Class. Book THE Biographical Record WEBSTER COUNTY, IOWA. ILLUSTRATED. The people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything -worthy to be remembered with pride by remote generations. — Macaulay. CHICAGO The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. 1002. Biography is the only true History. — Emerson. L people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will nevei achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote generations. — Macaulay. PREFACE. HE greatest of English historians, Macaulay, and one of the most brilliant writers of the present century, has said : "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people." In con- formity with this idea, the Biographical Record has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise and industry, brought this county to a rank second to none among those comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records how that success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very many, who, not seeking the applause of the world, have pursued the " even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them, as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — " They nave done what they could." It tells how many, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's call went forth valiantly " to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after. Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written ; and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of consequence. In addition to biographical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given. The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume _ For this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances mer. never could be found, though repeated calls were made at their residence or place of business. May, 190?. The S. J- Clarke Publishing Co. ^^^^^r^v^v^^z^^i^^^v^^^v^v^ GENERAL INDEX. Table of Contents, Introductory, Compendium of National Biography, Compendium of Local Biography, 13 223 INDEX TO FART I. Compendium of National Biography. Biographical Sketches of National Celebrities. PAGE Abbott, Lyman 144 Adams, Charles Kendall 143 Adams, John 25 Adams, John Quincy 61 Agassiz, Louis J. R 137 Alger, Russell A 173 Allison, William B 131 Allston, Washington 190 Altgeld, John Peter 140 Andrews, Elisha B 184 Anthony, Susan B 62 Armour, Philip D 62 Arnold, Benedict 84 Arthur, Chester Allen 168 Astor, John Jacob 139 Audubon, John James 166 Bailey, James Montgomery... 177 Bancroft, George 74 Barnard, Frederick A. P 179 Barnum, Phineas T 41 Barrett, Lawrence 156 Barton, Clara 209 Bayard, Thomas Francis 200 Beard, William H 196 Beauregard, Pierre G. T 203 Beecher, Henry Ward 26 Bell, Alexander Graham 96 Bennett, James Gordon 206 Benton, Thomas Hart 53 Bergh, Henry 160 Bierstadt, Albert 197 Billings, Josh 166 Blaine, James Gillespie 22 Bland, Richard Parks 106 PAGE Boone, Daniel 36 Booth, Edwin 51 Booth, Junius Brutus 177 Brice, Calvin S 181 Brooks, Phillips 130 Brown, John 51 Brown, Charles Farrar 91 Brush, Charles Francis 153 Bryan, William Jennings 158 Bryant, William Cullen 44 Buchanan, Franklin 105 Buchanan, James 128 Buckner, Simon Boliver 188 Burdette, Robert J 103 Burr, Aaron Ill Butler, Benjamin Franklin .... 24 Calhoun, John Caldwell 23 Cameron, James Donald 141 Cameron, Simon 141 Cammack, Addison 197 Campbell, Alexander 180 Carlisle, John G 133 Carnegie, Andrew 73 Carpenter, Matthew Hale 17* Carson, Christopher (Kit). ... 86 Cass, Lewis 110 Cha=e, Salmon Portland 65 Childs, George W 83 Choate, Rufus 207 Chaflin, Horace Brigham 107 Clay, Henry 21 Clemens, Samuel Langhorne. . 86 Cleveland, Grover 174 Clews, Henry 153 PAGE. Clinton, DeWitt 110 Colfax, Schuyler, 139 Conklin, Alfred 32 Conklin, Roscoe 32 Cooley, Thomas Mclntyre... 140 Cooper, James Fenimore 58 Cooper, Peter 37 Copely, John Singleton 191 Corbin, Austin 205 Corcoran, W. W 196 Cornell, Ezra 161 Cramp, William 189 Crockett, David 76 Cullom, Shelby Moore 116 Curtis, George William 144 Cushman, Charlotte 107 Custer, George A 95 Dana, Charles A 88 "Danbury News Man" 177 Davenport, Fanny.. 106 Davis, Jefferson 24 Debs, Eugene V 132 Decatur, Stephen 101 Deering, William 198 Depew, Chauncey Mitchell... 209 Dickinson, Anna 103 Dickinson, Don M 139 Dingley, Nelson, Jr 215 Donnelly, Ignatius 161 Douglas, Stephen Arnold 53 Douglass, Frederick 43 Dow, Neal 108 Draper, John William 184 TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART I PAGE Drexel, Anthony Joseph 124 Dupont, Henry 198 Edison, Thomas Alva 55 Edmunds, George F 201 Ellsworth, Oliver 1G8 Emerson, Ralph Waldo 57 Ericsson, John 127 Evarts, William Maxwell 89 Farragut, David Glascoe 80 Field, Cyrus West 173 Field, U'avid Dudley 126 Field. Marshall 59 Field, Stephen Johnson 216 Fillmore, Millard 113 Foote, Andrew Hull 176 Foraker, Joseph B 143 Forrest, Edwin 92 Franklin, Benjamin 18 Fremont, John Charles 29 Fuller, Melville Weston 168 Fulton, Robert 62 Gage, Lyman J 71 GaTlatml Alnert 112 Garfield, James A .... 163 Garrett, John Work 200 Garrison, William Lloyd 50 Gates, Horatio ....*. 70 Gatling, Richard Jordan 116 ( leorge, Henry 203 Gibbons, Cardinal James 209 Gilmofe, Patrick Sarsfield 77 Girard, Stephen 137 Gough, John B 131 Gould, Jay 52 Gordon, John B 215 Grant, Ulysses S 155 Gray, Asa , 88 Gray, Elisha 149 Greeley, Adolphus W 142 Greeley, Horace 20 Greene, Nathaniel 69 Gresham, Walter Quintin 183 Hale, Edward Everett 79 Hall, Charles Francis 167 Hamilton, Alexander 31 Hamlin, Hannibal 214 Hampton, Wade 192 Hancock, Winfield Scott 146 Hanna, Marcus Alonzo 169 Harris, Isham G 214 Harrison, William Henry 87 Harrison, Benjamin 182 Harvard, John 129 Havemeyer, John Craig 182 Hawthorne, Nathaniel 135 Hayes, Rutherford Birchard... 157 Hendricks, Thomas Andrew. . 212 Henry, Joseph 105 Henrv, 'Patrick 83 Hill, David Bennett 90 Hobart, Garrett A 213 Holmes, Oliver Wendell 206 Hooker, Joseph 52 Howe, Elias 130 Howells, William Dean 104 PAGE Houston, Sam 120 Hughes, Archbishop John 157 Hughitt, Marvin 159 Hull, Isaac 169 Huntington, Collis Potter 94 Ingalls, John James 114 Ingersoll, Robert G 85 Irving, Washington 33 Jackson, Andrew 71 Jackson, " Stonewall " 67 Jackson, Thomas Jonathan 67 Jay, John 39 Jefferson, Joseph 47 Jefferson, Thomas 34 Johnson, Andrew 145 Johnson, Eastman 202 Johnston, Joseph Eccleston... . 85 Jones, James K .. 171 Jones, John Paul 97 Jones, Samuel Porter 115 Kane, Elisha Kent 125 Kearney, Philip 210 Kenton, Simon 188 Knox, John Jay 134 Lamar, Lucius Q. C 201 Lando'n, Melville D 109 Lee, Robert Edward 38 Lewis, Charles B 193 Lincoln, Abraham 135 Livermore, Mary Ashton 131 Locke, David Ross 172 Logan, John A 26 Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth 37 Longstreet, James 56 Lowell, James Russell 104 Mackay, John William 148 Madison, lames 42 Marshall, John 156 Mather, Cotton 164 Mather, Increase 163 Maxim, Hiram S 194 McClellan, George Brinton.... 47 McCormick, Cyrus Hall 172 McDonough, Com. Thomas.. . 167 McKinley; William 217 Meade, George Gordon 75 Medill, Joseph 159 Miles, Nelson A 176 Miller, Cincinnatus Heine 218 Miller, Joaquin 218 Mills, Roger Quarles 211 Monroe, ]ames 54 Moody, Dwight L 207 Moran, Thomas 98 Morgan, John Pierpont 208 Morgan, John T 216 Morris, Robert 165 Morse, Samuel F. B 124 Morton, Levi P 142 Morton, Oliver Perrv 215 Motley, John Lathro'p 130 "Nye, Bill" 59 Nye, Edgar Wilson 59 PAGE O'Conor, Charles 187 Olney, Richard 133 Paine, Thomas 147 Palmer, John M 195 Parkhurst, Charles Henry 160 "Partington, Mrs." 202 Peabody, George 170 Peck, George W 187 Peffer, William A 164 Perkins, Eli 109 Perry, Oliver Hazard 97 Phillips, Wendell 30 Pierce, Franklin 122 Pingree, Hazen S 212 Plant, Henry B 192 Poe, Edgar Allen 69 Polk, James Knox 102 Porter, David Dixon 6S Porter, Noah 93 Prentice, George Denison. . . 119 Prescott, William Hickling. .. 96 Pullman, George Mortimer.. .. 121 Quad, M 193 Quay MatthewS 171 Randolph, Edmund 136 Read, Thomas Buchanan 132 Reed, Thomas Brackett 208 Reid, Whitelaw 149 Roach, John 190 Rockefeller, John Davison.... 195 Root, George Frederick 218 RothermeK Peter F 113 Rutledge, John 57 Sage, Russell 211 Schofield, John McAllister 199 Schurz, Carl 201 Scott, Thomas Alexander 204 Sett, Winfield 79 Seward, William Henry .... 44 Sharon, William 165 Shaw, Henry W 166 Sheridan, Phillip Henry 40 Sherman, Charles R 87 Sherman, John ... ... 86 Shillaber, Benjamin Penhallow 202 Sherman, William Tecumseh.. 30 Smith, Edmund Kirby 114 Sousa, John Philip 60 Spreckels, Claus 159 Stanford, Leland 101 Stanton, Edwin McMasters . 179 Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 126 Stephens, Alexander Hamilton 32 Stephenson, Adlai Ewing... . 141 Stewart, Alexander T 58 Stewart, William Morris 213 Stowe, Harriet Elizabeth Beecher 66 Stuart, James K. B 122 Sumner, Charles 34 Talmage, Thomas DeWitt . . 60 Taney, Roger Bror '.- 129 Tavlor, Zacharv 108 Teller, Henrv M 127 TABLE OF CONTENTS— PART I PAGE Tesla, Nikola 193 Thomas, George H 73 Tin ■mas, Theodore 172 Thurman, Allen G 90 Thurston, John M 106 Tilden, Samuel J 48 Tillman, Benjamin Ryan 119 Toombs, Robert 205 "Twain, Mark" 86 Tyler, John 93 Van Buren, Martin 78 Vanderbilt, Cornelius 35 Vail, Alfred 154 Vest, George Graham 214 PAGE Vilas, William Freeman 140 Voorhees, Daniel Wolsey 95 Waite, Morrison Remich 125 Wallace, Lewis 199 Wallack, Lester 121 Wallack, John Lester 121 Wanamaker, John 89 Ward, "Artemus " 91 Washburne, Elihu Benjamin. . 189 Washington, George 17 \\ atson, Thomas £ 178 Watterson, Henry 76 Weaver, James B 123 Webster, 'Daniel 19 PAGE Webster, Noah 49 Weed, Thurlow 91 West, Benjamin 115 Whipple, Henry Benjamin. . . . 161 White, Stephen V 162 Whitefield, George 150 Whitman, Walt 197 Whitney, Eli 120 Whitney, William Collins 92 Whittier, John Greenleaf 67 Willard, Frances E 133 Wilson, William L 180 Winchell, Alexander 175 Windom, William 138 PORTRAITS OF NATIONAL CELEBRITIES. PAGE Alger, Russell A 16 Allison, William B 99 Anthonv, Susan B 63 Armour, Philip D 151 Arthur, Chester A 81 Barnum, Phineas T 117 Beecher, Henry Ward 27 Blaine, James G 151 Booth, Edwin 63 Bryan, Wm. J 63 Bryant, William Cullen 185 Buchanan, James 81 Buckner, Simon B 16 Butler Benjamin F 151 Carlisle, John G 151 Chase, Salmon P 16 Childs, George W 99 Clay, Henry 81 Cleveland, Grover 45 Cooper, Peter 99 Dana, Charles A 151 Depew, Chauncey M 117 Douglass, Fred 63 Emerson, Ralph Waldo 27 Evarts, William M 99 Farragut, Com. D. G 185 Field, Cyrus W 63 PAGE Field, Marshall 117 Franklin, Benjamin 63 Fremont, Gen. John C 16 Gage, Lyman J 151 Garfield, James A 45 Garrison, William Lloyd 63 George, Henry 117 Gould, Jay 99 Grant, Gen. U. S 185 Greeley, Horace 81 Hampton, Wade 16 Hancock, Gen. Winfield S. . .. 185 Hanna, Mark A 117 Harrison, Benjamin 81 Hayes, R. B 45 Hendricks, Thomas A 81 Holmes, Oliver W 151 Hooker, Gen. Joseph 16 Ingersoll, Robert G 117 Irving, Washington 27 Jackson, Andrew 45 Jefferson, Thomas 45 Johnston, Gen. J. E 16 Lee, Gen. Robert E 185 Lincoln, Abraham 81 Logan, Gen. John A 16 Longfellow, Henry W 185 PAGE Longstreet, Gen. James 16 Lowell, James Russell 27 Mckinley, William 45 Morse, S. F. B 185 Philiips, Wendell 27 Porter, Com. D. D 185 Pullman, George M 117 Quay, M. S 99 Reed, Thomas B 151 Sage, Russell 117 Scott, Gen. Winfield 185 Seward, William H 45 Sherman, John 99 Sherman, Gen. W. T. 151 Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 27 Stowe, Harriet Beecher 27 Sumner, Charles 45 Talmage, T. DeWitt 63 Teller, Henry M 99 Thurman, Alien G 81 Tilden, Samuel J 117 Van Buren, Martin 81 Vanderbilt, Commodore 99 Webster, Daniel 27 Whittier, John G 21 Washington, George 45 Watterson, Henry 63 INDEX. PAGE Allen. M. II C75 Anderson, Abe 630 Anderson, A. G 689 Anderson, Andrew 662 Anderson, E. L 453 Anderson, Johan 353 Anderson, J. A 610 Anderson, il. F 504 Anderson. M. F., D. D. S 603 Andrew-. M. H 692 Andrews. Mary H 614 Arent. Andrew 267 Arnold. Christopher 436 Bailey. M. J 411 Baldwin, H. 528 Bass, .lames 575 Bell, Isaac 330 Bilst'ad, T. S 4s4 Plai I . I'.. F 56g blain, R. W 329 Bl nlierg, John 660 Brakke. J. P 429 Burnett, Cyrus 304 Burns. Ji ihn 704 Byer, Ant. in 499 Cahill. 'I homas 324 Carpenter. C. C 230 Carr. Henry }s7 Carver. W. F., M. D 412 Chinburg, S. I.. D. I). S 3-* Christen-on. Carl • 605 Qvristenson, Rev. I. A 314 Churchill. C. 11.. M. D 447 Churchill, E. A 471 Coffin, L. S ->-',!, 1 lolburn, E. E 6S3 Golby, Charles 292 Colby. W. H. H. & Brother.... 338 Conklin, J. E 526 Coomber, George 440 1 li 'i n. \ , Ji ihn 725 Corey, Sila- 544 Cram. John 668 Crandall, \\\ B 553 Crimins, Timothy .512 ( Irouse, \. .1 623 Daniels, Ufred 580 Daniels, C. X* 629 PAGE Daniel- Daniel 298 Daniel-. D. D 667 Daniels. D. M 546 Daniels. J. E 672 Daniels, Sarah E 372 Daniels. \Y. W 65] Daniel-011. Mr-. Hattie 500 Dayton, Frank '178 Dodge. C A 519 Dolliver. J. P 238 1 >onahi ie, Thomas 438 Douglass. A. C 483 Dowd, F. A -74 Dowd, W. V 244 Drake. F. B 430 I 'tin. 1 imbe, J F 250 Dutcher, \Y. H 506 Easley, F. E .v* Erickson, C. E. . .' 707 Erickson, Louis 342 I wing, W. S 608 Fallon. Henry 540 Fallon. John 319 Fawkes, Francis 462 Fidilick. Frank 403 Findlay, J. L 708 Flattery, Robert 272 Flickinger, Christian 626 Flower, G. W 39° Freed, G. \ 663 Frosland. L. K 4'7 Gabrielson, C. A 634 Gabrielson, John 665 i.ilirul-on. Cj. A 564 Gatarielson, Victor 325 Garmoe, Isaac 257 lates, C. L 396 '.ill. J. B 38? Girdey, Sherman 727 jirdey, Henry 516 Inch. \Y. C 418 Grabenhorst, H. C 7-'.? : Irabenihi ir 1. W. II 302 Granger. C. L 318 1 rrayson, Benjamin 3-2 Grebner, Frederick 7 1 - 1 ,1 . isenbaugh. Augusl 3 ' 1 Guild. C. A 284 PAGE ' lustafson, G. A 588 Guthrie, J. M 731 Hamilton. J. L 702 Hannon. Andrew 577 Hannon, J. L 514 Hannon, Nicholas 528 Hannan. Robert ?J2 Hanson, Amund 398 Hardine. \V. K 242 Hart, G [>.. M. I) 484 Hart. X. H 636 Hart. L. W 652 Hastings. L. G 279 Havler. Henry 385 Hedlund, J. L 696 Heffner, Samuel 404 Heileman. Charles 586 Heitkamp, L. H 482 Herrington. S. W 513 Hill, Daniel 552 I 1!'. J P 2/ ) Houge. A. M 360 Houge, CI 568 \ndrew 443 Huglin. Charles 716 Hunter. R. P 464 Hutchisi m, William 2-7 IK -. Van 724 tngalls. I. B 415 Installs. T. B 416 Intermill, Jacob 621 Jaques, Theodore 636 Johnson. A. B 595 fohnson, Andrew Ibhnson, August 673 fohnson, Augustus 525 Johnsi 11. J P ''47 fohnson, Swan 625 Jones, Benjamin 505 Karcher, Phillip 308 Keefer, Hiram 377 I 11 Kinne'j . J. L 24X Knndson. Christopher 558 i fi iin. Ir 326 Is". II. Ji hu. Sr 296 Kruckman, F. A 5& INDEX. Knsterer, J. F. PAGE •■ 379 Larson. Bertel 472 Larson, George 325 Larson. P. L 388 Lemon. G. C 6"0 Le Valley, S. E 619 Linn, Peter 687 Lilyard, J. P Loehr, A. J ' 428 1 1 mg, Lemuel 380 Looby, John 371 Low, E. E 424 Lund R. S 587 Lundblad, C. A 715 Lungren, C. 1 611 Mack. H. J 602 Manchester, W. V 5.38 Mapes, Perry 343 Marsh. George >6o Marsh, G. W. 268 Marsh, Tame-- 4,; Marsh. W. T 545 McBane, Angus >o8 McCarville, T. A 426 McDonald. Michael 4.30. McGuire. Franklin 282 McGuire, W. R ,301 McMahon, George '282 Meservey, S. T 365 1 . \V. X '30 3 Mitchell. \V. L 557 Mortimer. R. T 530 Mulroney, J. M 359 Munn, William 402 Musburger, George .354 Nelsi hi. Elias 537 Nelson, H. E., M. D 606 Nelson, J. 384 Neudeck. L. \V '3 >o Nicholson, W. L., M. D. 266 NlXOn, J. A :;, ' lldheime, Jonas 004 1 Hney, R E., M D 694 < »lney, S. B., M. D 693 < )'Li mglilin. John 371 PAGE Palmer, A. E 492 Payne, G. H 337 Payne. F. E 520 Pearsons, G. R 480 Peterson, B. E 205 Peterson, I). A 671 Petersi in, F. G 401 Peterson, Rasmus 565 Petersen, Thomas 508 Pingel. Charles 313 Porter. E. D 650 Powers, J. E 291 Prall. A. A., M. D 695 Pratt. C. S 680 Putzke, August 613 Putzke, Fred 7,30 Quick. Richard 470 Rasmussen, N. C 728 Redman, fohn 594 Reed. O. L 648 Remington. Rev. C. H 281 Reynolds, A. S. R 34S Reynolds, C. H 521 Rhoades, A J 004 Rhoades, G. F 050 Richey, S. B 490 Risk. David 351 Rol fe. E. A 709 I. R 237 Rose, H., M. D 713 Ryan. Rev. Father 396 Sanborn. H. W 259 Sayli James 491 Scallv. Patrick 328 Scroll. C. J .'36.3 Rchmoker, Christian .30(1 Schrader, Carl 668 Schram, William 477 Scleichhardt. G. C 4.37 Scott, A. \V 703 Sen. F T 721 Sheerer. Henry 295 Sheldon, O. A 614 Sheldon. Ole 612 Smith. L. Y 698 PAGE Snyder. ( rodfrey 714 Solso, C. M. . . 461 Sniumcrville. Thomas 711 Sorber, E. W 478 Southard, Albert 042 Sperry, \Y. F 616 Spirek, Anton 573 Stegner, Martin 555 Steven-. Charles 596 Stine, A. L 366 Stine, J I) 278 Sin niiii.Tg, A 729 Suer, Bernard 632 Swanson, C. A...* 674 Tapper. C. M 593 I aj J ir, Erwin 448 Thissell, J. F 2S.3 Thomas, Z. \Y 446 Tomlinson, C. S 609 Toohey, James 697 Urelius, J. P 469 Vandevender, D. \Y 633 Vandevender, J. H 258 Vandevender, John ;66 Van Osdoll, W. J 327 Vinsand, A. A , 691 Waterbury, C. D 706 Weaver. W. R 532 Weiss. F. E 387 Welch, James 529 Welch. J. W 58S Weller, D. A 307 Widick, Henry 444 Widick, W. H. 687 Wilkinson, A. A 456 Willey, Henry 579 Williamson, Ole 297 W !. 1 Hiver 510 Woodard, D. D 710 Woodard, Mrs. Ella 554 Wooddle, E. L 620 Wrede, William 657 Yungclas, G. F 688 Zuerrer, Rev. E 558 L«iV9i=^ COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY Celebrated Americans rEORGE WASHINGTON, [ the first president of the Unit- l ed States, called the "Father of his Country," was one of the most celebrated characters in history. He was born Feb- ruary 22, 1732, in Washing- ton Parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia. His father, Augustine Washington, first married Jane Butler, who bcre him four children, and March t, 1730, he married Mary Ball. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest. Little is known of the early years of Washington, beyond the fact that the house in which he was born was burned during his early childhood, and that his father there- upon moved to another farm, inherited from his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford county, on the north bank of the Rappahan- nock, and died there in 1743. From earliest childhood George developed a noble charac- ter. His education was somewhat defective, being confined to the elementary branches taught him by his mother and at a neighbor- ing school. On leaving school he resided some time at Mount Vernon with his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as his guar, dian. George's inclinations were for a sea- faring career, and a midshipman's warrant was procured for him; but through the oppo- sition of his mother the project was aban- doned, and at the ags of sixteen he was appointed surveyor to the immense estates of the eccentric Lord Fairfax. Three years were passed by Washington in a rough fron- tier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very esse'itial to him. In 175 1, when the Virginia militia were put under training with a view to active service against France, Washington, though only nineteen years of age, was appointed adjutant, with the rank of major. In 1752 Lawrence Washington died, leaving his large property to an infant daughter. In his will George was named one of the executors and as an eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece, soon succeeded to that estate. In 1753 George was commis- sioned adjutant-general of the Virginia militia, and performed important work at the outbreak of the French and Indian war, was rapidly promoted, and at the close of that war we find him commander-in-chief of COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. all the forces raised in Virginia. A cessation of Indian hostilities on the frontier having followed the expulsion of the French from the Ohio, he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, and then proceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in the Virginia Assembly, of which he had been elected a member. January 17, 1759, Washington married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Curtis, a young and beautiful widow of great wealth, and devoted himself for the ensuing fifteen years to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- rupted only by the annual attendance in winter upon the colonial legislature at Williamsburg, until summoned by his coun- try to enter upon that other arena in which his fame was to become world-wide. The war for independence called Washington into service again, and he was made com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and was the most gallant and conspicuous figure in that bloody struggle, serving until Eng- land acknowledged the independence of each of the thirteen States, and negotiated with them jointly, as separate sovereignties. December 4, 1783, the great commander took leave of his officers in most affection- ate and patriotic terms, and went to An- napolis, Maryland, where the congress of the States was in session, and to that body, when peace and order prevailed everywhere, resigned his commission and retired to Mount Vernon. It was in 1789 that Washington was called to the chief magistracy of the na- tion. The inauguration took place ' April 30, in the presence of an immense multi- tude which had assembled to witness the new and imposing ceremony. In the manifold de- tails of his civil administration Washington proved himself fully equal to the requirements of his position. In 1792, at the second presi- dential election, Washington was desirous to retire; but he yielded to the general wish of the country, and was again chosen presi- dent. At the third election, in 1796, he was again most urgently entreated to con- sent to remain in the executive chair. This he positively refused, and after March 4, 1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon for peace, quiet, and repose. Of the call again made on this illustrious chief to quit his repose at Mount Ver- non and take command of all the United States forces, with rank of lieutenant-gen- eral, when war was threatened with France in 1798, nothing need here be stated, ex- cept to note the fact as an unmistakable testimonial of the high regard in which he was still held by his countrymen of all shades of political opinion. He patriotic- ally accepted this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop to all action under it. He again retired to Mount Vernon, where he died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His remains were depos- ited in a family vault on the banks of the Potomac, at Mount Vernon, where they still lie entombed. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an eminent American statesman and scientist, was born of poor parentage, January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was appren- ticed to his brother James to learn the print- er's trade to prevent his running away and going to sea, and also because of the numer- ous family his parents had to support (there being seventeen children, Benjamin being the fifteenth). He was a great reader, and soon developed a taste for writing, and pre- pared a number of articles and had them published in the paper without his brother's knowledge, and when the authorship be- came known it resulted in difficulty for tne COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. JO young apprentice, although his articles had been received with favor by the public. James was afterwards thrown into prison for political reasons, and young Benjamin con- ducted the paper alone during the time. In 1823, however, he determined to endure his bonds no longer, and ran away, going to Philadelphia, where he arrived with only three pence as his store of wealth. With these he purchased three rolls, and ate them as he walked along the streets. He soon found employment as a journeyman printer. Two years later he was sent to England by the governor of Pennsylvania, and was promised the public printing, but did not get it. On his return to Philadelphia he estab- lished the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and soon found himself a person of great popu- larity in the province, his ability as a writer, philosopher, and politician having reached the neighboring colonies. He rapidly grew in prominence, founded the Philadelphia Li- brary in 1S42, and two years later the American Philosophical Society and the University of Pennsylvania. He was made Fellow of the Royal Society in London in 1775. His world-famous investigations in electricity and lightning began in 1746. He became postmaster-general of the colonies in 1753, having devised an inter-colonial postal system. He advocated the rights of the colonies at all times, and procured the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. He was elected to the Continental congress of 1775, and in 1776 was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, being one of the commit- tee appointed to draft that paper. He rep- resented the new nation in the courts of Europe, especially at Paris, where his simple dignity and homely wisdom won him the admiration of the court and the favor of the people. He was governor of Pennsylvania tour years; was also a member of the con- vention in 1787 that drafted the constitution of the United States. His writings upon political topics, anti- slavery, finance, and economics, stamp him as one of the greatest statesmen of his time, while his "Autobiography" and "Poor Richard's Almanac " give him precedence in the literary field. In early life he was an avowed skeptic in religious matters, but later in life his utterances on this subject were less extreme, though he never ex- pressed approval of any sect or creed. He died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790. DANIEL WEBSTER.— Of world wide reputation for statesmanship, diplo- macy, and oratory, there is perhaps no more prominent figure in the history of our coun- try in the interval between 181 5 and 1861, than Daniel Webster. He was born at Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire, January 18, 1782, and was the second son of Ebenezer and Abigail (Eastman) Webster. He enjoyed but limited educational advan- tages in childhood, but spent a few months in 1797, at Phillip Exeter Academy. He completed his preparation for college in the family of Rev. Samuel Wood, at Boscawen, and entered Dartmouth College in the fall of 1797. He supported himself most of the time during these years by teaching school and graduated in 1801, having the credit of being the foremost scholar of his class. He entered the law office of Hon. Thomas W. Thompson, at Salisbury. In 1S02 he con- tinued his legal studies at Fryeburg, Maine, where he was principal of the academy and copyist in .the office of the register of deeds. In the office of Christopher Gore, at Boston, he completed his studies in 1804—5, an d w as admitted to the bar in the latter year, and at Boscawen and at Ports- mouth soon rose to eminence in his profes- 20 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. sion. He became known as a federalist but did not court political honors; but, at- tracting attention by his eloquence in oppos- ing the war with England, he was elected to congress in 1812. During the special session of May, 181 3, he was appointed on the committee on foreign affairs and made his maiden speech June io, 1813. Through- out this session (as afterwards) he showed his mastery of the great economic questions of the day. He was re-elected in 18 14. In 1 8 16 he removed to Boston and for seven years devoted himself to his profession, earning by his arguments in the celebrated "Dartmouth College Case" rank among the most distinguished jurists of the country. [n 1820 Mr. Webster was chosen a member of the state convention of Massachusetts, to revise the constitution. The same year he delivered the famous discourse on the "Pil- grim fathers," which laid the foundation for his fame as an orator. Declining a nomi- nation for United States senator, in 1822 he was elected to the lower house of congress and was re-elected in 1824 and 1826, but in 1827 was transferred to the senate. He retained his seat in the latter chamber until 1841. During this time his voice was ever lifted in defence of the national life and honor and although politically opposed to him he gave his support to the administra- tion of President Jackson in the latter's con- test with nullification. Through all these years he was ever found upon the side of eight and justice and his speeches upon all the great questions of the day have be- come household words in almost every family. In 1841 Mr. Webster was appointed secretary of state by President Harrison and was continued in the same office by President Tyler. While an incumbent of this office he showed consummate ability as a diplomat in the negotiation of the " Ash- burton treaty " of August 9, 1849, which settled many points of dispute between the United States and England. In May, 1843, he resigned his post and resumed his pro- fession, and in December, 1845, took his place again in the senate. He contributed in an unofficial way to the solution of the Oregon question with Great Britain in 1847. He was disappointed in 1848 in not receiv- ing the nomination for the presidency. He became secretary of state under President Fillmore in 1850 and in dealing with all the complicated questions of the day showed a wonderful mastery of the arts of diplomacy. Being hurt in an accident he retired to his home at Marshfield, where he died Octo- ber 24, 1852. HORACE GREELEY.— As journalist, author, statesman and political leader, there is none more widely known than the man whose name heads this article. He was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Feb- ruary 3, 181 1, and was reared upon a farm. At an early age he evinced a remarkable intelligence and love of learning, and at the age of ten had read every book he could borrow for miles around. About 1821 the family removed to Westhaven, Vermont, and for some years young Greeley assisted in carrying on the farm. In 1826 he entered the office of a weekly newspaper at East Poultney, Vermont, where he remained about four years. On the disc6ntinuance of this paper he followed his father's family to Erie county, Pennsylvania, whither they bad moved, and for a time worked at the printer's trade in that neigh- borhood. In 1831 Horace went to New York City, and for a time found employ- ment as journeyman printer. January, 1833, in partnership with Francis Story, he published the Morning Post, the first penny C OMPEXDIL 'M OP BIO GRA PHY ■l\ paper ever printed. This proved a failure and was discontinued after three weeks. The business of job printing was carried on, however, until the death of Mr. Story in July following. In company with Jonas Winchester, March 22, 1834, Mr. Greeley commenced the publication of the New Yorker, a weekly paper of a high character. For financial reasons, at the same time, Greeley wrote leaders for other papers, and, in 1838, took editorial charge of the Jeffer- sonian, a Whig paper published at Albany. In 1840, on the discontinuance of that sheet, he devoted his energies to the Log Cabin, a campaign paper in the interests of the Whig party. In the fall of 1841 the latter paper was consolidated with the New Yorker, un- der the name of the Tribune, the first num- ber of which was issued April 10, 1841. At the head of this paper Mr. Greeley remained until the day of his death. In 1848 Horace Greeley was elected to the national house of representatives to fill a vacancy, and was a member of that bodyuntil March 4, 1849. In 1851 he went to Europe and served as a juror at the W 7 orld's Fair at the Crystal Palace, Lon- don. In 1855, he made a second visit to the old world. In 1859 he crossed the plains and received a public reception at San Francisco and Sacramento. He was a member of the Republican national con- vention, at Chicago in i860, and assisted in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for President. The same year he was a presi- dential elector for the state of New York, and a delegate to the Loyalist convention at Philadelphia. At the close of the war, in 1865, Mr. Greeley became a strong advocate of uni- versal amnesty and complete pacification, and in pursuance of this consented to be- come one of the bondsmen for Jefferson Davis, who was imprisoned for treason. In 1867 he was a delegate to the New York state convention for the revision of the constitution. In 1870 he was defeated for congress in the Sixth New York district. At the Liberal convention, which met in Cincinnati, in May, 1872, on the fifth ballot Horace Greeley was nominated for presi- dent and July following was nominated for the same office by the Democratic conven- tion at Baltimore. He was defeated by a large majority. The large amount of work done by him during the campaign, together with the loss of his wife about the same time, undermined his strong constitution, and he was seized with inflammation of the brain, and died November 29, 1872. In addition to his journalistic work, Mr. Greeley was the author of several meritori- ous works, among which were: "Hints toward reform," "Glances at Europe," " History of the struggle for slavery exten sion," "Overland journey to San Francis co," "The American conflict," and " Rec- ollections of a busy life." HENRY CLAY.— In writing of this em- inent American, Horace Greeley once said: "He was a matchless party chief, an admirable orator, a skillful legislator, wield- ing unequaled influence, not only over his friends, but even over those of his political antagonists who were subjected to the magic of his conversation and manners. " A law- yer, legislator, orator, and statesman, few men in history have wielded greater influ- ence, or occupied so prominent a place in the hearts of the generation in which they lived. Henry Clay was born near Richmond, in Hanover county, Virginia, April 12, 1777, the son of a poor Baptist preacher who died when Henry was but five years 22 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. old. The mother married again about ten years later and lemoved to Kentucky leav- ing Henry a clerk in a store at Richmond. Soon afterward Henry Clay secured a posi- tion as copyist in the office of the clerk of the high court of chancery, and four years later entered the law office of Robert Brooke, then attorney general and later governor of his native state. In 1797 Henry Clay was licensed as a lawyer and followed his mother to Kentucky, opening an office at Lexington and soon built up a profitable practice. Soon afterward Kentucky, in separating from Virginia, called a state convention for the purpose of framing a constitution, and Clay at that time took a prominent part, publicly urging the adoption of a clause providing for the abolition of slavery, but in this he was overruled, as he was fifty years later, when in the height of his fame he again ad- vised the same course when the state con- stitution was revised in 1850. Young Clay took a very active and conspicuous part in the presidential campaign in 1S00, favoring the election of Jefferson; and in 1803 was chosen to represent Fayette county in the state legislature. In 1806 General John Adair, then United States senator from Kentucky, resigned and Henry Clay was elected to fill the vacancy by the legislature and served through one session in which he at once assumed a prominent place. In 1807 he was again a representative in the legislature and was elected speaker of the house. At this time originated his trouble with Humphrey Marshall. Clay proposed that each member clothe himself and family wholly in American fabrics, which Marshall characterized as the " language of a dema- gogue." This led to a duel in which both parties were slightly injured. In 1809 Henry Clay was again elected to fill a va- cancy in the United States senate, and two years later elected representative in the low- er house of congress, being chosen speaker of the house. About this time warwas de- clared against Great Britain, and Clay took a prominent public place during this strug- gle and was later one of the commissioners sent to Europe by President Madison to ne- gotiate peace, returning in September, 181 5, having been re-elected speaker of the house during his absence, and was re-elect- ed unanimously. He was afterward re- elected to congress and then became secre- tary of state under John Quincy Adams. In 1 83 1 he was again elected senator from Kentucky and remained in the senate most of the time until his death. Henry Clay was three times a candidate for the presidency, and once very nearly elected. He was the unanimous choice of the Whig party in 1844 for the presidency, and a great effort was made to elect him but without success, his opponent, James K. Polk, carrying both Pennsylvania and New York by a very slender margin, while either of them alone would have elected Clay. Henry Clay died at Washington June 29, 1852. TAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE was one J of the most distinguished of American statesmen and legislators. He was born January 31, 1830, in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and received a thorough edu- cation, graduating at Washington College in 1847. In early life he removed to Maine and engaged in newspaper work, becoming editor of the Portland ' 'Advertiser. " While yet a young man he gained distinction as a debater and became a conspicuous figure in political and public affairs. In 1862 he was elected to congress on the Republican ticket in Maine and was re-elected five times. In March, 1869, he was chosen speaker of the COMPENDIUM OF BI0GRAPH2'. 23 house of representatives and was re-elected in 1S71 and again in 1873. In 1876 he was a representative in the lower house of con- gress and during that year was appointed United States senator by the Governor to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Morrill, who had been appointed secretary of the treasury. Mr. Blaine served in the senate until March 5, 1 88 1 , when President Garfield appointed him sec- retary of state, which position he resigned in December, 1881. Mr. Blaine was nom- inated for the presidency by the Republic- ans, at Chicago in June, 1884, but was de- feated by Grover Cleveland after an exciting and spirited campaign. During the later years of his life Mr. Blaine devoted most of his time to the completion of his work "Twenty Years in Congress," which had a remarkably large sale throughout the United States. Blaine was a man of great mental ability and force of character and during the latter part of his life was one of the most noted men of his time. He was the origina- torof what is termed the " reciprocity idea" in tariff matters, and outlined the plan of carrying it into practical effect. In 1876 Robert G. Ingersoll in making a nominating speech placing Blaine's name as a candidate for president before the national Republican convention at Cincinnati, referred to Blaine as the " Plumed Knight " and this title clung to him during the remainder of his life. His death occurred at Washington, January 27, 1893- JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN, a dis- tinguished American statesman, was a native of South Carolina, born in Abbeville district, March 18, 1782. He was given the advantages of a thorough education, graduating at Yale College in 1804, and adopted the calling of a lawyer. A Demo- crat politically, at that time, he took a fore- most part in the councils of his party and was elected to congress in iSri, supporting the tariff of 18 16 and the establishing of the United States Bank. In 18 17 he be- came secretary of war in President Monroe's cabinet, and in 1824 was elected vice-president of the United States, on the ticket with John Quincy Adams, and re-elected in 1 828, on the ticket with General Jackson. Shortly after this Mr. Calhoun became one of the strongest advocates of free trade and the principle of sovereignty of the states and was one of the originators of the doctrine that "any state could nullify unconstitutional laws of congress." Meanwhile Calhoun had be- come an aspirant for the presidency, and the fact that General Jackson advanced the interests of his opponent, Van Buren, led to a quarrel, and Calhoun resigned the vice- presidency in 1832 and was elected United States senator from South Carolina. It was during the same year that a convention was held in South Carolina at which the " Nul- lification ordinance " was adopted, the ob- ject of which was to test the constitution- ality of the protective tariff measures, and to prevent if possible the collection of im- port duties in that state which had been levied more for the purpose of ' ' protection " than revenue. This ordinance was to go into effect in February, 1833, and created a great deal of uneasiness throughout the country as it was feared there would be a clash between the state and federal authori- ties. It was in this' serious condition ot public affairs that Henry Clay came forward with the the famous "tariff compromise " of 1833, to which measure Calhoun and most of his followers gave their support and the crisis was averted. In 1S43 Mr. Cal- houn was appointed secretary of state in President Tyler's cabinet, and it was under 24 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT. his administration that the treaty concern- ing the annexation of Texas was negotiated. In 1845 he was re-elected to the United States senate and continued in the senate until his death, which occurred in March, j 8 50. He occupied a high rank as a scholar, student and orator, and it is conceded that he was one of the greatest debaters America has produced. The famous debate between Calhoun and Webster, in 1833, is regarded as the most noted for ability and eloquence in the history of the country. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER, one of America's most brilliant and pro- found lawyers and noted public men, was a native of New England, born at Deer- field, New Hampshire, November 5, 1818. His father, Captain John Butler, was a prominent man in his day, commanded a company during the war of 1812, and served under Jackson at New Orleans. Benjamin F. Butler was given an excellent education, graduated at Waterville College, Maine, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1840, at Lowell, Massachusetts, where he commenced the practice of his profession and gained a wide reputation for his ability at the bar, acquiring an extensive practice and a fortune. Early in life he began taking an active interest in military affairs and served in the state militia through all grades from private to brigadier-general. In 1853 he was elected to the state legisla- ture on the Democratic ticket in Lowell, and took a prominent part in the passage of legislation in the interests of labor. Dur- ing the same year he was a member of the constitutional convention, and in 1S59 rep- resented his district in the Massachusetts senate. When the Civil war broke out General Butler took the field and remained at the front most of the time during that bloody struggle. Part of the time he had charge of Fortress Monroe, and in Febru- ary, 1862, took command of troops forming part of the expedition against New Orleans, and later had charge of the department of the Gulf. He was a conspicuous figure dur- ing the continuance of the war. After the close of hostilities General Butler resumed his law practice in Massachusetts and in 1866 was elected to congress from the Es- sex district. In 1882 he was elected gov- ernor of Massachusetts, and in 1884 was the nominee of the " Greenback" party for president of the United States. He con- tinued his legal practice, and maintained his place as one of the most prominent men in New England until the time of his death, which occurred January 10, 1893. JEFFERSON DAVIS, an officer, states- man and legislator of prominence in America, gained the greater part of his fame from the fact that he was president of the southern confederacy. Mr. Davis was born in Christian county, Kentucky, June 3, 1808, and his early education and surround- ings were such that his sympathies and in- clinations were wholly with the southern people. He received a thorough education, graduated at West 'Point in 1828. and for a number of years served in the army at west- ern posts and in frontier service, first as lieutenant and later as adjutant. In 1835 he resigned and became a cotton planter in Warren county, Mississippi, where he took an active interest in public affairs and be- came a conspicuous figure in politics. In 1844 he was a presidential elector from Mississippi and during the two following years served as congressman from his d ; s- trict. He then became colonel of a Missis- sippi regiment in the war with Mexico ano. participated in some of the most severe eat- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAP/IV. 25 ties, being seriously wounded at Buena Vista. Upon his return to private life he again took a prominent part in political af- fairs and represented his state in the United States senate from 1847 to 1851. He then entered President Pierce's cabinet as secre- tary of war, after which he again entered the United States senate, remaining until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then be- came president of the southern confederacy and served as such until captured in May, 1865, at Irwinville, Georgia. He was held as prisoner of war at Fortress Monroe, until 1867, when he was released on bail and finally set free in 1868. His death occurred December 6, 1889. Jefferson Davis was a man of excellent abilities and was recognized as one of the best organizers of his day. He was a forceful and fluent speaker and a ready writer. He wrote and published the " Rise and Fall of the Southern Confederacy," a work which is considered as authority by the southern people. JOHN ADAMS, the second president of the United States, and one of the most conspicuous figures in the early struggles of his country for independence, was born in the present town of Quincy, then a portion of Braintree, Massachusetts, October 30, 1735. He received a thorough education, graduating at Harvard College in 1755, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1758. He was well adapted for this profes- sion and after opening an office in his native town rapidly grew in prominence and public favor and soon was regarded as one of the leading lawyers of the country. His atten- tion was called to political affairs by the passage of the Stamp Act, in 1765, and he drew up a set of resolutions on the subject which were very popular. In 1768 he re- moved to Boston and became one of the most courageous and prominent advocates of the popular cause and was chosen a member of the Colonial legislature from Boston. He was one of the delegates that represented Massachusetts in the first Con^ tinental congress, which met in September, 1774. In a letter written at this crisis he uttered the famous words: "The die is now cast; I have passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish with my country, is my unalterable determination." He was a prominent figure in congress and advocated the movement for independence when a majority of the members were in- clined to temporize and to petition the King. In May, 1776, he presented a resolution in congress that the colonies should assume the duty of self-government, which was passed. In June, of the same year, a reso- lution that the United States "are, and of right ought to be, free and independent," was moved by Richard H. Lee, seconded by Mr. Adams and adopted by a small majority. Mr. Adams was a member of the committee of five appointed June 1 1 to prepare a declaration of independence, in support of which he made an eloquent speech. He was chairman of the Board of War in 1776 and in 1 778 was sent as commissioner to France, but returned the following year. In 1780 he went to Europe, having been appointed as minister to negotiate a treaty of peace and commerce with Great Britain. Con- jointly with Franklin and Jay he negotiated a treaty in 1782. He was employed as a minister to the Court of St. James from 1785 to 1788, and during that period wrote his famous " Defence of the American Con- stitutions." In 1789 he became vice-presi- dent of the United States and was re-elected in 1792. In 1796 Mr. Adams was chosen presi- 26 COMPENDIUM OF BTOGRAPHT. dent of the United States, his competitor being Thomas Jefferson, who became vice- president. In 1800 he was the Federal candidate for president, but he was not cordially supported by Gen. Hamilton, the favorite leader of his party, and was de- feated by Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Adams then retired from public life to his large estate at Quincy, Mass., where he died July 4, 1826, on the same day that witnessed the death of Thomas Jefferson. Though his physical frame began to give way many years before his death, his mental powers retained their strength and vigor to the last. In his ninetieth year he was glad- dened by .the elevation of his son, John Quincy Adams, to the presidential office. HENRY WARD BEECHER, one of the most celebrated American preachers and authors, was born at Litchfield, Connec- ticut, June 24, 18 1 3. His father was Dr. Ly- man Beecher, also an eminent divine. At an early age Henry Ward Beecher had a strong predilection for a sea-faring life, and it was practically decided that he would fol- low this inclination, but about this time, in consequence of deep religious impressions which he experienced during a revival, he renounced his former intention and decided to enter the ministry. After having grad- uated at Amherst College, in 1834, he stud- ied theology at Lane Seminary under the tuition of his father, who was then president of that institution. In 1847 he became pas- tor of the Plymouth Congregational church in Brooklyn, where his oratorical ability and original eloquence attracted one of the larg- est congregations in the country. He con- tinued to served this church until the time of his death, March 8, 1887. Mr. Beecher also found time for a great amount of liter- ary work. For a number of years he was editor of the "Independent" and also the "Christian Union." He also produced many works which are widely known. Among his principal productions are "Lectures to Young Men," " Star Papers, " "Life of Christ," "Life Thoughts," "Royal Truths" (a novel), "Norwood," " Evolution and Rev- olution," and " Sermons on Evolution and Religion." Mr. Beecher was also long a prominent advocate of anti-slavery princi- ples and temperance reform, and, at a later period, of the rights of women. JOHN A. LOGAN, the illustrious states- man and general, was born in Jackson county, Illinois, February 9, 1824. In his boyhood days he received but a limited edu- cation in the schools of his native county. On the breaking out of the war with Mexico he enlisted in the First Illinois Volunteers and became its quartermaster. At the close of hostilities he returned home and was elected clerk of the courts of Jackson county in 1849. Determining to supplement his education Logan entered the Louisville Uni- versity, from which he graduated in 1852 and taking up the study of law was admitted to the bar. He attained popularity and suc- cess in his chosen profession and was elected to the legislature in 1852, 1853, 1856 and 1857. He was prosecuting attorney from 1853 to 1857. He was elected to congress in 1858 to fill a vacancy and again in i860. At the outbreak of the Rebellion, Logan re- signed his office and entered the army, and in September, 1861, was appointed colonel of the Thirty-first Illinois Infantry, which he led in the battles of Belmont and Fort Don- elson. In the latter engagement he was wounded. In March, 1862, he was pro- moted to be brigadier-general and in the following month participated in the battles of p ittsburg Landing. In November, 1862, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 29 f ji- gallant conduct he was made major-gen- ernl. Throughout the Vicksburg campaign he was in command of a division of the Sev- enteenth Corps and was distinguished at I'ort Gibson, Champion Kills and in the si ge and capture cf Vicksburg. In October, 1863, he was placed in command of the Fifteenth Corps, which he led with great credit. During the terrible conflict before Atlanta, July 22, 1864, on the death of General McPherson, Logan, assuming com- mand of the Army of the Tennessee, led it on to victory, saving the day by his energy and ability. He was shortly after succeeded by General O. O. Howard and returned to the command of his corps. He remained in command until the presidential election, when, feeling that his influence was needed at home he returned thither and there re- mained until the arrival of Sherman at Sa- vannah, when General Logan rejoined his command. In May, 1865, he succeeded General Howard at the head of the Army of the Tennessee. He resigned from the army in August, the same year, and in November was appointed minister to Mexico, but de- clined the honor. He served in the lower house of the fortieth and forty-first con- gresses, and was elected United States sena- tor from his native state in 1870, 1878 and 1885. He was nominated for the vice-presi- dency in 1 884 on the ticket with Blaine, but was defeated. General Logan was the author of " The Great Conspiracy, its origin and history," published in 1885. He died at Washington, December 26, 1886. JOHN CHARLES FREMONT, the first Republican candidate for president, was born in Savannah, Georgia, January 21, 181 3. He graduated from Charleston Col- lege (South Carolina) in 1830, and turned his attention to civil engineering. He was shortly 2 afterward employed in the department of government surveys on the Mississippi, and constructing maps of that region. He was made lieutenant of engineers, and laid be- fore the war department a plan for p ne- trating the Rocky Mountain regions, which was accepted, and in 1842 he set out upon his first famous exploring expedition and ex- plored the South Pass. He also planned an expedition to Oregon by a new route further south, but afterward joined his expedition with that of Wilkes in the region of the Great Salt Lake. He made a later expedi- tion which penetrated the Sierra Nevadas, and the San Joaquin and Sacramento river valleys, making maps of all regions explored. In 1845 he conducted the great expedi- tion which resulted in the acquisition of California, which it was believed the Mexi- can government was about to dispose of to England. Learning that the Mexican gov- ernor was preparing to attack the American settlements in his dominion, Fremont deter- mined to forestall him. The settlers rallied to his camp, and in June, 1846, he defeated the Mexican forces at Sonoma Pass, and a month later completely routed the governor and his entire army. The Americans at once declared their independence of Mexico, and Fremont was elected governor of Cali- fornia. By this time Commodore Stockton had reached the coast with instructions from Washington to conquer California. Fre- mont at once joined him in that effort, which resulted in the annexation of California with its untold mineral wealth. Later Fremont became involved in a difficulty with fellow officers which resulted in a court martial, and the surrender of his commission. He declined to accept reinstatement. He af- terward laid out a great road from the Mis- sissippi river to San Francisco, and became the first United States senator from Califor- 80 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. nia, in 1849. In 1856 he was nominated by the new Republican party as its first can- didate for president against Buchanan, and received 114 electoral votes, out of 296. In 1 86 1 he was made major-general and placed in charge of the western department. He planned the reclaiming of the entire Mississippi valley, and gathered an army of thirty thousand men, with plenty of artil- lery, and was ready to move upon the con- federate General Price, when he was de- prived of his command. He was nominated for the presidency at Cincinnati in 1864, but withdrew. He was governor of Arizona in 1878, holding the position four years. He was interested in an engineering enterprise looking toward a great southern trans-con- tinental railroad, and in his later years also practiced law in New York. He died July 1 3, 1890. WENDELL PHILLIPS, the orator and abolitionist, and a conspicuous figure in American history, was born November 29, 181 1, at Boston, Massachusetts. He received a good education at Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1831, and then entered the Cambridge Law School. After completing his course in that institu- tion, in 1833, he was admitted to the bar, in 1834, at Suffolk. He entered the arena of life at the time when the forces of lib- erty and slavery had already begun their struggle that was to culminate in the Civil war. William Lloyd Garrison, by his clear- headed, courageous declarations of the anti- slavery principles, had done much to bring about this struggle. Mr. Phillips was not a man that could stand aside and see a great struggle being carried on in the interest of humanity and look passively on. He first attracted attention as an orator in 1837, at a meeting that was called to protest against the murder of the Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy. The meeting would have ended in a few perfunctory resolutions had not Mr. Phillip? by his manly eloquence taken the meeting out of the hands of the few that were in- clined to temporize and avoid radical utter- ances. Having once started out in this ca- reer as an abolitionist Phillips never swerved from what he deemed his duty, and never turned back. He gave up his legal practice and launched himself heart and soul in the movement for the liberation of the slaves. He was an orator of very great ability and by his earnest efforts and eloquence he did much in arousing public sentiment in behalf of the anti-slavery cause — possibly more than any one man of his time. After the abolition of slavery Mr. Phillips was, if pos- sible, even busier than before in the literary and lecture field. Besides temperance and women's rights, he lectured often and wrote much on finance, and the relations of labor and capital, and his utterances on whatever subject always bore the stamp of having emanated from a master mind. Eminent ciitics have stated that it might fairly be questioned whether there has ever spoken in America an orator superior to Phillips. The death of this great man occurred Feb- ruary 4, 1884. WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN was one of the greatest generals that the world has ever produced and won im- mortal fame by that strategic and famous " march to the sea," in the war of the Re- bellion. He was born February 8, 1820, at Lancaster, Ohio, and was reared in the family of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, as his father died when he was but nine years of age. He entered West Point in 1836, was graduated from the same in 1840, and ap- pointed a second lieutenant in the Third COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRA.PHT. 31 Artillery. He passed through the various grades of the service and at the outbreak of the Civil war was appointed colonel of the Thirteenth Regular Infantry. A full history of General Sherman's conspicuous services would be to repeat a history of the army. He commanded a division at Shiloh, and was instrumental in the winning of that bat- tle, and was also present at the siege of Vicks- burg. On July 4, 1863, he was appointed brigadier-general of the regular army, and shared with Hooker the victory of Mission- ary Ridge. He was commander of the De- partment of the Tennessee from October 27th until the appointment of General Grant as lieutenant-general, by whom he was appointed to the command of the De- partment of the Mississippi, which he as- sumed in March, 1864. He at once began organizing the army and enlarging his com- munications preparatory to his march upon Atlanta, which he started the same time of ihe beginning of the Richmond campaign by Grant. He started on May 6, and was op- posed by Johnston, who had fifty thousand men, but by consummate generalship, he captured Atlanta, on September 2, after several months of hard fighting and a severe loss of men. General Sherman started on his famous march to the sea November 15, 1864, and by December 10 he was before Savannah, which he took on December 23. This campaign is a monument to the genius of General Sherman as he only lost 567 men from Atlanta to the sea. After rest- ing his army he moved northward and occu- pied the following places: Columbia, Cheraw, Fayetteville, Ayersboro, Benton- ville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, and April 18, he accepted the surrender of Johnston's army on a basis of agreement that was not re- ceived by the Government with favor, but finally accorded Johnston the same terms as Lee was given by General Grant. He was present at the grand review at Washington, and after the close of the war was appointed to the command of the military division of the Mississippi; later was appointed lieu- tenant-general, and assigned to the military division of the Missouri. When General Grant was elected president Sherman became general, March 4, 1869, and succeeded to the command of the army. His death oc- curred February 14, 1891, at Washington. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, one of the most prominent of the early American statesmen and financiers, was born in Nevis, an island of the West Indies, January 11, 1757, his father being a Scotchman and his mother of Huguenot descent. Owing to the death of his mother and business reverses which came to his father, young Hamilton was sent to his mother's relatives in Santa Cruz; a few years later was sent to a gram- mar school at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and in 1773 entered what is now known as Columbia College. Even at that time he began taking an active part in public affairs and his speeches, pamphlets, and newspaper articles on political affairs of the day at- tracted considerable attention. In 1776 he received a captain's commission and served in Washington's army with credit, becoming aide-de-camp to Washington with rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1781 he resigned his commission because of a rebuke from Gen- eral Washington. He next received com- mand of a New York battalion and partici- pated in the battle of Yorktown. After this Hamilton studied law, served several terms in congress and was a member of the convention at which the Federal Constitu- tion was drawn up. His work connected with " The Federalist " at about this time attracted much attention. Mr. Hamilton 32 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. was chosen as the first secretary of the United States treasury and as such was the author of the funding system and founder of the United States Bank. In 1798 he was made inspector-general of the army with the rank of major-general and was also for a short time commander-in-chief. In 1804 Aaron Burr, then candidate for governor of New York, challenged Alexander Hamilton to fight a duel, Burr attributing his defeat to Hamilton's opposition, and Hamilton, though declaring the code as a relic of bar- barism, accepted the challenge. They met at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804. Hamilton declined to fire at his adversary, but at Burr's first fire was fatally wounded and died July 12, 1804. ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPH- ENS, vice-president of the southern confederacy, a former United States senator and governor of Georgia, ranks among the great men of American history. He was born February 11, 18 12, near Crawfordsville, Georgia. He was a graduate of the Uni- versity of Georgia, and admitted to the bar in 1834. In 1837 he made his debut in political life as a member of the state house of representatives, and in 1841 declined the nomination for the same office; but in 1842 he was chosen by the same constituency as state senator. Mr. Stephens was one of the promoters of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. In 1843 he was sent by his dis- trict to the national house of representatives, which office he held for sixteen consec- utive years. He was a member of the house during the passing of the Compromise Bill, and was one of its ablest and most active supporters. The same year (1850) Mr. Stephens was a delegate to the state convention that framed the celebrated " Georgia Platform," and was also a dele- gate to the convention that passed the ordi- nance of secession, though he bitterly op- posed that bill by voice and vote, yet he readily acquiesced in their decision after it received the votes of the majority of the convention. He was chosen vice-president of the confederacy without opposition, and in 1865 he was the head of the commis- sion sent by the south to the Hampton Roads conference. He was arrested after the fall of the confederacy and was con- fined in Fort Warren as a prisoner of state but was released on his own parole. Mr. Stephens was elected to the forty-third, forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth and for- ty-seventh congresses, with hardly more than nominal opposition. He was one of the Jeffersonian school of American politics. He wrote a number of works, principal among which are: "Constitutional View of the War between the States," and a " Compendium of the History of the United States." He was inaugurated as governor of Georgia November 4th, 1882, but died March 4, 1883, before the completion of his term. ROSCOE CONKLING was one of the most noted and famous of American statesmen. He was among the most fin- ished, fluent and eloquent orators that have ever graced the halls of the American con- gress; ever ready, witty and bitter in de- bate he was at once admired and feared by his political opponents and revered by his followers. True to his friends, loyal to the last degree to those with whom his inter- ests were associated, he was unsparing to his foes and it is said "never forgot an injury." Roscoe Conkling was born at Albany, New York, on the 30th of October, 1829, being a son of Alfred Conkling. Alfred Conkling was also a native of New York, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 33 born at East Hampton, October 12, 1789, and became one of the most eminent law- yers in the Empire state; published several legal works; served a term in congress; aft- erward as United States district judge for Northern New York, and in 1852 was min- ister to Mexico. Alfred Conkling died in 1874. Roscoe Conkling, whose name heads this article, at an early age took up the study of law and soon became successful and prominent at the bar. About 1846 he re- moved to Utica and in 1858 was elected mayor of that city. He was elected repre- sentative in congress from this district and was re-elected three times. In 1867 he was elected United States senator from the state of New York and was re-elected in 1873 and 1879. In May, 1 88 1 , he resigned on account of differences with the president. In March, 1882, he was appointed and con- firmed as associate justice of the United States supreme court but declined to serve. His death occurred April 18, 1888. WASHINGTON IRVING, one of the most eminent, talented and popu- lar of American authors, was born in New York City, April 3, 1783. His father was William Irving, a merchant and a native of Scotland, who had married an English lady and emigrated to America some twenty years prior to the birth of Washington. Two of the older sons, William and Peter, were partially occupied with newspaper work and literary pursuits, and this fact naturally inclined Washington to follow their example. Washington Irving was given the advantages afforded by the common schools until about sixteen years of age when he began studying law, but continued to acquire his literary training by diligent perusal at home of the older English writers. When nineteen he made his first literary venture by printing in the ' ' Morning Chroni- cle," then edited by his brother, Dr. Peter Irving, a series of local sketches under the nom-de-plume of "Jonathan Oldstyle." In 1804 he began an extensive trip through Europe, returned in 1806, quickly com- pleted his legal studies and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced the profession. In 1807 he began the amusing serial "Sal- magundi," which had an immediate suc- cess, and not only decided his future career but long determined the charac- ter of his writings. In 1808, assisted by his brother Peter, he wrote " Knickerbock- er's History of New York," and in 1810 an excellent biography of Campbell, the poet, After this, for some time, Irving's attention was occupied by mercantile interests, but the commercial house in which he was a partner failed in 18 17. In 18 14 he was editor of the Philadelphia " Analectic Maga- zine." About 1 8 1 8 appeared his "Sketch- Book, " over the nom-de-plume of ' 'Geoffrey Crayon," which laid the foundation of Ir- ving's fortune and permanent fame. This was soon followed by the legends of "Sleepy Hollow," and " Rip Van Winkle," which at once took high rank as literary productions, and Irving's reputation was firmly established in both the old and new worlds. After this the path of Irving was smooth, and his subsequent writings ap- peared with rapidity, including "Brace- bridge Hall," "The Tales of a Traveler," " History of the Life and Voyages of Chris- topher Columbus," "The Conquest of Granada," "The Alhambra," "Tour on the Prairies," "Astoria," "Adventures of Captain Bonneville," "Wolfert's Roost," " Mahomet and his Successors," and "Life of Washington," besides other works. Washington Irving was never married. 34 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY He resided during the closing years of his life at Sunnyside (Tarrytown) on the Hud- son, where he died November 28, 1859. CHARLES SUMNER.— Boldly outlined on the pages of our history stands out the rugged figure of Charles Sumner, states- man, lawyer and writer. A man of unim- peachable integrity, indomitable will and with the power of tireless toil, he was a fit leader in troublous times. First in rank as an anti-slavery leader in the halls of con- gress, he has stamped his image upon the annals of his time. As an orator he took front rank and, in wealth of illustration, rhetoric and lofty tone his eloquence equals anything to be found in history. Charles Sumner was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 6, 181 1, and was the son of Charles P. and Relief J. Sumner. The family had long been prominent in that state. Charles was educated at the Boston Public Latin School; entered Harvard Col- lege in 1826, and graduated therefrom in 1830. In 1 83 1 he joined the Harvard Law School, then under charge of Judge Story, and gave himself up to the study of law with enthusiasm. His leisure was devoted to contributing to the American Jurist. Ad- mitted to the bar in 1834 he was appointed reporter to the circuit court by Judge Story. He published several works about this time, and from 1835 to 1837 and again in 1843 was lecturer in the law school. He had planned a lawyer's life, but in 1845 he gave his attention to politics, speakingand working against the admission of Texas to the Union and subsequently against the Mexican war. In 1848 he was defeated for congress on the Free Soil ticket. His stand on the anti- slavery question at that time alienated both friends and clients, but he never swerved from his convictions. In 1851 he was elected to the United States senate and took his seat therein December 1 of that year. From this time his life became the history of the anti-slavery cause in congress. In August, 1852, he began his attacks on slavery by a masterly argument for the repeal of the fugitive slave law. On May 22, 1856, Pres- ton Brooks, nephew of Senator Butler, of South Carolina, made an attack upon Mr. Sumner, at his desk in the senate, striking him over the head with. a heavy cane. The attack was quite serious in its effects and kept Mr. Sumner absent from his seat in the senate for about four years. In 1857, 1863 and 1869 he was re-elected to the office of senator, passing some twenty-three years in that position, always advocating the rights of freedom and equity. He died March II, 1874- THOMAS JEFFERSON, the third pres- ident of the United States, was born near Charlottesville, Albemarle county, Vir- ginia, April 13, 1743, and was the son of Peter and Jane (Randolph) Jefferson. He received the elements of a good education, and in 1760 entered William and Mary Col- lege. After remaining in that institution for two years he took up the study of law with George Wythe, of Williamsburg, Virginia, one of the foremost lawyers of his day, and was admitted to practice in 1767. He ob- tained a large and profitable practice, which he held for eight years. The conflict be- tween Great Britain and the Colonies then drew him into public life, he having for some time given his attention to the study of the sources of law, the origin of liberty and equal rights. Mr. Jefferson was elected to the Virginia house of burgesses in 1769, and served in that body several years, a firm supporter of liberal measures, and, although a slave- coMPExnnwr of biography. 35 holder himself, an opponent of slavery. With others, he was a leader among the op- position to the king. He took his place as a member of the Continental congress June 21, 1775, and after serving on several com- mittees was appointed to draught a Declara- tion of Independence, which he did, some corrections being suggested by Dr. Franklin and John Adams. This document was pre- sented to congress June 28, 1776, and after six days' debate was passed and was signed. In the following September Mr. Jefferson resumed his seat in the Virginia legislature, and gave much time to the adapting of laws of that state to the new condition of things. He drew up the law, the first ever passed by a legislature or adopted by a government, which secured perfect religious freedom. June 1, 1779, he succeeded Patrick Henry as governor of Virginia, an office which, after co-operating with Washington in de- fending the country, he resigned two years later. One of his own estates was ravaged by the British, and his house at Monticello was held by Tarleton for several days, and Jefferson narrowly escaped capture. After the death of his wife, in 1782, he accepted the position of plenipotentiary to France, which he had declined in 1776. Before leaving he served a short time in congress at Annapolis, and succeeded in carrying a bill for establishing our present decimal sys- tem of currency, one of his most useful pub- lic services. He remained in an official ca- pacity until October, 1789, and was a most active and vigilant minister. Besides the onerous duties of his office, during this time, he published "Notes on Virginia," sent to the United States seeds, shrubs and plants, forwarded literary and scientific news and gave useful advice to some of the leaders of the French Revolution. Mr. Jefferson landed in Virginia Novem- ber 18, 1789, having obtained a leave of absence from his post, and shortly after ac- cepted Washington's offer of the portfolio of the department of state in his cabinet. He entered upon the duties of his office in March, 1791, and held it until January 1, 1794, when he tendered his resignation. About this time he and Alexander Hamilton became decided and aggressive political op- ponents, Jefferson being in warm sympathy with the people in the French revolution and strongly democratic in his feelings, while Hamilton took the opposite side. In 1796 Jefferson was elected vice-president of the United States. In 1800 he was elected to the presidency and was inaugurated March 4, 1801. During his administration, which lasted for eight years, he having been re-elected in 1804, he waged a successful war against the Tripolitan pirates; purchased Louisiana of Napoleon; reduced the public debt, and was the originator of many wise measures. Declining a nomination for a third term he returned to Monticello, where he died July 4, 1826, but a few hours before the death of his friend, John Adams. Mr. Jefferson was married January 1, 1772, to Mrs. Martha Skelton, a young, beautiful, and wealthy widow, who died September 6, 1782, leaving three children, three more having died previous to her demise. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, known as "Commodore" Vanderbilt, was the founder of what constitutes the present im- mense fortune of the Vanderbilt family. He was born May 27, 1794, at Port Richmond, Staten Island, Richmond county, New York, and we find him at sixteen years run- ning a small vessel between his home and New York City. The fortifications of Sta- ten and Long Islands were just in course of 86 COMPENDIUM OP BIOGRAPHY. construction, and he carried the laborers from New York to the fortifications in his " perianger, " as it was called, in the day, and at night carried supplies to the fort on the Hudson. Later he removed to New York, where he added to his little fleet. At the age of twenty-three he was free from debt and was worth $9,000, and in 1817, with a partner he built the first steamboat that was run between New York and New Brunswick, New Jersey, and became her captain at a salary of $1,000 a year. The next year he took command of a larger and better boat and by 1824 he was in complete control of the Gibbon's Line, as it was called, which he had brought up to a point where it paid $40,000 a year. Commodore Vanderbilt acquired the ferry between New York and Elizabethport, New Jersey, on a fourteen years' lease and conducted this on a paying basis. He severed his connections with Gibbons in 1829 and engaged in business alone and for twenty years he was the leading steamboat man in the country, building and operating steamboats on the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, on the Delaware River and the route to Boston, and he had the monopoly of trade on these routes. In 1850 he determined to broaden his field of operation and accordingly built the steamship Prometheus and sailed for the Isthmus of Darien, where he desired to make a personal investigation of the pros- pects of the American Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company, in which he had pur- chased a controlling interest. Commodore Vanderbilt planned, as a result of this visit, a transit route from Greytown on the At- lantic coast to San Juan del Sud on the Pa- cific coast, which was a saving of 700 miles over the old route. In 185 1 he placed three steamers on the Atlantic side and four on the Pacific side to accommodate the enor- mous traffic occasioned by the discovery of gold in California. The following year three more vessels were added to his fleet and a branch line established from New Orleans to Greytown. In 1853 the Com- modore sold out hisNicarauguaTransit Com- pany, which had netted him $[,000,000 and built the renowned steam yacht, the "North Star." He continued in the ship- ping business nine years longer and accu- mulated some $10,000,000. In 1861 he presented to the government his magnifi- cent steamer " Vanderbilt, " which had cost him $800,000 and for which he received the thanks of congress. In 1844 he became interested in the railroad business which he followed in later years and became one of the greatest railroad magnates of his time. He founded the Vanderbilt University at a cost of $1,000,000. He died January 4, 1877, leaving a fortune estimated at over $100,000,000 to his children. DANIEL BOONE was one of the most famous of the many American scouts, pioneers and hunters which the early settle- ment of the western states brought into prominence. Daniel Boone was born Feb- ruary 11, 1735, in Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, but while yet a young man removed to North Carolina, where he was married. In 1769, with five companions, he pene- trated into the forests and wilds of Kentucky — then uninhabited by white men. He had frequent conflicts with the Indians and was captured by them but escaped and continued to hunt in and explore that region for over a year, when, in 177 1, he returned to his home. In the summer of 1773, he removed with his own and five other families into what was then the wilderness of Kentucky, and to defend his colony against the savages, he built, in 1775, a fort at Boonesborough, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Wi on the Kentucky river. This fort was at- tacked by the Indians several times in 1777, but they were repulsed. The following year, however, Boone was surprised and captured by them. They took him to De- troit and treated him with leniency, but he soon escaped and returned to his fort which he defended with success against four hun- dred and fifty Indians in August, 1778. His son, Enoch Boone, was the first white male child born in the state of Kentucky. In 1795 Daniel Boone removed with his family to Missouri, locating about forty-five miles west of the present site of St. Louis, where he found fresh fields for his favorite pursuits — adventure, hunting, and pioneer life. His death occurred September 20, 1820. HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL- LOW, said to have been America's greatest "poet of the people," was born at Portland, Maine, February 27, 1807. He entered Bowdoin College at the age of four- teen, and graduated in 1825. During his college days he distinguished himself in mod- ern languages, and wrote several short poems, one of the best known of which was the "Hymn of the Moravian Nuns." After his graduation he entered the law office of his father, but the following year was offered the professorship of modern languages at Bowdoin, with the privilege of three years study in Europe to perfect himself in French, Spanish, Italian and German. After the three years were passed he returned to the United States and entered upon his profes- sorship in 1829. His first volume was a small essay on the "Moral and Devotional Poetry of Spain" in 1833. In 1835 ne pub- lished some prose sketches of travel under the title of " Outre Mer, a Pilgrimage be- yond the Sea." In 1835 he was elected to the chair of modern languages and literature at Harvard University and spent a year in Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland, culti- vating a knowledge of early Scandinavian literature and entered upon his professor- ship in 1836. Mr. Longfellow published in 1839 " Hyperion, a Romance," and "Voices of the Night, " and his first volume of original verse comprising the selected poems of twenty years work, procured him immediate recognition as a poet. " Ballads and other poems" appeared in 1842, the "Spanish Student " a drama in three acts, in 1843, "The Belfry of Bruges " in 1846, "Evan- geline, a Tale of Acadia," in 1847, which was considered his master piece. In 1845 he published a large volume of the "Poets and Poetry of Europe," 1849 " Kavanagh, a Tale," ''The Seaside and Fireside" in 1850, "The Golden Legend " in 185 1, "The Song of Hiawatha " in 1855, " The Court- ship of Miles Standish " in 1858, " Tales of a Wayside Inn " in 1863; " Flower de Luce'' in 1866;" "New England Tragedies" in 1869; "The Divine Tragedy" in 1871; "Three Books of Song" in 1872; "The Hanging of the Crane " in 1874. He also published a masterly translation of Dante in 1867-70 and the " Morituri Salutamus," a poem read at the fiftieth anniversary of his class at Bowdoin College. Prof. Long- fellow resigned his chair at Harvard Univer- sity in 1854, but continued to reside at Cam- bridge. Some of his poetical works have been translated into many languages, and their popularity rivals that of the best mod- ern English poetry. He died March 24, 1882, but has left an imperishable fame as one of the foremost of American poets. PETER COOPER was in three partic- ulars — as a capitalist and manufacturer, as an inventor, and as a philanthropist — connected intimately with some of the most 38 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY important and useful accessions to the in- dustrial arts of America, its progress in in- vention and the promotion of educational and benevolent institutions intended for the benefit of people at large. He was born in New York city, February 12, 179 1. His iife was one of labor and struggle, as it was with most of America's successful men. In early boyhood he commenced to help his 'ather as a manufacturer of hats. He at- tended school only for half of each day for a single year, and beyond this his acquisi- tions were all his own. When seventeen vears old he was placed with John Wood- ward to learn the trade of coach-making and served his apprenticeship so satisfactorily chat his master offered to set him up in busi- ness, but this he declined because of the debt and obligation it would involve. The foundation of Mr. Cooper's fortune was laid in the invention of an improvement in machines for shearing cloth. This was largely called into use during the war of 18 1 2 with England when all importations of cloth from that country were stopped. The machines lost their value, however, on the declaration of peace. Mr. Cooper then turned his shop into the manufacture of cabinet ware. He afterwards went into the grocery business in New York and finally he engaged in the manufacture of glue and isin- glass which he carried on for more than fifty years. In 1830 he erected iron works in Canton, near Baltimore. Subsequently he erected a rolling and a wire mill in the city of New York, in which he first success- fully applied anthracite to the puddling of iron. In these works, he was the first to roll wrought-iron beams for fire-proof build- ings. These works grew to be very exten- sive, including mines, blast furnaces, etc. While in Baltimore Mr. Cooper built in 1830, after his own designs, the first loco- motive engine ever constructed on this con- tinent and it was successfully operated on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He also took a great interest and invested large cap- ital in the extension of the electric telegraph, also in the laying of the first Atlantic cable; besides interesting himself largely in the New York state canals. But the most cherished object of Mr. Cooper's life was the establishment of an institution for the instruction of the industrial classes, which he carried out on a magnificent scale in New York city, where the "Cooper Union" ranks among the most important institu- tions. In May, 1876, the Independent party nominated Mr. Cooper for president of the United States, and at the election following he received nearly 100,000 votes. His death occurred April 4, 1883. GENERAL ROBERT EDWARD LEE, one of the most conspicuous Confeder- ate generals during the Civil war, and one of the ablest military commanders of mod- ern times, was born at Stratford House, Westmoreland county, Virginia, January 19, 1807. In 1825 he entered the West Point academy and was graduated second in his class in 1829, and attached to the army as second lieutenant of engineers. For a number of years he was thus engaged in en- gineering work, aiding in establishing the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan, and superintended various river and harbor improvements, becoming captain of engi- neers in 1838. He first saw field service in the Mexican war, and under General Scott performed valuable and efficient service. In that brilliant campaign he was conspicu- ous for professional ability as well as gallant and meritorious conduct, winning in quick succession the brevets of major, lieutenant- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 39 colonel, and colonel for his part in the bat- tles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cherubusco, Chapultepec, and in the capture of the city Mexico. At the close of that war he re- sumed his engineering work in connection with defences along the Atlantic coast, and from 1852 to 1855 was superintendent of the Military Academy, a position which he gave up to become lieutenant-colonel of the Second Cavalry. For several years there- after he served on the Texas border, but happening to be near Washington at the time of John Brown's raid, October 17 to 2 5. 1859, Colonel Lee was placed in com- mand of the Federal forces employed in its repression. He soon returned to his regi- ment in Texas where he remained the greater part of i860, and March 16, 1861, became colonel of his regiment by regular promotion. Three weeks later, April 25, he resigned upon the secession of Virginia, went at once to Richmond and tendered his services to the governor of that state, being by acclamation appointed commander-in- chief of its military and naval forces, with the rank of major-general. He at once set to work to organize and develop the defensive resources of his state and within a month directed the occupation in force of Manassas Junction. Meanwhile Virginia having entered the confederacy and Richmond become the capitol, Lee became one of the foremost of its military officers and was closely connected with Jefferson Davis in planning the moves of that tragic time. Lee participated in many of the hardest fought battles of the war among which were Fair Oaks, White Lake Swamps, Cold Harbor, and the Chickahominy, Ma- nassas, Cedar Run, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, Get- tysburg, the battles of the Wilderness cam- paign, all the campaigns about Richmond, Petersburg, Five Forks, and others. Lee's surrender at Appomatox brought the war to a close. It is said of General Lee that but few commanders in history have been so quick to detect the purposes of an opponent or so quick to act upon it. Never surpassed, if ever equaled, in the art of winning the passionate, personal love and admiration of his troops, he acquired and held an influ- ence over his army to the very last, founded upon a supreme trust in his judgment, pre- science and skill, coupled with his cool, stable, equable courage. A great writer has said of him: "As regards the proper meas- ure of General Lee's rank among the sol- diers of history, seeing what he wrought with such resources as he had, under all the disadvantages that ever attended his oper- ations, it is impossible to measure what he might have achieved in campaigns and bat- tles with resources at his own disposition equal to those against which he invariably contended." Left at the close of the war without es- tate or profession, he accepted the presi- dency of Washington College at Lexington, Virginia, where he died October 12, 1870. JOHN JAY, first chief-justice of the United States, was born in New York, December 12, 1745. He took up the study of law, graduated from King's College (Columbia College), and was admitted to the bar in 1768. He was chosen a member of the committee of New York citizens to protest against the enforcement by the British government of the Boston Port Bill, was elected to the Continental congress which met in 1774, and was author of the addresses to the people of Great Britian and of Canada adopted by that and the suc- ceeding congress. He was chosen to the provincial assembly of his own state, and to COMPENDIUM OF BI0GRAP1I1'. resigned from the Continental congress to serve in that body, wrote most of its public papers, including the constitution of the new state, and was then made chief-justice. He was again chosen as a member of the Con- tinental congress in 1778, and became presi- dent of that body. He was sent to Spain as minister in 1780, and his services there resulted in substantial and moral aid for the struggling colonists. Jay, Franklin, and Adams negotiated the treaty of peace with Great Britain in 1782, and Jay was ap- pointed secretary of foreign affairs in 1784, and held the position until the adoption of the Federal constitution. During this time he had contributed strong articles to the "Federalist" in favor of the adoption of the constitution, and was largely instru- mental in securing the ratification of that instrument by his state. He was appointed by Washington as first chief-justice of the United States in 1789. In this high capac- ity the great interstate and international questions that arose for immediate settle- ment came before him for treatment. In 1794, at a time when the people in gratitude for the aid that France had ex- tended to us, were clamoring for the privilege of going to the aid of that nation in her struggle with Great Britain and her own op- pressors, John Jay was sent to England as special envoy to negotiate a treaty with that power. The instrument known as "Jay's Treaty " was the result, and while in many of its features it favored our nation, yet the neutrality clause in it so angered the masses that it was denounced throughout the entire country, and John Jay was burned in effigy in the city of New York. The treaty was finally ratified by Washington, and approved, in August, 1795. Having been elected governor of his state for three consecutive terms, he then retired from active life, declining an appointment as chief-justice o f the supreme court, made by John Adams and confirmed by the senate. He died in New York in 1829. PHILLIP HENRY SHERIDAN was one of the greatest American cavalry generals. He was born March 6, 183 1, at Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, and was ap- pointed to the United States Military Acad- emy at West Point, from which he graduat- ed and was assigned to the First Infantry as brevet second lieutenant July 1, 1853. After serving in Texas, on the Pacific coast, in Washington and Oregon territories until the fall of 1 86 1, he was recalled to the states and assigned to the army of south- west Missouri as chief quartermaster from the duties of which he was soon relieved. After the battle of Pea Ridge, he was quar- termaster in the Corinth campaign, and on May 25 he was appointed colonel of the Second Michigan Cavalry. On July 1, in command of a cavalry brigade, he defeated a superior force of the enemy and was com- missioned brigadier-general of volunteers. General Sheridan was then transferred to the army of the Ohio, and commanded a division in the battle of Perrysville and also did good service at the battle of Murfrees- boro, where he was commissioned major- general of volunteers. He fought with great gallantry at Chickamauga, after which Rosecrans was succeeded by General Grant, under whom Sheridan fought the battle of Chattanooga and won additional renown. Upon the promotion of Grant to lieutenant- general, he applied for the transfer of Gen- eral Sheridan to the east, and appointed him chief of cavalry in the army of the Potomac. During the campaign of 1864 the cavalry covered the front and flanks of the infantry until May 8, when it was witft COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRA/'/n\ drawn and General Sheridan started on a raid against the Confederate lines of com- munication with Richmond and on May 25 he rejoined the army, having destroyed con- siderable of the confederate stores and de- feated their cavalry under General Stuart at Yellow Tavern. The outer line of defences around Richmond were taken, but the sec- ond line was too strong to be taken by as- sault, and accordingly Sheridan crossed the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, reaching James River May 14, and thence by White House and Hanover Court House back to the army. The cavalry occupied Cold Harbor May 31, which they held until the arrival of the infantry. On General Sheri- dan's next raid he routed Wade Hampton's cavalry, and August 7 was assigned to the command of the Middle Military division, and during the campaign of the Shenan- doah Valley he performed the unheard of feat of " destroying an entire army." He was appointed brigadier-general of the reg- ular army and for his victory at Cedar Creek he was promoted to the rank of major-gen- eral. General Sheridan started out Febru- ary 27, 1865, with ten thousand cavalry and destroyed the Virginia Central Railroad and the James River Canal and joined the army again at Petersburg March 27. He commanded at the battle of Five Forks, the decisive victory which compelled Lee to evacuate Petersburg. On April 9, Lee tried to break through Sheridan's dismounted command but when the General drew aside his cavalry and disclosed the deep lines of infantry the attempt was abandoned. Gen- eral Sheridan mounted his men and was about to charge when a white flag was flown at the head of Lee's column which betokened the surrender of the army. After the war Gen- eral Sheridan had command of the army of the southwest, of the gulf and the depart- I ment of Missouri until he was appointed lieutenant-general and assigned to the di- vision of Missouri with headquarters at Chi- cago, and assumed supreme command of the army November 1, 1883, which post he held until his death, August 5, 1888. PHINEAS T. BARNUM, the greatest showman the world has ever seen, was born at Danbury, Connecticut, July 5, 18 10. At the age of eighteen years he began busi- ness on his own account. He opened a re- tail fruit and confectionery house, including a barrel of ale, in one part of an old car- riage house. He spent fifty dollars in fitting up the store and the stock cost him seventy dollars. Three years later he put in a full stock, such as is generally carried in a country store, and the same year he started a Democratic newspaper, known as the "Herald of Freedom." He soon found himself in jail under a sixty days' sentence for libel. During the winter of 1834-5 he went to New York and began soliciting busi- ness for several Chatham street houses. In 1835 he embarked in the show business at Niblo's Garden, having purchased the cele- brated " Joice Heth" for one thousand dol- lars. He afterward engaged the celebrated athlete, Sig. Vivalia, and Barnum made his ' ' first appearance on any stage, " acting as a "super" to Sig. Vivalia on his opening night. He became ticket seller, secretary and treasurer of Aaron Turner's circus in 1836 and traveled with it about the country. His next venture was the purchase of a steamboat on the Mississippi, and engaged a theatrical company to show in the princi- pal towns along that river. In 1840 he opened Vaux Hall Garden, New York, with variety performances, and introduced the celebrated jig dancer, John Diamond, to the public. The next year he quit rhe show 42 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGPAPlir. business and settled down in New York as agent of Sear's Pictorial Illustration of the Bible, but a few months later again leased Vaux Hall. In September of the same year he again left the business, and became ' ' puff " writer for the Bowery Amphitheater. In December he bought the Scudder Museum, and a year later introduced the celebrated Tom Thumb to the world, taking him to England in 1844, and remaining there three years. He then returned to New York, and in 1849, through James Hall Wilson, he en- gaged the "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny Lind, to come to this country and make a tour under his management. He also had sent the Swiss Bell Ringers to America in 1844. He became owner of the Baltimore Museum and the Lyceum and Museum at Philadelphia. In 1850 he brought a dozen elephants from Ceylon to make a tour of this country, and in 1851 sent the " Bateman Children" to London. During 1S51 and 1852 he traveled as a temperance lecturer, and became president of a bank at Pequon- nock, Connecticut. In 1852 he started a weekly pictorial paper known as the " Illus- trated News." In 1865 his Museum was destroyed by fire, and he immediately leased the Winter Garden Theatre, where he played his company until he opened his own Museum. This was destroyed by fire in 1868, and he then purchased an interest in the George Wood Museum. After dipping into politics to some ex- tent, he began his career as a really great showman in 1871. Three years later he erected an immense circular building in New York, in which he produced his panoramas. He has frequently appeared as a lecturer, some times on temperance, and some times on other topics, among which were ' ' Hum- bugs of the World," "Struggles and Triumphs," etc. He was owner of the im- mense menagerie and circus known as the "Greatest Show on Earth," and his fame extended throughout Europe and America. He died in 1891. JAMES MADISON, the fourth president o ( the United States, 1S09-17, was born at Port Conway, Prince George coun- ty, Virginia, March 16, 175 1. He was the son of a wealthy planter, who lived on a fine estate called " Montpelier," which was but twenty-five miles from Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Madison was the eldest of a family of seven children, all of whom attained maturity. He received his early education at home under a private tutor, and consecrated himself with unusual vigor to study. At a very early age he was a proficient scholar in Latin, Greek, French and Spanish, and in 1769 he entered Prince- ton College, New Jersey. He graduated in 1 77 1, but remained for several months after his graduation to pursue a course of study under the guidance of Dr. Witherspoon. He permanently injured his health at this time and returned to Virginia in 1772, and for two years he was immersed in the study of law, and at the same time made extend- ed researches in theology, general literature, and philosophical studies. He then directed his full attention to the impending struggle of the colonies for independence, and also took a prominent part in the religious con- troversy at that time regarding so called persecution of other religious denominations by the Church of England. Mr. Madison was elected to the Virginia assembly in 1776 and in November, 1777, he was chosen a member of the council of state. He took his seat in the continental congress in March, 1780. He was made chairman of the committee on foreign relations, and drafted an able memoranda for the use of com r i:\ni I'M of biography. 