could conservatively be estimated at
five thousand dollars. At this time he is the owner of one hundred and sixty
acres of some of the choicest land in O'Brien county and has fourteen
valuable lots in Moneta, Iowa.

In 1884 ]Mr. Corns was married to Anna Dawson. They have but
one child, Thomas R.. who remains at home helping with the cares of the
farm. Mr. Corns is a stanch Independent Progressive. He is not affiliated
with any church, but is a man in whom every one reposes the utmost con-
fidence, for his word is to him a sacred obligation and he is always ready
to lend assistance to those in trouble. He is a member of the Masonic lodge.

JOHN H. BURNS.

The subject of this article is a striking exemplification of what can be
accomplished by an energetic and determined man when the goal for which
he strives is a worthy one. And here it may be pertinent also for us to
speak of the golden opportunities which this beautiful state has held forth to
those willing to accept of her gifts and cultivate their growth.

John H. Burns, one of the prominent citizens of Carroll township, with
large holdings also in Summit township, is the typical, self-reliant, aggres-
sive man of affairs of our western civilization. His father, Thomas Burns,
was one of the high-class immigrants which America has been glad to wel-
come to her shores; the class which has assisted so largely in the develop-
ment and upbuilding, not only of our beautiful state, but also of the coun-
try at large. He was born in Cavanaugh. Ireland, in 1834, on the 22d day of
December, but came to this country with his parents in 1841. While still a
child, he labored in a cloth factory in the state of Massachusetts, remaining
there until he was fourteen years of age, when he was taken to Dane county,
Wisconsin. In that place he learned the glories of the out-of-door life of a
farmer, and this life appealed to him so strongly that the rest of his days
were spent far away from the noise of cities, in the free, wholesome atmos-
phere of the open country. When he reached the age of maturity, in the
year 1855, he met and married Bridget Cowan, of Dale county, Wisconsin,
and from that time forth he was assisted in all his ventures by man's most
faithful friend and ally, a devoted wife.

JOHN H. BURNS

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 939

In 1863 Air. Burns took his little family to the state of Alinnesota,
where he spent ten years in profitable farming. In 1873, hearing of the won-
derful opportunities offered the homesteader in Iowa, they undertook the
journey, and there purchased one hundred sixty acres of land in the prairie
country at the low price of one dollar and seventy-five cents per acre, and
later he added another tract of the same size to his holdings, this time paying
two dollars and a half per acre.

Life for the pioneer on the broad prairie, in those days, was far re-
moved from the luxurious existence now enjoyed by the modern farmer.
The barest necessities were difficult to obtain, and endless toil was necessary
in order to erect a comfortable habitation and bring forth a harvest for the
sustenance of the family. But they were brave and willing, and as the
years passed the fruits of their toil became apparent. Fertile fields sup-
planted the broad stretches of prairie ; an orchard was planted, and req-
uisite buildings dotted the landscape: and finally comforts and luxuries
were added to the bare necessities which formerly were their portion.

And in the meantime, eleven children were born to them, as follows :
Charles, who is now a retired farmer at Sanborn, Iowa; Marguatte, now
Mrs. Madson, who also lives at Sanborn; William and Thomas, both of whom
are prosperous farmers of Floyd township, O'Brien county; Mollie, now
Mrs. Fitzgerald, who resides in North Dakota; James, a resident of Sheldon;
Xellie (Donohue), who lives in Sheldon, Iowa; Kate (Kennedy), whom
death called from her home in Sheldon, Iowa; Jennie (Maroney), a resi-
dent of Worthington, Minnesota ; Edward, who still resides on the old home-
stead in Franklin township, and John H., the immediate subject of thi.5
review.

This latter gentleman assisted his father in the labors of the farm until
he attained the age of twenty-two years, when he left the old homestead and
came to the then new country in O'Brien county in 1873. Here he worked
for others for a time, and finally rented a place for himself, spending the
)^ear 1875, however, with his father on the home place. He finally suc-
ceeded in purchasing a tract of eighty acres of land for himself at ten
dollars per acre. Since that time he has gradually added to his holdings, at
prices ranging up to one hundred seven dollars per acre, until now he is in
possession of five hundred and seventy-five acres of O'Brien county land.
On this ground he has placed many thousands of dollars worth of improve-
ments, and a fine mixed orchard of two acres bountifully supplies the family
with fruit. His land is well cultivated, and he is an extensive breeder of fine

940 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COINTIES, IOWA.

live stock, making a specialty of Percheron horses. Shorthorn cattle and
Duroc Jersey hogs.

In 1886 Mr. Burns was united in marriage to Jane Kennedy, of Floyd
township, O'Brien county, the daughter of Patrick Kennedy, also one of the
earlv pioneers of the county and a native of Ireland. E^rly in life he came
to this country and settled in Norwich. Connecticut. Ijeing employed on a
line of steamships. In 1871 he journeyed westward and homesteaded a
claim in Flovd township, O'Brien county. Iowa. Here he endured all the
toil and privations of the early settler, but his courage was undaunted, and
with the fine v,it and humor characteristic of his race he laughed at obstacles
and found joy in making the face of ^Mother Nature smile with him and pro-
duce of her alumdance for the sustenance of himself and family. And now.
in his later vears. the joy oi living is still bright within him, and he lo\es to
remember the days when he joined the "grasshoppers" of the glorious West.
Five children came to his liome. but only two have been spared to solace his
declining vears. the rest having been called by an all-wise Father to their
final home. The two yet surviving are a daughter. Jane (Mrs. J. H. Burns)
and Bridget, now Mrs. Thomas Burns.

To Mr. and Mrs. P)urns ha\'e come seven children, all of whom still
enjoA the protection of the parental roof and the comforts of their l^eautiful
home. These children are: Thomas: Frank, who spent a year in St. Joe
College, at Dubuque ; Edward. Bert. Kate. Mary and John.

Mr. and Mrs. Burns and their family are members of the Catholic church
and are active in its councils. He is also a member of the order of Knights
of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America at Sheldon. Politically,
he is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, which ticket he has con-
sisten.th- \oted from his youth.

The progress which has been made l)y ^ir. and Mrs. Burns, as well as
the improvement in the country which surrounds his beautiful home, -can be
appreciated by mentioning the fact that in 1876 Mrs. Burns drove to the new
town of Primghar in a lumber wagon, using a board as a seat. Exactly
thirtv-seven years later, to the day. she made the same trip in an elegant new
touring car. a striking example of the transsition from the old era to the new.

Mr. and Mrs. Burns hold an enviable position in the life of the com-
munitv. and are well known for their' hospitality and genial ways. Again
we sav. he is the exemplification of what can be accomplished in life b}- an
earnest, intelligent worker, and his example should encourage the youth of
the community to greater efforts for their advancement in life. The Burns
estate comprises over two thousand six hundred acres in O'Brien county.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 94I

DA\^ID BYERS.

The man who causes two blades of grass to grow where one formerly
grew is confeiTing as distinct a benefit upon civilization as the man who in-
vents a patent washing machine or wins a suit in court. It cannot be said
that one occupatic^n is more important than another, and yet it is conceded
that the occupation of the farmer is the most independent and at the same
time the basic occupation of mankind. Cain and Abel were farmers; Abra-
ham. Isaac and Jacob were farmers and stock raisers, ("incinnatus. the old
Roman hero, dropped his plow handles in the furrow when his country called
him. From ancient times down to the present most of our greatest readers
h.ave come from the soil and ha\e Ijeen instrumental in making two blades of
grass grow where formerly grew but one.

David Byers. a farmer and stockman of this county, was born in 1876,
in Livingston count}', Illinois, the son of John and Susan (Wilson) Byers.
John Bvers was born in 1848 in Ireland and when a young man came to this
countrv and first settled in Illinois, where he followed the occupation of a
farmer, and some time after settling in Illinois he purchased a farm of his
own. on which he li\ed until 1892. when he went to O'Brien county. Iowa,
and bought six hundred and forty acres of land, on which he lived until he
retired from acti\'e labor, in 1904. He impro\'ed his farm until it was one
of the most producti\'e and valuable farms in the county. He was married in
1876 to Susan Wilson, and to this marriage were born nine children : Robert,
a farmer of Osceola county. Iowa; David, with whom this narrati\e deals;
Airs. Alary Page, who lives in Delta. Colorado: William, a farmer of Osceola
county: Airs. Ella R. Page, who lives in North Dakota; Airs. Belle Saner,
who is a resident of Osceola county; James, a farmer of Osceola county;
Airs. Alartha Hoppie, who lives in Alinnesota, and Susan, who is li\'ing with
her father in Hartley.

Da\-id Byers remained with his father upon the farm until twenty-eight
}ears of age and assisted him in the management of Ins large landed estate.
Upon the retirement of the elder Air. Byers to Plartley, in 1904, David Byers
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in O'Brien county, which he
has improved at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. He has set out three
acres of orchard and forest trees and improved the farm in various ways.
He is a heavy feeder and breeder of live stock, making a specialty of the
raising of Poland China hogs and Percheron horses.

Air. B}ers was married in 1905 to Alinnie Sauer, the daughter of Air. and

942 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

Mrs. William Saner, of Des ]\Ioines. Iowa, and to this marriage have been
born two children, Leola and V'enia, who are both at home with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Byers is identified with the Democratic party and, while taking
an interest in its various activities, yet he has never been an aspirant for
any public office. He is a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal
church and tries to live a life consistent with the teachings of that denomina-
tion. He is a man who has worked for what he owns and because he is a
fine type of the self-made man, he is truly a representative citizen of his
community and county and well worthy of mention in a work of the charac-
ter of the one in hand.

HENRY J. KILLMER.

Among the German settlers, farmers and public-spirited citizens of
Omega township, O'Brien county, Iowa, is Henry J. Killmer, who is a typ-
ical example of the hundreds of the native citizens who have come to this
county from across the ocean and become prosperous and substantial citi-
zens. He was born in i860 in Germany and is the son of George and
Christina (Roesing) Killmer. George Killmer was born in 1822 and has
been a stone mason all his life. He was married in 1850 to Christina
Roesing, and to thi« union have been born six children: Carl; Mrs. Ger-
trude Dies, deceased; Airs. Minnie Backer; Mrs. Anna Liese ; George, and
Henry J., with whom tins narrative deals. All of the living children except
Henry are now in their native land. The father and mother never came
to this country, but are still living in the land of their birth.

Henry J. Killmer was educated in his native land and when twenty-
two years of age he decided to come to America and seek his fortune.
Immediately after coming to this country he located in Benton county,
Iowa, and farmed for two years. In 1885 he came to O'Brien county,
Iowa, and rented land. In iqii he purchased one hundred and twenty
acres in Omega township, where he is now living. In addition to his fann
in Omega township he owns six lots in Moneta and is also a shareholder
in the Farmers Elevator and Moneta Savings Bank. He is a large breed-
er and raiser of live stock and makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle, Duroc
Jersey hogs and Norman horses. Since coming into possession of his pres-
ent farm he has made two thousand dollars worth of improvements on the
farm. Mr. Killmer is a progressive farmer and takes advantage of all the
latest improvements in farming machinery and agricultural methods.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 943

Mr. Killmer was married August 13, 1888, to Bertha Hirch, and to
this union have been born four children, Carl, Emma, Albert and George,
all of whom are still li^•ing with their parents. Politically, Mr. Killmer
is a Democrat and takes an interest in public affairs. Pie has been especially
interested in the educational affairs of his township and has been for some
vears a school director in Omega township. He is a member of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen, while in his religious
belief he and the other members of his family are strong adherents of the
German Lutheran church. He is a great believer in the work of the
churches and has always donated to the churches of Hartley and ]\Ioneta.
]\Ir. Killmer has been a hard working man since coming to this country,
and has seen many hardships. During the winter of 1893 he hauled hav
at a time when it was so cold that the air was so full of snow that he could
not see his horses before him. However, he has persevered and now has
the satisfaction of being able to look back over a life which has been well
spent in every way. His clean and wholesome way of living and the frank
and open manner in which he treats his fellow men has won him the un-
qualified esteem of all of those with whom he has been associated.

DENISON C. PUTNAM.

A retired farmer of Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa, who, as a farm-
er in this county, laid by a sufficient quantity of this world's goods in
order to spend his declining days in comfort, is Denison C. Putnam, who was
born in 1847 ^^^ Phoenix, Oswego county. New York, the son of Will-
iam and Mary (Crary) Putnam. William Putnam was born in Connecti-
cut in 18 1 2, and was a merchant in Phoenix, New York, for a number of
years, operating the mercantile business in that place until 1864, when he
came to Hardin county, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile business there
for a number of years. At that time all provisions had to be freighted over-
land from Marshalltown, Iowa, a distance of twenty-seven miles. He
finally disposed of his mercantile interests in Plardin county and engaged
in the hotel business at Rockwell, Iowa, where he remained until his death,
which occurred on January 8, 1876. William Putnam was twice married,
his first marriage occurring in 1839 to Mary Crary, and to this union six
children were born: Frances, the wife of O. A. Sutton, of vSouth Dakota;
Mrs. Eliza Names, deceased; two who died in infancv ; Denison C, whose

944 O BRIEK AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

history is here presented, and Lewis, deceased. The second marriage of
\\'ilham Putnam occurred on February 28, 1853. to Martha L. Reynolds,
and to this second union were born four children : Thomas, of North Da-
kota ; Mary, the wife of Doctor Miller of Brookings, South Dakota: Frank,
who was killed in 188 1 while helping to clear the snow blockade; Fred
R., a banker of Morris, Minnesota.

Denison C. Putnam was a son of his father's first marriage and was
onlv six years of age at the time of his father's second marriage. He
remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age.
during which time he received a good, common school education and learn-
ed the rudiments of agricultural life. Shortly after reaching his majority
he married and then rented land in Hardin county, Iowa, and began to
follow the occupation of a farmer on his own account. He continued to farm
in Hardin countx' until 1883, when he came to O'Brien county and pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land for six dollars and
a quarter an acre. He improved and cultivated this land and lived on it
many years. He always raised a great deal of li\'e stock and was especially
interested in the breeding and raising of Percheron horses, and at one
time he was the winner of the second prize at the Sutherland fair. Se\'-
eral vears ago Mr. Putnam sold his farm and invested his money in one
hundred and twenty acres of land in Brookings county, South Dakota. In
1909 he came to Hartley, Iowa, built a livery barn and engaged in the
lively business, and here conducted a prosperous livery business until 1908.
when he permanently retired from active work. He has a home in Hart-
ley, where he is now living.

Mr. Putnam was married in 1869 to Josephine Walker, who was born
in 1847, in Pennsylvania, and to this marriage ha\"e been Ijorn nine chil-
dren : \\'illiam, deceased ; Lewis, who is a farmer of this county ; George,
deceased: Mrs. Alartha Harness, who lives in Minnesota: Edson, wdio is a
carpenter in Hartley. Iowa: ]\Irs. Addie McDonald, also of Hartlev; Thomas,
deceased: Frank, who is a dealer in horses, of Hartley, and Glenn, deceased.

The Republican party has receiAcd the support of Mr. Putnam for
many years and he has been honored Ijy his party on se\eral occasions
by being elected to public office. For nine years he served as a constable
in his township and at different periods in the history of his township
he has been school director and road overseer. Religiously, he and his
family are members of the Church of God, of Omega township, this county,
and give their earnest and hearty support to this denomination. Frater-
nally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Hartley.

o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 945

ile is always in s\inpath\' with any movement looking tow^ard the better-
ment and advancement of his community and has always been regarded as
a man of sterling honesty and worthy of the utmost confidence and respect.

CHARLIE CLARKSEAN.

Among the enterprising citizens of O'Brien county who owe their suc-
cess and advancement in life to their own industry and well directed efforts
is Charlie Clarksean. He hails from New York state, but has spent the
greater part of his acti\e and successful life in Iowa, where, by his indixid-
ual and unaided efforts, he has made a success of his chosen calling and
has won the respect of all with whom he has had dealings in either a busi-
ness or a social way.

Mr. Clarksean was born in New York state in 1858 and is the son of
l-'retl and Sophia (Bowman). Clarksean. both of whom were born in Ger-
many, the father in 1827. His father w^as for many years a shepherd in the
land of his nativity, but located in New York in 1S57, where he worked
in the lumber camps for several years. Later he removed to Wisconsin
and engaged in farming, in which he spent the remainder of his active
life. He retired a few years ago and now makes his home with his son,
August, in Wisconsin.

The subject left the parental roof in 1873, when but fifteen years of
age, and worked out as a farm hand for several years. In 1884 he and
his brother, Fred, bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land. To-
gether they began the arduous task of improving and stocking their new
possession, planting trees, a grove and generally creating a home-like at-
mosphere about the place. The original farm has been increased until he
now owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land, and there are
many improvements on it amounting to a value of seven thousand dollars.
Like many other progressive farmers in his neighborhood, he has no place
on his farm for scrub stock, but gives his attention to the breeding and
raising of grades and pure bloods. He also has stock in the Moneta Ele-
vator, a company whose stock is largely subscribed to by the farmers of
that vicinity.

In 1886 Mr. Clarksean w'as united in marriage to Mary Rietzo\v. This
union has been strengthened bv the birth of four children, of whom two.

946 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Walter and Bernhart, are engaged in agricultural pursuits in O'Brien county ;
the other two, Ray and Esther, are at home with their parents.

Mr. Clarksean has three brothers and two sisters : Fred, with whom
the subject first began farming, lives in Montana; William and Elmer, in
South Dakota, and August, in Wisconsin; Anna (Heiter) lives in Wis-
consin, and Mary (Sauter) lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Clarksean is a Republican in politics, but he has never aspired to
office, preferring the quietness of his farm home to the glamour of political
activity. He is a modest, unassuming gentleman, respected by all who
know him, and that includes almost every one in Omega township.

Since 1884 Mr. Clarksean has been on the farm which continues to be
his home. He has made nearly all of the improvements on the farm, and
he carries on a general farming business, having devoted his life to this
line of usefulness. His farm home is one of the modern residences for
which this part of the state is notable.

NICHOLAS BOOR.

In this memoir of the life of the late Nicholas Boor, who is now num-
bered with the honored dead, those ^^ ho knew him best cannot help but recall
his numerous kindly acts, his charitable and public-spirited deeds. Coming
to Osceola county in its early history, he became one of the worthy and
honored men of the county mid filled a large place in the life of the com-
munity in which he lived for so many years. For this reason it seems emi-
nently fitting that this tribute be here recorded that coming generations may
know the worth of such a man.

Nicholas Boor was born in August, 1845, ""^ Prussia and died in Ash-
ton, Osceola county, Iowa, February 5, 1897. He came to this country Avith
his parents when he was twelve years of age and settled in Kenosha county,
Wisconsin. In 1871 he, together wath two of his friends, John Streit and
\Mlliam Schultz, came to Osceola county, Iowa, and homesteaded in section
4, Oilman township. After building a small house on this tract, ]\Ir. Boor
returned to AVisconsin, where he w^as married to Eva Streit, and in the spring
of 1873 he came with his }Oung wife to Osceola county, where they Yiyed
until his death. He resided on the farm which he homesteaded until 1881,
when the family moved to Ashton, where Mr. Boor engaged in the lumber
and grain business until his death. He w^as highly successful as a business

^ ^

^^H ^ 1

,r^

Hum^Hi^

,jfc-

NICHOLAS BOOR

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 947

man and was widely respected by everyone who had an}- deahngs with him.
He took an acti\"e interest in puhhc affairs and ser\'ed nine years as super-
visor of Osceola county. He always took an active part in the Republican
part}', and was considered one of its leaders in the county. He was a firm
believer in the possibilities of land in Osceola county and invested heavily
during his business career in Ashton. At the time of his death he was the
owner of twehe hundred acres of land in the county. His wido\\ still owns
four farms, aggregating se\'en hundred acres, besides the finest modern home
in .-Vshton.

Nicholas Boor was married in 1872 to E\'a Streit, who was born in
Prussia on June 13, 1853. Her parents. ^Michael and Helena ( Strout )
Streit, left their native land and settled in Kenosha county, ^^'isconsin, in
1857. They came to Osceola county, Iowa, in the fall of 1873, the same vear
in which the Boor family permanently settled in the county. Mr. and Mrs.
Nicholas Boor were the parents of ten children: Reinold J.. }*Iathias ].,
Katherine E.. Helena M., jolm L. (deceased Februarv 14, 11)07). Charles
S., Frederick T., Anna \'.. Anthony L. and Francis ]\I. Reinold (. is married
and has h\e children. Alartin. Hilda. Vincent, Marie and Bertha, and resides
at .\sht(jn, this county: Alathias J. also lives in Ashton, and he and his wife
had two sons. Donald and Mark, the mother dying September 2, 1903;
Katherine E. married a Mr. Hubbard, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and has five
children, Eva, Helen, Marcella, Jack and Alice; Helena M. married ]Mr.
Osweiler, of Eewistown, Montana, and has two children li\'ing, Paul and
Helen : Charles S. Boor is living in Eewistown, Montana, while the other
children are still living with their mother in Ashton.

WILLIAM BYRON ELLIOTT.

The history of the Hawkeye state is not an ancient one, in fact, there
are many settlers living in Iowa today who are older than their state.
William B. Elliott, whose history forms the theme of this narrative, was
only one year of age when Iowa was admitted to the Union, in 1846. The
history of Iowa from December 28, 1846, when it was admitted to the Union,
down to the present time, is a record of steady grov.th of the community,
planted upon the wide, treeless and trackless plains of the prairie beyond the
Mississippi. From the twentv-seven counties which were in existence in
(61)

948 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

1846, it has grown to ninety-nine counties, with a population that has
increased about as rapidly as any state in the Union. This histor}' of
this state is but a record of the things which have been done by its people.
Every nation of Europe has contributed of its best citizens that Iowa might
attain its present position of honor among its sister states. From Norway
and Sweden on the north, to Italy and Greece on the south, from Ireland
on the west, to Russia on the east, ha\'e come men who have labored for
the common good of their state. The little island of Ireland has contributed
some of the sturdiest citizens to this state and among them William Byron
Elliott is an honorable descendant.

William B. Elliott, a retired farmer and stockman of Hartley, O'Brien
county, Iowa, was born in Canada in 1847. He is the son of Jeremiah
and Rebecca ( Bothwell ) Elliott. His father was born in Ireland in 1816,
where he lived the life of the simple farmer until his death. He and his
good wife reared a large family of children to lives of usefulness: John,
a farmer of Saskatchewan, Canada ; Alexander, deceased ; Samuel, a rail-
road emplovee of British Columbia, Canada: Jane, of Saskatchewan, Cana-
da; Jeremiah and Ralph, deceased and buried in Canada; Mrs. Elizabeth
Waters, of Waterloo, Iowa; Richard, who is farming the old home place in
Canada: Airs. Mildred ^^IcLarion, of British Columbia, Canada: Trotter,
deceased and l^uried in Mexico, and William B., with whom this narrative
deals.

William B. Elliott received his education in the schools of Canada and
worked with his father on the farm until he was eighteen years of age.
then left home and started to seek his fortune in the western states of
this countv. He roamed around in different parts uf the Mississip])i valley
and finally settled in Grundy count}-, Iowa, in 1867. Here he secured em-
plovment as a farm hand and worked for the next nine years. He then
[jurchased eight}- acres of land with his sa\ings and lived on it until 1892.
then sold it at a good profit, putting all of his possessions in a covered
wagon and drove across the country to O'Brien coimty. Here he purchased
two hundred and fort}' acres of prairie land in Lincoln township, and be-
gan to make extensive improvements on the ' farm in order to make it
yield better returns. He has been an extensive raiser and breeder of high
class stock, including Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. A few
years ago he retired from active farm life and mo\-ed to Hartley, where
he now owns four acres of land and a residence in the western part of the
town. He confines his actixities in town to the l)reeding of \\n'iite ^^Aan-
dotte chickens.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COTXTIES. IOWA. 949

Air. Elliott was married in 1887, in Haniptun. Iowa, to Margaret Dor-
cas Hyndman, a native of Canada, and to this marriage have been born
five children: Bryant, deceased; Mrs. Anna Smith, of Hartley, Iowa; Mrs.
Edna Huston, whose husband is a fanner of O'Brien county; George, a
farmer of South Dakota, and Jermina, of South Dakota.

Since reaching- his majority, Air. Elliott has been casting his vote f()r
the candidates of the Republican part}- and in the affairs of his party he
has taken an acti\-e interest. He has been honored by his party by being-
elected townshi]) trustee as well as being made a member of the school board
of Lincoln township. He and his family are earnest members of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, to which they contribute generously of their means.
Fraternall}-, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
and takes an. active interest in the affairs of that fraternal organization.

GEORGE E. RECTOR.

The history of O'Brien count}' is a history of the men who have made
it what it is today. There are leaders in e\-er}' conimunit\' who force to
the front in their res[)ecti\e [)rofessions and set the pace for the ciuiet plod-
ders who have not the native ability or the energy themselves. It has been
estimated that in a town of two thousand there are at least two hundred
different occupations represented. It is impossible to say which one is the
most important, since everyone contributes its share to the success of the
community. Among the men of Hartley who have contributed in their
wav to the success of this communitv there is no one wdio is more deservins
of mention than George E. Rector, a cement contractor. He is interested
in the construction of an}-thing which is made out of cement.

George E. Rector was born in 1853 in Delaware county, Iowa, and is the
son of Andrew Jackson and Elizabeth (Walsmith) Rector. Andrew J. Rector-
was l)orn Xo\'ember 26, 1823, in Rowan count}-. North Carolina, and when
a young man settled in the southern part of Indiana. A few years later
he went to South Bend, Indiana, where he farmed and worked bv the day.
In 1849 1^^ came \.o Delaware county, Iowa, and was one of the earliest
pioneers t(^ settle here. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of
government land and in the course of time became a prosperous farmer
and stock raiser. He took an active interest in all public aft'airs and was
a man of considerable influence throughout the countv. He died Janu-

950 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

arv /, 1904. He was married December 22, 1846, to Elizabeth Wals-
mith and to this union were born six children : John, deceased ; ]\Irs.
Delia Sargent, of Independence, Iowa; Airs. Sarah Warnick, of Wayne,
Nebraska; Martha Trewin. deceased; Mary, deceased, and George E., whose
history is here briefly delineated.

George E. Rector remained Avith his parents until twenty-three years
of age, was gi\'en an excellent education in the common schools of Iowa
and later attended the college at Hopkinton, Iowa. In 1876 he went to
Sac county, Iowa, and farmed during the summer and taught school during
the winter. His excellent education made him a good teacher, and he taught
school for five years in Delaware and Sac counties with marked success.
During the year 1877 he, with a party of three others, including J. E^
Wheelock. the present postmaster of Hartley, Iowa, started with a mule
team from Delaware county, Iowa, for the Black Hills of South Dako-
ta. 1die}' went to prospect and carried a large amount of provisions.
Only one could ride at a time, so they took turns at riding. From South Da-
kota the part}- went on west to Montana. However, the prospecting trip
did not produce an}' returns from the in\-estment. Air. Rector returned
to Sac count}-, sold his farm and for a time engaged in the cattle busi-
ness. He bought one hundred and sixt}' acres in Sac county, again, and
lived on it for five years. He then moved to South Dakota, where he
purchased three hundred and twenty acres and farmed it for eight vears.
He had the im fortunate experience of li\'ing through the terrible l)lizzard
of 1887. In 1895 li^ came to Hartley, O'Brien county, and engaged in
the produce business, buying butter and eggs. Later he traded his South
Dakota land for a shoe store in HartlcA- and for three vears manaeed the
shoe store, but still continued the ])roduce business. He then traded his
building and business for one hundred and sixt}' acres of land in Osceola
county, Iowa, and within a short time he traded his farm in Osceola for a
business building in Hartley, the i)resent site of the Earl Miller Drug Com-
pany. A few years ago he sold that Ijuilding and is now a cement contrac-
tor, doing a large amount of work in Hartley and the sufrounding countiy.
He owns his home in Hartley and is one of the most influential men of
the town.

Air. Rector was married in 1882 in Delaware count\', Iowa, to Eleanor
Hel:)ron and to this marriage have been born two children : Mark, who died
at the age of seventeen, and Airs. Neva Knaack, of Rock county, Minne-
sota. Politically, Air. Rector is a Republican and as a member of his part}'
has been elected to the county council of his county. Mr. Rector has

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 95 I

been a Inisy man all of his lite and has been engaged in many different
enterprises, being a man of sterling honesty and uprightness of character.
He is a man of pleasing personality and has a host of friends throughout
the county.

LOREXZ SCHUBERT.

From the land of the Kaiser some hundreds of O'Brien county's best
citizens have come and the prosperity of this county is due in a large mea-
sure to these enterprising sons of Gennany. The success which has at-
tended their efforts in this county has l)een the result of their earh- train-
ing in their mother country, together with the natural fertility of the soil
of this count}' and the many o])portunities for investment. In this country
every man may aspire to the head of his country; no matter what his birth
or how poor the ad\antages in his youth, there is a chance for any man
Avho is willing to work. Lorenz Schubert had little idea when he came here,
at the age of twenty-one. that in the course of time he would be holding
one of the responsible official positions of his community, but such has
been his life in this county that he is today the efficient trustee of his town-
ship. ^

Lorenz Schubert was born in Germany in 1864, the son of Lorenz and
I\lary (Ablass) Schubert. His father was bom in 1829 and died in 1865,
at the age of thirty-six. He was a prosperous farmer in his home country
and one of his sons is still living on the old home farm in Germany. To
Mr. and Airs. Schubert were born six children, all of whom were born in
Germany : Jacob, who is farming the old home farm in the fatherland ;
Christopher, a fanner of Lyons county, Iowa; Mrs. Catherine Schemer,
who lives in Ida county, this state; Hans, also of Ida county; Marie and
Lorenz. Jr., whose life history forms the theme of this narrative.

Lorenz Schubert was educated in his native land and remained with
his parents until he was eighteen years of age, then, as was the custom of
his country, he served three years with the German army, and upon the
expiration of his enlistment he decided to come to America to seek his
fortune. He crossed the ocean in 1885 and immediately came to Ida county,
Iowa, where he secured employment as a farm hand for four years. He
then married and rented two hundred and forty acres of land in Ida county
and lived on this tract until 1907. With the intention of purchasing a
farm of his own, he and his wife saved their money and bought one hun-

952

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

dred and sixty acres of land in Omega township, O'Brien county. Two
years later they sold this farm, at a profit, and purchased three hundred
and twenty acres in Omega township, in sections 12 and 13. This is one
of the best and most valuable farms in the township and has a large eight-
acre grove of fruit and forest trees upon it. He raises a large amount of
stock in addition to the grains of this locality and is counted among the
most progressive and suljstantial farmers of his township. He owns a
share in the Co-operative Elevator in Aloneta, Iowa, an enterpris'e which
has been of great benefit to the farmers of that locality.

Mr. Schubert was married in 1889 to Anna Rice, and to this union
have been born six children : Otto, of Minnesota ; William ; Albert ; John :
Mrs. Emma Gotch. who lives in this county, and Lillie. Albert, John and
Lillie are still with their parents on the old home farm.

Politically, Air. Schul)ert has identified himself with the Democratic
partv and, for a naturalized citizen, has taken a deep interest in political
affau's. His worth as a citizen is shown l)y the fact that his party nomi-
nated him for the office of township trustee, and his subsequent election
to this office sliows that lie is highly regarded l)y the citizens of his town-
ship. He is now filling this important office to the entire satisfaction of
all the citizens of the township, irrespective of their politics. He and his
family are earnest and devoted members of the German Lutheran church
and are interested in its various activities. Mr. Schubert is one of the
leading citizens of his township and enjoys, in a marked degree, the con-
fidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends throughout the community.
His career, since coming to this countr^■, has Ijeen eminently honorable, and
those who know him speak in high terms of his many sterling cjualities and
characteristics.

ANDREW HOEVEN.

The prosperity and substantial welfare of a community are in a large
measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its business men. It
.is the progressive, wide-awake men of affairs that make the real history
of a communit}', and their influence in shaping and directing its varied in-
terests is difficult to estimate. The well-known gentleman of whom the bi-
ographer writes in this connection is ranked among the leading business
men of O'Brien county, and it is to such enterprising spirits as he that the
localit}' is indebted for its recent substantial growth and for the high posi-
tion it occupies as a center of industrial activity and progress.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTEES. IOWA. 953

Andrew Hoe\'en was born in Marion county, Iowa, in 1870, the son of
Everett and Ella (Mulder) Hoeven. Everett Hoeven was born in 1832
in Holland and was reared and educated in his native land. His wife
also is a native of the Netherlands and before coming to this country they
lu'id reared a larii'e faniilv of children. Thev came to American shores
in [868 and immediately settled in Clarion county, Iowa, and three years la- .
ter they came to Sioux count}', where Everett Hoeven now owns eight hun-
dred acres of land. Some years ago he retired from the active labor of his
farm and moved to Alton, Iowa, where he is now lix'ing.

Everett Hoeven and wife are the parents of fourteen children: Ben-
jamin, an implement dealer of Lyon county, Iowa; John, deceased and
l)uried at Xewkirk, Iowa; Mrs. Gertride Ool1)ekkink, deceased; Gerat, of
(31in, Iowa, where he conducts an implement store; Mrs. Hattie DeBruin,
of Hospers, Iowa; Joseph, a real estate man at Hull, Iowa; Heniy, de-
ceased and buried at Newkirk, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Dejong, of Hospers, Iowa;
Mrs. Ella Idma, who is living on the old homestead farm; Mrs. Maggie
Braskamp, of Alton, Iowa; Jacob, of Sioux City, this state, who is a pro-
prietor of an automobile garage; Isaac, who is li\ing with his parents;
Abraham, living at Alton, Iowa, and Andrew, with whom this narrative
deals.

Andrew Hoe\-en was two years old when tlie famil\- moved to Siou.x
county, where he received all of his education. He remained with his par-
ents until he was twenty years of age and then rented land in Sioux countv
for a short time. He then sold out his interests in his farm and ensraeed
in the general mercantile business at Hospers, Iowa, but after a few years
he disposed of his store at this place and went to Sioux Center, where he
engaged in the implement business for six years, after which he sold his
store and moved to Orange City, where he managed an implement store
for nine years. While living in Sioux county he was deputy sheriff for
\o\\x years. In 191 1 he came to Sanborn and established a hardware store,
putting in a new stock of goods. He now carries four thousand dollars
worth of standard hardware goods, such as are carried in hardware stores
of this size, and he has a goodly share of the patronage of Sanborn and
vicinity.

^Ir. Hoeven was married in 1895 to Dora Kits, and to this union have

been born seven children : Everett, who is now attending the National

Business College at Sioux City, Iowa; William, John, Allison, Katherine,

Ella May, Dorothy. The six younger children are still with their parents.

Politically, Mr. Hoeven votes the Democratic ticket and has alwavs

9!^4 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

been a factor in his party wherever he has lived. He and his family are
earnest members of the Holland First Reformed church and contribute
generouslv of their means to its support. ^\r. Hoeven is an excellent ex-
ample of the sturdy business man, and has taken an active interest in every
mo\'ement which he thinks would be of benefit to his community. He is a
man of genial manner and easily wins friends and since living in Sanborn
has gained the respect and esteem of all of those with whom he has been
associated.

JOHN FRANKLIN GLOVER.

Osceola county is proud to honor John I-"ranklin (iUwer as one of her
citizens. During the course of a long and busy career he has filled many
important positions. He has been a soldier in the Civil War. a clerk of the
district court, a member of the state Legislature, the mayor of the city, news-
paper editor, a lawyer, a public speaker, a gardener and a minister of the
Gospel. He was l)orn September i6, 1845, in Hartleton, LTnion county,
Pennsylvania, the son of William and Eliza (Fisher) Glover. In 1846 his
parents moved to Stephenson count}-, Illinois, where they lived until their
deaths. The subject, when a day old, moved to Monroe, Wisconsin, and was
living there when the Civil War Ijroke out. In 1864 Mr. Glover enlisted in
Company D, Thirty-eighth Regiment \\'isconsin A^olunteer Infantry, and
was later transferred to Company F in the same regiment. During the
course of his ser\ice he was promoted and made first sergeant and subse-
cjuently commissioned as second lieutenant and was mustered out as sergeant.
He served under General Grant in the campaigns in Virginia.

Mr. Glover had not completed his education when he enlisted in the cause
of the L'nion. He had had some schooling in Freeport, Illinois, and Monroe,
Wisconsin, but after the war was over he entered Wisconsin University and
graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1871 and Master of Arts
in 1874. The same year he came to Osceola county and shortly afterwards
was elected clerk of the court of this county. In the meantime he was study-
ing law and in 1878 he was admitted to the practice of all the courts of this
state. Rapidlv forging to the front as a lawyer and being a man of ability
as a public speaker, it is not surprising that he was elected a member of the
Leofislature of the state. For a number of vears he was editor of an Iowa
weekly newspaper and while in charge of this paper he made it a source of
power for the Republican party in that community. After moving to Sibley

JOHN F. GLOVER

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 955

he was elected mayor and ser\ecl in that important office for three years.
He has also ser\ed as justice of the peace in this county, as well as countv
attorney.

Air. Glover was married to ]\lary I-"rances L'pton, who died Mav 2t^,
1886. leaving" one son. Lyn Fisher Glo\ er. who is now living in Sibley. Mr.
Glover has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has
been one of the leaders in Republican politics in Iowa for man}" years. He is
frequently called into campaigns and has gi\en political and patriotic speeches
thrdughout this section of the state. He is a man of eloquence and has a flow
of language which cliarms liis hearers. In 1908 he was ordained to the
ministry of the Congregational church, and since that time has served as a
supply minister in To\\a. Missouri and Minnesota. He is now living in Sib-
ley, where he is engaged as an attorne}" and public speaker. For many vears
he was pension attorne}". and because of the fact that he ser\ed in the war
his ser\ices were in great demand Ijy the old soldiers who were seeking
pensions. He is a nian of strong and u])right character and an honorable and
useful citizen, and a man who has been a power for good in this countv. He
is also a man of lofty attainment and ripe judgment and has been eminently
successful as a lawyer. He is probably wider known o\"er the state of Iowa
than an} other of the citizens of this count}" and it may be assumed that he
has always so conducted himself as to reflect honor upon his countv.

TOHX STEINBECK.

It is the purpose of this volume to preserve as far as possible an authen-
tic record of the lives and deeds of those who have assisted in the upbuild-
ing of the various interests of O'Brien county, Iowa. The rank that a cit^-
or county holds is very largely dependent upon the achievements of its
citizens. The history of Iowa dates back many years, the first act of Con-
gress concerning this territory being passed June 28, 1834. At that time
the territory of Iowa was made a part of Michigan territory and four years
later it was organized as a separate territory. It w^as admitted as an inde-
pendent state on December 28, 1846, wdth twenty-seven counties and a popu-
lation of one hundred thousand, and the state has grown until today it has
ninety-nine counties and a population of over two and a quarter million.
O'Brien county dates its organization from February 6, i860, and at its
first election, held in November of that year, there were only nineteen votes

956 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

cast in the whole county, and from that time until the present the county has
made as rapid progress in population and material prosperity as has any
county in the state. The younger generation will ne\'er know the trials
and discourgaments which faced their fathers and grandfathers in this
county. Xever again will this county have to go through with the terrible
"grasshopper wars" which ate this county out of house and home in the latter
part of the seventies. Among the younger generation of farmers who are
to bear the burdens of agricultural life in the years to come is John Stein-
beck, who is a native of this county.

John Steinbeck, the son of William and Anna (]\Ierkord) Steinbeck,
was born on .April 20, 1891, in O'Brien county. Iowa. His father was
born in German}" in 1853 and his grandfather, Henry Steinbeck, was born in
the same country in 18 16.