43 the American ministers to the French and Spanish governments, that established the claims of the republic to the territories be- tween the Alleghany Mountains and the Mississippi River. He acted as chairman of the ways and means committee in 1783 ar| d as a member of the Virginia legislature in 1784-86 he rendered important services to the state. Mr. Madison represented Vir- giana in the national constitutional conven- tion at Philadelphia in 1787, and was one of the chief framers of the constitution. He was a member of the first four congresses, 1789-97, and gradually became identified with the anti-federalist or republican party of which he eventually became the leader. He remained in private life during the ad- ministration of John Adams, and was secre- tary of state under President Jefferson. Mr. Madison administered the affairs of that post with such great ability that he was the natural successor of the chief magistrate and was chosen president by an electoral vote of 122 to 53. He was inaugurated March 4, 1809, at that critical period in our history when the feelings of the people were embittered with those of England, and his first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels, which finally resulted in the declaration of war, June 18, 1812. In the autumn of that year President Madison was re-elected by a vote of 128 to 89, and conducted the war for three years with varying success and defeat in Canada, by glorious victories at sea, and by the battle of New Orleans that was fought after the treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent, December 24, 18 14. During this war the national capitol at Washington was burned, and many valuable papers were destroyed, but the declaration of independence was saved to the country by the bravery and courage of Mr. Madi- son's illustrious wife. A commercial treaty was negotiated with Great Britain in 181 5, and in April, 1816, a national bank was in- corporated by congress. Mr. Madison was succeeded, March 4, 1 817, by James Monroe, and retired into private life on his estate at Montpelier, where he died June 28, 1836. FREDERICK DOUGLASS, a noted American character, was a protege of the great abolitionist, William Lloyd Garri- son, by whom he was aided in gaining his education. Mr. Douglass was born in Tuck- ahoe county, Maryland, in February, 18 17, his mother being a negro woman and his father a white man. He was born in slav- ery and belonged to a man by the name of Lloyd, under which name he went until he ran away from his master and changed it to Douglass. At the age of ten years he was sent to Baltimore where he learned to read and write, and later his owner allowed him to hire out his own time for three dollars a week in a shipyard. In September, 1838, he fled from Baltimore and made his way to New York, and from thence went to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Here he was mar- ried and supported himself and family by working at the wharves and in various work- shops. In the summer of 1841 he attended an anti-slavery convention at Nantucket, and made a speech which was so well re- ceived that he was offered the agency of the Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society. In this capacity he traveled through the New En- gland states, and about the same time he published his first book called ' ' Narrative of my Experience in Slavery." Mr. Doug- lass went to England in 1845 and lectured on slavery to large and enthusiastic audi- ences in all the large towns of the country, and his friends made up a purse of seven hundred and fifty dollars and purchased his freedom in due form of law. 44 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Mr. Douglass applied himself to the de- livery of lyceum lectures after the abolition of slavery, and in 1870 he became the editor of the " New National Era " in Washington. In 1 87 1 he was appointed assistant secretary of the commission to San Domingo and on his return he was appointed one of the ter- ritorial council for the District of Colorado by President Grant. He was elected presi- dential elector-at-large for the state of New York and was appointed to carry the elect- oral vote to Washington. He was also United States marshal for the District of Columbia in 1876, and later was recorder of deeds for the same, from which position he was removed by President Cleveland in 1886. In the fall of that year he visited England to inform the friends that he had made while there, of the progress of the colored race in America, and on his return he was appointed minister to Hayti, by President Harrison in 1889. His career as a benefactor of his race was closed by his death in February, 1895, near Washington. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.— The ear for rhythm and the talent for graceful expression are the gifts of nature, and they were plentifully endowed on the above named poet. The principal charac- teristic of his poetry is the thoughtfulness and intellectual process by which his ideas ripened in his mind, as all his poems are bright, clear and sweet. Mr. Bryant was born November 3, 1794, at Cummington, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and was educated at Williams College, from which he graduated, having entered it in 18 10. He took up the study of law, and in 181 5 was admitted to the bar, but after practicing successfully for ten years at Plainfield and Great Barrington, he removed to New York in 1825. The following year he became the editor of the "Evening Post," which he edited until his death, and under his di- rection this paper maintained, through a long series of years, a high standing by the boldness of its protests against slavery be- fore the war, by its vigorous support of the government during the war, and by the fidelity and ability of its advocacy of the Democratic freedom in trade. Mr. Bry- ant visited Europe in 1834, 1845, 1849 and 1857, and presented to the literary world the fruit of his travels in the series of "Let- ters of a Traveler," and "Letters from Spain and Other Countries." In the world of literature he is known chiefly as a poet, and here Mr. Bryant's name is illustrious, both at home and abroad. He contributed verses to the "Country Gazette " before he was ten years of age, and at the age of nine- teen he wrote " Thanatopsis, " the most im- pressive and widely known of his poems. The later outgrowth of his genius was his translation of Homer's "Iliad" in 1870 and the "Odyssey" in 1871. He also made several speeches and addresses which have been collected in a comprehensive vol- ume called " Orations and Addresses." He was honored in many ways by his fellow citizens, who delighted to pay tributes of respect to his literary eminence, the breadth of his public spirit, the faithfulness of his service,' and the worth of his private char- acter. Mr. Bryant died in New York City June 12, 1878. WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD, the secretary of state during one of the most critical times in the history of our country, and the right hand man of Presi- dent Lincoln, ranks among the greatest statesmen America has produced. Mr. Seward was born May 16, 1S01, at Florida, Orange county, New York, and with such COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 17 facilities as the place afforded he fitted him- self for a college course. He attended Union College at Schenectady, New York, at the age of fifteen, and took his degree in the regular course, with signs of promise in 1S20, after which he diligently addressed himself to the study of law under competent instructors, and started in the practice of his profession in 1823. Mr. Seward entered the political arena and in 1828 we find him presiding over a convention in New York, its purpose being the nomination of John Quincy Adams for a second term. He was married in 1824 and in 1830 was elected to the state senate. From 1 8 38 to 1842 he was governor of the state of New York. Mr. Seward's next im- portant position was that of United States senator from New York. W. H. Seward was chosen by President Lincoln to fill the important office of the secretary of state, and by his firmness and diplomacy in the face of difficulties, he aided in piloting the Union through that period of strife, and won an everlasting fame. This great statesman died at Auburn, New York, October 10, 1872, in the seventy-second year of his eventful life. JOSEPH JEFFERSON, a name as dear as it is familiar to the theater-going world in America, suggests first of all a fun- loving, drink-ioving, mellow voiced, good- natured Dutchman, and the name of "Rip Van Winkle " suggests the pleasant features of Joe Jefferson, so intimately are play and player associated in the minds of those who have had the good fortune to shed tears of laughter and sympathy as a tribute to the greatness of his art. Joseph Jefferson was born in Philadelphia, February 20, 1829. His genius was an inheritance, if there be such, as his great-grandfather, Thomas 3 Jefferson, was a manager and actor in Eng land. His grandfather, Joseph Jeff was the most popular comedian of the New York stage in his time, and his father, Jos- eph Jefferson, the second, was a good actor also, but the third Joseph Jefferson out- shone them all. At the age of three years Joseph Jeffer- son came on the stage as the child in "Pi- zarro," and his training was upon the stage from childhood. Later on he lived and acted in Chicago, Mobile, and Texas. After repeated misfortunes he returned to New Orleans from Texas, and his brother-in-law, Charles Burke, gave him money to reach Philadelphia, where he joined the Burton theater company. Here his genius soon as- serted itself, and his future became promis- ing and brilliant. His engagements through- out the United States and Australia were generally successful, and when he went to England in 1865 Mr. Boucicault consented to make some important changes in his dramatization of Irving's story of Rip Van Winkle, and Mr. Jefferson at once placed it in the front rank as a comedy. He made a fortune out of it, and played nothing else for many years. In later years, however, Mr. Jefferson acquitted himself of the charge of being a one-part actor, and the parts of. "Bob Acres," "Caleb Plummer" and "Golightly " all testify to the versatility of his genius. GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAN, a noted American general, was born in Philadelphia, December 3, 1826. He graduated from the University of Pennsyl- vania, and in 1846 from West Point, and was breveted second lieutenant of engineers. He was with Scott in the Mexican war, taking part in all the engagements from Vera Cruz to the final capture of the Mexi- 48 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. can capital, and was breveted first lieuten- ant and captain for gallantry displayed on various occasions. In 1857 he resigned his commission and accepted the position of chief engineer in the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad, and became presi- dent of the St. Louis & Cincinnati Railroad Company. He was commissioned major- general by the state of Ohio in 1861, placed in command of the department of the Ohio, and organized the first volunteers called for from that state. In May he was appointed major-general in the United States army, and ordered to disperse the confederates overrunning West Virginia. He accomplished this task promptly, and received the thanks of congress. After the first disaster at Bull Run he was placed in command of the department of Wash- ington, and a few weeks later of the Army of the Potomac. Upon retirement of General Scott the command of the en- tire United States army devolved upon Mc- Clellan, but he was relieved of it within a few months. In March, 1862, after elabor- ate preparation, he moved upon Manassas. only to find it deserted by the Confederate army, which had been withdrawn to im- pregnable defenses prepared nearer Rich- mond. He then embarked his armies for Fortress Monroe and after a long delay at Yorktown, began the disastrous Peninsular campaign, which resulted in the Army of the Potomac being cooped up on the James River below Richmond. His forces were then called to the support of General Pope, near Washington, and he was left without an army. After Pope's defeat McClellan was placed in command of the troops for the de- fense of the capital, and after a thorough or- ganization he followed Lee into Maryland and the battles of Antietam and South Moun- tain ensued. The delay which followed caused general dissatisfaction, and he was re- lieved of his command, and retired from active service. In 1864 McClellan was nominated for the presidency by the Democrats, and over- whelmingly defeated by Lincoln, three states only casting their electoral votes for McClellan. On election day he resigned his commission and a few months later went to Europe where he spent several years. He wrote a number of military text- books and reports. His death occurred October 29, 1885. SAMUEL J. TILDEN.— Among the great statesmen whose names adorn the pages of American history may be found that of the subject of this sketch. Known as a lawyer of highest ability, his greatest claim to immortality will ever lie in his successful battle against the corrupt rings of his native state and the elevation of the standard of official life. Samuel J. Tilden was born in New Leb- anon, New York, February 9, 18 14. He pursued his academic studies at Yale Col- lege and the University of New York, tak- ing the course of law at the latter. He was admitted to the bar in 1841. His rare ability as a thinker and writer upon public topics attracted the attention of President Van Buren, of whose policy and adminis- tration he became an active and efficient champion. He made for himself a high place in his profession and amassed quite a fortune as the result of his industry and judgment. During the days of his greatest professional labor he was ever one of the leaders and trusted counsellors of the Demo- cratic party. He was a member of the conventions to revise the state constitution, both in 1S46 and 1867, and served two terms in the lower branch of the state leg- COMl'EX niVM OF BIOGRAPHT, !'.' islature. He was one of the controlling spirits in the overthrow of the notorious " Tweed ring " and the reformation of the government of the city of New York. In 1874 he was elected governor of the state of New York. While in this position he assailed corruption in high places, success- fully battling with the iniquitous "canal ring " and crushed its sway over all depart- ments of the government. Recognizing h-is character and executive ability Mr. Tilden was nominated for president by the na- tional Democratic convention in 18.76. At the election he received a much larger popu- lar vote than his opponent, and 184 uncon- tested electoral votes. There being some electoral votes contested, a commission ap- pointed by congress decided in favor of the Republican electors and Mr. Hayes, the can- didate of that party was declared elected. In 1880, the Democratic party, feeling that Mr. Tilden had been lawfully elected to the presidency tendered the nomination for. the same office to Mr. Tilden, but he declined, retiring from all public functions, owing to failing health. He died August 4, 1886. By will he bequeathed several millions of dollars toward the founding of public libra- ries in New York City, Yonkers, etc. NOAH WEBSTER.— As a scholar, law- yer, author and journalist, there is no one who stands on a higher plane, or whose reputation is better established than the honored gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was a native of West Hartford, Connecticut, and was born October 17, 1758. He came of an old New England family, his mother being a descendant of Governor William Bradford, of the Ply- mouth colony. After acquiring a solid edu- cation in early life Dr. Webster entered Yale College, from which he graduated in 1778. For a while he taught school in Hartford, at the same time studying law. and was admitted to the bar in 17S1. He taught a classical school at Goshen, Orange county, New York, in 17S2-83, and while there prepared his spelling book, grammar and reader, which was issued under the title of "A Grammatical Institute of the English Language," in three parts, — so successful a work that up to 1876 something like forty million of the spelling books had been sold. In 1786 he delivered a course of lec- tures on the English language in the seaboard cities and the following year taught an academy at Philadelphia. From December 17, 1787, until November, 1788, he edited the "American Magazine, "a periodical that proved unsuccessful. In 1789-93 he prac- ticed law in Hartford having in the former year married the daughter of William Green- leaf, of Boston. He returned to New York and November, 1793, founded a daily paper, the "Minerva," to which was soon added a semi-weekly edition under the name of the " Herald." The former is still in existence under the name of the "Commercial Adver- tiser." In this paper, over the signature of ' ' Curtius , " he published a lengthy and schol- arly defense of " John Jay's treaty." In 1798, Dr. Webster moved to New Haven and in 1807 commenced the prepar- ation of his great work, the "American Dic- tionary of the English Language," which was not completed and published until 1828. He made his home in Amherst, Massachu- setts, for the ten years succeeding 1812, and was instrumental in the establishment of Amherst College, of which institution he was the first president of the board of trustees. During 1824-5 he resided in Europe, pursu- ing his philological studies in Paris. He completed his dictionary from the libraries of Cambridge University in 1S25, and de- 50 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. voted his leisure for the remainder of his life to the revision of that and his school books. Dr. Webster was a member of the legis- latures of both Connecticut and Massachu- setts, was judge of one of the courts of the former state and was identified with nearly all the literary and scientific societies in the neighborhood of Amherst College. He died in New Haven, May 28, 1843. Among the more prominent works ema- nating from the fecund pen of Dr. Noah Webster besides those mentioned above are the following: "Sketches of American Policy," " Winthrop's Journal," " A Brief History of Epidemics," " Rights of Neutral Nations in time of War," "A Philosophical and Practical Grammar of the English Lan- guage," "Dissertations on the English Language," "A Collection of Essays," "The Revolution in France," "Political Progress of Britain," "Origin, History, and Connection of the Languages of Western Asia and of Europe," and many others. WfLLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, the great anti-slavery pioneer and leader, was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, December 12, 1804. He was apprenticed to the printing business, and in 1828 was in- duced to take charge of the "Journal of the Times" at Bennington, Vermont. While supporting John Quincy Adams for the presi- dency he took occasion in that paper to give expression of his views on slavery. These articles attracted notice, and a Quaker named Lundy, editor of the "Genius of Emancipation," published in Baltimore, in- duced him to enter a partnership with him for the conduct of his paper. It soon transpired that the views of the partners were not in harmony, Lundy favoring grad- ual emancipation, while Garrison favored immediate freedom. In 1850 Mr. Garrison was thrown into prison for libel, not being able to pay a fine of fifty dollars and costs. In his cell he wrote a number of poems which stirred the entire north, and a mer- chant, Mr. Tappan, of New York, paid his fine and liberated him, after seven weeks of confinement. He at once began a lecture tour of the northern cities, denouncing slavery as a sin before God, and demanding its immediate abolition in the name of re- ligion and humanity. He opposed the col- onization scheme of President Monroe and other leaders, and declared the right of every slave to immediate freedom. In 1 83 1 he formed a partnership with Isaac Knapp, and began the publication of the "Liberator" at Boston. The "imme- diate abolition " idea began to gather power in the north, while the south became alarmed at the bold utterance of this jour- nal. The mayor of Boston was besoughi by southern influence to interfere, and upon investigation, reported upon the insignifi- cance, obscurity, and poverty of the editor and his staff, which report was widely published throughout the country. Re- wards were offered by the southern states for his arrest and conviction. Later Garri- son brought from England, where an eman- cipation measure had just been passed, some of the great advocates to work for the cause in this country. In 1835 a mob broke into his office, broke up a meeting of women, dragged Garrison through the street with a rope around his body, and his life was saved only by the interference of the police, who lodged him in jail. Garrison declined to sit in the World's Anti-Slaverv convention at London in 1840, because that body had refused women representa- tion. He opposed the formation of a po- litical party with emancipation as its basis. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 51 He favored a dissolution of the union, and declared the constitution which bound the free states to the slave states " A covenant with death and an agreement with hell." In 1843 he became president of the Amer- ican Anti-Slavery society, which position he held until 1865, when slavery was no more. During all this time the " Liberator " had continued to promulgate anti-slavery doc- trines, but in 1865 Garrison resigned his position, and declared his work was com- pleted. He died May 24, 1879. JOHN BROWN ("Brown of Ossawato- mie"), a noted character in American history, wasbornatTorrington, Connecticut, May 9, 1800. In his childhood he removed to Ohio, where he learned the tanner's trade. He married there, and in 1855 set- tled in Kansas. He lived at the village of Ossawatomie in that state, and there began his fight against slavery. He advocated im- mediate emancipation, and held that the negroes of the slave states merely waited for a leader in an insurrection that would re- sult in their freedom. He attended the convention called at Chatham, Canada, in 1859, and was the leading spirit in organiz- ing a raid upon the United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His plans were well laid, and carried out in great secrecy. He rented a farm house near Harper's Ferry in the summer of 1859, and on October 1 6th of that year, with about twenty follow- ers, he surprised and captured the United States arsenal, with all its supplies and arms. To his surprise, the negroes did not come to his support, and the next day he was attacked by the Virginia state militia, wounded and captured. He was tried in the courts of the state, convicted, and was hanged at Charlestown, December 2, 1859. The raid and its results had a tremendous effect, and hastened the culmination of the troubles between the north and south. The south had the advantage in discussing this event, claiming that the sentiment which inspired this act of violence was shared by the anti-slavery element of the country. EDWIN BOOTH had no peer upon the American stage during his long career as a star actor. He was the son of a famous actor, Junius Brutus Booth, and was born in 1833 at his father's home at Belair, near Baltimore. At the age of sixteen he made his first appearance on the stage, at the Boston Museum, in a minor part in " Richard III." It was while playing in California in 1851 that an eminent critic called general atten- tion to the young actor's unusual talent. However, it was not until 1863, at the great Shakspearian revival at the Winter Garden Theatre, New York, that the brilliancy ol his career began. His Hamlet held the boards for 100 nights in succession, and from that time forth Booth's reputation was established. In 1868 he opened his own theatre (Booth's Theater) in New York. Mr. Booth never succeeded as a manager, however, but as an actor he was undoubted- ly the most popular man on the American stage, and perhaps the most eminent one in the world. In England he also won the greatest applause. Mr. Booth's work was confined mostly to Shakspearean roles, and his art was characterized by intellectual acuteness, fervor, and poetic feeling. His Hamlet, Richard II, Richard III, and Richelieu gave play to his greatest powers. In 1865, when his brother, John Wilkes Booths enacted his great crime, Edwin Booth re- solved to retire from the stage, but waspur- suaded to reconsider that decision. The odium did not in any way attach to the 52 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPJIV. Kreat actor, and his popularity was not affected. In all his work Mr. Booth clung closely to the legitimate and the traditional in drama, making no experiments, and offer- ing little encouragement to new dramatic authors. His death occurred in New York, June 7, 1894. JOSEPH HOOKER, a noted American officer, was born at Hadley, Massachu- setts. November 13, 18 14. He graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1837, and was appointed lieutenant of artillery. He served in Florida in the Seminole war, and in garrison until the outbreak of the Mexican war. During the latter he saw service as a staff officer and was breveted captain, major and lieutenant-colonel for gallantry at Monterey, National Bridge and Chapultepec. Resigning his commission in 1833 he took up farming in California, which he followed until 1861. During this time he acted as superintendent of military roads in Oreeon. At the outbreak of the Rebel- lion Hooker tendered his services to the government, and. May 17, 1861, was ap- pointed brigadier-general of volunteers. He served in the defence of Washington and on the lower Potomac until his appointment to the command of a division in the Third Corps, in March, 1862. For gallant con- duct at the siege of Yorktown and in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Fra- zier's Farm and Malvern Hill he was made major-general. At the head of his division he participated in the battles of Manassas and Chantilly. September 6, 1862, he was placed at the head of the First Corps, and in the battles of South Mountain and An- tietam acted with his usual gallantry, being wounded in the latter engagement. On re- joining the army in November he was made brigadier-general in the regular army. On General Burnside attaining the command of the Army of the Potomac General Hooker was placed in command of the center grand division, consisting of the Second and Fifth Corps. At the head of these gallant men he participated in the battle of Fred- ericksburg, December 13, 1862. In Janu- ary, 1863, General Hooker assumed com- mand of the Army of the Potomac, and in May following fought the battle of Chan- cellorsville. At the time of the invasion of Pennsylvania, owing to a dispute with Gen- eral Halleck, Hooker requested to be re- lieved of his command, and June 28 was succeeded by George G. Meade. In Sep- tember, 1863, General Hooker was given command of the Twentieth Corps and trans- ferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and distinguished himself at the battles of Look- out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Ring- gold. In the Atlanta campaign he saw almost daily service and merited his well- known nickname of " Fighting Joe." July 30, 1864, at his own request, he was re- lieved of his command. He subsequently was in command of several military depart- ments in the north, and in October, 1868, was retired with the full rank of major-gen- eral. He died October 31, 1879. JAY GOULD, one of the greatest finan- ciers that the world has ever produced, was born May 27, 1836, at Roxbury, Dela- ware county, New York. He spent his early years on his father's farm and at the age of fourteen entered Hobart Academy, New York, and kept books for the village black- smith. He acquired a taste for mathematics and surveying and on leaving school found employment in making the surveyor's map of Ulster county. He surveyed very exten- sively in the state and accumulated five thou- sand dollars as the fruits of his labor. He COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY, m was then stricken with typhoid fever but re- covered and made the acquaintance of one Zadock Pratt, who sent him into the west- ern part of the state to locate a site for a tannery. He chose a fine hemlock grove, built a sawmill and blacksmith shop and was soon doing a large lumber business with Mr. Pratt. Mr. Gould soon secured control of the entire plant, which he sold out just before the panic of 1857 and in this year he became the largest stockholderintheStrouds- burg, Pennsylvania, bank. Shortly after the crisis he bought the bonds of the Rutland & Washington Railroad at ten cents on the dollar, and put all his money into railroad securities. For a long time he conducted this road which he consolidated with the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad. In 1859 he removed to New York and became a heavy investor in Erie Railroad stocks, en- tered that company and was president until its reorganization in 1872. In December, 1880, Mr. Gould was in control of ten thou- sand miles of railroad. In 18S7 he pur- chased the controlling interest in the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Co., and was a joint owner with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Co. of the western portion of the Southern Pacific line. Other lines soon came under his control, aggregat- ing thousand of miles, and he soon was rec- ognized as one of the world's greatest rail- road magnates. He continued to hold his place as one of the master financiers of the century until the time of his death which occurred December 2, 1892. THOMAS HART BENTON, a very prominent United States senator and statesman, was born at Hillsborough, North Carolina, March 14, 1782. He removed to Tennessee in early life, studied law, and be- gan to practice at Nashville about 18 10. During the war of 1812-1815 he served as colonel of a Tennessee regiment under Gen- eral Andrew Jackson. In 181 5 he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1820 was chosen United States senator for that state. Having been re-elected in 1826, he sup- ported President Jackson in his opposition to the United States bank and advocated a gold and silver currency, thus gaining the name of " Old Bullion," by which he was familiarly known. For many years he was the most prominent man in Missouri, and took rank among the greatest statesmen of his day. He was a member of the senate for thirty years and opposed the extreme states' rights policy of John C. Calhoun. In 1852 he was elected to the house of rep- resentatives in which he opposed the repeal of the Missouri compromise. He was op- posed by a powerful party of States' Rights Democrats in Missouri, who defeated him as a candidate for governor of that state in 1856. Colonel Benton published a considerable work in two volumes in 1854-56, entitled " Thirty Years' View, or a History of the Working of the American Government for Thirty Years, 1S20-50." He died April 10, 1858. STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS.— One of the most prominent figures in politic- al circles during the intensely exciting days that preceded the war, and a leader of the Union branch of the Democratic party was the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born at Brandon, Rutland coun- ty, Vermont, April 23, 1813, of poor but respectable parentage. His father, a prac- ticing physician, died while our subject was but an infant, and his mother, with two small children and but small means, could give him but the rudiments of an education. 54 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. >\t the age of fifteen young Douglas engaged at work in the cabinet making business to raise funds to carry him through college. After a few years of labor he was enabled to pursue an academical course, first at Bran- don, and later at Canandaigua, New York. tn the latter place he remained until 1833, taking up the study of law. Before he was twenty, however, his funds running low, he abandoned all further attempts at educa- tion, determining to enter at once the battle of life. After some wanderings through the western states he tooK up his residence at Jacksonville, Illinois, where, after teaching school for three months, he was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in 1834. Within a year from that time, so rapidly had he risen in his profession, he was chosen attorney general of the state, and warmly espoused the principles of the Democratic party. He soon became one of the most popular orators in Illinois. It was at this time he gained the name of the "Little Giant." In 1835 he resigned the position of attorney general having been elected to the legislature. In 1841 he was chosen judge of the supreme court of Illinois which he resigned two years later to take a seat in congress. It was during this period of his iife, while a member of the lower house, that he established his reputation and took the side of those who contended that con- gress had no constitutional right to restrict the extension of slavery further than the agreement between the states made in 1820. This, in spite of his being opposed to slav- ery, and only on grounds which he believed to be right, favored what was called the Missouri compromise. In 1847 Mr. Doug- las was chosen United States senator for six years, and greatly distinguished himself, in 1852 he was re-elected to the same office. During this latter term, under his leader- ship, the " Kansas-Nebraska bill " was car- ried in the senate. In 1858, nothwith- standing the fierce contest made by his able competitor for the position, Abraham Lin- coln, and with the administration of Bu- chanan arrayed against him, Mr. Douglas was re-elected senator. After the trouble in the Charleston convention, when by the withdrawal of several state delegates with- out "a nomination, the Union Democrats, in convention at Baltimore, in i860, nomi- nated Mr. Douglas as their candidate for presidency. The results of this election are well known and the great events of 1861 coming on, Mr. Douglas was spared their full development, dying at Chicago, Illinois, June 3, 1 86 1, after a short illness. His last words to his children were, ' ' to obey the laws and support the constitution of the United States." JAMES MONROE, fifth president of the United States, was born in Westmore- land county, Virginia, April 28, 1758. At the age of sixteen he entered William and Mary College, but two years later the Declaration of Independence having been adopted, he left college and hastened to New York where he joined Washington's army as a military cadet. At the battle of Trenton Monroe per- formed gallant service and received a wound in the shoulder, and was promoted to a captaincy. He acted as aide to Lord Ster- ling at the battles of Brandywine, German- town and Monmouth. Washington then sent him to Virginia to raise a new regiment of which he was to be colonel. The ex- hausted condition of Virginia made this im • possible, but he received his commission. He next entered the law office of Thomas Jefferson to study law, as there was no open- ing for him as an officer in the army. In COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 55 1782 he was elected to the Virginia assem- bly, and the next year he was elected to the Continental congress. Realizing the inade- quacy of the old articles of confederation, he advocated the calling of a convention to consider their revision, and introduced in congress a resolution empowering congress to regulate trade, lay import duties, etc. This resolution was referred to a committee, of which he was chairman, and the report led to the Annapolis convention, which called a general convention to meet at Phila- delphia in 1787, when the constitution was drafted. Mr. Monroe began the practice of law at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was soon after elected to the legislature, and ap- pointed as one of the committee to pass upon the adoption of the constitution. He opposed it, as giving too much power to the central government. He was elected to the United States senate in 1789, where he allied himself with the Anti-Federalists or "Republicans," as they were sometimes called. Although his views as to neutrality between France and England were directly opposed to those of the president, yet Wash- ington appointed him minister to France. His popularity in France was so great that the antagonism of England and her friends in this country brought about his recall. He then became governor of Virginia. He was sent as envoy to France in 1802; minister to England in 1803; and envoy to Spain in 1805. The next year he returned to his estate in Virginia, and with an ample in- heritance enjoyed a few years of repose. He was again called to be governor of Virginia, and was then appointed secretary of state by President Madison. The war with Eng- land soon resulted, and when the capital was burned by the British, Mr. Monroe be- came secretary of war also, and planned the measures for the defense of New Orleans. The treasury being exhausted and credit gone, he pledged his own estate, and thereby made possible the victory of Jackson at New Orleans. In 1 81 7 Mr. Monroe became president of the United States, having been a candi- date of the "Republican" party, which at that time had begun to be called the ' ' Demo- cratic" party. In 1820 he was re-elected, having two hundred and thirty-one electoral votes out of two hundred and thirty-two. His administration is known as the "Era of good-feeling, " and party lines were almost wiped out. The slavery question began to assume importance at this time, and the Missouri Compromise was passed. The famous ' ' Monroe Doctrine " originated in a great state paper of President Monroe upon the rumored interference of the Holy Alli- ance to prevent the formation of free repub- lics in South America. President Monroe acknowledged their independence, and pro- mulgated his great "Doctrine," which has been held in reverence since. Mr. Monroe's death occurred in New York on July 4, 1831. THOMAS ALVA EDISON, the master wizard of electrical science and whose name is synonymous with the subjugation of electricity to the service of man, was born in 1847 at Milan, Ohio, and it was at Port Huron, Michigan, whither his parents had moved in 1854, that his self-education began — for he never attended school for more than two months. He eagerly de- voured every book he could lay his hands on and is said to have read through an encyclo- pedia without missing a word. At thirteen he began his working life as a trainboy upon the Grand Trunk Railway between Port Huron and Detroit. Much of his time was now spent in Detroit, where he found increased facilities for reading at the public libraries, 56 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. He was not content to be a newsboy, so he got togetner three hundred pounds of type and started the issue of the " Grand Trunk Herald." It was only a small amateur weekly, printed on one side, the impression being made from the type by hand. Chemi- cal research was his next undertaking and a laboratory was added to his movable pub- lishing house, which, by the way, was an old freight car. One day, however, as he was experimenting with some phosphorus, it ignited and the irate conductor threw the young seeker after the truth, chemicals and all, from the train. His office and laboratory were then removed to the cellar of his fa- ther's house. As he grew to manhood he decided to become an operator. He won his opportunity by saving the life of a child, whose father was an old operator, and out of gratitude he gave Mr. Edison lessons in teleg- raphy. Five months later he was compe- tent to fill a position in the railroad office at Port Huron. Hence he peregrinated to Stratford, Ontario, and thence successively to Adrian, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Cin- cinnati, Memphis, Louisville and Boston, gradually becoming an expert operator and gaining experience that enabled him to evolve many ingenious ideas for the im- provement of telegraphic appliances. At Memphis he constructed an automatic re- peater, which enabled Louisville and New Orleans to communicate direct, and received nothing more than the thanks of his em- ployers. Mr. Edison came to New York in 1870 in search of an opening more suitable to his capabilities and ambitions. He hap- pened to be in the office of the Laws Gold Reporting Company when one of the in- struments got out of order, and even the inventor of the system could not make it work. Edison requested to be allowed to attempt the task, and in a few minutes he had overcome the difficulty and secured an advantageous engagement. For several years he had a contract with the Western Union and the Gold Stock companies, whereby he received a large salary, besides a special price for all telegraphic improve- ments he could suggest. Later, as the head of the Edison General Electric com- pany, with its numerous subordinate organ- izations and connections all over the civil- ized world, he became several times a millionaire. Mr. Edison invented the pho- nograph and kinetograph which bear his name, the carbon telephone, the tasimeter, and the duplex and quadruplex systems of telegraphy. JAMES LONGSTREET, one of the most conspicuous of the Confederate generals during the Civil war, was born in 1820, in South Carolina, but was early taken by his parents to Alabama where he grew to man- hood and received his early education. He graduated at the United States military academy in 1842, entering the army as lieutenant and spent a few years in the fron- tier service. When the Mexican war broke out he was called to the front and partici- pated in all the principal battles of that war up to the storming of Chapultepec, where he received severe wounds. For gallant conduct at Contreras, Cherubusco, and Mo- lino del Rey he received the brevets of cap- tain and major. After the close of the Mexican war Longstreet served as adjutant and captain on frontier service in Texas un- til 1858 when he was transferred to the staff as paymaster with rank of major. In June, 1 86 1, he resigned to join the Confederacy and immediately went to the front, com- manding a brigade at Bull Run the follow- ing month. Promoted to be major-general in 1862 he thereafter bore a conspicuous C0MPEXD1LM OF BIOGRAPHY. 5( part and rendered valuable service to the Confederate cause. He participated in many of the most severe battles of the Civil war including Bull Run (first and second), Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Fraziers Farm, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Frederickburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, the Wilderness, Petersburg and most of the fighting about Richmond. When the war closed General Long- street accepted the result, renewed his alle- giance to the government, and thereafter labored earnestly to obliterate all traces of war and promote an era of good feeling be- tween all sections of the country. He took up his residence in New Orleans, and took an active interest and prominent part in public affairs, served as surveyor of that port for several years; was commissioner of engineers for Louisiana, served four years as school commissioner, etc. In 1875 he was appointed supervisor of internal revenue and settled in Georgia. After that time he served four years as United States minister to Turkey, and also for a number of years was United States marshal of Georgia, be- sides having held other important official positions. JOHN RUTLEDGE, the second chief- justice of the United States, was born at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1739. He was a son of John Rutledge, who had left Ireland for America about five years prior to the birth of our subject, and a brother of Edward Rutledge, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. John Rut- ledge received his legal education at the Temple, London, after which he returned to Charleston and soon won distinction at the bar. He was elected to the old Colonial congress in 1765 to protest against the " Stamp Act, " and was a member of the South Carolina convention of 1774, and of the Continental congress of that and the succeeding year. In 1776 he was chairman of the committee that draughted the con- stitution of his state, and was president of the congress of that state. He was not pleased with the state constitution, how- ever, and resigned. In 1779 he was again chosen governor of the state, and granted extraordinary powers, and he at once took the field to repel the British. He joined the army of General Gates in 1782, and the same year was elected to congress. He was a member of the constitutional con- vention which framed our present constitu- tion. In 1789 he was appointed an associate justice of the first supreme court of the United States. He resigned to accept the position of chief-justice of his own state. Upon the resignation of Judge Jay, he was appointed chief-justice of the United States in 1795. The appointment was never con- firmed, for, after presiding at one session, his mind became deranged, and he was suc- ceeded by Judge Ellsworth. He died at Charleston, July 23, 1800. RALPH WALDO EMERSON was one of the most noted literary men of his time. He was born in Boston, Massachu- setts, May 25, 1803. He had a minister for an ancestor, either on the paternal or ma- ternal side, in every generation for eight generations back. His father, Rev. Will- iam Emerson, was a native of Concord, Massachusetts, born May 6, 1769, graduated at Harvard, in 17S9, became a Unitarian minister; was a fine writer and one of the best orators of his day; died in 181 1. Ralph Waldo Emerson was fitted for college at the public schools of Boston, and graduated at Harvard College in 1821, win- ning about this time several prizes for es- 58 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. says. For five years he taught school in Boston; in 1826 was licensed to preach, and in 1829 was ordained as a colleague to Rev. Henry Ware of the Second Unitarian church in Boston. In 1832 he resigned, making the announcement in a sermon of his un- willingness longer to administer the rite of Ae Lord's Supper, after which he spent about a year in Europe. Upon his return he began his career as a lecturer before the Boston Mechanics Institute, his subject be- ing "Water." His early lectures on " Italy" and "Relation of Man to the Globe" also attracted considerable attention; as did also his biographical lectures on Michael Angelo, Milton, Luther, George Fox, and Edmund Burke. After that time he gave many courses of lectures in Boston and became one of the best known lecturers in America. But very few men have rendered such con- tinued service in this field. He lectured for forty successive seasons before the Salem, Massachusetts, Lyceum and also made re- peated lecturing tours in this country and in England. In 1835 Mr. Emerson took up his residence at Concord, Massachusetts, where he continued to make his home until his death which occurred April 27, 1882. Mr. Emerson's literary work covered a wide scope. He wrote and published many works, essays and poems, which rank high among the works of American literary men. A few of the many which he produced are the following: "Nature;" "The Method ofNature;" "Man Thinking;" "The Dial;" "Essays;" "Poems;" "English Traits;" "The Conduct of Life;" "May-Day and other Poems " and " Society and Solitude;" besides many others. He was a prominent member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, of the American Philosophical Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society and other kindred associations. ALEXANDER T. STEWART, one of the famous merchant princes of New York, was born near the city of Belfast, Ire- land, in 1803, and before he was eight years of age was left an orphan without any near relatives, save an aged grandfather. The grandfather being a pious Methodist wanted to make a minister of young Stewart, and accordingly put him in a school with that end in view and he graduated at Trinity Col- lege, in Dublin. When scarcely twenty years of age he came to New York. His first employment was that of a teacher, but accident soon made him a merchant. En- tering into business relations with an ex- perienced man of his acquaintance he soon found himself with the rent of a store on his hands and alone in a new enterprise. Mr. Stewart's business grew rapidly in all directions, but its founder had executive ability sufficient for any and all emergencies, and in time his house became one of the greatest mercantile establishments of mod- ern times, and the name of Stewart famous. Mr. Stewart's death occurred April 10, 1876. JAMES FENIMORE COOPER. — In speaking of this noted American nov- elist, William Cullen Bryant said: " He wrote for mankind at large, hence it is that he has earned a fame wider than any Amer- ican author of modern times. The crea- tions of his genius shall survive through centuries to come, and only perish with our language." Another eminent writer (Pres- cott) said of Cooper: " In his productions every American must take an honest pride; for surely no one has succeeded like Cooper in the portraiture of American character, or has given such glowing and eminently truth- ful pictures of American scenery." James Fenimore Cooper was born Sep- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 59 tember 15, 1789, at Burlington, New Jer- sey, and was a son of Judge William Cooper. About a year after the birth of our subject the family removed to Otsego county, New York, and founded the town called " Coop- erstown. " James Fenimore Cooper spent his childhood there and in 1802 entered Yale College, and four years later became a midshipman in the United States navy. In 181 1 he was married, quit the seafaring life, and began devoting more or less time to lit- erary pursuits. His first work was "Pre- caution," a novel published in 1S19, and three years later he produced "The Spy, a Tale of Neutral Ground," which met with great favor and was a universal success. This was followed by many other works, among which may be mentioned the follow- ing: ' ' The Pioneers, " ' ' The Pilot, " ' ' Last of the Mohicans," "The Prairie," "The Red Rover," "The Manikins," "Home- ward Bound," "Home as Found," "History of the United States Navy," "The Path- finder," "Wing and Wing," "Afloat and Ashore," "The Chain-Bearer," "Oak- Openings," etc. J. Fenimore Cooper died at Cooperstown, New York, September 14, 1851. MARSHALL FIELD, one of the mer- chant princes of America, ranks among the most successful business men of the cen- tury. He was born in 1835 at Conway, Massachusetts. He spent his early life on a farm and secured a fair education in the common schools, supplementing this with a course at the Conway Academy. His natural bent ran in the channels of commer- cial life, and at the age of seventeen he was given a position in a store at Pittsfie'.d, Massachusetts. Mr. Field remained there four years and removed to Chicago in 1856. He began his career in Chicago as a clerk in the wholesale dry goods house of Cooley, Wadsworth & Company, which later be- came Cooley, Farwell & Company, and still later John V. Farwell & Company. He remained with them four years and exhibit- ed marked ability, in recognition of which he was given a partnership. In 1865 Mr. Field and L. Z. Leiter, who was also a member of the firm, withdrew and formed the firm of Field, Palmer & Leiter, the third partner being Potter Palmer, and they continued in business until 1867, when Mr. Palmer retired and the firm became Field, Leiter & Company. They ran under the latter name until 1SS1, when Mr. Leiter re- tired and the house has since continued un- der the name of Marshall Field & Company. The phenomenal success accredited to the house is largely due to the marked ability of Mr. Field, the house had become one of the foremost in the west, with an annual sale of $8,000,000 in 1870. The total loss of the firm during the Chicago fire was $3,500,000 of which $2,500,000 was re- covered through the insurance companies. It rapidly recovered from the effects of this and to-day the annual sales amount to over $40,000,000. Mr. Field's real estate hold- ings amounted to $10,000,000. He was one of the heaviest subscribers to the Bap- tist University fund although he is a Presby- terian, and gave $1,000,000 for the endow- ment of the Field Columbian Museum — one of the greatest institutions of the kind in the world. EDGAR WILSON NYE, who won an im- mense popularity under the pen name of " Bill Nye," was one of the most eccen- tric humorists of his day. He was born Au- gust 25, 1850, at Shirley, Piscataqua coun- ty, Maine, "at a very early age " as he ex- presses it. He took an academic course in 60 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. River Falls, Wisconsin, from whence, after his graduation, he removed to Wyoming Territory. He studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1876. He began when quite young to contribute humorous sketches to the newspapers, became connected with various western journals and achieved a brilliant success as a humorist. Mr. Nye settled later in New York City where he devoted his time to writing funny articles for the big newspaper syndicates. He wrote for publication in book form the following : "Bill Nye and the Boomerang," "The Forty Liars," "Baled Hay," "Bill Nye's Blossom Rock," "Remarks," etc. His death occurred February 21, 1896, at Ashe- ville, North Carolina. THOMAS DE WITT TALMAGE, one of the most celebrated American preach- ers, was born January 7, 1832, and was the youngest of twelve children. He made his preliminary studies at the grammar school in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the age of eighteen he joined the church and entered the University of the City of New York, and graduated in May, 1853. The exercises were held in Niblo's Garden and his speech aroused the audience to a high pitch of en- thusiasm. At the close o-f his college duties he imagined himself interested in the law and for three years studied law. Dr. Tal- mage then perceived his mistake and pre- pared himself for the ministry at the Reformed Dutch Church Theological Semi- nary at New Brunswick, New Jersey. Just after his ordination the young minister re- ceived two calls, one from Piermont, New York, and the other from Belleville, New Jersey. Dr. Talmage accepted the latter and for three years filled that charge, when he was called to Syracuse, New York. Here it was that his sermons first drew large crowds of people to his church, and from thence dates his popularity. Afterward he became the pastor of the Second Reformed Dutch church, of Philadelphia, remaining seven years, during which period he first entered upon the lecture platform and laid the foundation for his future reputation. At the end of this time he received three calls, one from Chicago, one from San Francisco, and one from the Central Presbyterian church of Brooklyn, which latter at that time consisted of only nineteen members with a congregation of about thirty-five. This church offered him a salary of seven thousand dollars and he accepted the call. He soon induced the trustees to sell the old church and build a new one. They did so and erected the Brooklyn Tabernacle, but it burned down shortly after it was finished. By prompt sympathy and general liberality a new church was built and formally opened in February, 1874. It contained seats for four thousand, six hundred and fifty, but if necessary seven thousand could be accom- modated. In October, 1878, his salary was raised from seven thousand dollars to twelve thousand dollars, and in the autumn of 1889 the second tabernacle was destroyed by fire. A third tabernacle was built and it was for- mally dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1891. JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, conceded as being one of the greatest band leaders in the world, won his fame while leader of the United States Marine Band at Washing- ton, District of Columbia. He was not originally a band player but was a violinist, and at the age of seventeen he was conduc- tor of an opera company, a profession which he followed for several years, until he was offered the leadership of the Marine Band at Washington. The proposition was re- pugnant to him at first but he accepted the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 61 offer and then ensued ten years of brilliant success with that organization. When he first took the Marine Band he began to gather the national airs of all the nations that have representatives in Washington, and compiled a comprehensive volume in- cluding nearly all the national songs of the different nations. He composed a number of marches, waltzes and two-steps, promi- nent among which are the "Washington Post," "Directorate," "King Cotton," "High School Cadets," "Belle of Chica- go," "Liberty Bell March," "Manhattan Beach," "On Parade March," "Thunderer March," "Gladiator March," " El Capitan March," etc. He became a very extensive composer of this class of music. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, sixth president of the United States, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, July II, 1767, the son of John Adams. At the age of eleven he was sent to school at Paris, and two years later to Leyden, where he entered that great university. He returned to the United States in 1785, and graduated from Harvard in 1788. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1791. His practice brought no income the first two years, but he won distinction in literary fields, and was appointed minister to The Hague in 1794. He married in 1797, and went as minister to Berlin the same year, serving until 1801, when Jefferson became president. He was elected to the senate in 1803 by the Federalists, but was condemned by that party for advocating the Embargo Act and other Anti-Federalist measures. He was appointed as professor of rhetoric at Harvard in 1805, and in 1809 was sent as minister to Russia. He assisted in negotiat- ing the treaty of peace with England in 1 8 14, and became minister to that power the next year. He served during Monroe's administration two terms as secretary of state, during which time party lines were obliterated, and in 1824 four candidates for president appeared, all of whom were iden- tified to some extent with the new " Demo- cratic" party. Mr. Adams received 84 elec- toral votes, Jackson 99, Crawford 41, and Clay 37. As no candidate had a majority of all votes, the election went to the house of representatives, which elected Mr. Adams. As Clay had thrown his influence to Mr. Adams, Clay became secretary of state, and this caused bitter feeling on the part of the Jackson Democrats, who were joined by Mr. Crawford and his following, and op- posed every measure of the administration. In the election of 1828 Jackson was elected over Mr. Adams by a great majority. Mr. Adams entered the lower house of congress in 1830, elected from the district in which he was born and continued to rep- resent it for seventeen years. He was known as " the old man eloquent," and his work in congress was independent of party. He opposed slavery extension and insisted upon presenting to congress, one at a time, the hundreds of petitions against the slave power. One of these petitions, presented in 1842, was signed by forty-five citizens of Massachusetts, and prayed congress for a peaceful dissolution of the Union. His enemies seized upon this as an opportunity to crush their powerful foe, and in a caucus meeting determined upon his expulsion from congress. Finding they would not be able to command enough votes for this, they de- cided upon a course that would bring equal disgrace. They formulated a resolution to the effect that while he merited expulsion, the house would, in great mercy, substitute its severest censure. When it was read in the house the old man, then in his seventy-fifth 62 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. yen , arose and denial K led tliat the first para- graph n[ the Declaration of Independence be read as his del. use. It embraced the famous sentence, " that whenevei any form of governmanl becomes destructive to those ends, it IS tile right ol Hie people td alter nr abolish it, and to institute new government, etc ., BtO " Alter eleven days nf hard fight" ing his opponents were defeated. On Fefcru .11 \ ' i , iS.pX, he rose to address the speaker on the * Oregon question, when he suddenly fell from a stroke of paralysis, lie died soon after in the rotunda of the e.apitol, where he had been conveyed l>v his col- |i agues SUSAN B. ANTHONY was one of the in":. t I. ii a women of Amei ica. She was bora at South Adams, Massachusetts, February 15, 1X20, the daughter of a Quaker. She received a good education and became a school teai her, following that profession for fifteen years in New York. r< ginning with about 1852 she became the active leadei ol the woman's rights move nient and won a wide reputation for her zeal and ability. She also distinguished herself for her zeal and eloquence in the temperance and anti-slavery causes, and became a conspicuous figure during the wai , After the close of the war she gave most of her labors to the cause of woman's suffrage. PHILIP I). ARMOUR, one of the most 1 onspii nous figures in the mercantile history of America, was born May 10, 1832, • mi a In in at Stockbridge, Madison county, New York, and received his early edu( a In mi in the common schools of that county. He was apprenticed to a lancer and winked fa it lil 11 1 1\ and well, being verj ambitious and desiring to start out for himself. At tin- age of twenty he secured a release from his indentures and set out overland for the gold fields of California. After a great deal of hard work he accumulated a little money and then came east and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He went into the grain receiving and warehouse busi- ness and was fairly successful, and later on he formed a partnership with John I'lankin- ton in the pork packing line, the style of the linn being Plankinton & Armour. Mr. Ar- mour made his first great "deal" in selling pork "short" on the New York market in the anticipation of the fall of the Confed- eracy, and Mr. Armour is said to have made through this deal a million dollars. Ilothen established packing houses in Chicago and Kansas City, and in 1X75 he removed to < hicago. I le increased his business by add- ing to it the shipment of dressed beef to the European markets, and many other lines of trade and manufacturing, and it rapidly assumed vast proportions, employing an army of men in different lines of the busi- ness. Mr. Armour successfully conducted a great many speculative deals in pork and grain of immense proportions and also erected many lar^e warehouses for the storage of grain. He became one of the representative business men of Chicago, where he became closely identified with all enterprises of a public nature, hut his fame as a great husi- ness man extended to all parts of the world. He founded the "Armour Institute " at Chi- cago and also contributed largely to benevo- lent and charitable institutions. ROBERT FULTON.— Although Fulton is best known as the inventor of the first successful steamboat, yet his claims to dist Miction di 1 m 'I rest alone upon licit, for he was an inventor along other lines, a paintei and an author. lie was horn at Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pcnnsyl COMPENDIUM Of BIOGRArilV. 65 vania, in 1765, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. At the age of seventeen he removed to Phila- delphia, and there and in New York en- gaged in miniature painting with success both from a pecuniary and artistic point of view. With the results of his labors he pur- chased a farm for the support of his mother. He went to London and studied under the great painter, Benjamin West, and all through life retained his fondness for art and gave evidence of much ability in that line. While in England he was brought in contact with the Duke of Bridgewater, the father of the English canal system; Lord Stanhope, an eminent mechanician, and James Watt, the inventor of the steam en- gine. Their influence turned his mind to its true field of labor, that of mechanical in- vention. Machines for flax spinning, marble sawing, rope making, and for remov- ing earth from excavations, are among his earliest ventures. His "Treatise on the Improvement of Canal Navigation," issued in 1796, and a series of essays on canals were soon followed by an English patent for canal improvements. In 1797 he went to Paris, where he resided until 1806, and there invented a submarine torpedo boat for maritime defense, but which was rejected by the governments of France, England and the United States. In 1 803 he offered to con- struct for the Emperor Napoleon a steam- boat that would assist in carrying out the plan of invading Great Britain then medi- tated by that great captain. In pursuance he constructed his first steamboat on the Seine, but it did not prove a full success and the idea was abandoned by the French government. By the aid of Livingston, then United States minister to France, Fulton purchased, in 1806, an engine which he brought to this country. After studying the defects of his own and other attempts in this line he built and launched in 1807 the Clermont, the first successful steamboat This craft only attained a speed of five miles an hour while going up North river. His first patent not fully covering his in- vention, Fulton was engaged in many law suits for infringement. He constructed many steamboats, ferryboats, etc., among these being the United States steamer " Fulton the First," built in 18 14, the first war steamer ever built. This craft never attained any great speed owing to some de- fects in construction and accidentally blew up in 1829. Fulton died in New York, Feb- ruary 21, l8 I 5. SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, sixth chief-justice of the United States, and one of the most eminent of American jurists, was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, Jan- uary 13, 1808. At the age of nine he was left in poverty by the death of his father, but means were found to educate him. He was sent to his uncle, a bishop, who con- ducted an academy near Columbus, Ohio, and here young Chase worked on the farm and attended school. At the age of fifteen he returned to his native state and entered Dartmouth College, from which he gradu- ated in 1 826. He then went to Washington, and engaged in teaching school, and study- ing law under the instruction of William Wirt. He was licensed to practice in 1829, and went to Cincinnati, where he had a hard struggle for several years following. He had in the meantime prepared notes on the statutes of Ohio, which, when published, brought him into prominence locally. He was soon after appointed solicitor of the United States Bank. In 1837 he appeared as counsel for a fugitive slave woman, Ma- tilda, and sought by all the powers of hih learning and eloquence to prevent her owner m COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY, from reclaiming her. He acted in many other cases, and devolved the trite expres- sion, "Slavery is sectional, freedom is na- tional." He was employed to defend Van Zandt before the supreme court of the United States in 1846, which was one of the most noted cases connected with the great strug- gle against slavery. By this time Mr. Chase had become the recognized leader of that element known as " free-soilers." He was elected to the United States senate in 1849, and was chosen governor of Ohio in 1855 and re-elected in 1857. He was chosen to the United States senate from Ohio in 1861, but was made secretary of the treasury by Lincoln and accepted. He inaugurated a financial system to replenish the exhausted treasury and meet the demands of the great- est war in history and at the same time to revive the industries of the country. One of the measures which afterward called for his judicial attention was the issuance of currency notes which were made a legal tender in payment of debts. When this question came before him as chief-justice of the United States he reversed his former action and declared the measure unconstitu- tional. The national banking system, by which all notes issued were to be based on funded government bonds of equal or greater amounts, had its direct origin with Mr. Chase. Mr. Chase resigned the treasury port- folio in 1864, and was appointed the same year as chief-justice of the United States supreme court. The great questions that came up before him at this crisis in the life of the nation were no less than those which confronted the first chief-justice at the for- mation of our government. Reconstruction, private, state and national interests, the constitutionality of the acts of congress passed in times of great excitement, the construction and interpretation to be placed upon the several amendments to the national constitution, — these were among the vital questions requiring prompt decision. He received a paralytic stroke in 1870, which impaired his health, thcugh his mental powers were not affected. He continued to preside at the opening terms for two years following and died May 7, 1873. HARRIET ELIZABETH BEECHER STOWE, a celebrated American writ- er, was born June 14, 1812, at Litchfield, Connecticut. She was a daughter of Lyman Beecher and a sister of Henry Ward Beecher, two noted divines; was carefully educated, and taught school for several years at Hart- ford, Connecticut. In 1832 Miss Beecher married Professor Stowe, then of Lane Semi- nary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards at Bowdoin College and Andover Seminary. Mrs. Stowe published in 1849 "The May- flower, or sketches of the descendants of the Pilgrims," and in 1851 commenced in the ' ' National Era " of Washington, a serial story which was published separately in 1852 under the title of " Uncle Tom's Cabin." This book attained almost unparalleled success both at home and abroad, and within ten years it had been translated in almost every lan- guage of the civilized world. Mrs. Stowe pub- lished in 1853 a "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin" in which the data that she used was published and its truthfulness was corroborated. In 1853 she accompanied her husband and brother to Europe, and on her return pub- lished "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands" in 1854. Mrs. Stowe was for some time one of the editors of the ' ' Atlantic Monthly " and the " Hearth and Home," for which she had written a number of articles. Among these, also published separately, are " Dred, a tale of the Great Dismal Swamp " (later published under the title of "Nina COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHY. 67 Gordon"); "The Minister's Wooing;" "The Pearl of Orr's Island;" "Agnes of Sorrento;" "Oldtovvn Folks;" "My Wife and I;" "Bible Heroines," and "A Dog's Mission." Mrs. Stowe's death occurred July I, 1896, at Hartford, Connecticut. THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, bet- ter known as "Stonewall" Jackson, was one of the most noted of the Confeder- ate generals of the Civil war. He was a soldier by nature, an incomparable lieuten- ant, sure to execute any operation entrusted to him with marvellous precision, judgment and courage, and all his individual cam- paigns and combats bore the stamp of a masterly capacity for war. He was born January 21, 1824, at Clarksburg, Harrison county, West Virginia. He was early in life imbued with the desire to be a soldier and it is said walked from the mountains of Virginia to Washington, secured the aid of his congressman, and was appointed cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point from which he was graduated in 1846. Attached to the army as brevet sec- ond lieutenant of the First Artillery, his first service was as a subaltern with Magruder's battery of light artillery in the Mexican war. He participated at the reduction of Vera Cruz, and was noticed for gallantry in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Moline del Rey, Chapultepec, and the capture of the city of Mexico, receiving the brevets of captain for conduct at Contreras and Cher- ubusco and of major at Chapultepec. In the meantime he had been advanced by regular promotion to be first lieutenant in 1847. In 1852, the war having closed, he resigned and became professor of natural and experimental philosophy and artillery instructor at the Virginia State Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia, where he remained until Virginia declared for seces- sion, he becoming chiefly noted for intense religious sentiment coupled with personal eccentricities. Upon the breaking out of the war he was made colonel and placed in command of a force sent to sieze Harper's Ferry, which he accomplished May 3, 1861. Relieved by General J. E. Johnston, May 23, he took command of the brigade ol Valley Virginians, whom he moulded into that brave corps, baptized at the first Manassas, and ever after famous as the " Stonewall Brigade." After this "Stone- wall " Jackson was made a major-general, in 1 861, and participated until his death in all the famous campaigns about Richmond and in Virginia, and was a conspicuous fig- ure in the memorable battles of that time. May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, he was wounded severely by his own troops, two balls shattering his left arm and another passing through the palm of his right hand. The left arm was amputated, but pneumonia intervened, and, weakened by the great loss of blood, he died May 10, 1863. The more his operations in the Shenandoah valley in 1862 are studied the more striking must the merits of this great soldier appear. JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER.— J Near to the heart of the people of the Anglo-Saxon race will ever lie the verses of this, the "Quaker Poet." The author of "Barclay of Ury," "Maud Muller" and "Barbara Frietchie," always pure, fervid and direct, will be remembered when many a more ambitious writer has been forgotten. John G. Whitticr was born at Haver- hill, Massachusetts, December 7, 1807. of Quaker parentage. He had but a common- school education and passed his boyhood days upon a farm. In early life he learned the trade of shoemaker. At the age of 63 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAniT. eighteen he began to write verses for the Haverhill " Gazette." He spent two years after that at the Haverhill academy, after which, in 1829, he became editor of the "American Manufacturer," at Boston. In 1830 he succeeded George D. Prentice as editor of the "New England Weekly Re- view," but the following year returned to Haverhill and engaged in farming. In 1832 and in 1836 he edited the "Gazette." In 1835 he was elected a member of the legis- lature, serving two years. In 1 S36 he became secretary of the Anti-slavery Society of Phil- adelphia. In 1838 and 1839 he edited the " Pennsylvania Freeman," but in the latter year the office was sacked and burned by a mob. In 1840 Whittier settled at Ames- bury, Massachusetts. In 1847 he became corresponding editor of the " National Era," an anti-slavery paper published at Washing- ton, and contributed to its columns many of his anti-slavery and other favorite lyrics. Mr. Whittier lived for many years in retire- ment of Quaker simplicity, publishing several volumes of poetry which have raised him to a high place among American authors and brought to him the love and admiration of his countrymen. In the electoral colleges of i860 and 1864 Whittier was a member. Much of his time after 1S76 was spent at Oak Knoll, Danvers, Massachusetts, but still retained his residence at Amesbury. He never married. His death occurred Sep- tember 7, 1892. The more prominent prose writings of John G. Whittier are as follows: "Legends of New England," "Justice and Expediency, or Slavery Considered with a View to Its Abo- lition," " The Stranger in Lowell," "Super- naturalism in New England," " Leaves from Margaret Smith's Journal," "Old Portraits and Modern Sketches" and " Literary Sketches." DAVID DIXON PORTER, illustrious as admiral of the United States navy, and famous as one of the most able naval offi- cers of America, was born in Pennsylvania, June 8, 18 14. His father was also a naval officer of distinction, who left the service of the United States to become commander of the naval forces of Mexico during the war between that country and Spain, and through this fact David Dixon Porter was appointed a midshipman in the Mexican navy. Two years later David D. Porter joined the United States navy as midship- man, rose in rank and eighteen years later as a lieutenant he is found actively engaged in all the operations of our navy along the east coast of Mexico. When the Civil war broke out Porter, then a commander, was dispatched in the Powhattan to the relief of Fort Pickens, Florida. This duty accom- plished, he fitted out a mortar flotilla for the reduction of the forts guarding the ap- proaches to New Orleans, which it was con- sidered of vital importance for the govern- ment to get possession of. After the fall of New Orleans the mortar flotilla was actively engaged at Vicksburg, and in the fall of 1862 Porter was made a rear-admiral and placed in command of all the naval forces on the western rivers above New Orleans. The ability of the man was now con- spicuously manifested, not only in the bat- tles in which he was engaged, but also in the creation of a formidable fleet out of river steamboats, which he covered with such plating as they would bear. In 1864 he was transferred to the Atlantic coast to command the naval forces destined to oper- ate against the defences of Wilmington, North Carolina, and on Jan. 15, 1865, the fall of Fort Fisher was hailed by the country as a glorious termination of his arduous war service. In 1866 he was made vice-admiral COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 6* and appointed superintendent of the Naval Academy. On the death of Farragut, in 1870, he succeeded that able man as ad- miral of the navy. His death occurred at Washington, February 13, 1891. NATHANIEL GREENE was one of the best known of the distinguished gen- erals who led the Continental soldiery against the hosts of Great Britain during the Revolutionary war. He was the son of Quaker parents, and was born at War- wick, Rhode Island, May 27, 1742. In youth he acquired a good education, chiefly by his own efforts, as he was a tireless reader. In 1770 he was elected a member of the Assembly of his native state. The news of the battle of Lexington stirred his blood, and he offered his services to the government of the colonies, receiving the rank of brigadier-general and the com- mand of the troops from Rhode Island. He led them to the camp at Cambridge, and for thus violating the tenets of their faith, he was cast out of the Society of Friends, or Quakers. He soon won the es- teem of General Washington. In August, 1776, Congress promoted Greene to the rank of major-general, and in the battles of Trenton and Princeton he led a division. At the battle of Brandy wine, September 1 1, 1777, he greatly distinguished himself, pro- tecting the retreat of the Continentals by his firm stand. At the battle of German- town, October 4, the same year, he com- manded the left wing of the army with credit. In March, 1778, he reluctantly ac- cepted the office of quartermaster-general, but only with the understanding that his rank in the army would not be affected and that in action he should retain his command. On the bloody field of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, he commanded the right wing, as he did at the battle of Tiverton Heights. He was in command of the army in 1780, dur- ing the absence of Washington, and was president of the court-martial that tried and condemned Major Andre. After General Gates' defeat at Camden, North Carolina, in the summer of 1780, General Greene was ap- pointed to the command of the southern army. He sent out a force under General Morgan who defeated General Tarleton at Cowpens, January 17, 178 1 . On joining his lieuten- ant, in February, he found himself out num- bered by the British and retreated in good order to Virginia, but being reinforced re- turned to North Carolina where he fought the battle of Guilford, and a few days later compelled the retreat of Lord Cornwallis. The British were followed by Greene part of the way, when the American army marched into South Carolina. After vary- ing success he fought the battle of Eutaw Springs, September 8, 1781. For the latter battle and its glorious consequences, which virtually closed the war in the Carolinas, Greene received a medal from Congress and many valuable grants of land from the colonies of North and South Carolina and Georgia. On the return of peace, after a year spent in Rhode Island, General Greene took up his residence on his estate near Savannah, Georgia, where he died June 19, 1786. EDGAR ALLEN POE.— Among the many great literary men whom this country has produced, there is perhaps no name more widely known than that of Ed- gar Allen Poe. He was born at Boston, Massachusetts, February 19, 1809. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Arnold) Poe, both actors, the mother said to have been the natural daughter of Benedict Ar- nold. The parents died while Edgar was To COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY, still a child and he was adopted by John Allen, a wealthy and influential resident of Richmond, Virginia. Edgar was sent to school at Stoke, Newington, England, where he remained until he was thirteen years old; was prepared for college by pri- vate tutors, and in 1 826 entered the Virginia University at Charlottesville. He made rapid progress in his studies, and was dis- tinguished for his scholarship, but was ex- pelled within a year for gambling, after which for several years he resided with his benefactor at Richmond. He then went to Baltimore, and in 1829 published a 71 -page pamphlet called "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems," which, however, at- tracted no attention and contained nothing of particular merit. In 1830 he was ad- mitted as a cadet at West Point, but was expelled about a year later for irregulari- ties. Returning to the home of Mr. Allen he remained for some time, and finally quarrelled with his benefactor and enlisted as a private soldier in the U. S. army, but remained only a short time. Soon after this, in 1833, Poe won several prizes for literary work, and as a result secured the position of editor of trhe "Southern Liter- ary Messenger," at Richmond, Virginia. Here he married his cousin, Virginia Clemm, who clung to him with fond devo- tion through all the many trials that came to them until her death in January, 1848. Poe remained with the "Messenger" for several years, writing meanwhile many tales, reviews, essays and poems. He aft- erward earned a precarious living by his pen in New York for a time; in 1839 be- came editor of "Burton's Gentleman's Magazine" ; in 1840 to 1842 was editor of " Graham's Magazine," and drifted around from one place to another, returning to New York in 1844. In 1845 his best known production, "The Raven," appeared in the "Whig Review," and gained him a reputation which is now almost world-wide. He then acted as editor and contributor on various magazines and periodicals until the death of his faithful wife in 1848. In the summer of 1849 he was engaged to be mar- ried to a lady of fortune in Richmond, Vir- ginia, and the day set for the wedding. He started for New York to make prepara- tions for the event, but, it is said, began drinking, was attacked with dilirium tre- mens in Baltimore and was removed to a hospital, where he died, October 7, 1849. The works of Edgar Allen Poe have beer, repeatedly published since his death, both in Europe and America, and have attained an immense popularity. HORATIO GATES, one of the prom- inent figures in the American war for Independence, was not a native of the col- onies but was born in England in 1728. In early life he entered the British army and attained the rank of major. At the capture of Martinico he was aide to General Monk- ton and after the peace of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, he was among the first troops that landed at Halifax. He was with Braddock at his defeat in 1755, and was there severe- ly wounded. At the conclusion of the French and Indian war Gates purchased an estate in Virginia, and, resigning from the British army, settled down to life as a planter. On the breaking out of the Rev- olutionary war he entered the service of the colonies and was made adjutant-general of the Continental forces with the rank o\ brigadier-general. He accompanied Wash- ington when he assumed the command ol the army. In June, 1776, he was appoint- ed to the command of the army of Canada, but was superseded in May of the following COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. year by General Schuyler. In August, 1777, however, the command of that army was restored to General Gates and Septem- ber 19 he fought the battle of Bemis Heights. October 7, the same year, he won the battle of Stillwater, or Saratoga, and October 17 received the surrender of General Burgoyne and his army, the pivotal point of the war. This gave him a brilliant reputation. June 13, 1780, General Gates was appointed to the command of the southern military division, and August 16 of that year suffered defeat at the hands of Lord Cornwallis, at Camden, North Car- olina. In December following he was superseded in the command by General Nathaniel Greene. On the signing of the peace treaty Gen- eral Gates retired to his plantation in Berkeley county, Virginia, where he lived until 1790, when, emancipating all his slaves, he removed to New York City, where ' he resided until his death, April 10, 1806. LYMAN J. GAGE.— When President Mc- Kinley selected Lyman J. Gage as sec- retary of the treasury he chose one of the most eminent financiers of the century. Mr. Gage was born June 28, 1836, at De Ruy- ter, Madison county, New York, and was of English descent. He went to Rome, New York, with his parents when he was ten years old, and received his early education in the Rome Academy. Mr. Gage gradu- ated from the same, and his first position was that of a clerk in the post office. When he was fifteen years of age he was detailed as mail agent on the Rome & Watertown R. R. until the postmaster-general appointed regular agents for the route. In 1854, when he was in his eighteenth year, he entered the Oneida Central Bank at Rome as a junior clerk at a salary of one hundred dol- lars per year. Being unable at the end of one year and a half's service to obtain an increase in salary he determined to seek a wider field of labor. Mr. Gage set out in the fall of 1855 and arrived in Chicago, Illinois, on October 3, and soon obtained a situation in Nathan Cobb's lumber yard and planing mill. He remained there three years as a bookkeeper, teamster, etc., and left on account of change in the management. But not being able to find anything else to do he accepted the position of night watchman in the place for a period of six weeks. He then became a bookkeeper for the Mer- chants Saving, Loan and Trust Company at a salary of five hundred dollars per year. He rapidly advanced in the service of this company and in 1868 he was made cashier. Mr. Gage was next offered the position of cashier of the First National Bank and ac- cepted the offer. He became the president of the First National Bank of Chicago Jan- uary 24, 1 89 1, and in 1897 he was appointed secretary of the treasury. His ability as a financier and the prominent part he took in the discussion of financial affairs while presi- dent of the great Chicago bank gave him a national reputation. ANDREW JACKSON, the seventh pres- ident of the United States, was born at the Waxhaw settlement, Union county, North Carolina, March 15, 1767. His parents were Scotch-Irish, natives of Carr- ickfergus, who came to this country in 1665 and settled on Twelve-Mile creek, a trib- utary of the Catawba. His father, who was a poor farm laborer, died shortly be- fore Andrew's birth, when the mother re- moved to Waxhaw, where some relatives lived. Andrew's education was very limited, he showing no aptitude for study. In 1780 when but thirteen years of age, he and his n COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. brother Robert volunteered to serve in the American partisan troops under General Sumter, and witnessed the defeat at Hang- ing Rock. The following year the boys were both taken prisoners by the enemy and endured brutal treatment from the British officers while confined at Camden. They both took the small pox, when the mother procured their exchange but Robert died shortly after. The mother died in Charleston of ship fever, the same year. Young Jackson, now in destitute cir- cumstances, worked for about six months in a saddler*s shop, and then turned school master, although but little fitted for the position. He now began to think of a pro- fession and at Salisbury, North Carolina, entered upon the study of law, but from all accounts gave but little attention to his books, being one of the most roistering, rollicking fellows in that town, indulging in many of the vices of his time. In 1786 he was admitted to the bar and in 1788 re- moved to Nashville, then in North Carolina, with the appointment of public prosecutor, then an office of little honor or emolument, but requiring much nerve, for which young Jackson was already noted. Two years later, when Tennessee became a territory he was appointed by Washington to the position of United States attorney for that district. In 1791 he married Mrs. Rachel Robards, a daughter of Colonel John Don- elson, who was supposed at the time to have been divorced from her former hus- band that year by act of legislature of Vir- ginia, but two years later, on finding that this divorce was not legal, and a new bill of separation being granted by the courts of Kentucky, they were remarried in 1793. This was used as a handle by his oppo- nents in the political campaign afterwards. Jackson was untiring in his efforts as United States attorney and obtained much influence. He was chosen a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of 1796, when Tennessee became a state and was its first represent- ative in congress. In 1797 he was chosen United States senator, but resigned the fol- lowing year to accept a seat on the supreme court of Tennessee which he held until 1804. He was elected major-general of the militia of that state in 1801. In 1804, being unsuccessful in obtaining the govern- orship of Louisiana, the new territory, he retired from public life to the Hermitage, his plantation. On the outbreak of the war with Great Britain in 1812 he tendered his services to the government and went to New Orleans with the Tennessee troops in January, 181 3. In March of that year he was ordered to disband his troops, but later marched against the Cherokee Indians, de- feating them at Talladega, Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa. Having now a national reputation, he was appointed major-general in the United States army and was sent against the British in Florida. He con- ducted the defence of Mobile and seized Pensacola. He then went with his troops to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he gained the famous victory of January 8, 1815. In 18x7-18 he conducted a war against the Seminoles, and in 1821 was made governor of the new territory of Florida. In 1823 he was elected United States senator, but in 1 824 was the contestant with J. Q. Adams for the presidency. Four years later he was elected president, and served two terms. In 1832 he took vigorous action against the nullifiers of South Carolina, and the next year removed the public money from the United States bank. During his second term the national debt was extinguished. At the close of his administration he retired to the Hermitage, where he died June 8, 1845. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 78 ANDREW CARNEGIE, the largest manu- facturer of pig-iron, steel rails and coke in the world, well deserves a place among America's celebrated men. He was born November 25, 1835, at Dunfermline, Scotland, and emigrated to the United States with his father in 1845, settling in Pittsburg. Two years later Mr. Carnegie began his business career by attending a small station- ary engine. This work did not suit him and he became a telegraph messenger with the Atlantic and Ohio Co., and later he became an operator, and was one of the first to read telegraphic signals by sound. Mr. Carnegie was afterward sent to the Pittsburg office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., as clerk to the superintendent and manager of the telegraph lines. While in this position he made the acquaintance of Mr. Woodruff, the inventor of the sleeping-car. Mr. Carnegie immediately became interested and was one of the organizers of the company for its con- struction after the railroad had adopted it, and the success of this venture gave him the nucleus of his wealth. He was promoted to the superintendency of the Pittsburg division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and about this time was one of the syndicate that purchased the Storey farm on Oil Creek which cost forty thousand dollars and in one year it yielded over one million dollars in cash dividends. Mr. Carnegie later was as- sociated with others in establishing a rolling- mill, and from this has grown the most ex- tensive and complete system of iron and steel industries ever controlled by one indi- vidual, embracing the Edgar Thomson Steel Works; Pittsburg Bessemer Steel Works; Lucy Furnaces; Union Iron Mills; Union Mill; Keystone Bridge Works; Hart- man. Steel Works; Frick Coke Co.; Scotia Ore Mines. Besides directing his immense iron industries he owned eighteen English newspapers which he ran in the interest o: the Radicals. He has also devoted large sums of money to benevolent and educational purposes. In 1879 he erected commodious swimming baths for the people of Dunferm- line, Scotland, and in the following year gave forty thousand dollars for a free library. Mr. Carnegie gave fifty thousand dollars to Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1884 to found what is now called "Carnegie Lab- oratory," and in 1885 gave five hundred thousand dollars to Pittsburg for a public library. He also gave two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a music hall and library in Allegheny City in 1886, and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Edinburgh, Scot- land, for a free library. He also established free libraries at Braddock, Pennsylvania, and other places for the benefit of his em- ployes. He also published the following works, "An American Four-in-hand in Britain;" "Round the World;" "Trium- phant Democracy; or Fifty Years' March of the Republic." GEORGE H. THOMAS, the " Rock of Chickamauga," one of the best known commanders during the late Civil war, was born in Southampton county, Virginia, July 31, 1 8 16, his parents being of Welsh and French origin respectively. In 1836 young Thomas was appointed a cadet at the Mili- tary Academy, at West Point, from which he graduated in 1840, and was promoted to the office of second lieutenant in the Third Artillery. Shortly after, with his company, he went to Florida, where he served for two years against the Seminole Indians. In 1 84 1 he was brevetted first lieutenant for gallant conduct. He remained in garrison in the south and southwest until 1845, at which date with the regiment he joined the army under General Taylor, and participat- 74 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. ed yz +he defense of Fort Brown, the storm- ing of Monterey and the battle of Buena Vista. After the latter event he remained in garrison, now brevetted major, until the close of the Mexican war. After a year spent in Florida, Captain Thomas was or- dered to West Point, where he served as in- structor until 1854. He then was trans- ferred to California. In May, 1855, Thom- as was appointed major of the Second Cav- alry, with whom he spent five years in Texas. Although a southern man, and surrounded by brother officers who all were afterwards tn the Confederate service, Major Thomas never swerved from his allegiance to the government. A. S. Johnston was the col- onel of the regiment, R. E. Lee the lieuten- ant-colonel, and W. J. Hardee, senior ma- jor, while among the younger officers were Hood, Fitz Hugh Lee, Van Dorn and Kirby Smith. When these officers left the regi- ment to take up arms for the Confederate cause he remained with it, and April 17th, 1 86 1, crossed the Potomac into his native state, at its head. After taking an active part in the opening scenes of the war on the Poto- mac and Shenandoah, in August, 1861, he was promoted to be brigadier-general and transferred to the Army of the Cumberland. January 19-20, 1862, Thomas defeated Crittenden at Mill Springs, and this brought him into notice and laid the foundation of his fame. He continued in command of his division until September 20, 1862, except during the Corinth campaign when he com- manded the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee. He was in command of the latter at the battle of Perryville, also, Octo- ber 8, 1862. On the division of the Army of the Cum- berland into corps, January 9, 1863, Gen- eral Thomas was assigned to the command of the Fourteenth, and at the battle of Chick- amauga, after the retreat of Rosecrans ; firmly held his own against the hosts of Gen- eral Bragg. A history of his services from that on would be a history of the war in the southwest. On September 27, 1864, Gen- eral Thomas was given command in Ten- nessee, and after organizing his army, de- feated General Hood in the battle of Nash- ville, December 15 and 16, 1864. Much complaint was made before this on account of what they termed Thomas' slowness, and he was about to be superseded because he would not strike until he got ready, but when the blow was struck General Grant was the first to place on record this vindica- tion of Thomas' judgment. He received a vote of thanks from Congress, and from the legislature of Tennessee a gold medal. Af- ter the close of the war General Thomas had command of several of the military di- visions, and died at San Francisco, Cali- fornia, March 28, 1870. GEORGE BANCROFT, one of the most eminent American historians, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Worcester, October 3, 1800, and a son of Aaron Bancroft, D. D. The father, Aaron Ban- croft, was born at Reading, Massachusetts, November 10, 1755. He graduated at Harvard in 1778, became a minister, and for half a century was rated as one of the ablest preachers in New England. He was also a prolific writer and published a number of works among which was " Life of George Washington." Aaron Bancroft died August 19, 1839. The subject of our present biography, George Bancroft, graduated at Harvard in 1817, and the following year entered the University of Gottingen, where he studied history and philology under the most emi- nent teachers, and in 1820 received the de- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 75 gree of doctor of philosophy at Gottingen. Upon his return home he published a volume of poems, and later a translation of Heeren's " Reflections on the Politics of Ancient Greece." In 1834 he produced the first volume of his " History of the United States," this being followed by other vol- umes at different intervals later. This was bis greatest work and ranks as the highest authority, taking its place among the great- est of American productions. George Bancroft was appointed secretary of the navy by President Polk in 1845, but resigned in 1846 and became minister pleni- potentiary to England. In 1849 he retired from public life and took up his residence at Washington, D. C. In 1867 he was ap- pointed United States minister to the court of Berlin and negotiated thetreatyby which Ger- mans coming to the United States were re- leased from their allegiance to the govern- ment of their native land. In 1871 he was minister plenipotentiary to the German em- pire and served until 1874. The death of George Bancroft occurred January 17, 1891. GEORGE GORDON MEADE, a fa- mous Union general, was born at Cadiz, Spain, December 30, 1815, his father being United States naval agent at that port. After receiving a good education he entered the West Point Military Academy in 1 83 1. From here he was graduated June 30, 1835, and received the rank of second lieutenant of artillery. He par- ticipated in the Seminole war, but resigned from the army in October, 1836. He en- tered upon the profession of civil engineer, which he followed for several years, part of the time in the service of the government in making surveys of the mouth of the Missis- sippi river. His report and results of some experiments made by him in this service gained Meade much credit. He also was employed in surveying the boundary line of Texas and the northeastern boundary line between the United States and Canada. In 1842 he was reappointed in the army to the position of second lieutenant of engineers. During the Mexican war he served with dis- tinction on the staff of General Taylor in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma and the storming of Monterey. He received his brevet of first lieutenant for the latter action. In 1 8 5 1 he was made full first lieutenant in his corps; a captain in 1856, and major soon after. At the close of the war with Mexico he was employed in light- house construction and in geodetic surveys until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in which he gained great reputation. In August, 1 861 , he was made brigadier-general of volunteers and placed in command of the second brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves, a division of the First Corps in the Army of the Potomac. In the campaign of 1862, under McClellan, Meade took an active part, being present at the battles of Mechan- icsville, Gaines' Mill and Glendale, in the latter of which he was severely wounded. On rejoining his command he was given a division and distinguished himself at its head in the battles of South Mountain and Antie- tam. During the latter, on the wounding of General Hooker, Meade was placed in command of the corps and was himself slightly wounded. For services he was promoted, November, 1862, to the rank of major-general of volunteers. On the recovery of General Hooker General Meade returned to his division and in December, 1862, at Fredericksburg, led an attack which penetrated Lee's right line and swept to his rear. Being outnumbered and un- supported, he finally was driven back. The same month Meade was assigned to the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. command of the Fifth Corps, and at Chan- cellorsville in May, 1863, his sagacity and ability so struck General Hooker that when the latter asked to be relieved of the com- mand, in June of the same year, he nomi- nated Meade as his successor. June 28, 1863, President Lincoln commissioned Gen- eral Meade commander-in-chief of the Army of the Potomac, then scattered and moving hastily through Pennsylvania to the great and decisive battlefield at Gettysburg, at which he was in full command. With the victory on those July days the name of Meade will ever be associated. From that time until the close of the war he com- manded the Army of the Potomac. In 1864 General Grant, being placed at the head of all the armies, took up his quarters with the Army of the Potomac. From that time until the surrender of Lee at Appo- matox Meade's ability shone conspicuously, and his tact in the delicate position in lead- ing his army under the eye of his superior officer commanded the respect and esteem of General Grant. For services Meade was promoted to the rank of major-general, and on the close of hostilities, in July, 1865, was assigned to the command of the military division of the Atlantic, with headquarters at Philadelphia. This post he held, with the exception of a short period on detached duty in Georgia, until his death, which took place November 6, 1872. DAVID CROCKETT was a noted hunter and scout, and also one of the earliest of American humorists. He was born Au- gust 17, 1786, in Tennessee, and was one of the most prominent men of his locality, serving as representative in congress from 1827 until 1 83 1. He attracted consider- able notice while a member of congress and was closely associated with General Jack- son, of whom he was a personal friend. He went to Texas and enlisted in the Texan army at the time of the revolt of Texas against Mexico and gained a wide reputa- tion as a scout. He was one of the famous one hundred and forty men under Colonel W. B. Travis who were besieged in Fort Alamo, near San Antonio, Texas, by Gen- eral Santa Anna with some five thousand Mexicans on February 23, 1836. The fort was defended for ten days, frequent assaults being repelled with great slaughter, over one thousand Mexicans being killed or wounded, while not a man in the fort was injured. Finally, on March 6, three as- saults were made, and in the hand-to-hand fight that followed the last, the Texans were wofully outnumbered and overpowered. They fought desperately with clubbed mus- kets till only six were left alive, including W. B. Travis, David Crockett and James Bowie. These surrendered under promise of protection; but when they were brought before Santa Anna he ordered them all to be cut to pieces. HENRY WATTERSON, one of the most conspicuous figures in the history of American journalism, was born at Wash- ington, District of Columbia, February 16, 1840. His boyhood days were mostly spent in the city of his birth, where his father, Harvey M. Watterson, was editor of the "Union," a well known journal. Owing to a weakness of the eyes, which interfered with a systematic course of study, young Watterson was educated almost en- tirely at home. A successful college career was out of the question, but he acquired a good knowledge of music, literature and art from private tutors, but the most valuable part of the training he received was by as- sociating with his father and the throng ot COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAI'I/y. 77 public men whom he met in Washington in the stirring days immediately preceding the Civil war. He began his journalistic career at an early age as dramatic and musical critic, and in 1858, became editor of the "Democratic Review" and at the same time contributed to the "States," a journal of liberal opinions published in Washington. In this he remained until the breaking out of the war, when the "States," opposing the administration, was suppressed, and young Watterson removed to Tennessee. He next appears as editor of the Nashville "Republican Banner," the most influential paper in the state at that time. After the occupation of Nashville by the Federal troops, Watterson served as a volunteer staff officer in the Confederate service until the close of the war, with the exception of a year spent in editing the Chattanooga "Rebel." On the close of the war he returned to Nashville and re- sumed his connection with the "Banner." After a trip to Europe he assumed control of the Louisville "Journal," which he soon combined with the "Courier" and the "Democrat" of that place, founding the well-known "Courier-Journal," the first number of which appeared November 8, 1868. Mr. Watterson also represented his district in congress for several years. PATRICK SARSFIELD GILMORE, one of the most successful and widely known bandmasters and musicians of the last half century in America, was born in Ballygar, Ireland, on Christmas day, 1829. He attended a public school until appren- ticed to a wholesale merchant at Athlone, of the brass band of which town he soon became a member. His passion for music conflicting with the duties of a mercantile life, his position as clerk was exchanged for that of musical instructor to the young sons of his employer. At the age of nineteen he sailed for America and two days after his arrival in Boston was put in charge of the band instrument department of a prominent music house. In the interests of the pub- lications of this house he organized a minstrel company known as " Ord way's Eolians," with which he first achieved success as a cornet soloist. Later on he was called the best E-flat cornetist in the United States. He became leader, successively, of the Suf- folk, Boston Brigade and Salem bands. During his connection with the latter he inaugurated the famous Fourth of July con- certs on Boston Common, since adopted as a regular programme for the celebration of Independence Day. In 1858 Mr. Gilmore founded the organization famous thereafter as Gilmore's Band. At the outbreak of the Civil war this band was attached to the Twenty-Fourth .Massachusetts Infantry. Later, when the economical policy of dis- pensing with music had proved a mistake, Gilmore was entrusted with the re-organiza- tion of state military bands, and upon his arrival at New Orleans with his own band was made bandmaster-general by General Banks. On the inauguration of Governor Hahn, later on, in Lafayette square, New Orleans, ten thousand children, mostly of Confederate parents, rose to the baton of Gilmore and, accompanied by six hundred instruments, thirty-six guns and the united fire of three regiments of infantry, sang the Star-Spangled Banner, America and other patriotic Union airs. In June, 1867, Mr. Gilmore conceived a national musical festi- val, which was denounced as a chimerical undertaking, but he succeeded and June 15. 1869, stepped upon the stage of the Boston Colosseum, a vast structure erected for the occasion, and in the presence of over fifty 78 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. thousand people lifted his baton over an orchestra of one thousand and a chorus of ten thousand. On the 17th of June, 1872, he opened a still greater festival in Boston, when, in addition to an orchestra of two thousand and a chorus of twenty thousand, were present the Band of the Grenadier Guards, of London, of the Garde Repub- licans, of Paris, of Kaiser Franz, of Berlin, and one from Dublin, Ireland, together with Johann Strauss, Franz Abt and-many other soloists, vocal and instrumental. Gilmore's death occurred September 24, 1892. MARTIN VAN BUREN was the eighth president of the United States, 1837 to 1 84 1. He was of Dutch extraction, and his ancestors were among the earliest set- tlers on the banks of the Hudson. He was born December 5, 1782, at Kinderhook, New York. Mr. Van Buren took up the study of law at the age of fourteen and took an active part in political matters before he had attained his majority. He commenced the practice of law in 1803 at his native town, and in 1809 he removed to Hudson, Columbia county, New York, where he spent seven years gaining strength and wis- dom from his contentions at the bar with some of the ablest men of the profession. Mr. Van Buren was elected to the state senate, and from 181 5 until 18 19 he was at- torney-general of the state. He was re- elected to the senate in 18 16, and in 18 18 he was one of the famous clique of politi- cians known as the "Albany regency." Mr. Van Buren was a member of the con- vention for the revision of the state consti- tution, in 1 82 1. In the same year he was elected to the United States senate and served his term in a manner that caused his re-election to that body in 1827, but re- signed the following year as he had been elected governor of New York. Mr. Van Buren was appointed by President Jackson as secretary of state in March, 1829, but resigned in 1 83 1, and during the recess of congress he was appointed minister to England. The senate, however, when it convened in December refused to ratify the appointment. In May, 1832, he was nominated by the Democrats as their candidate for vice-presi- dent on the ticket with Andrew Jackson, and he was elected in the following Novem- ber. He received the nomination to suc- ceed President Jackson in 1-836, as the Democratic candidate, and in the electoral college he received one hundred and seventy votes out of two hundred and eighty-three, and was inaugurated March 4, 1837. His administration was begun at a time of great business depression, and unparalled financial distress, which caused the suspension of specie payments by the banks. Nearly every bank in the country was forced to suspend specie payment, and no less than two hundred and fifty-four business houses failed in New York in one week. The President urged the adoption of the inde- pendent treasury idea, which passed through the senate twice but each time it was de- feated in the house. However the measure ultimately became a law near the close of President Van Buren's term of office. An- other important measure that was passed was the pre-emption law that gave the act- ual settlers preference in the purchase of public lands. The question of slavery had begun to assume great preponderance dur- ing this administration, and a great conflict was tided over by the passage of a resolu- tion that prohibited petitions or papers that in any way related to slavery to be acted upon. In the Democratic convention of 1840 President Van Buren secured the nomination for re-election on that ticket COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir. 79 without opposition, but in the election he only received the votes of seven states, his opponent, W. H. Harrison, being elected president. In 1S48 Mr. Van Buren was the candidate of the " Free-Soilers," but was unsuccessful. After this he retired from public life and spent the remainder of his life on his estate at Kinderhook, where he died July 24, 1862. W INFIELD SCOTT, a distinguished American general, was born June 13, 1786, near Petersburg, Dinwiddie county, Virginia, and was educated at the William and Mary College. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, and in 1808 he accepted an appointment as captain of light artillery, and was ordered to New Orleans. In June, 1 812, he was promoted to be lieutenant- colonel, and on application was sent to the frontier, and reported to General Smyth, near Buffalo. He was made adjutant-gen- eral with the rank of a colonel, in March, 1 8 1 3, and the same month attained the colo- nelcy of his regiment. He participated in the principal battles of the war and was wounded many times, and at the close of the war he was voted a gold medal by con- gress for his services. He was a writer of considerable merit on military topics, and he gave to the military science, "General Regulations of the Army " and " System of Infantry and Rifle Practice." He took a prominent part in the Black Hawk war, and at the beginning of the Mexican war he was appointed to take the command of the army. Gen. Scott immediately assembled his troops at Lobos Island from which he moved by transports to Vera Cruz, which he took March 29, 1847, and rapidly "fol- lowed up his first success. He fought the battles of Cerro Gordo and Jalapa, both of which he won, and proceeded to Pueblo where he was preceded by Worth's division which had taken the town and waited for the coming of Scott. The army was forced to wait here for supplies, and August 7th, General Scott started on his victorious march to the city of Mexico with ten thou- sand, seven hundred and thirty-eight men. The battles of Contreras, Cherubusco and San Antonio were fought August 19-20, and on the 24th an armistice was agreed upon, but as the commissioners could not agree on the terms of settlement, the fight- ing was renewed at Molino Del Rey, and the Heights of Chapultepec were carried by the victorious army of General Scott. He gave the enemy no respite, however, and vigorously followed up his advantages. On September 14, he entered the City of Mexico and dictated the terms of surrender in the very heart of the Mexican Republic. General Scott was offered the presidency of the Mexican Republic, but declined. Con- gress extended him a vote of thanks and ordered a gold medal be struck in honor of his generalship and bravery. He was can- didate for the presidency on the Whig plat form but was defeated. He was honored by having the title of lieutenant-general con- ferred upon him in 1 8 5 5 . At the beginning of the Civil war he was too infirm to take charge of the army, but did signal service in be- half of the government. He retired from the service November 1, 1861, and in 1864 he published his "Autobiography." Gen- eral Scott died at West Point, May 29, 1 866 EDWARD EVERETT HALE for many years occupied a high place among the most honored of America's citizens. As a preacher he ranks among the foremost in the New England states, but to the gen eral public he is best known through his writings. Born in Boston, Mass., April 3, 90 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 1822, a descendant of one of the most prominent New England families, he enjoyed in his youth many of the advantages denied the majority of boys. He received his pre- paratory schooling at the Boston Latin School, after which he finished his studies at Harvard where he was graduated with high honors in 1839. Having studied theology at home, Mr. Hale embraced the ministry and in 1846 became pastor of a Unitarian church in Worcester, Massachusetts, a post which he occupied about ten years. He then, in 1856, became pastor of the South Congregational church in Boston, over which he presided many years. Mr. Hale also found time to write a great many literary works of a high class. Among many other well-known productions 5f his are " The Rosary," " Margaret Per- cival in America," "Sketches of Christian iistory," "Kansas and Nebraska," "Let- ters on Irish Emigration," " Ninety Days' Worth of Europe," " If, Yes, and Perhaps," "Ingham Papers," "Reformation," "Level Best and Other Stories, " ' ' Ups and Downs, " "Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," " In His Name," "Our New Crusade," "Work- ingmen's Homes," " Boys' Heroes," etc., etc., besides many others which might be mentioned. One of his works, "In His Name," has earned itself enduring fame by the good deeds it has called forth. The numerous associations known as ' 'The King's Daughters," which has accomplished much good, owe their existence to the story men- tioned. DAVID GLASCOE FARRAGUT stands pre-eminent as one of the greatest na- val officers of the world. He was born at Campbell's Station, East Tennessee, July 5, 1 801, and entered the navy of the United States as a midshipman. He had the good fortune to serve under Captain David Por- ter, who commanded the " Essex," and by whom he was taught the ideas of devotion to duty from which he never swerved dur- ing all his career. In 1823 Mr. Farragut took part in a severe fight, the result of which was the suppression of piracy in the West Indies. He then entered upon the regular duties of his profession which was only broken into by a year's residence with Charles Folsom, our consul at Tunis, who was afterwards a distinguished professor at Harvard. Mr. Farragut was one of the best linguists in the navy. He had risen through the different grades of the service until the war of 1861-65 found him a captain resid- ing at Norfolk, Virginia. He removed with his family to Hastings, on the Hudson, and hastened to offer his services to the Federal government, and as the capture of New Orleans had been resolved upon, Farragut was chosen to command the expedition. His force consisted of the West Gulf block- ading squadron and Porter's mortar flotilla. In January, 1862, he hoisted his pennant at the mizzen peak of the "Hartford" at Hampton roads, set sail from thence on the 3rd of February and reached Ship Island on the 20th of the same month. A council of war was held on the 20th of April, in which it was decided that whatever was to be done must be done quickly. The signal was made from the flagship and accordingly the fleet weighed anchor at 1:55 on the morning of April 24th, and at 3:30 the whole force was under way. The history of this brilliant strug- gle is well known, and the glory ofit made Far- ragut a hero and also made him rear admir- al. In the summer of 1 862 he ran the batteries at Vicksburg, and on March 14, 1863, he passed through the fearful and destructive fire from Port Hudson, and opened up com- munication with Flag-officer Porter, who COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. N had control of the upper Mississippi. On May 24th he commenced active operations against that fort in conjunction with the army and it fell on July 9th. Mr. Farragut filled the measure of his fame on the 5th of Au- gust, 1864, by his great victory, the capture of Mobile Bay and the destruction of the Confederate fleet, including the formidable ram Tennessee. For this victory the rank of admiral was given to Mr. Farragut. He died at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Au- gust 4, 1870. GEORGE W. CHILDS, a philanthropist whose remarkable personality stood for the best and highest type of American citizenship, and whose whole life was an object lesson in noble living, was born in 1829 at Baltimore, Maryland, of humble parents, and spent his early life in unremit- ting toil. He was a self-made man in the fullest sense of the word, and gained his great wealth by his own efforts. He was a man of very great influence, and this, in conjunction with his wealth, would have been, in the hands of other men, a means of getting them political preferment, but Mr. Childs steadily declined any suggestions that would bring him to figure prominently in public affairs. He did not choose to found a financial dynasty, but devoted all his powers to the helping of others, with the most enlightened beneficence and broadest sympathy. Mr. Childs once remarked that his greatest pleasure in life was in doing good to others. He always despised mean- ness, and one of his objects of life was to prove that a man could be liberal and suc- cessful at the same time. Upon these lines Mr. Childs made a name for himself as the director of one of the representative news- papers of America, "The Philadelphia Pub- lic Ledger," which was owned jointly by 5 himself and the Drexel estate, and which he edited for thirty years. He acquired con- trol of the paper at a time when it was be- ing published at a heavy loss, set it upon a firm basis of prosperity, and he made it more than a money-making machine — he made it respected as an exponent of the best side of journalism, and it stands as a monument to his sound judgment and up- right business principles. Mr. Childs' char- itable repute brought him many applications for assistance, and he never refused to help any one that was deserving of aid; and not only did he help those who asked, but he would by careful inquiry find those who needed aid but were too proud to solicit it. He was a considerable employer of labor and his liberality was almost unparalleled. The death of this great and good man oc- curred February 3d, 1894. PATRICK" HENRY won his way to un- dying fame in the annals of the early history of the United States by introducing into the house of burgesses his famous reso- lution against the Stamp Act, which he car- ried through, after a stormy debate, by a majority of one. At this time he exclaimed " Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Crom r well and George III " (here he was inter- rupted by cries of " treason ") " may profit by their example. If this be treason make the most of it." Patrick Henry was born at Studley, Hanover county, Virginia, May 29, 1736, and was a son of Colonel John Henry, a magistrate and school teacher of Aberdeen, Scotland, and a nephew of Robertson, the historian. He received his education from his father, and was married at the age of eighteen. He was twice bankrupted before he had reached his twenty-fourth year, when after six weeks of study he was admitted to 84 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. the bar. He worked for three years with- out a case and finally was applauded for his plea for the people's rights and gained im- mense popularity. After his famous Stamp Act resolution he was the leader of the pa- triots in Virginia. In 1769 he was admitted to practice in the general courts and speed- ily won a fortune by his distinguished ability as a speaker. He was the first speaker of the General Congress at Philadelphia in 1774. He was for a time a colonel of militiain 1775, and from 1776 to 1779 and 1 78 1 to 1786 he was governor of Virginia. For a number of years he retired from pub- lic life and was tendered and declined a number of important political offices, and in March, 1789, he was elected state senator but did not take his seat on account of his death which occurred at Red Hill, Charlotte county, Virginia, June 6, 1799. BENEDICT ARNOLD, an American general and traitor of the Revolution- ary war, is one of the noted characters in American history. He was born in Nor- wich, Connecticut, January 3, 1740. He ran away and enlisted in the army when young, but deserted in a short time. He then became a merchant at New Haven, Connecticut, but failed. In 1775 he was commissioned colonel in the Massachusetts militia, and in the autumn of that year was placed in command of one thousand men for the invasion of Canada. He marched his army through the forests of Maine and joined General Montgomery before Quebec. Their combined forces attacked that city on December 31, 1775, and Montgomery was killed, and Arnold, severely wounded, was compelled to retreat and endure a rigorous winter a few miles from the city, where they were at the mercy of the Canadian troops had they cared to attack them. On his re- turn he was raised to the rank of brigadier- general. He was given command of a small flotilla on Lake Champlain, with which he encountered an immense force, and though defeated, performed many deeds of valor. He resented the action of congress in pro- moting a number of his fellow officers and neglecting himself. In 1777 he was made major-general, and under General Gates at Bemis Heights fought valiantly. For some reason General Gates found fault with his conduct and ordered him under arrest, and he was kept in his tent until the battle of Stillwater was waxing hot, when Arnold mounted his horse and rode to the front of his old troop, gave command to charge, and rode like a mad man into the thickest of the fight and was not overtaken by Gates' courier until he had routed the enemy and fell wounded. Upon his recovery he was made general, and was placed in command at Philadelphia. Here he married, and his acts of rapacity soon resulted in a court- martial. He was sentenced to be repri- manded by the commander-in-chief, and though Washington performed this duty with utmost delicacy and consideration, it was never forgiven. Arnold obtained com- mand at West Point, the most important post held by the Americans, in 1780, and immediately offered to surrender it to Sir Henry Clinton, British commander at New York. Major Andre was sent to arrange details with Arnold, but on his return trip to New York he was captured by Americans, the plot was detected, and Andre suffered the death penalty as a spy. Arnold es- caped, and was paid about $40,000 by the British for his treason and was made briga- dier-general. He afterward commanded an expedition that plundered a portion of Vir- ginia, and another th-at burned New Lon- don, Connecticut, and captured Fort Trum- C OMPENDIUM OF BIO G R. M'llV. 85 bull, the commandant of which Arnold mur- dered with the sword he had just surren- dered. He passed the latter part of his life in England, universally despised, and died in London June 14, 1801. ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, one of the most brilliant orators that America has produced, also a lawyer of considerable merit, won most of his fame as a lecturer. Mr. Ingersoll was born August 24, 1833, at Dryden, Gates county, New York, and received his education in the common schools. He went west at the age of twelve, and for a short time he attended an academy in Tennessee, and also taught school in that state. He began the practice of law in the southern part of Illinois in 1854. Colonel Ingersoll's principal fame was made in the lecture room by his lectures in which he ridiculed religious faith and creeds and criti- cised the Bible and the Christian religion. He was the orator of the day in the Decora- tion Day celebration in the city of New York in 1882 and his oration was widely com- mended. He first attracted political notice in the convention at Cincinnati in 1876 by his brilliant eulogy on James G. Blaine. He practiced law in Peoria, Illinois, for a num- ber of years, but later located in the city of New York. He published the follow- ing: "The Gods and other Lectures;" "The Ghosts;" "Some Mistakes of Moses;" "What Shall I Do To Be Saved;" " Inter- views on Talmage and Presbyterian Cate- chism;" The "North American Review Controversy;" "Prose Poems;" " A Vision of War;" etc. JOSEPH ECCLESTON JOHNSTON, on account of feeble health, Colonel Burr resigned from the army. He took up the practice of law in Albany, New York, but subsequently removed to New York City. In 1789 he became attorney-general of that state. In 1791 he was chosen to represent the state of New York in the United States senate and held that position for six years. In 1800 he and Thomas Jefferson were both candidates for the presidency, and there being a tie in the electoral college, each having seventy-three votes, the choice was left to congress, who gave the first place to Jefferson and made Aaron Burr vice-presi- dent, as the method then was. In 1 804 Mr. Burr and his great rival, Alexander Hamil- ton, met in a duel, which resulted in the death of the latter, Burr losing thereby con- 112 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. siderable political and social influence. He soon embarked in a wild attempt upon Mexico, and as was asserted, upon the southwestern territories of the United States. He was tried for treason at Richmond, Virginia, in 1807, but acquitted, and to avoid importunate creditors, fled to Europe. Afteratime, in 1812, he returned to New York, where he practiced law, and where he died, September 14, 1836. A man of great ability, brilliant and popular talents, his influence was destroyed by his unscrupu- lous political actions and immoral private life. ALBERT GALLATIN, one of the most distinguished statesmen of the early days of the republic, was born at Geneva, Switzerland, January 29, 1761. He was the son of Jean de Gallatin and Sophia A. Rolaz du Rosey Gallatin, representatives of an old patrician family. Albert Gallatin was left an orphan at an early age, and was educated under the care of friends of his parents. He graduated from the University of Geneva in 1779, and declining employ- ment under one of the sovereigns of Ger- many, came to the struggling colonies, land- ing in Boston July 14, 1780. Shortly after his arrival he proceeded to Maine, where he served as a volunteer under Colonel Allen. He made advances to the government for the support of the American troops, and in November, 1780, was placed in command of a small fort at Passamaquoddy, defended by a force of militia, volunteers and Indians. In 1783 he was professor of the French language at Harvard University. A year later, having received his patrimony from Europe, he purchased large tracts of land in western Virginia, but was prevented by the Indians from forming the large settle- ment he proposed, and, in 1786, purchased a farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. In 1789 he was a member of the convention to amend the constitution of that state, and united himself with the Republican party, the head of which was Thomas Jefferson. The following year he was elected to the legislature of Pennsylvania, to which he was subsequently re-elected. In 1793 he was elected to the United States senate, but could not take his seat on account of not having been a citizen long enough. In 1794 Mr. Gallatin was elected to the representa- tive branch of congress, in which he served three terms. He also took an important position in the suppression of the "whiskey insurrection." In 1S01, on the accession of Jefferson to the presidency, Mr. Gallatin was appointed secretary of the treasury. In 1809 Mr. Madison offered him the posi- tion of secretary of state, but he declined, and continued at the head of the treasury until 1812, a period of twelve years. He exercised a great influence on the other de- partments and in the general administration, especially in the matter of financial reform, and recommended measures for taxation, etc. , which were passed by congress, and be- came laws May 24, 1 8 1 3 . The same year he was sent as an envoy extraordinary to Rus- sia, which had offered to mediate between this country and Great Britain, but the lat- ter country refusing the interposition of another power, and agreeing to treat di- rectly with the United States, in 18 14, at Ghent, Mr. Gallatin, in connection with his distinguished colleagues, negotiated and signed the treaty of peace. In 181 5, in conjunction with Messrs. Adams and Clay, he signed, at London, a commercial treaty between the two countries. In 18 16, de- clining his old post at the head of the treas- ury, Mr. Gallatin was sent as minister to France, where he remained until 1823. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 118 After a year spent in England as envoy ex- traordinary, he took up his residence in New York, and from that time held no public office. In 1830 he was chosen president of the council of the University of New York. He was, in 1831, made president of the National bank, which position he resigned in 1839. He died August 12, 1849. MILLARD FILLMORE, the thirteenth president of the United States, was born of New England parentage in Summer Hill, Cayuga county, New York, January 7, 1800. His school education was very lim- ited, but he occupied his leisure hours in study. He worked in youth upon his fa- ther's farm in his native county, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to a wool carder and cloth dresser. Four years later he was induced by Judge Wood to enter his office at Montville, New York, and take up the study of law. This warm friend, find- ing young Fillmore destitute of means, loaned him money, but the latter, not wish- ing to incur a heavy debt, taught school during part of the time and in this and other ways helped maintain himself. In 1822 he removed to Buffalo, New York, and the year following, being admitted to the bar, he commenced the practice of his profession at East Aurora, in the same state. Here he remained until 1830, having, in the meantime, been admitted to practice in the supreme court, when he returned to Buffalo, where he became the partner of S. G. Haven and N. K. Hall. He entered poli- tics and served in the state legislature from 1829 to 1832. He was in congress in 1 833— 35 and in 1837-41, where he proved an active and useful member, favoring the views of John Quincy Adams, then battling almost alone the slave-holding party in na- tional politics, and in most of public ques- tions acted with the Whig party. While chairman of the committee of ways and means he took a leading part in draughting the tariff bill of 1842. In 1844 Mr. Fill- more was the Whig candidate fo r governor of New York. In 1847 he was chosen comptroller of the state, and abandoning his practice and profession removed to Al- bany. In 1848 he was elected vice presi- dent on the ticket with General Zachary Taylor, and they were inaugurated the fol- lowing March. On the death of the presi- dent, July 9, 1850, Mr. Fillmore was in- ducted into that office. The great events of his administration were the passage of the famous compromise acts of 1850, and the sending out of the Japan expedition of 1852. March 4, 1853, having served one term, President Fillmore retired from office, and in 1855 went to Europe, where he received marked attention. On returning home, in 1856, he was nominated for the presidency by the Native American or "Know-Noth- ing" party, but was defeated, James Buch- anan being the successful candidate. Mr. Fillmore ever afterward lived in re- tirement. During the conflict of Civil war he was mostly silent. It was generally sup- posed, however, that his sympathy was with the southern confederacy. He kept aloof from the conflict without any words of cheer to the one party or the other. For this rea- son he was forgotten by both. He died of paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 1874- PETER F. ROTHERMEL, one of Amer- ica's greatest and best-known historical painters, was born in Luzerne county, Penn- sylvania, July 8, 1817, and was of German ancestry. He received his earlier education in his native county, and in Philadelphia 114 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. learned the profession of land surveying. But a strong bias toward art drew him away and he soon opened a studio where he did portrait painting. This soon gave place to historical painting, he having discovered the bent of his genius in that direction. Be- sides the two pictures in the Capitol at Washington — ' 'DeSoto Discovering the Mis- sissippi" and "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses" — Rothermel painted many others, chief among which are: "Columbus Before Queen Isabella," "Martyrs of the Colosseum," "Cromwell Breaking Up Service in an English Church, " and the famous picture of the "Battle of Gettysburg." The last named was painted for the state of Pennsylvania, for which Rothermel received the sum of $25,- 000, and which it took him four years to plan and to paint. It represents the portion of that historic field held by the First corps, an exclusively Pennsylvania body of men, and was selected by Rothermel for that reason. For many years most of his time was spent in Italy, only returning for short periods. He died at Philadelphia, August 16, 1895. EDMUND KIRBY SMITH, one of the distinguished leaders upon the side of the south in the late Civil war, was born at St. Augustine, Florida, in 1824. After receiv- ing the usual education he was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1845 and entered the army as second lieutenant of infantry. During the Mexican war he was made first lieutenant and captain for gallant conduct at Cerro Gordo and Contreras. From 1849 to 1852 he was assistant pro- fessor of mathematics at West Point. He was transferred to the Second cavalry with the rank of captain in 1855, served on the frontier, and was wounded in a fight with Comanche Indians in Texas, May 13, 1859. In January, 1861, he became major of his regiment, but resigned April 9th to fol- low the fortunes of the southern cause. He was appointed brigadier-general in the Confederate army and served in Virginia. At the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, he arrived on the field late in the day, but was soon disabled by a wound. He was made major-general in 1 862, and being trans- ferred to East Tennessee, was given com- mand of that department. Under General Braxton Bragg he led the advance in the invasion of Kentucky and defeated the Union forces at Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, . 1862, and advanced to Frankfort. Pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, he was engaged at the battle of Perryville, October 10, and in the battle of Murfrees- boro, December 31, 1862, and January 3, 1863. He was soon made general, the highest rank in the service, and in com- mand of the trans-Mississippi department opposed General N. P. Banks in the famous Red River expedition, taking part in the battle of Jenkins Ferry, April 30, 1864, and other engagements of that eventful cam- paign. He was the last to surrender the forces under his command, which he did May 26, 1865. After the close of the war he located in Tennessee, where he died March 28, 1893. JOHN JAMES INGALLS, a famous J American statesman, was born Decem- ber 29, 1833, at Middleton, Massachusetts, where he was reared and received his early education. He went to Kansas in 1858 and joined the free-soil army, and a year after his arrival he was a member of the his- torical Wyandotte convention, which drafted a free-state constitution. In i860 he was COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 115 made secretary of the territorial council, and in 1861 was secretary of the state sen- ate. The next year he was duly elected to the legitimate state senate from Atchison, where he had made his home. From that time he was the leader of the radical Re- publican element in the state. He became the editor of the "Atchison Champion " in 1863, which was a "red-hot free-soil Re- publican organ." In 1862 he was the anti- Lane candidate for lieutenant-governor, but was defeated. He was elected to the Unit- ed States senate to succeed Senator Pom- eroy, and took his seat in the forty-third congress and served until the fiftieth. In the forty-ninth congress he succeeded Sen- ator Sherman as president pro tern., which position he held through the fiftieth con- gress. BENJAMIN WEST, the greatest of the early American painters, was of Eng- lish descent and Quaker parentage. He was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, in 1738. From what source he inherited his genius it is hard to imagine, since the tenets and tendencies of the Quaker faith were not cal- culated to encourage the genius of art, but at the age of nine years, with no suggestion except that of inspiration, we find him choos- ing his model from life, and laboring over his first work calculated to attract public notice. It was a representation of a sleep- ing child in its cradle. The brush with which he painted it was made of hairs which he plucked from the cat's tail, and the colors were obtained from the war paints of friendly Indians, his mother's indigo bag, and ground chalk and charcoal, and the juice of berries, but there were touches in the rude production that he declared in later days were a credit to his best works. The pic- ture attracted notice, for a council was called at once to pass upon the boy's con- duct in thus infringing the laws of the so- ciety. There were judges among them who saw in his genius a rare gift and their wis- dom prevailed, and the child was given per- mission to follow his inclination. He studied under a painter named Williams, and then spent some years as a portrait painter with advancing success. At the age of twenty- two he went to Italy, and not until he had perfected himself by twenty-three years of labor in that paradise of art was he satisfied to turn his face toward home. However, he stopped at London, and decided to settle there, sending to America for his intended bride to join him. Though the Revolution- ary war was raging, King George III showed the American artist the highest considera- tion and regard. His remuneration from works for royalty amounted to five thou- sand dollars per year for thirty years. West's best known work in America is, perhaps, "The Death of General Wolf." West was one of the thirty-six original mem- bers of the Royal academy and succeeded Joshua Reynolds as president, which posi- tion he held until his death. His early works were his best, as he ceased to display originality in his later life, conventionality having seriously affected his efforts. He died in 1820. SAMUEL PORTER JONES, the famous Georgia evangelist, was born October 16, 1847, in Chambers county, Alabama. He did not attend school regularly during his boyhood, but worked on a farm, and went to school at intervals, on account of ill health. His father removed to Carters- ville, Georgia, when Mr. Jones was a small boy. He quit school at the age of nineteen and never attended college. The war inter- fered with his education, which was intended 116 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. to prepare him for the legal profession. After the war he renewed his preparation for college, but was compelled to desist from such a course, as his health failed him en- tirely. Later on, however, he still pursued his legal studies and was admitted to the bar. Soon after this event he went to Dal- las, Paulding county, Georgia, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession, and in a few months removed to Cherokee county, Alabama, where he taught school. In 1869 he returned to Cartersville, Georgia, and arrived in time to see his father die. Immediately after this event he applied for a license to preach, and went to Atlanta, Georgia, to the meeting of the North Geor- gia Conference of the M. E. church south, which received him on trial. He became an evangelist of great note, and traveled extensively, delivering his sermons in an inimitable style that made him very popular with the masses, his methods of conducting revivals being unique and original and his preaching practical and incisive. SHELBY MOORE CULLOM, a national character in political affairs and for many years United States senator from Illinois, was born November 22, 1829, at Monticello, Kentucky. He came with his parents to Illinois in 1830 and spent his early yearson a farm , but having formed the purpose of devoting himself to the lawyer's profession he spent two years study at the Rock River seminary at Mount Morris, Illinois. In 1853 Mr. Cullom entered the law office of Stuart and Edwards at Springfield, Illinois, and two years later he began the independent prac- tice of law in that city. He took an active interest in politics and was soon elected city attorney of Springfield. In 1856 he was elected a member of the Illinois house of representatives. He identified himself with the newly formed Republican party and in i860 was re-elected to the legislature of his state, in which he was chosen speaker of the house. In 1862 President Lincoln appoint- ed a commission to pass upon and examine the accounts of the United States quarter- masters and disbursing officers, composed as follows: Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois; Charles A. Dana, of New York, and Gov. Boutwell, of Massachusetts. Mr. Cullom was nominated for congress in 1864, and was elected by a majority of 1,785. In the house of representatives he became an active and aggressive member, was chairman of the committee on territories and served in congress until 1868. Mr. Cullom was returned to the state legislature, of which he was chosen speaker in 1872, and was re-elected in 1874. In 1876 he was elected governor of Illinois and at the end of his term he was chosen for a second term. He was elected United States senator in 1883 and twice re-elected. RICHARD JORDAN GATLING, an American inventor of much note, was born in Hertford county, North Carolina, September 12, 1 818. At an early age he gave promise of an inventive genius. The first emanation from his mind was the invention of a screw for the propulsion of water craft, but on application for a patent, found that he was forestalled but a short time by John Ericsson. Subse- quently he invented a machine for sowing wheat in drills, which was used to a great extent throughout the west. He then stud- ied medicine, and in 1847-8 attended lectures at the Indiana Medical College at Laporte, and in 1848-9 at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. He later discovered a method of transmitting power through the medium of compressed air. A COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT. 119 double-acting hemp break was also invented by him. The invention, however, by which Dr. Gatling became best known was the famous machine gun which bears his name. This he brought to light in 1861-62, and on the first trial of it, in the spring of the latter year, two hundred shots per minute were fired from it. After making some improve- ments which increased its efficiency, it was submitted to severe trials by our govern- ment at the arsenals at Frankfort, Wash- ington and Fortress Monroe, and at other points. The gun was finally adopted by our government, as well as by that of Great Britain, Russia and others. BENJAMIN RYAN TILLMAN, who won a national fame in politics, was born August 11, 1847, in Edgefield county, South Carolina. He received his education in the Oldfield school, where he acquired the rudiments of Latin and Greek, in addition to a good English education. He left school in 1864 to join the Confederate army, but was prevented from doing so by a severe illness, which resulted in the loss of an eye. In 1867 he removed to Florida, but returned in 1868, when he was married and devoted himself to farming. He was chairman of the Democratic organization of his county, but except a few occasional services he took no active part in politics then. Gradually, however, his attention was directed to the depressed condition of the farming interests of his state, and in August, 1885, before a joint meeting of the agricultural society and state grange at Bennettsville, he made a speech in which he set forth the cause of agricultural depression and urged measures of relief. From his active interest in the farming class he was styled the "Agricult- ural Moses." He advocated an industrial school for women and for a separate agri- 7 cultural college, and in 1887 he secured a modification in the final draft of the will of Thomas G. Clemson, which resulted in the erection of the Clemson Agricultural Col- lege at Fort Hill. In 1890 he was chosen governor on the Democratic ticket, and carried the election by a large majority. Governor Tillman was inaugurated Decem- ber 4, 1890. Mr. Tillman was next elected to the United States senate from South Carolina, and gained a national reputation by his fervid oratory. GEORGE DENISON PRENTICE.— No journalist of America was so cele- brated in his time for the wit, spice, and vigor of his writing, as the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. From Atlantic to Pacific he was well known by his witticism as well as by strength and force of his edi- torials. He was a native of Preston, Con- necticut, born December 18, 1802. After laying the foundation of a liberal education in his youth, he entered Brown University, from which he was graduated in 1823. Tak- ing up the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in 1S29. During part of his time he was editor of the " New England Weekly Review," a position which he relinquished to go south and was succeeded by John Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet. On arriving in Louisville, whither he had gone to gather items for his history of Henry Clay, Mr. Prentice became identified with the " Louisville Journal," which, under his hands, became one of the leading Whig newspapers of the country. At the head of this he remained until the day of his death. This latter event occurred January 22, 1870, and he was succeeded in the control of the " Journal " by Colonel Henry Watterson. Mr. Prentice was an author of consider- able celebrity, chief among his works being 120 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. "The Life of Henry Clay," and " Prentice- ana," a collection of wit and humor, that passed through several large editions. SAM. HOUSTON, in the opinion of some critics one of the most remarkable men who ever figured in American history, was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, born March 2, 1793. Early in life he was left in destitute circumstances by the death of his father, and, with his mother, removed to Tennessee, then almost a boundless wilder- ness. He received but little education, spending the most of his time among the Cherokee Indians. Part of the time of his residence there Houston acted as clerk for a trader and also taught one of the primitive schools of the day. In 181 3 he enlisted as private in the United States army and was engaged under General Jackson in the war with the Creek Indians. When peace was made Houston was a lieutenant, but he re- signed his commission and commenced the study of law at Nashville. After holding some minor offices he was elected member of congress from Tennessee. This was in 1823. He retained this office until 1827, when he was chosen governor of the state. In 1829, resigning that office before the ex- piration of his term, Sam Houston removed to Arkansas, and made his home among the Cherokees, becoming the agent of that tribe and representing their interests at Washington. On a visit to Texas, just prior to the election of delegates to a con- vention called for the purpose of drawing up a constitution previous to the admission of the state into the Mexican union, he was unanimously chosen a delegate. The con- vention framed the constitution, but, it be- ing rejected by the government of Mexico, and the petition for admission to the Con- federacy denied and the Texans told by the president of the Mexican union to give up their arms, bred trouble. It was determined to resist this demand. A military force was soon organized, with General Houston at the head of it. War was prosecuted with great vigor, and with varying success, but at the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, the Mexicans were defeated and their leader and president, Santa Anna, captured. Texas was then proclaimed an independent repub- lic, and in October of the same year Hous- ton was inaugurated president. On the ad- mission of Texas to the Federal Union, in 1845, Houston was elected senator, and held that position for twelve years. Oppos- ing the idea of secession, he retired from political life in 1861, and died at Hunts- ville, Texas, July 25, 1863. ELI WHITNEY, the inventor of the cot- ton-gin, was born in Westborough, Mas- sachusetts, December 8, 1765. After his graduation from Yale College, he went to Georgia, where he studied law, and lived with the family of the widow of General Nathaniel Greene. At that time the only way known to separate the cotton seed from the fiber was by hand, making it extremely slow and expensive, and for this reason cot- ton was little cultivated in this country. Mrs. Greene urged the inventive Whitney to devise some means for accomplishing this work by machinery. This he finally succeeded in doing, but he was harassed by attempts to defraud him by those who had stolen his ideas. He at last formed a part- nership with a man named Miller, and they began the manufacture of the machines at Washington, Georgia, in 1795. The suc- cess of his invention was immediate, and the legislature of South Carolina voted the sum of $50,000 for his idea. This sum he had great difficulty in collecting, after years of COMTEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 121 litigation and delay. North Carolina al- lowed him a royalty, and the same was agreed to by Tennessee, but was never paid. While his fame rests upon the invention of the cotton-gin, his fortune came from his improvements in the manufacture and con- struction of firearms. In 1798 the United States government gave him a contract for this purpose, and he accumulated a fortune from it. The town of Whitneyville, Con- necticut, was founded by this fortune. Whitney died at New Haven, Connecticut, January 8, 1825. The cotton-gin made the cultivation of cotton profitable, and this led to rapid in- troduction of slavery in the south. His in- vention thus affected our national history in a manner little dreamed of by the inventor. LESTER WALLACK (John Lester Wal- lack), for many years the leading light comedian upon the American stage, was the son of James W. Wallack, the " Brum- mell of the Stage." Both father and son were noted for their comeliness of feature and form. Lester Wallack was born in New York, January 1, 18 19. He received his education in England, and made his first appearance on the stage in 1848 at the New Broadway theater, New York. He acted light comedy parts, and also occasion- ally in romantic plays like Monte Cristo, which play made him his fame. He went to England and played under management of such men as Hamblin and Burton, and then returned to New York with his father, who opened the first Wallack's theater, at the corner of Broome and Broadway, in 1852. The location was afterward changed to Thirteenth and Broadway, in 1861, and later to its present location, Broadway and Thirteenth, in 1882. The elder Wallack died in 1864, after which Lester assumed management, jointly with Theodore Moss. Lester Wallack was commissioned in the queen's service while in England, and there he also married a sister to the famous artist, the late John Everett Millais. While Les- ter Wallack never played in the interior cities, his name was as familiar to the public as that of our greatest stars. He died Sep- tember 6, 1888, at Stamford, Connecticut. GEORGE MORTIMER PULLMAN, the palace car magnate, inventor, multi-millionaire and manufacturer, may well be classed among the remarkable self-made men of the century. He was born March 3, 1831, in Chautauqua county, New York. His parents were poor, and his education was limited to what he could learn of the rudimentary branches in the district school. At the age of fourteen he went to work as clerk for a country mer- chant. He kept this place three years, studying at night. When seventeen he went to Albion, New York, and worked for his brother, who kept a cabinet shop there. Five years later he went into business for himself as contractor for moving buildings along the line of the Erie canal, which was then being widened by the state, and was successful in thii. In 1858 he removed to Chicago and engaged in the business of moving and raising houses. The work was novel there then and he was quite success- ful. About this time the discomfort attend- ant on traveling at night attracted his at- tention. He reasoned that the public would gladly pay for comfortable sleeping accom- modations. A few sleeping cars were in use at that time, but they were wretchedly crude, uncomfortable affairs. In 1859 he bought two old day coaches from the Chi- cago & Alton road and remodeled them some- thing like the general plan of the sleeping 122 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. cars of the present day. ' They were put into service on the Chicago & Alton and became popular at once. In 1863 he built the first sleeping-car resembling the Pullman cars of to-day. It cost $18,000 and was the "Pioneer." After that the Pullman Palace Car Company prospered. It had shops at different cities. In 1880 the Town of Pullman was founded by Mr. Pullman and his company, and this model manufac- turing community is known all over the world. Mr. Pullman died October 19, 1897. JAMES E. B. STUART, the most famous cavalry leader of the Southern Confed- eracy during the Civil war, was born in Patrick county, Virginia, in 1833. On graduating from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1854, he was as- signed, as second lieutenant, to a regiment of mounted rifles, receiving his commission in October. In March, 1855, he was trans- ferred to the newly organized First cavalry, and was promoted to first lieutenant the following December, and to captain April 22, 1 86 1. Taking the side of the south, May 14, 1 861, he was made colonel of a Virginia cavalry regiment, and served as such at Bull Run. In September, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-gen- erai, and major-general early in 1862. On the reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia, in June of the latter year, when R. E. Lee assumed command, General Stu- art made a reconnoissance with one thou- sand five hundred cavalry and four guns, and in two days made the circuit of McClel- lan's army, producing much confusion and gathering useful information, and losing but one man. August 25, 1862, he captured part of Pope's headquarters' train, including that general's private baggage and official correspondence, and the next night, in a descent upon Manasses, capturing immense quantities of commissary and quartermaster store, eight guns, a number of locomotives and a few hundred prisoners. During the invasion of Maryland, in September, 1862, General Stuart acted as rearguard, resisting the advance of the Federal cavalry at South Mountain, and at Antietam commanded the Confederate left. Shortly after he crossed the Potomac, making a raid as far as Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania. In the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, Gen- eral Stuart's command was on the extreme right of the Confederate line. At Chancel- lorsville, after "Stonewall " Jackson's death and the wounding of General A. P. Hill, General Stuart assumed command of Jack- son's corps, which he led in the severe con- test of May 3, 1863. Early in June, the same year, a large force of cavalry was gathered under Stuart, at Culpepper, Vir- ginia, which, advancing to join General Lee in his invasion of Pennsylvania, was met at Brandy Station, by two divisions of cavalry and two brigades of infantry, under General John I. Gregg, and driven back. During the movements of the Gettysburg campaign he rendered important services. In May, 1864, General Stuart succeeded, by a detour, in placing himself between Richmond and Sheridan's advancing column, and at Yellow Tavern was attacked in force. During the fierce conflict that ensued General Stuart was mortally wounded, and died at Rich- mond, May 1 1, 1864. FRANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth president of the United States — from 1853 until 1857 — was born November 23, 1804, at Hillsboro, New Hampshire. He came of old revolutionary stock and his father was a governor of the state. Mr. Pierce entered Bowdoin College in 1820, COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 128 was graduated in 1824, and took up the study of law in the office of Judge Wood- bury, and later he was admitted to the bar. Mr. Pierce practiced his profession with varying successes in his native town and also in Concord. He was elected to the state legislature in 1833 and served in that body until 1837, the last two years of his term serving as speaker of the house. He was elected to the United States senate in 1837, just as President Van Buren began his term of office. Mr. Pierce served until 1842, and many times during Polk's term he declined important public offices. During the war with Mexico Mr. Pierce was ap- pointed brigadier-general, and he embarked with a portion of his troops at Newport, Rhode Island, May 27, 1847, and went with them to the field of battle. He served through the war and distinguished himself by his skill, bravery and excellent judg- ment. When he reached his home in his native state he was received coldly by the opponents of the war, but the advocates of the war made up for his cold reception by the enthusiastic welcome which they ac- corded him. Mr. Pierce resumed the prac- tice of his profession, and in the political strife that followed he gave his support to the pro- slavery wing of the Democratic party. The Democratic convention met in Baltimore, June 12, 1852, to nominate a candidate for the presidency, and they con- tinued in session four days, and in thirty- five ballotings no one had secured the re- quisite two-thirds vote. Mr. Pierce had not received a vote as yet, until the Virginia delegation brought his name forward, and finally on the forty-ninth ballot Mr. Pierce received 282 votes and all the other candi- dates eleven. His opponent on the Whig ticket was General Winfield Scott, who only received the electoral votes of four states. Mr. Pierce was inaugurated presi- dent of the United States March 4, 1853, with W. R. King as vice president, and the following named gentlemen were afterward chosen to fill the positions in the cabinet: William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jeffer- son Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert Mc- Clelland, James Campbell and Caleb Cush- ing. During the administration of President Pierce the Missouri compromise law was repealed, and all the territories of the Union were thrown open to slavery, and the dis- turbances in Kansas occurred. In 1857 he was succeeded in the presidency by James Buchanan, and retired to his home in Con- cord, New Hampshire. He always cherished his principles of slavery, and at the out- break of the rebellion he was an adherent of the cause of the Confederacy. He died at Concord, New Hampshire, October 8, 1869. JAMES B. WEAVER, well known as a leader of the Greenback and later of the Populist party, was born at Dayton, Ohio, June 12, 1833. He received his earlier education in the schools of his native town, and entered the law department of the Ohio University, at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1854. Removing to the grow- ing state of Iowa, he became connected with "The Iowa Tribune," at the state capital, Des Moines, as one of its editors. He afterward practiced law and was elected district attorney for the second judicial dis- trict of Iowa, on the Republican ticket in 1866, which office he held for a short time. In 1867 Mr. Weaver was appointed assessor of internal revenue for the first district of Iowa, and filled that position until some- time in 1873. He was elected and served in the forty-sixth congress. In 1880 the National or Greenback party in convention at Chicago, nominated James B. Weaver as 124 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPH7 . its candidate for the presidency. By a union of the Democratic and National parties in his district, he was elected to the forty-ninth congress, and re-elected to the same office in the fall of 1886. Mr. Weaver was conceded to be a very fluent speaker, and quite active in all political work. On July 4, 1892, at the National convention of the People's party, General James B. Weaver was chosen as the candidate for president of that organization, and during the campaign that followed, gained a na- tional reputation. ANTHONY JOSEPH DREXEL, one of the leading bankers and financiers of the United States, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1826, and was the son of Francis M. Drexel, who had established the large banking institution of Drexel & Co., so well known. The latter was a native of Dornbirn, in the Austrian Tyrol. He studied languages and fine arts at Turin, Italy. On returning to his mountain home, in 1809, and finding it in the hands of the French, he went to Switzerland and later to Paris. In i8i2,aftera short visit home, he went to Berlin, where he studied paint- ing until 18 17, in which year he emigrated to America, and settled in Philadelphia. A few years later he went to Chili and Peru, where he executed some fine portraits of notable people, including General Simon Bolivar. After spending some time in Mex- ico, he returned to Philadelphia, and en- gaged in the banking business. In 1837 he founded the house of Drexel & Co. He died in 1837, and was succeeded by his two sons, Anthony J. and Francis A. His son, Anthony J. Drexel, Jr. , entered the bank when he was thirteen years of age, before he was through with his schooling, and after that the history of the banking business of which he was the head, was the history of his life. The New York house of Drexel, Mor- gan & Co. was established in 1850; the Paris house, Drexel, Harjes & Co., in 1867. The Drexel banking houses have supplied iand placed hundreds of millions of dollars n government, corporation, railroad and other loans and securities. The reputation of the houses has always been held on the highest plane. Mr. Drexel founded and heavily endowed the Drexel Institute, in Philadelphia, an institution to furnish better and wider avenues of employment to young people of both sexes. It has departments of arts, science, mechanical arts and domes- tic economy. Mr. Drexel, Jr., departed this life June 30, 1893. SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE. inventor of the recording telegraph in- strument, was born in Charlestown, Massa- chusetts, April 27, 1 79 1. He graduated from Yale College in 18 10, and took up art as his profession. He went to London with the great American painter, Washington Allston, and studied in the Royal Academy under Benjamin West. His "Dying Her- cules," his first effort in sculpture, took the gold medal in 18 13. He returned to Amer- ica in 1 81 5 and continued to pursue his profession. He was greatly interested in scientific studies, which he carried on in connection with other labors. He founded the National Academy of Design and was many years its president. He returned to Europe and spent three years in study in the art centers, Rome, Florence, Venice and Paris. In 1832 he returned to America and while on the return voyage the idea of a recording telegraph apparatus occurred to him, and he made a drawing to represent his conception. He was the first to occupy the chair of fine arts in the University of New COMPEXDllM OF BIOGRAPHY. 125 York City, and in 1835 he set up his rude instrument in his room in the university. But it was not until after many years of discouragement and reverses of fortune that lie finally was successful in placing his inven- tion before the public. In 1844, by aid of the United States government, he had con- structed a telegraph line fort}' miles in length from Washington to Baltimore. Over this line the test was made, and the first tele- graphic message was flashed May 24, 1 844, from the United States supreme court rooms to Baltimore. It read, "What hath God wrought!" His fame and fortune were es- tablished in an instant. Wealth and honors poured in upon him from that day. The nations of Europe vied with each other in honoring the great inventor with medals, titles and decorations, and the learned societies of Europe hastened to enroll his name upon their membership lists and confer degrees. In 1858 he was the recipient of an honor never accorded to an inventor before. The ten leading nations of Europe, at the suggestion of the Emporer Napoleon, ap- pointed representatives to an international congress, which convened at Paris for the special purpose of expressing gratitude of the nations, and they voted him a present of 400,000 francs. Professor Morse was present at the unveil- ing of a bronze statue erected in his honor in Central Park, New York, in 1871. His last appearance in public was at the unveiling of the statue of Benjamin Franklin in New York in 1872, when he made the dedica- tory speech and unveiled the statue. He died April 2, 1872, in the city of New York. MORRISON REMICH WAITE, seventh chief justice of the United States, was born at Lyme, Connecticut, November 29, 1816. He was a graduate from Yale Col- lege in 1837, in the class with William M. Evarts. His father was judge of the su- preme court of errors of the state of Con- necticut, and in his office young Waite studied law. He subsequently removed to Ohio, and was elected to the legislature of that state in 1849. He removed from Maumee City to Toledo and became a prom- inent legal light in that state. He was nominated as a candidate for congress re- peatedly but declined to run, and also de- clined a place on the supreme bench of the state. He won great distinction for his able handling of the Alabama claims at Geneva, before the arbitration tribunal in 1871, and was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of the United States in 1874 on the death of Judge Chase. When, in 1876, elec- toral commissioners were chosen to decide the presidential election controversy between Tilden and Hayes, Judge Waite refused to serve on that commission. His death occurred March 23, 1888. ELISHA KENT KANE was one of the distinguished American explorers of the unknown regions of the frozen north, and gave to the world a more accurate knowl- edge of the Arctic zone. Dr. Kane was born February 3, 1820, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the universities of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and took his medical degree in 1843. He entered the service of the United States navy, and was physician to the Chinese embassy. Dr. Kane traveled extensively in the Levant, Asia and Western Africa, and also served in the Mexican war, in which he was severely wounded. His first Arctic expedition was under De Haven in the first Grinnell expedition in search of Sir John Franklin in 1850. He com- manded the second Grinnell expedition 126 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY in 1853-55, and discovered an open polar sea. For this expedition he received a gold medal and other distinctions. He published a narrative of his first polar expedition in 1853, and in 1856 published two volumes relating to his second polar expedition. He was a man of active, enterprising and cour- ageous spirit. His health, which was al- ways delicate, was impaired by the hard- ships of his Arctic expeditions, from which he never fully recovered and from which he died February 16, 1857, at Havana. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON was a daughter of Judge Daniel Cady and Margaret Livingston, and was born Novem- ber 12, 181 5, at Johnstown, New York. She was educated at the Johnstown Academy, inhere she studied with a class of boys, and was fitted for college at the age of fifteen, *fter which she pursued her studies at Mrs. Willard's Seminary, at Troy. Her atten- tion was called to the disabilities of her sex by her own educational experiences, and through a study of Blackstone, Story, and Kent. Miss Cady was married to Henry B. Stanton in 1840, and accompanied him to the world's anti-slavery convention in Lon- don. While there she made the acquain- tance of Lucretia Mott. Mrs. Stanton resided at Boston until 1847, when the family moved to Seneca Falls, New York, and she and Lucretia Mott signed the first call for a woman's rights convention. The meeting was held at her place of residence July 19-20, 1848. This was the first oc- casion of a formal claim of suffrage for women that was made. Mrs. Stanton ad- dressed the New York legislature, in 1854, on the rights of married women, and in i860, in advocacy of the granting of di- vorce for drunkenness. She also addressed the legislature and the constitutional con- vention, and maintained that during the revision of the constitution the state was resolved into its original elements, and that all citizens had, therefore, a right to vote for the members of that convention. After 1869 Mrs. Stanton frequently addressed congressional committees and state consti- tutional conventions, and she canvassed Kansas, Michigan, and other states when the question of woman suffrage was sub- mitted in those states. Mrs. Stanton was one of the editors of the " Revolution," and most of the calls and resolutions for con- ventions have come from her pen. She was president of the national committee, also of the Woman's Loyal League, and of the National Association, for many years. DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, a great American jurist was born in Connecti- cut in 1805. He emc.ea Williams College when sixteen years old, and commenced the study of law in 1825. In 1828 he was ad- mitted to the bar, and went to New York, where he soon came into prominence be- fore the bar of that state. He entered upon the labor of reforming the practice and procedure, which was then based upon the common law practice of England, and had become extremely complicated, difficult and uncertain in its application. His first paper on this subject was published in 1839, and after eight years of continuous efforts in this direction, he was appointed one of a com- mission by New York to reform the practice of that state. The result was embodied in the two codes of procedure, civil and crimi- nal, the first of which was adopted almost entire by the state of New York, and has since been adopted by more than half the states in the Union, and became the basis of the new practice and procedure in Eng- land, contained in the Judicature act. He COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAI'Iir. 127 was later appointed chairman of a new com- mission to codify the entire body of laws. This great work employed many years in its completion, but when finished it embraced a civil, penal, ar.d political code, covering the entire field of American laws, statutory and common. This great body of law was adopted by California and Dakota territory in its entirety, and many other states have since adopted its substance. In 1867 the British Association for Social Science heard a proposition from Mr. Field to prepare an international code. This led to the prepara- tion of his " Draft Outlines of an Interna- tional Code," which was in fact a complete body of international laws, and introduced the principle of arbitration. Other of his codes of the state of New York have since been adopted by that state. In addition to his great works on law, Mr. Field indulged his literary tastes by fre- quent contributions to general literature, and his articles on travels, literature, and the political questions of the hour gave him rank with the best writers of his time. His father was the Rev. David Dudley Field, and his brothers were Cyrus W. Field, Rev. Henry Martin Field, and Justice Stephen J. Field of the United States supreme court. David Dudley Field died at New York, April 13, 1894. HENRY M. TELLER, a celebrated American politician, and secretary of the interior under President Arthur, was born May 23, 1830, in Allegany county, New York. He was of Hollandish ancestry and received an excellent education, after which he took up the study of law and was ad- mitted to the bar in the state of New York. Mr. Teller removed to Illinois in January, 1858, and practiced for three years in that state. From thence he moved to Colorado in 1 86 1 and located at Central City, which was then one of the principal mining towns in the state. His exceptional abilities as a lawyer soon brought him into prominence and gained for him a numerous and profit- able clientage. In politics he affiliated with the Republican party, but declined to become a candidate for office until the admission of Colorado into the Union as a state, when he was elected to the United States senate. Mr. Teller drew the term ending March 4, 1877, but was re-elected December 11, 1876, and served until April 17, 1882, when he was appointed by President Arthur as secretary of the interior. He accepted a cabinet position with reluctance, and on March 3, 1885, he retired from the cabinet, having been elected to the senate a short time before to succeed Nathaniel P. Hill. Mr. Teller took his seat on March 4, 1885, in the senate, to which he was afterward re-elected. He served as chairman on the committee of pensions, patents, mines and mining, and was also a member of commit- tees on claims, railroads, privileges and elections and public lands. Mr. Teller came to be recognized as one of the ablest advo- cates of the silver cause. He was one of the delegates to the Republican National conven- tion at St. Louis in 1896, in which he took an active part and tried to have a silver plank inserted in the platform of the party, Failing in this he felt impelled to bolt the convention, which he did and joined forces with the great silver movement in the cam- paign which followed, being recognized in that campaign as one of the most able and eminent advocates of "silver" in America. JOHN ERICSSON, an eminent inven- tor and machinist, who won fame in America, was born in Sweden, July 31,1 803. In early childhood he evinced a decided in- 128 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. clination to mechanical pursuits, and at the age of eleven he was appointed to a cadet- ship in the engineer corps, and at the age of seventeen was promoted to a lieutenancy. In 1826 he introduced a "flame engine," which he had invented, and offered it to English capitalists, but it was found that it could be operated only by the use of wood for fuel. Shortly after this he resigned his commission in the army of Sweden, and de- voted himself to mechanical pursuits. He discovered and introduced the principle of artificial draughts in steam boilers, and re- ceived a prize of two thousand five hundred dollars for his locomotive, the "Novelty," which attained a great speed, for that day. The artificial draught effected a great saving in fuel and made unnecessary the huge smoke-stacks formerly used, and the princi- ple is still applied, in modified form, in boil- ers. He also invented a steam fire-engine, and later a hot-air engine, which he at- tempted to apply in the operation of his ship, "Ericsson," but as it did not give the speed required, he abandoned it, but after- wards applied it to machinery for pumping, hoisting, etc. Ericsson was first to apply the screw propeller to navigation. The English peo- ple not receiving this new departure readily, Ericsson came to America in 1839, and built the United States steamer, "Prince- ton," in which the screw-propeller was util- ized, the first steamer ever built in which the propeller was under water, out of range of the enemy's shots. The achievement which gave him greatest renown, however, was the ironclad vessel, the "Monitor," an entirely new type of vessel, which, in March, 1862, attacked the Confederate monster ironclad ram, "Virginia," and after a fierce struggle, compelled her to withdraw from Hampton Roads for repairs. After the war one of his most noted inventions was his vessel, " Destroyer," with a submarine gun, which carried a projectile torpedo. In 1886 the king of Spain conferred on him the grand cross of the Order of Naval Merit. He died in March, 1889, and his body was transferred, with naval honors, to the country of his birth. JAMES BUCHANAN, the fifteenth presi- dent of the United States, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Franklin county, April 23, 1 791 . He was of Irish ancestry, his father having come to this country in 1783, in quite humble circum- stances, and settled in the western part of the Keystone state. James Buchanan remained in his se- cluded home for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual advantages. His parents were industrious and frugal, and prospered, and, in 1799, the family removed to Mercersbur Pennsylvania, where he was placed in school. His progress was rapid, and in 1801 he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, where he took his place among the best scholars in the institution. In 1809 he graduated with the highest hon- ors in his class. He was then eighteen, tall, graceful and in vigorous health. He com- menced the study of law at Lancaster, and was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose very rapidly in his profession and took a stand with the ablest of his fellow lawyers. When but twenty-six years old he success- fully defended, unaided by counsel, one of the judges of the state who was before the bar of the state senate under articles of im- peachment. During the war of 18 12-15, Mr. Buch- anan sustained the government with all his power, eloquently urging the vigorous prose- cution of the war, and enlisted as a private COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 129 volunteer to assist in repelling the British who had sacked and burned the public buildings of Washington and threatened Baltimore. At that time Buchanan was a Federalist, but the opposition of that party to the war with Great Britain and the alien and sedition laws of John Adams, brought that party into disrepute, and drove many, among them Buchanan, into the Re- publican, or anti-Federalist ranks. He was elected to congress in 1828. In 1831 he was sent as minister to Russia, and upon his return to this country, in 1833, was ele- vated to the United States senate, and re- mained in that position for twelve years. Upon the accession of President Polk to office he made Mr. Buchanan secretary of state. Four years later he retired to pri- vate life, and in 1853 he was honored with the mission to England. In 1856 the na- tional Democratic convention nominated him for the presidency and he was elected. It was during his administration that the rising tide of the secession movement over- took the country- Mr. Buchanan declared that the national constitution gave him no power to do anything against the movement to break up the Union. After his succession by Abraham Lincoln in i860, Mr. Buchanan retired to his home at Wheatland, Pennsyl- vania, where he died June 1, 1868. JOHN HARVARD, the founder of the Harvard University, was born in Eng- land about the year 1608. He received his education at Emanuel College, Cambridge, and came to America in 1637, settling in Massachusetts. He was a non-conformist minister, and a tract of land was set aside for him in Charlestown, near Boston. He was at once appointed one of a committee to formulate a body of laws for the colony. One year before his arrival in the colony the general court had voted the sum of four hundred pounds toward the establishment of a school or college, half of which was to be paid the next year In 1637 preliminary plans were made for starting the school. In 1638 John Harvard, who had shown great interest in the new institution of learning proposed, died, leaving his entire property, about twice the sum originally voted, to the school, together with three hundred volumes as a nucleus for a library. The institution was then given the name of Harvard, and established at Newton (now Cambridge), Massachusetts. It grew to be one of the two principal seats of learning in the new world, and has maintained its reputation since. It now consists of twenty-two separate build- ings, and its curriculum embraces over one hundred and seventy elective courses, and it ranks among the great universities of the world. ROGER BROOKE TANEY, a noted jurist and chief justice of the United States supreme court, was born in Calvert county, Maryland, March 17, 1777. He graduated fiom Dickinson College at the age of eighteen, took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1799. He was chosen to the legislature from his county, and in 1801 removed to Frederick, Mary- land. He became United States senator from Maryland in 18 16, and took up his permanent residence in Baltimore a few years later. In 1824 he became an ardent admirer and supporter of Andrew Jackson, and upon Jackson's election to the presi- dency, was appointed attorney general of the United States. Two years later he was appointed secretary of the treasury, and after serving in that capacity for nearly one year, the senate refused to confirm the ap- pointment. In 1835, upon the death of 130 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT. Chief-justice Marsha!!, he was appointed to that place, and a political change having occurred in the make up of the senate, he was confirmed in 1836. He presided at his first session in January of the following year. The case which suggests itself first to the average reader in connection with this jurist is the celebrated " Dred Scott " case, which came before the supreme court for decision in 1856. In his opinion, delivered on behalf of a majority of the court, one remarkable statement occurs as a result of an exhaustive survey of the historical grounds, to the effect that " for more than a century prior to the adoption of the con- stitution they (Africans) had been regarded so far inferior that they had no rights which a white man was bound to respect." Judge Taney retained the office of chief justice until his death, in 1864. JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY.— This gen- tleman had a world-wide reputation as an historian, which placed him in the front rank of the great men of America. He was born April 15, 18 14, at Dorchester, Massa- chusetts, was given a thorough preparatory education and then attended Harvard, from which he was graduated in 1831. He also studied at Gottingen and Berlin, read law and in 1836 was admitted to the bar. In 1 84 1 he was appointed secretary of the legation at St. Petersburg, and in 1866-67 served as United States minister to Austria, serving in the same capacity during 1869 and 1870 to England. In 1856, after long and exhaustive research and preparation, he published in London "The Rise of the Dutch Republic." It embraced three vol- umes and immediately attracted great at- tention throughout Europe and America as a work of unusual merit. From 1S61 to 1868 he produced "The History of the United Netherlands," in four volumes. Other works followed, with equal success, and his position as one of the foremost his- torians and writers of his day was firmly established. His death occured May 29, 1877- ELIAS HOWE, the inventor of the sew- ing machine, well deserves to be classed among the great and noted men of Amer- ica. He was the son of a miller and farmer and was born at Spencer, Massachusetts, July 9, 1 8 19. In 1835 he went to Lowell and worked there, and later at Boston, in the machine shops. His first sewing machine was completed in 1845, and he patented it in 1846, laboring with the greatest persistency in spite of poverty and hardships, working for a time as an engine driver on a railroad at pauper wages and with broken health. He then spent two years of unsuccessful ex- ertion in England, striving in vain to bring his invention into public notice and use. He returned to the United States in almost hopeless poverty, to find that his patent had been violated. At last, however, he found friends who assisted him financially, and after years of litigation he made good his claims in the courts in 1854. His inven- tion afterward brought him a large fortune. During the Civil war he volunteered as a private in the Seventeenth Connecticut Vol- unteers, and served for some time. During his life time he received the cross of the Legion of Honor and many other medals. His death occurred October 3, 1867, at Brooklyn, New York. PHILLIPS BROOKS, celebrated as an eloquent preacher and able pulpit ora- tor, was born in Boston on the 13th day of December, 1835. He received excellent COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 131 educational advantages, and graduated at Harvard in 1855. Early in life he decided upon the ministry as his life work and studied theology in the Episcopal Theolog- ical Seminary, at Alexandria, Virginia. In 1859 he was ordained and the same year became pastor of the Church of the Advent, in Philadelphia. Three years later he as- sumed the pastorate of the Church of the Holy Trinity, where he remained until 1870. At the expiration of that time he accepted the pastoral charge of Trinity Church in Boston, where his eloquence and ability at- tracted much attention and built up a pow- erful church organization. Dr. Brooks also devoted considerable time to lecturing and literary work and attained prominence in these lines. WILLIAM B. ALLISON, a statesman of national reputation and one of the leaders of the Republican party, was born March 2, 1829, at Perry, Ohio. He grew up on his father's farm, which he assisted in cultivating, and attended the district school. When sixteen years old he went to the academy at Wooster, and subse- quently spent a year at the Allegheny Col- lege, at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He next taught school and spent another year at the Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio. Mr. Allison then took up the study of law at Wooster, where he was admitted to the barini85i, and soon obtained a position as deputy county clerk. His political lean- ings were toward the old line Whigs, who afterward laid the foundation of the Repub- lican party. He was a delegate to the state convention in 1856, in the campaign of which he supported Fremont for president. Mr Allison removed to Dubuque, Iowa, in the following year. He rapidly rose to prominence at the bar and in politics. In i860 he was chosen as a delegate to the Republican convention held in Chicago, of which he was elected one of the secretaries. At the outbreak of the civil war he was ap- pointed on the staff of the governor. His congressional career opened in 1862, when he was elected to the thirty-eighth congress; he was re-elected three times, serving from March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1871. Hewas a member of the ways and means committee a good part of his term. His career in the United States senate began in 1873, and he rapidly rose to eminence in national affairs, his service of a quarter of a century in that body being marked by close fealty to the Republican party. He twice declined the portfolio of the treasury tendered him by Garfield and Harrison, and his name was prominently mentioned for the presidency at several national Republican conventions. M A * ARY ASHTON LIVERMORE, lec- rer and writer, was born in Boston, December 19, 1821. She was the daughter of Timothy Rice, and married D. P. Liver- more, a preacher of the Universalist church. She contributed able articles to many of the most noted periodicals of this country and England. During the Civil war she labored zealously and with success on behalf of the sanitary commission which played so impor- tant a part during that great struggle. She became editor of the " Woman's Journal," published at Boston in 1870. She held a prominent place as a public speaker and writer on woman's suffrage, temperance, social and religious questions, and her influence was great in every cause she advocated. JOHN B. GOUGH. a noted temperance lecturer, who won his fame in America, was born in the village of Sandgate, Kent, 132 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPIir England, August 22, 1817. He came to the United States at the age of twelve. He followed the trade of bookbinder, and lived in great poverty on account of the liquor habit. In 1843, however, he re- formed, and began his career as a temper- ance lecturer. He worked zealously in the cause of temperance, and his lectures and published articles revealed great earnestness. He formed temperance societies throughout the entire country, and labored with great success. He visited England in the same cause about the year 1853 and again in 1878. He also lectured upon many other topics, in which he attained a wide reputa- tion. His death occurred February 18, 1886. THOMAS BUCHANAN READ, author, sculptor and painter, was born in Ches- ter county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1822. He early evinced a taste for art, and began the study of sculpture in Cincinnati. Later he found painting more to his liking. He went to New York, where he followed this profession, and later to Boston. In 1846 he located in Philadelphia. He visited Italy in 1850, and studied at Florence, where he resided almost continuously for twenty-two years. He returned to America in 1872, and died in New York May 11 of the same year. He was the author of many heroic poems, but the one giving him the most re- nown is his famous "Sheridan's Ride," of which he has also left a representation in painting. EUGENE V. DEBS, the former famous president of the American Railway Union, and great labor leader, was born in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855. He received his education in the public schools of that place and at the age of sixteen years began work as a painter in the Vandalia shops. After this, for some three years, he was employed as a loco- motive fireman on the same road. His first appearance in public life was in his canvass for the election to the office of city clerk of Terre Haute. In this capacity he served two terms, and when twenty six years of age was elected a member of the legislature of the state of Indiana. While a member of that body he secured the passage of several bills in the interest of organized labor, of which he was always a faithful champion. Mr. Debs' speech nominating Daniel Voorhees for the United States senate gave him a wide reputation for orator}'. On the expiration of his term in the legislature, he was elected grand secre- tary and treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fireman and filled that office for fourteen successive years. He was always an earnest advocate of confederation of railroad men and it was mainly through his efforts that the United Order of Railway Employes, composed of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and Conductors, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association was formed, and he became a member of its supreme council. The order was dissolved by disagreement between two of its leading orders, and then Mr. Debs conceived the idea of the American Railway Union. He worked on the details and the union came into existence in Chicago, June 20, 1 893. For a time it prospered and became one of the largest bodies of railway men in the world. It won in a contest with the Great Northern Railway. In the strike made by the union in sympathy with the Pullman employes inaugurated in Chicago June 25, 1S94, and the consequent rioting, the Railway Union COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. \m lost much prestige and Mr. Debs, in company with others of the officers, being held as in con- tempt of the United States courts, he suffered a sentence of six months in jail at Wood- stock, McHenry county, Illinois. In 1897 Mr. Debs, on the demise of the American Railway Union, organized the Social Democracy, an institution founded on the best lines of the communistic idea, which was to provide homes and employment for its members. JOHN G. CARLISLE, famous as a law- yer, congressman, senator and cabinet officer, was born in Campbell (now Kenton) county, Kentucky, September 5, 1835, on a farm. He received the usual education of the time and began at an early age to teach school and, at the same time, the study of law. Soon opportunity offered and he entered an office in Covington, Kentucky, and was admitted to practice at the bar in 1858. Politics attracted his attention and in 1859 he was elected to the house of rep- resentatives in the legislature of his native state. On the outbreak of the war in 1861, he embraced the cause of the Union and was largely instrumental in preserving Kentucky to the federal cause. He resumed his legal practice for a time and declined a nomina- tion as presidential elector in 1864. In 1866 and again in 1869 Mr. Carlisle was elected to the senate of Kentucky. He re- signed this position in 1871 and was chosen lieutenant governor of the state, which office he held until 1875. He was one of the presidential electors-at-large for Ken- tucky in 1876. He first entered congress in 1877, and soon became a prominent leader on the Democratic side of the house of rep- resentatives, and continued a member of that body through the forty-sixth, forty- seventh, forty-eighth and forty-ninth con- gresses, and was speaker of the house during the two latter. He was elected to the United States senate to succeed Senator Blackburn, and remained a member of that branch of congress until March, 1893, when he was appointed secretary of the treasury. He performed the duties of that high office until March 4, 1897, throughout the en- tire second administration of President Cleveland. His ability and many years of public service gave him a national reputa- tion. FRANCES E. WILLARD, for many years president of the -Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and a noted American lecturer and writer, was born in Rochester, New York, September 28, 1839. Graduating from the Northwestern Female College at the age of nineteen she began teaching and met with great success in many cities of the west. She was made directress of Genesee Wes- leyan Seminary at Lima, Ohio, in 1867, and four years later was elected president of the Evanston College for young ladies, a branch of the Northwestern University. During the two years succeeding 1869 she traveled extensively in Europe and the east, visiting Egypt and Palestine, and gathering materials for a valuable course of lectures, which she delivered at Chicago on her return. She became very popular, and won great influence in the temperance cause. Her work as president of the Wo- man's Christian Temperance Union greatly strengthened that society, and she made frequent trips to Europe in the interest of that cause. RICHARD OLNEY.— Among the promi- nent men who were members of the cabinet of President Cleveland in his second administration, the gentleman whose name 134 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. heads this sketch held a leading place, oc- cupying the positions of attorney general and secretary of state. Mr. Olney came from one of the oldest and most honored New England families; the first of his ancestors to come from Eng- land settled in Massachusetts in 1635. This was Thomas Olney. He was a friend and co-religionist of Roger Williams, and when the latter moved to what is now Rhode I'sland, went with him and became one of the founders of Providence Plantations. Richard Olney was born in Oxford, Massachusetts, in 1835, an d received the elements of his earlier education in the com- mon schools which New England is so proud of. He entered Brown University, from which he graduated in 1856, and passed the Harvard law school two years later. He began the practice of his profession with Judge B. F. Thomas, a prominent man of that locality. For years Richard Olney was regarded as one of the ablest and most learned lawyers in Massachusetts. Twice he was offered a place on the bench of the supreme court of the state, but both times he declined. He was always a Democrat in his political tenets, and for many years was a trusted counsellor of members of that party. In 1874 Mr. Olney was elected a member of the legislature. In 1876, during the heated presidential campaign, to strengthen the cause of Mr. Tilden in the New England states, it was intimated that in the event of that gentleman's election to the presidency, Mr. Olney would be attor- sey general. When Grover Cleveland was elected presi- dent of the United States, on his inaugura- tion in March, 1893, he tendered the posi- tion of attorney general to Richard Olney. This was accepted, and that gentleman ful- filled the duties of the office until the death of Walter Q. Gresha'm, in May, 1895, made vacant the position of secretary of state. This post was filled by the appointment of Mr. Olney. While occupying the later office, Mr. Olney brought himself into inter- national prominence by some very able state papers. JOHN JAY KNOX, for many years comp- troller of the currency, and an eminent financier, was born in Knoxboro, Oneida county, New York, May 19, 1828. He re- ceived a good education and graduated at Hamilton College in 1849. For about thirteen years he was engaged as a private banker, or in a position in a bank, where he laid the foundation of his knowledge of the laws of finance. In 1862, Salmon P. Chase, then secretary of the treasury, ap- pointed him to an office in that department of the government, and later he had charge of the mint coinage correspondence. In 1 867 Mr. Knox was made deputy comptroller of the currency, and in that capacity, in 1870, he made two reports on the mint service, with a codification of the mint and coinage laws of the United States, and suggesting many important amendments These reports were ordered printed by reso- lution of congress. The bill which he pre- pared, with some slight changes, was sub- sequently passed, and has been known in history as the " Coinage Act of 1873." In 1872 Mr. Knox wns appointed comp- troller of the currency, and held that re- sponsible position until 1884, when he re- signed. He then accepted the position of president of the National Bank of the Re- public, of New York City, which institution he served for many years. He was the author of " United States Notes," published in 1884. In the reports spoken of above, a history of the two United States banks is COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 135 given, together with that of the state and national banking system, and much valuable statistical matter relating to kindred sub- jects. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.— In the opinion of many critics Hawthorne is pronounced the foremost American novelist, and in his peculiar vein of romance is said to be without a peer. His reputation is world-wide, and his ability as a writer is recognized abroad as well as at home. He was born July 4, 1804, at Salem, Massa- chusetts. On account of feeble health he spent some years of his boyhood on a farm near Raymond, Maine. He laid the foun- dation of a liberal education in his youth, and entered Bowdoin College, from which he graduated in 1825 in the same class with H W Longfellow and John S. C. Abbott. He then returned to Salem, where he gave his attention to literature, publishing several tales and other articles in various periodi- cals. His first venture in the field of ro- mance, " Fanshaw," proved a failure. In 1836 he removed to Boston, and became editor of the "American Magazine," which soon passed out of existence. In 1837 he published "Twice Told Tales," which were chiefly made up of his former contributions to magazines. In 1838-41 he held a posi- tion in the Boston custom house, but later took part in the "Brook farm experiment," a socialistic idea after the plan of Fourier. In 1843 he was married and took up his residence at the old parsonage at Concord, Massachusetts, which he immortalized in his next work, " Mosses From an Old Manse," published in 1846. From the lat- ter date until 1850 he was surveyor of the port of Salem, and while thus employed wrote one of his strongest works, "The Scarlet Letter." For the succeeding two years Lenox, Massachusetts, was his home, and the " House of the Seven Gables" was produced there, as well as the " Blithedale Romance." In 1852 he published a "Life of Franklin Pierce," a college friend whom he warmly regarded. In 1853 he was ap- pointed United States consul to Liverpool, England, where he remained some years, after which he spent some time in Italy. On returning to his native land he took up his residence at Concord, Massachusetts. While taking a trip for his health with ex- President Pierce, he died at Plymouth, New Hampshire, May 19, 1864. In addition to the works mentioned above Mr. Hawthorne gave to the world the following books: " True Stories from History," "The Won- der Book," " The Snow Image," "Tangle- wood Tales," "The Marble Faun," and " Our Old Home. " After his death appeared a series of "Notebooks," edited by his wife, Sophia P. Hawthorne; " Septimius Felton," edited by his daughter, Una, and "Dr. Grimshaw's Secret," put into shape by his talented son, Julian. He left an unfinished work called " Dolliver Romance," which has been published just as he left it. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, sixteenth presi- dent of the United States, was born February 12, 1809, in Larue county (Har- din county), Kentucky, in a log-cabin near Hudgensville. When he was eight years old he removed with his parents to Indiana, near the Ohio river, and a year later his mother died. His father then married Mrs. Elizabeth (Bush) Johnston, of Elizabeth- town, Kentucky, who proved a kind of fos- ter-mother to Abraham, and encouraged him to study. He worked as a farm hand and as a clerk in a store at Gentryville, and was noted for his athletic feats and strength. fondness for debate, a fund of humorous 136 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. anecdote, as well as the composition of rude verses. He made a trip at the age of nine- teen to New Orleans on a flat-boat, and set- tled in Illinois in 1830. He assisted his father to build a log house and clear a farm on the Sangamon river near Decatur, Illinois, and split the rails with which to fence it. In 1851 he was employed in the building of a flat-boat on the Sangamon, and to run it to New Orleans. The voyage gave him anew insight into the horrors of slavery in the south. On his return he settled at New Salem and engaged, first as a clerk in a store, then as grocer, surveyor and postmaster, and he piloted the first steamboat that as- cended the Sangamon. He participated in the Black Hawk war as captain of volun- teers, and after his return he studied law, interested himself in politics, and became prominent locally as a public speaker. He was elected to the legislature in 1834 as a " Clay Whig, " and began at once to dis- play a command of language and forcible rhetoric that made him a match for his more cultured opponents. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1837, and began prac- tice at Springfield. He married a lady of a prominent Kentucky family in 1842. He was active in the presidential campaigns of 1840 and 1844 and was an elector on the Harrison and Clay tickets, and was elected to congress in 1846, over Peter Cartwright. He voted for the Wilmot proviso and the abolition of slavery in the District of Colum- bia, and opposed the war with Mexico, but gained little prominence during his two years' service. He then returned to Spring- field and devoted his attention to law, tak- ing little interest in politics, until the repeal of the Missouri compromise and the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1854. This awakened his interest in politics again and he attacked the champion of that measure, Stephen A. Douglas, in a speech at Spring- field that made him famous, and is said by those who heard it to be the greatest speech of his life. Lincoln was selected as candidate for the United States senate, but was defeated by Trumbull. Upon the pas- sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill the Whig party suddenly went to pieces, and the Re- publican party gathered head. At the Bloomington Republican convention in 1856 Lincoln made an effective address in which he first took a position antagonistic to the ex- istence of slavery. He was a Fremont elector and received a strong support for nomina- tion as vice-president in the Philadelphia convention. In 1858 he was the unanimous choice of the Republicans for the United States senate, and the great campaign of de- bate which followed resulted in the election of Douglas, but established Lincoln's repu- tation as the leading exponent of Republican doctrines. He began to be mentioned in Illinois as candidate for the presidency, and a course of addresses in the eastern states attracted favorable attention. When the national convention met at Chicago, his rivals, Chase, Seward, Bates and others, were compelled to retire before the western giant, and he was nominated, with Hannibal Hamlin as his running mate. The Demo- cratic party had now been disrupted, and Lincoln's election assured. He carried practically every northern state, and the secession of South Carolina, followed by a number of the gulf states, took place before his inauguration. Lincoln is the only presi- dent who was ever compelled to reach Washington in a secret manner. He es- caped assassination by avoiding Baltimore, and was quietly inaugurated March 4, 1861. His inaugural address was firm but con- ciliatory, and he said to the secessionists: " You have no oath registered in heaven COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 137 to destroy the government, while I have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it.' He made up his cabinet chiefly of those political rivals in his own party — Seward, Chase, Cameron, Bates — and se- cured the co-operation of the Douglas Dem- ocrats. His great deeds, amidst the heat and turmoil of war, were: His call for seventy-five thousand volunteers, and the blockading of southern ports; calling of con- gress in extra session, July 14, 1861, and obtaining four hundred thousand men and four hundred million dollars for the prosecu- tion of the war; appointing Stanton secre- tary of war; issuing the emancipation proc- lamation; calling three hundred thou- sand volunteers; address at Gettysburg cemetery; commissioned Grant as lieuten- ant-general and commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States; his second inaugural address; his visit to the army be- fore Richmond, and his entry into Rich- mond the day after its surrender. Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wi'kes Booth in a box in Ford's theater at Washington the night of April 14, 1865, and expired the following morning. His body was buried at Oak Ridge cemetery, Springfield, Illinois, and a monument com- memorating his great work marks his resting place. STEPHEN GIRARD, the celebrated philanthropist, was born in Bordeaux, France, May 24, 1750. He became a sailor engaged in the American coast trade, and also made frequent trips to the West Indies. During the Revolutionary war he was a grocer and liquor seller in Philadelphia. He married in that city, and afterward separated from his wife. After the war he again engaged in the coast and West India trade, and his fortune began to accumulate from receiving goods from West Indian planters during the insurrection in Hayti, little of which was ever called for again. He became a private banker in Philadelphia in 1812, and afterward was a director in the United States Bank. He made much money by leasing property in the city in times of depression, and upon the revival of industry sub-leasing at enormous profit. He became the wealthiest citizen of the United States of his time. He was eccentric, ungracious, and a freethinker. He had few, if any, friends in his lifetime. However, he was most chari- tably disposed, and gave to charitable in- stitutions and schools with a liberal hand. He did more than any one else to relieve the suffering and deprivations during the great yellow fever scourge in Philadelphia, devoting his personal attention to the sick. He endowed and made a free institution, the famous Will's Eye and Ear Infirmary of Philadelphia — one of the largest institu- tions of its kind in the world. At his death practically all his immense wealth was be- queathed to charitable institutions, more than two millions of dollars going to the founding of Girard College, which was to be devoted to the education and training of boys between the ages of six and ten years. Large donations were also made to institu- tions in Philadelphia and New Orleans. The principal building of Girard College is the most magnificent example of Greek architecture in America. Girard died De- cember 26, 1831. LOUIS J. R. AGASSIZ, the eminent nat- uralist and geologist, was born in the parish of Motier, near Lake Neuchatel, Swit- zerland, May 28, 1807, but attained his greatest fame after becoming an American citizen. He studied the medical sciences at 188 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. Zurich, Heidelberg and Munich. His first work was a Latin description of the fishes which Martius and Spix brought from Brazil. This was published in 1 829-3 ' • He devoted much time to the study of fossil fishes, and in 1832 was appointed professor of natural history at Neuchatel. He greatly increased his reputation by a great work in French, entitled " Researches on Fossil Fishes," in 1832-42, in which he made many important improvements in the classification of fishes. Having passed many summers among the Alps in researches on glaciers, he propounded some new and interesting ideas on geology, and the agency of glaciers in his "Studies by the Glaciers." This was published in 1840. This latter work, with his " System of the Glaciers," published in 1847, are among his principal works. In 1846, Professor Agassiz crossed the ocean on a scientific excursion to the United States, and soon determined to remain here. He accepted, about the beginning of 1848, the chair of zoology and geology at Harvard. He explored the natural history of the United States at different times and gave an impulse to the study of nature in this country. In 1865 he conducted an expedi- tion to Brazil, and explored the lower Ama- zon and its tributaries. In 1868 he was made non-resident professor of natural his- tory at Cornell University. In December, 1 87 1, he accompanied the Hassler expedi- tion, under Professor Pierce, to the South Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He died at Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 14, 1873- Among other of the important works of Professor Agassiz may be mentioned the fol- lowing: "Outlines of Comparative Physi- ology," "Journey to Brazil," and "Contri- butions to the Natural History of the United States." It is said of Professor Agassiz, that, perhaps, with the exception of Hugh Miller, no one had so popularized science in his day, or trained so many young natural- ists. Many of the theories held by Agassiz are not supported by many of the natural- ists of these later days, but upon many of the speculations into the origin of species and in physics he has left the marks of his own strongly marked individuality. WILLIAM WINDOM.— As a prominent and leading lawyer of the great north- west, as a member of both houses of con- gress, and as the secretary of the treasury, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch won for himself a prominent position in the history of our country. Mr. Windom was a native of Ohio, born in Belmont county, May 10, 1827. He received a good elementary education in the schools of his native state, and took up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Ohio, where he remained until 1855. In the latter year he made up his mind to move further west, and accordingly went to Minnesota, and opening an office, became identified with the interests of that state, and the northwest generally. In 1858 he took his place in the Minnesota delegation in the national house of repre- sentatives, at Washington, and continued to represent his constituency in that body for ten- years. In 1871 Mr. Windom was elected United States senator from Min- nesota, and was re-elected to the same office after fulfilling the duties of the position for a full term, in 1876. On the inauguration of President Garfield, in March, 1881, Mr. Windom became secretary of the treasury in his cabinet. He resigned this office Oc- tober 27, 1 88 1, and was elected senator from the North Star state to fill the va- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 189 cancy caused by the resignation of A. J. Edgerton. Mr. Windom served in that chamber until March, 1883. William Windom died in New York City January 29, 1891. DON M. DICKINSON, an American politician and lawyer, was born in Port Ontario, New York, January 17, 1846. He removed with his parents to Michigan when he was but two years old. He was educated in the public schools of Detroit and at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one. In 1872 he was made secretary of the Democratic state central committee of Michigan, and his able man- agement of the campaign gave him a prom- inent place in the councils of his party. In 1876, during the Tilden campaign, he acted as chairman of the state central committee. He was afterward chosen to represent his state in the Democratic national committee, and in 1886 he was appointed postmaster- general by President Cleveland. After the expiration of his term of office he returned to Detroit and resumed the practice of law. In the presidential campaign of 1896, Mr. Dickinson adhered to the "gold wing" of the Democracy, and his influence was felt in the national canvass, and especially in his own state. JOHN JACOB ASTOR, the founder of \i nership ol a vet) pn ifitable busi ness which netted him an income of $.|0,ooo .1 yeai , I te died March i, i 894, M\ \\ II \l l CARPEN I l R, a I. mi ■ lawyer, oratoi and senator, was born in Moretown, Vermont, December 22, 1 8 ■ 1 AH' i rei eiving a common si l I . dm at ion he entered the United States Military A< ademj al Wesl Point, but only remained two years, On returning to his home he commenced the study of law with Paul Dillingham, afterwards governoi of Vermont, and whose daughter he married, In 1 84; he was admitted to prai tice at the bar in Vermont, but he went to Boston and to] a time studied with Ruf us Choate. In 1848 he moved west, settling al Beloit, Wisconsin, and commencing the practice ol his profes m ""ii obtained a wide reputation for ability. In 1856 Mr. Carpenter removed to Milwaukee, where he found a wider held for his now increasing powers. During the Civil war, although a strong Democrat, he w as loyal to the go\ ei nment and aided the Union cause to his utmost. In [868 he was 1 ounsel foi the government in a te it case to settle the legalit} ol the ret onsti ui tion act before the United States sup court, and won lus i'.isc against Jeremiah S. I'.l.n k, This gave him the election for sen- ate] from Wisconsin in 1 869, and he served until iS;s, during part ol which time he was president pro tempore of the senate. Failing 01 .1 re ele< tion Mi Cai penter resumed the practice ol law, and when William W. Belknap, late secretary of war, was im- peached, entered the 1 ase fi ir I ienei al Belknap, and secured anacquittal. During the sitting ol the electoral commission of 1S77, Mr. Carpenter appeared for Samuel J. Tilden, although the Republican man- agers had intended to have him repre lent \\. I'.. Hayes. Mr. Carpenter was elected ti 1 the l ' 1 1 1 1 < < I States senate again in 1 879, and remained a member of that body until the day of his death, which occurred at \ \ . 1 1 1 1 1 1 v 1 . 1 1 1 , District of Columbia, Feb- ruary ' |. 1 NX 1 . Senator Carpenter's real name was De- catui Mi 1 1 1 1 1 Hammond Carpenter but about [852 he changed it to the one by which he was universally known. THOMAS E. WATSON, lawyer and congressman, the well-known Geor- gian, whose name appears al the he. id ol this sketch, made himself a place in the liis- i"i\ of our country by his ability, energy and fei \ id oratory, He w as born in Col- umbia mow McDuffie) county, Georgia, September 5, [856. He had a common- school education, and in [87 • entered Mer- cer University, at Macon, Georgia, as fresh- man, but for want of money left the college ,1! the end of his sophomore year. He taught school, studying law at the same time, until 1S75, when he was admitted to the bar. lie opened an office and com- menced practice in Thomson, Georgia, in November, [876, He carried on a success- ful business, and bought land and farmed on an extensive scale. Mr. Watson was a delegate to the Demo- cratii state convention of [880, and was a member of the house of representatives of 1 he legislature "I his native state in 1 882, In [888 he was an elector-at-large on the COMPENDIUM OF BIOGR \PHY m Cleveland ticket, and ill [890 was elected to represent Ins . 1 1 .t 1 n 1 in the fitly second i ongress. This latter election is said to have been due entirely to Mr. Watson's "dash- ing display of ability, eloquent e ami popular power." Ill his later years lie championed the alliance principles and policies until he became a leader in the movement. In the heated campaign of 1896, Mr. Wal ion was nominated as the 1 andidate fof \ i< e presi- dent on the Bryan ticket by that part of the People's party that would not endorse the nominee for the same position made by the Demoi 1 at ic part y. FREDERIC K a. P. BARNARD, math matician, physicist and educator, was born in S lie lliel d, Massai li use Its, May 5, 1 Xoij. He graduated loan Yale ( ollege in [828, and in 1830 became a tutor in the same. From 1837 to 1848 he was professor of mathe- matics and natural philosophy in the I'ni versity of Alabama, and from [848 to 1850, profeSSOl oi I hemistry and natural In i< .. in the same educational institution. In 1 854 he be< ame 1 onnected with the Univer- sity of Mississippi, of which he became president in [856, and chancellor in 1858. In 1H54 he took orders in the Protestant Episcopal church. In 1861 Professor Barnard n tigned bis 1 ham elloi ship and < hail in the university, and in [863 and [864 was con- nected with the United States coast survey inchargeof chart printing and lithography. In May, 1 864, he was elected president of Columbia ( ollege, New York City, which he served for a number of years. Profea lor B u nod reci ived the honorary degree of LL. I), from Jefferson College, Mississippi, in 1-55, and from Yale ' in 1859; also the degree of S. T. D, from the University of Mississippi in 1861, and that of L. II. D. from the regent 1 ol thi University of the State of New York in 1872. In i860 he was a member of the eclipse p. 11 ty sent by the United State lsI sui vcy to Labrador, and during hi ibsenci was 'in ted president of the American Asso- ciation for the Advam ement of Si iem e. In tin ai 1 ni 1 ongress establishing the Nal ional Ai ademy ol Si i< in 1 ; in 1 863, he wa . named as one "I th< oi iginal < orpoi ators. In 1X67 he was one of the I mited Si itea • ommis- 1 is to the Paris Ej pot ition. I fe wa 1 a member of the American Philosophical S01 niy, assoi iate member of the Amer- ican Academy of Alls and Sciences, and many othei philo n iphii al and scientific 101 il I ieS at home and abroad. I )|. Halliard was thoroughly identified with the progri ■ of the ag thosi bi am hi s. His publi hed works relate wholly to scientifii 01 educa- tional subjects, chief among which are the following: Report on< ollegi ate Education; Art Culture; History of the Ai an I oa il Survey; University Education; Undulatory l In ory ol I .ight , Mai hinery and Proi 1 sse of the fndu iti ial Arts, and Apparaf us ol the Exact Sciences, Metrii System of Weights ami Mea lures, eti EDWIN McMASTERS STANTON, the tary of war during thi gr< at ( ivil wai , was n 1 ognized as one ol Ai a foremost public men. He wa 1 bom Dei em- ber 19, I 8 1 4, at Steiibenville, Ohio, he received his education and studied law. I [e was admitted to the bai in 1 8 (6, and was reporter of the mpn mi court oi ' >hio from [842 until 1845. I le n moved to Washington in [856 to attend to his prac- t H 1 before the United upreme court, and in [858 he went to California as 1 nun K I I1.1 1 hi gi I in 1 ertain land cases, which he carried to a mccessful conclusion. Mr. Stanton was appointed 130 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. attorney-general of the United States in December, i860, by President Buchanan. On March 4, 1861, Mr. Stanton went with the outgoing administration and returned to the practice of his profession. He was appointed secretary of war by President Lincoln January 20, 1862, to succeed Simon Cameron. After the assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln and the accession of Johnson to the presidency, Mr. Stanton was still in the same office. He held it for three years, and by his strict adherence to the Repub- lican party, he antagonized President John- son, who endeavored to remove him. On August 5, 1867, the president requested him to resign, and appointed General Grant to succeed him, but when congress convened in December the senate refused to concur in the suspension. Mr. Stanton returned to his post until the president again removed him from office, but was again foiled by congress. Soon after, however, he retired voluntarily from office and took up the practice of law, in which he engaged until his death, on December 24, 1869. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, the eminent theologian and founder of the church known as Disciples of Christ, was born in the country of Antrim, Ireland, in June, 1788, and was the son of Rev. Thomas Campbell, a Scoth-Irish "Seceder. " After studying at the University of Glasgow, he, in company with his father, came to America in 1808, and both began labor in western Pennsylvania to restore Christianity to apostolic simplicity. They organized a church at Brush Run, Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 181 1, which, however, the year following, adopted Baptist views, and in 1 81 3, with other congregations joined a Baptist association. Some of the under- lying principles and many practices of the Campbells and their disciples were repug- nant to the Baptist church and considerable friction was the result, and 1827 saw the separation of that church from the Church of Christ, as it is sometimes called. The latter then reorganized themselves anew. They reject all creeds, professing to receive the Bible as their only guide. In most mat- ters of faith they are essentially in accord with the other Evangelical Christian churches, especially in regard to the person and work of Christ, the resurrection and judgment. They celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly, hold that repentance and faith should precede baptism, attaching much importance to the latter ordinance. On all other points they encourage individual liberty of thought. In 1 84 1, Alexander Campbell founded Bethany College, West Virginia, of which he was president for many years, and died March 4, 1866. The denomination which they founded is quite a large and important church body in the United States. They support quite a number of institutions of learning, among which are: Bethany College, West Virginia; Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio; Northwestern Christian University, Indianapolis, Indiana; Eureka College, Illinois; Kentucky Univer- sity, Lexington, Kentucky; Oskaloosa College, Iowa; and a number of seminaries and schools. They also support several monthly and quarterly religious periodicals and many papers, both in the United States and Great Britain and her dependencies. WILLIAM L.WILSON, the noted West Virginian, who was postmaster-gener- al under President Cleveland's second ad- ministration, won distinction as the father of the famous " Wilson bill," which became a law under the same administration. Mr. Wiison was born May 3, 1843, in Jeffer- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 181 son county, West Virginia, and received a good education at the Charlestown Academy, where he prepared himself for college. He attended the Columbian Col- lege in the District of Columbia, from which he graduated in i860, and then attended the University of Virginia. Mr. Wilson served in the Confederate army dur- ing the war, after which he was a professor in Columbian College. Later he entered into the practice of law at Charlestown. He attended the Democratic convention held at Cincinnati in 1880, as a delegate, and later was chosen as one of the electors for the state-at-large on the Hancock ticket. In the Democratic convention at Chicago in 1892, Mr. Wilson was its per- manent president. He was elected pres- ident of the West Virginia University in 1882, entering upon the duties of his office on September 6, but having received the nomination for the forty-seventh congress on the Democratic ticket, he resigned the presidency of the university in June, 1883, to take his seat in congress. Mr. Wil- son was honored by the Columbian Uni- versity and the Hampden-Sidney College, both of which conferred upon him the de- gree of LL. D. In 1884 he was appointed regent of 'the Smithsonian Institution at Washington for two years, and at the end of his term was re-appointed. He was elected to the forty-seventh, forty-ninth, fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second and fifty- third congresses, but was defeated for re- election to the fifty-fourth congress. Upon the resignation of Mr. Bissell from the office of postmaster-general, Mr. Wilson was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy by President Cleveland. Hi? many years of public serv- ice and the prominent part he took in the discussion of public questions gave him a national reputation. CALVIN S. BRICE, a successful and noted financier and politician, was born at Denmark, Ohio, September 17, 1845, of an old Maryland family, who trace their lineage from the Bryces, or Bruces, of Airth, Scotland. The father of our subject was a prominent Presbyterian clergyman, who removed to Ohio in 1812. Calvin S. Brice was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at the age of thir- teen entered the preparatory department of Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and the following year entered the freshman class. On the breaking out of the Civil war, although but fifteen years old, he enlisted in a company of three-months men. He re- turned to complete his college course, but re-enlisted in Company A, Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and served in the Virginia campaign. He then returned to college, from which he graduated in 1863. In 1864 he organized Company E, One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio Infantry, and served until the close of hostilities, in the western armies. On his return home Mr. Brice entered the law department of the University of Michigan, and in 1866 was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati. In the winter of 1870- 71 he went to Europe in the interests of the Lake Erie & Louisville Railroad and pro- cured a foreign loan. This road became the Lake Erie & Western, of which, in 1887, Mr. Brice became president. This was the first railroad in which he had a personal interest. The conception, build- ing and sale of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, known as the "Nickel Plate," was largely due to him. He was connected with many other railroads, among which may be mentioned the following: Chicago & Atlantic; Ohio Central; Rich- mond & Danville; Richmond & West Point 182 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. Terminal; East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia; Memphis & Charleston; Mobile & Birmingham; Kentucky Central; Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic, and the Marquette, Houghton & Ontonagon. In 1890 he was elected United States senator from Ohio. Notwithstanding his extensive business inter- ests, Senator Brice gave a considerable time to political matters, becoming one of the leaders of the Democratic party and one of the most widely known men in the country. •» BENJAMIN HARRISON, twenty-third president of the United States, was born August 20, 1833, at North Bend, Hamilton county, Ohio, in the house of his grandfather, General William Henry Har- rison, afterwards president of the United States. His great-grandfather, Benjamin Harrison, was a member of the Continental congress, signed the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and was three times elected gov- ernor of Virginia. The subject of this sketch entered Farm- ers College at an early age, and two years later entered Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio. Upon graduation he entered the office of Stover & Gwyne, of Cincinnati, as a law student. He was admitted to the bar two years later, and having inherited about eight hundred dollars worth of property, he married the daughter of Doctor Scott, pres- ident of a female school at Oxford, Ohio, and selected Indianapolis, Indiana, to begin practice. In i860 he was nominated by the Republicans as candidate for state supreme court reporter, and did his first political speaking in that campaign. He was elected, and after two years in that position he organized the Seventieth Indi- ana Infantry, of which he was made colonel, and with his regiment joined General Sher- man's army. For bravery displayed at Re- saca and Peach Tree Creek he was made a brigadier-general. In the meantime the office of supreme court reporter had been declared vacant, and another party elected to fill it. In the fall of 1864, having been nominated for that office, General Harrison obtained a thirty-day leave of absence, went to Indiana, canvassed the state and was elected. As he was about to rejoin his command he was stricken down by an attack of fever. After his recovery he joined General Sherman's army and participated in the closing events of the war. In 1868 General Harrison declined to be a candidate for the office of supreme court reporter, and returned to the practice of the law. His brilliant campaign for the office of governor of Indiana in 1876, brought him into public notice, although he was defeated. He took a prominent part in the presidential canvass of 1880, and was chosen United States senator from Indiana, serving six years. He then returned to the practice of his profession. In 1888 he was selected by the Republican convention at Chicago as candidate for the presidency, and after a heated campaign was elected over Cleveland. He was inaugurated March 4, 1889, and signed the McKinley bill October 1, 1890, perhaps the most distinctive feature of his administration. In 1892 he was again the nominee of the Republican party for president, but was defeated by Grover Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, and again resumed the practice of law in Indian- apolis. JOHN CRAIG HAVEMEYER, the celebrated merchant and sugar refiner, was born in New York City in 1833. His father, William F. Havemeyer, and grand- father, William Havemeyer, were both sugar COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 183 refiners. The latter named came from Buckeburg, Germany, in 1799, and settled in New York, establishing one of the first refineries in that city. William F. succeeded his father, and at an early age retired from business with a competency. He was three times mayor of his native city, New York. John C. Havemeyer was educated in private schools, and was prepared for college at Columbia College grammar school. Owing to failing eyesight he was unable to finish his college course, and began his business career in a wholesale grocery store, where he remained two years. In 1854, after a year's travel abroad, he assumed the responsibility of the office work in the sugar refinery of Havemeyer & Molter, but two years later etablished a refinery of his own in Brooklyn. This afterwards developed into the immense business of Havemeyer & Elder. The capital was furnished by his father, and, chafing under the anxiety caused by the use of borrowed money, he sold out his interest and returned to Havemeyer & Molter. This firm dissolving the next year, John C. declined an offer of partnership from the successors, not wishing to use borrowed money. For two years he remain- ed with the house, receiving a share of the profits as compensation. For some years thereafter he was engaged in the commission business, until failing health caused his retirement. In 1871, he again engaged in the sugar refining business at Greenport, Long Island, with his brother and another partner, under the firm name of Havemeyer Brothers & Co. Here he remained until 1880, when his health again declined. During the greater part of his life Mr. Havemeyer was identified with many benev- olent societies, including the New York Port Society, Missionary Society of the Methodist Church, American Bible Society, New York Sabbath School Society and others. He was active in Young Men's Christian Association work in New York, and organized and was the first president of an affiliated society of the same at Yonkers. He was director of several railroad corpo- rations and a trustee of the Continental Trust Company of New York. WALTER QUINTIN GRESHAM, an eminent American statesman and jurist, was born March 17, 1833, near Cory- don, Harrison county, Indiana. He ac- quired his education in the local schools of the county and at Bloomington Academy, although he did not graduate. After leav- ing college he read law with Judge Porter at Corydon, and just before the war he be- gan to take an interest in politics. Mr. Gresham was elected to the legislature from Harrison county as a Republican; previous to this the district had been represented by a Democrat. At the commencement of hostilities he was made lieutenant-colonel of the Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, but served in that regiment only a short time, when he was appointed colonel of the Fifty- third Indiana, and served under General Grant at the siege of Vicksburg as brigadier- general. Later he was under Sherman in the famous "March to the Sea," and com- manded a division of Blair's corps at the siege of Atlanta where he was so badly wounded in the leg that he was compelled to return home. On his way home he was forced to stop at New Albany, where he re- mained a year before he was able to leave. He was brevetted major-general at the close of the war. While at New Albany. Mr. Gresham was appointed state agent, his duty being to pay the interest on the state debt in New York, and he ran twice for congress against ex-Speaker Kerr, but was 184 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. defeated in both cases, although he greatly reduced the Democratic majority. He was held in high esteem by President Grant, who offered him the portfolio of the interior but Mr. Gresham declined, but accepted the appointment of United States judge for Indiana to succeed David McDonald. Judge Gresham served on the United States district court bench until 1883, when he was appointed postmaster-general by Presi- dent Arthur, but held that office only a few months when he was made secretary of the treasury. Near the end of President Arthur's term, Judge Gresham was ap- pointed judge of the United States circuit court of the district composed of Indiana, Illinois and contiguous states, which he held until 1893. Judge Gresham was one of the presidential possibilities in the National Re- publican convention in 1888, when General Harrison was nominated, and was also men- tioned for president in 1892. Later the People's party made a strenuous effort to induce him to become their candidate for president, he refusing the offer, however, and a few weeks before the election he an- nounced that he would support Mr. Cleve- land, the Democratic nominee for president. Upon the election of Mr. Cleveland in the fall of 1892, Judge Gresham was made the secretary of state, and filled that position until his death on May 28, 1895, at Wash- ington, District of Columbia. ELISHA B. ANDREWS, noted as an ed- ucator and college president, was born at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, January 10, 1844, his father and mother being Erastus and Elmira (Bartlett) Andrews. In 1861, he entered the service of the general gov- ernment as private and non-commissioned officer in the First Connecticut Heavy Ar- tillery, and in 1863 was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. Returning home he was prepared for college at Powers In- stitute and at the Wesleyan Academy, and entered Brown University. From here he was graduated in 1870. For the succeeding two years he was principal of the Connecti- cut Literary Institute at Suffield, Connecticut. Completing a course at the Newton Theo- logical Institute, he was ordained pastor of the First Baptist church at Beverly, Massa- chusetts, July 2, 1874. The following year he became president of the Denison University, at Granville, Ohio. In 1879 he accepted the professorship of homiletics, pastoral duties and church polity at Newton Theological Institute. In 1882 he was elected to the chair of history and political economy at Brown University. The Uni- versity of Nebraska honored him with an LL. D. in 1884, and the same year Colby University conferred the degree of D. D. In 1888 he became professor of political economy and public economy at Cornell University, but the next year returned to Brown University as its president. From the time of his inauguration the college work broadened in many ways. Many timely and generous donations from friends and alumni of the college were influenced by him, and large additions made "to the same. Professor Andrews published, in 1887, "Institutes of General History," and in 1888, " Institutes of Economics." JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, the subject of the present biography, was, during his life, one of the most distinguished chemists and scientific writers in America. He was an Englishman by birth, born at Liverpool, May 5, 181 1, and was reared in his native land, receiving an excellent education, graduating at the- University of London. In 1833 he came to the United States, and r * COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHT. 187 settled first in Pennsylvania. He graduated in medicine at the University of Philadel- phia, in 1836, and for three years following was professor of chemistry and physiology at Hampden-Sidney College. He then be- came professor of chemistry in the New York University, with which institution he was prominently connected for many years. It is stated on excellent authority that Pro- fessor Draper, in 1839, took the first photo- graphic picture ever taken from life. He was a great student, and carried on many important and intricate experiments along scientific lines. He discovered many of the fundamental facts of spectrum analysis, which he published. He published a number of works of great merit, many of which are recognized as authority upon the subjects of which they treat. Among his work were: "Human Physiology, Statistical and Dyna- mical of the Conditions and Cause of Life in Man," "History of Intellectual Develop- ment of Europe," " History of the Ameri- can Civil War," besides a number of works on chemistry, optics and mathematics. Pro- fessor Draper continued to hold a high place among the scientific scholars of America until his death, which occurred in January, 1882. GEORGE W. PECK, ex-governor of the state of Wisconsin and a famous journalist and humorist, was born in Jeffer- son county, New York, September 28, 1840. When he was about three years of age his parents removed to Wisconsin, settling near Whitewater, where young Peck received his education at the public schools. At fifteen he entered the office of the "Whitewater Register," where he learned the printer's art. He helped start the "Jefferson County Republican" later on, but sold out his interest therein and set type in the office of the "State Journal," at Madison. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry as a private, and after serving four years returned a second lieutenant. He then started the " Ripon Representative," which he sold not long after, and removing to New York, was on the staff of Mark Pomeroy's "Democrat." Going to La Crosse, later, he conducted the La Crosse branch paper, a half interest in which he bought in 1S74. He next started "Peck's Sun," which four years later he removed to Milwaukee. While in La Crosse he was chief of police one year, and also chief clerk of the Democratic assembly in 1874. It was in 1878 that Mr. Peck took his paper to Milwaukee, and achieved his first permanent success, the circulation increasing to 80,000. For ten years he was regarded as one of the most original, versa- tile and entertaining writers in the country, and he has delineated every phase of country newspaper life, army life, domestic experience, travel and city adventure. Up to 1890 Mr. Peck took but little part in politics, but in that year was elected mayor of Milwaukee on the Democratic ticket. The following August he was elected gov- ernor of Wisconsin by a large majority, the "Bennett School Bill" figuring to a large extent in his favor. Mr. Peck, besides many newspaper arti- cles in his peculiar vein and numerous lect- ures, bubbling over with fun, is known to fame by the following books: "Peck's Bad Boy and his Pa," and "The Grocery Man and Peck's Bad Boy." CHARLES O'CONOR, who was for many years the acknowledged leader of the legal profession of New York City, was also conceded to be one of the greatest lawyers America has produced. He was 188 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY born in New York City in 1804, his father being an educated Irish gentleman. Charles received a common-school education, and early took up the study of law, being ad- mitted to practice in 1824. His close ap- plication and untiring energy and industry soon placed him in the front rank of the profession, and within a few years he was handling many of the most important cases. One of the first great cases he had and which gained him a wide reputation, was that of " Jack, the Fugitive Slave, " in 1835, in which his masterful argument before the supreme court attracted wide attention and com- ment. Charles O'Conor was a Democrat all his life. He did not aspire to office- holding, however, and never held any office except that of district attorney under Presi- dent Pierce's administration, which he only retained a short time. He took an active interest, however, in public questions, and was a member of the state (New York) con- stitutional convention in 1864. In 1868 he was nominated for the presidency by the " Extreme Democrats." His death occurred in May, 1884. SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER, a noted American officer and major-general in the Confederate army, was born in Ken- tucky in 1823. He graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1844, served in the United States infantry artd was later as- signed to commissary duty with the rank of captain. He served several years at fron- tier posts, and was assistant professor in the military academy in 1846. He was with General Scott in the Mexican war, and en- gaged in all the battles from Vera Cruz to the capture of the Mexican capital. He was wounded at Cherubusco and brevetted first lieutenant, and at Molino del Rey was brevetted captain. After the close of the Mexican war he returned to West Point as assistant instructor, and was then assigned to commissary duty at New York. He re- signed in 1855 and became superintendent of construction of the Chicago custom house. He was made adjutant-genenal, with the rank of colonel, of Illinois militia, and was colonel of Illinois volunteers raised for the Utah expedition, but was not mustered into service. In i860 he removed to Kentucky, where he settled on a farm near Louisville and became inspector-general in command of the Kentucky Home Guards. At the opening of the Civil war he joined the Con- federate army, and was given command at Bowling Green, Kentucky, which he was compelled to abandon after the capture of Fort Henry. He then retired to Fort Don- elson, and was there captured with sixteen thousand men, and an immense store of pro- visions, by General Grant, in February, 1862. He was held as a prisoner of war at Fort Warren until August of that year. He commanded a division of Hardee's corps in Bragg's Army of the Tennessee, and was afterward assigned to the third division and participated in the battles of Chickamauga, and Murfreesboro. He was with Kirby Smith when that general surrendered his army to General Canby in May, 1865. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the vice- presidency on the Gold Democratic ticket with Senator John M. Palmer in 1896. SIMON KENTON, one of the famous pio- neers and scouts whose names fill the pages of the early history of our country, was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, April 3, 1755. In consequence of an affray, at the age of eighteen, young Kenton went to Kentucky, then the "Dark and Bloody Ground," and became associated with Dan- iel Boone and other pioneers of that region. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. .189 For a short time he acted as a scout and spy for Lord Dunmore, the British governor of Virginia, but afterward taking the side of the struggling colonists, participated in the war for independence west of the Alle- ghanies. In 1784 he returned to Virginia, but did not remain there long, going back with his family to Kentucky. From that time until 1793 he participated in all the combats and battles of that time, and until "Mad Anthony" Wayne swept the Valley of the Ohio, and settled the suprem- acy of the whites in that region. Kenton laid claim to large tracts of land in the new country he had helped to open up, but through ignorance of law, and the growing value of the land, lost it all and was reduced to poverty. During the war with England in 1 812-15, Kenton took part in the inva- sion of Canada with the Kentucky troops and participated in the battle of the Thames. He finally had land granted him by the legislature of Kentucky, and received a pen- sion from the United States government. He died in Logan county, Ohio, April 29, 1836. ELIHU BENJAMIN WASHBURNE, an American statesman of eminence, was born in Livermore, Maine, September 23, 1 816. He learned the trade of printer, but abandoned that calling at the age of eight- een and entered the Kent's Hill Academy at Reading, Maine, and then took up the study of law, reading in Hallowell, Boston, and at the Harvard Law School. He began prac- tice at Galena, Illinois, in 1840. He was elected to congress in 1852, and represented his district in that body continuously until March, 1869, and at the time of his retire- ment he had served a greater number of consecutive terms than any other member of the house. In 1873 President Grant ap- pointed him secretary of state, which posi- tion he resigned to accept that of minister to France. During the Franco- Prussian war, including the siege of Paris and the reign of the Commune, Mr. Washburne re- mained at his post, protecting the lives and property of his countrymen, as well as that of other foreign residents in Paris, while the ministers of all other powers abandoned their posts at a time when they were most needed. As far as possible he extended protection to unfortunate German residents, who were the particular objects of hatred of the populace, and his firmness and the suc- cess which attended his efforts won the ad- miration of all Europe. Mr. Washburne died at Chicago, Illinois, October 22, 1887. WILLIAM CRAMP, one of the most extensive shipbuilders of this coun- try, was born in Kensington, then a suburb, now a part of Philadelphia, in 1806. He received a thorough English education, and when he left school was associated with Samuel Grice, one of the most eminent naval architects of his day. In 1830, hav- ing mastered all the details of shipbuilding, Mr. Cramp engaged in business on his own account. By reason of ability and excel- lent work he prospered from the start, until now, in the hands of his sons, under the name of William Cramp & Sons' Ship and Engine Building Company, it has become the most complete shipbuilding plant and naval arsenal in the western hemisphere, and fully equal to any in the world. As Mr. Cramp's sons attained manhood they learned their father's profession, and were admitted to a partnership. In 1872 the firm was incor- porated under the title given above. Until i860 wood was used in building vessels, al- though pace was kept with all advances in the art of shipbuilding. At the opening of 190 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. the war came an unexpected demand for war vessels, which they promptly met. The sea-going ironclad "New Ironsides" was built by them in 1862, followed by a num- ber of formidable ironclads and the cruiser "Chattanooga." They subsequently built several war vessels for the Russian and other governments which added to their reputation. When the American steamship line was established in 1870, the Cramps were commissioned to build for it four first- class iron steamships, the "Pennsylvania," "Ohio," "Indiana" and "Illinois," which they turned out in rapid order, some of the finest specimens of the naval architecture of their day. William Cramp remained at the head of the great company he had founded until his death, which occurred January 6, 1879. Charles H. Cramp, the successor of his father as head of the William Cramp & Sons' Ship and Engine Building Company, was born in Philadelphia May 9, 1829, and received an excellent education in his native city, which he sedulously sought to sup- plement by close study until he became an authority on general subjects and the best naval architect on the western hemis- .phere. Many of the best vessels of our new navy were built by this immense con- cern. WASHINGTON ALLSTON, probably the greatest American painter, was born in South Carolina in 1779. He was sent to school at the age of seven years at Newport, Rhode Island, where he met Ed- ward Malbone, two years his senior, and who later became a painter of note. The friendship that sprang up between them un- doubtedly influenced young Allston in the choice of a profession. He graduated from Harvard in 1800, and went to England the following year, after pursuing his studies for a year under his friend Malbone at his home in South Carolina. He became a student at the Royal Academy where the great American, Benjamin West, presided, and who became his intimate friend. Allston later went to Paris, and then to Italy, where four years were spent, mostly at Rome. In 1809 he returned to America, but soon after returned to London, having married in the meantime a sister of Dr. Channing. In a short time his first great work appeared, "The Dead Man Restored to Life by the Bones of Elisha," which took the British Association prize and firmly established his reputation. Other paintings followed in quick succession, the greatest among which were "Uriel in the Center of the Sun," "Saint Peter Liberated by the Angel," and "Jacob's Dream," supplemented by many smaller pieces. Hard work, and grief'at the death of his wife began to tell upon his health, and he left London in 181 8 for America. The same year he was elected an associate of the Royal Academy. During the next few years he painted "Jeremiah," "Witch ofEndor," and "Beatrice." In 1830 Alls- ton married a daughter of Judge Dana, and went to Cambridge, which was his home until his death. Here he produced the "Vision of the Bloody Hand," "Rosalie," and many less noted pieces, and had given one week of labor to his unfinished master- piece, "Belshazzar's Feast," when death ended his career July 9, 1843. JOHN ROACH, ship builder and manu- facturer, whose career was a marvel 0/ industrial labor, and who impressed his in- dividuality and genius upon the times in which he lived more, perhaps, than any other manufacturer in America. He was born at Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ire- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 191 land, December 25, 181 5, the son of a wealthy merchant. He attended school until he was thirteen, when his father be- came financially embarrassed and failed and shortly after died; John determined to come to America and carve out a fortune for himself. He landed in New York at the age of sixteen, and soon obtained employ- ment at the Howell Iron Works in New Jer- sey, at twenty-five cents a day. He soon made himself a place in the world, and at the end of three years had saved some twelve hundred dollars, which he lost by the failure of his employer, in whose hands it was left. Returning to New York he began to learn how to make castings for marine engines and ship work. Having again accumulated one thousand dollars, in company with three fellow workmen, he purchased a small foundry in New York, but soon became sole proprietor. At the end of four years he had saved thirty thou- sand dollars, besides enlarging his works. In 1856 his works were destroyed by a boiler explosion, and being unable to collect the insurance, was left, after paying his debts, without a dollar. However, his credit and reputation for integrity was good, and he built the Etna Iron Works, giving it capacity to construct larger marine engines than any previously built in this country. Here he turned out immense engines for the steam ram Dunderberg, for the war ves- sels Winooski and Neshaning, and other large vessels. To accommodate his increas- ing business, Mr. Roach, in 1869, pur- chased the Morgan Iron Works, one of the largest in New York, and shortly after sev- eral others. In 1871 he bought the Ches- ter ship yards, which he added to largely, erecting a rolling mill and blast furnace, and providing every facility for building a ship out of the ore and timber. This immense plant covered a large area, was valued at several millions of dollars, and was known as the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works, of which Mr. Roach was the principal owner. He built a large percentage of the iron vessels now flying the American flag, the bulk of his business being for private parties. In 1875 he built the sectional dry docks at Pensacola. He, about this time, drew the attention of the government to the use of compound marine engines, and thus was the means of im- proving the speed and economy of the ves- sels of our new navy. In 1883 Mr. Roach commenced work on the three cruisers for the government, the " Chicago," "Boston" and "Atlanta," and the dispatch boat " Dolphin." For some cause the secretary of the navy refused to receive the latter and decided that Mr. Roach's contract would not hold. This embarrassed Mr. Roach, as a large amount of his capital was in- volved in these contracts, and for the pro- tection of bondsmen and creditors, July 18, 1885, he made an assignment, but the financial trouble broke down his strong con- stitution, and January 10, 1887, he died. His son, John B. Roach, succeeded to the shipbuilding interests, while Stephen W. Roach inherited the Morgan Iron Works at New York. JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY, one of the two great painters who laid the foundation of true American art, was born in Boston in 1737, one year earlier than his great contemporary, Benjamin West. His education was limited to the common schools of that time, and his training in art he ob- tained by his own observation and experi- ments solely. When he was about seven- teen years old he had mapped out his future, however, by choosing painting as his pro ■ 192 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. fession. If he ever studied under any teacher in his early efforts, we have no au- thentic account of it, and tradition credits the young artist's wonderful success en- tirely to his own talent and untiring effort. It is almost incredible that at the age of twenty-three years his income from his works aggregated fifteen hundred dollars per annum, a very great sum in those days. In 1774 he went to Europe in search of ma- terial for study, which was so rare in his native land. After some time spent in Italy he finally took up his permanent residence in England. In 1783 he was made a mem- ber of the Royal Academy, and later his son had the high honor of becoming lord chancellor of England and Lord Lyndhurst. Many specimens of Copley's work are to be found in the Memorial Hall at Harvard and in the Boston Museum, as well as a few of the works upon which he modeled his style. Copley was essentially a portrait painter, though his historical paintings at- tained great celebrity, his" masterpiece being his " Death of Major Pierson," though that distinction has by some been given to his "Death of Chatham." It is said that he never saw a good picture until he was thirty-five years old, yet his portraits prior to that period are regarded as rare speci- mens. He died in 181 5. HENRY B. PLANT, one of the greatest railroad men of the country, became famous as president of the Plant system of railway and steamer lines, and also the Southern & Texas Express Co. He was born in October, 18 19, at Branford, Connecticut, and entered the railroad serv- ice in 1844, serving as express messenger on the Hartford & New Haven Railroad until 1853, during which time he had entire charge of the express business of that road. He went south in 1853 and established ex- press lines on various southern railways, and in 1 86 1 organized the Southern Express Co., and became its president. In 1879 he purchased, with others, the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad of Georgia, and later reorganized the Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad, of which he became president. He pur- chased and rebuilt, in 1880, the Savannah & Charleston Railroad, now Charleston & Savannah. Not long after this he organ- ized the Plant Investment Co., to control these railroads and advance their interests generally, and later established a steamboat line on the St. John's river, in Florida. From 1853 until i860 he was general superintendent of the southern division of the Adams Express Co., and in 1867 be- came president of the Texas Express Co. The "Plant system" of railway, steamer and steamship lines is one of the greatest business corporations of the southern states. WADE HAMPTON, a noted Confeder- ate officer, was born at Columbia, South Carolina, in 1818. He graduated from the South Carolina College, took an active part in politics, and was twice elected to the legislature of his state. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army, and command- ed the " Hampton Legion" at the first bat- tle of Bull Run, in July, 1861. He did meritorious service, was wounded, and pro- moted to brigadier-general. He command- ed a brigade at Seven Pines, in 1862, and was again wounded. He was engaged in the battle of Antietam in September of the same year, and participated in the raid into Pennsylvania in October. In 1863 he was with Lee at Gettysburg, where he was wounded for the third time. He was pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and commanded a troop of cavalry in Lee's COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 193 army during 1864, and was in numerous en- gagements. In 1865 he was in South Car- olina, and commanded the cavalry rear guard of the Confederate army in its stub- born retreat before General Sherman on his advance toward Richmond. After the war Hampton took an active part in politics, and was a prominent figure at the Democratic national convention in 1868, which nominated Seymour and Blair for president and vice-president. He was governor of South Carolina, and took his seat in the United States senate in 1879, where he became a conspicuous figure in national affairs. NIKOLA TESLA, one of the most cele- brated electricians America has known, was born in 1857, at Smiljau, Lika, Servia. He descended from an old and representative family of that country. His father was a a minister of the Greek church, of high rank, while his mother was a woman of remarka- ble skill in the construction of looms, churns and the machinery required in a rural home. Nikola received early education in the public schools of Gospich, when he was sent to the higher "Real Schule" at Karl- stadt, where,, after a three years' course, he graduated in 1873. He devoted him- self to experiments in electricity and magnetism, to the chagrin of his father, who had destined him for the ministry, but giving way to the boy's evident genius he was allowed to continue his studies in the polytechnic school at Gratz. He in- herited a wonderful intuition which enabled him to see through the intricacies of ma- chinery, and despite his instructor's demon- stration that a dynamo could not be oper- ated without commutators or brushes, began experiments which finally resulted in his rotating field motors. After the study of languages at Prague and Buda-Pesth, he became associated with M. Puskas, who had introduced the telephone into Hungary. He invented several improvements, but being unable to reap the necessary benefit from them, he, in search of a wider field, went to Paris, where he found employment with one of the electric lighting companies as electrical engineer. Soon he set his face westward, and coming to the United States for a time found congenial employment wrth Thomas A. Edison. Finding it impossible, overshadowed as he was, to carry out his own ideas he left the Edison works to join a company formed to place his own inven- tions on the market. He perfected his rotary field principle, adapting it to circuits then in operation. It is said of him that some of his proved theories will change the entire electrical science. It would, in an article of this length, be impossible to ex- plain all that Tesla accomplished for the practical side of electrical engineering. His discoveries formed the basis of the at- tempt to utilize the water power of Niagara Falls. His work ranges far beyond the vast department of polyphase currents and high potential lighting and includes many inventions in arc lighting, transformers, pyro and thermo-magnetic motors, new forms of incandescent lamps, unipolar dyna- mos and many others. CHARLES B. LEWIS won fame as an American humorist under the name of "M. Quad." It is said he owes his celebrity originally to the fact that he was once mixed up in a boiler explosion on the Ohio river, and the impressions he received from the event he set up from his case when he was in the composing room of an ob- scure Michigan paper. His style possesses a peculiar quaintness, and there runs through 194 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. it a vein of philosophy. Mr. Lewis was born in 1844, near a town called Liverpool, Ohio. He was, however, raised in Lansing, Michigan, where he spent a year in an agri- cultural college, going from there to the composing room of the "Lansing Demo- crat." At the outbreak of the war he en- listed in the service, remained during the entire war, and then returned to Lansing. The explosion of the boiler that "blew him into fame, " took place two years later, while he was on his way south. When he re- covered physically, he brought suit for dam- ages against the steamboat company, which he gained, and was awarded a verdict of twelve thousand dollars for injuries re- ceived. It was while he was employed by the "Jacksonian" of Pontiac, Mich. .that he set up his account of how he felt while being blown up. He says that he signed it "M Quad," because "a bourgeoise em quad is useless except in its own line — it won't justify with any other type." Soon after, because of the celebrity he attained by this screed, Mr. Lewis secured a place on the staff of the " Detroit Free Press," and made for that paper a wide reputation. His sketches of the "Lime Kiln Club" and " Brudder Gardner " are perhaps the best known of his humorous writings. HIRAM S. MAXIM, the famous inventor, was born in Sangersville, Maine, February 5, 1840, the son of Isaac W. and Harriet B. Maxim. The town of his birth was but a small place, in the woods, on the confines of civilization, and the family endured many hardships. They were without means and entirely dependent on themselves to make out of raw materials all they needed. The mother was an expert spinner, weaver, dyer and seamstress and the father a trapper, tanner, miller, blacksmith, carpenter, mason and farmer. Amid such surroundings young Maxim gave early promise of remarkable aptitude. With the universal Yankee jack- knife the products of his skill excited the wonder and interest of the locality. His parents did not encourage his latent genius but apprenticed him to a coach builder. Four years he labored at this uncongenial trade but at the end of that time he forsook it and entered a machine shop at Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Soon mastering the details of that business and that of mechanical drawing, he went to Boston as the foreman of the philosophical instrument manufactory. From thence he went to New York and with the Novelty Iron Works Shipbuilding Co. he gained experience in those trades. His inventions up to this, time consisted of improvements in steam engines, and an automatic gas machine, which came into general use. In 1877 he turned his attention to electricity, and in 1878 produced an incandescent lamp, that would burn 1,000 hours. He was the first to design a process for flashing electric carbons, and the first to "standardize" carbons for electric light- ing. In 1880 he visited Europe and exhibit- ing, at the Paris Exposition of 1881, a self- regulating machine, was decorated with the Legion of Honor. In 1883 he returned to London as the European representative of the United States Electric Light Co. An incident of his boyhood, in which the recoil of a rifle was noticed by him, and the apparent loss of power shown, in 188 1-2 prompted the invention of a gun which utilizes the recoil to automatically load and fire seven hundred and seventy shots per minute. The Maxim- Nordenfelt Gun Co., with a capital of nine million dollars, grew from this. In 1883 he patented his electric training gear for large guns. And later turned his attention to fly- COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 195 ing machines, which he claimed were not an impossibility. He took out over one hundred patents for smokeless gunpowder, and for pe- troleum and other motors and autocycles. JOHN DAVISON ROCKEFELLER, one of America's very greatest financiers and philanthropists, was born in Richford, Tioga county, New York, July 8, 1839. He received a common-school education in his native place, and in 1853, when his parents removed to Cleveland, Ohio, he entered the high school of that city. After a two-years' course of diligent work, he entered the com- mission and forwarding house of Hewitt & Tuttle, of Cleveland, remaining with the firm some years, and then began business for himself, forming a partnership with Morris B. Clark. Mr. Rockefeller was then but nineteen years of age, and during the year i860, in connection with others, they started the oil refining business, under the firm name of Andrews, Clark & Co. Mr. Rockefeller and Mr. Andrews purchased the interest of their associates, and, after taking William Rockefeller into the firm, established offices in Cleveland under the name of William Rockefeller & Co. Shortly after this the house of Rockefeller & Co. was es- tablished in New York for the purpose of finding a market for their products, -and two years later all the refining companies were consolidated under the firm name of Rocke- feller, Andrews & Flagler. This firm was succeeded in 1870 by the Standard Oil Company of Ohio, said to be the most gigantic business corporation of modern times. John D. Rockefeller's fortune has been variously estimated at from one hun- dred million to two hundred million dollars. Mr. Rockefeller's philanthropy mani- fested itself principally through the American Baptist Educational Society. He donated the building for the Spelman Institute at Atlanta, Georgia, a school for the instruction of negroes. His other gifts were to the University of Rochester, Cook Academy, Peddie Institute, and Vassar College, be- sides smaller gifts to many institutions throughout the country. His princely do- nations, however, were to the University of Chicago. His first gift to this institution was a conditional offer of six hundred thou- sand dollars in 1889, and when this amount was paid he added one million more. Dur- ing 1892 he made it two gifts of one million each, and all told, his donations to this one institution aggregated between seven and eight millions of dollars. JOHN M. PALMER.— For over a third J of a century this gentleman occupied a prominent place in the political world, both in the state of Illinois and on the broader platform of national issues. Mr. Palmer was born at Eagle Creek, Scott county, Kentucky, September 13, 18 17. The family subsequently removed to Christian county, in the same state, where he acquired a common-school education, and made his home until 1831. His father was opposed to slavery, and in the latter year removed to Illinois and settled near Alton. In 1834 John entered Alton College, or- ganized on the manual-labor plan, but his funds failing, abandoned it and entered a cooper shop. He subsequently was en- gaged in peddling, and teaching a district school near Canton. In 1838 he began the study of law, and the following year re- moved to Carlinville, where, in December of that year, he was admitted to the bar. He was shortly after defeated for county clerk. In 1843 he was elected probate judge. In the constitutional convention of 1847, Mr. Palmer was a delegate, and from 1849 to 196 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 185 1 he was county judge. In 1852 he be- came a member of the state senate, but not being with his party on the slavery question he resigned that office in 1854. In 1856 Mr. Palmer was chairman of the first Re- publican state convention held in Illinois, and the same year was a delegate to the national convention. In i860 he was an elector on the Lincoln ticket, and on the breaking out of the war entered the service as colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Infan- try, but was shortly after brevetted brigadier- general. In August, 1862, he organized the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illi- nois Infantry, but in September he was placed in command of the first division of the Army of the Mississippi, afterward was promoted to the rank of major-general. In 1865 he was assigned to the military ad- ministration in Kentucky. In 1867 General Palmer was elected governor of Illinois and served four years. In 1872 he went with the Liberal Republicans, who supported Horace Greeley, after which time he was identified with the Democratic party. In 1890 he was elected United States senator from Illinois, and served as such for six years. In 1896, on the adoption of the sil- ver plank in the platform of the Democratic party, General Palmer consented to lead, as presidential candidate, the National Dem- ocrats, or Gold Democracy. WILLIAM H. BEARD, the humorist among American painters, was born at Painesville, Ohio, in 1821. His father, James H. Beard, was also a painter of na- tional reputation. William H. Beard be- gan his career as a traveling portrait painter. He pursued his studies in New York, and later removed to Buffalo, where he achieved reputation. He then went to Italy and after a short stay returned to New York and opened a studio. One of his earliest paintings was a small picture called "Cat and Kittens, " which was placed in the National Academy on exhibition. Among his best productions are "Raining Cats and Dogs," "The Dance of Silenus, " "Bears on a Bender," "Bulls and Bears," ' ' Whoo!" " Grimalkin's Dream," " Little Red Riding Hood," "The Guardian of the Flag." His animal pictures convey the most ludicrous and satirical ideas, and the intelligent, human expression in their faces is most comical. Some artists and critics have re- fused to give Mr. Beard a place among the first circles in art, solely on account of the class of subjects he has chosen. WW. CORCORAN, the noted philan- thropist, was born at Georgetown, District of Columbia. December 27, 1798. At the age of twenty-five he entered the banking business in Washington, and in time became very wealthy. He was noted for his magnificent donations to char- ity. Oak Hill cemetery was donated to Georgetown in 1847, and ten years later the Corcoran Art Gallery, Temple of Art, was presented to the city of Washington. The uncompleted building was utilized by the government as quartermaster's headquar- ters during the war. The building was completed after the war at a cost of a mil- lion and a half dollars, all the gift of Mr. Corcoran. The Louise Home for Women is another noble charity to his credit. Its object is the care of women of gentle breed- ing who in declining years are without means of support. In addition to this he gave liberally to many worthy institutions of learning and charity. He died at Wash- ington February 24, 1888. COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 197 ALBERT BIERSTADT, the noted paint- er of American landscape, was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1829, and was brought to America by his parents at the age of two years. He received his early education here, but returned to Dusseldorf to study painting, and also went to Rome. On his return to America he accompanied Lander's expedition across the continent, in 185S, and soon after produced his most popular work, "The Rocky Mountains — Lander's Peak. " Its boldness and grandeur were so unusual that it made him famous. The picture sold for twenty-five thousand dollars. In 1867 Mr. Bierstadt went to Europe, with a government commission, and gathered materials for his great historic- al work, "Discovery of the North River by Hendrik Hudson." Others of his great works were "Storm in the Rocky Mount- ains," " Valley of the Yosemite," "North Fork of the Platte," "Diamond Pool," "Mount Hood," "Mount Rosalie," and "The Sierra Nevada Mountains." His "Estes Park" sold for fifteen thousand dollars, and "Mount Rosalie" brought thirty-five thousand dollars. His smaller Rocky mountain scenes, however, are vast- ly superior to his larger works in execution and coloring. ADDISON CAMMACK, a famous mill- ionaire Wall street speculator, was born in Kentucky. When sixteen years old he ran away from home and went to New Orleans, where he went to work in a ship- ping house. He outlived and outworked all the partners, and became the head of the firm before the opening of the war. At that time he fitted out small vessels and en- gaged in running the blockade of southern ports and carrying ammunition, merchan- dise, etc., to the southern people. This made him a fortune. At the close of the war he quit business and went to New York. For two years he did not enter any active business, but seemed to be simply an on-looker in the great speculative center of America. He was observing keenly the methods and financial machinery, however, and when, in 1867, he formed a partnership with the popular Charles J. Osborne, the firm began to prosper. He never had an office on the street, but wandered into the various brokers' offices and placed his orders as he saw fit. In 1873 he dissolved his partnership with Osborne and operated alone. He joined a band of speculative conspirators known as the "Twenty-third party," and was the ruling spirit in that or- ganization for the control of the stock mar- ket. He was always on the ' ' bear " side and the only serious obstacle he ever encoun- tered was the persistent boom in industrial stocks, particularly sugar, engineered by James R. Keane. Mr. Cammack fought Keane for two years, and during the time is said to have lost no less than two million dollars before he abandoned the fight. WALT. WHITMAN.— Foremost among the lesser poets of the latter part of the nineteenth century, the gentleman whose name adorns the head of this article takes a conspicuous place. Whitman was born at West Hills, Long Island, New York, May 13, 1809. In the schools of Brooklyn he laid the foundation of his education, and early in life learned the printer's trade. For a time he taught coun- try schools in his native state. In 1846-7 he was editor of the " Brooklyn Eagle, " but in 1848-9 was on the editorial staff of the "Crescent," of New Orleans. He made an extended tour throughout the United States and Canada, and returned to «98 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. Brooklyn, where, in 1850, he published the "Freeman. " For some years succeeding his he was engaged as carpenter and builder. During the Civil war, Whitman acted as a volunteer nurse in the hospitals at Washington and vicinity and from the close of hostilities until 1873 he was employed in various clerkships in the government offices in the nation's capital. In the latter year he was stricken with paralysis as a result of his labors in the hospital, it is said, and being partially disabled lived for many years at Camden, New Jersey. The first edition of the work which was to bring him fame, "Leaves of Grass," was published in 1855 and was but a small volume of about ninety-four pages. Seven or eight editions of "Leaves of Grass" have been issued, each enlarged and enriched with new poems. "Drum Taps," at first a separate publication, has been incorporated with the others. This volume and one prose writing entitled " Specimen Days and Collect," constituted his whole work. Walt. Whitman died at Camden, New Jersey, March 26, 1892. HENRY DUPONT, who became cele- brated as America's greatest manufact- urer of gunpowder, was a native of Dela- ware, born August 8, 18 12. He received his education in its higher branches at the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated and entered the army as second lieutenant of artillery in 1833. In 1834 he resigned and became proprietor of the extensive gunpowder manufacturing plant that bears his name, near Wilmington, Delaware. His large business interests interfered with his tak- ing any active participation in political life, although for many years he served as adjutant-general of his native state, and during the war as major-general command- ing the Home Guards. He died August 8, 1889. His son, Henry A. Dupont, also was a native of Delaware, and was born July 30, 1838. After graduating from West Point in 1 86 1, he entered the army as second lieutenant of engineers. Shortly after he was transferred to the Fifth Artillery as first lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1864, serving in camp and garrison most of the time. He was in com- mand of a battery in the campaign of 1863-4. As chief of artillery of the army of West Virginia, he figured until the close of the war, being in the battles of Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, besides many minor engagements. He afterward acted as instructor in the artillery school at Fortress Monroe, and on special duty at West Point. He resigned from the army March 1; 1875. WILLIAM DEERING, one of the fa- mous manufacturers of America, and also a philanthropist and patron of educa- tion, was born in Maine in 1826. His an- cestors were English, having settled in New England in 1634. Early in life it was Will- iam's intention to become a physician, and after completing his common-school educa- tion, when about eighteen years of age, he began an apprenticeship with a physician. A short time later, however, at the request of his father, he took charge of his father's business interests, which included a woolen mill, retail store and grist mill, after which he became agent for a dry goods commission house in Portland, where he was married. Later he became partner in the firm, and removed to New York. The business pros- pered, and after a number of years, on ac- count of failing health, Mr. Deering sold his interest to his partner, a Mr. Milner. The COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 199 business has since made Mr. Milner a mill- ionaire many times over. A few years later Mr. Deering located in Chicago. His beginning in the manufacture of reapers, which has since made his name famous, was somewhat of an accident. He had loaned money to a man in that business, and in 1878 was compelled to buy out the business to protect his interests. The busi- ness developed rapidly and grew to immense proportions. The factories now cover sixty- two acres of ground and employ many thou- sands of men. John McAllister schofield, an American general, was born in Chautau- qua county, New York, September 29, 1831. He graduated at West Point in 1853, and was for five years assistant professor of nat- ural philosophy in that institution. In 1861 he entered the volunteer service as major of the First Missouri Volunteers, and was ap- pointed chief of staff by General Lyon, under whom he fought at the battle of Wilson's Creek. In November, 1861, he was ap- pointed brigadier-general of volunteers, and was placed in command of the Missouri militia until November, 1862, and of the army of the frontier from that time until 1863. In 1862 he was made major-general of volunteers, and was placed in command of the Department of the Missouri, and in 1864 of the Department of the Ohio. During the campaign through Georgia General Scho- field was in command of the Twenty-third Army Corps, and was engaged in most of the fighting of that famous campaign. Novem- ber 30, 1864, he defeated Hood's army at Franklin, Tennessee, and then joined Gen- eral Thomas at Nashville. He took part in the battle of Nashville, where Hood's army was destroyed. In January, 1865, he led his corps into North Carolina, captured Wilmington, fought the battle of Kingston, and joined General Sherman at Goldsboro March 22, 1865. He executed the details of the capitulation of General Johnston to Sherman, which practically closed the war. In June, 1868, General Schofield suc- ceeded Edwin M. Stanton as secretary of war, but was the next year appointed major- general of the United States army, and order- ed to the Department of the Missouri. From 1870 to 1876 he was in command of the De- partment of the Pacific; from 1876 to 188 1 superintendent of the West Point Military Academy; in 1883 he was in charge of the Department of the Missouri, and in 1886 of the division of the Atlantic. In 1888 he became general-in-chief of the United States army, and in February, 1895, was appoint- ed lieutenant-general by President Cleve- land, that rank having been revived by con- gress. In September, 1895, he was retired from active service. LEWIS WALLACE, an American gen- eral and famous author, was born ir* Brookville, Indiana, April 10, 1827. He served in the Mexican war as first lieutenant of a company of Indiana Volunteers. After his return from Mexico he was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Covington and Crawfordsville, Indiana, until 1861. At the opening of the war he was appointed ad- jutant-general of Indiana, and soon after be- came colonel of the Eleventh Indiana Vol- unteers. He defeated a force of Confeder- ates at Rotnney, West Virginia, and was made brigadier-general in September, 1861. At the capture of Fort Donelson in 1862 he commanded a division, and was engaged in the second day's fight at Shiloh. In 1863 his defenses about Cincinnati saved that city from capture by Kirby Smith. At Monoc- acy in July, 1864, he was defeated, but 200 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. his resistance delayed the advance of Gen- eral Early and thus saved Washington from capture. General Wallace was a member of the court that tried the assassins of President Lincoln, and also of that before whom Cap- tain Henry Wirtz, who had charge of the Andersonville prison, was tried. In 1881 General Wallace was sent as minister to Turkey. When not in official service he devoted much of his time to literature. Among his better known works are his "Fair God," "Ben Hur," "Prince of India," and a " Life of Benjamin Harrison." THOMAS FRANCIS BAYARD, an Ameri- can statesman and diplomat, was born at Wilmington, Delaware, October 29, 1828. He obtained his education at an Episcopal academy at Flushing, Long Island, and after a short service in a mercantile house in New York, he returned to Wilmington and entered his father's law office to prepare himself for the practice of that profession. He was admitted to the bar in 185 1. He was appointed to the office of United States district attorney for the state of Delaware, serving one year. In 1 869 he was elected to the United States senate, and continuously represented his state in that body until 1885, and in 1881, when Chester A. Arthur entered the presidential chair, Mr. Bayard was chosen president pro tempore of the senate. He had also served on the famous electoral commission that decided the Hayes-Tilden contest in 1876-7. In 1885 President Cleve- land appointed Mr. Bayard secretary of state. At the beginning of Cleveland's sec- ond term, in 1893, Mr. Bayard was selected for the post of ambassador at the court of St. James, London, and was the first to hold that rank in American diplomacy, serving until the beginning of the McKinley admin- istration. The questions for adjustment at that time between the two governments were the Behring Sea controversy and the Venezuelan boundary question. He was very popular in England because of his tariff views, and because of his criticism of the protective policy of the United States in his public speeches delivered in London, Edinburgh and other places, he received, in March, 1896, a vote of censure in the lower house of congress. JOHN WORK GARRETT, for so many \ Major [ames Patton, the collector of tolls on the si. no road be tween Philadelphia and Columbia, Penn sylvania. He entered into the employ oi the Pennsyh ama Railroad Company in 1850, and went through .ill the different branches of work until he h.ul mastered .ill tin- details ol the office work, and in [858 he was ap- pointed general superintendent. Mr. Scott was the next year chosen vice president ol the road. This position at once brought him before the public, and the enterprise and ability displayed by him in its manage nient marked him as a leader among the railroad nun of the country . At the out bieak ol the rebellion in 1861, Mr. Scott was selected byGovernor Curtin as a mem ber of his staff , and placed in charge of the equipment and forwarding of the state troops to the seat ol war. On April 27, [861, the Secretary oi War desired to establish a new line ol load between the national capital and Philadelphia, (or the more expeditions transportation of troops. He called upon Mr, Seott to direct tins work, and the road by the way of Annapolis and IVrryville was completed in a marvelously short space ol time, t^n May 3, 1861, he was commis- sioned colonel of volunteers, and on the 23d of the same month the government railroads and telegraph lines were placed in his charge. Mi Seott was the first assistant socio!. n\ ol war ever appointed, and he took charge of this new post August 1, [861. In Janu- ary, [862, he was directed to organize transportation in the northwest, and in March he performed the same service on the western rivers. He resigned June 1. [862, awA resumed his direction oi affairs on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Colonel Scott directed the policy that seemed to Ins road the control of the western roads, and he came the president of the new company to operate those lines in iS,~i. For one year, from March, I87I, he was president of the Union Pacific Railroad, and in 1874 he suc- ceeded to the presidency of the Pennsyl- vania Company, lie projected the Texas Pacific Railroad .\\\A was tor many years its president. Colonel Scott's health tailed ( I//'/ ND1UM "i- liJOGR !/■/// him and he re tigni d th< pn lidi n< v ol the road [line I nd died al his home in Darby, Pennsylvania, May 2 1, [881. ROBERT 'I OOMBS, an Ameri< an stafa man ol not >l n in VV ilk':, COUI1 ty. Geo 1 fuly 2, 18 10. I le attended the University ol Gi orgia, and graduate d from Union ' illegi Schenei tady, New York, and then took a law course al the 1 rsity of Virginia In 1 8 jo, before he had attained his majority, h< was admitted to the bar by special act of the legislature, and rose rapidly in bis profession, attracting the attention of the leading statesmen and judges of that time. If': raised a volunteer company for the Creek war, and served as i aptain to the clo ic He dto the gi lal an in 1 837, re ele< t< 'I in (842, and in 1 844 was ele< ted to ( ongri «, I le had b( n brougbl tip as a Jeffersonian Ol rat, but VOted for Ham SOU m [84O and for Clay in 1844, He made his firsl th< ' >■■• gon question, and immediately took rank with th< gr< debaters of that body. In \\ elected to the United States senate, and again in 1859, but when bis native state 1 at in the senate and v. d to the Confederate eon t< d on the be il authority that bad it not been for a misunderstanding which could not be explained till too late he would fia-.e been elected president of the Confi deracy, f fe was app of tate by President Davis, but resigned after a few months and was commissioned ni ral in the ' onfederate army. If': won dit tinction at the second battle of Bull Run and at Sharpsburg, b oon after and returned to a. He organized the militia of .-.■nan, and liei gi n< ral ol thi itati troops He left the country al the closi ol the wai and did not return until 1 86j I le died Dcci m her t 5, [885. AUS1 IN ' ORBIN, one of thi railway magnate 1 of thi United I born July 11, [827, al Newport, New I lain), .hue lie Studied la .'/ '.villi Chief [ustii e ( ,11 thing and < ,• , .< inoi Ralph Ml I calf, and later too e in the I lai .■■■id Law School, where he graduated in 1 He was admitted to the bar, and practiced law, with Governor Metcall as his partner, until Octobi r 12 1851 Mi ' orbin then removed to Davenport, Iowa, where hi r< mained until 1865, In 1854 he was a pari nei in the banking firm of Ma< and lati 1 he organic d the Firsl tional bank of Davenport, Iowa, which commenci d bu in< ss | in< so. 1 < ■ j, and which was the firsl national bank open for busini ss in the United Stat< a Mi ( orbin sold out his business in thi I lavenporl bank, and removed to New Voik in 1 865 and < om in' 11' ed business with partners undei the -,! ( 01 bin Banking ' ompat aft':r his i' '"'■ • al to *■ •• Vork lie bl ted in railroads, and bi came one of the leading railroad men of the country, 'I lie development of thi as a summi 1 re ort. firsl brought dim I prominence, He buill a road from New York to the island, and built great hotel-, on its ocean front He I irned bis attention to Long I land, ■ ured all the railroads and co dated them under one nt, became nt of the .. t< m, and undi trol Long I ad became I suburb of New York. His latest public acbievemei I I ion of the I, of Pel and 206 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. during the same time he and his friends purchased the controlling interest of the New Jersey Central Railroad. He took it out of the hands of the receiver, and in three years had it on a dividend-paying basis. Mr. Corbin's death occurred June 4, 1896. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Sr., was one of the greatest journalists of America in his day. He was born Septem- ber 1, 1795, at New Mill, near Keith, Scot- land. At the age of fourteen he was sent to Aberdeen to study for the priesthood, but, convinced that he was mistaken in his vocation, he determined to emigrate. He landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 18 19, where he attempted to earn a living by teaching bookkeeping. Failing in this he went to Boston and found employment as a proof reader. Mr. Bennett went to New York about 1822 and wrote for the news- papers. Later on he became assistant editor in the office of the "Charleston Courier, "but returned to New York in 1824 and endeavored to start a commercial school, but was unsuccessful in this, and again returned to newspaper work. He continued in newspaper work with varying success until, at his suggestion, the "En- quirer" was consolidated with another paper, and became the "Courier and En- quirer," with James Watson Webb as editor and Mr. Bennett for assistant. At this time this was the leading American newspaper. He, however, severed his con- nection with this newspaper and tried, without success, other ventures in the line of journalism until May 6, 1835, when he issued the first number of the "New York Herald." Mr. Bennett wrote the entire paper, and made up for lack of news by his own imagination. The paper became popu- lar, and in 1838 he engaged European jour- nalists as regular correspondents. In 1841 the income derived from his paper was at least one hundred thousand dollars. Dur- ing the Civil war the " Herald " had on its staff sixty-three war correspondents and the circulation was doubled. Mr. Bennett was interested with John W. Mackay in that great enterprise which is now known as the Mac- kay-Bennett Cable. He had collected for use in his paper over fifty thousand biographies, sketches and all manner of information re- garding every well-known man, which are still kept in the archives of the "Herald" office. He died in the city of New York in 1872, and left to his son, James Gordon, Jr., one of the greatest and most profitable journals in the United States, or even in the world. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, a noted American, won distinction in the field of literature, in which he attained a world-wide reputation. He was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 29, 1809. He received a collegiate education and grad- uated from Harvard in 1829, at the age of twenty, and took up the study of law and later studied medicine. Dr. Holmes at- tended several years in the hospitals of Europe and received his degree in 1836. He became professor of anatomy and phys- iology in Dartmouth in 1838, and re- mained there until 1847, when he was called to the Massachusetts Medical School at Boston to occupy the same chair, which position he resigned in 1882. The first collected edition of his poems appeared in 1836, and his "Phi Beta Kappa Poems," "Poetry," in 1836; "Terpsichore," in 1843; "Urania," in 1846, and "Astrsea," won for him many fresh laurels. His series of papers in the "Atlantic Monthly," were: COMPENDIUM OF BTOGRAPHT. 207 "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," "Pro- fessor at the Breakfast Table," "Poet at the Breakfast Table," and are a series of masterly wit, humor and pathos. Among hismedical papers and addresses, are: "Cur- rents and Counter-currents in the Medical Science," and "Borderland in Some Prov- inces of Medical Science." Mr. Holmes edited quite a number of works, of which we quote the following: "Else Venner, " "Songs in Many Keys," "Soundings from the Atlantic," "Humorous Poems," "The Guardian Angel," "Mechanism in Thoughts and Morals," "Songs of Many Seasons," "John L. Motley" — a memoir, "The Iron Gate and Other Poems," "Ralph Waldo Emerson," "A Moral Antipathy." Dr. Holmes visited England for the second time, and while there the degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by the University of Edinburgh. His death occurred October 7. 1894. RUFUS CHOATE, one of the most em- inent of America's great lawyers, was born October 1, 1799, at Essex, Massachu- setts. He entered Dartmouth in 181 5, and after taking his degree he remained as a teacher in the college for one year. He took up the study of law in Cambridge, and subsequently studied under the distinguished lawyer, Mr. Wirt, who was then United States attorney-general at Washington. Mr. Choatebegan the practice of law in Danvers, Massachusetts, and from there he went to Salem, and afterwards to Boston, Massa- chusetts. While living at Salem he was elected to congress in 1832, and later, in 1 84 1, he was chosen United States senator to succeed Daniel Webster, Mr. Webster having been appointed secretary of state under William Henry Harrison. After the death of Webster, Mr- Choate was the acknowledged leader of the Massa- chusetts bar, and was looked upon by the younger members of the profession with an affection that almost amounted to a rever- ence. Mr. Choate's powers as an orator were of the rarest order, and his genius made it possible for him to enchant and in- terest his listeners, even while discussing the most ordinary theme. He was not merely eloquent on the subjects that were calculated to touch the feelings and stir the passions of his audience in themselves, but could at all times command their attention. He re- tired from active life in 1858, and was on his way to Europe, his physician having ordered a sea voyage for his health, but had only reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, when he died, July 13, 1858. D WIGHT L. MOODY, one of the most noted and effective pulpit orators and evangelists America has produced, was born in Northfield, Franklin county, Massachu- setts, February 5, 1837. He received but a meager education and worked on a farm until seventeen years of age, when he be- came clerk in a boot and shoe store in Boston. Soon after this he joined the Con- gregational church and went to Chicago, where he zealously engaged in missionary work among the poor classes. He met with great success, and in less than a year he built up a Sunday-school which numbered over one thousand children. When the war broke out he became connected with what was known as the "Christian Com- mission," and later became city missionary of the Young Men's Christian Association at Chicago. A church was built there for his converts and he became its unordained pas- tor. In the Chicago fire of 1871 the church and Mr. Moody's house and furniture, which had been given him, were destroyed. The 208 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. church edifice was afterward replaced by a new church erected on the site of the old one. In 1873, accompanied by Ira D. Sankey, Mr. Moody went to Europe and excited great religious awakenings through- out England, Ireland and Scotland. In 1875 they returned to America and held large meetings in various cities. They afterward made another visit to Great Britain for the same purpose, meeting with great success, returning to the United States in 1 884. Mr. Moody afterward continued his evangelistic work, meeting everywhere, with a warm reception and success. Mr. Moody produced a number of works, some of which had a wide circulation. JOHN PIERPONT MORGAN, a financier publican convention in 1892, and was in- structed to support the nomination of Mr. Harrison. He was chairman of the con^ vention, and was the only man from Ohio to vote for Mr. Harrison upon the roll call. In November, 1892, a number of prominent politicians gathered in New York to discuss the political situation, and decided that the result of the election had put an end to Mc- Kinley and McKinleyism. But in less than four years from that date Mr. McKinley was nominated for the presidency against the combined opposition of half a dozen rival candidates. Much of the credit for his suc- cess was due to Mark A. Hanna, of Cleve- land, afterward chairman of the Republican national committee. At the election which occurred in November, 1896, Mr. McKinley was elected president of the United States by an enormous majority, on a gold stand- ard and protective tariff platform. He was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1897, and called a special session of congress, to which was submitted a bill for tariff reform, which was passed in the latter part of July of that vear. 218 COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER, known in the literary world as Joaquin Miller, " the poet of the Sierras," was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1841. When only about thirteen years of age he ran away from home and went to the mining regions in California and along the Pacific coast. Some time afterward he was taken prisoner by the Modoc Indians and lived with them for five years. He learned their language and gained great influence with them, fight- ing in their wars, and in all modes of living became as one of them. In 1858 he left the Indians and went to San Francisco, where he studied law, and in i860 was ad- mitted to the bar in Oregon. In 1866 he was elected a county judge in Oregon and served four years. Early in the seventies he began devoting a good deal of time to literary pursuits, and about 1874 he settled in Washington, D. C. He wrote many poems and dramas that attracted consider- able attention and won him an extended reputation. Among his productions may be mentioned "Pacific Poems," "Songs of the Sierras," "Songs of the Sun Lands," ' ' Ships in the Desert, " ' ' Adrianne, a Dream of Italy," "Danites," "Unwritten History," " First Families of the Sierras " (a novel), " One Fair Woman " (a novel), " Songs of Italy," " Shadows of Shasta," "The Gold- Seekers of the Sierras," and a number of others. GEORGE FREDERICK ROOT, a noted music publisher and composer, was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on August 30, 1S20. While working on his father's farm he found time 10 learn, unaided, several musical instru- ments, and in his eighteenth year he went to Boston, where he soon found employ- ment as a teacher of music. From 1839 until 1844 he gave instructions in music in the public schools of that city, and was also director of music in two churches. Mr. Root then went to New York and taught music in the various educational institutions of the city. He went to Paris in 1850 and spent one year there in study, and on his re- turn he published his first song, "Hazel Dell." It appeared as the work of " Wur- zel," which was the German equivalent of his name. He was the originator of the normal musical institutions, and when the first one was started in New York he was one of the faculty. He removed to Chicago, Illinois, in i860, and established the firm of Root & Cady, and engaged in the publication of music. He received, in 1872, the degree of " Doctor of Music " from the University of Chicago. After the war the firm became George F. Root & Co., of Cincinnati and Chicago. Mr. Root did much to elevate the standard of music in this country by his compositions and work as a teacher. Besides his numerous songs he wrote a great deal of sacred music and pub- lished many collections of vocal and instru- mental music. For many years he was the most popular song writer in America, and was one of the greatest song writers of the war. He is also well-known as an author, and his work in that line comprises: " Meth- ods for the Piano and Organ," "Hand- book on Harmony Teaching," and innumer- able articles for the musical press. Among his many and most popular songs of the war time are : ' ' Rosalie, the Prairie-flower, " " Battle Cry of Freedom," "Just Before the Battle," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching," " The Old Folks are Gone," "A Hundred Years Ago," "Old Potomac Shore, "and " There's Music in the Air." Mr. Root's cantatas include ' ' The Flower Queen" and "The Haymakers." He died in 1896. PART II BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Webster County IOWA BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. LORENZO S. COFFIN. Iowa has furnished her full quota of em- inent men to the nation, men of pronounced ability who have become leaders in states- craft, in commercial, industrial and profes- sional life, and others whose influence has been given for the amelioration of condi- tions that in any way oppose or hinder the development of their fellow men. Quiet and unostentatious in manner, seeking not self aggrandizement in any direction, Lorenzo S. Coffin has become known as one of the most honored sons of the Hawkeye state, not because he has won distinction in poli- tics, i r even because he has attained excep- tional success in business, but because bis efforts have been, and are still, unselfishly given for the benefit of his fellow men. Rec- ognizing the law of universal brotherhood, his sympathetic spirit has prompted action that, guided by sound practical judgment, lias resulted in great good. He has long since passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, the snows of seventy- nine winters having fallen upon his head, but old age is not necessarily a synonym of weakness and it need not suggest as a mat- ter of course inactivity or helplessness. There is an old age which is a benediction to all with whom it comes in contact: that C'ives out of its riches stores of wisdom and experience and grows stronger mentally and spiritually as the days pass. Such is it with Lorenzo S. Coffin, whose career is a source of encouragement to his contemporaries and an abiding lesson to the young. In pioneer days of Webster county Mr. Coffin took up his abode within her borders. He was born in Alton, New Hampshire, April IO, [823, on the farm which was also the birthplace of his father, Stephen Coffin. The family is of English lineage, and at an early epoch in American development was founded in Massachusetts, whence the grandfather of our subject removed to the ( iranite State, settling- on the farm on which both Stephen and Lorenzo Coffin were born. There he spent his remaining days, carrying on agricultural pursuits. His death oc- curred when he was about seventy-five years of age. In his family were nine chil- dren, all of whom reached mature years and reared families of their own. Stephen Coffin was trained to the work of the home farm and for many years car- ried on agricultural pursuits in Xew Hamp- shire. He was also a clergyman of the Bap- tist church and his influence was widely felt in behalf of Christianity. He died in Dover, New Hampshire, when about seventy-five years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Deborah Philbrook and died at the age of thirty-eight. She was a native of THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Sanbornton, New Hampshire, represent- of the rnosl popular schools of the country ing an early family of sturdy pioneers. Her and he wenl there with the intention of pur father, David Philbrook, was bom at suing an extended course of study, bul re Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, and mained only a year and a half, spent the greater part of his life on the [n the meantime Mr. Coffin was united in farm ai Sanbornton. He lived to the ad- marriage to Miss Cynthia T. Curtis, and vanced age of more than ninety years a they went to Geauga county, Ohio, where noble Christian man who commanded the re- both engaged in teaching in the Geauga sped of all with whom he came in contact. Seminary. Among their pupils were James He Had eight sons and eight daughters, all A. Garfield and Lucretia Rudolph, his fu- nf whom reached mature years, and to each lure wile, who first met in that school. The lie gave good educational privileges, thus [ailing health of Mrs. Coffin obliged them to fitting them for life's practical duties. In give up teaching after one year's connection the family of Stephen and Deborah t Phil- with Geauga Seminary, and in the winter brook) Coffin were three daughters and a of [854-5 Mr. Coffin came t<> fowa imi ,1 son: Catherine I'. Coffin was a teacher in business trip. Being pleased with Webster the seminar)' in Charleston, Massachusetts, county and the advantages it offered and She married Benjamin Stanton and both with linn faith in its future he resolved t<> engaged in educational work fur several locate here, lie secured a claim oi one years at Union College, Schenectady, New hundred and sixty anas, which he entered York. Christiana became the wife of Rev. when the government placed the land on I). 1'.. ('('well, nf Maine. She possessed con- the market, and thus began the development siderable poetical talent and was a writer of his line farm, to which he has added by for many magazines and papers. Her "I his line farm, to which he has added death occurred in 1863. Sarah, who was by subsequent purchases from time 1" the wife of Mr. l.ynde, died when alum! time until he now owns seven hundred sixty years of age. and twenty acres. The experience ill Upon his father's farm Lorenzo S. his boyhood and early manhood upon Coffin spent his youth and earlj became fa- the farm now proved very valuable to miliar with the labor of field and meadow. him. With characteristic energy he be- H is educational advantages at the time were gan the development of his land, and Wil- meager, hut later the family removed to lowwedge Farm is now one of the must d<- Wolfboro, New Hampshire, where he he sirable and valuable farming properties in came a student in the Wolfboro Academy, the state, supplied with all modern improve lie lost his mother when fourteen years of incuts and accessories. On the brow of the age hut continued at home until he had at hill about three miles from Fort Dodge, tained his majority, when he began work near which he decided to erect his build- ing as a farm hand in the home neighbor ings is a large spring of purest water, flow h 1, ami thus he acquired a sum sufficient ing continually, while other springs upon tn enable him to continue his education and the place feed the stream, the Lizzard, which prepare for teaching, a profession which he winds its way, bordered by magnificent for- followed with success for some time. < (ber est trees, through the farm. Mr. Coffin has lin College, of Oberlin, Ohio, was then one made a specialt) of the breeding and raising I HE BIOGR S.PHIC \l. RECORD, 225 of fine stock, and now owns one of the larg- esl and choicest herds of short horn cattle to be found in the west, keeping from one hun- dred to two hundred head. I fe alsi ■ breed for the market Poland-China hogs and Ox- ford Down sheep, generally keeping hundred and fifty to two hundred head of the former and two hundred and fifty or more of the latter. From two to five nun are employed upon the farm and the work it, under the immediate >upei ision of J. I. Rutledge, son-in-law of Mr. Coffin, who is 3 joint owner in the stock on the farm. Mod- ern machinery, practical and improved methods and all conveniences and aco ies for facilitating the work are here found. Not long after coming to this home Mr. i was called upon to mourn lh< Of his wife, who died \pril 20, [856. In February, 1X57. he was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary 1 ha 1 of Orleans county. New York. Three chil- dren were horn unto them, but one only liv- ing, Carrie C, the wife of J. 1. Rutledge. 1 »ne child died in infancy and Kitty May died at the age of fourteen -ears. While successfully conducting his private business affair-. Mr. Coffin never confines his efforts selfishly to his work. From [859 to [876 he used to leave his home Sunday mornings very early and on horseback would ride to differenl parts of the country, \ here no minister was sent, and pi each the Gospel. He would often ride forty miles and in return ne 1 da dollar it doing it all for the benefit of his fellow men, during which time he also conducted a great funerals. In the early days he was the edit< r of the agricultural department of the Fort Dodge Messenger and many have profited by his practical wisdom as set forth in the columns of that paper. For many years he was also an active member of the State Agricultural Society and labored earnestl; and efft ctivel it rction with thai organization to promote the inte ■ the farming people throughoul thi bul vhile his interest in the bje abated, other duties have made h( a di mands upon his time, Eon ing him to his work in that held to attend to more ng I lie had in the mi it served his count) loyally in the Civil war, enlisting in the fall of 1862 as a membei ol I ompany I. Thirl econd Iowa Infantry. I !e i 'ined lire arm) a • a pre. ale hut was promi -ted in turn to the office 1 quartet ma tei et g< anl and < haplain ah' nt a < ear In- remained at the fronl then 1 eturned to in - h< me. Perhaps the work w ha h ha made Mr. ( ^llii! up -t widely know n and which has been of the ho ad< I ben* fil to his fellow men is that in co tion with providing better condition for railroad 1 mpli yes. In I .ir [883 he ".a appl ' Govi nor Sherman to fill a vacanc) on tin- rail road 1 caused b 1 men! of the I Ion. James Wilson, and on tl ■ piration of that term in [885 wa appointed, < continuing in Hi. office until 1888. It was during tin- period that Mr. Coffin became interested in 'hat . ha I making his life ..oil, pn rt • hap and improving the con rail road men. In speaking 01 he sa\ - "] guiding of ah idence bringing me to the position where I might realizi condition of the great multitude of suffer- ing, helpless men. the misery of dirion seemed to he growing wi day, with no indication or hope of is grow- ing letter, and as I occupied the positii railroad commissioner, receiving reports 226 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. continually from, all over the state and the United States of the terrible slaughter and crippling of the railroad men, I then for the first time saw the need for work in this field and determined by the help of God to do something to alleviate the suffering of those men." He then immediately began to in- vestigate more fully the conditions and surroundings of the railroad men of the country and to agitate the subject of the automatic brake and car coupler, and finally succeeded in securing the enactment of the law requiring them to be placed on all cars on lines in Iowa, which was passed by the Iowa state legislature in 1888. This was the first law ever enacted by any state for the safety of railroad men. The law was strongly opposed by the railroad companies. Railroad managers said its enforcement would cost them millions of dollars annu- ally and would do little, if anything, toward lessening the likelihood of accident. Through the efforts of Air. Coffin and the co-operation of societies of railroad em- ployes and df private citizens to whom the rec.i rd of railroad accidents was appalling, the law was finally passed, with the result that the number of accidents on railroads caused simply in the coupling of cars alone has been reduced three-fourths. To the compiler of this sketch Mr. Collin said: "To Iowa must be given the 1 of enacting into law the first bill ever presented to any legislature for the safety of life and limb of railroad men." It was drafted by Air. Coffin and he says that he spent a full month on the bill. So anxious was he that the bill should be so drawn that no court could set it aside as unconstitu- tional, that he consulted with one of the judges of the Iowa supreme court on every section of it. Air. Coffin has the great satis- faction of knowing that from the day it be- came a law its constitutionality has never been questioned. He says that it went through the Iowa legislature with practi- cally a unanimous vote, not a vote against it in the senate and only three or four against it in the house. The roads were given five years to do- the work of equipping their cars with the safety appliances that the law required. But here came a great dilemma — all of the Iowa roads were inter- state roads and engaged in interstate traf- fic. Foreign cars from outside roads would, of course, have to- be equipped in the same maimer as the cars of the Iowa roads or they could not receive them, or else the lading must all be transferred from these foreign cars to 1 the Iowa cars. Here was a very serious problem to be faced. Air. Coffin said: "The only way to solve that problem that showed itself to me was through a way so strewn with vast diffi- culties that it was absolutely appalling and I dared not face it for a while. Yet it seemed to me it must be done. Some of the states adjoining Iowa copied my bill and made it into a law. If only all the states would do the same and not change a sec- tion it would be just the thing, but I could not expect that, and it would take a long while ti 1 gi 1 fn mi 1 me state to another to' get them to pass the same kind of a law. The more I thought of it. I made up my mind that it would be a practical impossibility, and so the alternative was forced on me that a national law must be had. Of course this meant that I must go to Washington and try to get a bill through congress. This seemed so utterly beyond all possibility for a man like me to accomplish that for awhile I thought that I would not undertake it, but I could not rest. In my dreams I would see these railroad men crushed between the THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 227 ends of the cars, hear their awful screams as the iron wheels ground them to pieces under the cars. Finally I thought that I must try, or at least that I would go to Chi- cago and talk with some of the railroad officials there and ask their advice. I felt sure that the companies that ran roads through Iowa would like to have all other roads to equip their cars as theirs were to be, so there would be an easy interchange (if cars from one road to another. I thought that would help in this great move. To show how hopeless the undertaking was in their judgment I will relate what was said in my talk with Marvin Hughitt, presi- dent of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- way. When I went into his office he was busy examining some papers, and after a little while he said in rather a sharp and vexed tone : 'Now, Mr. Coffin, as you have g< 't your state to enact that law, I want that you should go to every state adjoining Iowa and get them to enact such a law as Iowa lias.' I said that I realized the great im- portance of a uniform law and could see no way to secure it only through congress, and that I had about made up my mind to go down to Washington and get it to pass my bill. Mr. Hughitt dropped the papers he had in his hand on the table before him and looked at me with great amazement and said : 'Air. Coffin, congress is a great body ; you can't move that.' My after experience showed me how well that man judged of what, as he well thought, a wild under- taking, and how well he understood and appreciated the difficulties I would have to encounter. "In the spring of 1888 the interstate commerce commission, then just organized, invited what state railroad commissioners that were then created to come to Wash- ington and hold a conference. That noted jurist, Judge Cooley, of Michigan, was president of the national commission. Al- though my term of office had expired a few weeks before the date of that conference, cur state commission urged me to attend that meeting. I did so, and near the close of the last session of that meeting, by the request of a member of the Iowa board, I was asked by Judge Cooley to address the conference. This I, of course, did, giving them the mass of statistics I had been com- piling, which was new to them all. After I had sat down commissioners from other states gathered around and said : 'Mr. Coffin, you must be wrong, for we can't think that it is possible that there is such a fearful killing and maiming of our railroad men.' I assured them that they were ab- solutely correct, as far as Iowa was con- cerned, for they were from the reports of the roads themselves to our state board, as our law required them to report to us every accident to their men. "As but very few of the states had as yet required the roads to report as ours did, I had to get the number of killed and in- jured in other states by the rule of three. If Iowa, with so many miles of road, have so many accidents to their men, how many will all the miles in the nation give us? Afterward, from a talk with an old railroad man, I found that my basis of calculation was wrong, for I should have taken il by the number of engines, for on most all of the mads east there would be a great many m.ore trains a day than in the then sparsely settled Iowa. When I made my computa- tions on this basis the total was so awful that I clid not dare to give the exact figures to the public. Afterward Judge Cooley wrote me to give to his national commis- sion what facts and figures I had gathered up and what other information I had 228 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. • gained on this matter in my live years of experience as a commissioner. I am telling- all this to you, sir, that yon may see, as I do, the wonderful way I was led on so as to have more and more of the standing be- fore the public and the powers that then were. Let it be understood all along that J now realized that I was only an instru- ment in the hand of God and the Father to be used by Him for a great good to the great army of railroad men who are now an absolute necessity to the prosperity of this great country. The information I sent to judge Cooley was by the request of Gen- eral Benjamin Harrison, then president- elect of the United States, sent to him. and used by him in his inaugural when he was sworn into his high office. He did it in these words : 'It is a disgrace to our civilization that men in a lawful employ- ment for a livelihood should be exposed to greater danger than soldiers in time of ac- tual war.' He very strongly recommended speedy action by congress. So you see how in this unthought of and unpremeditated way a mighty opening was made for me. Then I had two especially strong and influ- ential friends, one in each house of con- gress. One was W. B. Allison in the sen- ate, and Colonel David B. Henderson in the house, now its speaker. Here again was another of the series of special provi- dences that show so plainly all along the road, but of which I was not aware then, but now can see as clearly as the noonday sun. Some years before at one of the con- gressional elections it was a question whether Colonel Henderson would be re- turned, as he at that time bad a very strong competitor, and I suppose that it is no egotism in me to- say what was then pretty well understood to be the fact, that my in- fluence with the railroad bovs and with the farmers of his district had much to do with saving him. This had made him a firm friend and he was ready to aid me all in his power, which was great, and he wielded it to good advantage for the bill. "Well, the 4th of March was coming on. I had been working on the bill for congress with a great deal of care and labor. I had been very anxious before the inauguration to have Mr. Harrison say a word for the boys in his address. I wanted to know how he felt, but never having met him, and there being such a throng around him, I could see no way to get to him to ask him to re- member the boys. Finally Colonel Hender- son gave me a letter to him, and so I had a chance to speak to him. His first words after reading the letter were, 'Well, what is it ?' In as few words as I could I told what I wanted. In an instant he replied, 'It is in there.' meaning' in his address, and those were his last words to me. I grasped his hand, thanked him with tears in my eyes and left. "Congress convened. My bills were in- troduced and referred to the committee on interstate commerce. For four long years I was in what was called the third house of congress, 'the lobby.' It is not necessary for me to try to tell you of the long strug- gle. It would fill a book. I fully realized that public opinion had much to do with acts of congress, so wherever I heard of a great gathering of influential men. such as great gatherings of church officials of every denomination, there I would go and get a few moments time to plead for the lives and limbs of the railroad boys and for Sunday rest as well, getting them to pass strong resolutions which I had usually al- ready prepared. And so I worked. The first congress of Harrison's administration closed without my being able to get the bills THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 229 out of the committee's hands. They were introduced again at the opening of his last congress, and from that time 1 m the rail- roads were there in force fighting the bill. They told the committee that it would cost the roads one hundred million dollars to meet the requirements of that bill. But God loved these trainmen more than He did the millions of the corporations, and the bill went through and President Harri- son signed it and made it a law the day be- fore he left his high office, on the 3d of March, 1893. The law gave the roads five years to equip their cars as the law directed, but near the close of the fifth year the roads came before the interstate commerce com- mission and pleaded for five years more, but the five railroad brotherhoods with my- self were there in opposition, and they got only two years and then seven months after that. As the result of that law there are at least fifteen hundred less deaths and over five thousand less painful accidents in a year than when President Harrison signed that bill. So beneficial is this law found to l^e in an economical sense, to say nothing of the saving of life and limb, that the very officials that then called me a crank and abused me so unmercifully, now take me by the hand and thank me for what they then cursed me for. Yet it never seems to me that I have done anything but what was my plain dutv to do after the awful facts came to my knowledge. I never could have respected myself if I had refused to try, frightened at' the lions I really saw in the way. So then let the praise go where it belongs, to God." Mr. Coffin certainly deserves the un- bounded gratitude of all railroad men throughout the country, by securing the en- actment of the national law which was passed by congress March 2. 1893. He has done more than any other individual to promote temperance among railroad men by the use of what is known as the "'white button.'' He has had made a little white button, in which are the initials R. R. T. A. — Rail- road Temperance Association — and these buttons he gives to all railroad employes who will promise to wear one and abstain from the use of liquor. He has paid out over five thousand dollars alone for these buttons, having distributed more than one hundred and fifty thousand of them, and is still engaged in the work, always having a supply of them when he travels. This in- conspicuous little button is a constant re- minder to the wearer that he has given his v/ord to abstain from the use of those bev- erages which destroy manhood and render the individual unfitted for the performance of life's duties. A lasting monument to the work of .Mr. Coffin is seen in the home for disabled and infirm railroad men at High- land Park, Illinois, near Chicago. All brotherhood railroad men are eligible as members, the only requirement being that they contribute as much as "the expense of one cigar a day." This entitles any brother- hood man in railroad employ, in case of accident or inability, to a good home fi >r life, containing all necessities and comforts. At this time the work is progressing nicely under the guidance of Mr. Coffin and the co- operation of the four railroad brotherhood-. the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer-, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Order of Railway Conductors. These four orders have contributed to the home and at the present time they are planning an eighty-thousand-dollar fire-proof build- ing as an addition to the present home. There are now between twenty and thirty inmates. Mr. Coffin is the president of the 230 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Railroad Employes' Home, and, more than (.hat, lie is the friend of all railroad men, having a warm personal interest in their welfare. Another important work is now en- gaging the attention of Mr. Coffin, who, in connection with other leading- citizens of Fort 'Dodge and vicinity, is building a hi me for ex-convicts. -Mr. Coffin alone has donated eighty acres of land and five thou- sand dollars in cash for the building, and is also devoting a great deal of his time to the work. The object of the movement is to assist th: ex-convicts in getting work and helping them again to win a place in the world consistent with upright and useful manhood. Mr. Coffin has ever been a friend to the poi i and needy, to the oppressed and the suffering, and. believing that the spark of divinity is in every individual and may lie fanned into flame, he is ever ready to ex- tend a helping hand to those in need of cither material or moral assistance. His home while in Ohio was a station in the famous underground railroad when slavery existed in the land and his strong Aboli- tion principles led him to ally himself with the Republican party when it was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery. He lias since been one of its stalwart sup- porters. To what church does he belong? We answer, ti the church which Christ founded when he said "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel," when he gave the mandate, "bear ye one another's burdens," and said "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." One of the most interesting- features of the Willowedge Farm is his chapel, which he built, about twelve years ago for the benefit of his (laughter, who was greatly interested in Sunday-school work. In connection with the same is a circulating library for the community. Services are held Sunday af- ternoons — held in the afternoon that they need not conflict with the morning or even- ing services of the city churches. Pastors and people of all denominations are wel- come, and the gospel of Christ — forgive- ness and love — is preached. Along the same line of Christian liberality is his ef- fective work in the Young Men's Christian ' ssi nation, in which almost each Sunday he addresses a meeting of this organization. Who can measure the influence of such a life? ''Our echoes roll from soul to soul And grow forever and forever." In business he has achieved splendid success, but the most envious could not grudge him his prosperity so worthib has it been won, so well used. He has builded to himself a monument more lasting than stone in the freewill offering of grateful » « » CYRUS C. CARPENTER. The office of the chief executive of Iowa has ever been filled by men of marked abil- ity and unfaltering devotion to the best in- terests of the commonwealth, but among the long list of illustrious men who have seiwed as governor none have more de- served the honor conferred upon them or more loyally advanced the interests of the state than Governor Cyrus C. Carpenter. He came to Iowa in the earlv days of her development and the public life of few other citizens in this part of the country C. C. CARPENTER THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. -3. have extended aver as long a period as did his, and certainly the life of none other has been more varied in service, mure con- stant in honor, more fearless in conduct and more stainless in reputation. In his life time the people of his state, recognizing his merit, rejoiced in his advancement and in the honors to which he attained, and since his death they have gratefully cherished his memory. True men are the crown jewels of the republic, and the very names of the distinguished dead are a continual inspira- tion and an abiding lesson. Back to Xew England Governor Car- penter traced his ancestry, his people living in Massachusetts in an early day, while later representatives of the family became residents of Pennsylvania, and it was in Susquehanna county, that state, that he was born in November, 1830. He had neither the advantages of wealth or influence to as- sist him, but early learned the valued les- sons of industry , honesty and self-reliance. Although earnest toil was the lot of the members of the Carpenter household, he was surrounded by the refining influence of a home where integrity and character were rated at their true worth. He eagerly availed himself of the opportunities educa- tion afforded by the country schools and later continued his studies in the Harford Academy, where he prepared himself for teaching, a profession which he followed at intervals for a number of years. Life lay before him. and with a young man's bright hope of the future, fortified by laud- able ambition, strong determination and manly principles, he resolved to seek his fortune in the west, where he believed greater opportunities were afforded than in the older and more thickly settled east. He determined to make Iowa his home for the reason, as he was often heard to remark in later life, "that he liked the looks of it on the map." Therefore he started, but his pecuniary resources were very limited, and when he reached Licking county, Ohio, he found it necessary to replenish his depleted exchequer. This he did by teaching school for two years, and then again followed the guidance of the "star of empire" which westward takes its way. In June, 1854, he reached Des Moines on his way to Fort Dodge, then a military outpost in the wil- derness of northwestern Iowa. The ele- mental strength of his character and the purpose of his nature was manifest in many act- of his life in those early days, one of which will serve to- indicate this. The pro- prietor of the hotel at which he had been entertained over night in the capital city, on learning that it required nearly all his money to meet the expense of the night's lodging, offered to trust him for the amount, but declining the offer, he paid his bill in full and on foot started to complete the journey of . eighty miles across the prairie which lay between the capital and his destination. He builded his fortune not upon the faith of his fellow 7 men, their in- fluence or their aid, but upon the substantial qualities of unfaltering determination and unflagging integrity. He found in the new settlement men of courageous spirit, ready to do and to dare in order to make homes for themselves and their families, and he was soon recognized as a leader in their midst. His work in the development and upbuilding of the state in pioneer times can- not be overestimated, for he aided in laying bri ad and deep the foundations for the pres- ent progress and prosperity of this great commonwealth. His first work in the west was in the line of surveying, and he estab- lished the boundaries to make farms and homes as well as public property. This oc- - - THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. cupie! . lmer I : - I — prided 3 ■ He .e could gel ran be- earne- ■ ■ement. H '■ ~ I a car ighbor- r e became a mer general assembly upon which he left the im- ng individuality. About the time he retired from the office 'jecame in rivilwar and he enlisted. He had had previous military r vhen the Indians massacred the Lake he rty that went to the rescue of the few :atastrophe. It was in the •rrity has hardly been paralleled in the history- of the state I hardshi; greater than were met 5 Mr. Carpenter became a private, but, ■ - captain and his with I fterward with General at with the rank L _ ry record tb the rty, personal coon g -trong pur- It was during the | e war that C. Burkh - : earlie •he home he si n the where the panionship ■ ■ duced. The nel Carpenter re- I was ma'! THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ister of the land office, then a positi great responsibility. He not only filled the office acceptably, but by his complete mas- tery of the details oi the business he con- tributed, through a carefully prepared book on the subject of surveying, to the success- ful administration of the office in after years. In 1872 he was elected chief execu- tive of the state, and by re-election was continued in the office for four years, lit speaking- of this period of- his life Senator J. P. Dolliver has said: "The years in which he was g r were years and industrial transition. The houses were located but the problems of popular education were becoming mon more troublesome. The railroad builders had finished their work in the midst of blunders innumerable on their own part and on the part of the law-making power, leav- g . thousand problems arising out of their to lie solved by than or by the people thei si es The public lands had all lieen taken up, but the Iowa farm was only beginning to approach a solution oi those questions which from that day to this have lieen prominent in the minds of the people everywhere. In all - things it may be truly said that Gov- ernor Carpenter gave the state a coherent and intelligent guidance which has saved us from the disasters which have afflicted other western communities. It was a time when we needed a leader wh tmsted both by the people and the strangers who had invested their money in Iowa lands. He had the confidence oi the people 1 experience identified him in thought and sympathy with them. He could speak to them in terms which in other men would have struck the note oi insin- cerity and affectation. His public ntte lied with homely wisdom and .. act and full sense as max- ■ ancients. The peo] him because he told their. - - plainly ind and also show forth th< man: "The bless g - ck - c - servator and prom mater greatness bul decency oi the world. * * * The « material advancement depends proper direction and pr t< men with ;' . - sition to toil, to dart - e." He had no sympathy with the notion, not yet altogether extinct, that the schov^ls of Iowa - much mom lay the hand oi taxation : upon the possessions of the rich. "1:' g wealth." said he. "would place a g over their treasui diaMe than or bolts, the per diem of jurors or ti • f sheriffs and judges, the - eg will be found in enlarging ami the common-school system oi Iowa until tizen can reach maturity without raining tion." Under his ministration the laws were frame cessfully defended in the courts \vhi< the first limits upon the reckless mai _ ment of western railroads, which ..: time promised not only to despoil the munity but to ruin the roads thems* - broad-minded man looked subject and when he had stigations j farm against di< gers like th< s long as appreciate truth in the garb of Ira "The exorl nor, "is the skeleton in the crib." He new d if the railroad companies 236 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. spected him and afterward followed his counsel it was because he was willing to tell them the truth- and without the malice which seeks to destroy was anxious that they should exercise the wisdom which pre- serves. In his message to the legislature of 1874 he anticipated the platform of peace and mutual advantage upon which the people and the railroads of Iowa a w stand together. After Governor Carpenter retired from the offiqe of chief executive of the state he held an important position in the treasury department under the administration of General Grant. Returning home, he was appointed a member of the railway com- mission, and while he proved a useful mem- ber of that body, he soon resigned because Ins name had been mentioned in connection with the nomination for congress and he did not wish to make a canvass for one office while holding another. He was elected and took an active part in the councils of the house, serving on the committees on war claims, agriculture, levees of the Missis- sippi river, education and labor, and at the end of his term he was named a member of the committee that waited upon the presi- dent to tell him that congress was waiting his pleasure to adjourn. While a member of congress Governor Carpenter succeeded in getting a United States court established at Fort Dodge, and as a direct result of his labors the handsome government building was erected in which court is held and the Fort Dodge postoffice is located. He won the friendship of .many of the most promi- nent men of the nation. He worked for the good of the country without thought of self- aggrandizement and was an earnest cham- pion of every measure which he believed would contribute to the general prosperity Careful consideration preceded every de- cisive stand which he took concerning a question up for settlement, but when his course was once determined upon neither fear nor favor could cause him to change, although he always listened courteously to argument. Again Senator Dolliver writes cf him: "His speech on the national finance in the second session of the forty- sixth congress was a masterpiece of reason- ing and sound philosophy. It was tem- perate in tone, simple in manner, fortified at every point by the lessons of history and experience, while throughout it all the plat of genial wit lighted the rugged strength of his argument. Probably the most im- portant service of his congressional life was the work he did in connection with creating the department of agriculture. He was a member of the committee which framed the bill, and in the debate his speech was par- ticularly strong and persuasive. The speech itself reveals his deep research into the needs and resources of the country and his wide information in respect to the progress of agriculture throughout the world. It enabled him also to give his estimate of the relation of the American farm to civ- ilization of the country, and his comments upon the aspect of the question are not only instructive but inspiring in the noblest sense. After his retirement from congress he was again sent to the state legislature and held important local positions, and the wel- fare of district, state and nation were thereby advanced. His was a noble na- ture — one that subordinated personal am- bition to public good and sought rather to benefit others than to advance himself. His was a sturdy American character and a stalwart patriotism and he bad the strong- est attachment for our free institutions and was ever willing to make any personal sac- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. '-37 rifice for their preservation. A lofty pa- triotism and a Christian manhood perme- ated his life and actions. The hest monu- ment erected to his memory was the spon- taneous freewill offering of a grateful peo- ple who gathered at his bier when in 1898 all that was mortal of Cyrus Carpenter was laid in the tomb. Men of national fame spoke of their regard for him, the president voiced his great friendship and respect for him, the chiefest men of Iowa attended the last sad rites, but the people among whom he had lived mourned him as a brother. Young and old. rich and poor loved him, and he lives enshrined in their hearts. "His life was noble, and the elements So mixed in him that nature might stand up .And say to all the world, 'This was a man.' " +-+-+ WILLIAM HUTCHISON. Among- the honored veterans of the Ci\il war now residing in Fort Dodge, Iowa, is William Hutchison, who since 1897 has had charge of the city scales, and has most creditably filled that position. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio. August 9. 1832, a son of Jimpsey and Rebecca (Peppard) Hutchison, both natives of Pennsylvania. By occupation the father w a- a farmer. In his family were twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, of v hi nn three si ms fought for the old flag and the cause it represented in the Civil war. One of these, Jonathan Hutchison, was a major in the Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry. On the home farm in the count}- of his nativity William Hutchison grew to man- hood, and his education was acquired in the schools of Fredericksburg, Ohio. In May, 1864, be donned the blue and went to the defense of his country as third sergeant in Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mus- tered out and honorably discharged in the foil.. wing September, and is now an hon- ored member of Fort Donelson Post, No. 236, G. A. R., of Fort Dodge. On leaving the army Mr. Hutchison re- turned to his old home in Wayne county, < Ihio, hut in 1865 came to Fort Dodge, and engaged in carpenter work here until 1897, when he took charge of the city scales, and has since discharged the duties of that po- sition in a most acceptable manner. In 1852 Mr. Hutchison married Miss Rachel Sands, of Wayne county, Ohio, a daughter of William Sands, who was a shoemaker by trade. Four children blessed this union, namely: Bryson T., born in 1853, is now engaged in the real estate busi- ness in Fort Dodge; Alice, born in 1859, is at home with her parents; Charlotte, born in i860, died in 1864; and Ida, born in 1864, is now the wife of A. M. White, who is at the head of the White Line Dray busi- ness in Fort Dodge. JOHN R. ROSCOE. J. ihn R. Roscoe, vice-president of the Charles Craft Company, has spent almost his entire life in Fort Dodge, and is a worthy representative of one of its old and highly respected families. His father, Gil- bert Roscoe, was born in Putnam county, Xew York, March 6, 1820, where his an- cestors settled at an early day in the de- velopment of this country. There he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's 2 3 8 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. trade. On the 3d of September, 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Char- lotte Bailey, whose family were also' among the pioneers of Putnam county. Deciding to try his fortunes in the west, Mr. Roscoe came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1856, travel- ing by wagon from Dubuque and arriving here on the 24th of April after many diffi- culties. He pre-empted a farm in Webster county, and after residing thereon for three years removed to the city, where he en- gaged in contracting and building until called to his final rest, December 30, 1884. His widow is still living at the age of sev- enty-seven years and makes her home with our subject. For forty-one years his home was at the corner of Fourth avenue south and Fourteenth street. He was a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist church, and was highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. Of his nine children only our subject is now living. Three of the number died within a week after reach- ing Fort Dodge from measles contracted in I Hibuque. John R. Roscoe was born on the 5th of September, [855, and was therefore only six months old when the family came to Fort Dodge from his birthplace in Putnam county, New York. In the public schools of this city he acquired a good practical ed- ucation, and in early life learned the car- penter's trade from his father, at which he worked for seventeen years. In 1890 he entered a retail grocery store in the capacity of clerk, and when the Charles Craft Com- pany was organized and incorporated under the laws of Iowa in 1898 he became a mem- ber of the firm and is now vice-president of the same. They do a large retail business as dealers in both groceries and meats, and command a liberal share of the public pat- ronage. Mr. Roscoe is an energetic, enter- prising business man, and to him is due not a little of the success of the concern with which he is connected. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is held in high regard in both business and social circles. On the 20th of December, 1883, Mr. Roscoe wedded Miss Mary E. Cisne, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and to them have been born two 1 children, namely, Earl R. and Melvin G. JONATHAN P. DOLLIVER. An enumeration of the men of the pres- ent generation who have conferred honor and dignity upon the state which has holl- ered them would be incomplete were there failure to make prominent mention of him whose name initiates this review. He holds distinctive precedence as an eminent lawyer and statesman and a man of scientific and literary attainments. Through several terms in congress he has borne himself with such signal dignity and honor as to gain him the respect of all. He has been and is distinctively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a most determined individuality have so en- tered into his makeup as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of opinion, and to-day one of the most dis- tinguished men of the nation is Senator Jonathan Prentiss Dolliver, of Iowa. Mr. Dolliver was born in Kingwood, Preston county, Virginia, now West Vir- ginia, February 6, 1858. His father, the Rev. J. J. Dolliver, was a Methodist min- ister, well known in West Virginia and Ohio conferences, where he labored most earnestly and effectively to advance his THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 24' holy calling. He now resides in Fort Dodge. His wife belonged to a pr< mineni family of the Old Dominion, being a niece of William < I. Brown, i f Kingwood, West Virginia, and a sister of the Hon. John G. Brown, of Morg West Vir- ginia. In his bi iyhi » id Senati n Dollive forth the elemental strength of his charac- ter and gave evidence of that genius and preci city, which, combined with his indus- try, early placed him iii the front ranks in his schi ml days and have since won him high honors in the council chambers of the nation. In 1870 he took up his abode near \b rgantown and there attended the State University, completing the course by grad- uation in 1875, when he was but seventeen vears of age. He afterward spent two years engaged in teaching school in Sand- wich, Illinois. Naturally he chose as a life- work a calling demanding strong mentality, keen analytical power and strong reasoning powers, for such was the trend of his mind. While teaching he also pursued the study of law, and in [878 he and his brother were admitted to the bar. Mr. Dolliver was then but twenty years of age. With his bsother he went to Chicago 1 , where they expended must of their money for law books, having only enough remaining to bring them to Fort Dodge, Iowa, which place they had chosen as the scene of their labors. Here the} - opened a law office and many were the hardships and trials they met, but with courageous spirit they endured all without complaint, and in course of time a good practice rewarded them. The marked ora- torical ability which J. P. Dolliver had early manifested soon drew public atten- tion to him and brought him into promi- nence. Not only did his clientage increase, but he also became active in the local ranks of the Republican party, and was calk the leadership 1 if its f, , r ces here. 1 [1 sent as a delegate to the count}- and conventions, and when he rose to speak si- lence immediately prevailed among his auditors and he was listened to with rani attention. In [888 he was elected to repre- sent the tenth congressional district of Iowa in the house of representatives, and, from that time until he became United States Senator he was recognized as a lead- ing member of the lower body. Nol did his eloquence hold enchained the atten- tion of the house, but his strong reasoning, comprehensive thought and logical deduc- tions showed that he had made a deep, earnest and conscientious study of the questions discussed, and therefore many were convinced. His work in congress has become a matter of history, for he has left the impress of his individuality upon the legislation of the nation during- the past decade. His term in the house would have expired in 1901, but after the death of \< h Henry Gear, Governor Shaw, of Iowa, on the 23d of August, 1900, appointed Mr. Dol- liver to fill the vacancy in the United States senate. In the Republican national conven- tion held in Philadelphia, in [900, he was strongly urged to become a candidate for the vice-presidency. In 1895 Mr. Dolliver was united in marriage to Miss Louise Pearson, of Fort Dodge, a daughter of George R. Pearson, and the}- still maintain their home in the [owa city where he entered upon his pro- fessional career, although they spend much time in the capital. Mr. Dolliver is vet a young man, but his name has already been ineffacably stamped upon the pages of American history. Endowed by nature with high intellectual qualities, to which have been added the discipline and embellishments 242 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. of culture, his is a most attractive personal- ity. Well versed in the learning of his pro- fession, and with a deep knowledge of hu- man nature and the spring of human con- duct, with great shrewdness, sagacity and extraordinary tact, he is in the courts an advocate of great power and influence. Bath judges anRD. 2 43 war. Mr. Harding enlisted August 12, 1863, fi r three years or during the war. and assisted in raising a pan of a company, which was joined to Captain Sell's com- mand at Vinton. It was mustered into the United States service as < "■ mpany K, Fortieth L \\a Volunteer Infantry, and was ned tn the Army of the Southwest, un- ieneral ( .rant. Air. I larding, win - had entered the service as seo nd lieutenant. participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and d in taking that stronghold. After the surrender he was taken ill and sent b 1 the hospital at Mound City. Illinois, where he remained six weeks, and was then senl home "ii a furlough. Subsequently he returned to the hospital at Mound City and reported for duty to the Seventh Army Corp joining his regiment at Little Rock, Ar- kansas, where he spent the winter. Being again taken ill, he resigned on the advice of the surgeon and returned home in the spring of 1864, and for two years thereafter w a- in pi 1 >r health. That time was spent in Benton county, Iowa, and when he had sufficiently recov- ered Mr. Harding opened a store in Gilbert- ville. hut -i hi 1 ut at the end of a few- months and removed to Jessup, where he was en- gaged in merchandising for about six years. On disposing of that store he came to Webster county, and was engaged in the grain and stock business at Duncombe, at the same time serving as station agent at that place for seven years. During his resi- dence here lie erected an opera house at ( edar Falls, Iowa, which he has since dis- posed of. In the meantime he opened a store in Duncombe and engaged in mer- chandising until coming to Vincent, where he has now made his home fi >r fi mrteen years. Here lie bought property and built the first business house and residence in the town, being practically its founder. On the D mpletii n < f In- -tore building he put in a large sti ck 1 f general merchandise, and ha- since successfull) engagi having by fair and. horn rable dealing built up an excellent trade. Since locating here he has bi tight and sold considerable farm property, and has also dealt quite exten- sively in town lots. He is pre-eminently public-spirited and progressive, and has ma- terially aided in the upbuilding and develop- ment of the place. In Benton count}-. Iowa. April _\ 1856, Mr. J larding was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Moore, who was born in John- son county, Indiana, ami was a young girl when she came to Iowa, her mother, Mrs. Matilda Moore, being one of the pioneers of Benton county. Our subject and his wife have three children, namely: ( 1 ) James I).. a resident of Vincent, is married and has four children: Cleveland A.. James Wilford, Genevieve and Aha Marie. 1 _' ) William W. is now a business man of Chi- cago. ( 3 ) Jennie M. is the wife of William I 1. W'oolsey, who ijs in partnership with our subject in the mercantile business. They have two children. Derward Delos and Gladys L. Politicall) Mr. Harding is a Jackson- ian Democrat, and has always affiliated with that party since casting his first presiden- tial vote for Stephen A. Douglas in [860. He has been a delegate to both county and state conventions, but has never been an aspirant fi r office, though he was the can- didate of his party for count) treasurer in [902, and was once nominated for repre- sentative of Buchanan county without his knowledge. lie has since declined to serve in any official capacity, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He was made a Mason at Center 244 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD l"\\a. and later assisted in organiz- ing- Jessup Lodge, but is now dimitted. He ep interest in everything pertain- ing to the public welfare of the town, and withholds his support from no enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit. He has liKitlc for himself an honorable record in lm.Mii.s-~, and by his well-directed ef- fi rts has acquired a handsome competence. As a citizen, friend and neighbor he is true to every duty and justly merits the esteem in which he is held. WILLIAM V. DOWD. The death of William V. Dowd, in June, L889, removed from Webster county one of its niO'St successful farmers and estimable citizens. He was born in Hocking county. Ohio, September 25, 1823, a sun of Alex- ander and Nancy (Vandeford) Dowd, b tli natives of North Carolina, the former burn in [799, the latter in 1782. His pa- ternal grandparents were Conner Dowd and wife, who were born in 1737 and 1777, respectively. His grandfather Vande- ford was born in 178b. The parents of our subject were married in Ohio; in which state they resided for about twenty years, and then removed to Indiana, where the following twelve years were passed. in [854 thej came to towa, and after spend- ing one year in Madison count}' took up their residence at Beecher's Corners, in Burnside township, Webster count)-, where the father bought a tract of land on which a log cabin had already been erected. Five years later they went to Colorado and made their home near Denver for about two years. Returning to Iowa at the end of that time, thev settled in Boone county, where the mother died in December, [864 The year following the father married Elizabeth Beason, and after residing in i 1 1 ne count) for a tune they removed to a farm one and a half miles easl of Day- ton, low a. where he continued to live until his death, which occurred May 27, 1874. In- widow, who long survived him, died m Colorado in [899. By his second mar- riage he had no children. Of the eight children born of the first union our subject was the eldest, while the others were as follows: Sarah is now the widow of Ben- jamin F. Allison and resides in California; Hannah first married David Miller, who died in Tama county. Iowa, and .she later wedded J. Kihhy. She died in Butte, Mon- tana, in 1899. Nancy married a Mr. Davis and died in .Madison county, Iowa. Mary wedded George Wilson and died in Golden. Colorado. Alexander married Catherine Childs ami died in 1867. His widow now resides in Guthrie Center, Iowa. Minerva, deceased, was the wife of James Kelly, of Golden. Colorado. Marion died in child- hood. In the county of his nativity Mr. Dowd. ot this review, was reared and educated, and during his boyhood and youth assisted his father in the labors of the farm. He was married in 1844 to Miss Martha Alli- son, who died, in 1854. By that union six children were born, namely: (1) Susan M., born in Indiana, October 23, 1 S_j 5 , married George Nettles and died in Perry, Iowa, in October, 1890. (2) Mary J., born in Indiana. April 19, 18-17, 1S the wife of Captain John L. Kinney, of Dayton, Iowa. (3) Francis A., born in Indiana, June 18, 1848, married Mrs. Lindreth Burnquest and is now living in Fort Dodge, being sheriff of Webster county. 14) Alexander, bora in Indiana, Novembei 7, WILLIAM V. DOWD THE BIOGRAPHICAL REO »RD. -47 [849, resides in B.urnside township, this county. He married Loretta Stoughton, and they have four children, Charles, Belle, Frank and Lee. (5) John H., born in In- diana. January 10, 1 S 5 j . first married Clarissa Blair, who died, leaving four chil- dren, Nellie, Ray, John and Edna, and for his second wife he married Tillie Watts, by whom he has two children. Fannie and Chauncey M. (6) James, born in Indi- ana, January 15, 1854, died in infancy. Mr. Dowd was again married, his second union being- with Elizabeth Hill, vvho died, leaving one child, Elizabeth, who was born in Webster county, Iowa, Janu- ary j j. 1856. She first married Frank Rakestraw, by whom she had three chil- dren, William. Maud and George. Her husband was an engineer and was killed in a collision, and she subsequently wedded a Mr. Morrison. They have one child, Mabel, and now make their home in Spo- kane. Washington. For his third wife Mr. Dowd married Rebecca Kinney, who also died leaving one daughter, Nancy E, who was born in Burn- side township, this county, December j. j So,), ami married T. D. Reese. She died in Everett, Washington, in August. 1901, leaving three children. Clarence. Marguer- ite and Helen. < In the 19th of December, 1866, at Day- ton, Iowa, Mr. Dowd was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Clarissa L. Corbin, win was born in Pennsylvania, January 7, 1838, a daughter of James and Carressa ('Parker) Spring, both natives of Xew York state. Her father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, came west in 1850 and settled near Homer in what was then Webster county. Iowa, but removed to Kansas i n [883, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in June. 1888. He first purchased forty acre- 0] land, which he placed under cultivation, and later added to it 'lie hun- dred and sixty acres, in politics he was a Republican. I fe bad thirteen childre whom Mrs. Dowd is the eldest. The others were Ichabod, who married a lad}' of Vir- ginian birth and resides in Kansas; who died in infancy; William Daniel, win died unmarried; Mary, who wedded Ed- ward Wells and died near Beatrice. Ne- braska; Cynthia C, wife of Edward ■ if Boone county. Iowa; Sarah, deceased wife of Zach Aldridge, of Nebraska: James A., who wedded Mary Williams and lives in Rutland, Kansas: David M.. who is also married and lives in the Sun Flower state: Naomi, deceased wife ol George Hitchings, of Bonne county, Iowa; Alice, wife of Henry Dowel, of Rutland, Kansas: and twins who died in infancy. Mrs. Dowd was married near Lehigh, [owa, January 21, 1858. to Albert G. Cor- bin. the ceremony being performed by Ellis Mercer, an old settler and justice of the peace. Mr. Corbin was born in Hunting- don county, Pennsylvania, January 27. 1831, and was a son of Benjamin and Margaret M. (Park) Corbin. who traveled life's journey together for almost seventy years. His father was horn in Huntingdon coun- ty. Pennsylvania. February 19. 1S07. and died in Story county. Iowa, January 27, 1900, wdiile the mother was hunt in Hunt- erdon county. New Jersey, February 22, [809, and died in June. 1899. The moved to Ohio in 1834, and on coming to Iowa in 1853. first 1' cated in Webster county, but in 1800 removed to - countv. where they ever afterward made their home. During the Civil war Albert G. Corbin enlisted in Company D. Six- teenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was seriously wounded in the battle of Shiloh, 248 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. fn in the effects of which he died on the loth of April. 1862, after having a limb amputated. He left two sons : W'ilbert X., now a resident of Nevada, Iowa, mar- ried Ella McKee and their children are Blaine, Clara. Lloyd, Mabel, Fay, Bertha,, Lee, and Eva. William, the younger son, was killed on the railroad, December 19, 1882, at the age of twenty-two years. By her second marriage Mrs. Dowd has four children, all horn in Webster county. In order of birth they are as follows: 1 1 1 Alice M., born December 22. 1867, is the wife of Eric Bloom, a farmer of Dayton township, and they have two children, William V. and .Maud. (2) William W., born October 31, 1872, is now managing the estate left by his father. (3) Clara Florence, twin sister of William W., is the wife of Edward Putzke, who resides three miles northeast of Dayton. I 4 ) Amanda M., born August 3. 1876, is the wife of Andrew Olson, of Fort Dodge, and has 1 ne child, Gerald D. In 1855 Mr. Dowd came to Webster county, Iowa, and was ever afterward pn minently identified with agricultural in- terests, being one of the most successful fanners of his community. At the time - death he owned over eight hundred acres of valuable land in this county. In cial relations he was a Mason, and in politics was an ardent Republican. On th? 4th of June. 1889, he passed away, hon- ored and respected by all who knew him. and his remains were interred in the Day- ton cemetery. In his death the community realized that it had lost one of it^ best citi- zens; his family a good husband and fa- ther; and his memory is tenderly cher- ished, not only in his home, but by all who knew him. CAPTAIN J. L. KINNEY. Among the brave men who devoted their early manhi iod to the service of their country as soldiers of the Civil war was Captain J. L. Kinney, now one of the promi- nent and representative citizens of Dayton, Iowa. He was horn in Pennsylvania. June 13, 1842, and is a son of Aaron and El+za J. (McComb) Kinney, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where their marriage was celebrated. For about four years they made their home in Armstrong county, that state, then spent one year in West Virginia, and at the end of that time removed to Meigs county, Ohio. It was in the spring of 185 1 that they came to Iowa, and took up their residence in Boone county. One year later they removed to Webster county, but after spending a year near Fort Dodge they returned to Boone county, and in 1858 went to Greene county, remaining there un- til the close of the Civil war. Their next home was in Monona county, Iowa, and from there they removed to the state of Washington, locating near Ellensburg, where the mother died in 1894, and the father in 1898. Their family consisted of twelve chil- dren, namely: Eliza J. married I. D. How- ard and died in Jefferson, Iowa, in 1897; Robert married Sarah Leverton and resides in Dallas county, Iowa ; Margaret died at the age of eighteen years : Rebecca married William V. Dowd and died in Dayton town- ship. Webster county, in 1862; the Captain is the next in order of birth; Mary E. is the wife of James Merida. of Monona county; David married Lois Pinkney, now deceased, and lives in the state of Washington : Nancy is the wife of John Sininis. of Greene THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 249 county, l<>\\ a; Thomas wedded Mercy Balis and resides in Monona county; Aaron married Tillie Extrand and also lives in Al- hi, ma county; William married Gustie Reese and makes his home in Ellensburg, Washington; and James married Emma Smith and also resides in Ellensburg. 1 aptain Kinney began his education in the schools of Meigs county, Ohio, and after coming to this state with the family at the age of nine years, he continued to at- tend school for eight years. Coming to Dayton at the age of fifteen, he commenced work as a farm hand at twenty-rive cents per day and fifteen dollars per month, and was thus employed until the country became invi >lved in civil war. Responding to the President's call for troops, our subject enlisted at Jefferson, Greene county, August 6, 1861, in Com- pany H, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, bejng under the command of Captain J. Orr. Colonel N. Purcell and General U. S. Grant. The regiment rendezvoused at Iowa City, and from there went to St. Louis, and later to Cape Girardeau and Greenfield, Missouri, whence they returned tn Cape Girardeau. ■ They next proceeded to Bird's Point. Island No. 10 and New Madrid, and after the battle of Shiloh went up the Tennessee river to Hamburg. They were in the siege of Corinth, and were first under heavy tiring in the battle of Iuka, fol- lowed by the second battle of Corinth. They next went to Grand Junction. Holly Springs and Oxford, Mississippi, and from the last named place returned to Memphis, whence they went to Helena. This was fol- lowed by the Ya I expedition, and after their return to Helena they went to Milliken's Bend. They were in the Vicks- burg campaign in the spring of 1863, and took part in the battles of Thompson's Hill near Port Gibson, and also Raymond and Jackson, as a pan of McPherson's Their next engagement was the batl Champion Hill, where they lost more than in any other engagement. After this they again assisted in the siege ^\ Vicksburg. After serving two years our subject was commissioned lieutenant in a negro regi- ment, the Fiftieth United States Regulars, and with his command went to New Or- leans in the spring of [865. Under the command of General Canby they proceeded to Pensacola, Florida, and were later in the siege and battle of Mobile. They stormed the works at Blakely and took the fort by charge, after which they returned to Mo- bile, where Captain Kinney resigned, hav- ing previously been promoted to that rank. He was mustered out on the 1st of May, [865, and returned to Dayton with a war record of which he may justly be proud. On the 6th of September, 1865, the Captain led to the marriage altar Miss Mary J. Dowd, who was horn in Noble county, Indiana. April 19, 1847, her parents being William A", and Martha (Allison) Dowd, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respect- ively. Mr. and Mrs. Dowd were married in Indiana, and there five children were born to them, namely: Maria, who mar- ried George T. Nettles and died in 1 Marv J., wife of our subject: F. A., who married Caroline Burnquisl and makes his home in Fori Hodge, having set terms as sheriff of this county; Alexander, who married Miss Loretta Stoughton and livi on a farm near Dayton; and John H., who first married Clarissa I Hair and sec- ond Tilla Watts, and formerly resided on a farm near Dayton but is now living in Okla- homa. The mother of these children died in 1854. and in the fall of 1855 the father married Elizabeth Hill and later removed THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. to Webster county, Iowa, locating on a farm, where his death occurred in 1889. His second wife died in 1857. leaving one child, Lizzie. She first married Frank Rakestraw, an engineer, who was killed on the Rock Island Railroad, and later wedded Canity Morrison, and now lives in Spo- kane, Washington. In 1858 Mr. Dowd married Rebecca Kinney, by whom he had one daughter, Nancy, who married T. D. Reece, now a resident of Rossland,. Can- ada, and she died August 18, 1901. Mr. Dowd lost his third wife in 1862, and four years later he married Mrs. Clarissa Corbin, who now lives on a farm near Dayton. By the last marriage there were four children: .Mice, wife of Erie Bloom, of Dayton township; Clara, wife of Ed Putsky, a farmer of the same township; W. \V., win. 1 is a twin brqther of Clara and resides with his mother in Dayton township; and \tnanda, wife of Andrew ( >lsun, of Pert Dodge. The children horn to Captain Kinney and wife are as follows: (1) Harry A., born December 6, r866, is an engineer on the Chicago Great Western Railroad and resides in Dayton. He married Elsie Meanor, who died in the spring of 1897, leaving six children: Flossie J., Dersey E., Georgie, Xellie, Bessie and Robert. (2) Willis E., horn March 29, 1868, is a vet- erinary surgeon of Madison, South Dakota He married Helen Scott and has one child. Grace. 13) George F., horn July 1, 1871, is a farmer of Harcourt, Webster county. He married Emma Gerdie and has two chil- dren, Fern and Iva. (4) Fred II., born January 8. 1S7X, is a brakeman on the Chi- cago & Northwestern Railroad and lives in ( arroll. Iowa. He married Mattie Wil- cox and has two children, Florence and Bernice. (5) Ralph V., born November 9, 1877, married Grace Xeece and is a brakeman on the Northwestern Railroad, residing in Lake City. (6) John W., born March 10, 1879, married Abbie Carlson and is a farmer of Dayton. (7) Perry D., born May 9. 1883. (8) Benjamin H., horn May 21, 1NN7, and (01 Mary M., horn July 15. 1888, are all at home. Since his marriage Captain Kinney has given his time and attention to farming and stock raising, and has met with marked success, being now the owner of fifteen hun- dred acres of valuable farming land in Web- ster comity, besides some town property in Dayton. He now feeds oyer three hun- dred head of stock and ships large numbers to the city markets, having been success- fully engaged in the stock business for many years. Captain Kinney attends and contributes to the support of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a member of Oak Lodge, No 531, A. F. & A. M., and the Grand Army Post of Dayton. As a Republican he has .been prominently identified with public af- fairs, and was twice a candidate for state representative, but unfortunately his party was then in the minority in his district. He has, however, most creditably and satisfac- torily served as supervisor for nine years, and has also tilled the office of township trustee several terms. As a soldier he was brave and fearless, "being always found at his post of duty, and as a citizen he has ever been found true to every trust reposed in him, so that he well merits the high regard in which he is held bv his fellow citizens. JOHN F. DUNCOMBE. If "biography is the home aspect of history," as Wilmott has expressed it. then it i- entirely within the province of this JOHN. F. DUNCOMBE THE BIOGR U'HICAl. RECORD. !53 volume to perpetuate th< - who have made the history of the Hawkeye state. Wars and conquests have formed the annals of the pasl centuries, but in the nineteenth century the records were those of mind over matter, nol tin man over man. and the victories achieved have been along the lines of business prog- ress and improvement, of substantial de- velopment, culture and learning. There is esident of northwestern Iowa whose efforts have been of more avail in promot- ing the transformation of Webster county from a wild, unclaimed region to a section where every indication of an advanced civ- ilization is found. His business interests have been so broad and varied that he has contributed in large measure to the general prosperity, and yet not alone along business lines have his efforts been put forth for the public good. Almost a half century has passed since he took up his abode in Fort 1 >odge and his life record has since become an important chapter in its history. John Francis Duncombe was born on the homestead farm in Erie county, Penn- sylvania, October 22, 1831, and back to England he traces his ancestry, where dif ferent members of the family served their country in parliament and in other import- ant public positions. The familj Founded in America by Charles Duncombe, who. taking up his abode in the new world, was a stanch patriot in Rev lutionary days. < mm 1 f his large fortune he contributed more than sixtv thousand pounds in aid .it the colonists who were struggling for lib- erty and independence, and he not onl) gave a large share of his fortune, bui also laid down his life upon the altar of his country. His son, the grandfather of John .F. Duncombe, was a volunteer in the Amer- ican army in the second war with Great Britain in [812. Hi Duncombe, became a farmer • 1' Erie 1 ennsyl- vania, where he gained a comfortable liv- ing through the care and cultivation of his fields. h was upon this farm th; boyhood days of John !•'. Duncombe were passed. In_a loo sc l 10O ] house his early education was acquired and when sixteen years of age he was sent to Allegheny Col- lege, at Meadville, where he pursued his studies for three years. On the expiration of that period he matriculated in Center College, in Danville, Kentucky, where he was graduated with high honors in the class of June. 185.2. He then returned to Allegheny College, where he was graduat- ed the same month. Subsequently the lat- ter institution conferred upon him the de- gree of Master of Arts. Mr. Duncombe is truly a self-educated and self-made man. While attending col- te spent the periods of vacation in teaching in order to secure the means necessary to meet his expenses, having charge of his first school before he was sev- enteen years of age. On the completion of hi- collegiate work he began the study of law in Erie, Pennsylvania, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1853, after which he at once began practice. While still a resi- dent of Erie he was married. I tecember 29, 1852, to Miss Carrie Perkins, who died No- vember 10. [854, in Erie. 