Henry Steinbeck married ]^Iary ]\Iarie Isrell, and to this marriage were
born five children : Frederick, deceased ; Henry, deceased ; Dick, who is a
resident of Sutherland, this county; ]Mrs. Sophia Lang, who lives in New
York state, and William, the father of the subject of this review. William
Steinbeck receixed his earl\- training in his native land and when thirty years
of age came to this country and settled in Wisconsin. He came here on
a prospecting trip in order to satisfy himself that this country was the land
of opportunities, which had been jiictured to him. He was satisfied that
he could find a better opportunity for advancement in this countiy than in
his native land, and accordingly he went back in 1886 and married Anna
Merkord, immediately returned to the United States and settled in O'Brien
county, Iowa, where he worked for two years as a laborer, after which he
rented one hundred and sixty acres of land, and b}^ thrift and frugality
sa^•ed enough uKjney so that he was able to purchase one hundred and sixty
acres of land in 1897. He has been a prosperous and successful farmer in
Hartley township, and is classed among the most successful agriculturists
and stock raisers of the township. Mr. and Mrs. William Steinbeck were
the parents of four children, Alfred, Mary, Laura and John, all of whom
are still living with their parents.

John Steinbeck was given a good common school education and after
leaxing school continued to assist his father upon the home farm. He and
his father are Democrats in their political affiliations, but have never taken
an active part in public politics. All of the family are loyal, and earnest
members of the German Lutheran church and subscribe liberally to its sup-
port at all times.

O'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COl'NTIES, IOWA. 957

JOHN H. FOGLE.

One of the retired farmers and stockmen of Hartley, O'Brien county,
Iowa, is John H. Fogle. who, after a strenuous life on the farm, is now
(|uietl\" lixinG^ a lite of ease and retirement in the city of Hartley. Born of
German parentage, he has inherited those characteristics which lia\e made
the German people prosperous citizens in \vhate\er occupation th\- chose
to enter.

John Fogle was horn in Henry county, Towa, in 1867, and is the son of
John and Katherine (Swal])) Fogle. Ijoth of whom were natives of Ger-
many. John Fogle, Sr., was bom in 182 1 and, after receiving a common
school education in his nati\'e land, began to learn the carpenter's trade.
His wife was b(M-n in 1826 and they were married in 1845 "'' the land of
their 1)irtli. I*^)ur }-ears after their marriage they decided to come to America
with the ho]jes of gix'ing tlieir children Ijetter ()p])()rtunities. Thev first
settletl in Canada, remaining" there until 1851 on a farm. From there thev
came to Henry c int}-, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres ot timber land,
which they cleared and improved. Here they \\ved until the death of John
Fogle, Sr., in 1896. John Fogle, Sr., and wife were the parents of nine
children: ]^lrs. Maiy Everts, of the state of Oregon; Airs. Diana Franklin,
who is a resident of California; Mrs. Katherine Hopfe, who lives in Minne-
sota; ]\Irs. Lizzie Foster, deceased; Frank, a farmer of Minnesota; Mrs.
Ella Fyler, also a resident of California; two who died in infancy and John
FL, Jr., with whom this narrati^■e deals.

John H. P^ogle remained with his parents until he was twenty-eight years
of age and received such education as was afforded by the country schools
of his neighborhood, and after finishing his common school education he
assisted his father in the work on the farm. In 1895 he came to O'Brien
county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in
Center township for thirt}'-two dollars and a half an acre. Here he set
out four acres in orchard and forest trees and otherwise improved the place
so that at the end of se^-en years he was able to sell the tract at a handsome
profit. He then bought two hundred and forty acres in Hartley township,
and within a few years had put six thousand dollars worth of improvements
upon this land. While living on the farm he made a specialty of raising-
cattle and sold from one to four car loads of cattle from his farm each year.
Recently he sold his farm and has built a home in Hartley, where he ex-
pects t(5 spend the remainder of his ckys. He still owns two hundred and

958 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

forty acres of land in Minnesota, and has a share in the Farmers Elevator
Company and the himl^er company at Hartley.

Air. Fogle was married in 1891 in Henry county, Iowa, to Katie Garick,
who is a nati\"e <^f that county, born in 1865, '^"'^^ ^o this marriage three
children have ]:)een born ; Alma, a graduate of the Hartley hig'h school.
Ralph, deceased, and Walter, who is now attending the Hartley public schools.
Mr. Fogie has been affiliated with the Republican party since reaching his ma-
jorit}', and although he is deeply interested in all public questions, he has
never found time to take an active part in political affairs. He and his
family are earnest and devoted members of the j\Iethodist Episcopal church
and give to this denomination their undivided su]5port at all times. Mr.
Fogle stands for the highest and best standards of li\ing and has gi\en his
support unreservedly to such movements as promise to advance the welfare
of his fellow citizens in an\- wrx.

WILLIAM WAGNER.

\\'illiam Wagner, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Beitzel) Wagner,
was born in 1891 in Wheatland, Clinton county, Iowa. His father was a
native of Germany, in which country he was employed on a farm, later
being' apprenticed to a stone mason. In 1887 he was attracted to this
country by reports of the opportunities which were to be found here. He
first settled in St. Louis, ]\Iissouri, where he worked at his trade for five
years. Leaxing St. Louis, he went to Clinton county, Iowa, where he
rented land for a short time, a little later buying one hundred and sixtv
acres of raw land. On this farm he made his home until a few years ago,
when he moved to Wheatland and retired from active farming. He was
married early in life to Elizabeth Beitzel and to them were born eight
children: Henry, who died in Germany; Elizabeth (Schnider), of Clinton
county, Iowa; Albert, a mail carrier of Wlieatland, Iowa; Anna (Balhorn),
of ^^^^eatland, Iowa; Lena (Morgan), of Clinton county, Iowa; Louis, a
laborer of Clinton county, Iowa ; Otto, who is at home with his parents,
and the subject.

W^illiam Wagner has begun an active life. After leaving college he
went to Da\'enport. Iowa, where he secured employment as a salesman of
mill work. The company by which he was employed soon recognized his
ability and he was promoted to the position of estimator. Finding a good

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 959

cipcniiii^ in the restaurant I)usiness at Wheatland, he returned to his native
count\- and conducted a restaurant. After being here for some time he
disposed of his interests and purchased the Bader & Byers restaurant in
Hartley, Iowa. After a few years in this location he was able to purchase
the Schlidt building, where he now owns his present cafe.

The subject of this re\'iew received a liberal education. After gradu-
ating from the Wheatland high school he entered the College of M. H.
C. in Wisconsin.

Air. \\^agner was married in 1913 to Velma Horstman of Wheatland,
Iowa. Since that time they have made their home in Hartley. He is an
Independent Progressive in politics. He and his wife are members and
regular attendants of the German Reformed church and contribute of their
means to its support. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America
and the Yeoman Lodges.

MICHAEL DENNY.

Change is constant and general. Nations rise and pass away and it
is the dutv of posterity, as well as the present generation, to place upon
the ])rinted page a true record of the lives of those who have preceded us
on the stage of action and left to their descendants the memory of their
struggles and achievements. The succeeding generations of O'Brien county,
Iowa, will be interested to read of the hundreds and even thousands of citi
zens of German extraction who have made this county their home. One
hundred vears from now this book will be invaluable in showing the early
historv of this county and the original homes of its first settlers. Not less
than twent}--five countries of Europe have contributed of their best blood
to this county, and there is hardly a state east of the Mississippi but whal
has sent some of her sturdiest sons as settlers to this county. However,
this particular history deals with a son of Germany, who was one of the
man}' who have come to this county and made a success.

Michael Denny, a farmer and stockman of Hartley, Iowa:, was born in
Germany in 1861, the son of George and Mary (Mahl) Denny. George
Denny was born in Germany in 1810, and lived the life of a laborer there
until his death. To George Denny and wife were born eight children, and
wliose life history is here presented is the only one of the family who left
his native land and came to America. The other seven children are George,
Jacob, Margaret, Anna, Katherine, John, deceased, and one who died in
infancy.

y6o o'eRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Earh' in life ^Michael Denny made his plans to come to this country,
feeling that here was a good chance to get out of the rnt into which he was
afraid he would fall should he stay in his native land. Accordingly, when
he reached the age of twent}' years, he holdly crossed the Atlantic to seek
his fortunes in a strange land. With little money, with no knowledge of
the language, hut with a hrave heart, he landed on the docks at Xew York
City. He had the good sense not to linger in the city, hut immediately went
out into the farming regions of Xew York, where he obtained emjjloyment
on a farm. Two years later he h.ad sayed up enough in order to travel and
look for a better position. He finally settled in Stevenson county, Illinois,
where he worked as a laborer and farm hand for six }-ears. In 1891, when
thirty years of age, he came to O'Brien count}- and purchased four hundred
acres of land in Hartley township. It is superfluous to add that he made a
success, for from the very beginning he was unusually prosperous. He is
now the owner of four hundred acres of fine farming land, on which he has
placed six thousand dollars' worth of improvements. He has the honor
of putting up the first fence and placing the first cornerstone of Hartley
townshi]). While raising all of the crops common to this localit}-, he has
had his largest financial returns from the good grade of live stock which he
has marketed each year.

Mr. Denny was married in LeMars, Plymouth county, Iowa, to Anna
DeVries, the daughter of Reka and Aljette (Poppen) DeVries, and to this
marriage ha\e been l)orn six children, George, Cora, August, Arthur. Mar-
garet and Addie, all of wh(Mn are still with their parents. Mr. and Mrs.
Denny are justly proud of their children and are giving them the advan-
tages of a good education.

Mr. Denny is a Republican in politics and for the past six years has
been holding the office of school director in his township. He is deeply in-
terested in educational affairs and everything which promises to better the
educational system of his township has found in him a ready and enthusiastic
supporter. He and all of his family are earnest and devoted members of
the German Lutheran church and subscribe liberally to the support of that
denomination. Mr. Denny is a man who deserves a great deal of credit
for the success he has made of his career in this country. He is scTU]:)ulously
honest in all of his dealings with the business world, generous and pleasant
with his friends and advocates wholesome politics, clean living and honesty in
business. It is needless to add that such a man who has lived such a life has
a host of friends and acquaintances who admire him for what he has done
for himself, as well as for the wa}' in which he has lielped his friends.

o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 961

ALEXANDER GRANT.

LikIlt a popular government like that of the United States, where the
democratic idea of equality is as fully developed as the present imperfect
condition of mankind will permit, we expect as its legitimate result the
triumph of individual worth and energy over all the competition that wealth
and class mav array against them. Here the avenues of wealth and dis-
tinction are fullv opened to all. which fact enhances rather than detracts from
the merits ()f those whose energy and integrity have triumphed over all oh-
stacles intervening hetween an humble position and the attainment of these
laudalilc ends. Obscurit}' and labor, at no time dishonorable, never assume
more attractive features than when the former appears as the nurse of th(^se
virtues which tlie latter, by years of honest and persevering effort, trans-
])lants to a higher and richer soil ; hence, the biography of those men of ster-
ling worth, wliose active enterprise has won for them distinction, pre-emi-
nence and commanding" influence in the societ}' in which the\' mo\e, must be
replete with fact which should encourage and instruct the young.

Alexander Grant, a prosperous farmer of Omega township, O'Brien
count\', Iowa, was l)orn in Henry county, Illinois, in. 1862. His parents
were Daniel and Ellen { Furguson ) Grant. His father was born in 183 1 in
Scotland and when a young man left his nati\e cotmtr\' and settled in Penn-
svlvania, where he followed the trade of a car])enter for sexeral }'ears. after
wliich he went to Ohio, where he worked as a carpenter for a short time
and then mo\'ed on west to Illinois, where he engaged in farming in Henr}'
countv until his death, which occurred in 1899. He married Ellen Ferguson
in the state of Pennsylvania, and to this union were born three children. Mrs.
Anna J. MclMeekin, who lives in Illinois. John, deceased, and Alexander, with
whom this l)rief biography deals.

Alexander ( irant received a good common school education in the schools
of Flenry county, Illinois, and after hnishing his school work contintied to
assist his father upon the farm until he reached his majorit}'. Shortl}' after
his marriage he came to O'Brien county. Iowa, where he liought eighty acres
of land in [885. For the past thirty years he has bought and sold several
dift'erent farms and at the present time has one hundred and sixty acres of
well im])ro\ed land in Omega township. Since accjuiring this farm he has
made eight thousand dollars' worth of improvements on it in the way of
erecting buildings of various kinds, constructing fences and making exten-
sive drainage. He raises a large amount of stock and is counted as one of

962 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

the most progressive farmers of his township. In addition to his agricul-
tural interests he is a stockholder in the Moneta Savings Bank and in the
Farmers' Elevator Company, of Moneta.

Air. Grant was married in 1883 to Hattie Corns, and to this union has
been born one son, John, who is now assisting his father on the home farm.
Politically, Mr. Grant is a Republican, but has never held any official posi-
tion other than that of road superintendent of his home township. He and
his family are regular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church and take
an active interest in the work of the church. jNIr. Grant is a man who has
attained success through his own efforts, having been practically dependent
upon his own resources since reaching manhood, and because of his business
success, integrity of character and genial disposition he has won and retains
a host of warm personal friends throughout this section of the county.

ROBERT P. JONES.

Inherent honest\- in the individual is certain of being demonstrated in
behalf of his fellow men at some time during the course of his life if the
right opportunity presents itself. When that honesty of purpose is tested to
the extrem.e and the man himself is able to resist every l^landishment and
proffers of reward if he would but betra}' his fellows — then he is marked as
a man among men and one of nature's noblest creations. Sad to relate, there
are many persons in the world who hesitate when tempted, prevaricate, stitie
their consciences, and fall before the tempter. However, the world and the
people in it is growing better. Nowadays a higher standard of moralitv pre-
vails than ever before in history. Men and women are both growing more
tolerant of others' opinions — instead of an honest man being the exception,
he is everywhere prevalent. There are many reasons for this great change.
Wider publicity is being given to the doings of mankind and people ha\e
learned that it is better, far better in the end, to lead honest and upright lives.
Were Diogenes on earth today, searching for his mythical honest man, he
would not have far to seek — such a man is found in the person of Robert P
Jones, of Primghar. one of the most highly respected and best l^eloved per-
sonages in O'Brien county.

Mr. Jones was born April i, 1846. on a farm in Jackson county, Ohio.
His father was Griffith J. Jones and his mother was Elizabeth Rowland
Jones, both natives of Argylshire, North Wales. They emigrated to Ohio

-;~T^.<fe-^':^:-<«:<-ij-=» ^

T-^e^

THE f
(PUBLIC L

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 963

from their native land and there settled on a farm. They later moved to
Wisconsin and lived on a farmstead thirty-six miles west of Madison. They
sold out their Wisconsin holdings in 1871 and moved to Clay county, Iowa,
where they bought a farm and resided until death took them in 1894. They
were the parents of the following children: Airs. Helen Pond; Mrs. Jane
Pond; William R.. who gave his life in defense of the Union during the great
Rebellion; Griffith R.. of Minnesota, who was also a Union soldier; Rob-
ert P.

During: the Civil War it was necessary for Robert P. to remain at home
and assist in the support of the family. In the year 1870 he left \\'isconsin
for the oil regions of Pennsylvania and was located in the vicinity of Sham-
berg for four years, operating" in the oil fields. In 1874 he tra\eled to the
Black Hills section of South Dakota, where he followed mining for one year.
He returned to Clay count}- in 1875. ^^"^ ^^'^^ again overtaken with wander-
lust and went back to the Pennsylvania oil region to try his fortunes. He
followed the exciting life of the oil operator with its various vicissitudes and
varying fortunes until 1880, when he went to Arkansas and prospected for
gold in tlie mountains. He was successful in his mining operations, dis-
covered and developed a fine claim which he sold and invested in eighty acres
of land in Clay county. In 1886 he sold out and came to O'Brien county,
locating on the southwest quarter of section 13. in Dale township. Here
he built a "shack" and homesteaded on railroad land. He was a "squatter"
on land claimed In' the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad. He broke up his
land and planted a portion of it to crops. The railroad company sent parties
to sell him out and his "squatter" holdings were disposed of to outside parties.
Many "squatters" suffered exiction and dispossession through the
power wielded by the railroads, but they eventually organized themselves
into what is known in history as the Taxpayers' Association, of which Mr.
Jones was made president. The circuit or district judge decided against them
at Primghar when their cases were called for trial and gave possession of
the lands to the railwa}\ The cases were appealed to the supreme court of
the state of Iowa and the squatters were eventually given possession of the
lands. Tlie full history of this remarkable controversy is given in the pages
of this O'Brien county annals. The agents of the railway tried repeatedly
to coerce or bribe Air. Jones to abandon the fight in behalf of his constituents
and promised him immunity, possession of his land and monetary rewards,
but he resisted their blandishments and cast his lot with the men who had
trusted him with their fortunes. Mr. Jones tilled his fine farm in Dale tpwn-
(62)

96-1- o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

ship until 1908, when he removed to Primghar. where he engaged in business
and is very active in lodge affairs. It is recorded of him in the squatter
litigation histor}- that Air. Jones replied to the charges of the railway agents
as follows: "I do not care so much for myself, but I am working for the
settlers." Through his personal integrity and with the assistance of several
famous and able attorneys, thousands of acres of rich land were saved for
the settlers and wrested from the grasp of the railroads. D. AI. Mullen
(now deceased) was the secretary of the association.

Mr. Jones has led an adventurous and exciting life, the details of which
would make interesting reading. \Miile in Arkansas, he served as a Pinker-
ton detective. He has ever evinced qualities of leadership among his fellow
men, been prominent in Republican politics and has held all township offices.
He has attended many state conventions as a delegate and has always taken
an active and leading part in behalf of Republican policies. He is a promi-
nent member of the Odd Fellows lodge, of which fraternal body he is the
efficient secretary. .Ml members of his family are identified with the Baptist
church.

Mr. Jones was married in 1867 to Emily Pond, who was born in 1845.
No children have blessed this union, but they have attempted to satisfy tht
child hunger by adopting" and rearing as their own five orphaned children as
follows: Mrs. Ella Culberson, of Primghar; Arthur Selma, of South
Dakota; Mrs. Belle Henderson Thayer, of Montana; Mrs. Ethel McKay
Gurney, of Omaha ; Charley Jenkins, a resident of Clay county.

Further mention of this respected character is made in the chapter de-
voted to the squatter litigation as written by the historian of this volume.
The details of the litigation in which he was such a prominent and influential
figure are fully and completely given. The foregoing review is intended as
an api)reciation of his manly (|ualities and as a permanent record of his life.

LYMAN F. WILSON.

All credit is due a man who wdns success and by persistency and energy
gains a competence and apposition of honor as a man and citizen. The record
of the subject of this sketch is that of such a man, for he came to O'Brien
county in the day of her rapid growth and here worked out his way to definite
success and independence. He quickly adapted himself to the conditions
which he found here and has labored so consecutively and efifectively that he

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 965

is now held in high regard by all who know him, having here maintained
his home since 1882.

Lyman F. Wilson, a prominent farmer and stockman of Omega town-
ship, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born April 8, 1857, in Delaware county,
Iowa, and is the son of Nicholas and Jemima (Martin) Wilson. Nicholas
Wilson was bom in 1820 in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and remained
there until he was nineteen years of age and then went west and settled in
Ogle county, Illinois, near Palo, where he fanned until the year 1852. Then
he ni<)\'ed to Delaware county, Iowa, and purchased two hundred and forty
acres of government land and lived upon it until a few years before his death.
He then moved to Delhi, Iowa, where he resided until his death on March
30, 1906. Nicholas Wilson and Jemima Martin were married September
29, 1846, and to this union were bom seven children: Mary Jane, deceased;
Rebecca, of Delhi, Iowa; Sarah, deceased; John, a farmer of Delaware coun-
ty, Iowa; Robert, deceased; Lyman F., whose life history is here briefly pre-
sented, and one who died in infancy.

Lyman F. Wilson received a good common school education and then
finished wnth a three-year course at Lenox College. He then assisted his
father on the farm until he was twenty-six years of age. In 1882 he bought
one hundred and sixty acres oi unimproved land in O'Brien county and in
the year of 1885 he worked the entire winter for seventeen dollars and twen-
ty-fi\e cents. This was their family's first year upon the farm and probablv
the most severe winter through which they ever passed. Fuel was very
scarce and the}- were compelled to Ijurn hay and flax in order to keep from
freezing to death, but after the first winter prosperity began to smile upon
them and in a few years the}- were free from all troubles and cares. Mr.
Wilson made extensi\'e improvements on his farm and soon became one of
the largest stock raisers of the township. He made a specialty of Galloway
cattle and added not a little to his annual income by the sale of cattle. He
was one of the organizers of the Hartley Lumber Company and is now a di-
rector in that company. He is also president and manager of the O'Brien
County Rural Telephone Company.

Mr. Wilson was married in 1885 to Sarah J. Dawson, who was born
in Cedar county, Iowa, in 1861. To this marriage have been born five chil-
dren, Lew H., a farmer of O'Brien county; Cora Bell, who is a school teach-
er in this county, and three who died in infancy.

Mr. Wilson is prominently identified with the Republican party and at
different times has held township offices in Omega township. At the present
time he is assessor of Omega towriship and is filling that important office in a

966 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

very satisfactory manner. In all of his official positions he has shown
marked administrative ahility, so that he is one of the most efficient officials
the township has e\'er had. He and his family are loyal members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in all the activities of that
denomination. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Imbued with the deepest and most helpful public spirit, Mr. Wilson is well
set in his opinion as to matters of public policy and gives of his best to the
serving of good government. His personal relations with his fellow men
have been ever mutually pleasant and agreeable and he is regarded highly
by e\'eryone with whom he has been associated in the county.

JOHN W. JEPSEN.

Among the prosperous l)usiness men of Moneta, O'Brien county, Iowa,
is John W. Jepsen, a hardware merchant and the present postmaster of the
town. His whole life has been spent in Ijusiness and with a success which is
commensurate with his efforts. He was born in 1875 in Davenport, Iowa,
and is the son of Hans and Christina ( Xagel) Jepsen.

Hans Jepsen was born in (lermany in 1843 '^'^"^^ followed the occupation
of a gardener in his nati\e land. In 1866 he came across the ocean and set-
tled in Davenport, Iowa, where he followed gardening for fifteen years. In
1889 he moved to Cla}- county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixtv acres
of land, on which he lived for several years. He improved the land and then
sold it at a good profit, after which he retired to Davenport, Iowa, where he
is now living. His wife, Christina, was born in Germany in 1849 and to this
union were born nine children : Frank, deceased ; Katherine, of Davenport.
Iowa ; George, a farmer of Clay county ; Jacob, a druggist of Davenport and
a graduate of Highland Park College of Des Moines ; Mrs. Paullina Soehren
of Minnesota ; Harry, a partner in the hardware business with John W. : Mar-
garet, of Davenport; Louisa, of Davenport, and John W.. with whom this
narrative deals.

John W. Jepsen received a good common school education and helped his
father on the farm until he was twenty-six years of age. He then became
interested in the hardware business at Spencer, Iowa, where he learned the
intricacies of the business by serving as a clerk for one year. In 1902 he
came to Moneta, in O'Brien county, where he and his brother, Harry, pur-
chased the hardware stock of E. E. Dodge & Company, and they ha\e been in

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 96/'

charge of this store for the past twehe years. They ha\e built up a large and
lucratixe trade in Aloneta and the surrounding country. The brothers carry
three thousand dollars worth of stock the year round. In addition to their
hardware interests, the}' have a share in the Farmers Elevator Company of
Moneta. Mr. Jepsen is also manager of the tele])hone company at Moneta
and is a stockholder in the company. He owns five acres of lots in Moneta
in addition to his handsome residence.

Mr. Jepsen was married in 1905 to Marguerite E. Unangst, at Spencer.
Iowa, and t(i tliis unitm liave l)een born four children, who are still with their
parents. Lulu, Laura. John and Jacob. Politically. Mr. Jepsen is a Demo-
crat, but his business interests ha\e kept him from taking an active part in
])olitics. Lie and liis famil}' are earnest members of the German Lutheran
cliurcli and subscribe liberally to its support. Air. Jepsen is a self-made man
and owes his present success to the fact that he has been diligent in his vari-
ous undertakings. As a graduate of the Davenport Business College he was
al)le to do administrative work in any line and consequently makes an efficient
manager of the telephone company. He has a large number of friends and
acc|uaintances in Moneta and the surrounding country who admire him for
his many good cpialities.

OMER L. LIGHTER.

O. L. Lighter was born in 1884 in Grundy county, Iowa, and is the son
of George and Jennie (Wilhelm) Lighter. George Lighter was born in
Carroll county, Illinois, and after his marriage became a prosperous farmer
of Grundy county, Iowa. In 1888 he moved to O'Brien county and pur-
chased one hundred and sixt}- acres of unimproved land. He improved the
farm and in 1902 he sold it at a good profit and purchased two hundred
acres, which he still owns. Since purchasing his last farm, he has placed
six thousand dollars worth of improvements upon it. George Lighter and
wife are the parents of four children: Clinton, who is farming the home
place; Gladys, Clyde, and Omer L., whose life history is here briefly set forth.

After leaving college Omer L. Lighter was first made manager of the
Fleete Lumber Company and in 1908 he came to Moneta to manage the lum-
ber yard of the same concern. He owns a share in the lumber company as
well as a residence and three acres in Moneta.

Mr. Lighter was married in 1909 to Estella Jones. Politically, Mr.
Lighter is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in politics. Era-

968 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

ternally. he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the
Knights of Pythias. Mr. Lighter is still a young man and has a long and
useful life yet before him. His success in his forepart of life indicates
that he will become one of the substantial business men of the county in the
years to come.

OLE F. OLSON.

Among the substantial business men of Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa,
whose labor and influence has given aid to the material welfare of the city,
is Ole F. Olson, the proprietor of a prosperous clothing business in that city.
His whole life has been filled with hard work and by industry and close atten-
tion to business he has risen to his present place of prominence in the busi-
ness world. He was born November 22, 1871, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and
is the son of Theo and Mary (Helle) Olson, both of whom were born in
Norway. Theo Olson was a farmer in his native land and after coming to
this country he settled in Minnesota and engaged in farming until his death
in 1875. He was born in 1841 and his wife was born in 1838. There were
two children born to Theo Olson and wife, Mary, deceased, and Ole F..
whose history is here briefly portrayed.

Ole F. Olson received a good practical education in the schools of Min-
nesota and when fifteen years of age he began clerking in a clothing store.
He worked there for eight years and, although other clerks came and went,
he always retained his position. In those days it was a disgrace to lose a
position of this kind. In order that he might be secure in his clerkship he
applied himself with unusual energy to his daily tasks. Considered as an
excellent clerk, he received better wages than those who worked bv him. In
1894. when only twenty-three years of age, he came to Oelwein, Iowa, and
purchased a clothing store known as the Hawkeye Clothing Company. He
operated this store for eleven years and did a prosperous business. Most of
his trade was with the railroad men. since Oelwein was a division point on the
Chicago & Great ^^>stern Railway. In 1905 he sold out and moved to Hart-
ley, where he purchased an interest in the firm of Broders, Tagge & Com-
pany. He became the manager of the company and continued in this ca-
pacit}' until September 24, 1913, when he purchased the entire interest of the
other members of the firm. He now carries the largest stock of goods in this
city. His courteous treatment of his customers and his honesty in all of his
transactions have won him the confidence of a large circle of people in Hart-
ley and the surrounding community.

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 969

Mr. Olson was married Jaiuiary 15, 1900, in Cliicago, to Clara Duncan
and to this union have been born two children, Thelma and Teddy, both of
whom are still with their parents. Politically, Mr. Olson belongs to that
large class of men who are classed as independent voters, preferring to cast
his l^allot for the best man irrespective of their politics, and in so doing he
feels that he is serving the best interests of his community. He and his
family are earnest members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and subscribe
liberally to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights
of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Foresters. Mr.
Olson deserves a great deal of credit for the success which he has attained.
In order to qualify himself for better and more efficient work he went to night
school in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and later took a business course. He has
worked hard for his present success and deser\-es a great deal of credit for
the large business which he has built up in this city. He is a man of genial
nature and a winning personality and has a large number of friends and ac-
quaintances in Hartley and the surrounding community.

EDGAR WRIGHT.

The following is a sketch of a plain, honest man of affairs, who by cor-
rect methods and a strict regard for the interests of his patrons has made his
influence felt in Sanborn, Iowa, and won for himself distinctive prestige in
the business circles of that city. He would be the last man to sit for romance
or become the subject of fancy sketches, nevertheless his life presents much
that is interesting and valuable and may be studied with profit by the young,
whose careers are yet to be achieved. He is one of those whose integrity and
strength of character must force them into an admirable notoriety which their
modesty never seeks, who command the respect of their contemporaries and
their posterity and leave the impress of their individuality deeply stamped
upon their community.

Edgar Wright, a prosperous hardware merchant of Sanborn, was born
in 1880, in Linn county, Iowa, the son of John and Catherine (McRay)
Wright. John Wright was born in New York state and operated a farm
there until he came to Summit township, O'Brien county, this state, in 1884.
Upon arriving in this county he purchased land and farmed until his death in
1898. He was twice married and by his first marriage there were three chil-

9/0 O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

dren : Silas, a resident of Wisconsin ; Ernest, a retired fanner of Sanborn,
Iowa, and Ellis, deceased. Edgar is the only child by his second marriage to
Catherine McRay.

Edgar Wright received his education in the common schools of O'Brien
county, his father moving to this comity when he was four years of age. He
worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-seven years of age and in
1912 purchased a half interest in a hardware store in Sanborn, where he is
now building" up a large and increasing trade. He owns a share in the
Farmers Elevator and Lumber Company, of Sanborn, a co-operative concern
wliich is of great benefit to the farmers of the countv.

Politicall}', Mr. Wright has always voted the Republican ticket since he
reached his majority, but has been so busy that he has never had time to take
a very active part in political affairs. He is an attendant of the Methodist
Episcopal church and a member of tiie Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at
Sanl)()m. Mr. Wright is a young man who has the promise of a bright busi-
ness career before him. Since buying an interest in the hardware store, he
has increased its stock, while the trade of the store has been increased as a
result. He is courteous in his treatment of his customers and because he is
honest in all of his business transactions he has earned the confidence and
esteem of all the people with whom he has been associated.

W. D. SHUTTLEWORTH.

One of the substantial business men of Sibley, who has always taken
an active interest in the affairs of the city, is W. D. Shuttleworth, the presi-
dent of the Shell Lumber Company and \'ice-president of the Sibley Cement
Company. He is a man of rare business ability and integrity and, although
he has only been connected with the business life of Sibley a comparatively
short time, yet he has impressed his individuality upon all of those with whom
he has been associated. He was born May 12, 1869, at Fennimore, Grant
county. Wisconsin, and is the son of Craven and Nancy (Kayley) Shuttle-
worth.

Craven Shuttleworth was born in Helsfield, Yorkshire. England, and
came to America in 1856, first settling in Madison, Wisconsin, for two years
and then went to Grant county, where he followed his trade as a cabinet-
maker until his death, in February, 1903. at the age of seventy-eight years.
Craven Shuttleworth and wife were the parents of eight children : Job, of

W. D. SHUTTLEWORTH

o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 97I

Centralia, Illinois; Mrs. Ella McDoiigall, of MeUin. Osceola county, Iowa;
Farrand K., a lawyer of Madison. Wisconsin; Fred, of Idaho Falls, Idaho;
W. D., whose history is here narrated; Craven, of AUendorf, Iowa; Ina D.,
a lawver of Avoca, Iowa, and May, a teacher of music in Xorthfield,
Minnesota.

\\\ D. Shuttleworth was educated in the puhlic schools of Wisconsin
and came to Iowa in the fall of 1890, when he was twenty-one years of age,
and took employment in the .Shell lumber yards and remained there for three
rears, learning the intricacies of the business. He then went to Minneapolis
and took a business course, after which he located in Ocheyedan and operated
a lumber yard for Armin (Jv: Shell. A little later he purchased an interest in
the Ochevedan lumber yards and remained there for the next fifteen years.
In 1909 he came to Sil:)ley and assisted in the organization of the Shell Lum-
ber Company and the Sibley Cement Company. He is now president of the
lumlxT company and \ice-president of the cement company. The cement
company was organized in 1903 for the purpose of manufacturing cement
blocks and tile, making a specialty, however, of tile. The factory is located
along the Rock Island railway and covers five acres of space. It does a
large business in Sibley and the surrounding community and employs from
fifteen to twent}' men the year round.

Mr. Shuttleworth was married in 1896 to Blanche B. Sokol. the daugh-
ter of F. J. and Anna Sokol. The reader is directed to the life history of
Geors'e F. Sokol, which is found elsewhere in this volume, for the ancestral
history of the Sokol family. Mr. and Mrs. Shuttleworth are the parents of
two sons. Frank and Craven.

In addition to his interests in Sibley, Mr. Shuttleworth is vice-president
of the Ocheyedan Savings Bank. Politically, he is an ardent Republican, but
the afi^airs of his business have kept him from taking an active part in political
affilirs. He and his family are loyal members of the Congregational church
and contribute liberally of their means to its support. Fraternally, he is a
member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the
thirty-second degree, belonging to the consistory at Sioux City. He is also
a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a self-made man and owes his
large success solely to his own efforts. W'hile intent on promoting his own
interests, he has not been indifferent to the interests of his fellow citizens,
as is indicated by the part he takes in advancing the material prosperity of
the community and the zeal which he manifests in all enterprises having for
their object the uplift of his fellow men.

9/2 O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

GEORGE HAKEMAN.

Among the successful, self-made men of a past century in O'Brien
county, the late George Hakeman occupied a conspicuous place. A distin-
guished veteran of the Civil War, he came to this county shortly after its
close, starting in to make his home upon the broad prairies of Highland
township. He arose, in time, to a prominent position in the agricultural and
financial circles of his community. He realized early that there is a purpose
in life, that there is no honor not founded on worth, no respect not found on
accomplishment. With his death, there passed away one of the earliest pio-
neers of this county and a man who contributed his full share to the present
prosperous condition of the county.

George Hakeman was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1841 and died
February 15, 191 3. He came to this country from his native land when a
youth and settled in Iowa. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was seized
with the same enthusiasm which inspired the native sons of the country and
enlisted in the Union Army, August 5, 1862, at Tipton, Iowa, in Company C,
Twenty-fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was in continuous
service until his final discharge on August 4, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa. He
saw hard fighting during his three }'ears at the front and ser\-ed his country
in a distinguished and faithful manner.

Immediately after the close of the war he returned to Iowa and in 1872
came to O'Brien count}', in this state, and homesteaded in Highland town-
ship. He continued to reside on his farm until 1882, when he moved to
Paullina, O'Brien county, and engaged in the lumber business. Four years
later he retired from the lumber business and again began to farm near the
town of Paullina. After operating his farm for the next four years he sold
it and moved to Sanborn where he and his son Clare engaged in the grain
and elevator business. Thev also managed a lumber vard with their other
interests. He continued in active business until 1909 when he retired, and
continued to reside in Sanborn until his death in 1913.

Mr. Hakeman was twice married, his first marriage being in 1861 to
Sarah Albaugh, and to this union nine children were born : Charles, de-
ceased; Mrs. Margaret Alard, of Sutherland, Iowa; James, a hardware mer-
chant at Sutherland, Iowa ; Clinton, of May City, Iowa ; Mrs. Lily Bryant, of
North Dakota; Nora, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Mrs. Mary Wagner, of
Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Clare, of Sanborn, Iowa; Mrs. Nellie Fisher, of
Belleplane, Iowa, and Sadie, now Mrs. E. Hendrickson, of Mason City, Iowa.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 973

The second marriage of j\Ir. Hakeman was in 1882 to Sarah Delapp.
She was born in 1855 in New York state and is the daughter of ]\Ir. and
Mrs. George Delapp. She came from Xew York state and hved with her
uncle, Samuel Spencer, in Adair county, Iowa. She lived with her uncle for
several years and then spent two years in A\^isconsin. In 1879 she came back
to Iowa and lived in O'Brien county with ]\Irs. D. C. Fields, her sister, until
her marriage in 1882. To this second marriage were born two children,
Gallic, who is liA'ing with her mother, and Airs. Amy Raymond, of O'Brien
county.

Mr. Hakeman and his wife were long members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church and subscribed liberally to its support. He was a member of
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows and the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Hakeman is a member of
the Eastern Star. Air. Hakeman is remembered by his friends as a man of
fine presence and an influential man in the circles in which he moved. With a
sound character and unflagging energy he stood as an example of the self-
made man. His life was filled with good deeds and kindly thoughts and in
all of life's relations he was true and faithful to his duty and thereby won
the unqualified confidence and regard of his fellow citizens.

PATRIGK J. DOUGHERTY.

This utilitarian age has been especially prolific in men of action, clear-
brained men of high resolve and noble purposes, who give character and sta-
bility to the communities honored by their citizenship, and whose influence
and leadership are easily discernible in the various enterprises that have
added so greatly to the high reputation which O'Brien county enjoys among
her sister counties of this great commonwealth. Conspicuous among this
class of men whose place of residence was in O'Brien county was the pro-
gressive citizen under whose name this article is written, and to a brief out-
line of whose career the biographer is herewith pleased to address himself.

Patrick Dougherty, a former clothing merchant of Sanborn and a mem-
ber of the firm of Dougherty & Kelley, was born at Erin Prairie. Wisconsin,
in 1876. He was the son of John and Julia (Crowe) Dougherty, his father
being a native of Ireland. John Dougherty was born in 181 7 and early in
life left his native country and settled in Wisconsin where he became a
farmer. After living fifteen years in that state he came to O'Brien county

974 O BKIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

in 1877 and purchased one hundred and sixt)' acres of prairie land in Carroll
township. For a number of years the family lived in a log house, but later
he put up a substantial dwelling and improved his farm so that it became a
\aluable piece of property. John Dougherty was twice married, and to his
first marriage were born four children : Thomas, a banker of North Da-
kota ; Mrs. Katherine GifTord, of Seattle, Washington; Frank, a farmer of
Floyd towmship, in this county; Charles, a real estate agent of Sheldon, Iowa.
In 1869 John Dougherty was married to Julia Crowe and to this union four
children were born: Mrs. Mary Beacom, of O'Brien county; James, a farmer
of South Dakota: one which died in infancy, and Patrick, whose life history
is here delineated.

Patrick Dougherty was educated in Xorthfield, Minnesota, and after
leaving school he returned to his parents" home in O'Brien county where he
worked for a time. His father dying, he and his mother moved to Sheldon,
where he secured em])]i>\-ment as clerk in a general mercantile establishment.
For fifteen vears he clerked in different stores in Sheldon and then in 1905
he went to Primghar, Iowa, and managed the clothing department for the
Williams ]^lercantile Company at that place. After a service of nine years
with that company lie mo\ed to Sanborn and with his brother-in-law, Joe
Kelley, bought a clothing store. He was in the firm only a short time, but
had alread}- become thoroughly familiar with all the details of the establish-
ment. His long experience as clerk in different stores and as manager of
the clothing department of the Williams Mercantile Company at Primghar
had made him a business man of exceptional ability. He knew every angle
(tf the purchasing part of the business, and w^as able to stock his store with
th.e best judgment at the lowest prices.

Mr. Dougherty was married in 1901 to Mae Kellev, and to this union
have been born two children, John and Winifred. The Democratic party
had always claimed the support of Mr. Dougherty, but he had been so busy
with his OAvn interests that he had no time to indulge in politics. He and his
family were loyal members of the Catholic church, while he was a member
of the Catholic fraternity, the Knights of Columbus. He also held member-
ship in the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Genial and unassuming in
manner, Mr. Dougherty easily won friends and always retained them, and
because of his high personal qualities and business success he is eminently
entitled to representation in a work of this nature. He was killed in the awful
cyclone that struck Sanborn June 5, 1914, being on his way home, from the
store to his supper.

BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 975

MARTIN HICKEY.

The subject of this review is a representative fanner and stock grower
of Frankhn township, O'Brien county, Iowa, and he is known as one of tlie
alert, progressive and successful agriculturists of this fa\'ored section of the
Hawkeye state. In his labors he has not permitted himself to follow in the
rut in a blind, apathetic way, but has studied and experimented and thus se-
cured the maximum returns from his enterprising eltorts, while he has so
ordered his course at all times as to command the confidence and regard of the
people of the community in which he lives, being a man of honorable business
methods and advocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare in
any way.

Martin Hickey, a farmer and stock raiser of Franklin township, O'Brien
county, was born August 2, 1849, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of John and
Mary (McCardel) Hickey, who were natives of Ireland. John Hickey was
Ijorn in 1823, and left his native land with his parents and came to America,
settling in Chicago when he was seven years of age. He grew to manhood in
this city and became a stage dri\-er and a miner in Illinois. Later in life he
moved to Clinton count}', Iowa, where he engaged in farming for a few
vears and then moved to Buchanan county, where he followed the vocation
of a farmer until his death in 1888. He was married in 1846 to Mary Mc-
Cardel, who died in 1908, and to this union were born eleven children: Mar-
tin ; Peter, who is a farmer of this county ; John, who was killed by an au-
tomobile in this county in 1913; Michael, who is a resident of Montana;
Ellen, living with her brother, Peter; William, a farmer living in Minnesota;
Patrick, of Sheldon, Iowa; Thomas, a farmer in O'Brien county; two who
died in infancy; Mary, deceased, and Martin, with whom this narrative deals.

Martin Hickey started to work for himself when he was eighteen year^
of age and for several years worked as a farm laborer, and for a time he
drove a cab in the city of Chicago and later freighted with a team across the
Rocky mountains from Fairplay to Leadville, Colorado. In 1888 he came to
O'Brien county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for the first three years,
after which he bought eighty acres of unimpro^•ed land in Franklin township,
and is still operating this land. Since purchasing this tract he has made ex-
tensive improvements in the way of erecting buildings, fencing and installing
a splendid system of drainage. He makes a specialty of raising Norman
horses and has taken first prizes on his Norman stock at the county fair.

Mr. Hickey was married in 1896 to Mary Rathford. Politically, he is a

976 o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

member of the Democratic party, but has never taken an active interest in
political affairs. ReHgiously, he and his wife are earnest and faithful mem-
bers of the Catholic church and subscribe generously to its support. Mr.
Hickey is a self-made man and is deserving of great credit for the success
which has attended his eft'orts in the county. He takes an intelligent interest
in local movements which make for the advancement of the best interests of
his community. He is a man of social tendencies, kind and obliging and
straightforward in all the walks of life, and is highly respected and popular
with his fellow citizens.

JOHN J. NEUMAN.

The history of any man is merely a recital of those things which have
marked his progress along his pathway in life. Every man fills his niche in
society and the value of a man to society depends upon how important is the
niche he fills. In this day of 'specialization there are so many hundreds of
different occupations that it is impossible to set a comparative value upon the
work of men, but it must be conceded that there is no occupation which out-
ranks that of a farmer in importance.

John J. Newman, a prominent farmer and stockman of Franklin town-
ship, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in Lee county, Illinois, in 1856, the son
of Johp and Martha (Wagner) Neuman, who were both natives of Germany
and came to this country after their marriage in 1855. John Neuman, Sr.,
settled in Lee county. Illinois, on a farm and remained there until a few years
before his death, when he moved to Ashton, in Lee county, where he died in
1900. John and Martha Neuman were the parents of eight children: Mrs.
Christina Teal, who lives in Hartley, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Krug, who is a resi-
dent of Illinois; Mrs. Elizabeth Heipenthal, who also lives in Illinois: Mrs.
Sophia Kersten, deceased: Mrs. Katherine Kersten, of Lee county, Illinois;
Henry, who lives in Lee county. Illinois ; Mrs. Anna Schafer, who lives in
Illinois, and John J., whose life history forms the thread of this narrative.
In addition to these eight children, there were two others who died in infancy.

John J. Neuman received a good common school education in the schools
of this native county in Illinois, and upon marrying in that state rented land
from his father, on which he lived until 1904, after which he moved to
O'Brien county, Iowa, and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in
Franklin and Lincoln townships, where he is now living. He has improved
his farm in various ways by erecting buildings, constructing fences and put-

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 97/

ting' in an extensive system of drainage until the fami is now one of the most
highly cultivated and productive, as well as among the most valuable of the
township. In addition t(^ the raising of all the grain crops common to this
locality, he also engages extensively in the breeding of live stock and makes
a specialtv of Aberdeen Angus cattle, finding that this line of endeavor adds
not a little to his annual income. He is also a shareholder in the Farmers
Elevator Company at Sanborn.

Mr. Neuman was married in 1882 to Sophia Krug, who died in 1900.
and to this union there were born eight children, all of whom are still living
in O'Brien county: William, a farmer; Mrs. Ida Neinthorp; Mrs. Minnie
Muxlow ; Albert, who is assisting his father on the home farm; Nora, Har-
vey and Clara, who are still with their parents on the home place, and Char-
lotte, who is living with her grandparents.

Mr. Neuman, from the time he attained his majority, has been active in
the support of the Republican party, but his farming and stock interests ha\--
ing made such heavy demands on his time and attention that he has never felt
that he had the time to take an active part in politics. He and his family have
been earnest in their support of the Methodist Episcopal church and have
advanced its interests in every way. Mr. Newman has always given his sup-
port to even,^ movement which was calculated to advance the welfare of his
community along any legitimate lines. By his advocacy of wholesome living,
pure politics and honesty in business, he has enjoyed the undivided respect
and esteem of all who know him.

WILLIAM BRAHAN.

Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success.
It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and
acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in
life are often attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary quali-
ties of common sense and perseverance. The every-day life, with its cares,
necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring experience of
the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant
scope for effort and self -improvement.

William Brahan, son of Michael and Catherine (Smith) Brahan, was
born in 1870, in Jasper county, Iowa. Michael Brahan was born in 181 8 in
Ireland, while his wife was born in the same countr}- in 1823. He died in

9/8 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

1913. Air. and yirs. Michael Brahaii were the parents of five children:
Xorthrop, a resident of Baxter, Iowa; Airs. Agnes Learner, of Melbourne,
this state; Mrs. Josie Jack, of Newton, Iowa; Airs. Agnes learner, of Ashton,
Iowa, and William, whose life history is here delineated.

William Brahan settled in Sanborn, Iowa, in 1887, and for the next three
years worked as a farm hand in the immediate neighborhood, after which he
rented land in Franklin township, this county, until 1907, at which time he
purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Franklin township, this
county. Since acquiring a farm of his own he has improved the tract in
\-arious ways, so as to greath- enhance its value, and in addition to raising all
the crops common to this section, keeps graded stock of high cjuality and is
recognized as a farmer who is progressive in his methods and a man who
understands thoroughly the details of modern agriculture.

Mr. Brahan was married on Alarch 12, 1895, ^o Sarah Dummitt, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Dummitt, a homesteader of Franklin
township, this county, and to this marriage have been born two children,
Beulah and Earl, who are now attending school.

The Republican party has claimed the support of Mr. Brahan since
reaching his majority and, although he has never been a candidate for a pub-
lic office, he takes an intelligent interest in political affairs. Religiously, he
and his family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church and try to
li\e a life consistent with the teachings of that denomination. Mr. Brahan
is recognized as a man of enterprising and progressive ideas and has not been
backward in giving his support to every movement for the upbuilding and
development of his county. Personally, he is a genial and companionable
man and an appreciative member of the \arious circles in which he moves.

PATRICK L. PEISLEY

A well remembered and honored pioneer citizen of Osceola count}^ who
passed to his reward many years ago was Patrick L. Peisley. He was a man
who united those (lualities of head and heart which insure success in any field
of endeavor. Born of sturdy Irish parents, he was taught self-reliance, inde-
pendence of thought and a sturdy belief in strict adherence to the accepted
rules of life. He served with distinction in the Civil War and after the close
of that struggle came to this county where he became one of the earliest
pioneers.

PATRICK L. PEiaLEV

■'Tr

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OA ICM5

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 979

Patrick L. Peisley was born in Ireland in 1844 and died in Osceola
county, Iowa, September 13. 1900. He came to this country with his father,
Michael, when he was five years of age and the family settled in Grant county,
Wisconsin, and there Patrick Peisley was reared to manhood. In that state
he enlisted for service in the Union army in 1861, in Company C. Second
Regiment Wisconsin Cavalry, and served until he was mustered out at
Austin, Texas, November 15. 1865. He was appointed corporal Ji-ine i,
1864. and finally discharged at Madison. Wisconsin, on December 11, 1865,
with this rank. Among the battles in which he took part may be mentioned
the following: Bayou Cache. Arkansas; Oakland. Mississippi; Lick Creek,
Arkansas; Cold Water. Mississippi; PI our Lake, Tennessee; siege of Vicks-
Inirg; Clinton, 3*Iississippi ; Bayou Pierre and James Landing, Arkansas;
Jackson, Mississippi; Mentonia, Missouri; Prairie Cirove, Arkansas; Van
Buren, Arkansas; Plall's Plantation. Mississippi; Woodville, Mississippi;
Yazoo City ; Egypt Station and several skirmishes in Texas.

After being mustered out of the ser\ice in Wisconsin, Mr. Peisley re-
mained there until his marriage in 1873. He and his wife then came to
Osceola countv and homesteaded on section 7,2, in A'iola township, and <m
this farm they li\ed and reared a family, remaining there until 1910. In
that year the \\i(lo\v mo\'ed to Sibley, where she is now living. Mr. Peisley
was successful as a farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of two
hundred and ninet}'-three acres of excellent farming land. He put extensixe
impro\ements on his farm in the way of new buildings, fencing" and drainage
until it became one of the most valuable tracts in the township.

Mr. Peisley was married on July 3, 1873, to Mary Jane O'Neil, who
was Ijorn Deceml)er 15, 1850. in Dutchess count}-. New York, and is the
daughter of John and Julia (Phillips) O'Neil. wIkj were both natives of Ire-
land. They left New \'ork in 1874 and settled in Cjrant county, Wisconsin,
where the}- li\-e(l until 1883. In that year they came to Osceola count}-, Iowa,
where the father and mother both died, the mother passing awav in 1889 and
the father in the year following. Mr. and ]\lrs. O'Neil Avere the parents of
three children: ]\Iar}- )., the wife of Mr. Peisley; Eliza Ann. who died in
the fall of 190^), and Daniel, who is the clerk at the Osceola House in Sibley.
Mr. and Mrs. Peisley are the parents of four children : Mrs. Maria R.
Corkell, who i^ li\ing with her mother in .Sibley; Mrs. Emma Walbran, who
is a resident of Tracy, Minnesota; Daniel L.. who is living on the homestead
in Viola township, this count}-, and one who died in infancy.

Mr. and ^Irs. Peisle\' were both members of the Catholic church and
(63)

980 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNl-IES, IOWA.

always rendered it their earnest support. In politics Mr. Peisley. was a
Democrat and always took an acti\"e interest in local politics. He had been
a school director in Viola township for a number of years preceding his
death and served several years as trustee of Viola township. Mrs. Peisley
is a woman of most estimable character and is highly esteemed bv all who
know her for her manv deeds of kindness and charity. She and her hus-
band li\"ed a full and complete life and were happy in their home relations.
Mr. Peisley thought much of the family name and strove to keep it
untarnished before the world. He took pride in his children and did every-
thing in his power for their welfare. To those who were very near to him
and knew him well he was regarded as a good man in every sense of the
word, faithful and true, a kind neighbor, and an hc^nor to his county and
state.

ROBERT \y. BOYD.

The history of him whose name heads this biographical sketch is close-
ly identified with the history of O'Brien county, Iowa, which has long been
his home. He began his career in this locality in the pioneer epoch and
throughout the subsequent years he has been closely allied with its interests
and upbuilding. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been
crowned with a degree of success commensurate with his efforts. He is of the
highest t}'pe of progressive citi.zen and none more than he deserves a fitting
recognition among those whose enterprise and al)ility have achieved results
that have awakened the admiration of those who know them. The cause
of humanity never had a truer friend than Mr. Boyd, and in all the rela-
tions of life — family, church, state and society — he has displayed that con-
sistent Christian spirit, that natural worth, that has endeared him to all
classes. His integrity and fidelity have been manifested in every relation of
life, an example which has been an inspiration to others and his influence has
been felt in the community honored by his citizenship.

Robert W. Boyd, a distinguished veteran of the Civil war, and now
living a retired life in Sutherland, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in Ire-
land in 1844. He is a son of Mv. and Mrs. Robert Boyd, whose family
history is sketched elsewhere in this volume, in the history of Richard Boyd.

Robert W. Boyd came over to this country with his parents before the
Civil War, and in 1862, although only a lad of eighteen, he offered his
services for the cause of his adopted country and enlisted at Marion, Iowa.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 98 1

on October lo, 1862, in the Sixth Iowa Cavalry. A short time after enter-
ing the serx'ices he became sick with kmg fever and was discharged on
acconnt of (hsabihty, on Febrnary 10, 1863, at Davenport, Iowa, ha\'ing
Ijeen in tlie active service only aliout four months. In 1865 ^''^ started to
work in Linn count}', Iowa, as a laborer, and continued to work in that
county until 1871. In that year he came to Grant township, O'Brien county,
and homesteaded a tract of land and exentually proved his title to his land.
He ])ut out one of the largest groves and orchard trees which has ever been
set out in the township and his seventeen acres of trees is one of the pleasing
sights of this section of the state. He is a progressive farmer in every sense
of the word and erected a barn, which at the time it was built was the
largest Ijarn in the township. This l)arn was later destroyed by fire. For
the first three years after coming here Mr. Boyd lived by himself in a
sod house, and one must li\'e in such a house in order to appreciate the dis-
advantages and discomforts which he suffered. In 1874 his mother sent
him money to build a little house, and the lumber had to be hauled from
Sheldon, a distance of twenty-five miles. In the early days of the county
he was a grain freighter, hauling' grain from Primghar to Sheldon, and he
has the honor of selling the first load of wheat which was sold in Shel-
don, the purchaser being Benjamin Jones. He also hauled the first load
of wheat to Hartley, where he sold it to a Mr. McAndrews. In the early
days of the county there were no roads and the trails between towns was
constantly changing, a fact which often caused travelers to be led astray and
even lost. As well acquainted as Mr. Boyd was with the different trails in
that early time, it has happened that he has been lost himself more than
once on the prairies of O'Brien county, in the days gone by. Mr. Boyd
continued to reside upon his farm until iqio, when he moved to Primghar
to educate his only son and child. In 191 1 he mo\'ed to Sutherland, where
he is now living, bavins' a fine home and four acres of land within the cor-
porate limits of the town. Mr. Boyd at one time owned and operated a
livery barn in Sutherland, but has disposed of his. interests in this busi-
ness.

Mr. Boyd was married in 1878 to Hannah Snyder, the daughter of
Palmer and Polly Snyder, who are now li\'ing with Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Snyder
being one of the oldest women in the county, having reached the advanced
age of ninety-six years in October, 19 14. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have one
son, John W., who is still living with his parents.

The Republican party has claimed the stanch support of Mr. Boyd since
he was old enough to cast his first ballot. However, he has never had as-

982 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

piration along political lines, being content to devote his time and energies
to his agricultural interests. However, he has been a school director for
several years and in that capacity gave his aid to every measure which
promised to benefit the schools of his tcjwnship. He and his famil}- are ear-
nest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and subscrilie liberally to the
support of that denomination. Fraternall}-, he is a member of the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Free and Accepted ^^lasons, and
takes a deep interest in the work of these fraternal organizations. Personally,
he is popular throughout the community, possessing those amialjle (pialities
which attract friends and is rightfully ranked among the leading citizens
of his townshii) and county.

JOHN BLAHAUVIETZ.

The prosperous farmer and stock raiser of O'Brien county, Iowa, whose
career is here briefly portrayed is one of those self-made men who have put
O'Brien county in the front ranks of tlie agricultural counties of the state of
Iowa, .\lthough he has l)een ui the county only ten years, yet such has been
his life that he has gained the confidence and esteem of the people of his com-
munity. He is justly termed a self-made man and as such his life is one
which may ]je stutlied with profit In' the young men of the rising generation.

John Blahauvietz ^^■as born in ^Michigan in 1869 ^.nd is the son of Mr.
and Airs. Jacob Blahau\ietz. His father was l)orn in Germany in 1804 ^^i^d
settled in Michigan, where he lived until his death. Jacob Blahauvietz and
wife were the parents of six children : \>nce, who is in the employ of a
brick yard in Michigan; Josepli, a luachinist of Alichigan ; Frank; Albert;
Charles, and John, with whom this narrative deals.

John Blahau\ietz has made his own \va_\" since he was twehe ^•ears of
age, starting in at that early age as a horse driver in a brick yard at Detroit.
Michigan. He worked for five years. At the age of nineteen he left home
and came to O'Brien county. A^■here he worked for six vcars as a fanu la-
borer. He then rented land in I'enton county and farmed for four vears,
after which he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Carroll countv,
Iowa. He impro\'ed this land and in three }-ears sold it out at a good profii
and invested his luoney in one hundred and sixty acres of land in O'Brien
county. Since purchasing his farm in O'Brien county, in 1904, he has made
seven thousand dollars worth of improvements upon it. While raising all of

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. 983

the crups which are common to this locahty, he has made a specialty of the
breechng- of Diiruc Jersey hogs. He owns a share in the Farmers Elevator
Company at Sanborn.

Mr. Blahauvietz was married in 1898 to Alary Reisser, and to this union
!ia\e been born two children, William and Margaret, both of whom are now
attending the high school at Sanborn. Politically, Mr. Blahauvietz is a Re-
l)u1)]ican and has been acti\e in civic and public affairs of his township and
is now serving as a school director in Franklin township. He has always
taken an interest in i)nl)lic affairs and gives his support to such movements as
he feels will Ijenefit liis community. He and his family are loyal members of
the Presbyterian church and render it their support at all times. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Modern \\'oodmen of America.

ALBERT H. WEINKE.

America is known the world over as the land of opportunity, and this
fact accounts for the millions of people who come to our shores each year
seeking new homes. Tlic}- come from practically every Cjuarter of the

elobe and while all of them do not make good citizens, yet within the course

fc>

of a few vears the maioritv of them become imlnied with the true Ameri-
can spirit and settle down to lives of usefulness. There is one country
in luu-ope, however, whose citizens are always acceptable in any com-
numitv, and O'Brien county, Iowa, is proud of her numerous German citi-
zens, all of whom ha\e 1)een important factors in the upbuilding of this

county.

Albert H. Weinke, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Franklin
township, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in Germany in 1859. His father
was l)orn in 1819 and his mother in 1831, and both of them lived all of
their days in the land of their l)irth. William and Katherine (Pankie)
Wienke, the parents of Albert H. Weinke, had a family of thirteen chil-
dren, onlv six of whom are living, and of the six children living, Albert
is the only one who has made his home in America. The other five chil-
dren. William. Augustus, Julius. Herman and Mrs. Alvira Frederick, live
in their native land of Germany.

Alljert H. Weinke received 'a good common school education in the
schools of his native land and when twenty-two years of age decided to
come to America t(^ seek his fortune. He first settled in Wisconsin and for

984 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

six years worked on a farm in that state. In 1881 he came to O'Brien
county and worked out as a farm hiborer for six years, after which he
rented land for a period of seven years, after which he purchased one
hunch'ed and sixty acres of land in Franklin township, where he now lives,
and has put extensive improvements upon this tract so that its value has
greatly increased. He keeps his farm to the highest standard of agri-
cultural excellence and by its general appearance of neatness and prosperity
makes a favorable impression on the passerby. In addition to carrying on
a general system of diversified farming he also engages extensively in the
breeding of live stock, which he tinds a profitable source of income.

Mr. Weinke was married in 1888 to Antonie j\Iell and to this union'
have been born six children, William, Henry. Hetty, Anna, Elsie and Edwin
William is li\ing in Dakota and the other fi\e children are still living with
their parents on the farm. Mr. Weinke is an earnest advocate of the prin-
ciples of the Republican party, but has never felt inclined to take an active
part in political affairs. He and the members of his family are zealous and
faithful members of the German Lutheran cliurch, to which they give a liberal
support. Personally. Mr. \\>inke enjoys a wide popularity for he has taken
an intelligent interest in the welfare of his community and has at all times
given his earnest support to everything tending to advance the welfare of his
fellow men. Courteous and kind to all, broad-minded in his views of men
and events, it is a compliment worthily bestowed to speak of him as one of
the representative citizens of his locality, and he enjoys, to a marked degree,
the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.

JOHN PROTEXTOR.

Among the substantial men of Franklin township, O'Brien county, Iowa,
whose labor and influence have given an impetus to the agricultural interests
and general material welfare of the county, there is no one who occupies a
higher place in the esteem of his community than John Protextor, a prosper-
ous fanner and stock raiser of Franklin township. Connected as he has been
with the history of his county for the past thirty-three years, he has been a
forceful factor in agricultural circles and a leading citizen in all that con-
cerns the public good.

John Protextor was born in Bremer county, Iowa, in 1867 and is the
son of George and Charlotte (Ehrke) Protextor. George Protextor was

o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 985

born in Germany in 1834 and when a young man settled in Illinois and was
employed as a brakeman on the railroad in that state. He enlisted in Com-
pany B, Twelfth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Davis, Illinois, on
September 29, 1864, and served until he was discharged at Washington,
D. C, on June 3, 1865. On coming back to Illinois after the war he con-
tinued to follow the occupation of a brakeman for several years, when he re-
signed and went to Bremer county, Iowa. After farming in this county for
three years he bought land in Grundy county, Iowa, and farmed it for ten
years. In 188 1 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of prairie land in
Franklin township, O'Brien county, but five years later sold it at a good profit
and moved to Sheldon, where he worked for the Springfield Land Company
and operated a hotel for the next twelve years, and is now living a retired life
at Sil)ley, Iowa. George Protextor was married in 1858 to Charlotte Ehrke
and to this union have been born twelve children: Charles, deceased; Frank,
deceased; Louise, deceased; George W., a land agent of Sibley, Iowa; Mrs.
Ella Julian, of Rock Rapids, Iowa ; William, a farmer of Lake Wilson, Min_-
nesota; Henry, of Litde Rock, Iowa; ^Irs. Flora Johnson, of Noble county,
Minnesota; Walter, of Little Rock, Iowa; Daniel, of Minnesota; Christ, de-
ceased, and John, whose history forms the theme of this narrative.

John Protextor receix'ed a good common school education in the schools
of Iowa and remained with his parents until eighteen years of age. He then
worked as a farm hand for three years, after which he rented land and lived
upon it for three years. He then purchased eight acres of land in Lyons
county, in this state, which he sold two years later and at once invested in
Franklin township, O'Brien county, buying one hundred and sixty acres of
unimproved land for seventeen dollars an acre and has made about eight
thousand dollars worth of improvements on the land since acquiring it. He
has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser since coming to this
county and has added to his farm from time to time until he now owns three
hundred and sixty acres of land in Franklin township. He is an extensive
raiser of live stock and makes a specialty of good cattle and horses and Duroc
Jersey hogs. He owns a share in the Farmers Elevator at Sanlwrn and was
the manao'er of the elevator for two vears.

Mr. Protextor was married in 1887 to Anna Getting and to this union
have been born three children; Mrs. Clara Dingel a graduate of the San-
born high school ; Earl, a graduate of the Sanborn high school and now as-
sisting his father on the farm, and Emmett, in school. Politically, Air. Pro-
textor lias always been a Republican, but his hea\y agricultural interests
have prevented him from taking an active part in political affairs. He and

986 o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

his family are attendants of the Presbyterian church and render it their
hearty support at all times. Air. Protextor is not only an excellent man,
personally and in business affairs, but in the ci\ic life of his community he
has taken a large interest and gives his support to every movement which
is for the advancement of the educational, moral and social welfare of
his citizens.

ALBERT y. BRADY

Among the ^'ounger agriculturists of O'Brien county, Iowa, who are
rapidly forging to tlie front as successful farmers, there is no one who is
more deserving of mention in this volume than Albert Verne Brady, a farmer
and live-stock man of Sanliorn. He was born September 9, 1885, in San-
born, and is the son of b>.ra Al. and Clara A. (Roberts) Brady.

Ezra AI. Brady was born Alarcli 29, 1845. i" Hamden, Geauga county,
Ohio, and was one of the early pioneers of O'Brien county, Iowa, coming
to this county in an early day. He was the son of Barney Brady, whose
father was a native of Ireland. Ezra Al. Brady came to Iowa in the sixties
and .settled in Waterman township, O'Brien county. He was a member of
tbe board of countv super\iM)rs early in the history of the county and later
kept a mercantile establishment at Primghar. He was one of the very few
business men who did not go into bankruptc}- during the famous "grass-
hopper'" vears. He rose to a prominent place in his county and even in the
councils of his state. He was one of the leaders of his party and served two
terms in the General Assembly of Iowa, and was a leader in Republican poli-
tics for many vears. He remo^•ed from Primghar to Sanborn, where he con-
ducted a general store for se\-eral years. In addition to his mercantile inter-
ests, he was a live stock ])reeder and shipper. He had large holdings of land,
on which he would i)lace sheep, which he bought in the West. He was the
owner of four hundred and thirty-seven acres in O'Brien county and five
hundred acres in the state of Minnesota at the time of his death. Clara A.
Roberts, the wife of Ezra AI. Brady, was born in Filmore county, Minnesota,
lune 27, 1859, and was married to Air. Brady on April 28, 1881, and to this
union there were born five children: Ralph Ray, who died in infancy: Eva
Myrtle, a teacher in the Eort Dodge schools : Albert Verne, whose history is
here presented; Ezra McKlimm, who was born January i, 1888, and is now
living in Mason City. Iowa, and Lawrence William, who was born June i,
1897, and is now attending school at Fort Dodge.

EZRA M. BRADY

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 98/

Albert Verne Brady was educated in the schools of Sanborn and gradu-
ated from the high school at that place. He then studied at the business
college at Spencer. Iowa, and later attended the State University of Iowa.
His college education was interrupted by the death of his father on August
26, 1906, when he was called home to take charge of his father's large estate.
He continued in the same general line of farming which his father had found
profitable, the buying and feeding of live stock, and he is a large feeder of
live stock, particularly nf sheep, annually feeding from one thousand five
hundred to two thousand head for the markets. He is the owner of two
hundred acres of land, besides having general charge of the extensive inter-
ests of his father.

Mr. Brady was married January i, tqio, to Margaret King, of San-
born, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. (1. H. King, the former being one of the
oldest railroad men in Sanborn, and to this marriage there has been born (^ne
child. \'crne. Jr., Ijorn June 2. 1913.

Politically, !Mr. lirady is a Democrat, but has never held any public
position other than that of being a member of the Sanborn school board.
Fraternally, he is a meml)er of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and
has attained to the thirty-second degree and is also a member of the Alystic
Shrine at Sioux City. He and his wife are attendants of the Presbyterian
church, and contribute liberall}- of their substance and time to its support.

JOHN J. DEL AN.

Far-awav Norway has furnished but few residents for O'Brien county,
Iowa. Those who have made this county their home have prospered to an
unusual degree. The same spirit still animates the people of that country
which induced them to cross the unknown Atlantic in the year 1000 to the
bleak coast of northern North America. During the ]\Iiddle ages the people
of Norway and Sweden were great sea rovers and from the time of the Saxon
invasion in the sixth century the people of Norway have been important fac-
tors in the history of Europe. No more prosperous people are found in Eu-
rope today than are the people of Norway, and the same holds true of those
who ha^•e made their homes in O'Brien county.

John J. Delan was born in Norway in 1859 and is the son of John and
Julia Delan. John Delan was born in that country in 1827, married in the
land of his birth and lived there on a farm for several years after his mar-

988 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

riage. In 1869, hoping to better his condition, he brought his family to
America and immediately came overland to Benton county, Iowa, where he
began to homestead a farm. For ten years he followed the vocation of a
farmer in Benton county, and then retired from active life and moved to
O'Brien county, where he lived with liis children, Julia and John, until his
death. John Delan and wife were the parents of three children: j\Irs. Julia
Axtel, whose husband is a farmer in this county; Ole. deceased, and John
J., whose life history forms the theme of this narrative.

John J. Delan received his elementary education in the schools of his
nati\'e land of Norway and although he was only ten years of age when his
parents came to this country he had but little opportunity for schooling in
the region where his parents settled in Iowa. At the age of twelve he began
to work out by the day and continued to wc^rk in Benton county, Iowa, at
farm labor until 1887, when he came to O'Brien county and invested his
savings in two hundred acres of prairie land. Two years later he married
and from that time his prosperity has been assured. He has put eight thou-
sand dollars worth of improvements on his farm since acquiring it and has
made it one of the most productive farms in the township. He is an exten-
sive breeder of graded stock, including Shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs
and Norman horses, and, in common with most of the farmers of this locality,
owns a share in the Elevator Company at Sanborn.

Mr. Delan was married in 1889 to Julia Ellingson, and to this union
have been born four children : Elmer, who is assisting his father on the
home farm; Ida, who is a teacher in the schools of Lincoln township, O'Brien
county ; John and Clarence, who are still under the parental roof. Mr. Delan
is independent in his politics, believing that the citizen who serves his coun-
try best votes for the best man, irrespective of their politics. He has always
taken a prominent part in all public affairs in his township and county and
for six years was trustee of Franklin township. During his incumbency he
gave eminent satisfaction in the conduct of his office and thereby won the
commendation of all the citizens of his township. He and the members of
his family are zealous adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church and
render to it earnest and faithful support at all times. Mr. Delan has estab-
lished a reputation for honorable dealing and just treatment of his fellow-
citizens and has never A'iolated the confidence which they have reposed in him.
Quiet and unassuming, he has never been a seeker for public office and only
served in the office of township trustee at the earnest solicitation of his many
friends.

o'bKIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 989

OTTO KIRCHHOF.

There are some men who win in Hfe's battle by sheer force of per-
sonaHty and determination and have to make their own way, unaided, from
the bottom of the ladder. On the other hand there are many good men
who must inherit half of this world's goods in order to make them inde-
pendent from the beginning of their career. To the former class of citi-
zens belongs Otto Kirchhof, of Sutherland, Iowa, and who has shown his
ability and integrity in everything which he has undertaken. Thirty years
of his life have been spent in this city and he has never failed to lend hi>.
aid in defending principles affecting the public good. He has ably and
conscientiously served his city as mayor, and in every phase of civic life
he has so ordered his course that he has earned the unqualified endorse-
ment and support of his fellow citizens.

Otto Kirchhof was born in Germany in 1841 and is the son of Henry
and Fredrica (Peterson) Kirchhof. The father was born in Germany in
1797 and lived the life of a druggist there, dying in 1876. His wife, Fred-
rica Peterson, was born in 18 15 and died in the land of her birth in 1907.
There were four children Ijorn to 'Sir. and Mrs. Henry Kirchhof: Otto,
whose history is here gi^■en, the only one to lea\'e his native land for this
country ; the other three children are still living in Germany, Mrs. Maud
Schichting, Airs. Louise Peterson and Antoiie.

Otto Kirchhof received a good common school education in his native
country and at the age of twenty-two decided that he wanted to come to
America. He had beared about .the fortunes which were made in this country
and felt that here was an opportunity which should be investigated. Ac-
cordingh' he came to this country and at once settled in Davenport, Iowa,
where he worked on a fanu for three years. He then managed a stone
quarry in Clinton county, Iowa, for a year, after which he went to Grundy
county and farmed for eight years. In 1884 he came to Sutherland and
for the next twenty-one years operated a retail meat market in this city.
In 1905 he disposed of his interest in the meat market and retired from
active life. He now owns a beautiful home in Sutherland and until recently
owned one hundred and forty acres of land in O'Brien county. He is one
of the stockholders of the Farmers Elevator Company of Sutherland.

Mr. Kirchhof was married in 1883 to Bertha Homfeldt and to this
union have been born two children, Frieda, a clerk in the postofiice at Suther-
land, and Antonia, clerking in one of the stores at Sutherland.

990 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA counties, IOWA.

]\Ir. Kirchhuf has l)cen a stanch Democrat since hecoming a naturaHzed
citizen in this country and has always taken an active interest in pohtical
affairs. He was mayor of the city of Sutherland for six years and took a
prominent part in l^ringing the city to its present state of prosperity and all
public improvements were given his hearty support at all times. He and the
members of his familv are earnest adherents of the German Lutheran church
and subscribe liberally to the support of that denomination. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Kirchhof
has so ordered his life as to command the confidence, respect and esteem
of the citizens of his community and. being a man of honorable business
methods and a<lvocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare, he
has justly earned the title of a representative man in his community.

SLICK & McF.\RLAXD.

Among the various business enterprises of the city of Sutherland,
O'Brien county. Iowa, which have been effective in raising the standard of
refinement and education throughout the community, none perhaps are more
deserving of special mcntiim than the firm of printers and publishers whose
name forms the caption to this article. Of John N. Slick, the senior mem
ber of the firm, improvement and progress may well be said to form the
kevnote of his character, and he is one of the Ijest known and most influen-
tial citizens of the community. He has not only been interested in advanc-
ino- his individual aft'airs. Imt his influence has l)een exerted for the like
benefit of those al)out him. He has been an industrious man all his life,
striving ever to keep abreast of the times in every respect and. as a result,
everv mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced
toward the goal of his desires. Associated with him in the business enter-
prise in question is his son-in-law, Elmer McFarland, a young men of sterling
principles and great force of character who gives promise of becoming even
a greater power for good in the community as the years pass b}'.

John X. Slick is a native of the state of Illinois, born in Carroll county
in 1855. the son of Jerry and Elizabeth ( Ledy ) Slick, the former of whom
was born in ]\Iar}land in 1821. engaged in farming in Illinois in 1847 ^-"^^
there remained until his death in 1910. The mother of the subject was born
in 1822 and in 1901 met instant death in the railroad yards at Lanark.
Illinois. The>' were the parents of five children, two of whom, George C.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 99I

and Jerome R., ha\e passed into the great beyond. Besides the sub-
ject, there are .still living Jerry L. and David A., both located in Illinois.
John X. Slick attended the district schools of Carroll county, Illinois, where
his elementary education was receixed. and when seventeen years of age
he entered a general merchandise store as clerk, where he remained for
eleven years. After these years of faithful service he saw greater oppor-
tunities for himself elsewhere and severed his connection with his old em-
pl()}'er, coming to Sutherland in i88j. Here he engaged in the mercantile
l)usiness, which entcr])rise claimed his time and attention for thirty-one
years. Comparatively recently he disposed of his old established business
and i)urchased the printing establishment, which now bears his name as
abo\e. In addition to this ])usiness Mr. Slick is also interested in a tract
of two hundred and forty acres of land in O'Brien county, on which gen-
eral farming and stock raising is carried on.

In 1 88 1 ^Ir. Slick was united in marriage with Charlotte Lowell, and
to their union have been l)orn three daughters: (jrace. the eldest, is Airs.
Hurless, the wife of a farmer of O'Brien county; Maye is Airs. Elmer Mc-
h'arland, wife of her father's business associate, and Mabel, the youngest
daughter, is attending college at Chicago, Illinois. '!'he family is consider-
ed one of the best of the county, being prominent in the various social, re-
ligious and educational circles, shedding a kindly intluence upon all with
wliom the\' come in contact. In politics, Air. Slick is aligned with the con-
servative Republican faction and brings considerable influence to bear upon
his partv's affairs. His religious affiliation is with the Christian chiurch.
and to the local oreanization he gives generouslv of time and means to
further the cause. His fraterna.l affiliation is with the Independent Order of
Odd b\dl()ws, and in the workings of the local society he takes more than a
passing interest. Air. Slick is a man whose genial good nature and sterling
([ualities ha\'e won for him man_\- friends, for he is esteemed as one of the
townsliii'/s solid and substantial citizens, a man who has been successful in
the forn.iation of a strong character and one whose judgment is much re-
spected. He is well known throug"hout the county and enjoys the good wdll
and conhdence of a large circle of friends.

Elmer McFarland, editor and publisher, junior member of the firm in
question, was born in 1885 at Lee Summit. Alissouri. He came to Sutherland
when (|uite a x'oung man and became identified in the mercantile store owned
by AJr. Slick, since when their business interests haxe been closely allied.
He recei\'ed his earl}- education in the schools of his natix'e locality, later
attending Drake Lni\'ersity, from which he was graduated. In 1910 he

gg2 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

was united in matrimony with ]\Iaye Slick, daughter of John X\ Shck, and
to their union has been born a daughter. Charlotte. Mr. McFarland is Ixit
a young man in years, but he h.as already established a reputation as a
man earnestly desiring the best things of life for himself and the community
as well, and it is safe to predict that as the years pass over his head, bring-
ing with them still greater opportunities, he will take his place as one of the
strongest and best citizens the countv can boast.

EDW'IX W. McCRAlKEX.

The biographer hnds it extremel}- difficult in a brief sketch of any living
citizen to do the subject exact and impartial justice, not perhaps so much for
space or words to set forth the familiar and passing events of his personal
history, as fc^r the want of the perfect and rounded conception of the whole
life which can onl}- be obtained after the life has closed and may be viewed
through the perspective of years. Daily contact with man so familiarizes
us with his virtues that we ordinarily overlook them and are often guilty of
underestimating their possessor. It is not often that true honor, public or
private, comes to a man without basis in character and deeds. Not a few
men live unheralded and almost unknown beyond the narrow limits of the
community in which their lots are cast, yet who have in them, if fortune had
opened to them a wider sphere of life, the elements of character to make
statesmen, public benefactors or financiers of world-wide fame. However,
there is a sure, if lowlier, way to tell the worth of a man, and that is by
the regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him in
every relation of life and if the years stamp him with approval in the eyes
of friends and neighbors, he may be regarded as worthy indeed. Through-
out his residence in Paullina. men have come to know what manner of
man Edwin W. McCracken is and the consensus of opinion is that he is a good
citizen in the highest sense of the word and a business man worthy of every
confidence.

Edwin McCracken, well known shoe merchant of Paullina, O'Brien
county, Iowa, is a native of Illinois, born in McClain county in 1873, being
the son of William and Nancy (Reaney) McCracken. William McCracken
was a native of Scotland, where his vocation was that of a farmer. He was
eminently successful in the breeding and selling of graded horses also, and
after emigrating to this country he continued to follow his accustomed vo-
cation. He settled in McClain countv, Illinois, where he remained a few

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 993

years and later came to O'Brien county, locating- in Baker township. He
had not been a resident of this connty long when his death occurred in
1880. He left his widow, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1857, and at
present resides in Panllina. There were three children in the family, all
sons. Those other than the immediate subject of this sketch are Francis
T., who is located in Worthington, Minnesota, where he is interested in the
real estate business, while William lives in. Sioux City, Iowa. He is con-
siderable of a mechanic, with an inventive turn of mind, and in addition
to numerous smaller devices, has to his credit an excellent gas engine and
also a machine to facilitate the manufacture of cement tiling.

After the death of the father, the sul)ject assumed the burden of re-
sponsibility, remaining on the farm with the mother in Baker township until
he was twenty-six years of age. They were early settlers in that part of
the County and owing to scarcity of fuel, liurned straw, hay and corn, in
order to keep themselves suthciently warm throughout the long winters. This
would be rather an expensive proceeding in this day, but at that time those
products named commanded an extremely small figure in the markets. Corn
sold for nine cents per l)ushel. the other products in like proportion and eggs
brought but three cents per dozen. After leaving the farm the subject went
to Goldfield, Iowa, and i)ecame identified with the drug business at that place,
operating a store there until 19 12. During the years of his residence in Gold-
field he had become possessed of an excellent tract of land in the state of
Minnesota and this he traded for the shoe store which he now owns and
operates in Panllina. This business is in a most gratifying condition, Mr.
McCracken carrying a stock worth about seven thousand dollars. He also
owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Baker township, O'Brien
county, where general farming is carried on.

In 1899 Mr. McCracken was united in marriage with Evah Carfield, a
native of Illinois, born in 1880. Their union has been blessed with two chil-
dren, Kenneth and Helen, both of whom are at home and attending school.
In politics, Mr. McCracken has always been afiiliated with the Democratic
party and takes more than a ])assive interest in that party's affairs. He
served Baker township as clerk for a few years and has always been identified
with the party's local affairs. \\'hile not a member of any church society, he
is an attendant on the means of grace and interested in all that pertains to
the betterment of the higher life of the community. His fraternal affilia-
tion is with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. McCracken
is widely known throughout the county and is deservedly popular among
all classes of people by whom he is known.

(J(J4 O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

AXTHOXY WILLIAM SOLOX.

\\'hen James Watts was perfecting his steam engine, he little dreamed
that the day would come when his in\ention would be the means of advanc-
ing civilization in a manner which was little short of wonderful. Today,
with the thousands and tens of thousands of railroads which are serving our
countr} . it is an industr}- which employs hundreds of thousands of men.
A\'hen the hrst railroad was built across the western plains and San Fran-
cisco was united with Xew York, it was thought that at last this country
was really bound together. Toda}- there are more miles of railroad in Iowa
than there were in forty-nine states in 1850. Thousands of men in Iowa
today find employment upon one or the other of the great railroad systems
which are in this state.

Anthony William Solon, a passenger conductor un the Chicago. Milwau-
kee & St. Paul railroad, was born December 26. 1849, in Carbondale. Penn-
sylvania. He is the son of Martin and Anna (Corcoran) Solon, both of
whom were born in Ireland. Martin Solon was born in 1806 and came to
.\merica when he was about thirty years of age and found employment in the
mines of Pennsylvania. There he married and in 1857 came to low a and
settled in .Allamakee count}- where he purchased a farm and improved it.
In 1870 he mo\ed to Mason City, where he died in 1893. ^^^ wife. Anna
Corcoran, passed away in 1889. To Martin Solon and wife were born seven
children: Anthony W.. whose history forms the theme of this narrative;
'Sirs. ^Margaret ]\IcDevitt. of Oelwein. Iowa : Martin, of Greenville. Mon-
tana ; Mrs. Mary Crowley, of Mt. Carmel. Illinois; Patrick, a railroad man
in the state of Washington ; Mrs. Annie Appleton. of Boston, Massachusetts,
and Mrs. Libbie Welch, of Des Moines, Iowa.

Anthony W. Solon received his education in the common schools of
Pennsylvania and Iowa and worked with his father on the farm until he
was twenty-three years of age. He then began to work for the Iowa Central
Railroad. In the spring of 1881 he became an employee of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. He was gradually promoted until he became
a passenger conductor in 1889. He then moved to Sanborn and for the past
twenty-four years has had the run from Sanborn to McGregor. Mr. Solon
has investment in the Sanborn State Bank and is a director of that financial
institution. He owns a half section of farm land in Kingsbury county,
South Dakota, and a fine home in Sanborn.

^Ir. Solon was married January 28. 1878. in ]Mason City, Iowa, to

AXTHOXY W. SOLOX

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 995

Catharine Farrell, who was horn in Hahfax, Nova Scotia, June 29, 1855,
the daughter of Wilhani and Catharine (Walsh) Farrell, natives of Cork,
Ireland, and St. John's. Newfoundland, respectively. Her parents moved to
Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, in 1866 and were among the pioneers of that
countv. William Farrell had been a sailing master on the sea, and was an
aged man when he came to Iowa and settled with his nine children. Two
sons had preceded the family to Iowa. Mr. Farrell died in 1882. Mr. and
Mrs. Solon have three children : Mrs. Josephine Johnson, who lives in West
\^irginia and has two sons, W'illiam and Solon; \\'illiam A., who is cashier
of the Sanborn State Bank, and Eugene, who is assistant cashier in the San-
born State Bank. Eugene vxas born in November, 1887, and was educated
in the Sanborn high school and the Globe Commercial College of St. Paul,
]\Iinnesota.

Mr. Solon has been a life-long Democrat, but, owing to the nature of
his work, has never been able to take an active part in politics. He is a
member of the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Railway Conductors.
He and his family are earnest members of the Catholic church and belong
to the St. Cecilia church at Sanborn. \[r. Solon is a man who is highly
respected by everyone who knows him 1)ecause of his upright life and the
interest which he shows in the \arious enterprises which affect the welfare
of his city. He is a man of pleasing appearance and has a host of friends
who admire him for his many good qualities.

ADOLPH BOCI

Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising-
and executing the right thing in the right place and time, are the chief
characteristics of the successful business man whose name heads this article.
Adolph Bock, well known hardware merchant of Paullina, O'Brien county,
Iowa, is deserving of more than passing mention, for he has come into his
present gratifying circumstances wholly through and by his own personal
effort. Born on a foreign soil, he came to this country after attaining
years of maturity, facing conditions wholly dift"erent from those to which
he had been accustomed, but, being possessed of a determination to succeed,
he allowed no stone to remain unturned and gradually has nearer and nearer
approached his goal. It would be impossible to enter fully into the struggles

(64)

996 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

of his earlier years, or the success of his later manhood, hut suffice it to say
that while putting forth strenuous effort to attain material success, he has
also ever sought to win that greater and more lasting success, the confidence
and liking of his fellow men, and in this latter ambition he has been highly
successful.

Adolph Bock was born in Germany in 1845, being the son of John and
Lena (Knutsen) Bock, the former born in 1805 and the latter in 1802, both
nati\'es of Germany, where their entire lives were passed. The father fol-
lowed the trade of a brick-maker throughout his life, dying in the year 1870,
while the mother lived until the year 1879. They were the parents of nine
children, all deceased except one half-brother. The subject received his edu-
cation under the excellent school system of his native country, and when
twenty-four years of age, in 1869, he emigrated to this country, locating
first in Davenport, Iowa. At that point he passed a few years, working at
various trades, but finding nothing entirely to his liking. He then secured
a position as clerk in a hardware store, where he remained for nine years,
mastering the ins and outs of the business. However, the vocation of farm-
ing strongly appealed to him and after severing his connection with the
hardware company he came to Primghar, near which place he secured land
which he rented and farmed for a time. In this venture he was highly suc-
cessful from the first and soon saw his way clear to purchase a tract of land
in Union township, O'Brien count}', containing two hundred and forty acres.
In tliis location he remained for eighteen years, carrying on general farming.
As he advanced in years the thought of being owner and proprietor of a
hardware business recurred to him and he finally saw his great oppor-
tunity. He traded his farm for the business which he now owns and in
which he is higlil}- successful. He carries about eight thousand dollars worth
of stock, owns the l)uilding in which his business is located, and has asso-
ciated with hin.i his two sons, John and Henry. In addition to his unques-
tioned honest}' and integrity, Mr. Bock possesses a pleasing and genial man-
ner, which is a rare asset for one catering to public patronage and which
has borne no small part in his general success.

In 1872 Mr. Bock was united in marriage with Alvine Guhn, also a
native of Germany, born in 1850, and to their union have been born five
children : Alma, the eldest, is Mrs. Gauden and lives in South Dakota ; Lulu
(Mrs. Curen) resides in Hawarden, Iowa; the two sons abo\'e mentioned
are located in Paullina, and Ella, the youngest daughter, remains in the
paternal home. Politically, Mr. Bock is a Democrat and he holds his fra-
ternal affiliations with the Free and Accepted Masons and also is a member

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 997

of the Yeomen of America, holding membership in these orders through
the local organizations at Paullina. Mr. Bock's early life story is not un-
common in our western country and serves as an object lesson to those who
would mount the ladder of success. His beginning was characterized by hard
work and conscientious endeavor, and he owes his rise to no train of for-
tunate incidents or fortuitous circumstances, It is the reward of applica-
tion of mental qualifications of a high order to the affairs of business, the
combining with keen perceptions of mental activity that enabled him to grasp
the opportunities that presented themselves. This he did with success and.
what is more important, with honor. His integrity has ever been unas-
sailable, his honor unimpeachable, and he stands today one of the successful
men and representative citizens of his town and county.

ARTHUR W. ^IcBRIDE.

It is a well recognized fact that the most powerful influence in shaping
and controlling public life is the press. It reaches a greater number of
people than any other agency and thus has always been and always will be
a most important factor in the moulding of public opinion and, in a definite
sense, shaping the destiny of the nation. The gentleman to a brief re\iew
of whose life the following lines are devoted is prominently connected
with the journalism of western Iowa, and at this time is editor and publisher
of the Paullina Times, one of the most popular papers of O'Brien county,
comparing favorably with the best local sheets in this section of the state
in news, editorial ability and mechanical execution. The county recognizes
in ^Ir. ]\IcBride not only a keen newspaper man, but also a representative
citizen, whose interests in all that aft'ects the general welfare has been of
such a character as to win for him a high place in the confidence and esteem
of the people. In view of the fact that the sheet in c^uestion has a weekly
circulation among one thousand subscribers, it is easy to judge the regard
in which the publication, in question is held.

.Vrthur W. McBride was born in Tama county, Iowa, in 1884, the son
of Frank and Mary (Wood) McBride, the former of whom was born in
Pennsylvania in 1854. For a great many years prior to his death, in 1894.
he was engaged in the insurance business. His widow, and the mother of
the immediate subject, was born in Tama county in i860, and at present
resides in Traer, Iowa. The subject w^as the only child born of that union

998 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

and at the age of nineteen he matriculated at Grinnell College, where he took
a course in liberal arts. At tlie age of twenty-three he was graduated from
the institution in question and went to Sioux City, where he secured em-
ployment with the Journal, one of the leading newspapers, in the capacity
of reporter and assistant editor. Two years later he severed his connection
with the Journal, going to Grinnell, Iowa, where he became manager of one
(jf the leading publications and there remained until the year 1909, when he
first came to Paullina. Here he purchased the business to which he now so
ably gives his time and attention, and in addition to this he owns his resi-
dence in the best section of the town, said residence occupying a lot and a
half. Air. McBride was married in 19 12 to Ruth Babbitt, and to their union
has been born a son, Arthur, junior.

Mr. McBride, in his publication, voices the principles of the old-line
Republican party, being one of its most stalwart supporters in this section
of the state. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church and
he is a member of the ancient order of Freemasonry. As may be expected,
Mr. McBride takes more than a passive interest in the various enterprises
making for the betterment of community life. He is now a trustee of the
public library and always endeavors so to use the peculiar influence which is
\iis as to broaden the minds and strengthen the convictions of those with
whom he comes in contact, either directly or through his pul^lication. In
liis business enterprise, Mr. AlcBride has made a distinct success, not only
])uil(ling up a splendid circulation and a large advertising patronage, luit
also gaining a wide reputation as an able and versatile writer.

JOHN COWAN.

Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the afiiairs of life will
inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following
out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts, there
comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplish-
ment possible, and thus there is granted an objecti\'e incentive and inspiration,
while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admira-
tion. The C|ualities which have made Mr. Cowan one of the prominent and
successful men of Paullina have also brought him the esteem of his fellow
townsmen, for his career has been one of well directed energy, strong de-
termination and honorable methods.

(VBRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 999

lohn Cowan is a nati\-e of Scotland, that country noted for the sterhn"-
quahties of its people and their strong religious traits. He was born in
1S58, being the son of F'rancis Cowan, who passed his entire life in his na-
tive country. In 1881, when twenty-three years of age, the subject left his
native home, emigrating to America, where he settled in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
He remained at that place four years, working as a carpenter and in 1884
came to Paullina, where for eight years he followed contracting and build-
ing, and many of the better buildings of the city today owe their worth
and attractiveness to his skill. Howe\er, there came a time when he saw still
greater opportimities in the furniture Ijusiness, and in this he engaged. In
connection with that business he learned the art of embalming and is one of
the foremost funeral directors of this section. In his endeavors he has
attained a pleasing measure of success and also owns the block in which his
business is located.

In 1883 Mr. Cowan was united in marriage with Belle Aitken, a native
of Scotland, whose parents were among the earliest settlers of O'Brien
count}'. She was born in 1856 and was quite a yoimg girl when, with her
parents, she emigrated to America. Mr. and Mrs. Cowan have a family of
three children, namely: ^lary (Mrs. Scott) is the wife of an O'Brien county
farmer; Francis, the son, is associated with the father in his business, and
E\-elyn, the younger daughter, still remains at home. The family is identi-
fied with the Presbyterian church, and ]\Ir. Cowan enjoys the distinction of
having served his church as elder for the past twenty-five years and has also
taken an active interest in the various other phases of church work. In
politics he is a Democrat, while his fraternal af^liation is with the
Yeomen of America. He is keenly alive to the various interests of com-
munity life and every enterprise having as its object the advancement of
the social, educational or material side, finds in him a stanch supporter, one,
too, who is willing to put his convictions into execution. At one time Mr.
Cowan served on the school board for fifteen years and is a trustee of the
public library. Mr. Cowan is a man of genial disposition and broad sym-
pathies which particularly fit him for the exacting duties of his profession,
and some of his warmest friends are those whom he met for the first time
while in the discharge of such duties and through his kindness and con-
sideration won their confidence and respect for all time. He has always
stood for progressive ideas and wholesome living and, although his life has
been without incident of an unusual nature, it has shown that steady con-
secutive endeavor, coupled with honesty of purpose, will accomplish large
results in the end.

lOOO O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

WALTER A. BLAESSER.

The gentleman to whom the reader's attention is now directed was not
favored by inherited weahh nor the assistance of influential friends, but in
spite of this, by perseverance, industry and wise economy, he has attained
a comfortable station in life and is well and favorably known throughout
this section, being regarded as a man of sound business principles and
thoroughlv up to date in all that pertains to his. chosen vocation. While
primarilv advancing his individual interests, he has not neglected his general
duties as a citizen and is, therefore, worthy of the trust and confidence which
he enjoys.

\\'alter A. Blaesser, well known druggist of Paullina. O'Brien county,
Iowa, is a native of this state, born at Cherokee in 1879. the son of Charles
and Regina (Schmidt) Blaesser. the latter born in 1854 at Hamilton, Wis-
consin. Charles Blaesser. father of the subject, is a native of Germany, bom
in 1845, and when twenty-one years of age he left his l)oyhood home, emi-
grating to America. Upon his arrival in this country he decided to remain
in New York City and became apprenticed to the barber trade. There he
remained for some time, later moving to Wisconsin, where for a number of
years he worked at his trade. However, he saw greater opportunities else-
where and in 1874 came to Iowa, locating at Cherokee, where he owned and
operated the first l)arber shop in that place. He remained there for ten
vears and in 1884 disposed of his Ijusiness interests there and took up his
residence at Granville. Iowa, in 1884 and in i8qi moved to Hawarden,
this state, wliere he Ijecame fjuite a large buyer and shipper of grain and con-
tinued in his Ijusiness connections in Hawarden until 1898. He associated
his son. W. A., with him in the drug Imsiness. and in 1907 he retired from
active lousiness in Cherokee and there he and his wife are passing their
declining vears in ease and comfort. 1 hey were married in 1879, and to
their union six children were born, three of whom have passed into the
great beyond.

Walter A. Blaesser, the immediate subject of this sketch, received his
early education in the schools of his h(jme neighborhood and \vhen fourteen
years of age he was taken into a drug store in Hawarden as apprentice boy. '
He remained with that firm two years and then became associated with a
drug' firm at Cherokee, where he remained two vears also. During this
time he had acquired a practical knowledge of the business, but. desiring
to become a graduate pharmacist, he in 1897 entered the Northwestern

O r.RIEX AND OSCEOLA COl'XTIES. IOWA. IQOE

School of Pharniac}' at Chicago, lUinois, being granted his diploma one year
later. Directly after graduation he returned to Cherokee and purchased the
interests of the drug firm with which he had been associated before at-
tending college. For nine years he operated this store, when he disposed
of same and came to Paullina where, in partnership with his brother-in-
law, William F. Eshleman, he purchased the business which they have since
carried on. In addition to other lines they carry the Rexall and American
Drug Syndicate goods, under the firm name of Blaesser & Eshleman.

In 1904 Mr. Blaesser was united in marriage with Louise E. Eshleman.
He is aligned with the conservative Republican party and religiously is
identified with the Presbyterian church. His fraternal affiliations are with
the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Blaes-
ser is a man of genial, thought quiet, disposition who readily makes friends
and retains them. His business is conducted along most approved lines
and he has the confidence of his patrons, a thing most to be desired, par-
ticularly in the business to which he devotes himself.

ANTHONY J. BRAIG.

Anthony J. Braig, identified with the harness manufacturing business
at Paullina. O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in 1870 at Galena, Illinois,
the son of Anthony, Sr., and Katherine (Schultz) Braig. Anthony Braig,
Sr., was a native of Germany, born in 1843. I'l early manhood he emi-
grated to this country and settled in Galena, Illinois, in 1865, where he
remained for a number of years engaged in the brewing business. In 1877
he removed to Bellevue, Iowa, and was employed there as a brewer until the
time of his death in 1892. In 1869 ^^^ was united in marriage with Katherine
Schultz, who also was a native of Germany, born in 1848 and whose death oc-
curred in 1908. They were the parents of three children, all of whom are

in-mg.

The subject received his schooling at Bellevue and when but thirteen
years of age was apprenticed to the harness trade, remaining in that con-
nection for six years. .Vt that time he went to Clinton, Iowa, where for
three years he was employed by a saddlery and harness company. He re-
turned to Bellevue, working at the retail trade for one year and in 1895
came to Paullina, O'Brien county, where for three years he followed his
trade. He then bought out the firm by whom he was employed and at

I002 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

the present time owns a half interest in the business, which has grown in a
most satisfactory manner since he assumed the management of it. He has
more than a local reputation as an expert in his line and is known as a man
of most honorable business methods, worthy of every trust and confidence.
In 1896 Mr. Braig was united in marriage with Josephine Manderschied,
born in 1872 in Jackson, Iowa, and to their union three children were born,
but one of whom, Eugenia, is li\'ing. Leo Anthony died when small and an-
other child died in earliest infancy. Mr. Braig endorses the policy of the
Progressive party and endeavors to keep thoroughly posted on all current
events. Religiously, he is a communicant of the ' Roman Catholic church
and his fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Columbus. In every
phase of life's activities in which he has engaged Mr. Braig has been true
to every trust and because of the genuine worth of his character he retains
the sincere regard of all who know him.

G. E. KNAACK.

In examining the life records of self-made men, it will invariably be
found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success.
True, there are other elements which enter in and conserve the advancement
of personal interests, — perseverance and mastering of expedients, — but the
foundation of all achievements is earnest, persistent labor. At the outset
of his career, Mr. Knaack recognized this fact, and he did not seek any royal
road to the goal of prosperity and independence, but began to work earnestly
and diligently in order to advance himself, and the result is that he is now
numbered among the progressive, successful and influential business men of
O'Brien county.

G. E. Knaack, the cashier of the German Sa\ings Bank of Hartley,
lovv^a, was l)orn October 24, 1876. in Cedar county. Iowa, on a farm. He
is the son of Theodore and Anna (Rohweder) Knaack, both of whom were
natives of Germany. Theodore Knaack was born in 1846 and came to this
country in 1849 ^"^^^'^ ^^^^ parents. Anna Rohweder was born in 1854 and
came to America with her parents in 1867. The parents of both families
settled in .Scott county, Iowa, when the countr}- was an unbroken prairie
west of Davenport. Theodore Knaack and his wile were married in Daven-
port and went to Cedar county, where they made their home. In 1903 the}^
sold their farm in Cedar county and retired to Luverne, Minnesota, where
they are now li^'ing.

^^^/•^/

.0»'

,on4 I

O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IOO3

G E. Knaack was educated in the Durant schools and later took a
course in the Commercial College in Davenport. He then worked on his
father's farm in Cedar county, and engaged in the grain business. Later
he entered a liank at Rake. Iowa, and in 1902 came to Hartley and com-
menced as cashier of the German Savings Bank on Thanksgiving day.

The German Savings Bank was organized in November, 1902, with a
capital stock of twenty thousand dollars. It has had a prosperous career
from the date of its organization and is now in a position where it enjoys
the confidence of its patrons to a marked degree. The directors are j. T.
Conn, William T. \*oss. C. A. Button. G. E. Knaack. John Hebbel. John
Fick, Jochim Leth, Henry Brandt and .\. T. Rohweder. The officers are
J. T. Conn, president: William T. \'oss, vice-president; G. E. Knaack.
cashier, and H. P. Mousel, assistant cashier. The condition of the bank is
shown by the report which the bank issued ]\Iarch 17. 1914: Resources —
Loans. $368,650.03; overdrafts. $1,955-55; cash on hand and due from
banks. $60,297.61 ; real estate, banking house furniture and fixtures, $7.-
000.00; total. $437,903.19. Liabilities — Capital. S20.000.00; deposits,
$399,402.15; surplus and profits, $14,350.31: rediscount. $4,150.73; total,

$437.903- 19-

In addition to his banking interest, Mr. Knaack is an extensive land

dealer and handles thousands of acres of land annually, in Iowa. Minnesota.

South Dakota and other states. In 191 3 he did the largest land business of

anv firm in O'Brien countv. his business in that year aggregating six hundred

thousand dollars. He has individual holdings in O'Brien county. Iowa, and

in South Dakota and ^Minnesota. He is also president of the A\>lcome

State Bank, at Welcome. Minnesota, which was organized in 1913. with a

capital stock of $12,500 and a surplus of $2,500.

Mr. Knaack was married February 19. 1908, to Ada B. Miller, the
daug-hter of jMr. and Mrs. Dorr Aliller. of Hartlev. To this union have
been born two children. Edward, born December 19, 1909. and Helen, born
December 20, 191 1.

Politicallv. Mr. Knaack is a member of the Democratic party and has
always taken an active interest in politics, has been secretary of the county
central committee and on September 24. 1913, was selected chairman of the
O'Brien Democratic committee. He has attended the various state con-
ventions of his party for the past several years and has a wide acquaintance
amons: the leading Democrats of his state. A\'hile not a member of anv
particular church, yet he is a firm believer in the work of the church and is a
liberal supporter of ^•arious churches. Fraternally, he is a member of the

1004 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and is a member of the Scottish Rite,
in which he has attained to the thirty-second degree. He is also a member
of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen at Hartley. Mr. Knaack is a self-
made man and has earned every dollar he possesses today by his own busi-
ness ability and determination. He is another one of the many examples
of citizens of our county who are descendants of German parents and who
have made a notable success in this county. He is a man who has taken
his part in public affairs and supported every movement which he felt would
benefit his community. Personally, he is a man of pleasing appearance and
easilv makes friends wherever he goes.

CHARLES C. CANNON.

Perhaps one of the most widely known citizens of O'Brien county. Iowa,
is the lionored gentleman whose name forms the caption of this review.
For many years he has bought grain throughout this locality, his business
bringing him into contact with a vast number of citizens of this and surround-
ing counties, by all of whom he is held in the highest esteem by reason of his
irreproachable business methods and genuine worth of character. While
primarih- seeking his own indivitlual interests, he has been of inestimable as-
sistance to farmers of this locality in affording them a ready market for their
grain. He has figured i)rominently in the growth and development of tliis
favored locality, his interests being identified with its progress, and he has
contributed in a tlefinite measure in his particular sphere of action to the
well-being of the community and to the ad\-ancement of its normal and legiti-
mate growth. Earnest pur])ose and tireless energy, combined with mature
judgment and everyday common sense, have l^een among his prominent
characteristics and he has merited the respect and esteem which are acc(3rded
him by all who know him.

Charles C. Cannon was born in 1862 at Philadelphia, Tennessee, a son
of \\llliam and Susan (Bogart) Cannon, the former being a native of the
same place, born in 1S24. His vocation was that of a farmer, which busi-
ness he carried on. on a large scale, owning two thousand acres in his
native state, and in which enterprise he was highly successful. He was a
veteran of the Mexican War and his death occurred at his home in Tennessee
in 1898. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Susan Bogart, who was
born at Athens, Tennessee, in 1836. and she is still living, making her

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IOO5

home on the old phmtation in l^nnessee with her son Arthur. She is the
mother of seven children, three of whom have passed away.

The subject received his elementary education in the schools near his
l)()\hood home, later attending" the University of Tennessee, from which
he was graduated in 1886. Shortly after graduation he came to Paullina.
O'Brien county, where, in company with his brother Robert and John ]vlet-
calf, he engaged in the grain business. In this venture they have been highly
successful, the subject and W. C. MetcaU now owning the entire business.
They buy and ship grain, handling many car loads in the course of a year.
Mr. Cannon is also a shareholder in the Logan Lumber Company of Knox-
ville. Tennessee, which company also maintains a branch at Cincinnati, Ohio.
He also serves this institution as its vice-president and is largely concerned
in its management. Li addition to these business interests, he also owns
a tract containing hve hundred and seventy-six acres, adjoining his old
home in Tennessee, on which he carries on general farming as practiced in
that locality.

Li i8c}6 Mr. Cannon was united in marriage with Grace Jennings, who
was hum in Iowa Falls, Iowa, in 1874. To their union have been born
tive children, the eldest of whom, William, the only son, is deceased. The
daughters, Susan, Margaret and Catherine, remain with the parents ; Mary
died June 24. 1914. The family is well liked, moving in the best social
circles of the town, and are prominent in church and other matters pertain-
ing t<) the advancement of the l)est interests of community life.

Politically. Mr. Cannon gives his support tothe Democratic party and is
one of its most stalwart adherents in this section. He had conferred on him
the honor of being a delegate to the national convention of his party at
Den\'er, Colorado, in 1907 and an amusing coincidence connected therewith,
la}' in the fact that his partner, W. C. ^^letcalf, with whom he is so closely
associated, was in the same year a delegate to the Republican national con-
\-ention at Chicago, Illinois. In ic)i2 Mr. Cannon was elected to re])re-
sent O'Brien count}' in the Legislature. Mr. Cannon possesses considerable
ci\'ic pride and has done much to advance the welfare of his home town.
For several years past he has been a school director and takes a keen interest
in all pertaining to the proper education of youth. His religious affiliation
is with the Presbyterian church, being a faithful and consistent member of
same, and to the support of the local society giving liberally of his means.
He is a meml^er of the time-honored order of Freemasonry, evincing a keen
interest in the work of the local society. Endowed 1)}' nature with strong
mental powers and possessing the courage and energy to direct his faculties

I006 o'bRIEX and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

in proper channels, he carl}" became a man of resourceful capacity, as the able
iiianagement of his pri\ate affairs abundantly testifies. He possesses the
happy facult}' of not only making friends but binding- them to himself by his
good qualities of head and heart.

CHRIS MELTVEDT.

Northern Europe has sent to our shores many worthy citizens, men
\\ho have accomplished much for themselves, and in so doing have brought
credit to the communit\' in which they reside. These men who have come
to us from afar, those who have journeyed from the beautiful country of
Norway, essentially a land of industry and thrift, have in most instances
made for themseh'es enviable positions and accjuired for their declining
years a competence. Such a man is the subject of whom we wish to speak
in this article.

Chris Melt\edt, a prominent citizen of Union township, O'Brien county,
was born in the year 1856 in Norway, the son of Knud Meltvedt. This
latter gentleman was born in the year 1828 and the early years of his life
were spent in the land of his nativity. In the year 1853 he was united in
marriage to Ragnild Rovnaas, whose birth occurred in the year 1829.
Idiroughout his youth Mr. Meltvedt has heard glowing reports of the gold-
en opportunities which awaited the willing worker in the New World, and
in the year 1866 he was enabled to bring his family across the broad seas
and seek their future amid the broad prairies of our own state of Iowa.
Here, in Marshall county, they established their home, engaging in the pur-
suit of agriculture. Here the}- remained for twenty years, and at the ex-
piration of this period of energetic labor and proverbial Norwegian thrift,
he was enabled to purchase for himself a tract of land which should fulfill
for the family their former dreams of wealth. In O'Brien county he found
a tract of six hundred and forty acres, a mile east of Paullina, and this
was purchased and a homestead established. The ground was soon broken
and planted, comfortable buildings were erected and other necessary im-
provements were made, and here the declining years of Knud Meltvedt were
spent. Six children were born to this worthy couple, one of whom is now de-
ceased. Martha, now Mrs. Strangland. is a resident of Highland town-
ship: Andrew is a successful farmer of Union township; Einger, now

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IOO7

Mrs. Medhns, is a resident of Union township, and Mrs. Henderson, with
whom the mother resides, is also a resident of Union township. The father
was called to his tinal rest in the year of 1914, having lived far beyond
the alloted span of three score years and ten.

Chris Meltvedt remained with his parents, assisting in the labors of the
farm and accompanying them in their journeyings, until he reached the
age of twent}"-eight years. At this time he engaged in the pursuit of agri-
culture for himself in Marshall county, Iowa. Shortly afterward he came
to Paullina, O'Brien county, and entered into partnership with Theodore
Wichner in the ownership of a general store, and in tliis he labored diligent-
ly for the upbuilding of the concern. liere he remained until the year
of 191 3, when he retired from active business life and returned to the
homestead of his father east of Paullina. He is now the owner of a quar-
ter section of well improved and cultivated land and also has an interest in
a two-hundred-and-fifty-acre fruit farm in Idaho.

Mr. Meltvedt was united in marriage, in the year 1884, to Susan Jacol)-
son, whose liirth occurred in Norway in 1867. Seven children came to
brighten their home, now located as follows: Vida (Mrs. Tjossem), a resi-
dent of Chinook, Montana : Kurnel and Silas, both at home, assisting
in the activities and labors of the farm; Clair, clerking in a grocery in
Paullina; Etta, a trained nurse of Boise, Idaho; Madeline and Christopher,
attending school. In the year 1901, however, sorrow came to the family,
for the Grim Reaper called from their midst the faithful wife and mother.
In 1903 Mr. Meltvedt's marriage to 'Martha ]\loen, also a native of ?\or-
way, occurred, and she is now his helpmate and the mistress of his home.

The business of Mr. Meltvedt has been marked throughout by unbound-
ed energy, perseverance in carrying out the plans previously outlined by
him, and unquestioned integrity in all his dealings. One of the substantial,
dependable, conservative citizens of the township, he is held in high esteem
liy his fellow citizens. This is evidenced by the fact that for thirteen years
he has been selected by them to serve as a member of the school board of the
locality, a position which he has held with credit to himself and to his con-
stituents. He has given of his time and energy without stint, being awake
to the progress of the times in educational affairs and deeply interested in
all matters and movements looking toward the higher efficiency and in-
creased purit}' of life and thought of the coming generation. Politically, he
is a man of strong principles and firm beliefs, voting for what he con-
scientiously believes to l)e the best interests of the community at large. He

I008 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

is now a strong adherent of the Independent Progressive party. Re-
hgiously, he is an attendent of the Lutheran church and. fraternally, is af-
filiated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Paullina. among
whom he is held in high esteem.

H. THEODORE RUTHER.

The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article is well
known to many of our readers, heing connected with a thri\-ing butcher shop
in Paullina and a retired farmer of Liberty township. Like so many other
of our representati\e l)usiness men. he is a native of Germany, having been
born in that countn- in the year 1876. His father, Peter Ruther, was also
a natiAC of the fatherland and there his youth was spent. In the year
1874 he was married to Tilsie Carson, whose birth occurred in 1843. In the
year 1881 he emigrated with his family to America, making his way directly
to the unbroken fields of western Iowa. Here, in Tama county
he remained for two years, after which he continued his journey,
eventually settling in O'Brien county where he purchased a tract of land in
Union township, and also one in Liberty townshi]). Here he remained for
thirteen years, diligently laboring to cultivate and improve the place which the
family loved to call home. Here the children received their schooling and
wandered in the broad fields, and as they grew to maturity assisted in the
various duties of tfie i)lace. In the year 1906, however, the father felt
that the years of toil through which he had passed were suffi-cient and that
he had earned the right to spend the declining years of his life in rest and
quiet. Hence the farm was disposed of and the family was moved to Paullina
and there ensconsed in a comfortable home. Of the three children who
were born to this worthy couple, however, but one, the subject of this sketch,
is now a resident of the county. John W. is now farming in North Dakota,
and Marguret, now Mrs. Schlapkohl, is a resident of South Dakota.

Theodore Ruther remained with his father until twenty-one years of
age and assisted in breaking and cultivating the western fields in O'Brien
county. In the year 1901 was solemnized his marriage to Anna Holm and
soon aftenvards he rented a tract of land which he cultivated for a period
of nine years. At the expiration of this time he was enabled to purchase
a tract for himself, and after two years of successful cultivation and im-
provement this was disposed of and his capital rein\ested in a quarter section

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IOO9

nf farm land in S(mth Dakota. This farm he still owns, though he retired
from active labor along this line in the year 1907. at which time he took up
his abode in the town of Panllina. In the year 1913, however, he took up
emplovment in the meat market business of Fernand Helbert, in Paullina.

]\Ir. Ruther is a hrm l)eliever in the iprinciples promulgated by Jeffer-
son and consistentlv xotes the Democratic ticket. He and his wife arc
both members of the German Lutheran church and he is af^liated with the
order of Yeomen.

Afr. Ruther is vet a voung man, but in a l)usiness wav he has accom-
plished much, and his keen Imsiness acumen and aggresssive methods .bear
promise of future success.

JOHN T. JOSSEM.

1lie reader's attention is now called to a short rex'iew of the career of
John T. Jossem, well known grain dealer of Paullina, O'Brien county, Iowa.
Mr. Jossem was liorn in .Marshall county. Iowa, in jSji, being the son of Ole
P. and ]ulia f. (Norland) Jossem, both natives of N6rway, the former
born in 1843 ^"<^^ ^^^^ latter in 1852. The elder Jossem left his native Nor-
wav upon attaining his majority, emigrating to America, the "land of
promise" for so man}- ambitious young men of the old world. He came
almost directly to Iowa, locating in Marshall county, where he engaged in
agricultural pursuits. There he remained for a number of years and in 1884
came to O'Brien county, where he located in Dale township. He secured
a tract of five hundred acres of land and this he was engaged in farming
at the time of his death in 1905. He had succeeded along financial lines and
was at the time of his death regarded as one of the leading men of his lo-
calitv, his passing being a distinct loss to the community. He was a man
of brain and ingenuity, readily solving many of the problems of pioneer
life. At the time the telephone system above referred to was installed,
sufficient poles to support the wires were not obtainable and the miles of
fencing offered a ready solution to the difficulty, the wires being strung
from house to house along the fence. Ole P. Jossem was the father of
thirteen children, all living at the present time with the exception of one.

In 1895 Mr. Jossem was united in marriage with Altha Haynes, of
Humboldt, Iowa, born in 1877, and to their union have been born three chil-
dren, the eldest of whom, their son Clarence, they have had the misfortune
to have removed from them through death. Two other sons, Ray and

lOIO O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Howard, remain with their parents. Mr. Jossem's fraternal affihation is
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the work of that order
he takes a commendable interest.

REV. LEOXARD JA^IES COOPER.

This is a Cliristian nation, and one of the boasts of our country is the
fact that each man can worship his God as he chooses. The Constitution of
the United States guarantees to every one the right to worship as he pleases.
This freedom of worship is one thing which has l^rought to this country
people from every nation on the face of the globe. It was this freedom of
worship which populated most of the original thirteen colonies, and today
there is no one who questions the wisdom of our forefathers who incorporated
that particular clause concerning religious freedom in the constitution.

Rev. Leonard James Cooper, pastor of St. Cecilia's Catholic church at
Sanborn. Iowa, was born at Davenport. Scott county. Iowa, March 29, 1863.
the son of Michael and ^Margaret ( Ennis) Cooper, natives of Pennsylvania
and Ireland, respecti\'ely. The Coopers are an old family and came with
Lord Baltimore to Maryland more than four hundred years ago. Michael
Cooper was born February 20. 1826. and was the son of Leonard Cooper,
who came to Iowa in 1840, and was one of the earliest pioneers of the state.
Michael Cooper married Margaret Ennis on Xovember 24, 1854. who was
born in Ireland February i, 1834. the daughter of James and Elizabeth
Crawford Ennis. Her parents came from Ireland to Canada and afterward
emigrated to Scott county, Iowa. Michael Cooper died October 14. 1895,
in Rock Rapids, Iowa, where he had moved in the summer of that year.
The other died June 30, 1904. in Flandreau. South Dakota. ]\Ir. and Mrs.
^Michael Cooper were the parents of nine children : James H., born Septem-
ber 16, 1855, deceased; Mary E., born July 2. 1857. deceased; Charles A.,
born March i, 1859, of Sanger. California; Elizabeth A., born December
8, i860, deceased; Rev. Leonard J., with whom this narrative deals; Mrs.
Margaret P. Higgins, born July 14. 1865, of Sanger, California; Marcella
L.. born December 16. 1867. deceased; Thomas A., born June 4. 1871, now
living in Seattle. Washington; Francis, born March i, 1875. also of Sanger,
California.

Father Cooper was reared on a farm in Scott county, Iowa, and was
educated in St. Joseph's College at Dubuque. Iowa, where he remained from

jr^ff 3^^.^ ff^i^^a^^ ^Br^f AQ^

\P13BL1C I

, II

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IQII

1 89 1 to 1893, after which he spent a year in the Grand Seminary at Montreal,
Canada. He then took the theological course at St. Alary's Seminary, at
Baltimore, where he was in attendance three years and a half. He was
ordained to the priesthood on December 19. 1896. and was first assigned to
the charge of St. Joseph's church, Sioux City, as an assistant to Rev. A. \Y.
Fowler. Two vears later he was transferred to Charter Oak. in Crawford
county, Iowa, where he remained for seven years. The next seven years
he was in charge of the church at Alvord. Lyon county, and came to San-
born September 14, 19 11. and now has charge of the church at Sanborn, as
well as St. Francis of Assisi. at Primghar. Father Cooper is a man of genial
demeanor and kindlv disposition, and. while he is greatly beloved by his own
congregation because of the excellent work he is doing among them, he finds
time to participate in the life of his community.- He possesses that simplicity,
purity and humility of character which are the characteristics of the man of
God, and although he has firm convictions, yet his kindly way of expressing
them helps to give them the greater value. He is a kind and courteous
Christian, a worthv follower of him who has been called ''the world's first
gentleman."