'Die following year .Mr. Duncombe be- came a resident of Fort Dodge, arriving here in April, lie borrowed three hundred dollars from hi- father, having -urrendered his interest in the paternal estate in con- sideration of moiiex advanced to meet col- lege expenses, and with that -mall sum as his entire fortune, boldly struck out for the west to make In- own way in the 254 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. world. Into the wild western region lie made his way, the vast, unclaimed and unbroken prairies stretched away on every side as far as the eye could reach and no railroads connected with the outside world the little town of Fort Dodge, in which there were no build- ings aside from the soldiers' barracks. Much of the land in tins locality belonged to the government, with the exception of the few isolated claims along the streams, where timber and springs could be found. The pioneers had little money and seldom indulged in the luxury of litigation, but his keen foresight enabled Mr. Duncombe to recognize the possibilities and oppor- tunities of the country and to realize that it must soon become a thickly settled dis- trict, so that he resolved to remain and en- dure the privations and hardships which must be met in pioneer times in order to enjoy the benefits which the future prom- ised. Xo .man in the community did more to promote progress, to> encourage im- provement and to advance the transforma- tion which has changed this district from a wild, unsettled region to one of prosper- ity, where wealth, culture and refinement have become important factors in the life of the community. The land was reclaimed for purposes of civilization and the track of the shining pi' v\ 3< i n made its way s the once barren prairie; all the com- forts and conveniences of the older east were introduced, property rose in value and labor brought the reward of prosperity. Trials and difficulties were of frequent oc- currence, but gradually the work of the brave, resolute and enterprising early set- tlers, who wrought along the lines of great- est good, wrought a transformation that placed Webster county upon a par with any of the counties of this great commonwealth. An event deeply impressed upon the annals of frontier history occurred in the spring of 1857. News was brought to Fort D< dge of the extermination by the Sioux Indians of the colony which the year before had settled aim >ng the groves that surrounded the beautiful lakes of Okoboji and vicinity, on the extreme northern boundary of the state, in Dickinson count)'. Die winter had been one of the greatest severity ; the whole country was covered with a heavy blanket of snow, filling ravines and sloughs to a depth of many feet, rendering travel very difficult. The report that all of the colonists were massacred, with the excep- tion of four young women, who were dragged away into captivity more terrible than death, aroused a frenzy of horror that demanded instant pursuit, rescue and pun- ishment. Over a hundred fearless young men from Webster and the neighboring county of Hamilton hastily assembled at Fort Dodge, organized into three com- panies, choosing for their captains C. - B. Richards and John F. Duncombe, of Fort Dodge, and J. C. Johnson, of Webster City. The veteran Major Williams, then nearly sixtv years of age. took command and the little battalion, poorly equipped for such a perilous winter march, hastened to the rescue. Their suffering and heroic en- durance of hardships, almost equal to those of Napoleon's army in the Moscow- cam- paign, are matters of history. Every mem- ber of that little army of volunteers proved himself a hero and won a place among "the bravest of the brave." Captain Johnson and William Burkholder perished on the re- turn march and many others b?:ely sur- vived to reach their homes. The state has o mmemorated their heorism by a monu- ment, placed on the site where the terri- ble massacre began. Mr. Duncombe being THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 255 appropriately appointed one of the com- missi ners to superintend its erection. But pioneer days passed and other con- ditions were found in the once wild, west- ern districts. Business developed and in the activity of commercial and industrial life, as well as in the line of his professii n. Mr. Duncornbe bore an active part. In 1858 he became one of the editors of the Fort Dodge Sentinel, which had been estab- lished in July. 1836, by A. S. White. Some years later he was editor and proprietor of the Fort Dodge Democrat, but he never relinquished his law practice while connect- ed with journalism. His fellow citizens recognizing his fitness for leadership, called him to public office and throughout the en- tire period of his residence here he has ex- ercised strong influence in molding public thought and opinion. In 1859 he was nominated by the Democrats of the thirty- second district, consisting of twenty-three counties, for the position of state senator and the election returns placed him in office for a four-years' term. Twice he has rep- resented his district in the lower branch of the general assembly and for eighteen years he was one of the regents of the State University, while for ten years he lectured on railroad law in that institution. He was honored with the appointment to the position as one of the Iowa Columbian commissioners having charge of the [ov 1 exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. Few elective 1 fhces has he tilled, for he has always been an advocate of the cratic party, which has ever been in the minority in Iowa. He has been his party's candidate for lieutenant governor, supreme judge and representative in con- gress, and it is said that had he been a Re- publican lie could have gained any office within the gift of the party in the state, but he has never wavered in his allegiance to what he believes to be right and has ever maintained his position as a free-trade Democrat. He has for many years, how- ever, occupied a most distinguished posi- tion in Democratic circles. In iXj2 he was chairman of the Iowa delegation to the Democratic national convention in Balti- more, where Horace Greeley was nominated for the presidency. In 189J he was again chairman of the Iowa delegation at the Chicago convention, but having been se- lected to present the name of Governor Boies as a candidate for the presidency, he resigned his chairmanship and in a speech characterized by great eloquence and power placed the name of Iowa's Democratic ex- exutive before the meeting. Throughout all the years of his resi- dence in Iowa Mr. Dunci mibe has remained a distinguished member of the bar and has been connected with some of the most im- portant litigation tried in the courts of the district. As a lawyer he is sound, clear- minded and well trained. The limitations which were imposed by the constitution on federal powers are well understood by him. With the long line of decisions, from Mar- shall down, by which the constitution has been expounded, he is familiar, as are all tin n ughly skilled lawyers. He is at home in all departments of the law from the minutia in practice to the greater topics wherein is involved the consideration of the ethics and the philosophy 1 i juris- prudence and the higher concerns of pub- lic policy. But he is not learned in the law alone, for he has studied long and care- fully the subjects that are to the states- man and the man of affairs of the greatest import. — the questions of finance, political THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. economy, sociology, — and has kept abreasl oi the best thinking men of the age. He is felicitious and clear in argument, thorough- ly in earnest, full of the vigor of convic- tion, never abusive of adversaries, imbued with the highest courtesies and yet a foe worthy of the steel of the most able op- ponent. While he has given his services largely to the legal business of the Illinois Central Railway Company, holding the po- sitii 11 of district attorney, having twenty- three counties in four states in his jurisdic he ha- also a large general practice. He has defended in twelve trial- for mur- der and prosecuted in three. "When the great legal contest was made over the validity of the prohibition amendment to the state constitution, Mr. Duncombe and Judge C. C. Nourse and Senator James F. Wilson were appointed by the governor to represent the state in sustaining the legality of the act. Although his attention has been chiefly given t>> his law practice, 'Sir. Duncombe has also aided in controlling business enter- prises of vast importance to the community. He was line of the incorporators of the Iowa Falls & Sioux City Railway, the Ma- son City & Fort Dodge Railroad, the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgely, now the Minneapo- lis \ St. Louis Railroad, and all other lines projected to enter Fort Dodge. Fie also was i me of the first tp develop the coal mining interests in that section, and was the builder of the principal hotel in Fort > dge. For man}- years he has been en- gaged largely in coal mining and in the manufacture of stucco and all its products from the extensive gypsum deposits which underlie a large tract of the country about Fort Dodge, hi- sons having charge of the business. Mr. Duncombe was married on the nth of .May. 1850. the lady of his choice being Miss Mary A. Williams, daughter of Major Williams, the founder of Fort Dodge and for man}- years one of the best known citizens of northwestern Iowa. They have two sons and three daughters living, and the family attends the Episco- pal church. Such in brief is the life record of one who, for forty-seven years, has made his home in Fort Dodge. Materia! interests owe their advancement to him ; public progress has been promoted through his efforts. He has attained distinction at the bar and in the walks of private life lias ever commanded unqualified respect. While undoubtedly he has not been with- out that honorable ambition, which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to ac- tivity in public affairs, he has ever regarded the pursuits of private life as being in them- selves abundantly worthy of his best ef- forts. His is a noble character — one that has subordinated personal ambition to pub- lic good and sought rather the benefit of others than the aggrandizement of self. His has been a conspicuotisly successful career. Endowed by nature with high in- tellectual qualities, to which have been add- ed the discipline and embellishments of cul- ture, his is a most attractive personality. Well versed in the learning of his pro- fessii hi and with a deep knowledge of hu- man nature and the springs of human con- duct, with great shrewdness and sagacity and extraordinary tact, he is in the courts an advocate of great power and influence. Both judges and juries have always heard him with deep attention and interest. If his efforts had been confined alone to his practice, his life had not been in vain, but it has been enriched bv an unselfish devo- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. tion to the public good, and Iowa honors him as ne oi her most pn miinent am ued citizens. IS \ \f G \im< »]■:. From the days of pioneer development in Webster county, Isaac Garmoe has been an active factor in all that has tended toward the upbuilding and substantial im- provement of Fori Dodge. His name is so closely associated with its history that no record of the county would be complete without extended mention of his life work. He was born in the neighborhood of Lou- den, Franklin count)', Pennsylvania, No- vember 9, 1827, and is a son of Isaac and Magdalena (Bulger) Garmoe, also natives of the Keystone state. The father was of French extraction and the mother of Ger- man lineage. They became the parents of twelve children, including Isaac Garmoe. who spent the first twenty years of his life in the county of his nativity, and in the spring of 1847 accompanied his father's family on their emigration westward. Af- ter remaining temporarily in Illinois for six months they continued their journey until they arrived in Jefferson county, Iowa, tak- ing up their abode in the "Rich Woods" near Fairfield. The journey from McCon- nellsbnrg to Pittsburg was by a six-horse team and from there to Copperas Creek Landing was made by steamboat. Through- out their remaining days the parents of our subject resided in the vicinity of Fairfield. Isaac Garmoe came to Webster county in 1854 and purchased land near Border Plains, where he farmed until November, 1861. The county was then but sparsely settled and the division of Hamilton and Webster counties had not been made. \n< r the dh ision Mr. 1 rarmoe was e t) treasurer of Webster count) in [861, being the second person ever chosen to the position, which also included the dutii count) recorder at thai time. He served for two terms, from January, [862, until January. [866, and since that time he has made Fort Dodge his home. But whether in office or out of it, he has always been interested in the welfare of his adopted county and has contributed in large meas- ure to its progress and improvement. Prior to coming to Webster county, Mr. ( rarmoe had worked at the carpenter's trade in summer and taught school in win- ter, receiving a salary of forty to sixty dol- lars for three months' service and boarding himself. Since his retirement from office, he has been engaged in the mercantile and real estate business and no man in the coun- ty has a broader or more accurate know ledge of realty values. His business methods have ever been above reproach, and while adding to his own income, he has in a con- scientious manner aided many new comers in gaining desirable homes, In recent years he has conducted many important real estate transfers and his clientage has con- tinually grown, bringing to him gratifying success. He is also a director in the ( oin mercial and Fort Dodge Savings Banks. Mr. Garmoe has been twice married. In 1849 he wedded Miss Susan Jane Bar- gar, who died in 1855, after which he was joined in wedlock to -Mrs. Margarel Sher- rill Johnson, a native of Alabama, who came to Webster county with her first hus- band, Mr. Johnson. In his church re- lations Mr. Garmoe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and repre- sented the local church at Fort Dodge as delegate to the general conference held in Baltimore in May, 1876. He is also a mem- 258 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ber of the board of trustees of the Charles City College and of the Morning Side Col- lege at Sioux City, Iowa, and a contributor to both. He is an Odd Fellow, belonging to both the subordinate lodge and the en- campment. He was reared in the faith of the Whig party, his father having been an advocate of its principles, and on the in- auguration of the new Republican party he joined its ranks and has since been one of its warmest advocates. Viewed in a per- sonal light, he is a strong man of earnest purpose and unflagging determination, and his persistency has been an important fac- tor jn hi-, success. His labors in behalf of the county have been of a very beneficial nature, and at all times he has commanded the respect, confidence and good will of his felli >w citizens. J. H. VANDEVENDER. J. H. Yandevender, manager of the "Western Grain Company, at Buncombe, and an extensive farmer and stockraiser of Washington township, was born on his fa- ther's farm in Webster county, Iowa, Au- gust 22, 1858. He was educated in the dis- trict schools of his township, and reared to an appreciation of the dignity and useful- ness of an agricultural life. At the age of nineteen years he faced the problem of self- support, and for five years worked out as a farm band by the month, two years of that time being spent in his home neighborhood and the remaining three years in northeast- ern Kansas. He then returned to Hamilton county. Iowa, and in Fremont township rented a farm, upon which he lived for four years, and at the end of that time purchased eighty-six acres of land, where he resided with his family until August 1, 1891. At Fort Dodge, Iowa. May 1.2. 1882, Mr. Yandevender married Sadie M. Ouens, who was born in Canada in 1861, a daugh- ter of Hugh and Jane Ouens, the former a native of Ireland. The parents were mar- ried in Canada, and from there removed to near Browning, Missouri, where they lived for three years. They then came to Fre- mont township, Hamilton county. Iowa, and lived upon rented land for se\-en years. A later place of residence was Pocahontas county, Iowa, where the mother died in 1895, after which the father sold his inter- ests in this state and settled in Estberville, Iowa, where he is now living a retired life. He had five sons and four daughters : Will- iam, a resident of Buffalo Center. Iowa ; Thomas, who lives in North Dakota: John. who is married and lives in Pocahontas county. Iowa; Robert, who is engaged in the creamery business in Chicago ; Albert, who is a farmer in Pocahontas county, Iowa; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Eli Long and lives in Deer Creek township. Webster county, Iowa; Hannah, who re- sides in Estberville, Iowa; Belle, who also lives in Estherville ; Susie ; and Sadie, the wife of Mr. Yandevender. To Mir. and Mrs. Yandevender have been born the fol- lowing children: Emmet W., born March 8, 1883, died August 23. 1898; Zelpha B., born October 16, 1885, is engaged in edu- cational work in Colfax township. Webster county: and Alta L.. born October 6. 1887, is at present attending school. After becoming identified with Dun- combe in 1891, Mr. Yandevender engaged in the grain business, and although the com- panv has undergone many changes and op- erated under four different names, his ex- pert services have been ever since in de- mand as manager. In the meantime he has disposed of his farm in Hamilton county, THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 259 and has. instead, a splendidly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 4. Washington township, Webster coun- ty, and owns one of the finest residences in Duncombe. Other city property has come int. 1 his possession, and many public interests engage the attention not needed in his general grain and fanning husiness. As a stanch upholder of Republican institu- tions and issues he has been singularly trusted and honored by the community, has been a member of die city council for six years and has also served as township urer. Fraternally he is associated with the Acacia Lodge, No. 176, A. F. & A. M.. at Webster City. Mr. Vandevender is a man who has risen solely upon his own merits, without early influential hacking or money assistance, lie started out in life with a capital amounting- to well-balanced brain force and large capacity for labor, and his reputation and attainments rest upon the solid and substantial elements of life. HENRY W. SANBORN. Henry W. Sanborn is one of Fort Dodge's old citizens, whose useful and well- spent life has not only gained for him the friendship and good will of his fellow men hut has put him in a position to take the balance of life easy. A native of New York, Air. Sanborn was born in Norfolk - , St. Lawrence county, November 9, [832, and is the son of Rob- ert C. and Cassandre W. ( Stevens ) San- born, who were horn in New Hampshire and removed to New York just before the birth of our subject. He has one sister liv- ing. By occupation his father was a con- tractor. In 1833 the family removed to Buffalo, New York, and in 1841 to Michi- gan and located on a farm, where our sub- ject passed his boyhood and youth, his edu- cation being obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood. In [852 Mr. Sanborn went to Jackson, .Michigan, where he made his home for four years. He was present and took part in the big mass meeting held on Moody's Hill, when the Republican party was organized ami first given the name on the 6th of Jul) - , [854. The following fall Kingsley S. Bingham was triumphantly elected the first Republican governor of Michigan. Mr. Sanborn then went to Marengo, Illinois, where he was engaged in the mar- ble business for some time. On the 6th of May, 1858, while on a visit to New York state he was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Cooper, of Massena, St. Lawrence count}-. New York, whose parents were farmers. Three children blessed this union, namely: Jennie C, born August 20, died at the age of five years; Orville E., bom February 22, 1864, is now with the Great Western Cereal Company, of Fort Lodge; and Alberta I'M born August 22, [869, is the wife of R. G. Long, who is en- gaged in the real estate business in Detroit, Michigan. On the 1 2th of November, 1858, Mr. Sanborn took up his residence in his native count}-, where be was engaged in the marble business until after the Civil war broke out. He was enrolled in July, 1863, in Company F. Eighty-third New York Volunteer In- fantry, under . Captain Jacobs and Colonel Moesch. From camp rendezvous, New York Git}-, he went to the Army of the Po- tomac and joined the regiment at Bealeton Station, near the Rappahannock river. The regiment was in the Second Brigade under Brigadier General Henry Baxter, the Sec- ond Division under Brigadier General John 26o THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 1 '. K> 'binsi n and the First Army Corps un der Major General John F. Reynolds. While Mr. Sanborn was with his regiment il took part in the battle of Mine Run. Vir- ginia, November 28, 1863, and a number of smaller engagements. On account of disability contracted while with the regi- ment he was discharged In un the service June in. 1864, al De ('amp general hos- pital near Alexandria, Virginia, and went to New York city with the old members of the regiment whose time was out. In the fall of [864 Air. Sanborn became interested in the marble business in Corn- wall, Canada, but resided in Massena, New York. lie was afterward in business in Massena until 1869, when he sold out on account of ill health. Leaving New York 1870, he removed to Constantine, St. Jo- seph county, Michigan, and in April, 1872, came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he was employed in the marble business fur two years. He then located on his homestead, where lie resided until April, 1879. when he returned to Fort Dodge and went to work fur A. M. De Lano, where the follow- ing five years were spent. He next went tn Sioux Falls, Smith Dakota, but continued to make Fort Dodge his home, and since 1895 has passed his time here, having re- tired from active business mi account of ill health. Wherever known he is respected, and has the good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact. GEl IRGE MARSH. Among the old and honored citizens of Webster county none is more deserving of mention in a work' of this character than George Marsh, who for forty-five years has made hi- In me in Yell township. He was born m Count} Kent. England, and was there reared and educated. Before leaving his native land he was united in marriage with Alls- Charlotte Page, who was also In 'in in G mnty Kent. 1 r about five years after nis marriage Mi Marsh engaged in farming in Eng- land, but at the end of that time decided 1- tr\ his fortune in the new world, believ- ing that here were better opportunities for advancement. Accordingly, in 1846, he and his family took passage on a sailing vessel at Liverpool and after a voyage of six weeks landed in New York, Going up the Hudson river, they made their way westward and finally located at Waukegan, Illinois, where they spent eleven years. In 1857 Mr. Marsh came to Webster county, Iowa, and took up a river claim in Yell township, where he has since made his home. As time passed he added to the original tract until he had two hundred and sixty acres on sections 19, 20 and 29. which, with the exception of nine acres, was all wild land when it came into his possession, but it was not long before the whole farm was under cultivation. He built fences, erected a good house, barn and other outbuildings ; and made many other useful and valuable improvements until he had one of the best farms in the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Marsh were born thirteen children, namely: Frances, wife of James Bloomfietd, of Fair, Kansas; George W.. whose sketch is given below; John, who married Jennette Wicks and re- sides in Steelville, Missouri ; James, who married Elizabeth E. Barnette and lives in Yell township, this county; Addie, deceased wife of X. C. Howard, of Burnside town- ship; Carrie, wife of James Baker, of Kim- ball, [ndiana; Samuel, who married Aman- da Mitchell and died in Yeli township; GEORGE MARSH MRS. GEORGE MARSH THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 265 Lydia. wife of Marion Douglass, of Web- ster township; William, who married Mamie Cram and resides in Burnside town- ship; Fred, who married Ella Allen and also lives in Burnside township; Emma, wife of Miles Kilt, of Alba, Indiana; Rose, de- ceased wife of William Mead, of Republic. Kansas; Lincoln, who married Nellie Clark and died in Yell township, this county. The mi ither of these children died on the 5th of February, [898, and was laid to rest in Oak Grove cemetery. Yell town- ship. Although now eighty-seven years of age Mr. Marsh is still hale and hearty and appears like a man mueh younger. Po- litically he is identified with the Republi- can party, and in early life took quite an active and prominent part in public affairs, filling all of the township offices and serv- ing. as county supervisor for a time. He is an earnest and consistent member of the Christian church, and his pleasant, genial manner lias endeared him to all with whom he has been brought in contact, either in business or social life. B. E. PETERSON. The material prosperity of Fulton town- ship has been fostered and maintained by the praiseworthy efforts of B. E. Peterson, who 1 owns a well-improved farm of eighty acres on section 22. Although born in Nor- way, April 14, 1858, he is an American aside from the accident of birth, for he was but eight years of age when his parents. Ole and Olena Peterson, emigrated to the United States at the close of the Civil war. The family came directly to Iowa and lo- cated on section 22, Fulton township, Webster county, where the mother now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Olena Lud- dick. the father having died June |. [898. The children bom into the family who are now living are; B. E.. John, Julius, Mar- tin, Fred, Jacob, Olena, I. -ding. Anna Field and Louisa. In his youth Mr. Peterson was not favored with large educational opportuni- ties, for the tasks on the home farm were arduous and consumed about all of the time between the rising and setting of the sun. However, he learned much from observa- tion and general dealings with men, so that at the present time he is a well-informed man on current and other events. On De- cember 17, 1879, he married Lena Bean, a native of La Salle county, Illinois, born May 20, 1861. Her parents were born in Norway and came to America in i860, and lived in La Salle county, Illinois, for three years, after which they settled in De Kalb county, Illinois, and in 1874 moved to near Callender, Webster county. Iowa. Later still they settled in the town of Callender, where the mother died July 14, 1897, the father surviving her until his death at the home of his daughter, Mrs. B. E. Peterson, March 1, 1898. Mrs. Peterson is one of a family of seven children, the others being: Nels. who married Ada Johnson and lives in Compton, Illinois; Eli, who married Lissa Knappenbergh and lives in Fort. Dodge, Iowa; Anna, wife of N. L. Randall, of Fort Dodge: Cora, widow nf Tin Byrd and a resident of Lee, Illinois; Sarah. wife of Ike Christopher, of South Dakota: and Adeline, widow of Jonas Olson and a resident of Seattle, Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been born the fol- lowing children: Frank Oliver, born De- cember 27, 1881, and now attending Tobin College, Fort Dodge; and William Cyrus, born March 22, 1894. 266 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Ever since his marriage Mr. Peterson has owned the farm upon which he now lues, although in the meantime his inter- ests have been varied and have called him to different parts of the county. On three different occasions he has rented his farm and lived in Fort Dodge, and at one time worked on a dairy farm for a couple of years, still later engaging in the sale of musical instruments, of which he has an extensive knowledge. For a portion of one season he ran a feed barn in the city of Fort Dodge, and at Callender for two years he worked as a section hand. Mr. Peter- son is a Republican in national politics, and Ids fellow townsmen have honored him with their trust by placing him in a num- ber of responsible local offices, the duties of which he has performed with credit to him- •self and the township. Himself and fam- ily are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Peterson has an enviable repu- tation for. integrity and general excellence, and is one o-f the progressive influences of his locality. WILLIAM LLOYD NICHOLSON, M. D. Dr. William Lloyd Nicholson, deceased, was fur many years one of the most highly esteemed and honored citizens of Fort Dodge, lie was born on the 25th of Sep- tember, 1832, in County Waterford, Ire- land. His father served with distinction as a colonel in the English army. Of his three sons one was connected with the Bank of Dublin and another was a farmer in Lou- isiana. The Doctor, who was the oldest son, acquired his early education in the national schools of Waterford, and also in a col- lege that was located on his father's land, and later attended the University of Glas- gow, where he completed the prescribed medical course and was granted the degree of M. B. in 1852, at the age of twenty years. He then came to the new world, and in 1855 took up his residence in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Here he taught a private school for some time and then engaged in the practice of medicine. After the country became involved in civil war Dr. Nicholson enlisted at Fort Dodge, August 16, 1862, for three years or during the war, as a private in Company ]., Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain J. Hutchinson and Colonel Scott. He was mustered in at Davenport, October 6, and was promoted to second lieutenant of his company, but resigned his commission on the 1st of the following De- cember, being appointed assistant surgeon of the Twenty-ninth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, under Colonel Benton. Subse- quently he was made chief surgeon with the rank of major. He participated in the White river expedition in January, 1863, and Yazoo Pass in the following February, and took part in the battles of Helena, Ar- kansas, July 4; Bayou Meto, August 27; Little Rock, September 10; Terre Moir, April 2, 1864; Elkin's Ford, April 4; Prairie D'Anne, April 10 and 12; Camden, April id; and Jenkins Ferry, April 30. At the last named place he was captured, but was shortly afterward released on the exchange of prisoners. He was granted a thirty-day furlough, which he spent at home, and on the 31st of December, 1864, rejoined his regiment. He took part in the campaign against Mobile from the 17th of March to the 9th of April, 1865, and was in the assault on Spanish Fort, Alabama, April 8 ; Fort Blakely, April 9, and Mobile, April 12. Fie was then in the Texas cam- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 267 paign until July, 1805; was mustered out at New Orleans on the 10th of August, and honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, September 19, 1865, the war being- over. Returning- to his home in Fort Dodge, Dr. Nicholson was successfully engaged in practice here until his death. A progress- ive physician and a constant student, he took a post-graduate course at Des Moines in 1882 and received a diploma. On the 8th of March, 1883, he opened a drug store in partnership with a Mr. Crawford, but soon withdrew, and served one term as city clerk. The Doctor was first married Decem- ber 31, 1865, to Miss Anna J. Leonard, of Cedar Rapids, who died January 15, 1875, leaving- one child, W. L. Nicholson, who is now living in El Paso, Texas. On the 27th of November, 1S76, Dr. Nicholson married Miss Sarah L Sherman, a native of Ireland, by whom he had one child, Anna Sherman, who is now attending school and resides with her mother in Fort Dodge. For four years prior to his death the Doctor was in ill health, his sufferings being caused by hay fever, and he passed away on the 10th of November, 1890. He was an honored member of the Fort Donel- son Post, No. 236, G. A. R., and during President Cleveland"s first administration served as pension examiner. He also served in that capacity for some years after the close of the war, being one of the first ap- pointed to that position. He was also ex- amining physician for the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, to which he belonged, and was a prominent member and president at one time of the District Medical Society. Up to the time of his death he was surgeon For all the railroads entering Fort Dodge. He was a great lover of nature, was quite a naturalist, and contributed many able articles to the magazine known as the American Field. He also wrote for news- papers and other periodicals and possessed considerable ability as a poet. Widely and favorably known, he left many friends to mourn his loss as well as his immediate family. In manner he was pleasant and genial, and he was held in the highest re- gard by all with whom he came in contact- either in professional or social life. ANDREW ARENT. It has been said that biography yields to no other subject in point of interest and profit, and it is especially interesting to note the progress that has been made and the success that has been achieved in various lines of business by those of foreign birth who have sought homes in America — the readiness with which they adapt themselves to the different methods and customs of the new world, recognize the advantages offered and utilize the opportunities which the United States affords. Probably one of the most successful farmers of Webster county whose early home was on the other side of the Atlantic is Andrew Arent, who is now living a re- tired life on his farm on section 13, Badger township, two miles and a half east of the village of Badger. He was born near Christiania. Norway, August 10. 1844. and was reared and educated in his native land, though his knowledge of the English lan- guage has been self-acquired since coming to the new world. It was in 1862 that he crossed the Atlantic and took up his resi- dence in La Salle county, Illinois, where he worked on a farm by (he month for four 268 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. years, assisting in the support of the family, which consisted of his mother and five chil- dren, of whom he was the eldest. They had come with him to America. Mr. Aren't next engaged in farming on rented land for two years, and at the end of that time purchased a partially improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Lee county, Illinois, where he made his home for a few years. On selling that place he removed to De Kalh county, Illinois, and bought an- other farm near the city of De Kalb, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his time and attention until the spring i if 18S1, when he sold out and came to Webster county, Iowa, where he had previously purchased his present farm, con- sisting of three hundred and twenty acres. Later he built a good, substantial residence upon the place, a barn and other outbuild- ings, and to-day has one of the most valu- able and highly improved farms in Badger township. Since coming to this county he has steadily prospered, and has added to his landed possessions from time to time until he now has fifteen hundred acres of land in Badger and Newark townships, divided into several farms. In Lee county, Illinois, on the 27th of October, 1872, Mr. Arent was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Fredsvig, who was born in Norway. August 1. 1841, and passed her girlhood in that country. On coming to the L T nited States in 1870 she lo- cated in Lee county, Illinois. Unto our subject and his wife were born eight chil- dren, fi ur sons and four daughters, namely : Ad: ]]]]i, now a physician of Callender, Iowa: Andrew, a merchant and druggist of Rutland, Iowa; Asaph, a physician, who is now with his brother in Rutland; Arthur, a student at Tobin College, Fort Dodge ; Minnie, who received a good education and is now engaged in teaching school in Fort Dodge; Emma, who formerly engaged in teaching in this county and is now 7 attend- ing the State Normal School ; Leonora, a teacher of Webster county; and Lillie, who is attending the home school. Mr. Arent cast his first presidential bal- lot for General U. S. Grant in 1868, but afterward became identified with the Democracy. He voted for William Mc- Kinley, and at national elections now sup- ports the Republican party, but at local elec- tions votes independent of party lines, sup- porting the men whom he believes best qualified for office. He and his wife were reared in the Lutheran church and still -ad- here to that faith. He is one of the lead- ing self-made men of the count} - , having started out in life with nothing but his own indomitable energy, and his accumulation of this world's goods is attributable to his own industry, perseverance and good man- agement. GEORGE W. MARSH. George W. Marsh, one of the most pro- gressive and up-to-date agriculturists of Webster county, makes his home on sec- tion 20, Yell township, and is justly re- garded as one of the representative men of his community A native of England, he was born in County Kent, April 13, 1844. but was only two years old when brought to this country by his parents, George and Charlotte ( Page) Marsh (see their sketch elsewhere). The family first located near Waukegan, in Lake coun- ty, Illinois, and while residing there our subject attended the Oak Plain district school at Gurnee. After the removal of the family to Webster county, Iowa, he- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. -r> pursued his studies in a log school house, so common in pioneer days. Among the earliest buildings erected in the frontier settlements were tin se intended to be used fi r schools and churches, and primitive as they were in all their appi intments, men of strength i i both body and mind have gone cut from their humble routs, where slabs served as seats and light was admitted tlir< ugh greased paper windows. When the country became involved in civil war, among the brave boys who en- thusiastically rushed to her defense was our subject, then but seventeen years of age. On the 25th of July, 186 r, he enlisted in Company I, Seventh Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, which was mustered in at Mound City. Illinois, and assigned to General Grant's brigade. The command was first ordered to Sulphur Springs, Missouri, and participated in the Iron Mountain and Cape Girardeau campaigns under General Fre- mont. They next went to Fort Holt, Ken- tucky, and in February. 1862. reached Fort Henry. Tennessee. They took part in the three days' battle which ended in the sur- render of Fort Donelson. and then pro- ceeded to Nashville, thence to Clarksville, and on to Pittsburg Landing. At four o'clock on the afternoon of the first day of the battle of Pittsburg Landing Mr. Marsh was wounded in the left thigh by an ounce ball, and on the steamer, City of Memphis, was conveyed to the Mound 1 , City hospital, but was later transferred to Jefferson Bar- racks, Missouri. After a short furlough spent at home he rejoined his regiment at Corinth, Mississippi, in September, 1862, and participated in the battle at that place on the 3d and 4th of October, remaining there until November, 1863, at which time they joined General Sherman's force at Pulaski, Tennessee. On the 22nd of De- cember Mr. Marsh was veteranized, and being granted a thirty-days' furlough, he started home on the 7th of January and returned to his regiment February 28, 1864. From Pulaski his command was ordered to Florence, Alabama, and after taking part in a running fight with the guerrillas returned to Pulaski. On the 15th 1 1 th{ fi Hi wing June the regiment reached Chattanooga, Tennessee, and arrived in Rome. Georgia, August 20. On the 3rd of the following Oct ber they reached Alla- toona Pass, where General Sherman gave the signal which inspired the writing of the famous hymn — "Hold the Fort for I am Coming." The regiment then re- turned to Rome, Georgia, and on the nth of November went to Atlanta, joining Gen- eral Sherman's army in time to take part in the march to the sea and up through the Carolinas to Raleigh, where they re- ceived word of the assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln. Mr. Marsh was present at the grand review at Washington, D. C, and was then mustered out of service, fuly 9. 1865, at Springfield. Illinois, the war be- ing over and his services being no longer needed. Returning to his home in Webster coun- ty, Iowa. Mr. Marsh remained with his fa- ther on the farm until he was married at Fort Dodge, October 3. 1867. to Miss Sarah Ellen Beem, who was born in Noble county, Indiana. January 24. 1840. Her parents were John and Sarah (Schissler) Beem, the former born in Maryland, and the latter near Columbus, Ohio, in which state they were married. Later they re- moved to Indiana, and finally came to Iowa, in 1854. locating in Yell township, Webster county, where Mr. Beem bought one hundred and forty-six acres of wild prairie and timber land and engaged in 27: THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. farming. Upon his place he built a log cabin, and also erected the second school house in the county, which was also a log structure. He purchased property in Fort Dodge, and at one time owned the lot on which the shoe factory is now located. In religious faith he was a Baptist and in po- litical sentiment was a Rqmblican. As one of the leading - citizens of his community he was called upon to fill all of the township offices, including those of assessor and jus- tice of tbe peace. He died on the 15th of November, j 885. and his wife passed away March 7, 1893, both being laid to rest 111 Oak Grove cemetery, Yell township. Of the ten children burn t" this worthy couple three died in infancy and the others are as follows: Margaret, wife of David Doug- lass, of Otho township, this county; Noble, who was drowned in the Des Moines river at the age of eighteen years; W. C, who married Jane Nichols and resides in Sum- ner township ; Angeline, deceased wife of James Brundage, of Sheldon, North Da- ota; Emily, wife of Aaron D. Rolfe, of Burnside township, this county; Sarah El- len, wife of our subject; and John 0., who married Clara Price, now deceased, and resides in Sumner township. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have been the par- ents of six children, all born in Yell town- ship. In order of birth they are as follows : Leota Lena, born August 6, 1868, is now the wife of John Grosenbaugh, a grain dealer of Nemaha, Sac county, Iowa. W. C, born February 18, 187-1, is also engaged in the grain business in Nemaha and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. He married Myra Wilbur, and they have one child, Genevieve M. Alma I., born May 5, 1874, is the wife of A. X. Rolfe, who resides on the old Marsh home- stead in Yell township, and they have one child, Vera. Viola, born May 18, 1877, is now successfully engaged in teaching mu- sic. J. B., born May 2, 1879, is attending Drake University at Des Moines, and is a member of tbe Masonic fraternity. Dow, born March 11, 1886, assists his father in the operation of the home farm. For three years after his marriage Mr. Marsh lived on the Beem farm, and then removed to the farm on section 20, Yell township, which has since been his home. Here he has erected a most comfortable and attractive residence and commodious barns, and to-day has one of the best improved farms in the community. His estate com- prises four hundred and two acres of land and is one of the best in a county, which is noted for its excellent farms. Mr. Marsh gives considerable attention to the raising of high grade stock for market, and most of tbe grain which he raises he feeds to his stock. He has been identified with many important business enterprises, being at one time interested in the coal mining in- dustry, and he is to-day a stockholder in the First National Bank of Lehigh. He r serving both as school treasurer and as- sessor of Yell township, and is one of the leaders of the Republican party in his com- munity. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Captain Dowd Post, G. A. R., of Dayton, and religiously is one of the prominent members and elders of the Christian church. In every way Mr. Marsh is one of the representative men of his locality, and well merits the high re- gard in which he is uniformity held. ROBERT FLATTERY. Although at present the owner of one of the finest farms in Colfax township, Mr. Flattery has led an unusually active life THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 273 in other directions, and his many-sided abil- ity lias been prolific of continued success. A native of Kings county, Ireland, he was bum in 1816, his parents, Edward and May 1 Agan ) Flattery, being natives of Ireland, and his father died in the old country. His mother, however, came to America about 1840, and eventually died in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Of the ten children born to this worthy couple the youngest, Robert, alone survives. On the paternal farm in Ireland of twenty-five acres Robert Flattery passed his youth, and the resources of the property were such that little time was permitted him to attend the district schools. His first in- dependent venture was as a member of the police force in County Kilkenny, Ireland, which position he sustained for about ten years and then resigned. In 1850 he sought to broaden his prospects by emigrating to the United States, and upon locating in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, found employ- ment in the warehouses and subsequently was a ci inductor on a freight train running between Johnstown and Pittsburg. These were the very early days of that section, long before the introduction of the telegraph or other modern means fur facilitating busi- ness. When the devastating cholera para- lyzed business in Pittsburg in 1854 he came to Iowa and continued in the railroad busi- ness, and was partially successful as a con- tractor for construction work. Thus em- ployed he passed nineteen years of his life, and at the expiration of that time bought the farm upon which he now lives, in 1873, and which was then wildest prairie with the one neighbor living one mile distant. To the improvement of this property Mr. Flattery devoted his most intelligent en- ergies, with the result that his farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 7 and 8 is a distinct credit to his managerial and other capabilities. The last contract- ing that Air. Flattery was engaged in was on the Northern Pacific Railroad between the Cheyenne and Lem rivers. At that time the Indians were a source of much trouble, and, in addition to a company of regular soldiers, each one of the laborers was armed with a rifle and stood ready In de- fend himself at all times, night or day. November 27. 1861,' Mr. Flattery was united in marriage with Julia Flannery, wlin was born in Illinois in [831, and whose parents came from Ireland at a very early day. They were farmers first in Illinois and later in Iowa, where they eventually died. Of their three children but two are now living, .Mis. Spellman being a resident 1 1 \namosa. Thirteen children have been born tii Air. and Airs. Flattery, namely: Ann, win 1 is the wife of Dan Strain and lives in Coalville, Iowa; Alaggie, who is the wife of William Yucily and lives in Col- fax township: John, who married Miss Alinnie Powers and lives on section 7, Col- fax township; Edward, who married Lizzie Brady and lives in Badger township; Mol- lie, who is the wife of Edward McLean and lives at Red Lodge, Montana; Will: Alike; Philip; Hugh ; Julia; and Josephine. Two are deceased: Robert, who died at the age of twenty-three years: and Kate, who died in infancy. Julia and Josephine have quali- fied as educators, and both attended Tobin College at Fort Dodge. The)- are teaching in the district schools of their county. The sons are sturdy and capable men and are now working their father's farm. The Flattery farm is one of the best improved in Colfax township, and aside from general fanning a large revenue is made from feeding and shipping high- 274 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. grade stock. Mr. Flattery and his family are members of the Catholic church at Fort Dodge. He is a Democrat in national and local politics, and has held most of the im- portant township offices, including that of school director, township trustee and treas- urer, and justice of the peace, which latter office he creditably maintained fi >r m< ire than twenty-five years. He is one of the prominent men of the township, and his council and assistance are ever at the dis- posal of worthy improvements in the com- munity. FRANK A. DOWD. The Dowd family has been connected with the history of Webster county from its early pioneer days, when much of the land was still in possession of the govern- ment and the work of progress and civiliza- tion had scarcely been begun in this local- ity. Its members have ever been found as champions of progress and advancement, and such a citizen is Frank Alison Dowd, who is now capably filling the office of county sheriff. The Dowd family was founded in America about the beginning of the nine- teenth century by three brothers. John, Owen and Alexander -Dowd. The first two went south, but the third became a resident of Ross county, Ohio. He was the grandfather of our subject. He married Nancy Vanderford, who was born in Ross county, and in 1837 they removed with their family to Noble county, Indiana, where they entered land from the govern- ment, their warrants being signed by Pres- ident Van Buren. These papers are still in possession of the family as treasured heir- looms. Later Alexander Dowd, his wife, his two sons. William and Alexander, and their families all came to Webster county, Iowa, and cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers of this region, the grandparents here spending- their remaining days. The grandfather died May 27, 1874, at the age of seventy-four years, eight months and nineteen days, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-three years, one month and twenty-three days, on the 22d of No- vember, 1863. In their family were seven children. Alexander, Jr., was one of the '49ers who went to California in search 1 if gold, was also among the gold seekers at Pikes Peak. Colorado, and at the time of the Civil war he entered the Union army as captain of Company I. Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, with which he served throughout the war. His death occurred in 1867, when he had reached the age of thirty-seven years, five months and nine- teen days. William Vanderford Dowd. the father of our subject, was the second of the family. Hannah became the wife of David Miller and both are now deceased. Sarah wedded B. F. Alison, and aboul 1855 they came to Iowa, where they re- sided for many years, but both have now passed away. Nancy married Lewis Davis, and in 1861 they went to Colorado, but both are now deceased. Vary became the wife of George V. Wilson, who lived near Winterset. Iowa, at the time of their mar- riage. Later they became early settler-, of Webster county, and in 1862 they went to Colorado and afterward to Kansas, where both died. Minerva is the deceased wife of Dr. James Kelly, who lived in the southern portion of Webster county, and was the first physician to locate in Webster ccmty south of Fort Dodge, but in i860 went to Colorado, and now makes his home in Golden City, that state, where he is en- gaged in the practice of medicine. ALEXANDER DO WD, Sr. FRANK A. DOWD THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 277 William Vanderford Dowd, the father of our subject, was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 2?. 1823. and tbere mar- ried Martha Jane Alison, who was a native of the same county. Her death occurred in Noble county, Indiana, in 1854. and her remains were interred in Wolf Lake cem- etery. Our subject was then only six years of age. There were five children by that marriage. Susan Maria, the eldest, married G. T. Nettles, an employe of the Chicago, Rick Island & Pacific Railroad Company, now living at Dayton, Iowa, but she died October 25, 1890, at the age of forty-five years. and two days. Alar}' Jane is the wife of John L. Kinney, of Dayton. Frank A. is the next younger. Alexander is living in Dayton township, and John H., the youngest, is a resident of Oklahoma. After the death of his first wife the father mar- ried Elizabeth Hill, and their only child was given the mother's maiden name. She became the wife of Frank Rakestraw, an engineer on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, who was killed March 30, 1888, at Walnut. Iowa. His widow after- ward became the wife of C. B. Morrison, of Spokane, Washington. For his third wife William V. Dowd married Rebecca Kinney, and they also had one daughter, Nannie E., who became the wife of T. D. Reese, of Missoula, Montana, and died August 18, 1901, at Everett, Washington. In 1855 tne entire family, consisting of the paternal grandparents of our subject and the parents of Alexander Dowd. Jr.. came from Indiana to Webster county, locating in Dayton township when it was all wild land still belonging to the government. There was not a house in the village 1 £ 1 )ayti n and even pioneer development had scarcely been begun. The father entered the north half of section u, Day- ton township, while Alexander I the grandfather of our subject, entered the south half. From that time till his death, which occurred June 4. 1889, he remained a resident of Dayton town- ship. He did much for the develop- ment and progress of the county along ag- ricultural lines and was a worthy and high- ly respected citizen. Frank Allison Dowd was born in Sparta township. Noble county, Indiana, June 18, 1848, and was therefore only about seven years of age when with his parents he came ti 1 Webster county. He was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier and with the fam- ily endured all the hardships and trial- of pioneer life. He assisted in the cultivation of the fields until 1807, when he entered the empli y of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- road as brakeman. the road having been completed to Omaha only the year before. In the spring of 1868. however, he returned to his home in Dayton, where he remained until the fall of 1869. He was elected con- stable of Dayton township in that year, and on the 3d of November, 1869. he went to Le- Moines, where he entered the employ of the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road as fireman for Go irge T. Xettles. his brother-in-law. He continued in that em- ploy until 1872, when he went to Colorado and worked on the Rio Grande Railroad as fireman fi >r a time and was then promi ted to engineer, serving until the financial panic of 1S73, when he was laid off. He next re- moved to Saguache, near Lost Pinnos Agency, and did the machine work for a sawmill, which he operated through the winter of 1873. On the expiration of that period he re- turned to Iowa, locating at Stuart, and for one year was employed in the shops of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. In 187; 78 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. he again went upon the road, running an engine on the main line from Stuart to Council Bluffs and to Brooklyn until 1882, when he went north, entering the service of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, in August, as engineer, his run being - between Winnipeg and the mountains. He was with that road until April. 1887, and during the last two years ran an engine through the Kicking Horse Pass, at the foot of Mt. Stevens. Going to Minot, North Dakota, he entered the employ of the Great Northern Railroad as conductor, running from Minot to Great Falls. Montana, on a passenger train until he resigned in August, 1890. At that time he was appointed deputy collector of cus- toms at Sweet Grass, his office being at that place on the Great Falls & Canada Railroad, one hundred and thirty-three miles north of Great Falls, on the Canadian boundary. In 1893 he resigned that office and returned to Dayton to look after his farming interests, for since 1863 he has owned a half section of valuable land in Dayton township. On the 27th of March, 1896. Mr. Dowd was united in marriage to Mrs. Caroline Burnquist. of Webster county, the widow of Samuel Burnquist. They have a wide acquaintance in the county and their friends are many. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Dowd was elected sheriff of Webster county for a term of four years, which ex- pired January 2, 1902. He has served as mayor of Dayton for two terms and has also been justice of the peace. In his po- litical views he has always been a stalwart Republican, which has been the political faith of the family since the organization of the party, previous to which time his father and grandfather were Whigs. Mr. Dowd i? a prominent Mason. On the 5th of Au- gust. 1870, he became a member of Capitol Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M., at Des Moines, Iowa. In 1877 he became a Royal Arch Mason in Adell, Iowa, and the same year he joined Temple Commandery, No. 4, K. T., of Des Moines, while on the 23d of November, 1896, he joined Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also has member- ship relations with Lincoln Lodge, No. 59, K. P., of Stuart, Iowa, was one of its charter members and was elected vice chan- cellor and chancellor commander. Di- mitting from that lodge, he was one of the seventeen members to institute Mystic Lodge, No. 2, K. P., at Moose Jaw, in the Northwest territory of Canada, where he was elected vice chancellor, but his membership is now in Dayton. He likewise belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Fort Dodge. There are certain qualities in his nature which render him popular with his fellow men, and in Webster county he has many warm friends. TOHN D. STINE. John D. Stine, residing at 1507 Third avenue south, was born on the 8th of Jan- uary, 1850, in Bloomington, Illinois, and is one of a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, whose parents were Daniel E. and Mary (Dawson) Stine, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Illinois, respect- ively. In the fall of 1855 the father, who was a carpenter by trade, removed with his family to Fort Dodge, and in partnership with David Burkbolder engaged in con- tracting and building for five years. He built the first boat that went clown the Des Moines river, it being a side-wheeler, forty feet long by six wide, to which he gave the name of Whang Doodle. On its first trip it carried a load of provisions and pork. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 279 Soon after his arrival here Mr. Stine built a house on the corner of Third avenue south and Sixth street, which is still standing — one of the few landmarks of pioneer days. In 1861 he purchased a farm on the river, and to the improvement and cultivation of that place he devoted his attention until 1866, when he had the misfortune to lose it. He then removed to Kansas City, but spent his last days in Denver, where he died December 29, 1888. Mr. Stine, whose name introduces this sketch, was only five years old on the re- moval of his family to Fort Dodge, and the greater part of his education was obtained in the schools of this citv and count)', though he afterward attended school in Kansas City for one year while the family were living there. He then worked with his father at contracting and building for two years, and in 1870 entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company as bridge carpenter, later becoming fore- man of a building gang. In the spring of 1873 Mr. Stine returned to Fort Dodge, and engaged in carpenter work here for two years, after which he went to Carroll, Iowa. where he followed contracting and building alone for a time, and later in partnership with his father, who had removed from Kansas City to that place. In 1879 our sub- ject returned to Kansas City, and a year later we again find him in Fort Dodge, where he remained until going to Denver, Colorado, in 1881. There he engaged in contracting until 1892, since which time he has made his home permanently in Fori Dodge and has been foreman of a gang of carpenters on contract work. In 1900 he took charge of the construction of the Mid- land Opera House, and was thus employed until the 15th of December, 1900, when he sprained both ankles in a fall and was un- able to attend to business for seven weeks. On his recovery he resumed his former po- sitii n as foreman of a contracting gang. He is considered one of the best and most skillful carpenters in the city, and his work always gives the utmost satisfaction. On the 2d of November, 1878, Mr. Stine was united in marriage with Miss Naoma Talbott, of Carroll, Iowa, a daugh- ter of Alexander and Nancy (Greenlee) Talbott, who were farming people of Car- roll county. By this union were born five children, whose names and dates of birth were as follows: Milo B., August 1, 1879; Rico II.. November 2j, 1883; Robert E., April 16, 1885; Daniel A., August 9, 1891 ; and Florence E., February 21, 1900. The only daughter died November 27, 1901. Milo B. is now attending the National Medical College of Chicago, where he will graduate in [902. He was married, Febru- ary 22, 1899, h ' ^'' ss Mabel F. Seaman, a daughter of Dr. C. O. Seaman, of Chero- kee, L >w a. LEMUEL G. HASTINGS. Among the honored veterans of the Civil war and highly esteemed citizens of Fort Dodge is numbered the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. His early home was in New England, being born in Oakdale, Massachusetts. March 20. 1S22, a son of Mahum and Annie (Powers) Hastings, in whose family were twelve chil- dren, four sons and eight daughters. In early life the father was engaged in the cooperage business, but after the removal of the family to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1 83 1, he engaged in the commission business until- called to his final rest in 1849. 2SO THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. During his boyhood and youth Lemuel G. Hastings was a student in the schools of Oakdale and Worcester, and in 1839 com- menced learning the boot maker's trade, at which he worked for two years. He was next engaged in the restaurant business in Lancaster, Massachusetts, until 1849, when he closed out his establishment with the in- tention of going to California in search of the precious metal which had lately been discovered there. On the 31st of October he sailed from Boston, and, rounding Cape Horn, landed in San Francisco, March 6, 1850, after a long and tedious voyage of five months and six days. He worked in the gold mines until 1855, when he returned to his old home in Oakdale, Massachusetts, by way of the Panama route, the return trip covering only twenty-one days. For six months Mr. Hastings was em- ployed as baggage master on the Little Miami division of the railroad between Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and in the fall of 1856 returned to California, by way of the Isthmus, and remained there until 1862, working in the mines. On the 29th of March, that year, he enlisted in Company I, First California Cavalry, under Captain Kennedy and Colonel Gorman, who after- ward became a general. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Rio- Grande, and did considerable fighting with the In- dians, taking part in many skirmishes. After a hard campaign Mr. Hastings was finally discharged and mustered out of service at San Francisco, April 28, 1865, the war being then practically over. He acted as one of General McDowell's escorts to San Francisco. On leaving the army Mr. Hastings re- turned to Oakdale, Massachusetts, but two months later went to Aurora, Illinois, where he worked in the car shops one year, and then engaged in general merchandising at Geneva, that state, in partnership with his brother-in-law fur the following year. Sell- ing his interest in the business, he returned to Aurora and re-entered the car shops, but remained only a few months. We next find him engaged in the restaurant business at St. Charles, Illinois, for about a year, and at the end of that time he again went to Aurora. In 1869 Mr. Hastings came to Fort Dodge, and for two years operated a small farm on the river, after which he conducted a restaurant in the city for about thirteen }ears. Selling out at the end of that time, he bought a place at the outskirts of the city and engaged in the stock business for a year, when he disposed of his pn iperty here and removed to Marshalltown, Iowa. He only remained there a short time, however, and then returned to Fort Dodge, where he engaged in the restaurant business about four years, at the end of which time he sold out. The following season was spent in California, and on his return to Iowa pur- chased a skating rink in Rockwell City, but only run it one night, as the insurance men would take no risks in insuring it. Mov- ing the building to Jefferson, this state, he built a house and engaged in the fruit busi- ness, remaining there six years. He then traded his property at that place for prop- erty in Fort Dodge, and here has lived a retired life since 1890. Mr. Hastings was married in 1846 to Miss Martha Stone, of Boston, Massa- chusetts, by whom he had one child, Charles X., who has been in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad at Cleveland, Ohio, for twenty-three years. He was a second time married, in 1867, to Amanda Conk, of St. Charles, Illinois, who died December 2, 1900, leaving no children. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Mr. Hastings is a member of the Christian church, and is also connected with Fort Donelson Post, No. 236, G. A. R., of which he was chaplain for four years. After a useful and honorable career he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live in ease and retirement, surrounded 1>\ many friends, who esteem him highly for his sterling' worth and many excellencies of character. REV. C. II. REMINGTI >N. The true religion has been the strongest influence known to man through all time, while the many false doctrines which have sprung up have flourished only for a day and then vanished. More potent at the pres~ ent time than at any period in the world's history are the work and influence of Chris- tianity, and among those who are devoting their lives to its inculcation among men is P.ev. Charles Hazard Remington, the hon- ored pastor of St. Mark's Episcopal church of Fort Dodge. He was born in Tiskilwa, Illinois, De- cember 12, 1865, and is a son of William Ellery and Adeline (Stevens) Remington, who were natives o>f Rhode Island and Xew Hampshire respectively, and both represen- tatives of good old Revolutionary families. The father was a lineal descendant of Lord Remington, one of the original planters of Providence, Rhode Island. The mother traced her ancestry back through Calvin and Jane (Greeley) Stevens. Our subject is a great-great-grandson of Asa Stevens and Bradford Xewcomb. The former was born in Hampsted. Xew Hampshire, in 1 73 2, and was killed at Quebec, Canada, December 31, 1775, at the opening of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Remington's fa- ther died in Illinois, in 1870, and his mother subsequently married Rev. James Cornell, now rector of St. John's church at Tanes- ville, Minnesota. He served three years in a Xew York regiment during the Civil war: participated in the battle of Chattanooga, and was with Sherman's army on the march to the sea. Although he was never wounded, he received a sunstroke, from which he has never fully recovered, and now draws a small pension. Our subject has two brothers, William Wallace Rem- ington, who is now engaged in the milling business at Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Paul Calvin Remington, a druggist and manufacturing chemist at Bismarck, North Dakota. Air. Remington's early education was acquired at Shattucks school in Faribault, Minnesota, which he attended four years, graduating in 1886. He then entered Trin- ity College at Hartford, Connecticut, and "ii graduating from that institution in c88g became a student at the Episcopal Theo- logical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he completed the course in June. [892, and was granted the degree of B. D. Being ordained as a clergyman in the Episcopal church, he took charge of a mis- sion al West Duluth. Minnesota, in July fol- lowing, and remained there one year and a half. He was next assistant rector at St. Mark's church, Minneapolis, and remained there until coming' to Fort Dodge in the spring of 1896. as rector of St. Mark's church at this place, which then had a mem- bership of one hundred and twenty-five. This church was founded July - 1 -'. 1855. and the present church edifice, at the corner of Tenth street and First avenue south, was built in 1894. Since Mr. Remington became rector the chancel and choir room have been built, and a three-thousaud-dollar pipe organ put 282 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. in, and other improvements made in the church property, so that it is now valued at eighteen thousand dollars. Mr. Remington is the senior minister of Fort Dodge by virtue of the length of resi- dence, and is president of the ministerial as- sociation of the city. In 1897 he was instru- mental in organizing the Associated Chari- ties, composed of the charitable societies of Fort Dodge, and has since served as secre- tary of the 'same. He is a man of thought- ful, earnest purpose, of strong intellectual endowments, of broad charity and kindly nature, and by all denominations, as well as his'jwn people, is held in the highest regard. GEORGE McMAHON. George McMahon, who for many years came and went among his fellow townsmen of Elkhorn township, was born hi Iowa City, Iowa, in 1869. His parents, Patrick and Mary McMahon, were born, reared and married in Ireland, and upon emigrating to America settled upon the farm in Elkhorn township, Webster county, Iowa, now occu- pied by Mrs. George McMahon. In the city of Fort Dodge the parents eventually died, leaving four children, of whom George was the oldest. One brother died when quite yi iiiiig, while a sister, Johanna, married John Riley, and lives in Fort Dodge, another sister, Kate, married John McManah and lives near Badger, Iowa. The father was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Roman Catholic church. George McMahon attended the public schools until his seventeenth year, after which he settled on his father's farm, to which he afterwards fell heir. October 28, 1896, at Fort Dodge, he was united in mar- riage at Corpus Christi church with Ella Crimins, who was born in Elkhard town- ship, February 22, 1876, a daughter of Timothy and Mary Crimins, a sketch of whose lives appears elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. McMahon were born two sons, Daniel, born August 10, 1897, and Joseph C, born December 2$, 1S98. In apparently in the best of health and spirits Mr. McMahon went away from his home April 17, 1901, and in the most un- accountable way failed to return to those who were dependent upon his sympathy and help. A month later to the day he was found and restored to his family, his body bearing out the supposition that he had been murdered. He was a Democrat in political affiliations, and was a devoted member of the Roman Catholic church. Since her hus- band's death Mrs. McMahon has carried out his plans as nearly as possible, and with the assistance of her uncle, Simon Tramer, ad- mirably manages the farm of two hundred acres. She has prospered exceedingly and proved' an excellent business woman. Mrs. McMahon also owns property at Fort Dodge, where she has four lots and some residences. FRANKLIN McGUIRE. Prominent among the early settlers and representative pioneers of "Webster county is numbered Franklin McGuire of Fort Dodge, who has made his home here since 1849, an( i has therefore witnessed its entire growth and development. He was born in Ray county, Missouri, March u. 1833, a son of Francis and Rebecca McGuire. His ancestors were among the pioneers of both Kentucky and Tennessee, and his father was a native of the latter state. After the mother's death, which THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 2S3 occurred in Missouri, the father and children came to Webster county, Iowa, in the spring of 1849. the trip being made overland. They first settled on Boone river, but the following spring moved up the river about three miles to what is now known as McGuire's Bend in Veil township. The father gave the name of Skillet creek to that stream as mi its banks he found the skillet which he had lost while hunting. During those early days huntingwas the principal occupation of both father and sons, and they hunted and trap- ped all over this section of the state, deer, elk, buffalo and wild turkeys being very plentiful at that time. Webster county had not yet been surveyed when they settled here and it was not until two years later that the fort was established at what is known as Fori Dodge. The father died in 1861, at the age of sixty-five years. In the family of this honored pioneer were the following children: James, who spent his life in this county, but' died in the south; Franklin, of this review; Blvthe, now a resident of Dakota; Samuel, of Missouri; Jane, wife of John Goodrich; Rebecca, wid- ow of Francis McGuire and a resident of Webster county ; and Jemima, wife of Henry Lott, a famous Indian fighter. The fact that Mr. Lott had killed so many red men was probably the cause of the Spirit Lake massacre, in which the Indians tried to re- venge themselves. They kidnapped hi. s< oi, whom they allowed to freeze to death, and killed a great many white settlers in the region of Spirit Lake. Mr. Lott then left that locality and went to Colorado. He settled in Webster county prior to our sub- ject's locating (there, and soon afterward Jake and Roderic Mericale and Isaac Bell settled there. Indians were still occasionally seen in this locality after Mr. McGuire took up his residence here. At that time there were no public schools and he attended the first sub- scription school started in the county, it be- ing in Webster township and taught by Lizzie ( lent. 1 [ e became thon rughly famil- iar with all the experiences of pioneer life, and was forced to endure many hardships' and privations in his frontier home. The family entered land in Yell township, and he assisted in breaking the raw prairie. Later he bought a tract of land along the river banks and continued to follow farming until 1890, when he removed to Webster City, but after residing in that place four or five years he came to Fort Dodge, where he now makes his home, enjoying a well earned rest. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ehzabeth McDonald, died about twelve years ago. They had no children JOHN F. THISSELL. John F. Thissell, deceased. Mas one of the honored pioneers and highly respected citizens of Fort Dodge. A native of Maine, he was born near Belfast. May 22, 1821, and was a son of Ezra Thissell." who removed with Ins family to Muskingum, Ohio, about 1830, and was engaged in the salt business near McConnellsville, but was not long per- mitted to enjoy his new home, as both he and his wife died about a year after locating there. Ah. ut 1835 the children removed to Waynesville, DeWitt county, Illinois, where our subject made his home with a married sister until reaching manhood. He learned the cabinetmaker's and carpenter's trades, at which he worked for some time! and then erected a store building and embarked in andising, but as the Illinois Central and Chicago & Alton Railroads failed to pass THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. through Wuynesville when they were built the town was virtually killed, the trade being drawn to the railroad centers. Mr. Thissell then si Id out and came to Webster county, Iowa, and buying land on Brushy creek, he engaged in its operation for seven years. At the end of that time he opened a hotel in the old barracks building in Fort Dodge and conducted it for fifteen months. The fol- lowing year he worked at the carpenter's trade, and was next employed in a lumber yard for a year. He also run a meat market for about a year, and on selling his farm in 1866 bought a grocery store, which he con- ducted for three years. A year after dispos- ing of his store, he again embarked in the same line of business, to which he gave his time and attention until 1883, when, owing to ill health, he retired from business. He was known by every one as "Honest John," being upright and honorable in all his deal- ings, and enjoying the confidence and esteem of all w ho knew him. At Waynesville, Illinois. November 28, 1841, Mr. Thissell was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Hoover, who was burn in Belmont county, Ohio, March 16, 1824, a daughter of Chris and Martha ( Broom- hall) Hoover. Her mother reached the ad- vanced age of eigthy-seven years, d) ing De- cember 22, 1891. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thissell were born two children, but the younger, Mary V., who was born March 29, 1846, died March 20, 1874. Martha J., born November 12, 1842, was married July 22, 1862, to Jasper Bell, by whom she had two children, namely: Lucius H., who was born April 2S, 1S72, and is now a barber of Waverly, , Iowa : Mary C, who was born May 26, 1876, and is now the wife of James V. Lowry. For her second husband Mrs. Bell married Jacob Kirchner and she now makes her home with her mother. She is a st< ckholder in the First National Bank of Fort Dodge. Mr. Thissell died on the 31st of August, 1891, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a man of the strictest integrity and many sterling traits of char- acter, and in his death the community real- ized that the}' had lost one of their best and most reliable citizens. He always supported the Republican party, but could never be in- duced to take any part in political affairs. CHARLES A. GUILD. Although his residence in Webster county was of comparatively short duration Charles A. < luild was widely and favorably known, and his untimely death was mourned by a host of warm friends. He was born on the 29th of December, 186 1, in Morgan, Calhoun county, Georgia, and was a worthy representative of an honored old family. In the dictionary of obsolete and pro- vincial English by Wright. Gild is defined as a "village green." In the Guild geneal- ogy published by Charles Burleigh we find that the first one of the name was Alexander Guide, who had property in Sterling, Eng- land, in 1449-50. The founder of the American branch of the family was John Guild, who was born in England in 1616, and in 1630 came to the new world with his brother and sister, Samuel and Ann Guild. He was admitted to the church at Dedham, Massachusetts, July 17, 1040, and was mar- ried June 24, 1645, to Elizabeth Crooke, of Roxbury, Massachusetts. The family has been one of the proudest and most aristo- cratic in England and Scotland, as the genealogical records show, and the coat of arms is still used there. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Dr. Lewis A. Guild, the lather of our subject, was born in Franklin. Massachu- setts, February 23, 1825, a son of Cyrus and Amy (Pierce) Guild, and was educated at Harvard University. He made the practice of medicine his life work, and became one of the most prominent physicians of his a immunity. He was als< 1 judge 1 >f the coun- ty court for a time and United States com- missioner. In politics he was an uncom- promising Republican, and in religious be- lief he was a Baptist, holding membership in the church at Atlanta, Georgia, where his last days were spent. There he died June 14, 1888, honored and respected by all who knew him. For his first wife he married Rebecca Smith, a native of Massachusetts, by whom he had one daughter, Emma L., who was born in 1851 and died in 1864. After the death of his wife Dr. Guild mar- ried Frulilla F. Stubbs, and two children blessed this union: Lewis S.. who was born in 1858 and was accidentally killed while attending- Arlington College in 1874; and Charles A., of this review. The Doctor's third wife bore the maiden name of Lou C. Chipsted, and to them were born five chil- dren, whose names and dates of birth were as follows: George W., April 13. 1868; William E., April 25, 1871 ; Henry A.. June 23. 1873; Emma J.. December 16. 1875: and Lewis A.. February 1, 1881. The primary education of our subject was acquired in the district school near his boyhood home, and after the removal of the family to Atlanta, he attended the public schools of that city, completing his educa- tion at a college there. After leaving school at the age of twenty years he as- sisted his father in the management of his nursery near Atlanta. On the 22d of December. 1880. at Ath- ens, Tennessee, Mr. Guild was united in marriage by Rev. S. S. Richardson, to Mis- Molly E. Schaeffer, who was born in Green- ville. Virginia, March 15, 1858. Her par- ents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Raindhill) Schaeffer, were both natives of Frankfort, Germany, the former horn June 10. 1808, the latter May 30, 1827. They were mar- ried in Baltimore, Maryland, where Mr. Schaeffer engaged in the manufacture of shoes for three years. When Mrs. Guild was about three years old the family re- moved to Huntsville. Alabama, where her father conducted a large shoe factory, doing an extensive business. At that place her mother died, August 21, [869, and was buried there. On the 6th of April. 1N71. Mr. Schaeffer was again married at Hunts- ville, his second union being with Anna Eliza Stubbs, a native of Georgia, and in 1877 they removed to Athens, Tennessee, where he engaged in agricultural pursuit-;, having purchased a fine farm of two hun- dred and twenty-five acres. On selling that place in 1886 he went to Dalton. Georgia, and bought a splendid home, where he lived retired until called to his final rest June 7. [899, his remains being interred there. I lis second wife still survives him and continues to reside in Dalton. He was an Ancient Odd Fellow, a Republican in politics, and a faithful and consistent member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mrs. Guild has one brother, William II. Schaeffer, who was born June 4, 1854, and now resides in Paris, Tennessee. He first married Jennie Lawton, of Memphis Ten- nessee, and after her death wedded Tommy Fields, of Georgia. Ten children were horn to our subject and his wife, as f< >lli >w - : ( Clar- ence O., who was born in Atlanta. Georgia, November 11, 1881, and was killed at the same time as his father. June 28, 1901 ; Charles V. who was horn in Des Moines, 290 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Iowa, November 29, 1883, and is now man- aging the farm 'for his mother; Mollie E., born in Towner Lake, Polk county, Iowa, August 13, 1885 ; Nettie E., born in Grimes, Iowa, December 21, 1S86; Ida G., also born in Grimes, July 31, 1888; William J., born in Webster county, October 8, 1890; Benja- min Harrison, born April 5, 1892; Maudie Leona, who was born October 1, 1894. and died December 18, 1897; Dora Elnora, born May S, 1896; and Frank R., born October 2, 1900. After his marriage Mr." Guild engaged in the nursery business at Atlanta, Georgia, lor a time, and then purchased four acres of land, which he converted into a magnificent floral park, becoming one of the leading- florists and nurserymen of that city. In 1882 he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, and for two years was manager of a large stock farm near that city. He next had charge of the Ironclad Nursery for one year, and during the following two years rented and carried on the Towner Lake summer resort. At the end of that time he purchased prop- erty in Grimes, r< >lk county, where he estab- lished his family, and then engaged in op- erating a rented farm h>r two years. G ming to Webster county, Mr. Guild then purchased eighty acres of land in Yell township, and to it he subsequently added a forty-acre tract adjoining it on the south- west. Still later he bought sixty acres northeast of the farm, and in the spring of 90: purchased eighty acres on the north- west, making a fine farm of two hundred and sixtv acres. A part of this was timber land when it came into his possession, but was cleared by him and placed under culti- vation. Upon his farm he erected a splen- did residence, good barns, granaries and cattle sheds, making it one of the best im- proved places in the locality. In connection with general farming he engaged in raising a high grade of cattle for market, and in both undertakings met with excellent suc- cess, so that he was able to leave his family in comfortable circumstances. On the 28th of June, 1901, within hail- ing distance of his own home and in the presence of his wife and son Charles, Mr. Guild and his son Clarence O. were shot and killed. This affair was the outcome of a family feud between Mr. Guild and the Bricker brothers, and culminated in the "Bad tragedy just mentioned. Public sentiment was all with the Guild family, the Brickers and their relatives for generations back having never had a very enviable reputa- tion. In the death of our subject the com- munity realized that it had lost one of its most valued citizens — a man of progressive ideas and sterling worth. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a kind and loving husband and father. His funeral was largely attended by an extensive circle of friends and acquaintances, who gathered together to pay their last respects to the deceased. He was laid to rest in Oak- wood cemetery. Stratford. Iowa. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Woodmen of the World. At the time of his death Clarence O. ( ruild was just entering manhood. He was a bright, promising young man, highly re- spected and esteemed by all who- knew him, and very popular among his many friends in this community. Since her husband's death Mrs. Guild lia^ assumed the management of the farm, and has displayed excellent business and ex- ecutive ability. She is a graduate of Hunts- ville Female College and is a lady of culture and refinement and exceptional intellectual THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 291 charms. She is courteous and entertaining and presides with gracious dignity over her home. JOHN E. POWERS. During his long and active life. John E. Powers has envaded many lines of activ- ity and by reason of his success in one and all of his undertakings has richly earned the right to live in comparative remoteness from business activity in his Duncombe home. He in youth was by no means free from respon- sibility, for the paternal farm in Ireland, where he was born in 1828. was rendered desolate by the death of his mother when her son was three years of age, although the father survived her until 1845. Until his eighteenth year he attended the public schools, and in 1849 emigrated to America and located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He here accepted a position as bookkeeper for O'Brien & Fitz Morris, at a salary of one hundred dollars per month, a responsibility relinquished at the end of a month to fill a like position at the same salary for the Mich- igan Central Railroad Company, in Indiana. When a year had passed, he located in Chi- 1 ago and engaged as superintendent for the building of the Chicago. Rock-Island Rail- mad, from Chicago Junction to Blue Island, a distance of nine miles, and after the com- pletion of this contract he assisted Henry Fuller in laying the first iron water pipe in Chicago. In 1852 he received a contract from Bay & Sherman to do the dry excava- tion between the Randolph and Madison street bridges, where the American Trans- portation Company have their warehouse, to the depth of eight feet. On the completion of that work Mr. Powers went to Stony Island with J. A. Patmor, who had the con- tract to get out stone for the protection of the Michigan Central Railroad east of Mich- igan avenue. Shortly after this when Mr. Patmor took a contract at Decatur, Illinois, in 1853, he appointed Mr. Powers superin- tendent of the work. The following year Mr. Hurd. who was one of Mr. Patmor's partners in the work at Decatur, employed our subject to superintend some work at Franklin Grove, near Dixon. Illinois. In 1855 he had charge of some work four miles west of Dixon for George Hurd, a brother of his previous employer, and it was while serving as foreman for that gentleman that Mr. Powers was married at Dixon, in 1855. to Miss Ellen Flinn, a native of County Gal- way, Ireland. Going to Cairo. Illinois, in 185(1. ne be- came connected with the big cut on the Illi- nois Central Railroad at Villaridge, twelve miles north of Cairo, and got that cut of sev- enty-five feet down to grade. The follow- ing year he became superintendent for C. C. Parker, who had a contract to grade ten miles of the Jacksonville & Alton Railroad from Lake Station. Indiana, and who ab- sconded, owing Mr. Powers one thousand dollars. In 1858 he went to Vincennes, In- diana, to superintend work for Mr. Van- duzer on the Mound City Railroad, and while there his first wife died, in i860. The three children born to them all died in in- fancy. In [860 Mr. Powers was superin- tendent of the levee built between Alton and St. Louis on the Illinois side of the Missis- sippi river. In 1866 Mr. Powers built four miles of the Sioux City e^c Pacific Railroad from Mis- souri Valley Junction north. Then in 1867 he built nine miles of the Iowa Central Rail- road from Mason City north. In 1868 he became identified with Iowa, at which time he built seven miles of the Illinois Central 292 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Railroad. He then took a contract to build several miles of the Northwestern Railroad below the Missouri Valley, after which he assisted Mr. Flinn as bookkeeper for six or seven years. In 1868 he purchased one-half section of land, near Border Plains, Iowa, upon which he lived, and engaged in farming until 1879. In 1X72 he again engaged in contracting and built four miles of the Ma- son City & Fort Dodge Railroad, from Yin- cent to Boone river. In the meantime Mr. Powers had become much interested in the undertakings of the Greenback party, and in 1878 was elected clerk of Webster county and removed to Fort Dodge, which continued to be his home during the two years of his office. At the expiration of his term, he again settled on his farm, which was his home until 1899, during which year he removed to Duncombe and purchased a block and erected his fine, o unmodious residence. At Border Plains, Iowa, in 1808, Mr. Powers married Mrs. Elizabeth Ryan, the mother of the following children by her former marriage: Michael, who is a miner in Idaho; James R., who is living in Denver, Colorado; John R.. who is very success-ful as a miner in British Columbia, and is the own- er of several valuable claims; Hugh R.. who is working with his brother James in Den- ver, Colorado; Frank R., who is running a hotel at Wallace, Idaho: Jerry R., who lives on a farm near Border Plains : Mary R.. who is deceased; Kate R., who is the widow of Robert Hannon, of Border Plains ; ami Brid- get, who is the wife of John Maloney, of Denver, Colorado. No children have been b rn of the second union of Mr. Powers. He had three brothers : Edward P., who died in New York, at the age of fifty-four, leav- ing a wife and nine children; Patrick P.. who is a resident of California; and Dennis P., who died in Ireland at the age of nine- teen. In political affiliation Mr. Powers is a Republican,' having been allied with that party for the past ten years. Of late he has neither sought or desired official recognition, but has preferred rather to lead a life remote from the strife of political competition. He is the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church of Duncombe. (II \KI.KS COLBY For twenty-eight years Charles Colby has been an active factor in commercial circles in Fort Dodge, and is an enterprising and progressive citizen, belonging to that class of wide-awake, progressive men whose efforts have led to the substantial develop- ment and growth of this part of the coun- try. He was born in Burke, Caledonia county, Vermont, on the 12th of January, 1847, aiK ' when a small boy accompanied his parents on their removal to Wisconsin, where he remained for a number of years, pursuing his education in the public schools. He continued with his father until the lat- ter's return to Massachusetts, and in 1S73 he came to Fort Dodge, where he has since made his home. Here he entered into part- nership in the livery business in which he has since been engaged, and the enterprise has met with gratifying success through- out the vears of its existence, owing to^ the capable management, keen discrimination, unfaltering energy and straightforward business methods of the proprietors. On the 12th of March. 1868, Mr. Colby was united in marriage in Massachusetts to Eliza A. Howes, an estimable ladv who CHARLES COLBY THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 295 resided in Havvley, Massachusetts. Her people resided within fourteen miles of the Hoosic tunnel, and Charles Colby sawed and sold lumber which was used in the con- struction of that tunnel. Six children have been born unto Air. and Airs. Colby: Charles II., who is clerk of the court of Fi nt Dodge ; George Henry, who is a sales- man in a hardware store in this city; Jen- nie, the wife of John L. Chalmers, a tea merchant of Newton, Iowa: Ida B., Minnie and Irene, at home. Air. Colby exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party and believes firmly in its principles. He was a member of the city council when the water works and gas plants were built and favored every pro- gressive measure which he believed would prove of practical benefit to the city. His hie has been characterized by enterprise and advancement and has been well spent. In- genuine worth commending him to the confidence and regard of his fellow towns- men among whom he has walked as an upright and valued citizen for more than a quarter of a century. HENRY SHEERER. Although long since passed beyond the pale of human labor and possibility, Henry Sheerer is remembered as a man who made the most of his gifts and opportunities, and who, in passing by, made many friends, whom he knew how to retain. In his' veins flowed the Teutonic blood of his conserva- tive and industrious forefathers, and in Baden, Germany, for centuries the field of their activity, he was born March 2. 1834. His parents, August and Rosina (Fels) 'Sheerer, were also born in Baden, where they were reared, educated, married, and eventually died, the mother in 1859, a,1(1 tllL * father in 1861. The father was a man of some means, and for many years ci inducted a large bakery. To himself and wife were horn five children, namely: Caroline, who became the wife of Conrad Miller, and died in 1863, leaving one daughter; Henrv: Sophia, who was unmarried and died at the age of fifty-eight years; Stephania. who died at the age of forty-five: and August, who was a mate of the whaler "Louisiana." and while sailing from New Bedford. Massachu setts, in 1862, left the ship in a boat in pur- suit of whales, and was lost at sea. The education of Mr. Sheerer was ac- quired in the public schools and at the acad- emy at Carlsruhe, Baden, and when fifteen years of age he began to learn the trade of gardening, at which he became an expert. As became an ambitious and aspiring man he looked around for a profitable Ii cation in which to spend his life, and in 1851 em- barked in a sailing vessel from Havre, and upon locating in Newark, New Jersev, worked as a gardener and florist. February 24. 1859. ait Newark, he married Emily Raab, a native also of Carlsruhe. Baden, born February 4, 1837. The parents of Mrs. Sheerer were Francis and Minnie (Lankin) Raab, who were married in Carlsruhe. where the mother died in 185 1. The father mi >ved with his family to America in 1853, crossing the seas on the good ship "Zurich." and af- ter six weeks out from Havre landed in New York harbor. They went to Newark. New- Jersey, where the father applied his trade of tailoring, although he afterwards re- moved to La Salle county, Illinois, about 1872, where his death occurred in 1889. He was a Republican in politics, and was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. To 296 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. himself and wife were born the following children: Emily, the widow of Mr. Sheer- er; Amalia, the widow of Fred Kappler, re- siding in Newark, New Jersey; Francis, who married Mollie Combs and resides in Ohio Falls, Indiana; Christin, now deceased, who lived in Newark, and left one daughter; Edward, also deceased, who lived in New- ark, and left one daughter; and William, de- ceased, who also left one daughter. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sheerer: Henry, born December 5, 1859, married Lizzie Smith, and is living on a farm in Grand Ridge, La Salle county, Illi- nois, with his three children, Cora, Jessie and Nettie. Herman, born September 3, 1861, married Emma Smith, lives on a farm in Elkhorn township, Webster county, Iowa, and has seven children, Hattie, Mable, An- na, Lloyd, Emma, Chester and a babe. Ed- ward, born April 12, 1864, married Matilda Smith, and lives on a farm in Elkhorn town- ship. Frank, born May 20, 1866, married Caroline Lehr, is a farmer in Elkhorn town- ship and has two children, Nellie and Ger- trude. George, horn May 20, 1868, married Orie Carter, lives in Keithsburg, Illinois, and has two children, Delia and Edna. Louise, born September 23, 1870, married Oscar Gruber, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, February 18, 1868, and who is a farmer in Elkhorn township. They are the parents of three children : Lewis, born March 8, 1893; Emily, born July 31, 1895; and Frank, born September 2, 1899. Emily Sheerer, born March 3, 1873. married John Redman. Paul Sheerer, born January 28, 1875, married Maud Poundstone, and lives in Elkhorn township. After his marriage, Mr. Sheerer went to Bristol county, Massachusetts, and worked at his trade for a couple of years, and then went to Westchester county, New York, where he lived until 1864. A later place of residence was La Salle county, Illinois, where he rented land, and where his useful and meritorious life terminated April 16, 1876. He is buried at Grand Ridge, La Salle county, Illinois. He was a Republican in politics, and fraternally was associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. With his family he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contributed generously towards its charities and support. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Sheer- er, no less ambitious as an agriculturist, bought one hundred and sixty acres of land which, with the assistance of her sons, she farmed until 1898. She then removed to Iowa, as did most of her children, and in Elkhorn township bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, which she has since rented out. Her sons also bought land, have married and settled down to he substantial and successful men. _ JOHN ROLL, Sr. John Koll, Sr., a well-known resident of Fort Dodge, is the possessor of a handsome property which now enables him to spend his declining years in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumulations. The record of his life, previous to 1890, is that of an active, enter- prising, methodical and sagacious business man, who bent his energies to the acquire- ment of a comfortable competence for him- self and family. A native of German}'. Mr. Koll was born in Bavaria June 24, 1822, and is a son of Jacob Koll, whose life was devoted to agri- cultural pursuits. He had three brothers and four sisters, but is the only one of the family to crime to America. In his native THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 297 land lie was reared and educated, and at the age of sixteen years commenced learning the brewery business, at which he worked until his emigration to the United States in 1849. Landing in New York, he proceeded at once to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he soon found employment in a brewery, and fol- lowed his trade for seven years. In 1856 he removed to Lyons, Iowa, and started a brewery of his own. which he conducted three years, and on selling out went to Ana- mosa, where he built a brewerv and operated it four years or until it ceased to be profitable when the Civil war broke out. During the following three years lie worked in a brew- ery in Dyersville, and then built one for him- self, but after operating it with a partner for a short time he sold out and came to Fort Dodge in the spring of 1865. Here he built a house, but the following fall removed to Boonesboro, where he spent two years and a half. On his return to Fort Dodge in the spring of 1868 he commenced the erection of a brewery, hauling the lumber from Iowa Falls and Boone, a distance of fifty miles, and after its completion he engaged in op- erating it for two years after the prohibitory law was passed in 1883. Destroying all the beer in 1885, he embarked in the wholesale beer business, which he carried mi until 1889. when he purchased a farm and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for a year. He then rented the place, and has since lived a retired life in Fort Dodge, enjoying the fruits of former labor. He has succeeded in accumulating some good property, and besides hir own residence he now owns five houses and five pieces of business property, from which he derives a good inci >me. On the 9th of May. 1853, Mr - Kail wedded Miss Mary Schnek, of Milwaukee. a daughter of John and Annie Schnek, and they have become the parents of ten chil- dren, as follows: Katrina, born in Mil- waukee, March 1, 1854, was killed in the Pomeroy cyclone July 12. [893; John. Jr., born in Milwaukee December 14, 1856. and Henry, born in Lyons, Iowa, October 21, 1858, are both in the wholesale beer business in Fort Dodge; William, born in Anamosa November 2y. i860, is an engineer on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska ; Mary, born in Anamosa Septem- ber 10, 1862, married John Francis, an en- gineer on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Rail- road, residing in Fort Dodge; Lizzie, born in Dyersville May 10, 1864, died October 18, 1889; Joseph, born in Fort Dodge Sep- tember 28, [866, and Albert, born Septem- ber 29, 1868, are both engaged in the saloon business in this city; Michael, born October 2^,, 1870, is in the restaurant business in Fort Dodge; and Frank, born December 16, 1872, is a carpenter of this city. OLE WILLIAMSON. Among the representative and prominent citizens of Badger township, Webster coun- ty, Iowa, is numbered Ole Williamson, whose home is on section 21. lie dates his residence in this county from the 31st of July, 1869, and with its development and upbuilding he has since been actively identi- fied. A native of Norway, he was born near Stavanger July 1, 1840, and was there reared to manhood upon a farm. In 1862 he emigrated to the United States and first set foot on American soil at Quebec, Can- ada, whence he proceeded at once to La Salle county, Illinois, where lie worked on a farm by the month for one year. In the fall of [863 Mr. Williamson was united in marriage with Miss Christina Sagaard, who was also a native of Norway 298 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and came to this country on the same vessel of which her husband was a passenger. At that time they were unacquainted, however. After his marriage Mr. Williamson engaged in farming on rented land first in La Salle county, and later in Livingston county, Illi- nois, where he spent several years. On leav- ing there he came to Webster county, Iowa, in 1869, and located where he now resides and began the improvement of a tract of wild land. Subsequently he bought eighty acres of that place, erected thereon a small house, and has since engaged in the cultivation of that land. To the original purchase he has since added a forty-acre tract, making a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres, 1 in which he has erected a handsome residence, convenient barns and outbuildings. Besides this property he has another farm of one hundred and twenty acres on the northern boundary line of the county, a part of which is in 1 tumboldt count)-. Air. and Mrs. Williamson have seven children living, namely : ( 1 ) Isabella is now the widow of Professor Cornelius R. Hill, a man of superior education and a well-known educator of Minnesota and Iowa, having taught in some of the leading colleges of those states. For eight years he was at the seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota, and at the time of his death, which occurred March 4. 1896, he was president of Jewell Lu- theran College at Jewell Junction, Iowa. Mrs. 1 lill is nenv a teacher at that place. She has two children, Ruth and Carl. ( 2 ) Will- iam is a minister of the United Lutheran church at Portland. Maine. For several years he followed the teacher's profession, having been connected with Tobin College of Fort Dodge and Jewell Lutheran Col- lege. (3) Peter was also 1 for several years one of the successful teachers of Iowa, but is now a minister of the Presbvterian church. (4) Syvert is a wide-awake young man of great promise. (5) Susie is married and resides at Jewell Junction, Iowa. (6) Anna is one of the prominent teachers of Webster county, and has for her motto, as had Longfellow's youth, — "Excelsior !" ( 7) Ina, the youngest of the family, has marked talent for music — as have all to a greater or less degree — and expects to educate her- self in this art and adopt it as her profession. Their home, filled as it is with marks of culture on every hand, such as music, hooks and flowers, is an interesting one. The ef- forts of Mrs. Williamson deserve especial mention. She has not only reared a large family, which alone to the modern woman appears a Herculean task, but as a pioneer wife she has ever been ready with strong and willing hands to see that chores were done, grain in stack and hay in the mow. The fortitude and heroism of a pioneer's wife in the midst 1 'f hardships and privations cannot be too fully realized and appreciated. In his political views Air. Williamson is a stanch Republican, having supported every presidential nominee of that party since cast- ing his first vote for General Grant in 1868. He has never sought official preferment, but gives his entire time and attention to his farming interests. He has met with well de- served success in all his undertakings, and is to-day one of the well-to-do and substan- tial farmers of hi-, community. DANIEL DANIELS. One of the most venerable and honored of the promoters of prosperity in Webster county is Daniel Daniels, who, though re- tired from active life, and already emerged from the f< mr so n'e and one mile post of DANIEL DANIELS MRS. DANIEL DANIELS THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 301 life, is yet hale and hearty, and able to ap- preciate the devotion of his children and the constancy of friends. A native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, he was born De- cember 15, 1820, a son of Abram anil Christine (Thurston) Daniels, the former of whom was born in New York and died in Pennsylvania in J 847, while his wife died about 1877. The Daniels family sought the larger possibilities of America long before the Revolutionary war, in which struggle for independence our subject's grandfather Thurston served with courage for seven years, while his father-in-law was a soldier in the war of 1812. Abram Daniels was a very early settler of Pennsylvania, and his son, Daniel, used to walk a long distance In the little log school bouse with paper win- dows and slab seats. He was reared to an appreciation of the dignity of farming as an occupation, and continued to assist his father until grown to manhood.- He then for a time worked out on different farms, and eventually bought a farm in Bureau county, Illinois. March 23, 1849. ne mar- ried Mary Ann Bennett, who- was born in Ohio, June 2, 1828. her father being a na- tive of England and her mother of German descent. She had one half sister and two half brothers, all of whom are now de- ceased. After his marriage .Mr. Daniels continued to live on his Illinois farm until 1854, when, after disposing of his interests, he came to Iowa and located on section 10, Webster township, Webster county, where he purchased a half section of laud, and later other property, which has since been divided among his children, so that now' be owns no land whatever. The children who have thus profited by the enterprise and generosity of their father are as fol- lows: William Henrv, Lucy Ann. Charley, Bennett, Alfred, Angeline, Flora, and Em- ma. 'Jdie children have all benefited by the substantial training of their youth, and all are industrious and prosperous members of their respective communities. Airs. Daniels died June 20. 1807, and is buried at Web- ster City, in which town they had lived for about a year after retiring from farming. At the present time Mr. Daniels makes his home witli Erwin Taylor, his son-in-law. In his political affiliations Mr. Daniels was first identified with the Whig and later with the Republican parties, but he has never devoted much time to politics. In the very early days he served five years as supervisor, but of late years has not held office. He is one of the interesting per- sonalities of the county, and is full of anec- dotes regarding the times when the red man was a very formidable antagonist to the pale- face and considered himself the right- ful possessor of the land and all it con- tained. He lived in Iowa at the time of the Indian massacres at Spirit Lake and New I dm, anil knew personally many who participated in that fearful struggle for supremacy. W. R. McGUIRE. Among Webster county's officials there is probably none better known than W. R. McGuire. the present deputy sheriff. A na- tive of Missouri, he was horn in Clay coun- ty, March 3. [858, his parents being Noah and Sarah J. ( Wallace) McGuire. His pa- ternal grandfather John McGuire, was a native of Tennessee, and was cue of three brothers who removed to Missouri at an early day, being among die pioneers who set- tled in that state at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Our subject's maternal 3°2 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. grandfather was David Oliver Wallace, whose nickname was "Bruin." He was a brigadier general in the Civil war and died in 1899. The father of our subject also participated in that struggle, being a mem- ber of Company B, Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry. During his active busi- ness life lie followed farming, but is now liv- ing retired in Cameron, Missouri. \Y. R. McGuire is the oldest in a family of eleven children, ten of whom are living, namely: W. R. ; Rebecca, wife of Richard Ellis, of Missouri; Simon F., a Methodist Episcopal minister of that state; Martha, wife of George Nettles, of Dayton, Iowa; John, foreman of the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, of Chicago; Sadie, a resi- dent of Fort Dodge; David and Frank, who are in the employ of the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company and reside in Chicago; Han- nah, wife of Oscar Harmon, of Missouri; and Ida, at home with her parents. Edith is deceased. The subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood in his native state. Those were stir- ring days when Missouri was the seat of conflict between the north and south, and he remembers to have seen Ouantrel's raider pass the door of his father's home. The James boys often visited the locality, and Mr. McGuire attended school with the no- torious Ford boys, one of whom later killed Jesse James. On starting out in life for himself Mr. McGuire took up the occupation to which he had been reared and followed farming in Missouri until August. 1S77, when he came to Webster county, Iowa, and continued to engage in that pursuit in Yell township un- til appointed deputy sheriff in 1898. Since then he lias devoted his entire time ami at- tention to the duties of that office, and has proved a most capable and trustworthy of- ficial. In 1881 Mr. McGuire was united in mar- riage witli Miss Laura Kmeriem, of Yell township, an adopted daughter of Franklin McGuire. By this union have been born two children, Lester and Carrie. Fraternally Mr. McGuire affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, and politically has been identified witli the Republican party since attaining his majority. He lias taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics, and has been called upofi to fill sev- eral township offices, including those of school trustee, president of the school board and justice of the peace. WILLIAM H. GRABENHORST. William H. Grabenhorst, who, with his father and brother owns and operates a half section of land on section 12, Dayton town- ship, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, De- cember 14, 1859, an d i s a son OI H. C. and Margaret Ann (Layer) Grabenhorst, the former of whom was born in the province of Brunswick, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1847. The lather lived for many years in the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland, where he engaged principally in the dairy business. He owned about one hundred and ninety cows, and did an annual business of nearly forty thousand dollars. His life has been one of immense industry and well applied enterprise, and he is one of the foremost developers of Webster coun- ty, where he first bought land in 1859. As a boy William H. Grabenhorst prof- ited by the training to be found in the public schools of Baltimore, and he also studied for three years at the Pennsylvania College, THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 303 at Gettysburg. Pennsylvania. His initiation into tiie held of independent support was as a member of the United States coast sur- vey at Washington, with which he was con- nected up to the time of his marriage, Sep- tember 22. 1881, with Eva Haight, who was born in Dutchess county, Xew York, and is of American parentage. Mrs. Grabenhorst has one brother, Harry, who is a resident of Seattle, Washington, and one sister, Mrs. Harry Miller of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Grabenhorst with his wife came to their present home near Dayton, Iowa, in March, 1883. To them have been born eight chil- dren : Anna, in 1883; Lillie, in 1885; I ... rge, in 1NS7; Will, in 1889; Charley, in 1891; Eugene, in 1893; 'Nellie, in 1896; and Evelyn, in 1901. Mr. Grabenhorst is one of the intelligently progressive men of his township, and enjoys the esteem of all who are privileged to know him. WILLIAM X. MESERVEY. An important chapter in the history of Webster county is that formed by the life record of William X. Meservey. He was one of the public spirited citizens to whose energy and foresight this locality is in- debted for many improvements. His work was of such a character as to promote the general welfare and along lines of progress his efforts were efficient and beneficial. As a journalist, he made known to the world the possibilities and natural resources of this section of the country; through the columns of his paper he championed reform and ad- vancement, and in judicial offices he stood as a just interpreter of the law which par- takes the life and liberty and the rights of the people. Over his public and private ca- reer there falls no shadow , -,f wrong or sus- picion of evil. Fearless in conduct, honor- able in action, stainless in reputation, his wi rk did much toward influencing for good, the welfare of Webster county, and his ex- ample is indeed worthy of emulation. Mr. Meservey was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, November 6, 1820, and in his early youth he was for a few years a student in a graded school of Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon putting aside his text-books he secured employment in a wholesale dry- house in that city, where he remained until twenty years of age, but thinking to devote his life to professional work he then entered the law office of Amos Lane, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and in 1843 ' ie was admitted to the bar at Cincinnati. The same year he removed to Xew Orleans, Louisiana, where he engaged in practice until [845, when he returned to the north, locating in Clinton, Illinois, which was his place of resi- dence until 1854. That year witnessed the arrival of Mr. Meservey in Webster county. He located in Homer, which was then' the count}- seat of Hamilton and Webster counties, which were then one organization, the division having not yet occurred. When this county was formed and Fort Dodge was made the county seat, he took up his abode in the lat- ter place and was an active, public-spirited and prominent resident of the place until his death. In 1S62 he was appointed to a position in the United States treasury de- partment with headquarters at Monroe, Louisiana, and there remained four years, returning to Fort Dodge after the close of the war. Subsequently he assumed control of the Fort Dodge Messenger and con- ducted that paper until June 4. 1S74. when he sold his interest. In February, 1877. he became the editor-in-chief of the Webster County Gazette, and that continued to be 304 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. his business connection until his life's labors were ended. He was a fluent orator, an in- structive writer and his editorials treated in broad and impartial manner the questions claiming public attention. He made of his paper one of the strongest and most widely circulated journals in western Iowa, and through its columns he promoted every in- terest which he believed would prove of value and benefit to his adopted citv. He was a man true to his honest convictions, and neither fear nor favor could swerve him from a course which he believed to be right. Mr. Meservey was twice elected judge of Webster county, and upon the bench he "won golden opinions from all sorts of peo- ple." His knowledge of the law was ap- plied with equity of the points in litigation, and his decisions were always fair and im- partial. This was the only civil office he ever held, preferring the independence of a pri- vate citizen to the cares of official life. Vet he was ever willing to second the efforts of his friends who aspired to political honors. In his early years he endorsed the prin- ciples of Democratcy and lent his support toward achieving success for the party, but when the Civil war was inaugurated and the south sought to destroy the Union, setting at naught the power of the constitution, he be- came identified with the Republican party, and was ever afterward unswerving in his- allegiance to its principles. In Marion, De Witt county, Illinois, on the 27th of December, 1847, the Judge was united in marriage to Miss Amanda C. Rob- bins, a native of Campbell county. Kentucky, who removed to Illinois with her parents during her childhood. Her father. Judge Daniel Robbins, was a prominent citizen of the Prairie state. He was a native, how- ever, of Baltimore. Maryland, and was of English lineage. At the time of his death the Judge left a widow and four children to mourn his loss, the members of the househeld in addition to Mrs. Meservey being: Stillman T., who is now serving from his district as representative in the state legislature: A. F. ; AliceM.. the widow of Oliver M. Welch; and William D. In his social relations the Judge was a Mason and was also identified with the Odd Fel- lows fraternity, exemplifying in his life the beneficent and helpful spirit of both orders. His death occurred September 21. 1N7N, and the community thereby lost one of its most valued citizens, — a man who had ever been found as a friend of movements that contributed in large measure to the general good. He commanded respect for his fear- less advance of what he believed to be right, by his straightforward methods in business. by his loyalty in citizenship and his faith- fulness to his friend-. CYRUS BURXETT. Since 1857 Cyrus Burnett has made his home in Webster county, and his name is inseparably connected with its agricultural interests. His thoroughly American spirit and his great energy have enabled him to attain a position of influence, and he is to- day the owner of eight hundred and forty acres of valuable farm land in Iowa and residence property in Dayton. Air. Burnett was bnrn in Ohio, on the Oth of February. 1826. His father, John I'.. Burnett, was a native of Xew Jersey and of German descent, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Hattie Burgen, was born in Pennsylvania of Irish parent- age. They were married in the latter state and from there removed to Ohio in 1812, cuttino- their wav through the wilderness THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 3°5 for out' hundred miles to Wayne county, where they bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. On selling that farm in 1857 they removed to Cedar county, Iowa, and there purchased another farm, where the father died six years later. The mother then made her home for a time with her children in Iowa City, and died at that place in 1865. Of their fourteen children, twelve reached man and womanhood and mar- ried, namely: Thomas married Cindrella Nixson and lived for some time in Wayne county, Ohio, but both died in Cedar coun- ty, Iowa. Daniel married Katie Hines and also lived in Wayne count}. Ohio, and Cedar count}', Iowa, but died in Iowa City. William married Bettie Hines and died about 1854 in Cedar count} - , where his wife and several children still reside. Louisa married David Fairfield and removed from Wooster, Ohio, to Williams county, that state, where he died on Christmas and she on the following New Years Day in the latter part of the '60s. Wilson married a Miss Alexander and both died in Williams coun- ty, Ohio. Mary was the wife of George Eck- ert, of Wayne county, Ohio, and both are now deceased. Sarah married John Large, of Wayne count}'. Ohio, and both died in Indiana. John, deceased, first married Ann Van Est. of Millersburg, Ohio, and came to Cedar county, Iowa, where she died, and he subsequently married again. Nancy married Robert Smith and died in Cedar county. Isaac married Eliza Lorah and later Eliza Nixson, and died in Cedar county. Margaret wedded Stow Smith, of Wayne count}-. Ohio, and they now reside in Cedar count}-, Iowa. Cyrus completes the family. Our subject began his education in a primitive log school house with slab benches, where school was conducted on the subscription plan. Me also attended the public schools of Wayne county, Ohio, for a time, and continued his studies there until fifteen years of age. He remained at home until his marriage, which was celebrated in Wooster, Ohio, March 16, 1850, Miss Mar- garet Ann Richey becoming his wife. She Was born in Wayne county, January 4, 1832, a daughter of Gasper T. and Martha (Richart) Richey. The father was born in Westmoreland count}-, Pennsylvania, and was of Irish descent on the paternal side and of German extraction on the maternal side. Her mother was also a native of that state ami was of Scotch lineage. Mrs. Bur- nett's paternal grandparents were married in Easton, Pennsylvania, and made their home in Lycoming county, that state, un- til 183 1, when they removed to Ohio, where the grandmother died in 1840. She bore the maiden name of Margaret Lock- ard, and was a lady of culture and refine- ment. The grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war under General Washington, and other ancestors took part in the early Indian wars and the war of 1812. The parents of Mrs. Burnett were married in Wooster, Ohio, and in 1854 came to Webster county, Iowa, where the father died in 1882, and the mother in 1892. They had a family of eleven children, of whom four died in infanc_\ or childh 1. Of the seven remaining Mrs. Burnett is the oldest; Mary Jane is the wife of J. R. Line, of Fort 1 lodge; Priscilla married Levi Em- erson and died in Stratford. Iowa; Hen- rietta is the wife of A. R. Daughenbaugh, of Des Moines; Casper T. married Hattie Lyon and died on a farm in Webster coun- ty; James F. married Eliza Baker and lives in Pilot Mound. Boone county: S. B. mar- ried Angeline Mahan and resides in Web- ster county. 306 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett have four chil- dren, three sons and one daughter, namely : Edwin Curtis, the oldest, died and was buried on his thirty-second birthday, May 9, 1883. Jennie successfully engaged in school teaching at Rocky Ford and La Junta, Colorado, for nine years, but has now retired and makes her home in Denver. Howard, who is a law graduate of Cedar Rapids, is now engaged in the oil, coal and fuel business at Chadron, Nebraska. He married Nettie David in the Black Hills, South Dakota, and they have one child, Ruth. Williams Lester, who is engaged in the shoe business in Dayton, Iowa, wed- ded Mary F. Lane and they have two chil- dren, Cyrus Lester and Margaret Iris. In 1 85 7 Mr. Burnett and his family came to Webster county, Iowa, and set- tled on a farm five miles southeast of Day- ton, but have made their home in the vil- lage since 1884, when he retired from ac- tive labor to enjoy the fruits of former toil. He conquered all the obstacles in the path to success and secured for himself and fam- ily a handsome competence, being now the possessor of some valuable property. He is independent in politics, giving his support to the men and measures which he believes best qualified to advance the interests of his community and promote the general wel- fare. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and as an honored pioneer and highly respected citizen he is certainly de- serving of honorable mention in the history of his adopted county. CHRISTIAN SCHMOKER. One of the leading citizens and repre- sentative farmers of Cooper township is Christian Schmoker, who claims Switzer- land as his native land, his birth having oc- curred in that country, August 26, 1844. About 1857 he emigrated to the new world with his parents, Christian and Anna (Ber- net) Schmoker, also natives of Switzerland. The 'family first located in Wisconsin, where they made their home until 1868, and then came to Webster county, Iowa, settling in Cooper township, where the fa- ther purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, which he transformed into a good farm. He followed general farming throughout life, and was a sturdy, hard- working man. Here he died at the age of seventy-eight years, his wife at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom are still living, namely : Peter, Christian, John, Jacob, Carl, Frederick, Gotlieb, Rudolph, Anna, Elizabeth and Rosa. The father was a member of the German Reformed church, and was a Republican in politics. He might well be termed a pioneer of Cooper township, for on locating here he took up new land and materially assisted in the de- velopment of his section of the county. He reared his family to habits of thrift and industry, and many of them are to-day among the substantial citizens of Webster county. Mr. Schmoker, whose name introduces this sketch, grew to manhood in Wisconsin, and attended school there. In 1868 he came with the family to this county, and has since engaged in general farming, at present own- ing a well-improved and valuable place of one hundred and sixty acres in Cooper township. Mr. Schmoker has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Elizabeth Hass. a native of Germany, who died in 1881, leaving six children, namely: Willie, now deceased ; Ferdinand ; Martin : Louisa ; THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 307 Anna, now deceased; and Rosa. His sec- ond wife bore the maiden name of Cath- arine Scharf and was born in Illinois. By this union five children were born, namely: Albert; Phoebe; Cora, who died at the age of eighteen months: Hugo, who died at the age of five years ; and Winnie. In his religious views Mr. Schmoker is a Lutheran. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called upon him to till local offices of honor and trust, and he has most capably served as school treas- urer in Cooper township for the past fifteen wars, being the present incumbent. He is a self-made man, for his success in life is due entirely to his own well-directed and energetic efforts. DEXTER A. WELLER. For more than forty-two years this gen- tleman has made his home in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and his name is inseparably con- nected with public affairs, for during the greater part of this time he has held some public position, and is now acceptably filling the office of city clerk. Mr. Weller was horn in Arlington, Bennington county, Vermont, November 15, 1830, and is a son of Daniel and Rhoda (Snow) Weller, in whose family were five children, four sons and one daughter. In 1834 they removed to Sandgate, Bennington county, and in the schools of that place our subject received his elementary education. In 1850 the fam- ily removed to East Salem, Washington county, Xew York, where the father en- gaged in the dye and clothing business. While residing at that place Dexter A. Weller taught school during the winter months, while through the summer seasons he worked up< m a farm until the fall of 1855, when he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, arriving here on the 30th of September. Here he engaged in teaching during the fol- lowing winter, and- then followed farming until November, 1S64, when he was ap- pointed deputy treasurer of Webster county, and served in that capacity until January 1, 1866, when he resumed farming, but in [867 returned to the treasurer's office as deputy, and filled that position until the 1st of January, 1878. During the next four years he did office work, and in 1883 was appointed secretary of the school board, which position he still holds. He was again made deputy treasurer in 1882, and held that office until elected county treas- urer in 1886, after which he served in the latter capacity two years. He continued to work on the books in various offices, how- ever, until March, 1892, when he was ap- pointed city clerk, and has since filled that position in a most creditable and satisfac- tory manner. Mr. Weller was married September- 4, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth F. Sargent, a resi- dent of Johnsonville, Rensselaer county, Xew York. She was born in England. and came with her husband to Fort Dodge in [862. Mr. and Mrs. Weller have two chil- dren : Mary L., born December 2, 1862, is at home with her parents : and Minnie E., born April 9, 1866, is the wife of C. H. I 1 Iby, clerk of the courts at Fort Dodge. Socially Mr. Weller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has made a most trustworthy and capable public officer, and has always been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and he well deserves the high regard in which he is uni- formly held. 3 o8 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. PHILLIP KARCHER. Among the brave defenders of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war was Phillip Karcher. a well-known citi- zen of Fort Dodge, his home being at 609 Fourth avenue south. He was born in Philadelphia on the 26th nf March, 1832, Ms 1 parents being Phillip and Katherine (Erb) Karcher, in whose family were seven children, five sons and two daughters. The father was a native of Germany and a shoe- maker by trade. Our subject received his early education in the schools of his native city, and ac- quired a .thorough knowledge of the shoe- maker's trade, at which he worked in the east until 1859, when he removed to Earl- ville, Iowa. The following year he came to Fort Dodge, and continued to follow his chosen occupation until after the Civil war broke out. On the 22d of August, 1862, Mr. Karcher enlisted in Company I, Thirty- second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Alexander Dowd and Colonel John Scott. His regiment being assigned to the Sixteenth Corps. Army of the Ten- nessee, he took part with that command in the hattles of Fort De Russey, Pleas- ant Hill and Yellow Bayou, Louisiana; Lake Chicot, Arkansas; Tuples. Missis- sippi; Old Tom Creek, Mississippi; Nash- ville, Tennessee; and Blakely, Alabama. At the close of the war he was mustered out and discharged from the service at Clin- ton, [owa, August 24, 1865. Returning to Fort Dodge, he has since engaged in shoe- making and has met with fair success. He is now an honored member of Fort Donel- son Post, G. A. R., No. 236, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Karcher was married, August 6, 1853, tn Miss .Margaret Hefiey, of Phila- delphia, a daughter of John M. Hefiey, a farmer of Pennsylvania. Seven children blessed this union, namely: William H., born May 13, 1854, is now engaged in mining in Colorado; Phillip, Jr., born De- cember S. [856, is a blacksmith of Des Moines; Mary I'"... horn September 8, i860, is the wife of William Grace, a farmer of Palo Alto count}-, Iowa; Catherine, born August 28, 1862, is at home; John Morris, born July 9, 1866, is a railroad contractor in Illinois; George S., born March 18, 1869, is in the employ of the Illinois Central Rail- road and resides at home ; and James, born April 14, 1877, is a fireman on the same road. ANGUS McBANE. Angus McBane was one of the honored pioneers of Webster county, and for many years no man was more actively or hon- orably associated with financial interests in this part of the state than he. As a real estate dealer he became an important fac- tor in the development and settlement of the count}', and in all possible ways he con- tributed to the upbuilding and substantial improvement of the city and the surround- ing district, so that his name is inseparably interwoven with its annals. His career was one of enterprising business activity, cf loyal citizenship and of fidelity to all the relations and duties of private life, and his example is one well worth}- of emulation. Mr. McBane was born in Columbiana count}-, Ohio, March 2j, 1829, a son of John and Marjory McBane, who were na- tives of Inverness, Scotland, where they were reared and married. In 1817 they crossed the Atlantic to "the land of the free ANGUS McBANE THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 3ii and the home of the brave," taking up their abode among the earl) settlers of Colum- biana county, where the father entered a of land from the government. With characteristic Scottish thrift and energy he began its development and transformed it inti an excellent farm up n which he and his wife spent their remaining days. They da family 1 E eighl children, of whom five were hum in Scotland, while three were added to the family circle after the emigra- ti< 11 to the new w< add. ( >n the old family hi rn.este.ad in the Buckeye state Angus McBane, 1 £ this re- view, was born and reared, and in [844, when fifteen years of age, he started to learn the printer's trade in his brother's ce, bul he did not find this pursuit con- genial, and en the expiratii n of his service he sought 1 ther employment and accepted a positii 11 ui a drug -t^re at Wellsville, which positii n lie retained alu ut fi it years, when he went down the Ohii and Mississippi 5 on a flatboat to \c\\ Orleans. At this time the excitement following the dis- er) of gi Id in California was at its 1 night, and Mr. McBane, who was pos- sessed 1 1" a go d constitution and was full 1 hi pe and energy, determined to try his fortune in the Golden state, hoping that amid tlie reported wealth of the Pacific eoasl he might secure enough of the pre- cious metal to render him a wealthy man or at least give him a good start in the business world. Accordingly he made preparations for the western journey. In tlie spring of 1850 he joined a party of American Argonauts in search of the gold- en fleece, hut instead of sailing amid en- chanted isles as their Greek predecessors had done, they journeyed by ox-teams across hundreds of miles of plains or through mountain passes, four month- be- ing required to make the trip, and on his arrival there he spent all but a very small sum of money. For two years after his arrival Mr. McBane worked in the mines. and then engaged in the milling business where Nevada City now stands, erecting a -;oam sawmill, which he operated until 1854, wdien he returned to New York, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and from the eastern metropolis made his way to Ohio. After a short time he made an. ther trip down the river to \e\\ Orleans, ami next engaged in the commission busi v nli his bn ther Alexander in Pittsburg, hut after a short time withdrew from the hrm, believing that the west would offer better business opportunities than the older and more thickly settled east. Aco rdingl) he made his way to Chicago. Minneapolis and then to he- Moines, Iowa, intending to engage in the real estate business there, hut finding that the best land had already been secured in these place-, h Fort Dodge, in June, 1855. and remained a resident of this city until his death. In Uigust of that year he built a banking house and at once engaged in the banking and real estate business as a member of the firm of Wilsons, McBane X Company. 1 le- va- subsequently prominently connected with various hanking institutions ami at one lime wa- president of the Merchants National Bank, and was also officiall) n- nected with the First National Banl its consolidation with the Merchants Na- tional, while later he was a member of the hanking firm of McBane & Grant. His thorough understanding of the business made his counsel of importance in financial circles, and the success of the institutions with which he was associated was due in no -mall measure to his efforts. As the years passed his prosperity increased, his 312 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. labors making him one of the must affluent citizens of the count}-, but success did n< a come ti ' him all at once as there were years when the county was sparsely settled and there was not much business to be done. Mr. McBane was actively interested in the general progress and welfare, and c i- operated whenever possible in the move- ments which led to substantial impn ve- ment in this part of the state. He was liv- ing in Webster county when in 1857 the Indians massacred the people at Spirit Lake. He took an active part in assisting in the protection of the settlers at that point, being connected with the expedition that went to their relief. Through his real estate transactions he induced settlers to come to the county and was ever conscien- tious in aiding them to secure the kind of farms they desired, so that he always en- joyed and merited the business confidence of the people. In 1858 occurred the marriage of Mr. McBane and Miss Elizabeth McLaughlin, of Hamilton county. Iowa, a native of Columbiana county. Ohio, and a daughter of James McLaughlin, of Inverness, Scot- land, who with his family came to "Webster City. Iowa, in 1856, but the following fall he died, leaving a wife and three children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McBane were born four nd three daughters, namely: Will- iam Wilson, who died at Great Falls. Mon- tana, August 10. 1900: James Alexander, who died at Fort Dodge. November 6, 1890; John Daniel, who died in October. 1877: Angus, who is the only living -mi: Lizzie, who died on the afternoon of the day on which her father passed away; Mar- jory; and Blanche, who js the wife of J. C. Alvarado. For some time prior to his death Mr. McBane was in failing health, and on the 12th of April, 1888, he departed this life. For a > third of a century he lived in Fort Dodge, and few men were more widely known in Webster county, his business in- terests bringing him into contact with a large number whose friendship and respect he won by an honorable life and a kindly manner. He richly merited his prosperity, for it was honorably gained and worthily used. His career proved the power of in- dustry, integrity and perseverance as fac- tors in the business world and should serve as an inspiration to others who must de- pend upon their own resources for advance- ment. TIMOTHY CRIMINS. Timothy Crimins, experienced railroad man, scientific farmer and all-around help- ful citizen of Elkhorn township, was born in Count}- Cork, Ireland, January 15, 1826. His parents, Dennis and Julia (McCallif) Crimins, were natives respectively of Coun- ties Kerry and Cork, Ireland, and were married in their native land, where they engaged in farming. In the family were the following children: John, who died in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1899, was a soldier during the Civil war. and was wounded while serving in the Sixty-fifth Illinois In- fantry; Johanna died in June, 1871 : Den- nis died in Ireland : and Ellen also died in her native land. Before coming to America, in 1849. a * the age of twenty-four years. Mr. Crimins studied in the public schools of his native land, and gained considerable knowledge of farming and general business. He sailed on the good ship John Evans, which for five weeks plowed its way through stormy seas and delaying calms, and finally arrived in THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 313 Boston Harbor. Mr. Crimins engaged in railroad work out of Boston, and for twenty year? was identified with the Harlem Rail- road. After spending some time in Con- necticut he was with the Maysville Railroad in Kentucky during one summer, and then went to work on the levee in Arkansas, eventually bringing up at St. Louis, where he worked with the Pacific Railroad for two years. He then returned to Xew York and worked on the canal, later crossing the lake from Buffalo to Ohio, and then trav- eled to Michigan, where he walked thirty- five miles to catch a train to Chicago. He then went to Dunleith. Illinois, and worked on the Illinois Central Railroad, and was employed one summer in Iowa, and for a year in Minnesota, afterward working for the Union Pacific Railroad Company out of Omaha. Nebraska. At a later period he came to Des Moines. Iowa, and was with nearly all the railroads through central Iowa, and finally abandoned the railroad business entirely and settled on the river claim on section 9, Elkhorn township. Web- ster county, which he afterward purchased. Tune 24. 1872. Mr. Crimins married Mary Trainer, a native of County Louth. Ireland, born December 25, 1897, and ,a daughter of Patrick and Ellen (White) Trainer, also natives of County Louth. The parents came to America, where the mother died, after which the father returned to Ire- land. There were in the family the follow- ing- children : Patrick, who married Anna Colwell and lives in Fort Dodge: John. who is a gold miner in Montana; Simon, win' lives in Elkhorn township. Webster county. Iowa: Robert, who is engaged in railroading in Fort Dodge; Margretta. who is the wife of Donald Farrell, of Fort Dodge; Susan, who is the wife of Owen Halligan. of the vicinity of Fort Dodsre: Anna, who was the wife of Anthony Halli- gan and died twenty years ago in Elkhorn a^et, who is the wife of \Y. M. Hachenburg, of Minnesota; and Lizzie, who is the wife of Jim B reman, of Minne- sota. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crimins. namely: Dennis, who married Jennie Mclntire; Joe. who died in infancy: Patrick, who died at the age of three years : Ellen, who is the widow of George McMahon ; Edward, who is living at home: and Julia, who is also living at home. At the time of taking possession of his one hundred and sixty acres of land Mr. Crimins had a great deal of laborious work ahead of him. for the property was raw prairie and had hitherto been unacquainted with plow or harrow. He broke the land himself, and has since made all manner of desirable improvements, including a com- fortable house, tine barn, good fences and outbuildings, as well as modern machinery of every known variety. He is a pn g ive farmer and valued citizen, and his ef- - have resulted in a benefit to the com- munitv. CHARLES PINGEL. This well-known and successful agri- culturist of Cooper township, was born in Meggesburg. on the 8th of April. 1844. and was a lad of eight years when he cr the broad Atlantic in company with his par- ents. Henry and Dora Pingel. who were also natives of the fatherland. The family located in Jo Daviess county. Illinois. where Henrv Pingel continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pursuits. He did not live long, 314 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. however, after coining to this country, and died at the age of sixty-one years. His wife still survives him and now makes her home with their only daughter, Mrs. Cath- arine Wenters, in Iowa. In their family were only two children, the other being our subject. Charles Pingel spent his boyhood and youth in Jo Daviess county, Illinois. His educational advantages were limited, as he began working for his board and clothes when a mere buy, and has since been de- pendent upon !iis own resources for a liveli- bi dd. The first wages he received were five dollars per month. While employed as a farm hand he managed to save some of his salary, and was at length .able to purchase a traci of forty acres in Jo Daviess count}-, Illinois. He has since 1" ught and s< Id sev- eral farms. In 1874 he came to Iowa, and after residing in various places he located in Webster county in 1880, and pur- chased a farm in Cooper township. He is n< w the 1 wner of a hue farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, pleasantly located four and a half miles east of Fort Dodge, and in connection with its operation he also cul- tivates rented property to the amount of four hundred and forty acres. Of this about one hundred and fifty acres are de- voted tn corn and a similar amount to small grain, while the remainder is in hay and pasture. He keeps from fifty to seventy bead of cattle and a large number of horses and hugs. He has good and substantial buildings upon his place, and everything about the farm testifies to the thrift and in- dustry < if the owner. On the 226 of February, 1864, Mr. Pingel married Miss Dora Dubler, win was born in Germany, October 17, 1844, a daughter of John and Mary (Gillhoff) Dub- ler. Her father died in that country and her mother afterward came to America, where she passed away at the age of sev- enty-eight years. Of their five children three are still living: John, Sophia and Dora. The children born to our subject and his wife are William, Paulina, John, Louisa, Frederick, Otto, Norman, Edward, Herman. Christian, George and Frank, all living; and Anna, who died at the age of eighteen years. The family have a pleas- ant home, where hospitality and good cheer abound, and they stand high in the com- munity where t'hey reside. Mrs. Pingel is a member of the Reformed church and is a most estimable lady. Our subject is lib- eral in his religious views and is a Republi- can in politics. UFA. JOHN A. CHRISTENSON. Rev. John A. Christenson, the beloved past r of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Dayton. Iowa, was born in Sweden, September 29, 1854, a son of Carl and Anna Christina (Carl) Christenson, Who were also natives of that country. The lather was captain of a vessel sailing out of Gutteribefg and was lust in a stnrm at ea 1 11 ( tctnber jo, 1SN1, when all on board perished. His widow subsequently came tn America, in 11X87. with her youngest son, and is now living with another sun in Princeton, Illinois. In the family were five children, namely: Carl, who married Anna Carlson and died in Sweden in 1897; John A., our subject: Gustave, who is mar- ried and living in Princeton, Illinois; Al- fred, a resident of Belvidere, that state; and Francis, who makes his home in Chi- cagi i'. Mr. Christenson, of this review, beeran REV. JOHN A. CHRIS? ENSON THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 317 his educatii n in the public schools 1 t Sweden, and was graduated therefrom in 1871. Having decided to trj his fortune on this side pf the Atlantic, he came to America in May. [88 >, and first set foot on American soil at Boston. He spent three mi nths at Chicago, and then went to Rock- ford, Illinois, where he remained for -a .year and a half, being employed as an expert machinist while carrying on his theological studies preparatory 1 •• g the min- istry. In 1882 he took charge of a small congregatii n at De Kail). Illinois. Prior to this Mr. Christenson was mar- ried at RockfOrd, April 8, 1881, to Miss Lotta Swan, who was born in Stockholm, Sweden. December 3, 1857, and died i 1 tober 4, 1887. her remains being interred in Chicago. She ilosl her mother when quite yi Ling-, and her father died in 1887. Both were life-long residents of Swi They had two children, one of whom also died in that country. About Christmas. 1884, Mr. Christen 1 si n went to Chicagi to take charge of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission church near Humboldt Park, and remained there until November, 1888. There he was married October 19, 1888. to Miss Jose- phine Nettenstrom, who was born in Sweden. January 4. ^863, a daughtei J. P. and Anna Lisa Nettenstrom, also na- tive- of that country. In 1881 the famih emigrated to the United Sta in Chicago, where the father worked at his trade of blacksmithing with good success for many years and is now living a retired life, enjoying the fruits of fi rmer toil. < >f his nine children the following are still liv- ing: Bettie. wife of Otto Elg, of Chicago; Josephine, wife of our subject; Joel, who married Ellen Peterson and resides in Chi- cago, beinsr an architect for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, erecting buildings and bridges for that company; d, who married Emma Johnson, and is a cutter and tailor of Chicago; Richard, who is a bookkeeper in the First National Bank 1 E Chicago: Ida, wife < t John Saf- strom, 1 f that city; and Rimer, who is at- tending school in Chicagi By his first marriage Mr. Christensi n wi 1 si ns : Edwin, b rn in Ri ckfi rd, tllinois, April 21, 1882; and David, born in DeKalb, Illinois, April 15. [884. There were seven children by the second union, namely: Ellen, born in Galesburj Decern! j< 2 >. [889; Mabel, 1)' rn in Sioux City, Ii wa. Uigusl 12, 1891 ; Ab< Dayton, October io. [893; .Myrtle, born in n, August m. 1895; Wilburt, born in '. Septembe r o. 1896 : ( '1< ments, born in Da} ti n, 1 Icti her 10. [898 : and I dore, born in Dayton, November 1. i I )n lca\ ing I 1 SSS, Mr. Christensi n went to Galesburg, tllinois, to taki 1 f the Second Lutheran church 1 f that place, and remained until August, 1890. In June 1 f that year he went to Jamestown, New York, where he examined and ordained a minister of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Au- gustana synod. He then accepted a call fri in the church of that denomination at City, Iowa, and from there came to Dayton in May. 1893, as pastor of the Swed- ish Evangelical Lutheran church place, and is still filling that position. Here he has a nice church and a good par- .. and under his able guidance the church has steadilj prospered and is now in a flourishini n. lie is a bi minded, liberal man and excellent scholar, having a fine library < f several hundred volumes, of which he makes good use. In his pi litical views he is a stanch Republican, 3i8 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and is a man highly respected and esteemed not only by the people of his own congre- gation but by all who know him. C. L. GRANGER. The financial and commercial interests of Fort Dodge would be very incomplete and unsatisfactory without a personal and somewhat extended mention of those whose lives are so closely interwoven with the de- velopment and business interests of the city which has been the home and scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives that should serve as inspiration to others but have also been of important service to their city and county through various ave- nues of usefulness. Although Mr. Granger was not a pioneer of Webster county, there is no man who more richly deserves men- tion in this volume than he. His business interests were so broad and varied that he contributed in large measure to the general prosperity, and yet not alone along business lines were his efforts put forth for the pub- lic good, fur from the time he took up his abode in Webster county his life record be- came an important chapter in its history. C. L. Granger was a native of Michi- gan, born at Mt. Clemens. February u, 1850, and was a son of Sylvester and Mary (Venue) Granger. When quite young his family removed to Crown Point. Indiana, and it was here Mr. Granger grew to man- 1 d and received his early mental training. From the first he became interested in the implement trade and his whole life was de- voted to that line of business. While still a young man he became associated with the McCormick Company, and it was but a lime before they recognized his worth and ability. He was first promoted to the position of general agent in Illinois and later held the same position in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Xew Jersey and Delaware. In 1879 ne determined to seek a new field of labor and entered the business world as a dealer. Landing in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in December of that year, he soon embarked in the wholesale and retail agricultural im- plement business, which he continued up to the time of his death. At Crown Point, Indiana, October 14, 1874, Mr. Granger was united in marriage with Miss Alice A. Willey, a native of that state. Her father, George Willey, was a pioneer of Indiana, where he continued to make his home throughout life. Both he and his wife are now deceased and are sleep- ing their last sleep in the Crown Point cemetery. , As before stated, it was at a very early age that Mr. Granger began business for himself, and his success in life was due en- tirely to his own efforts. He belonged to the great army of self-made men that have by their industry, perseverance and straight- forward business methods made this com- mercial world of ours what it is to-day, the greatest in the whole world. When but a youth he formed a habit of making use of all his opportunities, and his success was by no means the result of fortunate circum- stances. It came to him as a natural result of energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly-balanced mind and honorable business principles. He determined to make a success of his life, and the pros- perity that came to him was well deserved. In addition to his regular business Mr. Granger was also associated with other en- terprises. He was one of the organizers of the Cardiff Gypsum Company, and re- mained a stockholder of the same up to the time of his death. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 319 Fraternally Mr. Granger was a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Royal Arcanum and Legion of Honor, and politi- cally was identified with the Republican party. As a public-spirited and progressive citizen he took an active and influential part in municipal affairs, and for four terms most efficiently served as mayor of Fort Dodge. It has been said by those who were most closely associated with him at that time that he was the strong supporter of all movements calculated to benefit the city of bis adoption, and to-day all acknowledge that never were the reins of city govern- ment in more capable hands. He was an enterprising man and all matters pertaining to the public welfare received his hearty endorsement. Over his life record there falls no shadow of wrong; his public serv- ice was most exemplary, and his private life was marked by the utmost fidelity to duty. ' He died at Passavant Hospital, Chicago, where he bad gone for treatment, April 6, 1900. after having been in poor health for some time. His death was a sad blow to his wife and friends, of which he had scores, ami he is to-day mourned by all who knew him. He made for himself a record in busi- ness, and by his well-directed efforts ac- quired a handsome competence. JOHN FALLON. John Fallon, deceased, was for many years one of the leading farmers and repre- sentative citizens of Douglas township. He was born in Ireland on the 19th of April, 1831, and came to America in 1833. For some time he made his home in Clinton county. New York, where he owned and operated a farm of one hundred and ten acres. Before leaving the Empire state Mr. Fallon was married, January 8, 1858, to Miss Mary Gannon, who was born in New York city, April 2, 1840. Her parents, Thomas and Alary (Mahon) Gannon, were natives of Ireland and came to the new world when young. Her father, who was a mason by trade, spent his last days in Clinton county, New York, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife was seventy-nine years old at the time of her death. Of the nine children born to them only two reached years of maturity, and Mrs. Fallon is the only one of the family now living. Our subject and his wife became the parents of fourteen children, who are still living, namely: William H.. Thomas, Alary, Frank, George, Julius, Joseph, Josephine. Hattie, Lena, James, John, Anna and Clement. Those deceased are Charles, who was the second in order of birth and died on the home farm in 1893; Bennett John, who died in Chi- cago, May 20, 1886; and Kattie, who died when quite young. In November, 1866, Mr. Fallon came to Iowa and took up his residence in Web- ster county, first buying one hundred and sixty acres of land in Douglas township in partnership with his brother Henry. Sub- sequently he purchased the farm where his last days were spent, and at the time of his death owned five hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land under a high state of cultivation. He was a hard-working, energetic man and met with marked suc- cess in his farming operations. He also gave considerable attention to the feeding of stock and prospered in that undertaking. As one of the leading and influential citizens of his township Mr. Fallon was called upon to till several local offices of honor and trust, such as assessor and trus- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. tee. and always took quite an active and prominent part in public affairs. In his political views he was first a Democrat, but was later independent in politics, and in re- ligii us faith was a Catholic. After a use- ful and well-spent life, he died December 9, honored ami respected by all who knew him. His family still reside on the nld home farm and are people of promi- nence in the community where they reside. William H. Fallon, the oldest son of 1 ui' subject, was born in Clinton county, New Y< rk, December 7. 1859. and began his education in the public schools of that itate, continuing his studies in the schools of Douglas township after the removal of lite family to this county. He is now ad- ministrator of his father's estate, and in the conduct of the business displays ex- ceptional ability and sound judgment. He is now successfully engaged in farming upon three hundred and twenty acres of kind, one hundred of which are devoted n. seventy to small grain and the remainder to pasture and ha}-. In con- n with his brothers he carries on the home farm, and makes a specialty of the breeding of standard thoroughbred hor'ses and owns some very valuable ani- mal-, including two thoroughbred stallions ami one standbred. Some of his horses have fine records. He also keeps seven- teen head of cattle and takes great pride in his stock. In politics he is independent. LOUIS W. XEUDECK. The- subject of this sketch is one of the most prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Web-ter county, and is the largest land owner in Douglas t< wnship, where he has made his home since 1887. He was born on the 3d of .May. 1S52. in St. Anthony, nenv East Minneapolis. Minnesota, and is a son of Louis and Catherine (Wolf) Neu- deck, the former born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, December 2$, 1821, the latter in Epenberen Westphalia. Germany. Decem- ber 7. [826. < )n hi- emigration to America, about 1842, the father located in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, and when a young man followed a seafaring life. Later be en- gaged in the cattle business to some extent in Illinois and in the dry goods business at Stillwater, Minnesota, from 1848 to 1850. lie was next interested in the lumber busi- ness at St. Anthony and subsequently in the meat business, being one of the early settlers of that place. In [862 he joined Anson Mi rthrup's company at the outbreak of the Xew Ulm Indian massacre. He served in this company until the Indians were sub- dyed in 1863, when he crossed the plains with provisions, etc., and opened up a cattle ranch in Helena, Montana. Returning in the spring- of 1864. be soon afterward Captain Fisk's expedition, which A'as organized for the purpose of transpi 1 . tng provisions, etc.. to the gold fields of Idaho. When about two hundred miles north of Fort Rice the party went into camp for dinner and after a two-hours' they resumed their journey. While in camp one of Mr. Neudeek's oxen strayed away. Telling the rest of the party to con- tinue their way, he started in search of the animal with no thought of danger, as it v as thought that not an Indian was near, but such was not the case, as he had gone but a short distance ere he was killed, on the 2d of October, 1864. It seems as if this was a signal, for at once, from all quarters In- dians appeared. The party at once went into camp again and made preparations for LOUIS W. NEUDECK THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 323 an attack. For two weeks they held the In- dians at bay, hoping for reinforcements, as two of their number had gone back to Fort Rice after the soldiers which were stationed there, but bef< re their arrival twelve of the party were killed and many wounded. Mrs. Neudeck died April 14. 1881. In the family of this worthy couple were five children who reached years of maturity, namely: .Mrs. Eliza Stetson, of Minne- apolis, Minnesota; Louis \\ .. our subject; William 11.. also a residenl of Minneap Mrs. Carrie Smith, of Los Angeles, Cali- fi rnia; and Lucy, who married Lou Four- rev and died at the age of twenty-one years. Louis W. Neudeck passed his boyh 1 and youth in Minneapolis and is indebted to its public scho Is for his educational ad- vantages. On starting out in life for him- self he was first employed as a herdsman for the cattlemen of Minneapolis. In 1870 he went to Duluth. where lie engaged in the meat business for a rear, at the end 1 if which time he removed to Austin. Minnesota, where the following year was spent in the same business. In 1872 he engaged in the meat business at Red Wing, that state, where he continued for about nine years. He then returned to Minneapolis, where he carried on an extensive meat and cattle business on In th the east and west side up to the time of his removal to Webster coun- ty, Iowa. In connection with this business he also conducted a large farm, most of the land being' used for grazing purposes. In 1887 he disposed of his interests in Minne- . SOta and purchased eight hundred and eighty acres of valuable farm land in Doug- las township, this county. This place is supplied with good and substantial build- ings and everything- about the farm shows the careful supervision of its owner, who is one of the most up-to-date and progressive agriculturists of northwestern Iowa. In ad- dition to his farming operations Mr. Neu- deck has become known as the most, exten- sive breeder of polled Angus cattle in this on of the state, and at present has ,,,, two hundred head of thoroughbreds upon his place. lie ships his cattle to all parts of the west and south and also east of the Mississippi river. Trior to coming to Iowa lie was engaged in the same line of busi- ness in Minnesota and has been eminently successful in this venture. Me is alsi .1 breeder of French coach horses. Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs, and keeps front forty-five to fifty head of horses. For ten years he has owned Illustre, a celebrated imported French coach stallion. On ac- o unt of his stock most 1 f his land is used fir pasturage, but three hundred acres are yearl) planted in corn and 1 al - Mr. Neudeck was married. Octob 1878, to Miss Clara < >. Eames, a nati Oquawka, Illinois, and a daughter of Cap- tain Obediah and Mary (Biglow) Eames. Her father, who was horn in 1824, died in 1881, hut her mother is still living. Cap- tain Eames built and ran several steamboats o.n the Mississippi river between Stillwater, Minnesota, and St. Louis, Missouri, for a number of years. He also had large cat- tle and landed interests. Mr. and Mrs. Neudeck have five children: Vinnie E., Louis M., Harry W., Mabel C. and Ertel M. Mr. Neudeck is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Mystic Shrine of Des Moines, and his family belongs to the [Methodist Episcopal church. His political support is given to the men and measures of the Democratic party, but he takes no active part in public affairs, preferring to give his undivided attention to his own business in- terests. He to-day enjoys the reward of his 324 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. painstaking and conscientious work. By his energy, perseverance and fine business ability he lias been enabled to secure an ample fortune. Systematic and methodical, his sagacity, keen discrimination and sound judgment have made him one of the most prosperous agriculturists of Iowa. THOMAS CAHILL. Prominent among the citizens of Fort Dodge now retired from active business cares is Thomas Cahill, who is spending his declining years is ease and quiet at his pleasant h< me, 902 Third avenue north. He was born in Kilkenny. Ireland, in 1830, and is a son of Patrick Cahill, who came to the United States in 1852, and spent his last days at Palo Alto, Iowa. Rev. Michael Cahill. a brother of our subject, was or- dained a Catholic priest at St. Louis in 1854, and the following year was appointed pastor of a church at Boomington, Illinois. He died in Paris in 1857. Thomas Cahill passed the days of his minority in his native land, and in January. 185 1, came to the New World. He first located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, later spent two years in Ohio, and from there re- moved to Elgin, Illnois, in 1854. The fol- lowing year he came to Iowa and bought a farm near Iowa City, and in 1856 took up a claim in Palo Alto county, being there at the time of the Indian massacre in that county. In the spring of 1857 ne located permanently in Fort Dodge. Mr. Cahill was married in Chicago, 111 1- in July, 1857, to Miss Bridget Hickey, a sifter of Judge Hickey, and a native of County Kilkenny. Ireland. Of the six- children horn of this union Katherine is the only one now living. The sons were Michael, who died at the age of seven months; Thomas Patrick, who died in 1888, at the age of twenty-eight years; Michael Joseph, who died in infancy; Daniel, who died at the age of seven years ; and James, who died in childhood. Thomas Patrick was educated at Professor Kenyon's Col- lege and served as assistant county treas- urer for a time, being a very bright and promising young man. The wife and mother, who was a most estimable lady, died October 10, 1901, at the age of sixty- nine years. On taking up his residence in Fort Dodge in 1857, Mr. Cahill embarked in the •grocery business with William Halihan on Market street next to Laufersweiler's furni- ture store, and that partnership continued until the fall of 1858, afer which he was alone in business on the corner of Walter street and First avenue south until 1862. During that year he became interested in railroad contracting, and for twenty-one years engaged in that business, receiving large contracts for grading the road beds of the Illinois Central; Burlington. Cedar Rapids & X. >rthern and the Chicago & Northwestern Railroads. On account of failing health he retired from business about 1895, having accumulated enough property to enable him to spend his remain- ing years in ease and comfort. His real estate holdings in Fort Dodge include one lot on Third avenue and Ninth street and three lots on block 22 First avenue south. All of this property has been acquired through his own unaided efforts and he de- serves great credit for the success he has achieved in life. For almost forty years he was one of the active and progressive men of the city, as well as one of its most re- liable ami honorable citizens, and now in THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 325 his declining years is enjoying a well-earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities ( 1 business life. VICTOR GABRIELSOX. This gentleman is entitled to distinction as one of the most progressive and enter- prising business men of Dayton. No one in the locality is better known, for his en- tire life has here been passed, and all his interests from boyhood have been closely associated with those of Webster county. He is now engaged in the hardware and agricultural implement business in partner- ship with his brother, George A. Mr. Gabrielson was born in Dayton, on the 30th of March, 1868, and is a son of Ji hn Gabrielson, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Upon the hi »nie farm he grew to manhood, giving his father the benefit of his labors until nine- teen years of age. His early education, ac- quired in the common schools, was supple- mented by two years' attendance at the ■\Yestern Normal School at Shenandoah. Iowa, where he won the degree of D. D. For two year- he taught in district schools and for one year in a graded school. He then accepted a position with the firm of Grange & Mitchell, implement dealers at Fi irt Dodge, and at the end of a year bought an interest in the hardware business of Richardson & Roerbeck at Dayton, but two years later sold out to Mr. Richardson, and 111 connection with his brother, George A., opened a new establishment as dealers in hardware and implements. This business they still carry on, having met with well- merited success. Through courtesy to their customers and by fair and honorable deal- ing, they have gained a liberal share of the public patronage, and to-day occupy an en- viable position in business circles. In 1893 Mr. Gabrielson was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Sackrison, of Stratford, Iowa, who was born Januarv 1, [865, in Illinois. Her parents. Mr. and Mrs. John Sackrison, were both natives of Swe- den, and came to America in early life, their marriage being celebrated in Illinois. The mother is deceased, but the father is still living and continues to reside in Strat- ford. In early life he followed farming, but is now retired from active labor. His family consisted of six children, namely: Otto, who now lives with our subject; Mary, wife of John Carlson, of Hamilton county, Iowa; Emily, who died at the age ■ i -even years; Albert, who married Caro- line Israelson and resides in Hardin town- ship, this county; and Eddie and Gust, who live with Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Gabrielson have two children: Nellie V., born May 27. 1895; and John H., born January 16, 1898. The family have a pleasant home in Dayton, where hospitality and good cheer reign supreme. Mrs. Gabrielson is a mem- ber of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal church, and our subject belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. Politically he is identified with the Democratic partv. He is quite popular both in business and social circles and highly respected bv all who know him. GEORGE LARSON. One of the leading agriculturists and highly respected citizens of Badger town- ship is George Larson, whose home is on section 8. His success in life has been worthily achieved, as in him are embraced 326 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the characteristics of an unbending integ- rity, unabated energy and industry that never flag. Coming to this county in March. [865, he has witnessed almost its entire development, and has materially aided in its upbuilding and advancement. A native of Norway, Air. Larson was born in the "land of the midnight sun." September 16, 1833, and there grew to manhood upon a farm, being given but lim- ited school privileges. In 1855 he took passage on a sailing vessel, and after about eight weeks on the water landed in Quebec, Canada, whence he made his way to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he worked on the railroad for about six years. At the end of that period Mr. Larson came to Webster county, Iowa, and pur- chased eighty acres of raw- prairie land where he now resides and built thereon a log house, which was his It -me for seven or eight rears. In the meantime he placed acre after acre of his land under the plow until it was all under cultivation, lie broke the land with two yoke of oxen, and has made all the improvements upon the place, having recently erected a large and pleas- ant residence, lie has also built barns and other outbuildings, has set out fruit and shade trees, and now has a fine grove of maple and forest trees planted from the seed. Before leaving Norway Mr. Larson married Miss Anna Marear. who died in Wisconsin, leaving fixe children, namely: Mary, Louis, John, Sebert and Albert. He was again married in Wehster county, [owa, in 1868, his second union being with Miss Cecelia Severson, who was also born and. reared in Norway, and on coming to this country spent eight years in Dane coun- ty. Wisconsin, before taking up her resi- dence in Webster county, Iowa. By his last marriage Mr. Larson had five children, two , f whom are still living: Severer:, who married Tillie Johnson and has one child. Gyhard S. ; and Albert. Politically Mr. Larson has always been identified with the Republican party since casting his first presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln, but he has newer sought or cared for official preferment, desiring rather to dewote his entire time and attention to his agricultural interests. He is a man of good business ability, and as he thoroughly understands his chosen occupation he has met with remarkable success since coming to this country, and is to-day the owner of a line farm of four hundred acres under ex- cellent cultivation and well improved. JOHN ROLL. Tr. John Roll. Jr.. who is now successfully engaged in the liquor business at 602 First avenue south. Fort Dodge. Iowa, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 14th of December, 1856, and is one of a family of ten children, whose parents are John and Mary (Schnek) Roll, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. During the infancy of our subject the family came to Iowa, and he was principally reared and educated in Fort Dodge. After leaving school he assisted his father in the brewery business until 1886. and later worked for the roadmaster of the Minne- apolis & St. Louis Railroad for about a year. Since then he has engaged in the liquor business in Fort Dodge and now owns a saloon at 602 First avenue south, as previously stated. He also acts as wholesale agent for the West Side Brewing ( '.1 mpany of Chicago. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 327 Mr. Koll was married October 27, 18S1, to Miss Minnie Osmondson, a daughter of Christ and Rachel (Raymer) Osmondson, who are natives of Norway and are n , residents of Fori Dodge. Four children blessed this union, namely: Albeit Francis, born July 21, 1882, was killed October 29, iSS;; Harry Edgar, hum .March [8, 1NN1. is at home; Hattie Aileen. born December 6, 1887, was a graduate from the Roge; School of Music of Fort Dodge and then attended a school of music in Chicago; and Violet Elizabeth, born December jj, [893, mpletes the family. The family have a nice home at 306 Second avenue north. Mr. EG 11 is a wide-awake, energetic ami pr< gressive man. and is meeting with g 1 success. Fraternally he is connected with the Improved Order of Red Men, and his wife is a member of the Iowa Legion of ]|i m r. ■»-<-*■ WILLIAM J. VAN OSDOLL. William J. Van < )sdoll, deceased, was for many years prominently identified with the business interests of Fort Dodge, and was 1 ne 1 t its most honored and highly re- spected citizens. A native of Pennsylvania, he was horn in Meshoppen, Wyoming nnty, December 18, 1829, and was a son 1 f Philip and Melissa (Churchill) Van ( >sd< 11, who came to this country from Hol- land and settled in Meshoppen, where our subject was reared and educated. In early life he learned the mason's trade, and at the 1 twenty years commenced contracting and building on his own account. Mr. Van Osdoll was thus employed un- til after the Civil war broke out, when he entered the service of his country, enlist- ing 1 n the 1 -t of September. 1862, in Com- pany P. Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volun- teer Infantry, under Captain Jayne and Colonel Dodge. The regiment became a 1 an of the Army of the Cumberland, I assigned to the First Brigade. Third Divis- ion. Fourth and Tenth Corps. Mr. Van Osdoll was mustered into service Septem- ber 16, [862, and with his command was sent to North Carolina to operate against Wilmington. Beauport ami Port Royal lie took part in the engagement on Morris Island, July 10, 1863, and at Fort Wagner from that date until the Oth of the follow- ing September, and was in the assault on Charleston in July, [864. Lie remained on Morris Island during the summer and autumn of ] 8* 14, doing duty as boat in- fantry, and in February, [865, Major Hen- nessy, with Company 1'., proceeded ag the city of Charleston and captured that stronghold of treason. On account of fever our subject was confined in the hospital at Beauport for four weeks, and was detailed fi ir special duty in the signal corps \< months in the fall of 1864. Lie was at- tached to the Army of the Cumberland un- til the last year of the war. when he was transferred to> Sherman's army. On the cessation of hostilities he was honorably discharged at Salisbury. North Carolina. June 24, 1865. When the war was over Mr. Van < >sdi 11 returned to his old home in Meshoppen, Pennsylvania, where he followed his chosen calling until the spring of 1868, when he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and continued to ivork at the mason's trade at this place throughout the remainder of his life. On locating here he built a house for the ac- commodation of his family. On the 2d of July, 1859, in Meshoppen, Pennsylvania, Mr. Van Osdoll married ,\h-- Olive Robinson, a daughter of John 32* THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and Olive (Howard) Robinson, who were natives of that state and residents of Wy- oming county, where her father followed farming. By this union the following chil- dren were born : Lillian, now the wife of W. M. Merritt, an insurance adjuster of Fort Dodge; Frank, who is a traveling salesman for the Stucco Mills and a resi- dent of Fort Dodge; and Olive, a stenog- rapher for S. R. Dohs, a wholesale fruit dealer of Fort Dodge. The son married Nettie Beach. As a public-spirited citizen Mr. Van Osdoll took an active interest in municipal affairs, and for four years was an influen- tial member of the city council of Fort Dodge. Socially he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He died on the 8th of February, 1898, leaving many friends as well as his immediate fam- ily to mourn his loss. He was a brave soldier and valued citizen, and commanded universal respect and esteem. SAMUEL ISAAC CHINBURG, D. D. S. Prominent among the successful den- tists of Webster county is Dr. S. I. Chin- burg, of Dayton, who was born in Henry county, Illinois, April 15, i860, of Swedish parentage. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, entered the service of his adopted country during the Civil war, and died in Andersonville prison. The mother died in Boone county, Iowa. In their fam- ily were five children, namely: August; Charles J., who married Tilla Burnquist and resides in Odebolt, Iowa; Carrie, widow of C. M. Blaine and a resident of La Crosse, Wisconsin; Mary, wife of Ho- bart Crane, of Menominee, Michigan ; and Samuel Isaac, of this review. Dr. Chinburg received a good common- school education, graduating from the third ward school of Des Moines. He then took a two years' course in dentistry at the Pennsylvania University, Philadelphia, and since leaving that institution in 1879 has successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession in Iowa, being located at Des Moines for' over ten years. He was then upon the road for nearly the same length of time, finally locating in Dayton in 1895. Here he has since made his head- quarters, but still does considerable work outside of the town. He has a well-equipped office, and enjoys a large and lucrative prac- tice, his skill and ability being widely recog- nized. PATRICK SCALLY. Patrick Scully, deceased, who for many years was prominently identified with the business interests of Fort Dodge, Iowa, was born in Castletown, Geoghagan, Ireland, in 1828, and came alone to America at the age of fourteen years. He first located in Illinois, where he worked in the mines for a number of years. While thus employed the Civil war broke out, and he manifested his love for his adopted country by enlist- ing at Belleville, Illinois, July 2j, 1801. as a private in Company K, Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was after- ward promoted to orderly sergeant. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Perryville and many other engagements under General Sherman ; and was a member of the corps sent to the relief of General Burnside. He was wounded at Knoxville, Tennessee. After over three years of arduous and faithful service on southern THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 329 battle fields, he was honorably discharged August 1. 1X1,4. and returned to his home in Illinois with a war record of which he could be justly proud. In (868 Mr. Scally came to Fort Dodge, and after being engaged in the saloon busi- ness for a short time, he opened a hotel in a building on the square and successfully conducted it until 1883. During the fol- lowing two years he practically lived re- tired and then again embarked in the hotel business, which he carried on until failing health compelled his retirement in 1891. At the church of the Holy Cross, in Xew York city, .Air. Scally was married, May 10. iN-,,. to Miss Rose Phelan, whose parents lived on a farm in Ireland adjoin- ing the Scally homestead. For four years previous to this Mrs. Scally had resided in that city, but after her marriage came to Fori Dodge, where they continued to make their home until his death, which occurred May 12, 1897. Of the four children born to himself and wife two survive him: Mary, wife of P. M. Dowd, a grocer of Fort Dodge; and Thomas, freight agent for the Illinois Central Railroad at this place. In business affairs Mr. Scally prospered and accumulated considerable property, in- cluding some farm land in Webster countv. a part of which his widow still owns, hav- ing a good farm in Don-las township and another in Washington township. She also owns the building where the firm of Dowd & Scally are engaged in the grocery business and her pleasant residence at 520 Third avenue south. At one time Mr. Scally was engaged in prospecting for coal, and was always a very progressive and en- ergetic business man. He was a member of ( ' rpus Christi church and Fort Donelson Post, Xo. 2^, G. A. R., of Fort Dodge, and was a man highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. In the care of her property Mrs. Scally has displayed good business and executive ability, and has met with good success. She is 'a most estimable woman, and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Fort Dodge who esteem her highly for her genuine worth. ■» » » ROBERT WILSON BLAIX. One of the representative farmers of W ebster county, Iowa, who has done much toward promoting the advancement and welfare of this section of the state, is Rob- ert Wilson Blain, who is now living retired on a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Douglas township. He is of Scotch de- scent, his grandfather. Robert Blain. hav- ing emigrated from Scotland in 1S02, and ed in Westmoreland county. Pennsyl- vania. There his life was spent in the pur- suits of farming and blacksmithing until hi- death, he having attained the age of eighty years. His wife. Elizabeth (John- son) Plain. al>o lived to an advanced age. William Blain. the father of our sub- ject, was but one year of age when he came to America with his parents. He spent the greater part of his life in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, but when fifty years of age he removed to California. There he engaged in mining, and passed away in his fifty-second year. He married Miss Cath- erine Weih. who was a faithful and loving companion to him, and who, lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-four. They were the parents of nine children, eight of whom reached mature years. Our subject, who is the eldest of the children, and a sister. Emily Graig. who resides in Chicago. Illinois, are the only surviving members of the family. 330 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Robert Wilson Blain, whose name in- troduces this review, was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, November [,. 1827. In the public schools of his na- tive county he received his early education, and there lie also learned the trades of gun- smith and machinist. In 1843 ne ' ett ms native state for the west, and settled in Clayton county, Iowa, where he engaged in millwright and carpenter work. He was employed largely in bridge building and mill work in that portion of the state until 1858, when lie removed to Webster county. Prior to his locating in this county he had purchased a valuable tract of .land in Clay county, which he had cultivated extensively. In i860, however, he sold this property and purchased the farm upon which he now re- sides, and which comprises a tract of two hundred and forty acres of rich land. To this property he has made improvements, and has all the modern equipments and im- plements necessary for the perfect culti- vation of the land, and in all the surround- ing country there is no farm which yields more bountiful harvests than that of Mr. Blain. Sixty acres of the land is devoted to the raising of corn; forty acres yield large crops of the smaller grains, while the remainder of the land is sown to hay, and also affords pasturage for his live stock. 'I he farm is perfect in its entirety. A com- fortable residence, well-filled barns and out- buildings present a neat and thrifty ap- pearance which plainly indicates the care and Labor which have been bestowed upon them. In addition to this property, Mr. Blain also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Humboldt county, Iowa. His life's labor has been crowned with success. and be now lives retired from active life, enjoying the well-earned rest which is his after years of unceasing labor. The duties of the farm are performed by one of his sons. In 1855 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Blain and AI iss Lydia Kendelstive, a native of Illinois, wdio has been a most lov- ing and helpful companion on the journey of life. Eleven children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Blain. namely: Edward !•"., James \Y.. Rosella A.. Sarah C, Carrie C, Charles L., Fannie A.. Kittie M.; William 11., Harry and Elmo. Politi- cally Mr. Blain is a stalwart Republican, and has always been active in local affairs. For nine successive years he held the office of township trustee, performing his duties with a promptness and fidelity that won for him the high respect and commendation of his fellow citizens. At the present time he is content to remain at his own fireside, de- clining to accept any public office. His in- fluence fi r good has always been felt in the community and mam- issues which have re suited in the progress and welfare of the county have been made successful through his untiring efforts. Since the establish- ment of the weather bureau in the state he has furnished the reports, and has also re- ported the crop conditions for Webster county. lie attends the Congregational church, and during his entire life has up- held the principles of justice and honor. He and his family have many friends in Webster countw and all who know them entertain for them the highest respect. ISAAC BELL. Among the prominent citizens of Web- ster count}-, Iowa, who through a number of years has been identified with the farming interests of the state, is Isaac Bell, who was ISAAC BELL MRS. ISAAC BELL THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 335 bum in Clay county, Indiana. February i_\ 1835, and is a son of [saac and Amy (Craig") Bell. His paternal grandfather was one of the brave soldiers of the war of iSij. and lived tu an extreme old age. llis remains were interred in Vigories cemetery, this county. The father of our subject was bom in Pennsylvania, and the mother in Virginia, of good old Revolutionary stuck. They were, married in Ohio and there the father engaged for some years in farming, and then removed to Clay county, Indiana, where he took up a government claim upon which the family lived for twelve years. Isaac Bell, Sr., was one of those hardy, adventurous men. who found enjoyment in the dangers and privations of pioneer life, enduring the trials in order to reap the bene- fits, hence, in [844, he sold his interests in Indiana and removed to Iowa, taking up a government claim again of one hundred and sixty acres. This was raw - prairie land, near Washington, then a trading post of uiie thousand inhabitants, and this land Mr. Eell broke with his oxen. Then this claim was sold tu tin isl' win" were willing tu pay fur land already broken, and Mr. Bell went tu Marion county, where he again took up a claim, improved it and three years later sold it ami moved into Hamilton county. On disposing of his property in that county he came ti> Webster county in April. [849. Here Mr. Bell bought one hundred and sixty acres in Yell township and lived upon this farm until his death, in February, 1871, his burial being in Vigories cemetery, this ti >w nship. The mother of our subject was removed by death, August 26, iSr.4. In 1865 Mr. Bell was married a second lime to- Mrs. Cynthia Townslay. The children burn b him were twelve in number, and all of the first marriage. They were as follows: Ja- cob, who firsl married Rachel Hardin and second Louisa La} tun, resided in Nell I ship; Jane, who married first Andrew Fautz and second Samuel Dungan, n in Harrison county, Iowa; Nancy, who married first Nelson Hunter, second James. Johnson and third William McDonald, re sided in Yell township; Pressley, who mar- ried Elmira Howard, resided in Hamilton county, where she died in February, [900; Elizabeth is the widow of Henry Craig, and resides in Richmond, Indiana; Sarah mar- ried Alexander Rogers, of Omaha, Ne- braska, and both are deceased: Purlonzo, who first married Jane Neice and second Mrs. Sophia Allen, lived in Stor) county, [owa; Isaac, of this biography, is the eighth in order of birth; Lucinda, who married William Jered, has passed away, as has her husband, having lived in Madrid, Iowa, and later. in Kansas; and one child died in in- fancy. Of the children five are now living. Isaac Hell, of this sketch, attended school in Boone county, Iowa, later fur a short period at Missouri Bend, and a district school] in Webster township, this county. After leaving school, at the age of nineteen. he continued tu assisl his father on the farm until he was twenty-one. Those were pio- neer days, and at the time of the location of the family in Iowa our subject recalls many hunting expeditions taken with his father, who was a fine sportsman. Then it was u ., trouble to keep the larder supplied with wild turkej and venison, and young I >aac became an expert hunter. On August jo, [858, Mr. Bell was united in marriage tu Miss Sarah V Stark. who w as In mi 111 \ igi 1, Indiana, Xii-im 1 o. [835. The Stark family originated in Wales and probably tew familie ; 1 an A m a greater number of American patriots upon its rolls, from the brave Captain Stark, of 336 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the Revolutionary fame, whom every school buy remembers as intimating the only way in which "Molly Stark" might be kept from being a widow, on down through later wars until 1861, when five brave brothers of Mrs. Bell testified to their loyalty by entering the Union army. Airs. Bell was the daughter of Jesse and Sarah ( Bates 1 Stark, both na- tives of Kentucky, although married in In- diana. Air. and Airs. Stark lived in Indi- ana until 1850, moving then to Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin, where they lived until the spring of [852. Then they moved to Boone county. Iowa, settling on land which Air. Stark bought at that time. In 1853 he moved to Yell township, Webster county, and lived upon his farm there until his death, October 15, 1877, his widow sur- viving until February 7, 188 1. Thirteen children were born to Air. and Airs. Stark, Airs. Bell being the ninth in order of birth, and the others as follows: Simeon, who died in Missouri, married Lu- zetta Herring, whose death occurred in Illi- nois, in which state they lived; Abraham married Isabella Herring and died at their home in [llinois, where his widow resides; Malinda married John Kuvkendall and re- sides in Santa Rosa, California; William, who married Elizabeth Shew, died in Illi- nois; Candace, who married George Kuy- kendall. 