WESTON D. RALSTON. -r^ . ^

Prominent among the leading" and most enterprising young men of Paul-
lina, O'Brien county, Iowa, is Weston D. Ralston, the popular young post-
master of that place. While a young man in years, Mr. Ralston's attain-
ments and accomplishments are such as might well be prized by many men
of a o'reater number of vears. In even- section are found men who are
born to leadership in the various vocations ; men who dominate because
of their superior intelligence, natural endowment and force of character.
It is always profitable to study such lives, weigh their motives and hold
up their achievements as incenti\"es to greater activity and higher excellence
on the part of others. ]\Ien endow^ed with a strong inherent force and
superior ability are those from whom much is expected, as it is they alone
who are naturally fitted to be leaders of men of lesser parts in all move-
ments pertaining to the ad^■ancement of ever)- cause that makes for a more
perfect community or national life. It is gratifying to know that the sym-
pathies of the subject in question are enlisted on the right side of every vital
question of the dav, and it is safe to predict that as the vears pass
(65)

IOI2 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

by, bringing to liim greater and greater opportunities for good, he will come
to exert an influence far surpassing the bounds of the local community.
; Weston D. Ralston is a native of O'Brien county, born in 1889 in Dale
township, the son of John and jNIargaret (Donaghy) Ralston, both of whom
are natives of Canada and both born in the year 1853. John Ralston first
came to O'Brien county in 1882 and for a few years worked out as a farm
hand. Being faithful and diligent in the discharge of his duties, his ser-
vices were always in demand and soon he saw an opportunity for himself
in the purchase of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved
land in Dale township. In this he invested and immediately set about its
improvement, succeeding so well that within a short time he disposed of it
to considerable advantage and again purchased for himself. This time he
])urchased two hundred and forty acres in Highland township, which he
also industriously set about improving, carrying on general farming for
a number of years. Success came to him in a most gratifying manner, due
to his unfailing energy and intelligent management, and in 1909 he re-
tired from active labor, taking up his residence in Paullina. Altogether
he owns four hundred acres of land in this county, the operation of which
he superintends himself. Mr. and Mrs. Ralston are the parents of an in-
teresting family of four children.

Weston D. Ralston remained under the parental roof until eighteen years
of age, receiving- his elementary education in the schools of the neighbor-
hood and assisting his father in the work about the homestead. When
eighteen years old, he went to Iowa City where he took a course in liberal
arts and at tlie close of his second term he came to Paullina where he secured
employment as bookkeeper and teller in the Farmers State Bank. In that
capacity he remained for four years and on January 20, 1914, he received
the appointment as postmaster at Paullina, the duties of which office he bids
fair to fill to the satisfaction of everyone. He is in a way to succeed finan-
cially, and already owns part of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres
located in South Dakota.

Mr. Ralston's religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church and in
the affairs of this society he takes a deep and abiding interest. Politically, he
has always been a Democrat and from the time he attained his majority
he has always been looked upon as one of the most active workers of the
party in this section. His fraternal affiliation is with the Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons. Mr. Ralston possesses civic pride in a marked degree
and is always anxious to render any service which will advance the best
interests of the town and community. At the present time he is acting as

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IOI3

secretary of the Commercial Clul) of Paullina, which organization has done
much to promote the general welfare of the town. Mr. Ralston possesses
a kindly and genial disposition, readily makes friends and is a very agree-
able companion. He believes in progress in every department of life and in
order to keep himself fully ali\'e to the demands of the time he devotes
considerable time to becoming fully informed on the leading questions before
the public, in all of which he takes a broad and kindly view of men and
things.

THEODORE WIECHNER.

The tide of immigration has brought to American shores and to the con-
'^ fines of O'Brien count}- many types of humanity, but probably no country
has sent to us a greater numl)er of desirable citizens than has the German em-
pire, the "fatherland" of so many of our fellow men. Almost without ex-
ception, these newcomers ha\e proved to be industrious, thrifty, substantial
citizens, and the subject of this review is a striking example of these char-
acteristics.

Theodore Wiechner was born in the year 1848 in Germany, the son of
Christian B. Wiechner. The father's birth occurred in the year 181 7, and
from early manhood, throughout the remainder of his life, he was engaged in
the occupation of shoe making. He w^as married in the year 1847 ^^^^ was
the father of two children. The elder was called b}' the Grim Reaper from
his home in Germanv, but the v(umo-er, Theodore, grew to manhood in the
home of his birth and learned the \ocation of his father, becoming in his
youth an expert shoemaker.

In the year 1871, however, Mr. Wiechner joined the ever-increasing
tide of emmigration and sailed for American shores. He settled in the city
of New York, iinding employment in his chosen vocation, and here he la-
bored for two years. Later he was employed in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in
St. Louis, Missouri, always working as a shoemaker. In the year 1882 one
of the most important steps of his life was taken, for in that year he was
united in marriage to Dora Steen, a native also of Germany whose natal day
was in 1862. From this time forth he had a faithful friend and ally, and
from this time also his prosperity increased. During this same year he mi-
grated to O'Brien county, Iowa, and opened a shoe repair shop in Paullina.
For ten years he labored diligently, building up a substantial business for
himself, and eventually selling out, realizing thereby enough capital to pur-

I0I4 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA.

chase an interest in a general merchandise store of that place. This \entnre
also proved a profitable one. for he labored assiduously and with sound busi-
ness judgment to increase the business of the concern, and here he continued
until the year 191 1. when it seemed advisal)le for him to retire from active
labor and spend the remaining years of his life enjoying the comforts which
his earlier years of toil had prepared for his declining years. During the pre-
ceding years his profits had ])een wisely and judiciously invested, and he is
now a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Paullina and owner of a
tract of one hundred fifty acres of good farm land in Union township.

One child, a daughter, Winnie, has come to bless and brighten the lives
of Air. and Airs. W'iechner, and she is happily still in the home of her parents.

Politically, Mr. Wiechner is a stanch Re]jublican and consistently votes
that ticket. He and his wife are also faithful members of the German Luth-
eran cluu-ch. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
among whom he is highly respected, and is allied with the various movements
wln'ch are l)rought al)out for the physical and moral betterment of the com-
munity. Quiet and unassuming, he is loved best by those who know him.
and has set a notable example of industry and thrift for the profit of the
coming generation.

TOHX A. HASTINGS.

Si)ecial mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of O'Brien count}'
within the pages of this book, citizens who ha^■e figured in the growth and de-
velopment of this favored locality and whose interests have been identified
with its every phase of progress, each contributing in his own particular
way to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the
advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among the number is
he whose name heads this paragraph, one of the most skilled blacksmiths
and automobile repair men in this section of the state.

John A. Hastings is a native of the state of Indiana, born in 1871, be-
ing the son of William and Alary (Alatott) Hastings, the former of whom
was born in Scotland in 1845, leaving his native country when quite a young
man. Shortly after his arri\al in America he took up his residence in
Alichigan, where for a few years he engaged in farming. However, not
being satisfied with his prospects there, he went to Indiana and for ten vears
farmed in that state. In 1879 he left Indiana, coming to Iowa and settled in
Summit township. O'Brien county. Here he farmed for two years, when he

O BKIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 10 15

moxed to Primghar and opened up a blacksmith shop. By the time this
shop was well under way he opened up another in Paullina, being the first shop
of that kind in the town mentioned. He was meeting with excellent suc-
cess in his new business venture, when the now famous tornado of June 24,
1882, struck the town. At that time his home was at Primghar, though he
later moved to Paullina. In this tornado he was badly injured and lay for
m':)nths suffering from broken ribs and limbs, also having his entire be-
longings wiped out. While badly crippled at the time he was not permanent-
ly disabled, and as soon as health permitted he again set about his business.
He remained in O'Brien county until 1895, when he moved to Chandler,
Minnesota, where he opened up another blacksmith shop, where he was en-
joyin.g an excellent business at the time of his death in 1905. His widow,
Mary Hatott Hastings, is a native of Pennsylvania, born there in 1852, and
she makes her home at present in Primghar. She is the mother of nine chil-
dren, two of whom are dead.

When the sul)ject was eighteen years of age he started out in life for
himself and secured employment in a flour mill at Davenport, Iowa. There
he remained for two years, wdien he went to Sioux City, Iowa, and worked
for the Silver Horn meat packing plant. In 1895 he severed his connec-
tion with the abo\'e named iirm and came to Paullina, where he opened up a
blacksmith and machine shop, and to this enterprise he has since devoted his
time and energies, his business at the present time ha\ing attained most
gratifying proportions. In addition to this business he is interested in the
Cherokee well-drill manufacturing concern and owns five business lots and
two residence lots, all of them most admirably located. The success which
he enjoys is due solely to his own efforts, keen insight and tireless indus-
try. There is great demand for such service as he is able to render and he
has prepared himself for the growing use of the motor car and its needs.

Mr. Hastings in 1898 was united in marriage with Nancy Gruver, who
was born in 1874 in Clinton county, Iowa. To their union have been born
two children, Harry and Lois, both of whom are at home with the parents.
Politically, Mr. Hastings is identified with the Progressive party and takes
an intelligent interest in the current issues of the day. He gives loyal
support to the Presbyterian church, with the affairs of which the family is
prominently identified. Mr. Hastings' career, although somewhat strenuous
and to a marked degree progressive and successful, has always been char-
acterized by honorable dealings. He is well known throughout the countv
and is highly respected by all because of his upright dealings with his fel-
low men.

IOl6 o'BRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

JOHN P. BOSSERT.

John P. Bossert was born on a farm near Tipton, Cedar county. Iowa,
on February 19, 1863, where he grew up. He attended the regular rural
schools of that county in the usual course. He later took a course in Lenox
College at Hopkinton, Iowa. Though not among' the very earliest of settlers
or homesteaders, he came early enough to have resided in the county for
thirty years, or fully long enough and more to be a full-grown old settler
and amply long enough to learn of and understand the needs of the county
and of its conditions. These years prepared him for the long serxice of ten
years in the ofifice of county auditor, concededly the most important in the
county. He came to Paullina in 1883, only twenty years of age. and there
engaged in the mercantile business. There were but few old men in the
county in those years. The body citizenship were then composed of young-
men like himself. The town had just started. This is well illustrated in the
statement that the store building which he erected and in which he did busi-
ness was built from the first shipment of lumber received at Paullina over the
then new Northwestern railroad. He was married at t\\ enty-one years of age,
on November 27, 1884, to Amy L. Camp, of Cedar county, where they both
grew up. He continued in the mercantile business at Paullina until 1887,
when he sold out, but remained with his family a resident of Paullina, him-
self becoming a travelling salesman.

At the general election of 1902 j\Ir. Bossert was called upon by the peo-
ple of O'Brien county to assume the duties of this important office. While
he was well acquainted with the people all over the county, the duties of this
office brought him into direct Imsiness relations with state, county, town,
township and school officials, and indeed with every citizen of the county.
Indeed this office is now equal to any bank in the county in the number of its
business items as well as in aggregates in dollars computed. The making of
the tax lists, the dealings with assessors, school boards and treasurers, road su-
pervisors, town and township officials, redemptions from tax sales, the han-
dling of the uniform school book system, the issuing of all orders of the board
of supervisors and the keeping of their records, all contribute to make this
the first office. But it was not merely as an accountant and record man that
Mr. Bossert filled the place. He reached out farther as in reality an ad-
visor of the board of supervisors, as to the large policies and business items
handled.

The board can not always l)e in session, and in this office it is all but
mandatory that thev have an auditor, who at each session will have the in

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA. IOI7

stant business at hand, digested and read}- for action, with advice that five
members of the board can rely upon and will accept. The very fact that
for five terms, or ten years, more than four thousand voters continued him
in ot^ce bv their votes evidences this measure of his qualification for this
large office. He retired January i, 19 13. and moved with his family to
Koshkonong, ^lissouri, where he is engaged in fruit growing and other lines
of farming.

Mr. and Airs. Bossert have five children : Mavis M., now the wife of
Mr. Kenneth Rerick, abstracter in Primghar ; H. B. (Burdette) Bossert, book-
keeper for Henry Williams in his store, and his son-in-law; John C. Bossert,
at Primghar, and Eleanor and Dorothy, at home. It is not often that three
children in turn should acceptably serve in so large an office through the
years as did Mavis, Burdette and John, the latter continuing with J. B. Stamp,
the present auditor, for about one year.

FRANK N. DERBY.

Frank X. Derby, clerk of the courts for two years and county treasurer
for six years, was born at Union City, Indiana, October 11, 1855. His par-
ents moved to Ottumv^a, Wapello county, when he was six years of age. His
father, George A. Derby, was sheritT of that county for four years commenc-
ing January, 1866, and during his term hung the notorious Lant Combs.
Frank was raised in Ottumwa and attended the graded and high schools
there. In 1871 the family removed to Lincoln. Nebraska, where Frank re-
mained until 1875, when he came to O'Brien county and clerked in the stores
for nine years. In the fall of 1877 he was a candidate for auditor against
George W. Schee, but was defeated. In 1878 he was elected clerk of the
courts. His brother, Alonzo F. Derlw, practically filled the office, though
Frank performed many of its duties.

The brother, Alonzo F. Derlw, who filled this office and its duties, should
perhaps receive a notice in connection with this item. He was born in Licking
county, Ohio, March 4, 1847, ^^d was raised in Ottumwa. Though very
young, he served one hundred days in the war near its close. He has later
been employed in the express offices and as cashier with several railroads.
He was appointed deputy clerk by his brother. He will long be remembered
at the county seat for his l)lunt and severe denunciation of everything that
in his judgment was not as it should be, and was especially severe in denun-

IOl8 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

elation of many county matters then needing criticism. There was neither
politics or poHcy in his nature. He spoke his sentiments from the shoulder
outward, and made his criticisms as bluntl}- and \igorously as any official
e^■er in the court house.

Frank N. Derby was elected county treasurer in 1883 and assumed its
duties January i, 1884, and continued in office for six years. He was mar-
ried to Marian A. DeLong. They have three children. He now resides in
Salem, Oregon. He conducted large farming operations for several years
adjacent to Primghar and engaged in stock raising with W. S. Armstrong.
He took a leading part in the procuring of a railroad to Primghar and was
one of the ten men who signed a guaranty to furnish twenty-two miles of
right of Wci}- to the Central road to secure its building. He, with James
Rowan, of Dubuque, laid out and platted Derby & Rowan's addition to Prim-
ghar, which is one of the finest and most beautiful ]:)lats in the tc^wn. Since
g'oing to Salem, Oregon, lie lias 1)een interested in its street car system and
in real estate.

WILLTA?^! CORY HAND, M. D.

Professional success results from merit. Frequently in commercial life
one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or
gift, but in what are known as the learned professions advancement is gained
only through painstaking and long-continued effort. Prestige in the healing
art is the outcome of strong mentality, close application, thorough mastery
of its great underlying principles and the ability to apply theory to practice
in the treatment of diseases. Good intellectual training, thorough profes-
sional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and
attributes essential to success, have made the subject of. this revievv eminent
in his chosen calling and he is recognized today as one of the leading physi-
cians and surgeons in northwestern Towa.

Dr. William Cory Hand, proprietor of the Hand Hospital and one of
the most successful physicians of this section of the state, was born June 12,
1877, in Miami county, Ohio. He is the son of Alvin and Lucinda (Balzell)
Hand, both of whom ^\■ere natives of Ohio. His parents came to Iowa in
1885 and settled in Franklin county, where the father died. The mother is
still living in Hampton, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Hand were born six
children, two of whom died in infancy. The four living children are Roy
C, of Los Amgeles, California; Doctor Hand, whose life history is here

WILLIAM C. HAND, M. D.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IOI9

sketched; John Carl, of Hampton, Iowa, and Harry, a farmer living in
Ohio.

Doctor Hand was educated in the public schools of Hampton. Iowa,
and later taught school in the countr}- for four years. In 1902 he entered
the medical department of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois,
and graduated in 1906. He immediately located in Hartley and has been
very successful. In 1908 he erected the Hand Hospital, which is a com-
modious building, with all the conveniences of a modern hospital ; it has
accommodation for fifteen patients and has two resident nurses in attend-
ance at all times. The hospital takes care of one hundred and fifty patients
annually. Practically all of the surgical cases are attended to bv Doctor
Hand personally. The hospital draws patronage from a large section of
this part of the state.

Doctor Hand was married in 1902 to Jessie Ellis, of Sheffield, Iowa.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Alasons and
has attained to the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the O'Brien County,
Sac County, Sioux A^alley, Mississippi Valley and American medical associa-
tions and takes an interest in the various annual meetings of these organiza-
tions. Doctor Hand has achieved a notable success within a short time and
has been recognized and appreciated throughout this section of the state for
the excellent work he is doing in his field. While he is primarily interested
in the practice of his profession, he does not neglect his duties to the body
politic. In every relation of life he performs his full duty as an American
citizen.

LOUIS WOLLEXBERG.

It is well known that the great majority of the successful business men
of our country are proud of the fact that they are self-made men. owing
the influence and position to which they have attained not to any gift or in-
heritance from others, but to those qualities within themselves which make
for the accomplishment of the great work of the world. The subject of this
review is such a man, and it is by means of his energy, sound judgment and
integrit}' that he has risen to his present position in the community and ac-
quired for himself a competence for the declining years of his life.

Louis Wollenberg was born in the year 1858 in Cook county, Illinois,
the son of Joseph B., a native of Germany, whose natal day was in the year

I020 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

1810. The father spent the early years of his married hfe in the country of
his birth, but as his family increased in numbers and in size the problem of
support which confronted him was one of increasing concern, and he set forth
with his wife and children to seek the broader opportunities of the New
World. But while en route to America, the call of death came to the father
and he was buried at sea, lea^■ing the sorrowing mother and her seven chil-
dren to brave the future in a strange land. They made their way to the city
of Chicago, and in this vicinit}- was born her youngest son, Louis. She re-
mained in the state of Illinois until the day of her death, which occurred in
the year 1901 in the town of Beecher. But three of the children are now
surviving: John, a retired farmer of Germantown, Iowa; Sophia (Mrs.
Awe), a resident of Santa Ana, California, and Louis, the subject of this
review.

This youngest son received his education in the schools of Cook county
and when he attained to years of maturity he obtained employment in a gen-
eral merchandise store. Five years later he migrated to O'Brien county,
Iowa, and here he continued the same line of work in a store in Paullina.
Here he worked faithfull}'. living with characteristic German thrift and sav-
ing his earnings, and in time he was enabled to purchase an interest in the
store of J. \\\ Bunker. Later he bought Mr. Bunker's interest in the con-
cern, and continued with the business. He continued to labor assiduously for
the upbuilding of the Inisiness in which he was interested, whether in the ca-
pacity of proprietor or employe, and each change brought him renewed profit
and increased capital for investment. Thus did he continue as the years ad-
vanced, ultimately investing his profits in farm lands, and when, in the year
1912, he decided that he had earned the right to enjoy at ease the competence
which he had acquired by many years of toil, he found himself the possessor
of eight hundred acres of farm land in the states of Minnesota, South Da-
kota and Iowa.

In the year 1888 he was married to Belle West, a lady of his own age, she
having been born also in the year 1858 in the state of Ohio. No children have
been born of this union and they are enjoying the autumn of their life to-
gether in their comfortable home in Paullina.

Mr. Wollenberg is a man of progressive ideas, well informed and an
interesting conversationalist upon the affairs of the day as well as upon the
earlier history of the county. Though he has retired from active business
life, he is still interested in all movements looking toward the betterment of
the community in which he resides and the good of the country at large.

Politically, Mr. Wollenberg is a firm adherent of the principles espoused

(/kIUEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. i02I

by the Independent Progressive party and he and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian chnrch. He is prominent also in the order of Masons, having
served for a number of vears in its council. He is widelv known throusrhout
the county and is richly deserving of the respect in which, he is held by his
fellow citizens.

INA DORNBUSCH.

The subject of this review is a typical example of the great things which
can be accomplished by the steady worker who exercises sound judgment in
his labors and wisely directs his business affairs.

Ina Dornbusch, a prominent farmer of Union township, was born in
the year 1869 in Germany. His father, Martin Dornbusch, was also a na-
tive of the fatherland, his birth occurring in 1820. The father, in his youth,
learned the trade of shoemaking, and to this \ocation he adhered through-
out his life. In the year 1850 he was united in marriage to Trinke Brunken,
whose birth was in the year 1827, and to this couple were born seven chil-
dren, five of whom are now surviving. In the year 1870, after twenty years
of wedded life, the father was taken from the bosom of his family by the
call of death, and the following year the mother, with her children, emigrated
to America. Here, in Whiteside county, Illinois, they made their permanent
abiding place.

The son, Ina, in whom we are directly interested, remained with the
family only until his eighteenth year, when he migrated to Plymouth county,
Iowa, and obtained employment upon a farm, laboring by the month. Later
he was enabled to cultivate a tract of land for himself and here he labored
early and late, living frugally and looking forward to the opportunity to ac-
quire for himself a competence. In the year 1898 he was enabled to pur-
chase a quarter section of land, and to this he gradually added additional
tracts, always laboring assiduously to cultivate and improve his holdings. In
the year 1895, however, he entered into the state of matrimony, taking for
his bride Sarah Moser. Two children, Martin and Ina, were born of this
union, both of whom are still residing with the father. The hand of death,
however, was laid upon the mother in the year 1904. In 1906 Mr. Dorn-
busch was asrain married, taking for his wife Mrs. Anna Stern, who was
born in the year 1870 in Whiteside county, Illinois, and who is now his faith-
ful helpmate. Her son, Arthur Stern, is a member of the family also, assist-
ing in the labors of the place.

I022 O BRIEX AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA.

'Mv. Donibusch's holdings of farm land have constantly increased in size
and value and he is now the possessor of more than eight hundred acres of
valuable farm property. Of this, six hundred and forty-four acres are lo-
cated in O'Brien count}-, one hundred sixty acres in South Dakota, and a
tract of fortv-four acres on the north edge of the town of Paullina is now the
family homestead, being cultivated by Mr. Dornbusch and his sons, he being
relieved of the more arduous labor which characterized the earlier years of
his life. Truly a wonderful accomplishment, all this, for a man who started
at the foot of the ladder and is yet in the prime of life.

Mr. Dornbusch is a firm believer in the principles of Democracy and
consistently votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the German
Lutheran church of Paullina. but has not been interested in fraternal affairs,
belonging to no lodges, but preferring to de\ote his time and his energies to
his liome and the upbringing of his family. Tliough a man who has labored
assiduously and steadily, he has found time to take an interest in movements
looking toward the general uplift of the community and is respected as one of
the representative citizens of the county.

SELOXIOUS BRUXDAGE.

Among the strong and influential citizens of Sac count\- the record of
whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section, the
gentleman whose name appears above occupies a prominent place and for
years he has exerted a beneficial influence in the locality where he resides.
His chief characteristics are keenness of perception, a tireless energy, hon-
esty of purpose and moti\T, and e\-ery-day common sense, which have en-
abled him not only to advance his own interests, but also largely contribute
to the moral and material ad\'ancement of the community.

Selonious Brundage. a retired farmer of Sheldon. Iowa, was born April
25, 1866, in Canada and is the son of Philip and Eliza (Warren) Brundage,
who also are natives of Canada. Philip Brundage and family came from
Canada to Marshall county, Iowa, and settled near Lamoille in 1870 and con-
tinued to reside in Marshall county until 1883, when they moved to O'Brien
county and settled in Summit township where they purchased a farm. Philip
Brundage died on his farm in 1899. To Mr. and Mrs. Philip Brundage were
born six children: Mrs. Henrietta Wyatt, of Nebraska; William M.. of
Summit township; Tvlrs. Alameda Fitch, of Floyd township; Selonious, with

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA. IO23

whom this narrative deals; Jolin, of Summit townshiji, and Airs. Anna Brad-
ley, of Sheldon.

Selonious Brundage received his education in the common schools of
Marshall and O'Brien counties, Iowa, starting early in life to follow the
occupation of farming. He remained on the farm after completing his
schooling and assisted his father. When he was twenty-one years of age
he purchased land of his own and now owns one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Summit township and a similar amount in Dakota.

Air. Brundage was married March 23, 1898, to Lula Harkins. the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Harkins, and to this marriage has l)een born one
daughter. Lulu Marie, who is still with her parents and is now attending
school. Politically, Mr. Brundage is a Republican, but has never felt in-
clined to take an active part in politics. He keeps well informed upon the
current issues of the dav and is able to discuss them intelligentlv. Frater-
nally. he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Brundage's
career in this county has been an honorable one and although leading the
life of the simple and unostentatious farmer, yet lie lias done his duty as he
saw it in all the relations of life. He has borne himself so that his relations
witli liis fellow men have e\'er l)een above rei)r()ac1i and his good name be-
^•ond criticism.

WILLIAM H. XOYES.

William H. Xoyes, four years recorder of deeds and four years sheritf
of O'Brien county, was born October 3, 1850, at Barnet, Caledonia county,
\^ermont. His family removed to Wisconsin in 1864, and at eight years of
age he learned or commenced the tanner's trade, then the spool and bobbin
business for three years, then a year on the farm, and then learned the print-
er's trade at Elkader, Iowa. For Colonel Eibeck in 1868 he set type on the
Osage Tribune, and later became editor himself of several Iowa papers.
Later he became a fireman on the Milwaukee road and then yard master at
Sheldon. He was married to Susan A. Smith in 1874. He was elected
county recorder in 1882 and again in 1884. In 1887 he removed to Sanborn
and the same spring was elected its mayor. In the latter part of the same year
he removed to Primghar and engaged in the mercantile business. He was
mayor of Primghar for two years. In the fall of i88g the people again called
him into service by electing him slierilT of O'Brien county over the popular
Clark Green. Later on he removed to Minnesota, where he was a member of

1024 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

the Legislature of that state for scA'eral terms. He has since resided in AV'is-
consin. his old home, and took part, as an official, in some of the disturbances
by the notorious Deitz in the famous defense of his claim and mill dam. He
did dutv in O'Brien county as one of the long-term oflicials, eight years, dur-
ing which he was "hale fellow well met" and known as "Billy'" Noyes.

ROY R. CRUAI.

The ])r()fession of the pharmacist and the druggist is one requiring
technical training and a large amount of natixe ability in order to make
the profession a successful one. In fact there is no vocation, except that
of the physician, which touches the life of the people any closer than that
of the pharmacist. It is a matter of fact that all of the prescriptions of
the best physicians are compounded Ijy pharmacists and thus it is eas}- to see
the relation which exists between the life of the people and the profession
of pharmacy. Hence it is necessary that the pharmacist be a trained man
in order to meet the reriuirements of his profession. Roy R. Crum is
a man of sound judgment, discretion, fair technical knowledge and busi-
ness ability of a high order and has managed his affairs with splendid
success since coming to Sutherland.

Roy R. Crum was l)orn in Terre Haute, Illinois, in 1878. and is the
son of Pierce and Salina (James) Crum. Pierce Crum was born in
1854 in Virginia, Illinois, and was for many years a professor in the
seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was a man of culture and re-
finement, being a graduate of Adrian College in Michigan. He was killed
in a railroad accident in 1884. Salina James, the wife of Pierce Crum,
was born at LaHarpe, Illinois, in 1856. Pierce Crum and wife were
married in 1869 '^^^^^ to this marriage were born five children: Charles
E. ; James E. ; Mrs. Mable C. McManiman, of Galesburg, Illinois; Virgil
A., a lawyer of Portland. Oregon, and Roy R., whose history is here
briefly sketched.

Roy R. Crum remained with his parents until nineteen years of age.
and then started to work selling books. Later he ciualified as an electri-
cian and followed this profession for three years. At the end of that time
he started to clerk in a drug store, but, realizing that a practical educa-
tion was necessary, matriculated in the College of Pharmacy, at Des Moines,
and graduated from that institution in 1901. After graduating he added

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO25

to his practical experience by clerking in the drug store at Primghar, Iowa,
in tlie employ of the E. G. Prist Drug Company. In 1902 he came to
Sutherland and bought out the L. J- Price Drug Company and until re-
cently maintained his store in this city. He carried a large and care-
fully selected line of drugs and druggists' sundries,- and by his earnest
earnest efforts to please all who entered his store and by his sound business
judgment he met with well deserved success in this enterprise.

Mr. Crum was married in 1901 to Florence B. Todd and to this union
have been born four children, Rupert. \'irgil. Samuel and Alarv, all of
whom are still at home with their parents. Politically, Mr. Crum identi-
fies himself with that large and intelligent class of citizens who are not
bound by party allegiance to \ote for any particular candidate. He casts
his vote for the best man at all times and feels that in so doino- he is
serving the interests of his countr}-. He and his family are earnest mem-
bers of the ]\Iethodist Episcopal church and give it their support at all
times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, the Yeomen and the Modern \\'oc)dmen of America. As a citi-
zen he stands high in the esteem of his fellow men, being public spirited
and progressive and at all times willing to lend his aid and influence in be-
half of all enterprises for the material advancement of his city, and the
intellectual, social and moral good of its people.

JOHN WEAL.

There have been few residents of O'Brien county, Iowa, who have come
here from the sturdy little country of ^^'ales in western England, but those
who have made this count n- their home have ])een prosperous and sub-
stantial citizens. The Welsh people ha\e as interesting history as any of
those in Europe and there are no finer citizens to be found in the United
States today than those who came from that little mountainous country.

The late John \\>al was born in Wales and reared to manhood in his
nati^•e country. He was married in his native land to Gwen Jones and came
with his wife to this country in 1894. Immediately upon coming to th'is
country they settled in O'Brien county, Iowa, where they first purchased one
hundred and seventeen acres of land in Waterman township. Mr. Weal
proved to be a very successful farmer and within seventeen years he had
accumulated a fine farm of five hundred and twenty acres in this county.

I026 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Before his death, in 1909, he had retired from active work upon the farm
and Hved in Sutherland, where his widow is still living. The farm is high-
ly improved and represents an investment of fifteen thousand dollars in
addition to the price paid for the land. John Weal was married in 1894
to Gwen Jones, the daughter of William and Mary (Davis) Jones. Will-
iam Jones was born in Wales in 1829 and his wife was born in the same
countrv in 1825. William Jones began working as a wool buyer when
nineteen years of age and followed this line of business until his death in
1899, dying at Builth Wells, Wales. He was married in 1848 to ]\Iary
Da\'is, and to this union thirteen children were born, eight of whom are
still li\ing and seven of tlie number still residing in Wales: William,
Thomas. George, Mary, James. Ellen, Anna, and Gwen, the widow of
Mr. Weal. William married Alice Evans and is a wool l:)uyer. Thomas
married Ellen Davis and followed the trade of a blacksmith ; George mar-
ried Elizabeth Lloyd and is a wool Imyer; Mary is the wife of Thomas
Weal, a carpenter; James is a painter and married Mary Hughes; Ellen
is the wife of Rev. Morgan Thomas; Anna is the wife of Thomas I-iich-
ard. Mr. Weal died on the 9th of Oct(jber, 1909. He was a member of
the Church of England and in ])olitics he was a Republican.

LEWIS WOODMAN.

It is interesting to note how the successful farmers of O'Brien county
are gravitating to Sheldon, where they may spend their declining years in
comfort and quietude. Scores of the finest residences in Sheldon have been
built by farmers who have made their fortunes on the wide prairies of the
cotmty and then come to Sheldon to await their final summons. Among
these worthy farmers who have made a success of farming in this county and
have retired to Sheldon, there is no one more worthy of mention than Lewis
Woodman, a retired farmer of Dale township.

Lewis Woodman was born April 4, 1845, i^^ Alexander, Grafton county,
New Hampshire, and is the son of David B. and Jane (Patten) Woodman.
David Woodman was born January i, 1809, in Deerfield, New Hampshire,
and died in 1886 in the state of his birth. To David B. Woodman and wife
were born seven children : Airs. Sarah J. Smith, of New Hampshire ; Mrs.
Laura Downing, of New Hampshire; Mrs. Lydia Aldrich, of New Hamp-

LEWIS WOODMAN

■ O BRIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO27

shire; Mrs. Susan C. White; George, who died in infancy; Edward, a farmer
o\ Kansas, and Lewis, whose history is here presented.

Lewis Woodman receixed a good common school education in the
schools of New Hampshire and remained with his parents on the farm
until he was twenty-one years of age. He then decided to come west and
seek his fortune and accordingly settled first in Clayton county, Iowa, where
he worked out on a farm in the summer of 1867. Then he and his brother
Edward purchased two hundred and forty acres in Poweshiek county and
farmed it for the next eleven years. The land was a prairie at the time
they purchased it. hut they brought it under cultivation and have the satisfac-
tion of seeing it yield handsome returns. In 1878 Lewis Woodman left
Poweshiek county and came to Sac county. From Sac county he drove
on through to O'Brien county and finally decided to settle in Dale township,
although there were only two other families in the township at that time.
He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which had never been
touched by the hand of man and about eight years later he added another
one hundred and sixty acres in Summit township in this county. He now
owns a total of three hundred and twenty acres of land in this county which
is well improved in e^■ery way and nets him handsome returns on his invest-
ment. He has fixQ acres of orchard grove on his farm, a feature which is
found on all of the better farms of the county. Several years ago Mr.
Woodman decided to retire from active farming and at the time moved to
Primghar, where he lived for seven years. However, his love for the farm
drew him back and in 1907 he went back to his farm and remained until
191 o, when he permanently retired to Sheldon. He has two lots and a
Ijeautiful residence at Sheldon where he is now living a life of ease.

Air. \\^oodman was married in 1873 i" Tama county, Iowa, to Amanda
Voorhees. To this marriage were born four children: George O., of
North Dakota; William B., of Montana; Andrew L., of Nebraska, and Mrs.
Lillie M. Barnett, of Montana. On December zt,, 1891, Mr. Woodman was
married a second time to Mrs. Alary E. Ouigley. Politically, Air. W^ood-
man is a Progressive in his belief, but not in party affiliations. He prefers
to be classed as independent, with progressive tendencies. It is noticeable
that there are a large number of men throughout the county who are of the
same opinion as Mr. Woodman in regard to their politics. He belongs to
the Congregational church with his family and contributes liberally of his
substance to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Primghar.
(66)

I028 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES,, IOWA.

Mrs. Woodman's father was Simeon Mead, of New York, who came
to Iowa in the early days and died at Cedar Falls. Her mother passed away
in Dale township, having spent her later days with her daughter, Mrs.
Woodman.

DR. WILLIAM H. KENDERDINE.

The true western spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly ex-
emplified in the lives of such men as Doctor Kenderdine. men whose ener-
getic nature and laudable ambitions have enabled them to conquer many
adverse circumstances and advance steadily to leading positions in the pro-
fessional and business life of the communities in which thev reside. Doctor
Kenderdine is a worth}- representati\"e of tlie dental practitioners of this
section of Iowa and has been successfully engaged in the practice of his
profession in the town of Sutherland. O'Brien count}', for the past thir-
teen years.

Dr. William H. Kenderdine. a successful dentist and popular citizen of
Sutherland, was born in Clay county. Iowa, in 1875, and is the son of
Thomas and Alary (Reeves) Kenderdine. Thomas Kenderdine was born
in 1843 "'' England and was reared to manhood in his native country, fol-
lowing the vocati(jn of a farmer. In young manhood he came to America
and settled in Ohio, where he worked as a farm laborer for a few vears,
after which lie went to Iowa, settling in Clay county, where he homesteaded
a tract of land, thereby securing a good farm in that county. In 1903 he
retired fmm acti\-e farm life and moved to Dickens. Clay county, where
he is now living-. Thomas Kenderdine and wife were the parents of two
children. Thomas, a farmer in Canada, and Dr. William H., with whom
this narrative deals.

Dr. William H. Kenderdine was gi\-en a good common school educa-
tion and afterwards took a two-}'ears' course in the Xora Springs high
school, where he graduated, after which he taught school for a time. He
then took a position as clerk in a grocery store, where he worked for a
short time and afterwards went to work in the office of Doctor Peck, a
dentist at vSpencer. Iowa. After working there for one year he went to
Iowa City and entered the College of Dentistry, from which institution he
graduated three years later. He immediately' entered upon the active prac-
tice of his profession, at Peterson, Iowa, and one year later moved to
Sutherland, O'Brien county, where he has been actively engaged in the

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO29

practice of his profession since 1901. He possesses a thorough knowledge of
his work and kee]:)s in touch with the latest advances made in the science
of dentistry, being numbered among the ablest and most successful in his
line in this section of that state. He owns a handsome home in Sutherland,
as well as one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota.

Doctor Kenderdine was married in 1904 to Alma Colby, the daughter
of Mrs. Nellie Colby, and to this union has been l^urn one son. Harold.
Politically, Doctor Kenderdine belongs to that large class of intelligent
citizens who reser\-e the rio-ht to cast their \otes for the best men, feelino-
that in so doing they are giving the country the best service within their
power. Fraternally, the Doctor is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Alasons and the Knights of Pythias, of Sutherland. Doctor Ken-
derdine is a straightforward, conscientious man and his fellow citizens
have marked confidence in him because of his public spirit and splendid
personal qualities. Personally, he is a genial and companionable man and
is popular in the A'arious circles in which he mo\'es.

ROBERT JOHN MOORHEAD.

Among the prosperous A'oung business men of Sutherland, O'Brien
county, Iowa, is Robert John Aloorhead, who has been associated with ]\Ie-
dealt & Cannon in the grain business in this city since March i, 1914, yet
has already impressed those w'ith whom he has been associated as a man of
exceptional ability. Previous experience as a farmer has made him well quali-
fied as a grain dealer and his capable management of his business in this
city is fast winning for him the confidence of the farmers of this locality. He
is the son of George and Anna (Willis) Moorhead, and was born at Gar-
rison, Benton county, low^a, in 1881.

George Moorhead was born in Ireland in 1840, grew to manhood and
married in his native country and came to the United States in 1868 and lo-
cated at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh he worked for Jones &
Laughlin in the steel mills for several years. He then came to Garrison,
Benton county, Iowa, where he lived several years and farmed rented land,
and in 1884 he came to O'Brien county and bought one hundred and sixty
acres of land near the city of Paullina. He improved his farm and had
the satisfaction of seeing it yield handsome returns on his investment. In
1904 he bought another quarter section of land and continued to farm until
19 10 when he retired and moved to Paullina, where he is now living.

lO^^C) O IJUIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, lOVVA.

George Moorhead was married to Anna Willis, who was bijrn in Ire-
land in 1854. To this union have been born four children: Andrew, who
is now tending the home farm ; Jennie married James Conn, a farmer living
near Primghar, in this county ; Helena, who is still living with her brother
on the home farm, and Robert J.

Robert J. Moorhead received a good common school education and as-
sisted his father upon the home farm until Alarch i, 19 14, wdien he began
to deal in grain in Sutherland. Previous to that time he had purchased a
quarter section of land in Spink county. South Dakota, near Redfield, and
has owned this since 19 10. Mr. Moorhead has been in business only a short
time at Sutherland, l)ut in that time he has demonstrated his fitness to be
classed among the progressive business men of his city.

Mr. Moorhead is unmarried. He is a stanch Republican in politics,
although he has never had the time to take any active part in political af-
fairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Ma-
sons, belonging to Lodge No. 499 at Paullina. He is a member of the
Presbyterian church at Paullina and is a liberal supporter of its various ac-
tivities. Mr. Moorhead is a yoiyig man with fine prospects for the future
and his success in the past presages a successful career for him. He is a
man of genial disposition and kindly manner and wins friends where\-er
he goes.

GEORGE L. JONES.

Among the successful farmers and business men of this community,
George L. Jones has had much to do in advancing the material interests of
O'Brien county, making it one of the important agricultural and commercial
centers of this section of the state. A study of his life cannot fail of interest
and incentive, for he has not only been distinctly representative in his sphere
of endeavor, but has established a firm reputation for integrity and honor
and is now actively identified with the Farmers Elevator Company as man-
ager and is numbered among the substantial and worthy citizens of his com-
munity, and no one more than he deserves representation in a work of this
character.

George L. Jones, the manager of the Farmers Elevator Company, of
Ritter, Iowa, was born in 1865, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, the son
of James and Mary (Howell) Jones. James Jones was born in Wales in
182 1, and came with his parents to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, when he
was but three years of age. Upon reaching his majority he engaged in the

GEORGE L. JONES

O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. JQ^I

occupation of farming and became a prosperous farmer in that count}-, own-
ing one hundred and ninety-six acres at the time of his death. He was mar-
ried in 1859 to Mary Howell, who was born in 1831, and she is still living in
Bradford county, Pennsylvania. To James Jones and wife were born nine
children : Airs. Alarion Green, who lives in Pennsylvania ; Martin, deceased ;
Arthur, who is a resident of ]\^ew York state ; Benjamin, of Sioux county, this
state; Alartha, deceased; Mrs. Addie Whitaker, of Bradford county, Penn-
sylvania; Airs. Anna Williams, also of Bradford county, Pennsylvania;
Elmer, of Bradford count}", Pennsylvania, and George L., whose history is
here portrayed.

George L. Jones received his education in Bradford county, Pennsyl-
vania, and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-three years
of age. In 1888 he came west and settled in Sioux county, Iowa, where he
li^■ed on a rented farm for one year, after which he went back to Bradford
county, Pennsylvania, married and followed the occupation of a farmer in
that state for six years. He bought one hundred and ninety-six acres of
land in his native county and operated it until he sold out in 1896, when he
came back to Iowa, settling in O'Brien county. He first rented three hun-
dred and twenty acres of land in this county, which he operated for a short
time, afterwards moving to Sioux county, Iowa, and rented land there for the
next seven vears. At one time he was the owner of four hundred and
eighty acres of land in Alinnesota, which was well improved, and at this
time has an interest in one hundred and sixty acres in O'Brien county, and
also owns an interest in the Farmers Elevator Company, of Ritter, of which
he is the present manager. He also takes an active interest in the breeding
of blooded horses, making a specialty of Percheron horses and takes much
pride in his stock, which took first prize at the Sheldon fair in 1905 and again
in 1909.

Air. Jones was married in Pennsylvania in 1890 to Agnes Davis, who
was born in 1869 in that state, and to this union there have been Ijorn four
children, Harriett and Leigh, who are both in the high school at Sheldon,
and James and Gordon, who are both deceased.

Mr. Jones has always taken an active interest in politics and while liv-
ing in Sioux county, Iowa, was township trustee for one term and assessor
for one term. He and his family are earnest and faithful members of the
Congregational church and subscribe generously to the support of thatj
denomination. Mr. Jones has made his way through the world unaided and
attributes his success solely to his own undivided efforts. He persevered
because he had the determination and ability to take advantage of oppor-
tunities as they presented themselves, and make the most of them.

1032 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

LOUIS RUWE.

A man who boldly faces the responsibility of life and by determined and
untiring energ}^ carves out for himself an honorable success exerts a power-
ful influence upon the lives of all who follow him. Such men constitute the
foundation of our republican institutions and are the pride of our civilization.
To them life is so real that they tind no time to plot either mischief or vice.
Their lives are bound up in their duties, they feel the weight of their citizen-
ship and take pleasure in sowing the seeds of uprightness. Such has been the
career of the subject of this brief notice.

Louis Ruwe. automobile dealer of Aloneta, O'Brien county, Iowa, was
born in Scott C(uuity. Iowa, in 1874, the son of Henry and Rica (Carlson)
Ruwe. Henry Ruwe was born in 1834 while his parents were crossing the
ocean to this country from their native land of Germany. Upon arriving in
this countrv his j^arents settled in Davenport, Iowa, where Henry Ruwe was
interested in mining and agricultural pursuits. He became one of the large
land owners of Scott county, Iowa, and lived m\ liis farm until 1898. when
he retired and moved to Davenport. Iowa, where he is now residing. Henry
Ruwe and wife were the parents of twelve children: Henry. Jr., of Buena
Vista county: Fred, tleceased : John, a farmer of Scott county: William, of
Mt. Pleasant. Iowa; David, who lives in Cedar county. Iowa; Charles, de-
ceased: Jacob, deceased: Mrs. Minnie Moeller, who is a resident of South
Dakota: ]Mrs. Mary Golinghort, of Lake Park: ^Irs. Emma Bader, who
lives in South Dakota; Rica, who is living at Davenport with her father, and
Louis, whose history is here presented.

Louis Ruwe received a good common school education and when twenty-
one years of age left his home and settled in O'Brien county, Iowa, where
he engaged in the buying and selling of grain in the employ of an elevator
company. He \\orked for this company for 'dhcmt four years and then be-
gan to work on the farm where he lived until iQi i, when he came to Moneta
and engaged in the automol)ile business. He has erected a building in which
he stores his stock and maintains a repair shop, which is well equipped with
all of the improved machinery f(jr the repairing of automobiles, and he en-
joys a large and increasing patronage. Mr. Ruwe is the owner of several
lots in Moneta and is also one of the stockholders of the ^Moneta Savings
Bank, of which financial institution he is a director. He is agent for the
Moon and Overland automobiles and has built up a good trade in the com
munity surrounding Moneta.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO33

V±v. Riuve was married in 1904 in Clay county, Iowa, to Anna Voss,
the (laughter of John Voss. The political party to which Mr. Ruwe owes his
allegiance is the old time-honored party headed by Andrew Jackson and
Thomas Jefferson. Since reaching his majority he has been casting his vote
for the Democratic party. He and his wife are regular attendants of the
German Lutheran church and subscribe generously to the support of that de-
nomination. He is a public-spirited citizen and his influence is always felt
in the various enterprises which are advanced for the benefit of his com-
munitv. He has always been regarded as a man of sterling honesty and
worth and has the confidence and respect of a large circle of friends and ac-
quaintances owing to his upright and industrious life.

DANIEL \[. SHELDON.

Daniel M. Sheldon was 1)orn December 4, 1846, at Belvidere, Illinois.
While vet in his teens, on August 14. 1862, at Cherry V^alley, Illinois, he
enlisted in Company E, Seventy-fourth Illinois Infantry, First Brigade, Sec-
ond Division, Fourth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and served in
the battles of Perryville, Alurfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge,
Resaca, Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain. New Hope Church, Franklin and Nash-
ville. He was wounded in the face by a musket ball July 4, 1864, at Marietta,
Georgia, and was honorably discharged June 10, 1865, at Nashville, Ten-
nessee. He settled permanently in Sutherland in 1882 and was engaged in
the mercantile business for thirty years. While not among the earliest of
the settlers in the county, he came at the beginning of the substantial period
in the county and for thirty years participated in all the upbuildings of a
permanent character in his own town. On January 29. 1874, he was mar-
ried to Catherine E. Davis. They have six children, Frederick E.. Charles
M., Edna B., Ethel I., Frank M. and Roy H.

But the public activities of Air. Sheldon were not confined to his own
home town. His substantial work became county wide. He was a mem-
1jer of the board of supervisors of O'Brien county from 1884 to 1886 in-
clusive and again from 1894 to 1899 inclusive, a period of nine years in all,
and was chairman portions of that time.

Mr. Sheldon in his very make-up is a positive, definite man in all his
movements and life. During this nine years he stamped this definiteness into
all the public aft'airs of the county. He did not become a member of the

I034 O BRIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

board until the main troublous period of the county had practically ended.
He belonged to the first of the building period of the county. Fortunate-
1\- he was surrounded by the new conditions demanding betterments and
uplift. Mr. Sheldon's ver}' presence on the board said in positive terms,
"there must be nothing questionable even suggested to this board or to my-
self as a member." For nine years he stood out like a stone wall in the
county affairs as one of the strong men of the strong boards in the later
half period of the county, and as a preventative against any possible re-
lapse in public matters. We will not attempt to indi\i(lual the items con-
nected with his work as they are substantiall}' recited in \arious articles
during these nine years. He participated in all those public administrative
and healthy impro\-ements. now commenced and continued, during his nine
rears of public service, as in this history recited in the building up of a larger
and better O'Brien countv.

FOSTER HAIN,

A farmer of Floyd township. O'Brien county, Iowa, who has inherited
in a large measure the characteristics which made his father a successful
farmer in this county, is Foster Hain, a successful agriculturist and stock-
man. His father, it is safe to say, was not only one of the most successful
farmers of the county, but was one of the most successful in this section of
the state.

Foster Hain was born May 28, 1876. in Illinois, the son of Joseph and
Mary E. (Cooper) Hain. Joseph Hain was born in Pennsylvania in 185 1
and came to Illinois with his parents when he a\ as four }ears of age. Marry-
ing at the early age of nineteen, he lived for twehe years in Illinois and then
came to O'Brien county, Iowa, in 1887 and purchased eight hundred acres
of unimproved land. This land he has improved, at a cost of twenty-five
thousand dollars, and has added to this until he is now the owner of fourteen
hundred acres of land in O'Brien county and six hundred and forty acres in
Canada. He has always been an extensive stockman and has fed hundreds
of cattle each year until 1909, when he retired from active farm work and
turned his land over to his sons, Foster and Earl, to manage. Joseph Hain
was married in 1875 to Mary E. Cooper, who was born May 28, 1856, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cooper. Peter Cooper was born in 1S22,
and when eighteen years of age he crossed the Alleghany mountains on foot

MR. AND MRS. FOSTER HAIN

- A?T,.
TiLDf rj

O BRIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO35

to seek his fortunes in the West. Joseph Hain and wife were the parents of
seven children: Mrs. Lavina E. Griffith, of this county; Calvin G., of this
county; Mrs. Carrie E. Garrard, who lives in Sheldon; Earl W., who is on
the old homestead; Peter C, who lives in Saskatchewan. Canada; Mrs.
Hila Brewster, who is a resident of Sioux county, this state, and Foster, of
whom this narrati\-e speaks.

Foster Hain was educated in the schools of Illinois and Iowa, and has
always lived with his parents. At the present time he is renting land from
his father. He has taken first and second prizes in farm products on sev-
eral occasions at the O'Brien county fair.

Mr. Flain was married in 1901 to Kitty Larch, who was born in 1875
in Michigan, and to this marriage have been born three children, Lawrence,
Howard and Mildred.

Mr. Hain is independent in politics and casts his vote for the best man
at all times. He is progressive in his inclinations and favors all measures
which he feels will benefit his community and fellow citizens. He and his
family are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church and subscribe lib-
erally to its support. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons and takes an active interest in the work of that organization. He
has always been interested in educational affairs and has served as clerk and
secretary of the school board of Floyd township. Mr. Hain is a worthy
descendant of his father, and promises to be no less successful in his agri-
cultural career than his father before him. He has shown those character-
istics which made his father a leader in his community. He is a man of
pleasing address and manner, and has a large number of friends throughout
the countv who admire him for his many good qualities.

JAMES B. MURPHY.

]\lany of the best citizens of O'Brien count}', Iowa, have come from
the good old Hoosier state of Indiana. Among the native-born citizens
who have li\ed in O'Brien county for more than thirty years is James B.
!\Iurphv, a prosperous farmer and stock man of Grant township. Since
coming to this county he has ever had the upbuilding of his home com-
munity at heart and has led the life of a good citizen in every respect,
for while living to advance himself along material lines he has not
neglected those larger duties to his neighbors and to the public.

1036 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

James B. Murphy was born in Rushville, Indiana, in 1856, and is the
son of Maurice and Sarah (Gilson) Murphy. Maurice Murphy was born
in Ireland in 1833 and when thirteen years of age left his native land and
came to Indiana, where for a time he worked at day labor and then se-
cured work on the railroad which was built through Rushville, Indiana.
For a number of years he was a railroad brakeman on this road and made
his home in Rushville. Late in life he became a farmer in Rush county,
Indiana, and followed that occupation until his retirement in 1903. Sarah
Gilson was born in 1837, ^^^ Rushville, Indiana, and is still living, while
her husband died in 1908. To this union were born four children, three
of whom are still living.

James B. Murphy received his education in the schools of Rushville.
Indiana, and when twenty-three years of age married and began to farm
on a rented farm. Believing that Iowa offered better opportunities
for farming than Indiana, he came to Iowa in 1882 and settled
in O'Brien county. He rented land for the first nine years and was so
successful that lie was enabled to purchase the same one hundred and sixty
acres which he had l)een renting. He has a hue grove of fruit and forest
trees upon his farm in which he takes a great deal of pride. He raises
high-grade live stock of all kinds and is counted among the most successful
stock raisers of his township. He owns a share of stock in the Farmers
Elevator Compan)- and also the fair association at Sutherland, and has
alwavs been an active member of the O'Brien County Fair Association.
At the present time he is a director and one of the most enthusiastic sup-
porters of the association.

Mr. Murphy was married in 1879 to Carvana Bebout, who was born
in Rush\'ille in 1857 and died in O'Brien county in 1913. To this union
were born eight children : Mamie, who is a trained nurse in Sioux City,
Io\^'a ; Lettie, who is still at home with her father; Grover, who is a farm-
er of Grant township, this county; Carmie, nov.' Mrs. Lee Ferguson, of Grant
township; Maurice a farmer, with the AA'estern Bridge Company; Charles,
Jr., and Jessie, the last two named children being still with their father.

Since coming to this county Mr. Murphy has always taken a prominent
part in public affairs and his interests have always been identified with
the Democratic party and his party has honored him on several occasions
by nominating him for townshi]) offices. During the past thirty years of
his residence here he has ser^■ed as township clerk, road superintendent,
township trustee and is now holding the office of treasurer of the township
school board. During his incumbency of these various positions he exer-

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO37

cised the same care and fidelity to duty that he uses in his own private af-
fairs, and it is safe to say that no more popular ot^cial ever held an office
in Grant township than Mr. Murphy. Fraternally, he is a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted ^lasons and takes a deep interest in the affairs
of that organization. He has done a great deal for his township, whose
interests he has ever had at heart and for this reason he is really one of
the representative men of his township.

CHARLES F. AND GEORGE REIFSTECK.

Among the prosperous business men of O'Brien count}', Iowa, who are
connected with the banking interests of the count\- are the Reifsteck broth-
ers, Charles F. and George. They have forged to the front in their pro-
fession, because of their natural endowment and force of character. It
is always profitable to study the lives of such men as these, because their
lives haxe been characterized by that devotion to duty which must actuate
e\erv successful man. They have obtained their present position in the
business world of the county only through hard work and the success which
they enjoy today is richly merited.

Charles F. and George Reifsteck, the sons of Louis and Katherine
(Kirmeileh) Reifsteck, were born in Grant cmnity, ^Visconsin, in 1868 and
1870 respectively. Louis Reifsteck was born in Cierman}' in 1834 and when
a young man came to this country and settled in Galena, Illinois. Several
years later he moved to Jamestown. Wisconsin, where he became engaged
in the mercantile business and still later became identified with the mining-
industry in that state. He was one of the men to open the nfine and plot
a town in Grant count}' which was known by the name of Louisburg-.
Louis Reifsteck was postmaster and took a great deal of interest in the
young" town in its earliest history. He subsequentl}' moved to LeMars,
Iowa, where he 'engaged in the mercantile business. After lining in Le-
Mars for three years he came to Calumet, Iowa, in 1893, ^^^ opened
up a mercantile establishment which he managed for a few years. He is
now the president of the Calumet State Bank and one of the stockholders.
To Louis Reifsteck and wife were born hve children: Louis, Jr., a mer-
chant of Chicago, Illinois; William, deceased; Charles; Mrs. Katherine Rail,
whose husband is a minister of the gospel, and George.

Charles F. Reifsteck, the elder of the two sons whose life histories are

1038 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

here reviewed, was gi\en a good common school education in Grant county,
Wisconsin, and when eighteen years of age left home and went to Ply-
mouth county, Iowa, where he worked for a short time. Later he entered
the mercantile business with his brother George at Neptune, Iowa. He
was appointed postmaster there under Cleveland's administration and after
serving his term removed to Gaza. Iowa, where he again engaged in the
mercantile business. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster at Gaza and lived
there for the next ten years. He then disposed of his business interests and
moved to Calumet, Iowa, where he again became identified with the mercan-
tile business. In 1909 he disposed of his store and became cashier of the
bank of Gaza, known as the Farmers Savings Bank. He is heavily inter-
ested in real estate in this county and now owns five hundred acres of ex-
cellent land in the count}'. He was married on December 19, 1898, to
Florence C. Henderson, and t() this union ha\-e been born three children.
C. Dewey, Katherine and Melba. Politically, Charles Reifsteck is a Demo-
crat, but has never been acti\ely identitied with politics. He and his fam-
il}' are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while in his
fraternal relations he is found affiliated with Knights of Pythias and the
Brotherhood of American Yeomen.

George Reifsteck. like his brother Charles, received a good common
school education in Grant county, Wisconsin, and when eighteen years of age
left home to work for himself. He clerked first for three years, then he and
his brother Charles opened up a general store at Xeptune, Iowa. In 1897 he
disposed of his interests in the store and moved to Calumet, where he again
engaged in the mercantile business. He was appointed postmaster of Calu-
met and three years later sold out his interests in the store and resigned
as postmaster to accept the position of cashier in the bank at Calumet,
later reorganized as the Calumet State Bank. He is a heavy stockholder
in the bank and also holds considerable land in O'Brien county. He was mar-
ried in 1904 at Calumet, Iowa, to Grace Hessenius. In his political affilia-
tions he identifies himself with that large and intelligent class of voters
who are not bound by any partisan rule. He prefers to cast his vote for the
best men irrespective of their party affiliations. Since moving to Calumet
he has been actively identified with all the interests of the city and at one
time or another has held every office within the gift of the people of the
city. He was mayor for eight years and while filling that responsible office
did everything he could for the welfare of his city. Fraternally, he is
a member of the Knights of Pythias and takes a deep interest in the work
of that fraternal organization.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO39

The two brothers are men of influence in their respective communities
and are a high type of the excellent American citizens who. while advancing
their own material interest, never neglect their duty to their common-
wealth. They are men of high qualities of character and deserving of the
high standing which they enjoy.

FRED GUHL.

Practically every country in Europe has contributed to the population of
O'Brien county. Iowa. It is a matter of history that Germany has gone
through several revolutions within the past century which have forced thou-
sands of their best citizens to leave the country. After the revolutions of
1820 and 1848 there were thousands of citizens of Germany who came to
America and settled in ^■arious parts of the United States. As a matter of
fact whene\'er any German settlers came to this country and made a suc-
cess, it usualh' followed that the neighbors who li\ed in the same locality
in his natixe land also came over to this country. Xo German who has
settled in O'Brien count}', Iowa, has ever been an inmate of the puor house.
This fact alone shows that the}' have been uniformly successful. Among
the successful men of Lincoln township, O'Brien county, Iowa, who came
to this country after reaching their majority there is no one who occupies
a more prominent position in his township than Fred (luhl, of Lincoln town-
ship.

Fred Guhl, the son of Joachin and Elizabeth (Jauert) Guhl, was born
in 1866 in Germany. His father was born in 1835 and followed the pro-
fession of a sailor and fisherman in his native land. Joachin Guhl and wife
were married in 1865 in Germany and to their union were born four chil-
dren : William, who was killed by a team on his father's farm ; Mrs. Ricker
Lach, of Pocahontas county, Iowa; Albert, a cement worker of Minnesota,
and Fred, whose life history fomis the theme of this narrative.

Fred Guhl went to school in Germany and received a good common
school education. After leaving the school room he worked out as a farm
hand in the vicinity of his home neighborhood. He came with his parents
from Germany to Benton county, Iowa, in 1888 and stayed with his father
on the farm two years after he came to this state. He then came from
Benton county to O'Brien county in 1896. In the year 1894 he was mar-
ried and first rented land in Benton county. After coming to O'Brien county

1040 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

he rented land for six }-ear.s ; he then bought one hundred and sixty acres
in Lincoln township, which he is still farming. Since purchasing this farm
he has made eight thousand dollars' worth of improvements on it. His
father also owned one hundred and sixty acres in this same township and
had the largest grove in the township. His father sold his farm a short
time Ijefore his death and mo^•ed to Hartley, where he li\-ed until 1913,
the year of his death. ^Ir. Guhl is a large stock raiser and keeps a good
grade of stock, and from the sale of this he realizes a handsome return each
year. He has a share in the Farmers Elevator Company of Hartley, Iowa.
Mr. Guhl was married in 1894 to Marie Wieditc and to this marriage
ha\e Ijeen l)orn two children, William and Elizabeth, both of whom are still
with tlieir parents. Mr. Guhl gives his support to the Democratic party
at all times, although he has never taken an active part in politics, preferring
to devote all of his time to his aoricultural interests. Air. Guhl and his
family are earnest members of the German Lutheran church and contribute
generously of their means to its support. Mr. Guhl came to this country
after reaching his majoritv and in the course of twenty-five years obtained
a position of influence in his community, solelv through his own efforts.
He is a man who is held in high esteem by his neighbors because of his
kindly manner and his upright wav of li\ing.

DR. PLEASANT S. STEARNS.

One of the professions which is indispensable to the communit\' life
of an agricultural country is that of a veterinary surgeon. \Vhile for mam-
centuries we have had pliysicians to minister to human ills, it has only been
within the past century that the treatment of diseases of animals has risen
to the dignity of a science. At the present time we have colleges which
are giving technical training of a high character to treatment of the diseases
of horses, cows, dogs, cats, etc. A veterinary surgeon who understands
his business is one of the most valuable assets a farmino- communitv can
have, and for this reason Dr. Pleasant S. Stearns is one of the representa-
tive men of O'Brien county, Iowa.

Pleasant S. Stearns was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1856, the
son of Isaac and Lorana (Knox) Stearns. Isaac Stearns was born in Os-
wego county. New York, in 18 19, and was a minister in the United Breth-
ren and Methodist Episcopal churches. He was a man who was a power for

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO4I

Sfood in his commiinitw As a vouns^ man he settled in IlHnois. and at the
opening of the Civil War enlisted in an Illinois regiment of volunteer infan-
try. However, he ser\ed only a short time, being mustered out on account of
disability caused by rheumatism. After leaving the army he returned to
Illinois, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1907. He was
married in 1842 to Lorana Knox, who was born in Ohio in 1819, and to
this union six children were born, all but one of whom are still living.

Pleasant S. Stearns received a common school education in his home
schools, and when a \'ery small lad began working on his father's farm.
At the age of fifteen he secured employment in a street car barn in Illinois,
where he worked for a sliort time, after which he went to work with a \-eteri-
nar\- surgeon In- the name of Scott, and studied with him for a year, after-
wards working and studying with other veterinary surgeons, and in 1883
began to practice by himself at Gladbrook, Iowa, where he remained for
six }-ears. after which he came to Sutherland, where he has since continued
t(T reside, and has 1)uilt up a practice which carries him beyond the limits
of this county intn all of the neighboring counties of the state. Although
he has never taken a graduate course of any kind in his profession, yet he
is recognized as one of the most skillful \-eterinary surgeons in the state of
Iowa. He has a well ecjuipped laboratory, where he has performed some very
skillful and interesting operations. He is frequently called into consultation
bv other veterinary surgeons throughout this section of the state and his ad-
vice is always considered very good. He is a member of the Hawkeye A'eter-
inary Association of Des Moines, Iowa, and is its treasurer and takes an
interest in the work of that organization. Doctor Stearns has invested in
Iowa lands and is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land
in Clay county which yields him a good return on his investment. He also
owns a share in the fair association of O'Brien county, as well as a share in
the Farmers Elevator Company of Sutherland.

Doctor Stearns was married in 1885 to Lula Pray, and to this union
have been born five children : Har\ey, a graduate of the Sutherland high
school and also from the civil engineering course in Ames College, is now
teaching manual training in St. Paul, Minnesota ; Mrs. Mabel Fredenburg,
who lives in Clay county, Iowa : ^Nlrs. Belva Willie, of Sutherland, Iowa ;
Homer and Florence, who are still with their parents.

Doctor Stearns is independent in his political belief and has never felt
bound by any particular party ticket. On the other hand he casts his ballot
for the best men rather than voting a party ticket. Fraternally, he is a mem-
ber of the Ancient Free and -Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of

1042 ^ O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA,

Odd Fellows at Sutherland. He is also a member of the Order of the East-
ern Star. Doctor Stearns is a wide reader of current afTairs and a close ob-
server of men and events and has kept in close touch with the issues of the
limes. He is considered one of the substantial and induential citizens of the
localitv which is honored bv his residence.

SAMUEL BOYCE.

Among the distinguished veterans of the Civil War who make their
home in Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa, there is no one deserving of a
greater meed of respect than Samuel Boyce, a prosperous farmer of this
county. He was born in 1839 in Allegany county. New York, and has
lived a long and useful life, three years of which were spent in the service
of his country during that long and bloody conflict, which determined that
the Union was one and inseparable. He is the son of Samuel and Betsey
Ann (Hall) Boyce. The father was born in Ireland and settled in Clayton
county, Iowa, where he lived the life of a farmer. His mother was born in
Ireland in 1812 and to their union were born six children: Mrs. Mary
Ann Wood, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Dull, of Clayton county, Iowa; Will-
iam, of North Dakota; Robert, of Clayton county, Iowa; James, deceased,
and Samuel, whose life history forms the theme of this narrative.

Samuel Boyce remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age.
He received a good common school education and when a small lad went
with his parents to Iowa. He was living in Iowa when the war broke out
and was then seized with that same patriotic feeling which seized the youth
of the North. He enlisted in Company H, Sixteenth Regiment. Iowa Vol-
unteer Infantry, and his company was assigned to service under General
Sherman. He fought in the battles of the eastern part of Tennessee and
then followed Sherman on his march to the sea, participating in the battles
of Resaca, Dalton and Atlanta, and was at Savannah with Sherman when
they took the city on Christmas day, 1864. He was finally mustered out in
the spring of 1865 in Tennessee.

Immediately after he was mustered out of the service, Mr. Boyce re-
turned to Iowa and settled in Allamakee county. He purchased one hun-
dred and sixty acres of land. This land was unimproved and was known
as "grub land." For seventeen years he lived upon this farm, improving it
in such a way that when he sold it in 1863 he realized a handsome profit

SAMUEL BOYCE

T1V.D

O ERIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO45

upon his investment. He came to O'Brien county in 1883 and purchased
one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land at twelve dollars an acre. Since
hu\ing this land he has made h\e thousand dollars worth of improvements
on it. consisting of houses of various kinds, fencing, drainage and groves
of fruit and orchard trees. He continued to operate his farm until 1900,
when he retired from active farm life and moved to Hartley, where he is
living in a handsome residence of his own. He owns six lots in Hartley
besides other property.

Mr. Boyce was married in 1866, immediately after the close of the
war, to Philena Young, who was born in Iowa in 1844. To this union ha\"e
been born four children: Thomas, deceased; Adam, a logster in ^Mississippi ;
William and Charles, who are farming the home place.

In politics, Mr. Boyce is a Republican and. while he has always been
interested in politics, he has never been a candidate for any public ofifice.
He and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church
and have been earnest and consistent supporters of that denomination. He
is a member of the Grand x\rmy post of Hartley. His life since coming to
this county has been such as to win him the commendation of his fellow
citizens.

lOHN F. O'DOXNELL.

Among the enterprising and prosperous citizens of Irish extraction whose
energy and strength of character have gained for them a prominent place
in O'Brien count}', Iowa, is John F. O'Donnell, a retired farmer and stock-
man of wSutherland, Iowa. A residence of thirty years in the countv has
gi\en his friends' the opportunity to estimate his character and worth as a
man, and they willingly accord him a place among the representati\e citizens of
the county. While in active life his influence was all exerted for the ad-
vancement of his fellow citizens, and for this reason his life historv is brieflv
set forth in this volume.

John F. O'Donnell, the son of John and Bridget (Hoben) O'Donnell.
was born in 1848 in Ireland. His father was born in that country in 1816
and lived the life of a plain farmer until 1869, when he left his native land
and came to America, settling in Dubuque county, Iowa, where he follow-
ed agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he came to O'Brien countv, Iowa,
and li^■ed with his son until his death, which occurred in 1889. His widow
is still living in Dubuque count^', this state.

(67)

J 044 O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA.

John F. O'Donnell is one of seven children Ixirn to his parents, three
of whom are deceased. He was given a meager education in the schools
of Ireland and when nineteen years of age started to come to America
to seek his fortunes. He arrived in Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1867, ^1^*^^
immediately found employment as a farm hand. After working for fann-
ers for years and getting thoroughly accjuainted with the practical ideas
of American farming, he rented land for himself and continued to farm in
Dubucjue county until 1882. when he removed to this county and worked on
a ranch in Union township for the Paullin brothers. In 1882 he pur-
chased land in Summit township and in the course of the next three years
he bought and sold se\-eral ditTerent farms, and finally permanently lo-
cated in Lil)erty township, on a farm of his own. and continued to reside
there until 191 1. when he retired from active farm life and moved to Suther-
land. He is the owner of three hundred and six acres of well improved
land, as well as ten acres and a liandsome modern home in the north part of
the cit}- of Sutherland. As a farmer he raised all of the crops common to
this latitude and took a special pride in breeding pedigreed live stock. As
a breeder of thoroughbred Poland China hogs he has taken prizes at the
Sutherland county fair and has also won prizes on draft horses at the fair.
He owns a share of stock in the Co-operative elevator at Sutherland, an
elevator which is owned by tlie farmers of that community.

Mr. O'Donnell was married in 1884 to Ella Zehring, the daughter of
Adam Zehring, and to this union have been Ijorn seven children : Agnes, de-
ceased : ^^'alter, who lives in Colorado ; Ruby, who is li\'ing in Colorado with
her brother; Mrs. Ella \\'ilkerson, of Gaza, Iowa, and Earl, Murl and
I\a, who are still with their parents.

Mr. O'Donnell has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and
has been honored b\- his party b}' being given various offices. He has served
as road supervisor and school director in his home township and filled both
of these offices to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the township and
communit}'. He and the members of his family are loyal and earnest mem-
bers of the Catholic church and give to it their earnest and zealous 'support
at all times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Yeomen and the Home-
steaders and takes an active interest in these fraternal organizations. Mr.
O'Donnell is a man of optimistic views of life and possesses to a marked
degree those characteristics which win friends. He is a man of high moral
character, persistent industry and excellent judgment, and throughout the
locality where he has lived for more than thirtv years he occupies an en-
viable position among his fellow men.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. TO4:;

JOHX THIETJE.

Among" the prosperous farmers and stockmen of Lincoln township,
O'Brien county. Iowa, of German parentage is John Thietje, a prominent
citizen of Lincohi township. It is an inspiration to read the careers of
men who came to this country with no visible assets except ability to work
and their honesty of purpose, and in the course of a few years accumulated
a comfortable competence for their declining years. John Thietje was born
in 1856, in Germany, the son of Henry and Charlott (Petersen) Thietie.
The father \\-as born in 1824 and lix'ed and died the life of a farmer in
his nati\e land, passing away in 1908. To Henry Thietje and wife were
born eight children: Ered, of Germany; Elenry, of Germany; Paul, of
Germany; Mrs. Anna Meier, of Minnesota; Mrs. Dora Burer. deceased;
August, deceased ; Crist, who is farming- with John in this county, and John,
whose history is here briefly presented.

John Thietje received a common school education in liis natixe land and
learned the carpenter trade. Upon reaching the age of twentv-three he
wished to l^etter his condition and with this end in view sailed for America.
After arriving in this country he hrst went to Jackson county. Iowa, and
worked on a farm and did some carpenter work. Upon marrying, in 1885.
he came to Union township, O'Brien county, and purchased eighty acres
of land. He and his young wife worked diligently to bring the farm to
a state where it would }ield a comfortable living-, and spent ten years of
their lives upon this farm, then sold it in 1896 and moved to Kossuth county,
in this state, where they again bought a farm. After six years they sold
it and moved back to O'Brien county, buying one hundred and twenty
acres of land in Lincoln township, on which they are still living. He plant-
ed fi\e acres of grove and orchard trees and raises a high grade of live
stock of \-arious kinds. He raises all the crops which are peculiar to this
section of the state and finds a ready market for any of his surplus grain.

Mr. Thietje was married in 1885 to Anna Koock, and to this marriage
ha\e been born six children : Mrs. Charlott Pouersen. of Spencer, Iowa ;
Henry, of Spencer, Iowa; Albert; Dora; Emiel and Louise. The three
younger children are still at home with their parents. Politically, Mr.
Thietje is a member of the Democratic party but has never been actively in-
terested in the affairs of his party. He votes for the best man at election
and in so doing he believes he is performing the best service for his state.
Religiously, he and his family are earnest members of the German Lutheran

1046 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

church and contribute generously of their means to its support. He is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Hartley, Iowa. Mr.
Thietje is a fine example of the self-made man who came fiom a foreign
country with no knowledge of the English language and in the course of a
few years accumulated a comfortable fortune for his declining years. He
is a man of pleasant personality and easily makes friends wherever he goes.
He is highly regarded by everyone who knows him because of his upright
character and cleanliness of life.

MICHAEL P. MULLIN.

The citizens of O'Brien count}- who claim Ireland as their nati\e land,
or who are descendants of natives of the Emerald isle, are among the sub-
stantial and enterprising citizens where\er they are found in this country.
Someone has said that an Irishman ne\er died in the poor house and it is
certainly a triljute to tlie people of that country to make such a statement.

Michael P. Mullin, a prosperous farmer of Carroll township, O'Brien
count}', was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1870. He is the son of Dennis and
Margaret ( Mahone}' ) Alullin. Dennis Mullin was born in Ireland in 1823
and farmed in his nati\'e land until he was twenty-four years of age and then
came to this country and worked in Massachusetts ior about ten }-ears in
railroad construction work. While li\ing in Massachusetts he married and
in 1857 went to Canada, where he engaged in farming until 1885. He then
mo\'ed to O'Brien county. Iowa, and homesteaded in Carroll townslii]) and
lived there until his death in 1909. Dennis Mullin and wife were the parents
of fourteen children, five of whom died in early infancy. There are onh"
fi\e of the children who are now living: Dennis, of Montana; Jerrv, who
is li\ing a retired life in ^Minnesota; ^Irs. Mary W'ilsey, of Sheldon. Iowa;
Airs. Alaggie Haynen, of Sioux Cit}', Iowa, and Alichael P.. with ^\■honl
this narrati\-e deals.

Michael P. Alullin li\ed in Canada until he was fifteen vears of ai^e and
there received a good common school education. He came with hi;- parents
to this county in 1885 and worked with his father on the farm initil the
latter's death in 1909. He then took the home place and has made man\-
improvements upon it within the past fi\'e }'ears. He has set out three aci;es
of orchard and forest trees and has the whole farm of two hundred acres in
a high state of cultivation. He is an extensive raiser of live >tock and

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO47

finds this a profitable source of income. He is a director in the Farmers
Elevator at Archer, Iowa, who is also secretary of the Farmers Telephone
Company in this county.

Mr. Alullin ^^•as married in 1904 in Sheldon, Iowa, to Xellie Grifiin,
and to this marriage have been born four sons, Dennis, Earl, Michael antl
Daniel, all of whom are at home.

Politically Mr. Mullin is a stanch Democrat and is now ser^/ino- as
clerk of Carroll township, an office which he is filling to the entire satis-
faction of everyone in the township. He and his family are earnest mem-
bers of the Catholic church and contribute generously to its support. He
is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of
America. Mr. ?\Iullin is a man of good judgment and enjoys a wide ac-
Cjuaintance throughout his township and the remainder of the county be-
cause of his genial disposition and uniform courtesy to everyone with whom
he is associated. His excellent personal character and integrity have made
him respected and higlily esteemed by a host of friends and acquaintances.

ALBERT H. AGAR.

One of the most prosperous and substantial farmers of West Flolman
township is Albert H. Agar, who has always taken a great deal of pride in.
])eing a plain, e very-da}' farmer. Everything which he has today has been
gained solely through his own unaided efforts and therefore he deserves a
great deal of credit for his substantial position in the affairs of his county.

Albert H. Agar, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Rowan) Agar, was
born November 29, 1867, in Muscatine county, Iowa. Thomas Agar was
born in Lincolnshire, England, and came to this country in 1847. He had
followed the cabinet-making trade in his own country, but after coming to
the L^nitecl States he worked on a fann by the month. He first worked
in New York state for se\'en years and then became manager of a large
thirteen-hundred-acre farm owned by David Pifford. For ten years he
worked here as foreman and in 1864 came to Iowa, where he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres in Muscatine count}'. Here he lived until 1897 ^^^^
he moved to ]\Iontpelier, where he lived until his death, August 29, 1906.
His wife, Sarah Rowan, was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, and came to Iowa
in 1848 with her parents, John A. and Catherine Rowan. They went on
a steamboat down the Ohio river to Cairo, Illinois, and then up the Missis-

JO48 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

sippi to Iowa and landed at Buffalo, building a log house there and lived
as did the other pioneers at that time. Thomas Agar and wife were the
parents of seven children: Elizabeth, the wife of C. F. Sauemian; Henry;
Anna, the wife of G. W. Van Camp; Lollie, the wife of Fred Grimm, de-
ceased; Albert H., whose life history is here presented; Eugenia, the wife
of O. A. Bohnsack, and Thomas.

Albert H. Agar received a good common school education in the schools
of Muscatine county, Iowa, and lived at home until he was twenty-nine years
of age. He then rented two hundred and sixty acres of land in his home
county for three years, later moving to his present farm in Osceola county
which he had purchased in 1889. He now owns two hundred and forty
acres in section 2 of West Holman township, which he purchased in 1898,
and eighty acres which he has since added in East Holman township. When
he moved upon his farm in 1898 it was very much run down, but he has
increased its producti\ity by a system of scientific crop rotation. He has
built a comfortable and convenient country home, two large barns and a
eranarv which will hold seven thousand five hundred bushels of grain. He
has also fenced his farm and installed a complete system of drainage, there-
by adding greatly to the value as well as to the attractiveness of the farm.
He has not neglected to provide shed room for all of his tools and imple-
ments, thereby demonstrating that he is a careful and methodical farmer.

Mr. Agar was married April 26, 1900, to Lena Drumm. She is the
daughter of Thomas and Minnie Drumm, and was born February 7, 1872,
in Muscatine county, Iowa. Her parents were both natiA'es of Germany and
reared a family of five children, Henry. Rosa. Lena, Minnie and Jacob.
Mr. and Airs. Agar are the parents of two children, Alice and Edward,
both of whom are still li\ing under the parental roof. Alice was born
February 26, 1901, and Etlward was born June 16, 1906.

Mr. Agar is a Democrat in politics but has been content to devote all
his time and energy to his agricultural interests. He raises all the crops
of this section of the state and in addition raises a large amount of stock
and poultry. He is a man who takes a great deal of pride in his farming
and is thoroughly in love with his chosen life work. He is a member of
the Alodern Brotherhood of America and is a charter member of that or-
ganization at Sibley. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church and while he has never formally identified himself with the church,
yet he has always lived a life which conforms to the rules of Christian
ethics. He is a man who has won a host of friends throughout this com-
munity because of his genial and unassuming manner.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA. JO49

FRED NOTT.

Peculiar interest attaches to the history of I'Ved Xott, from the fact
that he is a native of the county where he has spent his whole career. He
is a man of education and culture, as well as a man of business ability,
and has been a prominent factor in the history of his county for the past
forty years and in that time has ne\er failed to give his hearty support
to all measures which he felt would benefit his county. He has never
been seized with the wanderlust but has been content to stay within the
limits of his native county, believing that it offered as many opportunities
for advancement as any other county in the state. As a citizen of the city
of Calumet he has been acti\'e in bettering its welfare in many ways and is
responsible for the efficient electric lighting" plant which is in use at the
present time.

Fred Nott, an automobile dealer of Calumet, O'Brien county, Iowa,
was born in O'Brien county in 1874 and is the son of Thomas B. and Flora
A. (Kelley) Xott. Thomas B. Xott was 1)()rn in Devonshire. England,
Februaiy 10, 184 1, and is the son of Thomas and Ann Lucy (Bucknell)
X'^ott. Thomas Xott. Sr.. was l)orn in England in 1806. To Thomas B.
X'^ott and wife, who were married in 1870, have been born five children, of
whom four are living".

Thomas B. X'ott, the father of Fred, whose history is here delineated,
was a soldier of the Civil War. a member of Company H. Fifth Regiment
Wisconsin Infantry. He was mustered in as a corporal in 1864 and was as-
signed to duty in \"irginia, where he participated in the campaigns of Gen-
eral Grant against Petersburg and Richmond. He received his honorable
discharge at Aladison, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1865. In 1870 he came
to O'Brien county and he and his }oung wife homesteaded in Liberty town-
ship. Here they lived for the next thirty years and upon their retire-
ment from the farm, in 1901, they were the owners of a fine farm in the
township. Thomas B. Xott died in 191 o and his wife is still living in this
county.

Fred X'ott was given a good common school education and later grad-
uated from the Sutherland high school. AVhile going to school he assisted
his father upon the home farm and after graduating from the high school h.is
father sent him to business college at Cedar Rapids, where he took the com-
plete course in the business department. He then became assistant cashier of
the bank at Calumet and rendered the bank faithful and efficient service for

1050 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

four years. After this he Iniih an automobile garage and took the agency
for different kinds of automobiles and has been engaged in the business
up to the present time. He maintains a repair shop, with competent me-
chanics, and is doing a flourishing business in the city of Calumet and the
surrounding country. In the installation of an electric light plant for the
benefit of the citizens of C"alumet he has performed a public favor which is
worthy of mention. The residents of Calumet are now receiving a twenty-
four-hour lighting service at a rate which is as low as any in this section of
the state.

Mr. Nott was married in 1907 to Beatrice Henderson, and to this union
has been born one daughter, Ruth.

Mr. Nott is independent in politics and as a public-spirited citizen votes
for the best men regardless of their political affiliations. Mr. Nott is a
public-spirited citizen who is widely interested in the welfare of his home
city and has done e\-erything" he could to ad\-ance its interests. For this
reason he is justly reg'arded as a representative man of his city as well as
the countv which is honored b\- his residence.

WILLIAM H. SCHOELERMAN.

One of the most progressive of the younger farmers of O'Brien county
is William H. Schoelerman, who is a son of German parents. Consecjuently
it may be expected that he has been a prosperous citizen of his township, and
such proves to be the case, ^^'hile he has attended strictly to his own busi-
ness and accumulated considerable of this world's goods, yet he has not
neglected to take his full share in the public life of his community.

W^illiam H. Schoelerman was born in 1870 in Benton county, Iowa,
the son of Nicholas and Sophia (Voss) Schoelerman. Nicholas Schoeler-
man was born in 1839, in Germany, and was a shepherd in his native land.
When eighteen years of age he decided to cast his fortunes with the thou-
sands of emigrants who were leaving his native land for x^merica. He
settled in Davenport. Iowa, where he worked for two years as a day laborer.
In 1859 he went to Benton county. Iowa, and purchased one hundred and
sixty acres of prairie land for three dollars an acre. He and his brother,
Jacob, were working together at this time and for some years they added to
this tract until they owned a good farm when they divided their interests.
Nicholas made many improvements and rapidly brought his farm to a place

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO5I

where it yielded him a goodly return on his in\estment. Mr. Schoelerman had
been a farmer, who did n(3t neglect to take advantage of the latest develop-
ments in. farming machinery and the most approved methods of farm man-
agement, until he retired, owning many hundred acres of well improved
land, as well as the home in Keystone, Benton county. He is now living a
retired life in Keystone, where he moved in 1905. He married, in 1866, in
Durant, Iowa. Sojjhia Voss. who was born in Germany in 1858. To Nicho-
las Schoelerman and wife have been born eleven children: Peter F., a
farmer of Everly, Iowa; John, who is a farmer of Royal, Clay county, this
state ; Fernand, a farmer of Benton county, this state : August, who is living
a ret:red life in Fxeriy; Mrs. Caroline Mussman, who is a resident of Key-
stone. Towa ; Henrw a farmer of Clay county; Cecelia, deceased; Reimer,
deceased; George, who is a farmer of Benton county, and Herman, a farmer
of Benton county, this state.

William H. Schoelerman remained with his parents on the home farm
in Benton county until he was twenty-five years of age, receiving a good,
common school education and then worked with his father until he left home,
at which time he rented a part of his father's farm and when his father
moved to Keystone, in 1905, he purchased the farm. Since coming into
control of the old homestead he has out fifteen thousand dollars worth of

improvements on it. He has always kept a high grade of cattle and feeds
from sixty to one hundred head for the markets each year. He is a stock-
holder in the Hartley Elevator Company and also in the Hartley Lumber
Company.

Mr. Schoelerman was married in 1898, in O'Brien county, lo'-^a, to
Sophia Jensen, who was born in Benton county in 1880, and to this union
have been born four children. Alfred, Clara, Nicholas and Cecelia. Politi-
callv. Mr. Schoelerman is identified with the Democratic party and has al-
ways taken an interest in public affairs. He has been particularly interested
in educational atTairs and as a member of the school board of Hartley town-
ship he has rendered efficient service. He has also been road super\-isor of
Hartlev township, in this county. He and all the members of his family are
earnest and devoted adherents of the German Lutheran church and subscribe
generously to the support of their denomination. Fraternally, he is a mem-
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes an interest in the
various activities of that fraternal organization. Mr. Schoelerman is a man
who has won many friends because he has tried to live a life which would be
consistent with the Golden Rule.

TO52 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

JAMES C. BRIGGS.

For the past thirty years one of the representative and spirited men of
Sutherland, O'Brien county, Iowa, has been James C. Briggs, who is now
living a retired life in the city f<:>r which he has labored so long. He has
made his iufluence felt for good in this city and his life has been closely inter-
woven with its history for the past score and ten years. As city council-
man and as mayor he did everything he could to advance the interests of his
city and place it in the first ranks among the other cities of its size in this
section of the state.

James C. Briggs, the son of ^Ir. and Airs. Edmond L. Briggs, was born
in 185 1 in Grant county, W^isconsin. He was gi^'en a good common school
education and also graduated from the Bloomington, Wisconsin, high school.
At the age of twenty-two }'ears he began to work upon the farm in Wis-
consin and for a number of years rented land in that state. He saved his
money with the intention of coming farther west and investing in richer
land than could be secured in Wisconsin. Accordingly in 1884 he came
to O'Brien county, Iowa, on a prospecting tour and finally decided to start
in business in Sutherland rather than embark in farming. He bought a re-
tail meat market in Sutherland and operated it for one year. The next
year he engaged in the harness-making business and for the next twenty-
five years engaged in the harness and saddlery business in Sutherland. In
1910 he sold out his business and retired from active Inisiness.

Mr. Briggs was married in 1874 to Marilla C. Tubbs, who was born
in 1857, and to this marriage have been boni four children: ]\Irs. Dora
Bidwell, of Union, Montana; W^alter, of Primghar, Iowa; Mrs. Nellie
Johannsen, of Sutherland, Iowa, and Harry J., of Sutherland.

Mr. Briggs has always taken an active part in the public life of his city.
During the thirty years that he has been a resident of the cit}' he has done
as much for the pul^lic welfare as any other man. He was cit\- council-
man and mayor for two different terms and brought about man}- reforms
in the city government. He started the agitation for public improvements
of all kinds and has the honor of establishing the fire limits in the city.
At the present time Mr. Briggs is city assessor. He owns a fine modern
home in the city, together with sixty acres of land inside the corporation
limits. He has been a life-long Republican and has always taken an active
interest in political aflfairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons and takes an acti\e part in Masonic work. He is a

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA. Ui;.;

great student of Masonry and is one of the Ijest infornietl men upon the
history of the institution in this section of the state. He is also a member
of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Briggs' career exhibits a hfe
of integrity, indefatigable industr}- and wholesome home and social rela-
tions, and a most commendable career in every way. As a pri\ate citizen
and as a public official, he has those traits of character which are of special
\-alue in such a state of society as exists in this country. Possessing a strong
social nature and exercising a genial and friendly attitude towards those
with whom he comes in contact, it is not strange that he has a large and
loyal following among his acquaintances in Sutherland.

JOHN BOBZINE.

It was once remarked by a celebrated moralist and biographer tlial
"there has scarcely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrati\e
would not have been useful." Believing in the truth of this opinion, ex-
pressed by one of the greatest and best of men. the writer of this review takes
pleasure in presenting a few facts in the career of a gentleman who, by in-
dustry, perseverance, temperance and integrit}'. has worked himself from an
humble station to a successful place in life and won for himself an honorable
position among the well known and highly esteemed men of the locality in
which he resides.

One of the worth}' descendants of German extraction who are counted
among the prosperous farmers of O'Brien county is John Bobzine, who
was born in 1873 "^ Johnson county, Iowa, the son of Fred B. and Dorothea
( Possehl ) Bobzine, both of whom were natives of Germany. His father was
born in 1847 and was a laborer in his native countiy. To improve his con-
dition, as well as that of his family, he came to America and settled in
Johnson county, Iowa, and here he became engaged in farming and later
came to Benton count}', this state, where he lived the life of a farmer until
his death, which occurred in 1894. To Fred Bobzine and wife were born
eight children : Mrs. Mary Beulow, of Algona, Iowa : Fred, deceased ; Henry,
who is a farmer of this county ; Louis, a resident of Dakota ; Mrs. Tillie
Bauserman, of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Sophia Jones, who lives in Clay
county, this state ; Mrs. Martha Jones, also a resident of Clay county, and
John, with whom this narrative deals.

John Bobzine was reared on his father's farm in Benton county, Iowa,

J 054 O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

and received his education in the schools of that county. He remained with
his parents on the home place until the death of his father, which occurred
in 1894. afterwards operating the homestead farm for his mother until
her death, and in 190T he came to O'Brien county and bought one hun-
dred and sixt}' acres of land in Grant township. Later he sold this tract
and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Lincoln township, where
he is now living. He has improved and cultivated this farm until it is
one of the finest in tlie township. He has three acres of orchard and grove.
an attractive and modern home, as well as large and commodious barns and
other outbuildings on liis place. He is progressive in his methods of agri-
culture and as a result reaps the reward of excellent crops and handsome
pecuniary returns for his efforts. He has an interest in tlie Farmers Elevator
Company at Hartley. Iowa, an organization which is of immense benefit
to the farmers of the community.

Mr. Bobzine was married in 1899 to Emma Kruse, of Clay county.
Iowa, and to this uni(Mi there have been born four children. Neva, Clarence,
Esther and Glenn. Politically, ^Ir. Bobzine is a Republican and takes an
active interest in the affairs of his party, but his farming interests have
made such heavy demands on his time and attention that he has never as-
pired to public office at the hands of his party. Religiously, he and his fam-
ily are earnest and devoted members of the German Lutheran church and
are actively interested in the work of this denomination and contribute liber-
ally to its support. ]\rr. Bobzine is a man who is genial and unassuming in
his manner and easily wins friends and by his sturdv integrity and upright
living, retains them, and he and his family are highly esteemed members of
the communitv in which thev live.

EDWARD ^lAXX.

Some one has said that there is work for every man if he can onh- find
it. ^^'hile most men are adapted peculiarly to some particular vocation in
life, there are a few men who can do several things equally well. The men
who are fortunate enough to have ability can make a success in several dif-
ferent vocations wliile the men who are so unfortunate as not to possess
much business ability have hard work to succeed in any ^■ocation. Edward
]\Iann, whose life history is here presented, has been successful as a farmer,
as an implement dealer, and as a grain dealer, while as a public official he

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUXTIES, IOWA. 105:^

has been one of the most efficient men who has ever transacted official busi-
ness at Calumet. Iowa, where he is now li\ing. He has those characteris-
tics of sterling honesty and integ-rity which mark every successful man, while
■n his administration of«the duties of his pul)lic office he is wide awake and
ali\-e to the interests of his town.

Kdward Mann, the jjresent mayor of Calumet, was born in Scott countv,
Iowa, in 1873 and is the sun of William and Elizabeth ( Schafer) Mann.
William Mann was born in Germanv in 18^4 and when nineteen vears of ae'e
left his native land and came to this country. He traveled in several dif-
ferent states in this country, before hnally settling in Scott countv. Iowa,
where he engaged in the implement business. He was a business man and
a highly respected citizen of the town where he lived for manv vears. He
died in 191 1.

Kdward ]\Iann is one of a family of seven children, all of whom are
living but one. He was given a good common school education in the schools
of Scott county and when nineteen years of age started to clerk in a merchan-
dise store. .\ }-ear later he secured employment in a hardware store in Pier-
son, Iowa, and for two years ga\-e his em])loyers gocxl service. He after-
wards bought a half interest in the hardware business at that place and re-
mained there for the next se\en years. He carried a complete stock of shelf
and hea\}' hardware, furniture and undertaking supplies, and had a good
trade in Pierson and the surrounding territory. In 1902 he sold out his in-
terests there and came to Calumet, Iowa, and purchased the elevator at this
place. He l)uys and sells grain an<l handles about one hundred and twenty-
five car loads each }-ear. He is a man of integrity and in all of his business
transactions since coming to this county he has so conducted himself that he
has gained the confidence of all with whom he has had dealings.

Mr. ]\Iann was married in 1898 to Cliristene Benedix and to this union
has been born one son, Randolph B., who is still living with his j^arents.

Mr. Mann is an active Republican in politics and has always taken a
prominent part in pul)lic affairs in this town and county. He has the honor
of organizing the first fire company and was instrumental in seciu^ing a
chemical eng'ine for the use of the city of Calumet. He was a member of the
city C(Xincil for eight years and threw his hearty support in favor of every
measure which lie thought would benefit his citv. While secretarv of the
school board, an office which he held for three years, he did everything pos-
sible for the educational interests. At the present time he is the efficient
mayor of Calumet. In his executive capacity, he stands for strict enforce-
ment of all the municipal laws and at the same time gives his hearty en-

1056 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

conragenient to all measures tending to improN-e the welfare of the city. He
subscribes liberally to both churclies at this place. Fraternally, he is a mem-
l)er of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias
and takes a deep interest in the various acti\-ities of those fraternal organiza-
tions. He has been one of the cit}-"s best counsellors, and since coming to
this city his name has ne\'er been coupled with anything disreputable nor has
there been a shadow of a stain upon his reputation for integrity and unflinch-
ing honestv.

ADOLPH GOSCH.

Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages and
as a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those
of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free out-of-
door life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that
independence of mind and self-reliance which characterize true manhood
and uc truer Ijlessing can befall a bo}- than to be reared in close touch
with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has always
been the fruitful soil from which ha\-e sprung the moral bone and sinew of
the country, and the majority of our nation's great warriors, renowned states-
men and distinguished men" of letters were born on the farm and were in-
debted largely to its early influence for the distinction which they have at'
tained.

Adolph Gosch, a prosperous farmer of Linsoln township, O'Brien
county, was born in Scott county, Iowa, in 1872, the son of Glaus and Anna
(Untiedt) Gosch, both of whom were born in Germany. Glaus Gosch was
born in 1828 and followed the trade of a miller in his native land until he
came here in 1866. In that }-ear he came to America and settled in Daven-
port, Iowa, where he worked for a short time. He then engaged in far

S"S'

mg in Scott county until 1899, when he came to O'Brien county and bought
one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fincoln township, where his son,
Adolph, is now living. To Glaus Gosch and wife were born four children:
Mrs. Agnes Muhs, deceased; Henry, a farmer of Scott county, Iowa, who
is living with his father; Gustave, a resident of Scott county, and Adolph.
of Lincoln township, with whom this narrative deals.

Adolph Gosch received his education in the schools of Scott county,
Iowa, and remained with his parents until his marriage in 1896, at which
time he moved to O'Brien county and began farming on his father's farm.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IC157

He set out three acres of grove trees anrl has made many extensive im-
provements on the land, amounting- to more than three thousand dollars,
since moving to the farm. In addition to his grain crops he raises a con-
siderable amount of graded stock, which adds not a little to his annual in-
come.

Mr. Gosch was married in 1896 in Scott county, Iowa, to Ida Brehmer,
and to this marriage have been born four children, Stella, Gustav, Mabel and
Ida. all of whom are still with their parents.

In his political affiliations Mr. Gosch has identified himself with the Re-
publican party and has taken an intelligent interest in the affairs of the body
])olitic, and he has been especially interested in education and has served as
school director of Lincoln township. He and his family are earnest mem-
l)ers of the German Lutheran church and render to it faithful service at all
tin.es. His life ha^ been one of activitv. and by reason of the success with
which it has been attended it is safe to predict for him a future of greater
usefulness. He is familiar with all the different phases of agriculture and
is regarded as one of the most progressive and substantial farmers of his
communitv. He is a man ^\•ho wins many friends by his kindly manner and
personality.

WILLIAM EGDORF.

The gentleman of whom we wish to speak in this review is an exem-
plification of the accomplishment of a man who came to this country a
stranger and. starting at the foot of the ladder, has, by his own efforts and
by means of his intrinsic worth, placed himself in a position of affluence and
prominence.

William Egdorf is a native of Germany, having first seen the light of
day in the year 1864. His father, Charles B. Egdorf. was born in 1823 and
remained in the fatherland until he reached mature years. His wife. Sophia,
was born in 1830 and to them came six children, five of whom are now
living.

The son, William, accompanied his parents to this country in his youth,
soon after his arrival here finding employment as a farm hand. True to
the teachings of his childhood, he labored diligently and lived with character-
istic German thrift, looking toward a future of competence and independence.
In 1889 the advantages offered to settlers in O'Brien county appealed to
him. and to this locality he journeyed, settling in Caledonia township, where

1058 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, iOW A.

he rented a quarter section of land. So diligent ^vas he and with such
sound judgment did he direct his etTorts that he was enabled at the expira-
tion of four years to purchase a tract of one hundred and sixty acres ot
land in Baker township and. later, eighty additional acres were added tr)
his holdings. Mr. Egdorf has consistently adhered to his original manner
of living, laboring at all times energetically for tlie improvement of his
estate and the acquirement of those comforts which are a necessity for the en-
joyment of a peaceful rest in the declining years of life. At this time he
is the possessor of two hundred and forty acres of well cultivated land,
and five thousand dollars' worth of improvements have rendered it a hand-
some homestead.

Mr. Egdorf is unmarried. Politically, he is an adherent of the Repub-
lican party, which ticket he has voted from his youth. He is a faithful
meml^er and sujiporter of the German Lutheran church, but has taken no
interest in fraternal affairs, being a mem1)er of no secret societies. He is
known throughout the community as a conser\'ative gentleman of unques-
tioned integrit}'. upriglit and honorable in his dealings and a citizen of
sterling" worth.

GEORGE W. WALTER.

One of the enterprising and successful farmers of O'Brien county,
Iowa, who traces his ancestry back to the land of the Kaiser, is George \V.
Walter, a man who has succeeded in his life w^ork from no other cause than
that he has worked persistently and along proper lines. He has not only
succeeded in his cliosen vocation of agriculture, but has also won a reputa-
tion for honesty and fair dealings throughout the county.

George W. Walter, the present trustee of Hartley township, and a
prosperous farmer and stockman, was born in 1857 in Marshall county,
Iowa. His parents were George and Elizabeth (Little) Walters, his father
having been born in Germany in 1819 and his mother in Ohio in 1823.
George Walter, Sr.. learned the wagon-maker's trade in his native land and
upon coming to this country, in 1837. followed his trade in the state of
Ohio for a number of years. While living in Ohio he was married, in 1833.
to Elizabeth Little. In 1855 he and his family moved to Marshall county.
Iowa, where he continued to follow his trade until 1865, at which time he
purchased one hundred and eighty acres of timber and prairie land in Mar-
shall countv and began to follow the vocation of a farmer. He added to his

GEORGE \V. WALTER

! ttT^

O BRIEN AXD OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO59

land holdings from time to time until, when he retired, in 1890, he was the
owner of three hundred acres of fine farming land. He lived with his
children after his retirement until his death, which occurred in 1899. To
George Walter and wife were born eleven children: Elizabeth, the wife of
T. H. Jones, a retired druggist, now living in California; Mrs. Mary Curtis,
deceased; John, also living in California; Mrs. Carrie (Havens) Conrad,
who lives in Iowa; William, deceased; Mrs. Emma Jones, of Marshalltown.
Iowa; Frank P.. who is a retired farmer of Iowa; Charles E.. deceased;
Albert, deceased; Warren, of Marshall county, this state, and George W.,
with whom this narrative deals.

George W. Walter remained with his parents until he was twenty-four
years of age. He received a good common school education, and after
completing his studies he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in
Humboldt county, Iowa, and, after farming it for five years, sold it and came
to O'Brien county, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of
unimproved land in Hartley township in 1887, and broke the most of this
tract himself the first time. He was ^■ery successful in his efforts after
coming to this county and is now the owner of five hundred and ninety
acres of land in the county. One hundred and sixty acres of his land ad-
joins the city of Hartley. Ele is a large breeder of Shorthorn cattle and
finds the sale of his cattle one of the important sources of his income. He
also owns a share in the Hartley Lumber Company.

Mr. Walter was married in 1889, in Hartley township, to Alice Els-
berry, the daughter of Garden and Anna (Lupton) Elsberry. Garden Els-
berry was born in Wisconsin in 1822, and his wife was a native of Ohio, her
birth having occurred in Belmont, that state, in 1834, their marriage occur-
ring in 186S. George Walter and wife are the parents of five children:
Veda lona; John, a farmer who is living with his parents; Elizabeth, Oletha
and George F. The two older children, Veda lona and John, graduated
from the high school at Hartley and the other three children are now at-
tending school in Hartley. ^Ir. and Mrs. Walter are firm believers in the
efficacy of a good education and are intending that tlieir children shall have
the best advantages aknig that line.

Politically, Mr. Walter has been identified with the Republican party
ever since reaching his majority. His worth as a citizen is shown by the fact
that he is now holding the office of trustee of Hartley township, and he is
also school director of his township. He and his fanfily are regular at-
tendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they contribute lib-
(68)

I060 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA.

erally of their means. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and takes an active interest in the work of that or-
ganization. Mr. Walter has always looked upon the sunny side of life and
as a result of this fortunate disposition he has made it pleasant for those
with whom he comes in contact either in a business or social way. With
kindly nature and social impulses he is recognized as a man of high moral
character and thus enjovs the confidence and good will of all who know him.

ROSS L. RAYMOND.

Among the younger farmers of O'Brien county, Iowa, who take an
acti\"e interest in the affairs of the communit}' in which they li\e and at the
same time are taking front rank as agriculturists, there is no one who
deserves more praise than Ross Raymond, of Lincoln township. It has
been said that the tendency of our modern education is to take boys away
from the farm and yet ]\Ir. Raymond turned t(^ the farm after graduating
from the high school and takes pride in being a farmer. That he is suc-
cessful is evidenced from his well-kept farm and the appearance of thrift
which is seen on every hand.

Ross Raymond was born in Cedar Falls. Black Hawk countv. Iowa,
in 1881, and is the son of Albert and Susan (Smith) Raymond. Albert
Raymond was born in 1851 in Fond du Lac. Wisconsin, and when seven-
teen years of age came to Cedar Falls. Iowa, where he worked for a few
years as a farm laborer. In 1893 he came t<^ Lincoln township, O'Brien
county, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, onlv a part
of which was improved. He put six thousand dollars worth of improve-
ments on the farm and when he left the farm, in 1003. it was rated as one
of the most productive of the township. He retired from active fami life
in 1903 and moved to Cedar Falls, where he and his wife are now living.
Albert Raymond and wife were the parents of seven children: Effie. living
at Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a graduate of the Cedar Falls .schools; Myrtle, is a
teacher in Colorado; Fannie is a teacher in Iowa; her twin l)rother. Fred,
died at the age of twenty-one years ; Wayne, who is manager of the gar-
ment factory at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Rolla. a pharmacist at Cedar Falls, and
Ross, whose history is here presented. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond are justly
proud of their splendid family of children, all of whom have been given
good educations and are filling useful positions in societv.

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. I061

Ross Raymond graduated from the common schools and later gradnated
from the Sanborn high school. He has been operating his father's farm
since 1902 and is fast forging to the front as one of the most progressive
farmers of the county. He raises a large amount of stock each year, makes
a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle and markets about fifty head of
cattle each year, besides other live stock.

Mr. Raymond was married in 1904 to Amy Hakeman, daughter of
Sarah Hakeman, and to this marriage have been born four children, who are
still living with their parents, Merton, Faye, Lee and Fern.

Politically. Mr. Ivaymond is an adherent of the Republican party and sub-
scribes to the principles of tliat political organization. Fraternally, he is a
member of the Modern Woodmen of .Vmerica, belonging to the camp at San-
born. ]\Ir. Raymond has taken an acti\'e interest in the educational affairs
of his township and at the present time is acting as school director, and in
this position he finds an opportunity to do great good in advancing the edu-
cational interests of his township, favoring every measure which he feels will
better the schools. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond move in the l^est circles of their
community and entertain their friends in their home with genuine hospitality.

DR. GEORGE A. AUPPERLE.

Devoted to the noble work which his profession implies, the gentle-
man whose career we essay to briefly outline in the following paragraphs
has been faithful and indefatigal:)le in his endeavors and has not only earned
the due rewards of his efforts in a temporal way, 1)ut has also proved him-
self eminentlv worth\- to exercise the important functions of Iiis calling, by
reason of his ability, his abiding sympathy and his earnest zeal in behalf
of his fellow men. His understanding of the science of osteopathy is re-
garded by those who know him as being broad and comprehensive, and
the profession and the public accord him a distinguished place among the
men of his class in Iowa. His has been a life of earnest and persistent
endeavor, such as always brings a true appreciation of the real value of
human existence — a condition that must be prolific of good results in all
the relations of life.

George A. Aupperle, a successful osteopath of Sutherland. O'Brien
county, Iowa, w^as born at Lancaster, Wisconsin, in 1879 and is the son of
George and May (Lickel) Aupperle. George Aupperle, Sr., was born in

I062 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Perry countv. Pennsylvania, in 1831 and when twelve years of age moved
to Wisconsin with his parents. He came from Pennsylvania with his parents
when he was twelve years of age and upon reaching his majorit}- he hecame
a farmer in that 'state. In 1881 he came to Sac county, Iowa, purchased
land and farmed there until his retirement in 19 13. He then sold his farm
and moved to Sheldon. Iowa, where he and his wife are now living. George
and Mary Aupperle were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are
now living.

Doctor Aupperle received his elementary education in Wisconsin, and
at the age of twenty-one began working on his father's farm by the month.
Later he w?nt to Minnesota where he worked for three years, and then
at the age of twenty-four he went to Des Moines, Iowa. In 1906 he
took up the study of osteopathy in the osteopathic college at Des Moines and
graduated in 1909. Immediately after his graduation he came to Suther-
land where he has been practicing up to the present time. Since moving
to Sutherland he has Iniilt up a good ]^ractice and has taken an active part
in the life of the city.

Doctor Aupperle was married in 1910 to Winifred Neff, who was born
in Auburn county, Iowa, in ]886. To this marriage has been born (Mie
son, Donald K. The Repul)lican party has claimed the support of Doctor
Aupperle since reaching his majorit}'. He has always taken an active in-
terest in political affairs and was elected mayor of Sutherland in April,
1914. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church
and render it their support at all times. Doctor Aupperle is a man of
pleasing personality and since coming to Sutherland has impressed every-
one with whom he has 1)een associated by his sincerity of purpose and high
ideals.

WILLIAM THEO. FREDERICK KARL VOSS.

The life history of William T. F. K. Voss, one of the well known and
highly esteemed German residents now living in honorable retirement in
Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa, shows what industry, good habits and stanch
citizenship will accomplish in the battle of acquiring property and rearing"
children to lead steady and respectable lives. He came to this state at the
age of ten and his life has been replete with duties well done and in all of
his career in this county he has never shirked his duty either in the role of a
private citizen or in the capacity of a public oi^ficial. The score of years

WILLIAM T. F. K. VOSS

o'bRTEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO63

which he has Hved in this county has made his Hfe well known to his fellow
citiz-ens, and they have ever been outspoken in their commendation of his
clean and wholesome life.

^^'illiam T. V^oss, a retired farmer and banker of Hartley, was born in
Germany in 1S47. and is the only son of Carl and Sophia (Koster) Voss.
Carl Voss was Ixirn in Germany in 1800 and upon reaching manhood joined
the police force in his native land, continuing to hold this public position in
his native land until 1857, when he came to this country with his wife and
son and settled in Scott county, Iowa. He lived there until 1867, when the
family moved" to Cedar county, where Carl Voss died the same year. He
was twice married, his second wife, Sophia Koster, being the mother of
William T., whose life historv is herein sketched.

AVilliam T. Voss received the elements of a common school education
in his native land and after coming to this country completed his education
in the schools of Scott county, Iowa. After his father's death, in 1876, he
continued to live on the old home place in Cedar county for the next twenty-
five years, then sold the farm and moved to O'Brien county and in 1893
purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Center township. He
made extensive improvements on the farm in various ways, among which
wer^i the setting out of ten acres of fruit and forest trees, and in the twenty
years that he owned the farm he put about eight thousand dollars worth of
improvements upon it and when he sold it in 1912 he cleared a good profit
upon his investment. Mr. Voss had previously moved to Hartley and re-
tired from active work. He has now lived in Hartley for the past four
years. In addition to his agricultural interests he owns extensive banking
and manufacturing interests. At this time he is the largest stockholder in
the German Savings Bank of Hartley and is a director in that institution.
He also is interested in the Farmers Elevator Company of Hartley, and
the lumber company of the same town. He also has shares of stock in the
Garden Plow Works of Hartley.

Mr. Voss has been twice married. His first marriage occurred in 1868
to Katherine Shaffer, and to this union were born seven children, of whom
the following are li\'ing in O'Brien county: Mrs. Emma Petersen, Charles
F., William, Frederick, Louis, Otto. The second wife of Mr. Voss was
Mrs. Augusta Miller.

The Democratic party has always claimed the support of Mr. Voss, and
he has been honored by his party on several occasions by being nominated
for local offices. He has served as justice of the peace of Center township,
school director, road overseer and township trustee, and in all of these offices

1064 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

he haj rendered faithful and efficient service to the citizens of the township.
He and his family are devoted members of the German Lutheran church
and give it their earnest and hearty support at all times. Mr. Yoss has al-
ways looked upon the sunny side of life and has ever been hopeful that the
g-ood would rule instead of the bad. He is a man of kindlv and genial
nature and of high moral character, and for these reasons lie has won the
confidence and good will of everyone with whom he has been associated.

HENRY P. SCOTT.

b\nv men of O'Brien county were as widely and fa\'orably known as the
late Henry P. Scott, of Liberty township. He was one of the strong and
influential citizens, whose lives became an essential part of tiie historv of this
section of the state. For years his name was synonymous with all that con-
stituted honorable and upright manhood. For about thirty years he was one
of the most influential factors in the civic life of his township. At difl:'er-
ent times during his career he was county supervisor, township trustee, town-
ship clerk and secretary of the school board of his township. In all of these
various official capacities he performed faithful and efficient service to his
fellow citizens.

Henry P. Scott was born in St. Lawrence county, Xew York, in 1844
and died in Liberty township, O'Brien county, Iowa, in 1907. He was one
of nine children born to William and Alaria ( Lampson ) Scott. William
Scott was born in 18 15 in Ireland and died in 1900; his wife was born in
1819 and died in 1892. In 1869 ^^^'- Scott and Sarah E. Marsh were mar-
ried in Illinois. She was born in Illinois in 1846 and is the daughter of Ed-
win and Mary (Frank) Marsh. Edwin Marsh was born at North View,
Massachusetts, March 13, 1818, and v.as a farmer and saw-mill operator.
After reaching manhood he mo\'ed to Illinois, where he continued in aeri-
culture and the saw-mill business until his death in 1903. Alary Frank, the
mother of Mrs. Scott, was born at Warsaw. New York, in 1827 and died in
1913. Edwin Marsh and Mary Frank were married in 1845 ^"^^ to their
union were born eight children, all but three of whom are still living. Sarah
E. ]\Iarsh was given a good education and taught school before her mar-
riage in Madison, Cook county, Illinois.

After his marriage Henr}- P. Scott went to the state of Wisconsin and
engaged in tlie mercantile business. Two years later he went to Libertyville,

O'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA. IO65

Illinois, where he was in the mercantile business for twelve years. In 1881
he moved to O'Brien county, Iowa, and purchased three hundred and twenty
acres in Liberty township, where he lived until his death in 1907. He was a
progressive farmer in every sense of the word and was one of the best agri-
culturists in the county.

Mr. and Airs. Henry P. Scott were the parents of eight children : Mrs.
Julia McClanahan. of South Dakota. Edward, deceased; Arthur, of South
Dakota; Warren B., who is now farming the home place; George, a farmer,
of South Dakota ; LeRoy, a farmer of this county, and Lawrence, a farmer
of Harper county, Kansas.

Mr. Scott was a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church and
was always interested in the atlairs of this denomination. Politically, he was
a Republican and in that capacity served in several important offices in his
township and county, as county supervisor, township trustee, township clerk
and secretary of the school board, playing an important part in the civic life
of his community. Fraternally, he was a member of the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons. Mr. Scott was a man who performed his every duty in a
way becoming the true American citizen and consequently he left behind him
a name which is honored and cherished bv his familv.

HENRY ZAHN.

The subject of this sketch is of German extraction and from his an-
cestors he inherited the habits of thrift and industry which have made
possible his attainments. He came with his parents to this country at a time
when it was torn by the Civil War. For many years his parents struggled
in their new home in the wake of the war and with adverse administrations
which followed. As a boy he had all the hardships that were common to
the youths in the latter seventies and the early eighties. But the mold in
which he was cast only served to bring out the sterling qualities that lay
within.

Henry Zahn was a son of George B. and Susan O. (Plauder) Zahn
and was born in Germany in 1865. There were four other children in the
family: Lucile (Yearter). who now lives in Colorado; Louise ( Esphes-
hiet), now in Illinois; Helen (Berger), now in Minnesota, and a child which
died during its infancy. When George B. Zahn brought his family to this
country he settled in Clifford county, Ohio, on a farm where he reared his

I066 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA counties, IOWA.

faiiiil}' and remained till he retired from active operation a few years ago.
He died in 1905.

Mr. Zahn secured employment on a farm where he worked seven
years. In 1895 he removed to Iowa where he bought one hundred and sixty
acres of unimproved land. By means of consistent farming and frugal
and industrious habits he has increased its acreage until he now has two
hundred and fort}- acres. This is one of the modern farms in O'Brien
county. There are improvements on the place amounting to eight thousand
dollars, and a beautiful grove of several acres, which he planted soon after
he bought the farm. Stock raising has occupied an important place in his
life and he was one of the first in this community to realize that it is the
blooded stock that pays. He has made a specialty of Norman- horses, of
which he has several head, and Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs.

In 1896 Mr. Zahn was united in marriage to Anna Flunk. To thern
have been born hve children. Helen, Tillie, A\'illiam. Elizabeth and Leon-
ard, all of whom are at home with their parents.

]\Ir. Zahn has been bus\- with the duties of the farm and the breed-
ing and raising of pure blood stock. His interest in politics is the interest
of the patriotic citizen rather than that of the office seeker. His sympa-
thies .ind A'ote have always Ijeen with the Republican part}^ and he is re-
garded as one of their stanchest supporters. He and his family are mem-
bers of the German Lutheran church, to which he contributes freelv.

JAMES CUTSINGER.

Happy is the man who can retire after a life of hard work and feel
that he has sufficient to provide for his wants for his declining years. It is
very evident that the man who can retire to a life of ease in his later years
has been a man of energy and well-defined purpose. At the close of the
Civil War many farmers left the Eastern states and took advantage of the
cheap lands in Iowa. At the same time there were many soldiers who were
given free transportation to O'Brien county, as well as other counties in the
state, and allowed to take up government land at a very low rate. Among
the distinguished veterans of the Civil War who made this county their
home after the close of the war, there is no one who is more deserving of
mention in this volume than James Cutsinger, a retired farmer now living in
Sheldon.

JAMES CUTSINGER

?^5

O ERIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. I067

James Cutsinger was born in 1841, in Johnson county, Indiana, the
son of Perry and Clara (Harter) Cutsinger. The father was a native of
Kentucky, born in 1811, and died in Indiana in 1846. His wife was born in
Indiana in 1822. To Perry Cutsinger and wife were born three children:
Sarah Ann. deceased : Jacob, who is a carpenter li\-ing in the state of \\'ash-
ington. and James, whose history is here given.

James Cutsinger was four years of age when his father died, and in
185 1 his mother married Garland Planner, who was born in 1822. and he
was a veteran of the Mexican War and, after his marriage to Mrs. Cut-
singer. went to Minnesota, where he engaged in farming. To this second
union were born three children : Jasper, a member of the fire department
of Minneapolis. Alinnesota; Harry, deceased, and Mrs. \lary Jane Austin,
also deceased.

James Cutsinger was ten years of age when his mother was married
the second time and he then lived with his mother and stepfather until he
was twenty-six years of age. At the opening of the Civil War he enlisted
in Company B, Tenth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. After seeing
service with the Indians in that state his regiment was transferred to Mis-
souri, and he saw hard service in the South and West and was discharged at
Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in 1865. Immediately after the close of the Civil
War he came to Jasper county, Towa. purchased a farm and began to lay the
foundation of his present prosperity. For twenty years he lived in that
countv. buying and selling several farms in that time, and in 1885 he came
to Osceola county, where he li\-ed on a rented farm for ten years, after
which he bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in that
county, to which he later added eighty more acres. He has improved his
two hundred and fortv acres at a total cost of four thousand dollars. Among
other improvements he put out six acres of fruit and orchard trees. In
191 2 Mr. Cutsinger retired from his farm and moved to Sheldon, where
he owns a fine residence in the northern part of the city. In addition to his
farm in Osceola county, he has a share in the elevator company at Rittier,
Iowa, and an interest in the elevator at Ashton, Iowa.

Mr. Cutsinger was married in 1866 to Paulina Rudsell, who died five
years later. To this marriage were born three children : Perry, who lives
at Ashton, Iowa ; Edward and James, who are living in the state of Wash-
ington. In 1872 Mr. Cutsinger was married to Rachel Gardner, and to this
union there were born nine children : Mrs. Clarrisa Power, who is a resident
of Montana; Mrs. Minnie Walker, of this county; Arthur, of this county;
Mrs. Mamie Lockwood, who lives on the home place in Osceola county;

I068 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA counties^ IOWA.

George and Clay, living in Sheldon; Ethel and Hazel, who are with their
parents in Sheldon.

Mr. Cutsinger cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and has con-
tinued to vote the Republican ticket down to the present time. While he has
always taken an active interest in politics, public office has never had any
attractions for him. He and his family are regular attendants of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, and give to it their earnest support at all times. His
fraternal relations are restricted to his membership in the Grand Army of
the Republic, which, in many ways, is the most honorable fraternity to which
a man can belong in the United tSates. Mr. Cutsinger is a man who has
lived a life singularly free from contention and for this reason has always
been regarded with confidence and respect by all with whom he has been
associated.

HARRY H. HEXDRICi-

•V.

Men are of \alue to any communit}' in proportion as they take part in
the life of the community in which they live. In every community there are
always leaders and when these leaders are men of character and integrity the
general standard of the civic life of the community will naturally be high.
On the other hand, where these men are not actuated by the highest motives,
the oeneral tone of the localitv is lowered. Among the citizens of Grant town-
ship, O'Brien county, Iowa, who combine strength of character with good
business and administrative ability, there is no one who is more deserving of
mention in this biographical volume than Harry H. Hendrick, the present
trustee of Grant township.

Mr. Hendrick was born in 1866 in Carroll county, Illinois, and is the
son of Louis C. and Catherine L. (Herald) Hendrick. Louis C. Hendrick
was born in 1832 in New York state and when a young man left his native
state and settled in Illinois, where he engaged in farming until his retire-
ment in 1890. His death occurred one year after he had retired from active
farm work. Louis C. Hendrick and wife were married in 1863 ^"*^^ to their
union were born four children : Mrs. Carrie M. Calkins, of Carroll county,
Illinois; Arthur Y., deceased; Carlton C, of Carroll county, Illinois, and
Harry H., whose life history is here sketched.

Harry H. Hendrick recei^■ed a good common school education in the
schools of Carroll county, Illinois, and on reaching his majority left home
and worked on farms in Illinois and Iowa for six vears. He lived on his

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO69

father's farm in Carroll county, Illinois, for seven years. In 1898 he came to
O'Brien county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of
land in Grant township. Within the past sixteen years lie has made exten-
sive improvements upon the farm in various ways. He has a splendid and
attractive residence, commodious and suhstantial harns and other outbuild-
ings, which indicate that he has adopted modern methods in his agricultural
operations. In 1910 he sold his farm at a good profit and purchased two
hundred and fourteen acres in the same township, on which he has made
many improvements. He has always been a large stock raiser and has paid
special attention to the breeding of Shropshire sheep and keeps from ninety
to a hundred head every year. He has exhibited tlieni at the O'Brien county
fair and has won first and second prizes.

Mr. Hendrick was married in 1891 to Lottie R. Thomas, and to this
union have been born two children, Arthur and Eula, both of whom are
graduates of the high school at Sutherland. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick have
given their children the advantage of the best education, feeling that at this
day and age of the world a good education is necessary for success in life.

'Mr. Hendrick belongs to that large and increasing class of men who are
independent in their voting, and believes he is best ser\'ing the interests of his
state when he casts his ballot for the best man and not for any single group
of men because they happen to be on a particular party ticket. He and his
, family are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an
active interest in the work of their favorite denomination. In his fraternal
relations he is found afiiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeo-
men. While he has always been an active worker in promoting his own in-
terests, Mr. Hendrick has never lost sight of the fact that the best citizens
are those who take their part in public life, to the extent that they may be
acquainted with government under wdiich they live. He has never shirked
any public duty and has felt that he should take of his time for such
public duties as came his way. \\'ith this idea in mind, he has ser\ed as
school director in his township and is now ser^•ing as trustee of Grant town-
ship. He gives to his official positions the same careful and painstaking serv-
ice which he did to his own affairs, and for this reason is highly commended
by every one with whom he comes in contact. He is a man of genial and
pleasing personality and has a host of friends throughout the township and
county who admire him for his public spirit and interest in e^Trything affect-
ing the life of the county in w'hich he is an honored resident.

1070 O BRIEX AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

MICHAEL YUXGBLUTH.

Among the prosperous farmers and stock raisers of W^aterman township,
O'Brien county, Iowa, \\ ho have made a pronounced success in their chosen
vocation, there is no one who deserves more worthy mention in this bio-
graphical vokmie than Michael Yungbluth. who is descended from sturdy
German ancestry and he has all of those excellent characteristics which have
marked the people of that country through the centuries of their- history. He
is a splendid type of the self-made man and has the satisfaction of knowing
that everything which he possesses today has been won l)y the sweat of his
brow. Starting in at the foot of the ladder, he has gradually climbed to agri-
cultural success until he is todav recognized as one of the leading agricultur-
ists of his township.

Michael ^'ungbluth was born in jo Daviess county, Illinois, in 1863, and
is the son of Adam and Maria fTrevethen) Yungbluth. Adam Yungbluth
was born in German\- in 1822 and his wife was a native of England. He
recei\"ed a common school education in the schools of his native land. Early
in life he became ambitious to try his fortunes in the New World, and with
this intention he left his nati\-e land when only seventeen years of age. Upon
arriving in this country he at once went to Illinois, where he engaged in
fanning until his death, which occurred in 1901. Starting in with practically
nothing, he worked his wa}' to a position where he was able to retire many''
years before his death and spend his declining days in ease.

]\Iichael Yungbluth was one of ten children born to his parents and one
of the six who are now lix'ing. He received a good common education in the
schools of Illinois and when nineteen vears of ajje left his father's home to
work for himself. He had heard of the good lands to be bought at a moder-
ate price in Iowa, and with the good intention of in\estigating conditions in
this count}-, he came to Clay county in 1882, where he worked as a farm hand
for one year and then went to Cherokee county and for several years he
worked at different places until 1892, when he came to O'Brien county. Upon
marrying in 1898 he purchased one hundred and forty- four acres of land in
Grant township, which he improved in such a way as to sell it at a handsome
profit in 191 3. after which he immediately bought one hundred and sixty acres
of land in Waterman township, and is now living on this farm. Since buy-
ing this farm in 19 13 he has made extensive improvements, among whicli
may be mentioned the installation of electric lights in his home. As a farmer
he keeps apace Avith twentieth-centurv methods in agriculture and has found

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO7I

that it pays to use the best efforts if the greatest returns are to be expected.
While raising- all of the crops common to this locality, he has not neglected
giving special attention to the breeding of live stock, as fanners in this sec-
tion of the state have found that stock raising is always profitable, and es-
pecially when a good grade of stock is bred. Realizing this, Air. Yungbluth
has always kept a high grade of live stock and has always found a read}' mar-
ket for this product. He has made a specialty of the breeding of Poland
China hogs and has met with marked success along this line.

Mr. \'ungbluth was married in 1898 to Luella Brown, and to this mar-
riae'e ha\e Ijeen born three children. Edna, h^red and Donald, who are still
living with their parents. Mr. and ]\Irs. Yungbluth are giving their chil-
dren the advantages of a good education in order that they may be Ijetter
fitted to fight the battle of life when they lea\e the parental roof.

Mr. Yungbluth is a stanch Republican, but has always felt that his agri-
cultural interests demanded the greater part of his attention, consequently he
has never been active in i)olitical life in his county. However, he has been
a constable in Grant township, and filled that office in a very satisfactory
manner. He and his family are earnest and faitliful members of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church and subscribe liberally to the support of their favored
denomination. Fraternally, he is a member of the Brotherhood of American
Yeomen and takes an active interest in the affairs of that fraternal organiza-
tion. Such has been his life since coming to this county that he has won the
confidence and esteem of ever^- one with whom he has been associated.

SAMUEL C. FLINDER.

It is a pleasure to investigate the career of a successful, self-made man.
Peculiar honor attaches to that individual who, beginning the great struggle
of life alone and unaided, gradually overcomes unfavorable ■ environment,
removes one by one the obstacles from the pathway of success and by the
master stroke of his own force and vitality succeeds in forging his way
to the front and winning for himself a competenc}- and a position
of esteem and influence among his fellow men. Such is the record of
the popular citizen of Waterman township, O'Brien county, Iowa, to a
brief synopsis of whose life and character the following pages are devoted.

Samuel C. Flinder, the son of Henry and Maria (Challand) Flinder,
was born in Brichfield, England, in 1859. His father was a professional

1072 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

musician in his native land and was born in 1832, and his wife's birth oc-
curred in the same }ear. In 1863 Henry FHnder came to America with
his family and settled in DeKalb county. Illinois, where he taught music
for nine years. He then moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and taught music
there for nine years, after which he retired and lived with his children until
his death, which occurred in Montana in 1898.

Samuel C. Flinder was one of eight children, all of whom are now living
but two. He was four years of age when his parents came from England and
settled in Illinois. He was given a good common school education and re-
mained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. He then
went to ^^'ebster county, Iowa, and worked on a farm for four vears. In
1882 he and his brother, John, came to O'Brien county, and purchased fi^'e
hundred and sixty acres of land in Waterman township. At the present
time Air. Flinder is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of his
own. which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and productivity.
B}- the most indomitable perseverence, sturdy industry and wise manage-
ment, he has prospered and is now numbered among the successful and up-
to-date farmers of his community, with modern and progressive ideas re-
garding business affairs, and he has maintained his farm at the highest
standard of excellence and found it althogether a profitable enterprise. In
addition to the raising of heavy crops of grains he has always been an ex-
tensive breeder of live stock and keeps only the best grades.

Mr. Flinder was married in 1885 to Mary Dek, and to this union have
been born two sons, Arthur, a graduate of Minnesota College, and now
assistant cashier of the Platte, South Dakota, bank, and Vernon, who is
now attending the high school at Sutherland.

Politically, Mr. Flinder gives his support to the Republican party and
has always taken an intelligent interest in political affairs. He has been
especially interested in the educational affairs of his township and was a
school director of Waterman township, having been instrumental in rais-
ing the standard of education in his home township. Fraternally, he is
a member of the Knights of Pythias, belonging to the lodge at Sutherland.
Progressive and methodical in his farming affairs, it is hardly surprising that
Mr. Flinder should achieve a a splendid success, for he possesses to a nota-
ble degree those qualities which contribute to prosperity in an}- under-
taking. At all times he has been actuated by the highest motives and has
so ordered his life as to retain throughout his career in this county the
confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO73

SUMNER R MILLER.

Among- the prominent citizens of Liberty township, O'Brien county,
L)wa. was the late Sumner F. Miller, who for many years was one of the
most influential men in his township. In his capacity as township trustee,
school director and road supervisor, he was actively connected with the
ci\ic life of his C(^niniunity and he always performed his duty in a con-
scientious and satisfactory manner.

Sumner F. Miller, the only son of Antoine and Mary (Randolph)
^liller, was Ijorn in \H(\\ in Wisconsin. The father was born in France in
1828, while his mother \\as ])orn in Xew A^)rk state in 1833. Mr. Miller re-
ceived a good common school education in the schools of Wisconsin and
when still a \'oung man came to O'Brien county, Iowa, and rented land in
Waterman and Liberty townships, where he lived for ten years. Upon his
marriage in 1890 he purchased one Inmdred antl sixty acres of land in
Liberty township, on which he put extensive imp' o^-ements. He was a
thrifty farmer, who took advantage of the latest modern methods and
never hesitated to keep abreast of the times. At the time of his death he
left an estate of two hundred and forty acres in the township as well as
one hundred and sixty acres in Pipestone county, Minnesota.

yiv. ^filler was married in 1890 to Idalie Ray, the daughter of Cassius
\\\ and ^lary (Merrick) Ray. Cassius Ray was born in New York state
in 1847 and was the son of Robert and Mary (Brush) Ray. Robert Ray
was l3orn in 1814 and was a farmer and school teacher of Michigan. Mary
Brush was born in New York, state in 1828 and died in 1898. Hartley
Merrick, the grandfather of Mrs. Miller on her mother's side, was born in
Marre in 1828 and died in 1904. His wife was Elsie Cunningham, who was
born in May, 1830. and died in 1879.

Cassius W. Ray, the father of Mrs. Miller, left New York state in
t886 and came to Illinois where he lived about thirt}- years and then came
to O'Brien county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
unimproved land at six dollars an acre. He improved the farm, building
a home, barn and outbuildings of various kinds and in the course of time was
rated as one of the successful farmers of the township. In 1900 he re-
tired from active farm life and moved to Illinois, then later to Peabody,
Kansas, where he is now living.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller were the parents of nine children, all of whom are
still living with their mother on the home farm in Liberty township: Ray,

1074 O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

Ruth, Dora, Clinton. Howard, Margaret, Liicile, Edith and Rosevelle. 'Sir
^Miller was a hfe-long Repubhcan and always took an active part in the atfairs
of his township. He served his people faithfully in the capacity of town-
ship trustee, school director and road supervisor, and always gave efficient
service, not only to those who voted for him. but to all the citizens of the
township. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and
the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He was a true citizen in every sense
of the term, worthy of all confidence and performed every duty to which he
ga\'e his attention worthily and well.

THOMAS FARXSWORTH.

The best history of a community or state is that which deals most w ith
the lives and activities of its people, especially of those who, by their own
endeavor and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed them-
selves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review
will be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active plodders
on the highna\- of life and achieved a career surpassed by few of his contem-
poraries, a career of marked success in agricultural affairs and a name which
all men who know him delight to honor owing to his upright life and habits
of thrift and industry.

Thomas Farnsworth, a coal dealer and merchant of Sanborn. Iowa,
was born in i860 in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. He is the son of
Henry and Nancy Ann ( Wilson) Farnsworth, who were natives of the
same state. Flenry Farnsworth was born in 1829 and was a farmer and an
inventor. He died in 1897. Henry Farnsworth and wife were the parents
of six children: Mrs. Mary x\ldrich, of Dysart, Iowa; Mrs. Jane Clough ;
Mrs. Louise Bates, deceased ; Minnie, deceased ; Charles, a real estate man
of Sanborn, Iowa, and Thomas, whose life history is here briefly sketched.
The family moved to Benton county, Iowa, in 1870.

Thomas Farnsworth left his home when thirteen years of age and went
to Nebraska and started to work on a cattle ranch. After workmg here two
years, he returned to Benton county, Iowa, and worked on his mother's
farm. Later he bought a threshing outfit and broke up raw prairie land for
his neighbors. He then moved to Tama county and engaged in several
different kinds of business and in 1886 came to O'Brien county and bought
one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land in Lincoln township. In 1889

THOMAS FARNSWORTH

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES^ IOWA. 10/5

he had eighty acres of prairie hay in stacks and was unfortunate enough to
lose it all by fire. He made extensive improvements on his farm and raised
considerable sheep and cattle. In 1900 he sold this farm and moved to San-
born and bought and sold cattle for twelve years, after which he engaged
in the coal business and now is in the retail coal business in Sanborn. He
owns sixty-six acres of land within the corporation and also has several lots
scattered over the city. He has extensive land holdings in Canada and some
property in Rock Valley, Iowa.

Mr. Farns worth was married in 1881, in Tama county, Iowa, to Dora
Furnas, and to this union have been born three children : Frank, a graduate
of Iowa City College and a dentist at Sanborn; Mrs. Grace B. Neitzke,
whose husband is a farmer in this county; Pearl, who is at home with her
parents.

Politically, Mr. Farnsworth has always been a Republican and has
taken an active interest in local politics. He has been a school director, a
road overseer and a councilman of O'Brien county. In all of these offices
he has shown executive ability which stamps him as a man of more than
ordinary ability. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian
church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. Mr. Farnsworth has led a moral, honest and strenuous career
since he was thirteen years of age and has had many discouragements to
meet during his life.

THOMAS E. MANN.

-Mr-

One of the conspicuous names on the list of O'Brien county agricultur-
ists is Thomas E. ]\Iann, proprietor of a six-hundred-and-forty-acre farm in
Grant township, a gentleman of high standing to whom has not been denied
a full measure of success. Long recognized as a factor of importance in
connection with the farming and stock raising industries here, he has been
prominently identified with the material growth and prosperity of this part
of the state, his life having been closely interwoven with the history of the
county where he has been content to live and follow his chosen vocation for
over a third of a century.

Thomas E. Mann, one of the most, substantial farmers of Grant town-
ship, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born in Galena, Illinois, in i860, and is the
son of Harvev and Catherine (Sidner) ]Mann. Harvey Mann was born in

(69)

I07t> o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

New York in 1805, and while a young man served in the United States regu-
lar army for a number of years. After marriage he came to Illinois with an
ax, a piece of corn bread and twenty-five cents in his pocket. He first
worked at cutting wood, for which he received twenty-five cents a cord. As
he was a man of determination, within the course of a few years he obtained
a comfortable living for himself and family. He worked for a time in the
lead mines of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and later operated a saw mill in
that county. He eventually became a landholder and at the time of his death
in 1895 ^"^'^s an agriculturist of affluence in his community. His wife, Cather-
ine Sidner, was born in Missouri in 1825 and died in 1901.

Thomas E. Mann was one of eleven children, six of whom are still liv-
ing. He recei\ed a good education and continued to assist his father at home
until he was twenty-two years of age. Then he came to Iowa and first set-
tled in Cherokee countv. Shortlv afterwards he drove throue:h to Grant
township, O'Brien count}', where he purchased three hundred and twentv
acres of unimproved land for twelve and a half dollars an acre. Though only
twentv-two vears of aee at this time, he and his voung wife started in to
make their fortune in this comparatively new county. That they have suc-
ceeded is shown 1)}- the fact that they are today the proud possessors of one
section of land in this county, which is easily worth one hundred thousand
dollars. Mr. Mann has made extensive improvements of all kinds upon his
farm, has a handsome grove of forest and fruit trees, covering twelve acres.
He also is very much interested in the raising of high-grade live stock, being
a breeder of Percheron horses, Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.
He makes a specialty of the feeding of cattle for the market and has from
two to twelve carloads of cattle every year. Mr. Mann is especially in-
terested in the fair association at Sutherland and has a race horse which
has won several prizes during the past few years on ditterent tracts in
Iowa.

Mr. Mann was married in 1883 to Sarah Williams and to this union
ha\e been born eight children : Mrs. Mabel Barry, whose husband is a
railroad engineer in South Dakota ; Clyde, a farmer of Canada; Eva, a nurse in
the hospital at Cherokee, Iowa ; Hallie, a graduate of the Sutherland high
school ; Octavo, Harold, Russell and Cyril. The four youngest children are
still with their parents and are now attending the public schools.

Mr. Mann has always cast his vote for the Republican party since reach-
ing his majority, and since living in this township has been the recipient of
several official positions at the hands of his party. He has been school direc-
tor, road supervisor, township assessor and was for seven years county su-

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. 10-77

pervisor; while hokiing- the last named office he threw his influence in sup-
port of various reforms for the county. In fact, every' measure which he
felt would improve his county in any way found in him an enthusiastic and
hearty supporter. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac-
cepted Alasons, while in his church atifiliations he and his familv are allied
with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Mr. Mann has performed well
his part in life and it is a compliment wortliily bestowed to say that O'Brien
connty is honored l)y liis citizenship. In various official capacities in which
he lias been found since coming to this count}- he has made every effort to-
wards improving- the conditions of his count}- in every way, and for this rea-
son Mr. r^Iann is justly regarded as one of the representative men of the
township and county.

MERRIETT S. DRAPER.

One of the early pioneers of O'Brien county, Iowa, is Merriett S.
Draper and during his career of more than thirty years in the county he
has been a prominent factor in bringing it to its present high condition among
the agricultural counties of the state. He has met with many discourage-
ments since coming here and yet through it all has maintained his optimis-
tic view of life and has lived to see prosperity smile upon him. With a
determination which characterizes the good American citizen, he has never
let any obstacle deter him, but has manfully forced his way forward and
today stands as one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of Water-
man township. He was born in Benton county, Iowa, in 1858 and is the
son of Orin and Mrs. Elizabeth (Jewell) Hadden Draper.

Orin Draper was born in New York state in 1826 and is the son of
Orin and Aurilla (Robinson) Draper. Orin Draper, Sr., was born in Ver-
mont in 1793 and was a farmer and herb doctor in that state. His wife
was born in New York state in 1795 and died in 1872, her husband dying-
eight years later. Orin Draper, Jr., came to Ohio when thirteen years of
age and worked out as a farm hand for the first few years. He then came
to the state of Iowa and farmed in several counties in the state, and in
the early seventies he came to Osceola county and homesteaded eighty
acres of land. HowcAer. the grasshoppers came along one summer and ate
up all of his crops, with the result that he was so discouraged that he
traded his eighty acres for one cow. After his unfortunate experience in
Osceola county he went to Cherokee county and farmed for a number of
years, after which he retired and moved to O'Brien county on the farm with

10/8 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

his son, Merriett S. Orin Draper, Jr., was married four times. His second
marriage occurred in 1847 to Mrs. Elizabeth (Jewell) Hadden, who was
born in 1826 in New York state. Of the eleven children born to this
marriage eight are still living.

Merriett S. Draper received a good common school education in the
pulilic schools of Iowa and upon reaching the age of twenty-one left home
and worked as a farm hand in Cherokee county. Iowa. For two years he
received fifteen dollars a month, but he was not satisfied to continue work-
ing for some other man and in 1881 he came to O'Brien county, Iowa,
and purchased eighty acres of land in Waterman township for five dollars
an acre. He and his young wife then set to work to make the farm pay
and their present farm of four hundred and eighty acres is an indication
of the success which attended them in this county. Mr. Draper has placed
seven thousand dollars' worth of improvements upon his farm, in the shape
of a home, commodious barns. gro\'es of orchard and forest trees and
other improvements. He has l)een an extensive breeder of high-grade live
stock and has always found a read}- market at a good price for his surplus
stock. He owns stock in the Farmers Elevator Company at Sutherland
and also stock in the Farmers Co-operative Store at the same place.

Air. Draper was married in 1880 in Cherokee county, Iowa, to Rosa-
belle Wight, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orange Wight, and to this
union have been born thirteen children : James F., a graduate of Taylor
Universitv of Indiana and a Methodist minister at Rutland, Iowa; Charles
E.. a farmer of Cherokee county: ]\lrs. Amy F. Gilbert; May. a school
teacher at Ta\lor University, Indiana; Paul B., deceased; Mrs. Grace E.
Flenderson, of O'Brien countv ; Leroy ; Lester, a student in Taylor Uni-
versity. Indiana; Morris \\ ; Dewey S. ; W^esley B. ; Rosa R., and Esther
B. Mr. and Mrs. Draper have given their children the best educational ad-
vantages, believing that the best legacy that can be left to the twentieth-
centurv child is a good education. It is with a sense of gratification that
they have seen their children taking their place in the affairs of the world
and doing their share towards ad\-ancing civilization in general.

Mr. Draper is independent in his politics. He believes that the citi-
zen of todav is best serving his nation who votes for the best man irres-
pective of their politics. He and his family are all earnest members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and have always taken an active interest in
church work. Mr. Draper is now Sunday school superintendent of the
Highland Methodist church of Waterman township and takes a great deal
of pride in keeping the Sunday school to a high standard of excellence.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO79

He has always been interested in ci\ic affairs and during his hfe in this
township he has been township trustee, road supervisor and school direc-
tor. It is needless to sa}- that there is no man in the township who has
done more for the advancement of the social, educational and moral wel-
fare of the community than he. Such n.ien are a blessing to the community
in which they live and their influence is one which cannot be calculated
l)y human agency. Mr. Draper has a large circle of warm friends through-
out tlie township who admire him for his uprightness and wholesome way
of li\ing.

ALBERT G. GEISTER.

The roster of prominent business men of O'Brien county would be
•incomplete were mention not made of the young man whose name appears
at the head of this article. Mr. Geister is essentially a product of this lo-
cality. ha\ ing first seen the light of day in the year 1887 in O'Brien county.
His father, Joseph Geister, was born in 1863 in Cook county, Illinois, near
the noise and hurry of the immense city of Chicago. However, seeing the
endless battle waged by the thousands for sustenance in the congested parts
of the country, he sought the larger opportunities to be found in the more
sparsely settled sections, and came to O'Brien county, where he engaged in
the pursuit of agriculture. Here, on the homestead farm, Albert, his son,
spent his boyhood and youth, attending school and giving his father such
assistance as a boy of his years could render in the labors of the place.
He attended the elementary schools of the township and later the high
school at Sheldon. Then he followed a course in a business college at Spen-
cer, low.T. after which he returned to his home to relieve his father of some
of the arduous labor of the farm. Here he remained, devoting his energy
and his strength to the cultivation and improvement of the homestead, un-
til 1907. when he wished for a change of occupation and environment.
This "wanderlust"' led him to the beautiful city of Detroit, where he found
employment in an automobile factory, and as he labored here all his po\Ners of
observation were brought into play and he gained an insight into the me-
chanical construction of the huge machines on which he worked. But
eventuallv home ties proved stronger in his heart than the attractions of
a great citv, and he returned to Primghar and here accepted employment
in an automobile garage. Here his business training in Spencer and his
mechanical training in Detroit both stood him in good stead, and so dili-

io8o o'brien and oscEor.A C()i'i\ rii:.s, iowa.

gent did he prove that in a gear's time he was enabled to purchase an in-
terest in the business. With all liis energy he continued to work and save,
and eventually the entire business was purchased by him and it has steadily
increased under his management. Still a young man. he is one of our well-
knoAvn citizens, and that he will continue to rise it is easy to predict.

In the year 1912 Mr. Geister took one of the important steps of his life
when he embarked upon the sea of matrimony, taking for his wife Cora
Ahrend, daughter of Frederick Ahrend, of Primghar, a retired farmer.
Miss Ahrend was one of the favorites in the circle in which she mo\'ed, in
this city, and as Mrs. Geister she has lost none of her charm or popu-
larity.

Mr. Geister is a member of the German Lutheran church of San-
born, and is affiliated with the Order of Yeoman and the Odd Fellows of
this place. Politically, he is an adherent of the principles of Jefferson and
consistently votes the Democratic ticket. Broad minded, intelligent, ener-
getic, with a genial manner which soon wins the confidence of those with
whom he comes in contact, a bright future for this young business man of
Primp-har seems assured.

GEORGE W. WATERHOUSE.

The science of agriculture finds an able demonstrator as well as suc-
cessful practitioner in the person of George W. Waterhouse, who main-
tains a productive and desirable farm of one hundred and sixty acres in
Liberty township, O'Brien county. Iowa. However, it is through his con-
nection with the breeding and selling of li\e stock that Mr. Waterhouse is
most widely knowai, as in this branch of farm work he has won for him-
self an enviable reputation. The degree of success to which he has attained
is especially gratifying when it is understood that Mr. Waterhouse has won
his way alone and unaided from the smallest of beginnings .and in spite of
serious handicaps.

George \\\ Waterhouse, farmer and stockman, was born in 1858 in
Grant county. \\'isconsin. the son of Charles B. and Elizabeth (Hutch-
croft) Waterhouse. Charles B. ^^'aterhouse was a native of England, born
in 1830, and when eighteen years of age he emigrated to Canada, where
he remained for a few years. He later went to Wisconsin, where he en-
gaged in farming and where he spent the remainder of his days, his death
occurring in 1878. Fired with patriotic love for his adopted countrv. he.

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. I081

early in the Civil War. pledged his support to the Union, enlisting as a
private in Company C, Wisconsin cavalry. He received his honorable dis-
charge in 1864. ha\'ing, during" his enlistment, been in several of the more
important engagements of the war. In Canada he was united in marriage
with Elizabeth Hutchcroft. also a native of England, born in 1833. Her
death also occurred in 1878 and the loss of both parents orphaned a fam-
ily of twehe children, two of whom are now deceased. After the parents'
death, the subject of this sketch assumed the responsibility of the family,
remaining with them until he was twenty-three years of age. At that age
he started out in life for himself, renting and farming land in his native
state. In 1884 he first came to O'Brien county and secured a tract of land
in Liberty township, \\hich he rented until 1891, when he purchased one
hundred an^ sixty acres, on which he has since made his home. He has
made many and vast improvements in this homestead since first taking po-
session of it and has, through untiring energy and fine executive ability,
built up a good business in his chosen lines. In addition to the usual amount
of grain, etc., produced on a farm of this size, he pays especial attention
to breeding horses and cattle. In the latter he prefers the Shorthorn variety
and has produced many fine specimens. He has exhibited at the fair in
Sutherland, his exhibit being such as is worthy of more tlian local interest.
He is also a breeder of roadsters and trotting stock and has won a number
of prizes on his animals. There is one branch of horticulture in which he
takes particular interest and that is the raising of fruits, in which he is
highly successful. In endeavoring to win a competence for himself, Mr.
Waterhouse has ever brought to bear business principles of the highest order,
coupled with a determination to win.

Mrs. Waterhouse before her marriage was Earla D. Briggs. daughter
of Edmond Briggs, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere
within the pages of this book. To their union have been born three chil-
dren, namely: Bessie L., w-ho is the wife of E. F. Broders, a banker of
Hartley, this state: Edna May (Mrs. Yocom). who resides in Sutherland,
and Marlow Alderson. who remains at home. Mr. Waterhouse is one of
the stanch supporters of the old-line Republican party and has taken more
than a passive interest in the affairs of that party as applied to local inter-
ests. He is one of the wide-awake men of brain and substance who are
able to exert such a beneficent influence upon the affairs of the community.
An excellent tvpe of manhood, he stands "'four square to every wind that
blows" and in every walk of life has proven to be of sterling worth. The
familv is well-known and highly respected, taking an active part in the best

I082 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

interests of the community, and being attendants at the Methodist Episco-
pal church, to which they give generously of time and means. Mr. Water-
house has proven true to every trust and is justly popular in his locality.

JAMES BROSH.

While practically every countr}- in Europe has furnished some of its best
citizens for OBrien county, Iowa, there have been \ery few who have come
from farawa}' Bohemia. Sutherland boasts of one enterprising citizen who
was born in that land where human liberty is scarcely known and where
oppression stalks about on e\'ery hand. It is no wonder that this country has
furnished so man\- emigrants to the United States.

James Brosh, manager of the Frank Klema Automobile Company, of
Sutherland, was born in Bohemia in 1849. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Brosh, who came to this country in 1855 and first settled in Davenport,
Iowa. Later John Brosh dro\e a team overland to Iowa City and engaged
in farming in that neighborhood until 1901, when he retired from active life
and moved to Solon, Iowa, where he spe'nt his declining years. James
Brosh is one of twel\c children born to his parents and was only about six
years of age when the family came o\er the ocean to this country. He re-
ceived a very limited education, Init has been a wide reader all his life. As
soon as he could work out he began to work for himself and in 1870, having
reached the age of t\vent}--one years, he came to O'Brien county and home-
steaded in Highland townshij) and continued to manage this farm in this
township until 1907, when he mo\-ed to Sutherland and engaged in the real
estate Inisiness. In 1913 he became manager of the Frank Klema Automo-
l)ile Company and in that i)osition is demonstrating his marked business
abilitv. In addition to his eighty acres of land in Highland township, Mr.
Brosh is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land in Richland
county. Xorth Dakota.

Mr. Brosh was married in 1871 to Elizabeth Dol)ricka, who died in
1882, and to this marriage were born four children: Airs. Anna Campbell,
who lives in Canton. South Dakota ; Airs. Josephine Severance, who is a
resident of this county; William, who is now farming the old homestead in
Highland township, this count}- ; Mrs. Lillie Lowell, who lives at Canton,
South Dakota.

My. Brosh has taken an intelligent interest in politics since reaching his

JAMES BROSH

A?Tf

O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES. IOWA. Io8?

majority and his fellow citizens have recognized in him more than ordinary
ability and conseqnently they have elected him to various township offices
within their suffrage, and in all of these positions he has given faithful and
efficient service, not onl\- to those who voted for him, but to all other citizens
of the township as well. In fact, his service as a public official has been so
excellent that he has held no less than four township offices, a record which
it would be hard to duplicate in O'Brien county todav. He has been con-
stable, road supervisor, school director and township trustee, and has given
each office the same careful and efficient attention as he shows in his own
pri\ate business affairs. Religiously, he and the members of his family are
loyal and faithful adherents of the Catholic church and contribute liberallv
of their time and substance to its support. Mr. Brosh is a man who has
entered heartily into all movements having for their object the welfare of his
community, is energetic in his efforts and has built up a splendid reputation
as a man of good business judgment. His actions have been prompted and
controlled by the highest motives, so that at all times he has enjoyed the
un(|ualified confidence of his fellow citizens.

MRS. ADDIE C. McFARLAND.

\\'holly devoted to home and domestic duties, doing through all the
best years of her life the lowly but sacred work that comes within her
sphere, there is not much to record concerning the life of the average
woman. And yet what station so dignified, what relation so loving and
endearing, what offices so holy, tender and ennobling as those of home-
making wifehood and motherhood. As man's equal in every qualification
save the physical, and his superior in the gentle, tender and loving ameni-
ties of life, she fully merits a much larger notice than she ordinarily re-
cei\es. and the writer of these lines is optimistic enough to indulge the pre-
diction that in no distant future she will receive due credit for the im-
portant part she acts in life's great drama and be accorded her proper place
in histor}- and biography. The foregoing lines are prompted by a review
of the career of one of Floyd township's grand ladies, who is numbered
among the most respected and esteemed residents of this favored com-
m.unity.

Mrs. Addie McFarland, who is now living a retired life on her beauti-
ful Maplewood farm in Floyd township, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born

1084 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.

in Akron. Ohio, in 1859. She is the daughter of Robert and Prudence
(FaJor) Osborn. Robert Osborn was born in 1832 in Pennsylvania and
enlisted in the Union army at Cleveland, Ohio, and was a tife major during
the entire period of the war. He is now the leader of the martial l^and
at Long Beach, California. He was at one time a furniture and shoe dealer
in Sheldon. Iowa, and a large land owner in Floyd township, in O'Brien
county. He was married in 1856 to Prudence Falor, who was born in
Ohio in 1838 and died ]\Iarch 14. i8gi. ]\lrs. and Mr. Robert 0.sborn were
the parents of three children : Eva. deceased ; Pearl, who died February
25, 1900; Airs, .\ddie AIcFarland, whose life history is here delineated.

Mrs. McFarland remained with her parents until she was eighteen years
of age and then married James McFarland, who was born in Maysville,
Kentucky, in 1851. He was the son of William and Louisa (Sutton) Mc-
Farland. William McFarland was a homesteader of O'Brien county and
he and his wife reared a family of four children: Mrs. Caroline Griffith,
deceased; Robert, who died during the Civil War; Mrs. Mary Virgil, of
Sheldon, Iowa, and James, who died August 14, 1902. James McFarland
horacsteaded in Floyd township, O'Brien county, and was a very pros-
perous farmer, leaving to his estate two hundred and forty acres of well
improved land upon his death. He had fifteen acres of fine maple trees,
the largest grove in O'Brien county. Addie Osborn and James McFarland
were married in O'Brien county in 1877, and to this union were born five
children: Airs. Louise AI. Williams, a graduate of Sheldon high school;
Mrs. Addie B. Marker, who is now living on the home place with her hus-
band, who is farming it ; Robert, who graduated from the Capital City
Commercial College of Des Moines and is now farming in Saskatchewan,
Canada ; Mrs. Prudence Hoeven, who is now living in Alton, Iowa. She
graduated from the musical department of Drake L^niversity, and is the
leader of the Presbyterian church choir at Alton, Iowa ; James, the }'Oung-
est of the five children, is living in Sa.'^katchewan, Canada.

Mrs. McFarland taught school in O'Brien county in 1876 and 1877
and has been prominently identified with history of the county from that
time down to the present date. She kept and fed the men who built part of
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway through O'Brien county. She
owns two hundred and forty acres in O'Brien county and has an interest
in six hundred and forty acres in Canada. Her home is modern in every
respect and is equipped with electric lights and hot and cold water. It is
located two miles east of Sheldon, in Floyd township, and is one of the
most modern and up-to-date homes to be found in the county. Mrs. Mc-

(/bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. IO85

T'arland is a zealous member of the Christian church and contributes of her
substance to its support in ex'ery phase. She takes a deep interest in every-
thing which she feels will benefit the community in which she lives. She has
a host of friends throughout the county who admire her for her noble
character.

BRUNO SAUPE.

In the year 1875 there came to America from Germany a little lad
twehe years old without anv money at all and with no knowledge of the
English language. He came direct across the country to Illinois where he
worked for a time with his uncle and attended the German Lutheran school.
This small German lad. who had no capital other than that of a clear brain
and a strong hand, is now one of the most prosperous farmers of Carroll
township. O'Brien county, Iowa.

Bruno Saupe. ex-trustee of Carroll township, this county, was born in
Saxony. Germany, in 1863. He worked for his grandfather in his native
country until he was about twelve years of age, when he came to America.
His parents were Theo and Christianna (Miller) Saupe, who came to
America later. He had six brothers and sisters, all of whom came to
America, ^^'illiam, Anna, Erank, Emil, Alinnie and Otto.

Bruno Saupe went to lixe with his uncle, Ered Miller, in Illinois, up-
on coming to this country in 1875, and for three years attended the Ger-
man Lutheran church school in his locality, after which he worked at farm
labor, and in i88t, although he was only eighteen \'ears of age, he came to
Benton county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land. Six years later he
sold this tract and came to O'Brien county, where he purchased one hun-
dred and sixtv acres of land in Carroll township. He was only twenty-
two years of age at this time and yet he had such confidence in his ability
to pay for the land that he did not hestitate to go into debt for it. This
confidence in his own ability has made him the successful man that he is
today. He has added from time to time to this original quarter section
until he is now the owner of six hundred and fort>- acres of fine farming
land in O'Brien county and three hundred and twent}- acres in Colorado.
On his home farm he has placed ten thousand dollars' worth of improvements
and has a fine orchard grove of six acres. He also has an interest in the
Earmers Elevator Company at Archer, Iowa. He has also been a large
breeder of cattle and sells annuallv at least two car loads of cattle.

I086 o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA counties, IOWA,

Mr. Saiipe was married when he was twenty-four years of age tC'
Sarrah Fritzsche, who was a resident of Ilhnois, and to this marriage have
been born eight children: Wilham, deceased; Edward, who is farming
with liis father; Anna, a graduate of the Sheldon high school and the
Teachers" Course at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and is now teaching in Archer;
Fred, at home; Alice; Franklin; Herbert, and Lillian. The four younger
children are still at home and attending school.

Mr. Saupe has been a Republican in politics and has been honored by
his part\' by bemg nominated for the office of township trustee, and in this
important office he administered its duties with entire satisfaction to all
the citizens of the to\\nship, irrespective of politics. He is a regular and
faithful attendant of the German Lutheran church and is interested in the
various activities of that denomination. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternitv and the ^Mystic Shrine. He has always been interested in the
educational affairs of his township and has served as school director for ten
years. During the period when he served as township trustee he was also
instrumental in. l}ringing the schools to a higher plane of efficiency and
improving the schools in every way. ]\Ir. Saupe and his brother. Otto,
are fine examples of the German settlers who have made their home in
O'Brien countv, and are lioth esteemed for the wholesome lives they have
led and the beneficent infiuence which they have shed upon the life of their
respective communities.

WAYLAXD M, BUNCE

Among the earliest pioneers of O'Brien county, Iowa, is Wayland M.
Bunce, who has been a resident of the county for nearly twenty-five years.
He was born in Washington county, Wisconsin, in 1847 and is the son
of Eben S. and Elmira (Stage) Bunce.

Eben S. Bunce was born in the state of New York in 1822 and was a
minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and the United Brethren church
for sixty years. When a young man he settled in Wisconsin as a mission-
ary and in 1862 came to Tama county, Iowa, where he farmed for a short
time, then became the pastor of Western College, now known as Toledo
College, at Toledo, Iowa. He served the congregation there for a few
years and went to Muscatine, Iowa, where he was minister of the United
Brethren church. From Muscatine he went to Wilkins, Iowa, where he
preached for a few years. In 1879 he came to O'Brien county, where he

o'bRIEN and OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA. I087

]mrchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Liberty township and hved
upon it until his retirement in 1890, his death occurring two years later.
Eben Bunce was twice married, his first wife being Elmira Stage, and to
this first union were born four children, all of whom are dead but Wayland
M.. whose history is here briefly presented. Eben Bunce's first wife died in
1850 and he then married Mrs. Salina A. Bramble, who was born in New
^"ork and died in 1890.

Wayland M. Bunce was given a good common school education in
Wisconsin and Iowa and remained with his parents until twenty years
of age. then went to work as a farm hand by the month and after a short
time went to Tama county and secured em])loyment as a breaker of prairie
land. He had a yoke of oxen and with these found all the work he could
do. Shortly after coming to Tama county he entered land and farmed for
a year, after which he attended Western College at Toledo for
a year. In 1870 he bought six yoke of