'lied at their home in Santa Rosa. California; Jessie, who married Winnia Mitchell, resides in Elmwood, Nebraska; James resides in Seattle. Washington; Ancel, who married Louisa De Fore, re- sides at Encline, Boone county, Iowa; Den- nis, who married Margaret Alitchell. re- sides at Elmwood. Nebraska; Charles gave up his life for his country dur- ing the Civil war: Christia Ann resides in Elmwood. Nebraska, and is the widow of John Mitchell, who died while in the Civil war; and George, who married Martha Armstrong, resides at Tindall, South Da- kota. After his marriage our subject moved to the fine farm which he now occupies on section 1. Yell township, Webster county, where his one hundred and fifty-four acres are now cultivated by his sons, Air. Bell having practically retired from activity. This is one of the most valuable farms in the township and under his capable man- agement has become one of the most pro- ductive. In political life, like his father, Mr. Bell has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic part}', and also like his father, he has been a leading member of the Chris- tian church. Formerly he was connected with tire Masonic lodge in Homer, Iowa. To Air. and Airs. Bell have been born a large and interesting family which has few broken links. Many of the children have married and the bright faces of happy grandchildren now surround our subject and his most worthy wife. These children were: Albert, born June 21, 1856, married first Airs. Ellen Grosehart and second Josie Denton; Purlonzo, born May 12, 1858, married Alary Swearingen, and they reside in Cripple Creek. Colorado; Estelle. born February 1. i860, was the wife of Samuel Armstrong, of Yell township, and died on June 19, 1888; Amy L., born July 6, 1,861, married Thomas Ervin and lives in ( >kla- homa City, Oklahoma: George S.. born June 26, 1863, married Lizzie Davis and resides in Cripple Creek. Colorado; Alary Alice, born November 12,-1867, married Grant Paul and resides in Yell township; Charles, born November 14, 1869, married Stella Baker and lives on the home place : William, born November 2, 1872, married Frank- Baker and resides in Yell township, on a THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 337 farm; John F., born November -'5, 1875. is single and lives at home; and Edith Delia and Eathel Rella, twins, were horn June 25. [883. C. H. PAYNE. New conditions in life gave rise to many new enterprises in the nineteenth cen- tury, pn minent among which was the mu- tual insurance business, and probably 110 single line of business has been of more practical value to mankind than this. The very term •'mutual" indicates that many share therein and profit by the good results that follow this co-operative industry. One 61 the leading representatives of mutual in- surance in northwestern Iowa is C. H. Payne, whose long residence in Fort Dodge, together with his business activity and ster- ling worth, has made him one of the best- known and most highly respected citizens in this part of the state. He is the present secretary of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Association of Webster and adjoining counties and is a director of the Iowa Tor- nado Insurance Company and the Central Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, while .if several other insurance companies he is a representative. Mr. Payne was born in Bridgeport, Ad- dison county. Vermont, April 25. 1829, a son of Roswell and Elmira (Barbour") Payne. In 1836 the father removed with his family to Galesburg, Illinois, the city having but a short time previous been founded. He was one of its earliest set- tlers and built one of the first houses there and devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife spent their remaining days in Galesburg and were laid to rest in the cemetery there. After attend- ing the common schools C. H. Payne con- tinued his education in Knox College, of Galesburg, and when a yi »ung man engaged in farming in Illinois, following that pur- suit until 1868. In the spring of that year Mr. Payne came to Fort Dodge. Theie was no rail- road here at the time and northwestern Iowa was still largely unimproved. Mr. Payne began merchandising in connection with the insurance business, with which he had al- ready become somewhat acquainted, having written his first insurance application in June. [851, nn ire than a half century ago. He met with creditable success in his mer- cantile enterprise and continued in the busi- ness until 187(1. when he sold out.since which tune he has given his entire attention to the insurance business. In 1884 he was one of tlie organizers 1 f the Farmers Mutual In- surance Company, which i< now carrying insurance to the amount of three ami a half million dollars. Success has attended the company from the start. The officers are L. S. Coffin, president; F. B. Drake, vice-' president; C. H. Payne, secretary; and C. W. Maher. treasurer, the last named suc- ceeding to the office < ai the death of C. C. Carpenter. On the 15th of April. 185J. Mr. Payne was united in marriage to Miss S. A. Reed, of Connecticut, and unto them have been h->rn seven children; F. \\.. who is pro- prietor of a mill and creamery at Williams, Iowa; F. E., a farmer and stock-raiser; Otho. who is engaged in the breeding of line stock; Rev. C. A., who is pastor of the ( ngregational church in Berlin. Wiscon- sin; George H.. a real estate dealer 1 f Payne. Knox county. Xehraska ; Henry l:.. who is engaged in the real estate busi- ness in Omaha: Walter W.. a merchant of Truesdale, h-w a: and Harriet, who is as- 338 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. sisting her lather in business. The family attend the Congregational church, of which the parents have long been faithful mem- bers, while Mr. Payne has served for many years as deacon. He is a public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in all movements calculated to- advance the material, social, intellectual or moral interests of the com- munity. In his business his enterprise, capable management and straightforward dealings have brought him creditable pros- perity and he is still a very active factor in insurance circles, although he has passed the Psalnii^t's span of three score years and ten. His life, honorable and upright, has ever commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow men, and among the represen- tative citizens of Webster county he well deserves prominent mention. W. II. II. COLBY & BROTHER. The firm whose name introduces this re- view is composed of two of the most enter- prising and energetic business men of north- western Iowa, men who have made their own way in the world, who owe their ad- vancement and prosperity to their own efforts. For a number of years they have been identified with business interests in Port Dodge, where they are now conduct- ing a large livery stable, which is well patronized. They also have a feed barn which is run in connection with the livery. '! be senior member of the firm is W. H. II. Colby and the brother is Charles Colby. while Fred < .. Colby, a son of the former. aKo owns an interest in the business. All reside in Fort Dodge, and their progressive and enterprising spirit makes them valued citizens. The Colbys were an old Xew England family, and Harrison and Jane Colby, the parents of W. IT. II. and Charles Colby, were natives of Vermont. The family re- moved from the Green Mountain state to Wisconsin about 1855. The father traded his Vermont property for a stock of jewelry in Boston and on arriving at Token creek, Wise msin, he exchanged the jewelry for a hotel property in the Badger state. He next brought his family to the west, and in Wis- ci msin conducted a hotel and store, his son, W. II. II. Colby, managing the latter. For five or six years the father remained there ami then traded his property for a farm in .Massachusetts. After spending four or five years in agricultural pursuits he rented a hotel in Greenfield, Massachusetts, called the Franklin House, conducting the same for about three years, when he returned to the farm, which had been rented during the time he was in the hotel. This was in 1865. It was about 1874 when he came to Fort Dodge, where he lived in retirement from business cares. His death occurred in 1888 and his wife passed away fourteen months later. They were the parents of four chil- dren : Delia, who has passed away; Eliza- beth, who is the widow of F. Randall, who served as a captain in the Civil war and con- tracted disease which resulted in his death after the close of hostilities ; and W. H. H. and Charles. The living sister is a resident of Pasadena, California. W. FI. H. Colby was born in Barton, Vermont, March 18, 1840, and was about fifteen years of age when with his mother, his sisters and brother he went to Wis- consin to join his father. He assisted his father largely in his business there, managing the store and early developed excellent ability. When only nineteen \eais 1 f age he was married, on the W. H. H. COLBY THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 34i 25th of June. [859, to MisS Emily E. Spaulding, a daughter of < ieorge A. Spauld- iv.g. who was a native of Vermont and an early settler of Wisconsin. Her mother died in the Badger state and her father afterward made his Inane with Mrs. Colby until his death. After his marriage the subject of this review purchased a farm and for a time en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. During the war he purchased horses for the government service in Wisconsin. He was also en- gaged in the cattle industry, and he pur- chased a hotel and livery barn at Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, being associated in the latter enterprise with Jim and Fred Bird. A year later, however, he sold his interest and went to-Mesmania, where he purchased a livery stable, which he conducted for eighteen months and then sold. His next place of residence was New Lisbon, \\ is- consin, where he entered into partnership with Mr. Tobler in the livery business, which he conducted for three years. He then sold his interest to his partner, and in 1870 became a resident of Iowa, settling at Fort Dodge. Prior to this he went to Du- buque at the request of his friend. George B. Burch, a prominent lumber dealer, who was then mayor of the city, but not liking the outlook he decided not to take up his abode there and came on to Fort Dodge. In company with a partner of Mr. Burch he started for Sioux City, looking for a favor- able location for a lumber yard ,and after visiting many points in Iowa they selected Fort Dodge. Mr. Colby leased property where the Colby Brothers' barn is now lo- cated, with the privilege of buying the same within two years, and when six months had passed he had prospered so greatly that the land was bought by Mr. Colby. He was also in the lumber business in Fort Dodge for three year- after his arrival here, and when he sold out he had ten thousand dol- lars up n his bo ks, Ei r he was always gen- erous 111 giving credit to the need) time upon the purchases and thus enabling many to build homes who could not have done so otherwise. In 1S70 Mr. 1 built his first livery barn, and after having two wooden structures he now has a fine pressed brick barn upon the site of the old ones. His land has a frontage of one hun- dred and seven feet and a depth of one hun- dred and forty feet. The firm also owned a farm of three hundred acres, which eventu- ally they sold. In addition to renting out horses and vehicles of every description the firm has' engaged to some extent in the breeding of tine horses and now- have about eighty head. When a young man W. H. H. Colby began driving on the track, and dur- ing the greater part of the time since has acted as his own driver when- his horses have been entered for racers, being still as gi od a jockey at the age of sixty-one as he was when a young man of twenty. He was the owner of the famous horse Minnie Max- field, which dropped dead on the track at Cedar Rapids. He also owned Charles G. Hays, with a record of 2:29*4; John A. Rolinds. with a record of 2:29^; raised Hazel Maid, which also nude a record of 2:29^4", and he gave six horses in exchange for Alda. whose record was 2:14. He was offered three thousand dollars for her at Terre 'Haute. He owned Rollo, which in the second year made a record .if 2 :j,v _> and the fourth year 2:iS r 4 . also won erne thousand dollars in Omaha and held the world's record twice as a two-year-old. Finally this horse was sold in Rhode Island for fifteen hundred dollars. In every line of business in which Mr. Colby has been en- gaged he has won success, and his enter- 342 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. prise and determination are splendid quali- ties which might serve as a profitable ex- ample to many others. Unto Mr. and Airs. Colby were born two children : Fred and Xellie, the latter the wife of Arthur Keyes, of California. In his social relations Mr. Colby is a Mason and is a charter member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle in Fort Dodge. In poli- tics he takes a deep interest and votes with the Republican party, but has always re- fused to become a candidate for office, pre- ferring to give his undivided attention to bis business, which has rewarded his faith- fulness with a handsome competence. LOUIS ERICKSOX. For over a third of a century this gen- tleman has been a resident of Webster ci unty, and was early identified with its agricultural pursuits. Having met with excellent success in business affairs, he is now able to spend his remaining days in ease and comfort at his pleasant home in Dayton, where he has lived for the past eleven years. Like many of the best citizens of the county, Mr. Erickson is a native of Sweden, in which country his parents spent their en- tire lives. He was born September n, 1831, ami is ' ne of a family of six chil- dren, of whom two died in Sweden. Of those living he is the oldest, the others being John Olaf and Louisa, both residents of Sweden; and August, who now makes his home in Dayton township, this county. Mr. Erickson was reared and educated in In- native land, and in 1856 emigrated to America. He took passage at Stockholm 1 m a sailing' vessel, the Sattell, and after a voyage of six weeks' duration landed in Xew York. For two years he made his home in Chicago while employed as a sailor on Lake Michigan. On the 14th of March, 1S63, he was married at Bishop Hill, Illi- nois, to Miss Emma Augusta Xewstrand, and they made their home at that place un- til coming to Iowa in 1866. Mrs. Erickson died while on a visit to Bishop Hill, Oc- tober 5, 1884, and was buried there. She left five children, namely : Emma, who married a Mr. Weistrom, of Denver, Colo- tado, and is now deceased; Ida, who is teaching in a high school at Butte, Mon- tana : Victor, who is married and lives in Denison, Texas, where he is employed as engineer on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad; Levina, who is teaching school at Whitehead, Montana; and Melvin, who is now a student in the medical department of the State University at Iowa City. Mr. Erickson was again married, October 20, 1886, his second union being with Mrs. Anna Peterson. There are no children by the second marriage. On coming to Webster county in 1866 Mr. Erickson purchased eighty acres of wild land in Dayton township, which he at once began to break and place under cultivation, and at the same time erected thereon the necessarv farm buildings which to-day are still standing. As time passed and he pros- pered in his farming operations he added i'' his property and now owns a fine farm of "ne hundred and twenty acres, though fi ir the past eleven years he has lived a re- tired life in the village of Dayton. When he came to the county it was all wild and unimproved with exception of the land along tlie edge of the timber, and with its development and upbuilding he has since been identified. In 1875 Mr. Erickson was made a Ma- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 343 son at Ashland Lodge. No. in, of Fort Dodge, and is now connected with Oak Lodge. No. 531, A. F. & A. M. He at- tends the Swedish Methodist church and is a supporter of the Democratic party. He has served on the school board and filled other township offices in a most creditable and acceptable manner. PERRY MAPES. Perry Mapes is a well-known farmer re- siding on section 36, Newark township, his place being conveniently located within four miles of the village of Vincent. He was born in Cuyahoga county. Ohio, on the 10th of September, 1844. there being but one farm between the Mapes homestead and the farm on which President Garfield was born and reared. John 1). Mapes. the father 1 if our subject, was born in New York state, in 1S07. and was a son of Captain Seth Mapes, also a native of the Empire state. The family is of Welsh origin and was founded on Long Island prior t< 1 the Revolutii -nary war. Our subject's grandfather held a captain's com- mission in the Xew York militia. As early as [814 he removed to Cuyahoga county, < >hio, becoming one of the pioneers of that locality, and there opened up a farm, on which he lived for ten years. He then re- tni ved to another farm in the same county, which place is still owned and occupied by members of the family. John D. Mapes grew to manhood in Ohio and there mar- ried Miss Henrietta Patchen, a native of Xew York, who removed to the Buckeye state when a young lady. Her father, Noah Patchen, was another of the early settlers < 1 Cuyahoga county. After his marriage Mr. Mapes made his home in that county throughout the remainder of his life, with the exception of about three years spent in Ashtabula county, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pursuits. He died October 8, 1885, but his wife, now in her ninety-first year, still survives him and continues to reside on the old homestead with a daughter. Perry is the sixth in or- der of birth in their family of eight chil- dren, four sons and four daughters, seven of whom reached years of maturity, while two sons and three daughters are still liv- ing. On the old farm in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, Perry Mapes passed the days of his boyhood and youth, receiving his early ed- ucation in the local schools. Later he at- tended Willoughby Collegiate Institute and Baldwin University. When the country be- came involved in civil war, he resolved to strike a blow in defense of the Union, and on the 1 2th of August. 1862, he enlisted for three years, or during the war, in Com- pany D. One Hundred and Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Ohio. He aided the de- fense of Cincinnati, and the siege of Knox- ville. and later, after an illness, was on de- tached duty, serving as telegraph messenger in the office of Knoxville for about one year. Subsequently he rejoined his com- mand and was with Sherman's army in the campaign from Goldsboro to Raleigh. While en route from Knoxville h G bon , he attended the second inauguration of President Lincoln. March 4. 1865. On rejoining his command he did guard duty at General Schofield's headquarters. After the surrender 1 E I< hnsti n's arm] to Gen- eral Sherman. Mr. Mapes was one of twen- ty-five men that accompanied several offi- cers from Raleigh to, Greensboro, to receive 344 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the surrender of the army and property, in- cluding the rebel officers, guns, ammuni- tion and all the accoutrements of war. The war having ended, he was honorably dis- charged at Raleigh, North Carolina, June i_\ 1865, ail( ' was mustered out of service at Cleveland, Ohio. Returning to his home Mr. Mapes re- sumed his studies and later engaged in teaching school in Ohio until 1869, when he went to Illinois and followed the same pr< fession off and on for twenty-five years, in Fulton, Peoria, McLean and Iroquois counties. Returning to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, he was there married March 20, [873, tn .Miss Diana E. Luse. who was burn in the same township where her husband's birth occurred. Her father, Jesse H. Luse, was a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, and became a farmer of Cuyahoga county. There Airs. Mapes was reared and educat- ed, attending first the common schools and later Willoughby Collegiate Institute. She. too, engaged in teaching school, both before and after her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Mapes began "their married life in Peoria county, Illinois, where they taught sch< ml together for a time. Later they 1 enn ived t< 1 a farm near Saybrook, Mc- Lean county, Illinois, where they made their home for about five years. In 1883 they located on a farm near Gil- man, Iroquois county, Illinois, but Mr. Mapes left the land to be operated by ten- ants while he engaged in school teaching, lint finally devoted his attention to carrying on the farm. Selling the place in 1895, he came to 'Webster county, Iowa, and pur- chased the farm where he now resides, tak- ing up his residence thereon the following year. He now owns one hundred and forty-four acres on section 36, Newark township, and section 1, Colfax township. and is successfully engaged in its operation and in stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Mapes have three chil- dren : Florence, who is now a student at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa ; and Edwin P. and Erwin K.. who are both at- tending Tobin College, Fort Dodge, Iowa. The family hold membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of Vincent, of which Mr. Mapes is an official member and superintendent of the Sunday-school, hav- ing been an active worker in the same for many years. Politically he has affiliated with the Republican party since he cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1868, but he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. Although his residence in Webster county is of comparatively short duration, he has already made many warm friends and is held in high regard by all who know him. AUGUST GROSEXP.AUGH. August Grosenbaugh, who is now liv- ing a retired life in Dayton, Iowa, is a vet- eran ohio, July 1. [865, and return carawas county, that state. At Mount Eaton. Ohio. Mr. Grosen- baugh was married Septembei 2. [865, I Miss Susanna Olmstead, who was born in Tuscarawas county. February 17. 1842, though of Swiss origin, her parents. Daniel and Elizabeth (Ricksicker) Olmstead, be- ing natives of Switzerland. Her father came to America in 1833 ani ' ner mother four or five years later. They first located in Stark county, < >hio, whence thev removed h Tuscarawas county, and there the father engaged in fanning throughout life. In their family were ten children, namely: Mary, wife of Jacob Intermill, of Jewell county, Kansas: Elizabeth, wife of Theo- dore Nydegger, who lives on the old home- stead in Ohio: Susanna, wife of our sub- ject; Frederick, a resident of Mt. Pleasanl Michigan, who first married Sevilla Mew- maw and second Emma Zingry; Sophia. wife of Godfrey Feller, of Jewell county, Kansas; Margaret, who died at the age of twelve years: Caroline, wife of William Putnam, of Stark county, Ohio: Daniel, who is married and lives near QLudwig Michigan: Joseph, who married Louise Ruffer and also resides near Ludwig and Amelia, who died at the age of five years. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Grosenbaugh, Eloise. the eldest, mar- ried Homer Fultz and is successfully en- in the practice of medicine in Perry, Iowa, while her husband is an engineer on the Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad: John J. married Leota Marsh and is engaged in the grain business al Nemaha, Iowa, in con- 348 THE BIOGR \rilKAI. RECORD. uection with \\. Marsh, having buill the energy, is quick of perception, forms his first elevatoi al thai place; Lena died al the plans readily and is determined in (heir ex- age i i twent) one years; Fred A. is a law ecution, Though he is now known as one Nr| "! Fort Dodge; Amanda died al the age of the capitalists of this pari of the state, i i two years; Carrie is preparing herself to and is not activel) engaged in business save entei the legal profession ; Otille, who was a in the management of his investments, it "' iduate oi the I lighland Park ( lollege, I >es was his close application and excellent man- Moines, died at the age oi nineteen years; agernenl thai broughl to him the high de • nd Minnie also dud al the age O'f nineteen, gree of prosperity which is to day his. No 1,1 the fall "i [865 Mr. Grosenbaugh re legitimate business can be carried on thai moved to Benton county, Iowa, and two does nol prove oi benefil to the community yeai latei came to Webster county, where in which ii is located, and the interests of In took up a homestead claim oi one nun- Mr. Reynolds have nol only contributed to dred mu\ sixty acres, and was successfully his own success but in large measure have engaged in agricultural pursuits for man) promoted the commercial activity and con- years, and is now living a retired life in sequent prosperity of Fori Dodge. Dayton Vs he prospered in business ai Mr. Reynolds is a western man by birth fairs in added to his landed possessions and training, and early became imbued with from time to nine until he now owns four the progressive spirit which has led to the hundred and fiftj seven acres of land in wonderful development of the great district Kans, is; ;i quartei ection in Burnside this side of the Mississippi.. His birth oc township, this count) ; and a good home in curred near Boonville, Missouri, Decern Dayton. Mis political support is given the her 27, [844, and he is a son of S. R. and men and measures of the Republican party, V W. (Worley) Reynolds, the former a and In 1 ,1 membei oi the Grand \nn\ of native oi Vermont, the latter of Ma sa the Republic, while his wife helds member chusetts. In [839 they emigrated west ship in the Woman's Relief Corps. The) ward, taking up their abode in Missouri, attend the Methi clisl Episcopal church and whence they came to Eowa in [846, aco m are people ol the highesl respectability, plishing the entire journe) wjith an ox- whosc circle oi friends and acquaintances is team. The) settled in Delaware county, extensive. seven miles north of Manchester, where Mr. * ' * Reynolds engaged in both farming and merchandising. \t that time his nearest V S. R. REYNOLDS. neighbor was five miles away and the dis- trict was wild and unimproved. He aided Honored and respected b) all, there is in removing a band of Indians to a reserva iiH man in Fort Dodge who occupies a more tion furthei west; wild game of various enviable position in commercial and linan kinds abounded, and there were few evi- 1i.1l circles than A. S. R. Reynolds, nol dences of the fact thai civilization had 1 on accounl of the brilliant success he taken rool in this then wild western dis- has achieved bu1 also on accounl of the hon- trict. A tract of wild prairie obtained from orable, straightforward business policy he the government was transformed into a hat ever followed He possesses untiring fine farm 1>\ \h Reynolds and thereon ho 'I ill. BIOGRAPHK i )RD. remained until about fivi At ame time he i arried on men hai i going to Dubuque, a distance of thirt) ■\ here he would pun ha e a mall of goods, n ing an • to In- home distri* i, wl i pi ed of them to his neighboi . \l.ont five ago he retired o maki ■ who lives fi nr miles north of the i family homestead in Delaware county. He bi rn Augusl 4, 181 1, and still 1 good health, although hi failed somewhat. II an ac • '1 to his bu ind the faithful performanc ip, and in his de< lining 1 whicl has been an honorable one through many His wife, who was born Septi 1-'. 1. Si 7. dq>arted this lifi twelve children, of whom six are living: who married I. ' , and lives in Dela R, |j., i" the Erne 1 II. and Elihu II.. are living in Buchanan Mr pending his boyhood tber on the farm and in his when, aroi 1 spirit of patrioti ing south, Imt I the Indian , t u, the frontier to quell the uprising of tl • men and protect the front • ,' rom their attacl -I,.,,! 1 taking placi at T; I land oi the dee,. '| he troop 1 tin Indian \ about Eon Li ■ ■ hou and tndian idred whiti ti d until d.-nk and the arm) encamped on the field, but th< eni bai 1 thi ■. had left I • ipply train. W'lni' mj .Mi. Ri lartici- continued in the [ndi; 1 ity, in October, 1 1« ■■■< dis< barged and paid off at 1 1 port, and [( ,,n the \ irgin prairii 'I he following account the n from the 1 ■ 17, 1901, will erest. the relief part;. j n t |„ : "In the ummer 1 leneral Sully and ' , rdered out to 1I1. . an( j captlin Indian-. 1 ed from the east and al Sully came up thi Fort Piei point line that n the division of I rd and advanced to the hill -liinie the divide ■ and ing. General Sul dajor House, with tl and remaii 1 35° THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. small command turned the corner of a sharp hill and found itself within a few yards of the Indian village, which contained many thousand men. women and children. To attack this force alone meant annihilation, and besides, was against orders, and to re- treat was equally impossible, as it would draw the whole tribe upon them. The only thing, then, that could lie dune was to send La Tramheau. the half-breed scout, back to camp to inform Sully of their situation and trust to Sully's ability to reach them before dark. Major House's command was at this time about twelve miles east of General Sully's camp, and the sun was settling low toward the west. The Indians knew their advantage over the soldiers, and while si m< of the young bloods wanted to finish them at once, the older men counseled them to wait until the darkness, when it would lie more complete, as the soldiers knew noth- ing of the country and. could not escape them. The Indians at this time supposed that this four hundred men were all there was. The Indians were confident of the ultimate outcome, and walked about the o immand at a short distance, and even par- leyed among themselves as to which should have this horse or that, as the fancy hap- pened to strike them. They jeered and mocked at the soldiers, and held up both hands pointing at one of the soldiers to sig- nify that they were ten to one. The sol- diers agreed that when the chances for res- cue before dark were gone they would fight and sell their lives as dearly as possible. As the sun neared the horizon the Indians began to prepare for their bloody work, and the soldiers began to shake hands and bid their comrades goodbye, as there would be no quarter given or taken. At this time the second and third battalions of the Iowa regiment came up behind the first battalion and then everything was confusion in the Indian village, the old men. women and children began to cut down the tepees and break camp. The joy of the rescued bat- tallion can better he imagined than told. As soon as their comrades reached them they immediately began to attack and drove the Sioux before them over the hill and down into a small draw, when the Ne- braska regiment appeared on the hill in front of them and they turned with despera- tion upon the Iowa cavalry, and for half an hour one of the most desperate battles of the western frontier ensued. At length the Indians discovered a weak point in the Mile line. They cut everything loose from their horses and escaped into the darkness. General Sully captured everything they had. clothing, food and camp equipage, be- sides one hundred and seventy-five old men, women and children." Returning to his home in Delaware county. Mr. Reynolds was engaged in chop- ping cord wood and splitting rails for two years. In 1(869 ' ie accepted a position as clerk in a general store at Earlville, Dela- ware county, where he remained for three years, after which he was employed in a similar capacity in another store. On the 24th of February, 1872, he came to Fort Dodge, and with the capital he had ac- quired through his own exertions he pur- chased a grocery store at 523 Central av- enue, which he conducted for one year and a half. He then erected a building at 521 Centra] avenue and continued in the same nine years, when he moved into the Rey- nolds block and for eleven and a half years conducted the store in that part, where the Commercial National Bank is now located. He remained in that line of business for twenty-two years, during which time his patronage constantly increased as the result THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 35i of his enterprise, capable management and earnest desire to please his patrons, coupled with business methods that were above re- proach. In 1894 he disposed of bis store ami lias since given his attention to the management of his property interests, fi r as the years have gone by he has made \\ ise and extensive investments in real estate. In 188] he built the Reynolds block, at the corner of Central avenue and Seventh street — a bank, store and office building with a Masonic hall on the third floor. The build- ing has a frontage of forty-nine feet, with E depth of one hundred and forty feet, and is three stories in height with basement. It was the first building of any importance erected east of Sixth street, now Seventh street, but now the court house, one of the finest in the state, stands opposite the Rey- nolds block. He also erected another building at the corner of Ninth street and First avenue, north, and these stand as monuments of his enterprise, — the visible proof of his life of business activity. On the 6th of February, 1872, Mr. Rey- nolds was united in marriage to Miss M. F. Wilkenson, a native of Indiana and a daughter of George Wilkenson, who was an early settler of Fort Dodge, where his widow still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Rey- it iil> have one son, Lewis M., now a mem- ber of the Fort Dodge fire department. He has also been connected with the American Express Company, also served as clerk in the post office for a time. Mr. Reynolds has never taken an active part in politics aside from voting, his sup- port being given to the men and measures of the Republican party. He has served on the school board for fourteen years, and the cause of education has found in him a warm friend, ready and willing to institute improved methods that will lead to practical results in the schoolroom. Socially he is o limited with the Masonic fraternity. In [870 lie was initiated into the order and is a charter member of Earlville Lodge. Such in brief is the history of one who ranks prominent among the most successful men of litis section of the state, and his life demonstrates the possibilities of accom- plishment in this land where caste or class do not hamper ambition and ability. Stead- ily he has advanced, and his energy, de- termination and straightforward business methods have enabled him to meet compe- tition and secure a liberal patronage, which has brought to him success. DAVID RISK. This well-known citizen of Fort Dodge, residing at 1522 Third avenue, south, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 4th of Au- gust, 1843, his parents being James and Mary Ann (Everett) Risk, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Bucks ci unity. Pennsylvania. They had two other children : A. C, who is now prospecting in the Rocky mountains ; and Mary Eliza- beth, who died in Michigan. On leaving Cleveland, Ohio, in 1852, the family re- moved to Racine, Wisconsin, and resided there until 1865, when they went to Wilton, Minnesota, but the following year came to Iowa, and took up their residence on a farm in Deer Creek township, Webster county. After following farming for some years the father is now living a retired life in Fort Dodge, enjoying a well-earned rest. David Risk completed his education in the schools of Burlington. Wisconsin, then engaged in teaching school for two winters in that state and one winter in Minnesota 352 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. during the residence of the family in that state. After coming to Iowa he followed the same pursuit in Webster county during the winter months, while the summer sea- sons were devoted to farming for some years. He was secretary of the teachers' i rganization in this county for a number of years. In 1871 Mr. Risk was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary J. Haviland, a daughter of David and Cecelia (Wood) Haviland, who were natives of New York, the Haviland family being founded in Dutchess county, that state, at an early date. After residing in Princeton, Bureau coun- ty. Illinois, for some time Mrs. Risk's par- ents came to Webster county, Iowa, in 1854, and bought a tract of government land. Mr. Haviland was prominently identified with the early development of that county. In his family were ten children, four sons and six daughters. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Risk was a successful teacher, and taught a number of terms in Fort Dodge. Our subject and his wife have two chil- dren : Ida is the wife of W. S. Johnson, and they now reside in Brisbane. Australia. Lyle, the younger daughter, is engaged in teaching school in Deer Creek township, this county. Mr. Risk remained upon the farm, which adjoined that of his father's, and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1881. In that year he rented his farm and re- ■ d to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he took up the study of telegraphy and later entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad as station agent at Amiret, Minnesota, where he remained un- til 1883. He then returned to Webster county and resumed fanning, continuing at that occupation until 1891, when he re- moved to Cowrie, where he carried on busi- ness as a hardware dealer for two years. He next spent six years at Grand Junction, Colorado, engaged in the fruit business, and at the end of that time returned to Fort Dodge, where he has since made his home. He was a charter member of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and secretary of the Webster Grange for a time. Up to 1883 Mr. Risk was a supporter of the Democratic party, but in that vear he changed to the Republican party, which organization he adhered to until 1896, since which time he has voted independent of party lines. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county where much of his life has been passed, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends. BENJAMIN GRAYSON. Among the old and honored residents of Fort Dodge is numbered Benjamin Gray- son, who is a native of the old Dominion, his birth having occurred in Loudoun countw Virginia, October 27, 1833. His parents were Richard O. and Margaret ( Fitzhugh) Grayson, both representatives of old and distinguished families of that state. The father, who was a large land- owner, died in Virginia, when about fi irty years of age, and the mother when fi »rty- one. In their family were six children, namely: Ann, wife of Colonel Fitzhugh, of Staunton, Virginia; Mary, wife of Rev. E. H. Harlow, of Washington. D. C. ; Ben- jamin, our subject; T. F., a resident of Fort Dodge: Richard O.. who was killed in the Civil war: and Helen, who died in infancy. The subject of this review was prin- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 353 cipally reared and educated in his native county. He attended an academy at Lees- burg, Virginia, and also the mathematical school at Alexandria, that state, where he took a cour.se in mathematics and civil en- gineering. Leaving home in 1853. at the age of twenty years, he went to Missouri, and at St. Louis became connected with a civil engineer who had in charge the con- struction of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Rail- mad, and who appointed Mr. Grayson as superintendent of the building of the road aliing the first twenty-five miles cast of St. Joseph. He was thus employed until the sus- pension nt the work, when he came to Fort Dodge, October 1, 1855, as a civil engineer in locating land warrants. He also acted as agent for several eastern land agencies, and is to-day well known among the ex- tensive land owners of Iowa. On the 27th of October, 1858. Mr. Grayson married Miss Nannie S. Rhodes, also a native of Loudoun county. \ "irginia, and a daughter of Captain H. H. Rhodes, of the United States navy, now deceased. Of the eight children born of this union, four are still living, namely: Marion, a resident of Hartford, Connecticut; Rich- ard, a lumberman of Seattle, Washington; and Benjamin and Robert, both residents nl'l >es Mi lines, L iwa. When Mr. Grayson came to Fort Dodge there was not a settlement between this city and Sioux City, and those early days were fraught with considerable pio- neer experience. He served as assistant paymaster in the Federal army for a time, returning to Fort Dodge in 1804. since which time he has made his home uninter- ruptedly here. He was made a Mason in 1858, being the first man initiated into the lodge at this place. Religiously he is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. I rrayson has made for himself an honorable reo nl m business, as a citizen, friend and neighbor he is true to ever) duty, and justly merits the esteem in which he is held. J( Ml AX AXDERSOX. For several years this gentleman was one of the leading farmers of Webster county, but having retired from active labor, he now makes his home in Dayton, where he is surrounded by all the comforts which makes life worth the living. Like many of the best citizens of the count}', he is a native of Sweden, his birth having oc- curred in that country. August 14. 1828. There his parents, Anders and Hakanson (Britta) Anderson, spent their entire lives. In their family were six children, of whom three remained in Sweden and the others came to America, namely: Christina, now the widow of Charles Anderson and a resi- dent of Sweden: Charley, who is married and also lives in that country; Julian, our subject; .Marx, wile of Joseph Freeburg, a farmer of Dayton township, this county; Andrew, who died in Sweden: and Char- lotte, wife of Swan Nelson, of Wapello county, Iowa. Johan Anderson received his education at his mother's knee, and grew to manli 1 in his native land. There he was married on the 5th of November, 1863. to Miss Hannah Nelson, who was born in Sweden. November 11, 1S37, a daughter of Xels and Helena Peterson. Her parents came to America i,n 1881 and made their home with our subject, where the father died May 7, 1888. and the mother January 24. 1901. Their children were Lizzie, wife of John Anders, m, of Webster county; Anna, wife 354 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. of August Schultz, a farmer of Dayton township; Hannah, wife of our subject; Christina, whi i married Otto Anderson, but both are now deceased; Peter, who is mar- ried and lives on a farm near Dayton ; and Charles, who is also married and lives near Dayton. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson only one is now living, Hulda, who is the wife of Rev. J. E. Rydback, now of Stanton, Iowa, and has four children, Theodore, Alfhild, Eveline and Linnea. In 1864, the year following their mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson emigrated to America, and first located in Andover, Henry county, Illinois, where they spent six years on a rented farm. At the end of that period they came to Webster county, Iowa, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, which he still owns. To the cultivation and improvement of that place he devoted his energies until 1889, when he removed to Dayton, and has since lived a retired life. Besides his valuable farm he owns a good home in Dayton, all of which propertv has been acquired through his own well directed efforts. Industrious, enter- prising and progressive, he met with suc- cess in his farming operations and is to- day quite well-to-do. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and religiously both he and his estimable wife are members of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church. GEORGE MUSBURGER. Since the spring of 1888 this gentleman has been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Webster county, and is now the owner of a well-improved and valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 25 and 36, Newark township. A native of Ohio, he was born near Cincinnati, Hamilton county, June 18, 1844. a son of John G. and Lizzie Muv burger. The father was born and reared in Germany, and on coming to America when a young man he located in Hamilton coun- ty, Ohio, where he followed, farming throughout the remainder of his life. There he was married, and to himself and wife were born four children, our subject being the only son. His sisters were Barbara, wife of Charles Bastian, who was formerly a resident of Webster county, Iowa, but now lives in Oklahoma; Lizzie, wife of James Birtwell. of La Salle county, Illinois; and Mary, wife of a Mr. Burkhart. The parents both died of cholera in 185 1, within twenty-lour hours of each other. Thus our subject was left an orphan at an early age and was reared by strangers, being forced to endure many hardships and privations and having but limited school privileges. He spent a part of his boyhood and youth mi a farm in Ohio, and the re- mainder in the city of Cincinnati. Coming" west in 1858, he first located in La Salle county. Illinois, where he worked on a farm by the month until after the breaking out of the Civil war. Feeling that his country needed his services, be enlisted on the 14th of August, 1862, for three years or during the war, and became a member of Company F, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. His first engage- ment was the battle of Hartsville, Tennes- see, followed by the battles of Lookout Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Chattanooga, Resaca, Marietta and Peach Tree Creek. During the last named engagement Mr. Musburger received a gunshot through the GEORGE MUSBURGER THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 357 right shoulder, and was disabled for some tune. He was at first confined in the hos- pital at Chattanooga, but was later taken to Nashville, from there to Louisville, then to Evansville, Indiana, and still later to Ouincy, Illinois. Having partially recov- ered, he rejoined his regiment at Washing- ton, D. C, and from that city was sent to Chicago, where he was honorably dis- charged on the 1 6th of June, 1865, the war li,i\ ing ended. He then returned home, and for three years worked on a farm. On the 28th of December, [869, in La Salle county, Illinois, Mr. Musburger was united in marriage with Miss Sarah S. Wakey, a native of that county and a daugh- ter of William and Elizabeth Wakey. By tins union were born four children, namely: (1) George W., born October 7. 1S70, is now engaged in business in Fort Collins, Colorado, lie is married and has two daughters, Velma M. and Zeta P. (2) I [ar- rison J., born July 13, 1872, is now op- erating the home farm. He is man ied and has four children, Mabel O., Vernon J., Roy F. and Elmer C. (3) Milo, horn July <,. [881, is also at home. (4) Lloyd E., born October 27, 1890, is attending the home school. For about five years after his marriage Mr. Musburger was engaged in farming on rented land, and then bought one hundred and sixteen acres in La Salle county. Illi- nois, to the further improvement and culti- vation of which he devoted his energies For some years. He also added to- it from time to time until he had two hundred and forty acres, but sold that place in -1888 on his re- moval to Iowa. Locating in Webster coun- ty, he purchased a partially improved place of two hundred and forty acres in Newark township, and has since bought an adjoin- ing eighty-acre tract. He has since built a good and substantial residence and outbuild- ings, has set out shade trees, and to da one of the most desirable farms of its size in the county. In connection with general farming he is engaged in stock raising and has met with well-deserved success in all his undertakings. His prosperity is due to his indefatigable labor, enterprise and good management, as well as the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed proved a true helpmate to him. Politically Mr. Musburger has been a life long Republican and cast his first presi- dential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He and his wife attend the Methodist Epis- copal church, having been reared in that faith, and the}- are among the most highly respected and honored citizens of their community, their circle of friends being 1 inly limited by their circle of acquaintances. HENRY CARR. Henry Carr, one of Dayton's most pros- perous and influential citizens, was born on the 10th of December, 1833, in the Shen- andoah valley, his birthplace being near Newmarket, in Rockingham county, Vir- ginia. His parents, Samuel and Sarah ( Miley) Carr, were natives of the same county, and continued to reside there until 1837, when the)- removed to Jacksonburg, Indiana, where they made their home until called to> their final rest, the mother dying in 1886, and the father in 1893. He was a blacksmith by trade. Our subject is the second in a family of eleven children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. The following- reached years of maturity: John, who married Sarah Tlarless and lives in Mills county, Iowa; Joseph, a resident of Wayne county, In- 358 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. diana, who first married Josephine and, sec- ond, Elmira Pike, both now deceased; Elizabeth, wife of William J. Cook, of Henry county, Indiana; Amanda, widow of J. C. White and a resident of Wayne Coun- ty. Indiana; and Lewis R., who died Au- gust 27, 1901, in Henry county, Indiana. Dtiring his boyhood Henry Carr pur- sued his education in a log school house at Jacksonburg, Wayne county. Indiana, the door of which structure was made of rough slabs and the furniture was of a primitive sort. After the completion of his education at the age of twenty years, he remained in Indiana until J S 5 5 , and then came to Webster count)-, Iowa, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land, at the same time buying eighty acres in Wayne county, this state. He then re- turned to Indiana, where he continued to make his home until 1869. In the meantime Mr. Carr was married in 1859, at Corydon, Iowa, to Miss Havana Niday, who was born near Ironton, Ohio, in i8_)0, and was a daughter of John and Sarah (Harless) Niday, both natives of Virginia. Pier parents were married in Lawrence county. Ohio, and from there re- moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, where they spent three years, the remainder of their lives being passed in Wayne county, this state. Of their twelve children onl) one is now living. Minerva, of William Houser, of Putnam county, Missouri. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carr were born the following children: ( 1 ) Mary died at the age of fifteen years. (2) John W., who is now engaged in the practice of law in Lincoln. Nebraska, married Helen Lilliard and has two children, Ida and Frances. (3) Ellen married J. S. Schick, of Promise City. Wayne county, Iowa, who died, leav- ing four children: Warner. Earl. Jay and Marvin. Mrs. Schick now lives with her father in Dayton. (4) Cora is the wife of Levi G. Ritchie, living near Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and they have two children: Vincent and Lulu. (5) Viola married j. N. Le Valley and died in August, 1896, leaving one child, Frances. (6) Lulu is the wife of Judd X. Le Valley, of Dayton, and they have one child, Helen Janette. (7) Etta is the wife of William T. Swanson, who lives on a farm northwest of Dayton, and they have one son, Glenn. Mrs. Can- died in Dayton, on the 23d of April, 1891, leaving many friends, as well as her im- mediate family, to mourn her loss. In 1883 Mr. Carr located upon the land in Dayton township, Webster county. which he had entered from the government in 1855, and still owns one hundred and seventeen acres, which is now under a high state of cultivation and quite valuable. For some years he has been engaged in buying and shipping stock, and in partnership with X. J. Minnis does business at Dayton un- der the firm name of Carr & Company, dealers in live stock, grain, hay, oil meal, buggies and wagons. In business affairs he has steadily prospered, being energetic, enterprising and industrious, and is to-day quite well-to-do. He is a stockholder in the Business Men's Building & Loan As- sociation, of Marshalltown, Iowa, the Day- ton Investment Company and the First National Bank, of Dayton, and is one of the representative and prominent busi- ness men of the town. Socially he is a member of' Oak Lodge, No. 531, A. F. & A. M.. and politically is identified with the Democratic party. He has served as jus- tice of the peace several terms and was thoroughly impartial in meting out justice, his opinions being unbiased by either fear or favor. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 359 J. M. MULRONEY. J. M. Mulronej is now living a retired life, but for many years he was an active facti r in business circles in Webster coun- ty. He possessed an enterprising and pro- gressive spirit, which lias ever dominated the west and which has led to its rapid and wonderful development. His efforts were of that particular nature that contributed t' i the general good as well as his individual prosperity, and thus has one of the lead- ing and valued representative citizens of tlu> community made his name worth}' of hi norable mention in this history. Mr. Mulroney is a native of the Em- erald Isle and the sterling qualities of the. --His of Ireland are noticeable in his career. He was born November 11. 1832, and is a son of Patrick Mulroney, who, with his family, crossed the broad Atlantic to Amer- ica when our subject was a youth of thir- teen years. They located at Williamsburg. Xew York, where they resided some years. In about 1859 the mother and one daugh- ter came west, the father having passed away at Trenton, Xew Jersey, where he was stopping for a few days, attending to business affairs. Air. Mulroney remained at Williams- burg for about three years as a student in the schools of that place. He also spent c ne year as an employe in a blacksmith shop and then went to Connecticut, where fur two years he was variously employed, doing service upon the farm, at railroading and in the lumber woods. In 1849 l le turned his face toward the setting sun and by lake, canal and stage traveled to Min- eral Point, Wisconsin, where he had rela- tives living. For a year he was in partner- ship with three others on a flatboat on the Mississippi river, getting out and selling cedar posts and pickets. The following spring. [851, he was attracted by the dis- covery of gold on the Pacific slope. In or- der to reach the gold fields he was obliged to i\turn to New York, where he took pas- sage on" an ocean steamer and by way of the Nicaragua route proceeded to the [ en state, where he engaged in mining, searching for the precious metal. He also ran a mercantile business in connection with mining. He remained in California until 1857, at a place then known as Soda- I ar. The company with which he was as- si dated also nut a pack train, which was the only way of transporting goods at that time. The freight rate was eight cents per pound when the train was first estab- 1 acted as postmaster, hav- ing charge of the mail, for which he re- ceived no compensation for his work. He likewise acted as claim recorder and was a prominent factor in those early days in California when many men of resolute spirit, string principles and honorable life sought wealth there, but when also many men of dishonest motives attempted to trol the settlements and make money in any way possible. Mr. Mulroney can re- late many interesting incidents in the early days when lynch law governed that region, for it was the only method which the citi- zens of worth could use in dealing with the desperate characters that infested Califor- nia. At length returning to Philadelphia, Mr. Mulroney there disposed of his gold dust in 1857. and after spending a few weeks in that city again made his way to Wisconsin, hut shortly afterwards became a resident of Iowa, settling in that pi rtion of the state now comprised within the boundary of Palo Alto county. At the first election, in 1858. when the organization of 360 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the county took place, he was elected treas- urer and recorder, serving for nine years, and during that time he also conducted a cattle ranch. He filled the position of jus- tice of the peace at a time when there were fifty-seven voters in Palo Alto county, and was also postmaster, the office being in his own home and named Sodabar. The offices of the treasurer and recorder were also in his home. He was a member of the rescue party at the time of the Jackson massacre. So far west upon the frontier, however, was Irs home, that all kinds of experiences were ic be endured and the conditions of life were primitive. The settlers wore buffalo moccasins, lived in log cabins and provided nearly everything which was needed for use in the home and upon the farms, \->\- railroad communication had not yet brought the comforts known to the older east. For several years Mr. Mulrony con- ducted his cattle ranch and then in 1865 traded cattle for a good mercantile business at Fort Dodge, thus becoming a partner of R. P. Furlong, the store being located where the firm of Mulroney Manufactur- ing Company is now situated. A wooden building stood there at the time he entered the mercantile business, but it has long since been replaced - by a splendid brick structure. When ten years had passed Mr. Mulroney purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until he lurried it over to his sons, and now he is practically living a retired life, on account of lis health. He is, however, associated with some of the financial concerns of the county, being at present vice-president of the First National Bank. He was also in- terested in the building of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, and in the construc- tion of the Mason City & Fort Dodge Rail- road, taking a contract for the work on the latter line, as a member of the firm of Mul- roney, Furlong & London. In 1858, in Palo Alto county, Mr. Mul- roney was united in marriage to Miss Jane Evans, a daughter of Jeremiah Evans, a native of Ohio, who came to Iowa at a very early date and spent his remaining days in Palo Alto county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mulroney were born the following children: Mary, now the wife of Ed O'Connell, of Bloomington, Illinois; John, deceased, who was a real estate dealer of Fort Dodge ; Kyran, who is supposed to be in the west; Will, Joseph and Louis, who are associated in business at Fort Dodge; Charles, a physician on the revenue cutter stationed in Alaska during the win- ters of 1901 and 1902; Edward, an attor- ney of Missoula, Montana; and Josephine. The mother died in 1882 and Mr. Mulroney afterward married Miss Hannah Eugenie Byrne, of Fort Dodge, by whom he has two sons, Frank and Robert. Such in brief is the history of one whose identification with AVebster county, Iowa,. dates from the period of its early settle- ment. He has witnessed almost the entire growth and development of this part of the state, and has contributed in a large measure to its progress, and at all times has manifested a loyal and patriotic spirit in behalf of his adopted land. In business he has ever maintained an unsullied reputation for straightforward dealing, and the circle 1 if his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances. ALBERT M. HOUGE. This well-known agriculturist, residing on section 5, Badger township, owns and operates an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he has placed under JOHN J. HOUGE THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 363 a high state of cultivation. I [e was In rn on the 19th of April, 1855, m Dane county, Wisconsin, and is a son 1 E John J. and Karen S. Houge, of whom extended men- tion is made in the sketch of Carl J. Houge on am ther page 1 f this v< lume. In 1868 our subject accompanied his parents on their removal to Webster coun- ty, Iowa, and here he grew to manhi • 6 amid rural surroundings. He pursued his studies in the 1( cal schools, and aided in the work of the It me farm until twent years of age, when he started 1 ut to make his own way in the world. His life has been devoted to farming, and in that pur- suit he has met with excellent success, as he uglily understands all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On the nth of November, 1 S 7 - . in this county, Mr. Houge married Miss Caroline Sampson, a native of Livingston county, Illinois, and a daughter of Peter Sam] who came to this country from Norway and after spending some years in the Prairie state removed to Webster county, Iowa, in [867. being one of the early settlers of Badger township, where he fi llowed farm- ing throughout the remainder of his life. During the dark days of the Civil war he joined an Illinois regiment and was in the service three years. He died in this county about 1872. He had three children : Caro- line, wife of our subject; Sarah, wife of II. C. Swanson, of Badger township; and Lewis, who died at the age of nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Houge have a family of nine children, namely: Carl J., Louis P., Will- iam B., Agnes S.. Clarence M.. Bessie S., John J. and Peter G., twins; and Alvin H. All are at home with exception of Carl J. and Louis P., who are now earning their own living. Mr. and Mrs. Houge began their domes- tic life 1 11 the farm where they still reside, and after renting it for several years was given the place as his share of his father's estate. It consisted of 1 ne hundred and sixty acres on section 5, Badger township, but he also has an adjoining eighty-acre tract i n sectii n 4. He has tiled and fenced the entire aim unt, and set out fruit and ornamental trees, has built a neat residence and good barns and 1 utbuildings, and now has a well-improved farm supplied with all the accessories and conveniences found upon a m< del farm of the present century. He is engaged in the breeding and raising of cattle, sheep and hogs for market, and in> this branch of his business he has also pros- pered. The Republican party has alwa\ - in Mr. Houge a stanch supporter of its principles since he cast his first presidential vote for Rutherfi rd B. Hayes in 1876, and he has taken quite an active part in local politics, serving as township trustee two terms: supervisor of highways several years, while he is now a member of the board. He has been a delegate to numen us a unty conventii ns 1 f his party, and his public duties have always been most conscientii msly discharged. CHARLES J. SCHILL. Charles J. Schill, "um- bered among the most active and enterpris- ing farmers of DaytOn township twenty years, and was living on his farm at the time of his death, which occurred February 6, [895. He was born in Elf- berg, Sweden, 1 n the tsl of May. 1844, a son of Charles M. and Eliza Schill. who brought their family to the new world in 364 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 1862, landing in New York. They were on the Atlantic ocean for thirteen weeks, and came very nearly starving the last few days. After spending two years in Mercer county, Illinois, they removed to Hamilton county, Iowa, where the father purchased a tract of land and improved a farm. In 1870 he came to Dayton and is now living with his danghtcr. Mrs. Hedlund, at this place, his wife having died here in 1890. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are still living, namely : Chris- tine L., widow of John L. Hedlund, and a resident of Dayton; Frank G., who married Caroline Johnson and lives on a farm in Lost Grove township; and Gustave A., who married Ida Hall and resides in Fort Dodge. Charles J. Schill, whose name intro- duces this sketch, had but little opportu- nity to attend the schools of his native land. He was eighteen years of age on the emi- gration of the family to America, and re- mained with his parents in Illinois until he entered the arm} - . On the 1st of February, 1864, at Galesburg, he enlisted in Company !., Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, under the command of Captain X. X. Bur- pee and Colonels H. Capron and F. M. Davidson. He was mustered into the United States service on the 24th of the same month, and the regiment was as- signed to Stoneman's Division Cavalry G rps, Army of the Cumberland, under General Thomas. Mr. Schill's arm was broken in an accident at Pulaski, Tennes- see, caused by a derailed train, and he was confined in the hospital for some time. After his recovery he assisted in the care of others for a while, but desiring more active service he was released, and took part in several engagements. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Pulaski, July 31, 1865, and mustered out on the 4th of August. Mr. Schill then joined his parents in Mercer county, Illinois, and shortly after- ward removed with the family to Hamilton county, Iowa. He was married July 2, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Cannon, of Hardin township, Webster county, who was born in Ljusdahl Helsingland, Sweden, September 18, 1848, a daughter of Peter and Chris- tine Cannon. Her family came to America in 1854 on the sailing vessel Magda, and after six weeks spent upon the water landed in Xew York, whence they proceeded to Mercer count}-, Illinois, locating near Xew Boston. In 1861 they came to Webster count} - , Iowa, by team and covered wagon, there being no railroad at that time any nearer than Iowa City. There were few settlements this side of Marshalltown. and they would often travel all day long with- out seeing a house. Webster county was very sparsely settled and only a very few families were living in Hardin township when they located there. Mr. Cannon pre- empted a quarter section of government land in that township, and on it he made his home until his death, October 12, 1891. His wife died on the 22nd of January, 1 90 1. The_\- were the parents of seven chil- dren, ine of whom died in infancy. Those living are Christine, widow of Andrew Seth and a resident of Stratford, Iowa ; Ellen, widow of Carl J. Johanson and a resident of the same place; Jonas, who also lives in Stratford; Elizabeth, widow of our subject; and Peter, of Stratford. Unto Air. and Mrs. Schill were born the follow- ing children : Lorena, wife of Emanuel Johnson, employed in a meat market in Dayton ; Millie G. and Harry M., both at home with their mother; Arthur J., who died September 10, 1895, at the age of fif- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 365 teen years; Carl, also at home; and Edna. who died September 14, 1895, when about three years of age. The family have a very pleasant and comfortable home in Dayton, and stand high in public esteem. After his marriage Mr. Schill continued to reside in Hamilton county until 1876, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Dayton township, Web- ster county, to which he subsequently added forty acres. He successfully engaged in the operation of this land until his death. He was a stanch supporter of the Republi- can party, and an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, while his wife was a member of the Woman's Relief Corps and the Methodist Episcopal church, which he also attended. His life was such as b 1 ci immand the respect and confidence of all with whom he was brought in con- tact, either in business or social affairs, and he was always found true to every trust reposed in him. so that his loyalty to his adopted country was above question, be- ing manifest in days 1 f peace as well as when he followed the old flag to victory on southern battle fields. STILLMAN T. MESERVEY. Hon. Stillman T. Meservey is now rep- resenting his district in the state legislature, and is known as one of the most distin- guished and honorable citizens of Webster mnty. He is prominent in the circles of the Republican party, where his opinions carry weight and influence because of his honest allegiance to the platform, his lofty patriotism and his unfaltering support of whatever he believes to be right and just. Mr. Meservey is numbered among the na- tive suns of Illinois, where his birth oc- curred December 17, 1848. He was aboul six years of age when he accompanied his parents to Webster county, and thus he has spent the greater part of his life in this lo- cality. His preliminary education, ac- quired in the public schools of Fort Dodge, was supplemented by study in the Clinton Liberal Institute, of Clinton, Xew York. Throughout his business career he has been identified with commercial and industrial interests of the county seat. For a time he owned and conducted a drug store, and since its organization in 1871, he has been associated with the Iowa Plaster Associa- tion. As a business man he is extremely capable possessing the western spirit of en- terprise and progress. He not only forms his plans readily, but is determined in their execution, and with all he is straightfor- ward and reliable in all trade transactions. Mr. Meservey was united in marriage to Miss Anna Scott, of Oneida county, Xew York, and their union was blessed with three children: William X.. Lizzie and Scott. The family occupy an enviable po- sition in social circles, and their own home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality, which is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. On the 15th of December, 1900, Mrs. .Meservey was called to her final re- ward, leaving a much bereaved family and a host of admiring friends. In the affairs of the city Mr. Meservey has long been an important factor, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to public office. Three times he has served as mayor of Fort Dodge, his ad- ministration being practical, business like and progressive. He has favored improve- ment without extravagance. He has sup- ported all practical reforms and has ever exercised his official prerogatives to sup- 366 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. port the measures that have lead to sub- stantial development. Several times he has been a member of the city council, and in 1885 he was elected to the state legislature of towa, and again honored with the posi- tion in 1901. No higher testimonial of his capability could be given than the fact that he has been re-elected to office, for the pub- lic is a discriminating factor and although unscrupulous men sometimes gain office, it is impossible for them to retain electii sitions which are subject to public criticism. Mr. Meserve} lias left the impress of his individuality upon the legislative measures enacted during his terms of service. To each question that has come up for settle- ment, he has given earnest and thoughtful deratii n, and his course has ever been marked by patriotic devotion to duty, plac- ing his county before party, and general welfare before personal aggrandizement. ALBERT L. STINE. Albert L. Stine, farmer and coal dealer, and owner < f one hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 3 and to. Pleasant Val- ley township, was born in .McLean county, Illinois, fifteen miles east of Bloomington, September 19. 1845. His parents, 1). E. and Mary (Dawson) Stine, were natives respectively of Duncombe count}-. North Carolina, and McLean county, Illinois, and were intimately connected with pioneer life in Iowa. The Stine family is of German descent, and was first represented in America by the paternal grandfather of our subject, who emigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. < >n the maternal side, the grandfather Dawson came from Ohio, and participated in the war of 1812. He was actively engaged in the raid on the Indians after the terrible massacre at Spirit Lake, Iowa, and his patriotism and general worth won for him a warm place in the hearts of other pioneers of this state. The parents of Ml nil L. Stine were married in McLean count}'. Illinois, and in 1853 removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they lived until the fall of 1854, going then to Kossuth count}-, this state. Eventually they re- turned to McLean county, and to their sur- prise found that the grandfather Dawson had departed from his accustomed haunts, and with teams and prairie schooners had .started with his family for Iowa. Lie set- tled in Homer, then the county-seat of Web- ster county, where he bought two lots, and afterward came to Fort Dodge, where he bought the four-acre lots now owned by Mr. Conaway. In the meantime his son-in-law, D. E. Stine, finding his father-in-law gone from Mel. can c< unty, started in pursuit and overtook him at Agency City, where Mr. Dawson had rented a In nisi; ami left his family and one team of horses. Together they took their families and moved to Fort Dodge, where Mr. Stine lived until the spring of 1859, after which he settled on a farm, on section 3, Pleasant Valley township, which property is now owned by V. Rogers. This land, which was taken up as a river claim, continued to be the heme of the ni w settlers until 186(1, when Mr. Stine took up his residence in Kansas City, Missouri, and engaged in building and contracting. From there he removed to Olathe, Johnson coun- ty,. Kansas, where his wife died in April, 1S74. After a time he went back to [owa and lived in Carroll county, but eventually settled in Denver, Colorado, in r88i, where he again married, and where he died in [889. He was a Democrat in politics and ALBERT L. STINE THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 309 held many positions of trust and responsi- bility. He was deputy-sheriff of Linn county, Iowa, having first been elected con- stable, and his energy and varied capabil- ities led him into many lines of activity. He was among other things a hotel man, having with considerable success conducted a hostelry in Cedar Rapids. He was the father of twelve children by his first union, namely: Albert L. ; Laura, who became the wife of Judge H. P. Moffitt and died in Dubuque. Iowa, her husband having died by the hand of an assassin in Kentucky; J. D., who married Miss Talbott, of Car- roll, Iowa, and lives in Fort Dodge; Clar- inda, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri, and married Mr. Blake after the death of her first husband, Henry Gile; William, who i> married and lives in Xew York city; Maria, who lives in Carroll, Iowa, and is the wife of Robert Cobuvn; Mary, who lives near Prairie City, Iowa, and. after the death of her husband, James Folsom, mar- ried J. Simmons; McClelland, who died when ten days old; Frank, who married Elvira Curtis and lives in Kansas City, Kan- sas; Nina, who is the wife of Warner Mil- ler and lives in Denver, Colorado; Elma, who is married to Frank Thomas and lives in Boone, b vva; and Henrv, who married Miss Powell. By the second union of D. E. Stine there were three children. The early education of Albert L. Stine is interestingly associated with the first log school house in "Webster county, built one block west of wdiere the Wahkonsa school building now stands in Fort Dodge. The teacher of this school in 1S55 was a Miss Hunt, during whose term of service the brick school house was built. A later im- parter of the principles of arithmetic, gram- mar and geography was Mr. Gunn, and still later Mr. Gaylor, who was succeeded by Mr. Miller in 1859. The foil,, wing winter the Stine family removed to Pleasant Valley, where the son attended school during the winter months and worked during the sum- mer, and in April of 1864 entered the uni- versity at Iowa City. The emergency of the Civil war interfered with his proposed plans for higher education at the university, for in June of 1864 he enlisted in Company D, Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, un- der Captain Charles 1''.. Boreland, Colonel S. H. Henderson and Adjutant General A. i Smith. After spending some time at Memphis, Tennessee, the regiment partici- pated in a campaign at Holly Springs, Mississippi, and were engaged in guard and skirmish duty. From July 5, 1864, until September _\ 1864, they were at Memphis, and then came to Cairo, and later to Daven- port, Iowa, where Mr. Stine was honorably discharged from the service September 15, [864. lie then returned to Fort Dodge and worked on a farm, and also engaged in freighting between Boone, Cedar Falls, Ne- vada and Des Moines to Fori i ixlge. On the 24th of April. 1866, at Fort Dodge. Mr. Stine married Miss Alice Mc- Anally, who was horn in De Kalb county, Indiana, April 7, 1849, a daughter of Will- iam R. and Elizabeth (Potts) McAnally, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Defiance county, Ohio. Her parents were married in the Buckeye state, where they made their home for a number of years, and then spent eleven years in De Ralh county. Indiana. In the spring of r866 they removed to Webster county, low. -I, and located m Pleasant Valley town- ship. Upon the purchase of one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land they lived for two. years, and after disposing of the property went to Cass county, Missouri, where the father died June 11. 1896, and 3.-o THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. was buried at Harrisonville, that county. He was a Republican in politics, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He had been justice of peace for a number of years, and had held most of the import- ant township offices in Indiana. His wife, who is now living in Butler, Bates county. Missouri, is the mother of fifteen children : James, now deceased, married Mary Knott, who lives in Waterloo. Indiana: Louisa, also deceased, became the wife of Daniel Rhodes, who married again, and died in Webster county, towa; Sarah, who died at Kearney, Nebraska, married James Wal- lace, who died in Bremer county, Iowa; Thomas, who died in Rochester, Indiana, married Nancy Keely, whose death occur- red in Kansas City. Missouri; Susan and Mary both died in infancy; Amanda, who became the widow of William Hornberger, lives in Bates county, Missouri, and has since married Albert Rogers; Catherine and Isabella died in infancy: William H. mar- ried Kate Corey and lives in Lehigh, Iowa; Anna died at the age of nine years: Alice is the wife of A. L. Stine : John is now de- ceased, and his widow, formerly Martha Wynn, married again and lives in Cass county, Missouri: B. W.. who lives in Le- high, Iowa, first married Mary Ball Mc- Anally and after her death wedded her half- sister. Hannah Ball: and A. L. married Elizabeth Copeland and lives in Rich Hill, Bates county. Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Stine have been born the following children : Mary E.. born Jan- uary 2, 1868, and died August 9, 1869; Laura A., born September 1. 1869, and married Thomas Sebber in 1893, lives on a farm in Newark township and has two chil- dren living, Clara and Alice; Daisv I., born July 26, 1 87 1, married J. J. Fritz in 1802, l^ves at Fort Dodge, and has one child, Grace: Mabel C, born February 22, 1873. married Robert Johnston in 1892, lives in Estherville. Iowa, and has four children, Pearl, Albert, Ruby and Culbert ; Margaret A., born May 22, 1875, married Jeremiah Coleman in 1896, lives in Washington township 011 a farm and has two children, Ellen and Lyle; William Ernest, born Feb- ruary 23. 1877. is a traveling salesman fof the Fort Dodge Grocery Company : Albert B., born April 17, 1880, died December 16. 1881 : Aaron F.. born March 14. 1882, lives in Washington township: Faith, born Au- gust 3, 1884, and Robert J., born September 14, 1886, are at home; Lisle, born Septem- ber 13, 1889, died November 10 of the same year; Samuel L., born January 7, 1891, c mpletes the family. After his marriage Mr. Stine lived in Webster county until March 14, 1807. when he went to Kansas City. Missouri, and worked there that summer at making hay and hauling ties and bricks. On the idth of October, the same year, he returned to Web- ster county and bought five acres of land on section 10, Pleasant Valley township, and in iHj(> sold out and settled on the Fort Dodge Coal Company's land, where he built a house and rani a coal mine until [896. He then purchased forty acres of land on sec- tion 3, Pleasant Valley township, and after- ward bought eight}- acres, and at the present time he owns one hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as is to be found in the coun- ty. The coal mine under his farm is leased to other parties, and at present Mr. Stine devotes the greater part of his time to agri- cultural pursuits. He is a wide-awake, pr< *- gressive man. and has added his share to the best development of AYebster count}". Mr. Stine is a popular and well-known man and fraternally is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Sparta THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECOUP. 37i Lodge, No. 226, at Kalo. He is also as- sociated with the .Grand Army of the Re- public, Fort Donelson Post, at Fort Podge. Dodsre. JOHN O'LOUGHLIX. John O'Loughlin; deceased, through the years of his identification with Fort Podge enjoyed the highest respect of his fellow townsmen by reason of his strict in- tegrity and upright dealings. He was born in Count)' Clare, Ireland, June 20, 1820, and in early life came to the United States. Prior to his departure for this country both his parents died, and the trip to .America was made alone. He first took up his resi- dence in Roundout, New York. Learning the mason's trade, he followed that occupa- tion throughout his active business life, and during his residence in Fort Dodge, he also dealt in real estate to some extent. In 1N54 Mr. O'Loughlin was married at Roundout. New York, to Miss Ellen Murphy, who was also a native of the Em- erald Isle, and they became the parents of the following named children: Mary, now a resident of Fort Podge, was born in Roundout, Xew York, and successfully engaged in teaching school for some time; Elizabeth is the wife of T. A. Cunningham, of Fort Podge; Ella is the wife of C. E. Griffin, a merchant of Clare, Iowa; and John C. is a mason and contractor of Fort Podge. All the children, with the excep- tion of the first named, were born in Fort Dodge. It was on the 1st of October, 1856, that Air. O'Loughlin and his family came to Fort Podge, and with its business interests lie was closely identified until his death, which occurred June 22, 1886. His wife, who survived him some years, passed away on the 17th of February, 1896. Their home was at 546 Third avenue, north, which house was built by Mr. O'Loughlin alone in early days. He not only erected the walls of this structure, but also quarried the gypsum and cut the stone, it taking him about five years to complete the task, but ii to day stands as a substantial monument to his architectural skill and handiwork. In all the relations of life he was found true to every trust reposed in him, and was held in high regard by all with whom he came in contact, either in business or social life. JOHN LOOBY. For several years the subject of this sketch was actively identified with the busi- ness interests of Fort Podge and was ac- counted one of its most reliable and highly respected citizens. He was born in Utica, Ww York, May 6, 1835, and was a son of Thomas Looby, a native of Ireland and a retired gentleman. At an early day the family removed to Wilkesbarre, Pennsyl- vania, and there our subject acquired his literary education and also learned the car- penter's trade. When the country became involved in civil war he offered his services to the government, enlisting in April, iNoi. for ninety days, as a member of Company P. Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry. At the end of that time he was mustered out and did not re-enlist on ac- o iunt of rheumatism. Coming to Iowa in the summer of 1861, Mr. Looby first located in Dubuque and turned his attention to boat building in the daytime and to drilling recruits at night un- til 1862, when he accepted a position as 372 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. freight conductor on the Chicago & North- western Railroad. The following year he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad as passenger conductor, running between Dubuque and Fort Dodge, and re- mained with that corporation until 1879, when he embarked in the grain and stock business and followed that pursuit for one year. The following year was spent in travel in the west, and in 1882 he opened a drug store in Fort Dodge, which be carried on quite successfully until ill health caused his retirement from business in 1894. Mr. Looby's efforts met with success and at the time < f his death he was able to leave his family in comfortable circumstances. Mr. Looby was married on October 31, 1874, to Miss Annie Goodwin, who was born in Watertown, New York, January 7, 1856. Her parents, John and Mary (McAdams) Goodwin, were natives of Ireland and Ver- mont, respectively. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Looby were born six children, the first four in Dubuque and the others in Fort Dodge. In order of birth they are as follows: Jen- nie, born August 8, 1875, is now the wife of Virgil Deckert, a plumber of Fort Dodge; Alice, born October 10, 1877, is the wife of J. T. Garland, bookkeeper for the Iowa Plaster Company of this city; Julia, born May 30, 1879. is the wife oi Herbert L. Dickinson, a farmer of Elreno, Oklahoma; Annie, born January 31, 1881, is the wife of E. F. Warren, a machinist of Chicago; and Agnes, born March 25, 1883, and Esther, born April 25, 1886, are both attending St. Joseph's Academy of Des \l< Hies. The family residence in Fort Dodge is at 813 First avenue north. Mr. Looby died November 15, 1896, and his death was deeply mourned by a host of warm friends as well as his immediate family. He was a Royal Arch Mason and a member of Fort Donelson Post, No. 236, G. A. R. He was also an honorary mem- ber of Company G, Iowa National Guards, and was one of the representative and prominent citizens of Fort Dodge. SARAH ELMIRA DANIELS. The oft-demonstrated fact that women possess particular aptitude for the manage- ment of agricultural enterprises is happily illustrated in the successful career of Sarah Elmira Daniels, widow of W. H. Daniels, and the owner of a farm of two hundred acres on section 8, Webster township. Un- til her tenth year Mrs. Daniels lived in Ma- con county, Illinois, where she was born June 8, 1854, a daughter of Henry Widick, subsequently identified with the substantial growth of Webster county, and mentioned at length in another part of this work. At the public schools of Webster county Mrs. Daniels diligently continued the study begun in Illinois, and remained under the parental roof, a mile from where she now lives, up to the time of her mar- riage with W. II. Daniels, March 2^, 18/ 3. Mr. Daniels was born in Bureau o mity, [llini is, June 9, 184'), a son of Dan- iel Daniels, the latter of whom was for many years one of the chief promoters 1 >f the well- being of this county. The son graduated from the district schools and the high school of Webster City, and lived with his parents until the time of his marriage. He then purchased eighty acres of land, to the im- provement of which he devoted his best en- ergies up to the time of his death, October 24, 1899. Nor did the eighty acres repre- sent the entire result of his industry, for as the years went by and his harvests vielded W. H. DANIELS MRS. W. H. DANIELS THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 177 abundantly more lands came into his pi - n, so that in time he owned more than six hundred acres. He was an excellent manager and shrewd business man and un- dersto d how to best utilize the land in the improvement of which he took such pride. He raised considerable high-grade stock and engaged in general farming, but was by no means self-centered in his inter fi r township affairs in general commanded his earnest consideration and suppi a stanch Republican he held many offices of trust and responsibility, and he was con- spicuously averse to the crooked methods often resorted to by office holders at the ex- pense of the public welfare. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contributed to" the extent of his ability toward its charities and support, and he was fraternally associated with the Woodmen of the World. In the Lab' ring Men's Co- operative Life Association he carried a pol- icy of two thousand dollars, and al» thousand dollars in the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Daniels was unexpectedly called from the surroundings of which he had been an integral and influential part, for his illness was of but a week's duration. He was a man of sterling worth and unblemished in- tegrity, and the hosts of friends who missed him from the accustomed haunts appreciated his many enviable traits of character. Mrs. Daniels is at present the owner of two hundred acres of her husband's prop- erty, the balance of the six hundred acres having been divided up among the heirs ac- cording to the terms of his will. Upon this well-regulated and fertile farm she has reared the following children : Delia Mabel, born March 5. 1874. and now the wife of Edward Wooddle, of Webster township; Bertha Evelyn, born February 12, 1S77. and the wife of Edward Reed, a farmer of Web- ■■■■ nship : 1 >aisi ^.gnes, boi 1 September 6, 1879, an '' at present the win Hamilton, a farmer living one mile c the Daniels farm: Howard Alvin. born May 30, 1882, and living with his mother; Will- iam Ralph, horn June 21, [884; Mollii gusta, born February 6, [889; Walter Ed- gar, horn January 17, [892; Hazel March 30. 1896. In the carry i. of her various interests Airs. Daniels is ably assisted by three of her sons, who are suc- illy maintaining the methods adopted by their father, and are in every way pro- ive and broad-minded member- of si - ciety. Mrs. 1 )aniels is a share holder' in the Lehigh Savings Bank, and is a mi of the Rebekah Lodge at Lehigh. She has ■ table home, fine barns and general improvements, is a worker in the Methi > : pal church, and an in- fluential member of the social and material life of the township. HIRAM REEFER. r over a quarter of a century this gentleman was identified with the interests of Fi rt Dodge, and was accounted cue of its most highly respected citizens. He was born in Coeymans, Albany count}', Xew York. August 8, 1824, and in early life was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade in Al- bany. After he had thoroughly mastered that occupation he commenced busines himself as a contractor and builder. On the 22d of September. 1847. Mr. Keefer was united in marriage with Miss Susan Rainier, of Western. Xew York, and before leaving Albany county one son was hn 1'.. whose birth occurred April 20, 1853. On the 21st of April, 1856, 378 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Mr. Keefer and his family removed from Albany to Harvard Junction, McHenry county, Illinois, where the son died Febru- ary II, 1859. Another son, Charles M,, was born at that place October 19, 1861. While at Harvard Mr. Keefer was asso- ciated with the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company as contractor and builder. In 18G8 he brought his family to Fort Dodge, Iowa, arriving here on the 14th of April, and here formed a partnership with L. Blanden and H. Norton in the lumber business under the firm name of Blanden, Norton & Company. His worth and abil- ity were soon widely recognized and he be- came a prominent factor in public affairs v serving as a member of the city council from the fourth ward and also as a member of the school board. His course was ever such as to commend him to the confidence and respect of all with whom he was bn Light in contact either in public or private life, and at his death, which ocurred Oc- tober 31, 1893, he left many friends as well as bis immediate family to mourn his loss. His widow, who was bom on the 1st of March. 1821, at New Baltimore, Greene count v. Xew York, is now eighty-one years of age, but still enjoys good health. She makes her home at 1331 Fourth avenue south, where she is surrounded by a host of warm friends and acquaintances. Charles M. Keefer, the only child of our subject now living, was reared and edu- cated in Fort Dodge, and was connected with a grocery store in this city in 1877 and 1878. On severing his connection with the firm he commenced railroading as brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad in the fall of 1X79, and in the spring of the following year was called to Minneapolis as a con- ductor on the main line of the Minne- apolis & St. Louis Railroad, with which he remained four years. He was next in the employ of the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul Railroad, and while with that road. September 19, 1885, he fell from the top of a box car, passing between two cars, and falling with his right hand on the rail, so that it was crushed under the wheels. This necessi- tated the amputation of that member. Since then Mr. Keefer has been a book- keeper and traveling salesman, and makes liis home in Fort Dodge. He acceptably served one term as city assessor, to which office he was elected by a large majority — a fact that plainly indicates his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He was mar- ried, May K). [889, to Miss Lucy E. Cooley, of Marshalltown, Iowa. FRANK L. EASLEY. Probably one of the best-known civil engineers of this section of the state is Frank L. Fasley. of Fort Dodge, his home being at 613^2 Central avenue. He was born November 29, 1850, near Crawfords- ville. in Parke county, Indiana, and is one of a family of ten children, having" five brothers and four sisters. His parents, Daniel and Rachel (Newcomb) Easley, both died in October. 1901, at the age of seventy-seven and seventy-five years, re- spectively. Both were born in this country, and the father was a contractor and builder by occupation. He was a soldier of both the Mexican and Civil wars, and was a most loyal and patriotic citizen. In 1S51 he re- moved with his family to Ottumwa, Iowa, where in connection with his chosen occu- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 379 1 'an. -n he also ran a mill until the Civil war broke out, when he assisted in organizing two companies of infantry, but he himself joined the First Iowa Cavalry. Frank L. Easier acquired his early edu- < atii n in the public schools of Ottumwa, and also studied civil engineering, being con- nected with that department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad service in starting out upon his business career. Com- ing to Webster county in 1875, he engaged in civil engineering and the study of law and was admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in 1S80. That year he entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway in the capacity of civil engineer, and in 1883 was elected county surveyor of Webster county, which office he filled for a number of terms. He also served as city engineer for ten vears, being elected to that position in 1S84, and under his supervision all of the sewer mams of Fort Dodge were built and the water works reconstructed. He made the plans and specifications and superintended the erection of the water tower. In 1884 Air. Easley assisted in locating and building the Mason City & Fort Dodge Railroad, now a- part of the Chicago & Great Western sys- tem, and in' 1898 again entered the service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway on double-track work between Cedar Rapids and Tama City, and also laid out a switch- yard in Cedar Rapids. Being then trans- ferred, he engaged in the construction of the lines on Soldier and Boyer rivers near Dennison, Iowa, but during all this time he made his headquarters in Fort Dodge and maintained an office here. At the present time he is engaged in special work of vari- ous kinds in the line of his profession, and is considered one of the best and most capable civil engineers in Iowa. On the 3d of March. iS-j. Mr. Easley was united in marriage with Miss Melissia McKinley, a daughter of Abner McKinley, who was a farmer by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Easley have been born the follow- ing children: Minnie, the wife of L. B. Buswell, of Calhoun county, Iowa; Emma, who is the wife of a Mr. Davidson and a tesident of Webster county: Andrew, also a farmer of this count) ; Rachel, who is married to a brother of the other Mr. David- son and resides in this count}-; Eva, who married a Mr. Reckard, of South Dakota, where they make their home; and Frank, v\ ho resides in this county. Fraternally Mr. Easley is a member of the Masonic order, holding the Memphis Rite, ninetieth de- gree. J. F. KUSTERER. From crude inactivity and unproductive- ness Mr. Kusterer has developed his farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 5, Fulton township, until at the present time there are few properties in the county which yield more abundant harvests or reward in- dustry with more lucrative returns. This especially enterprising tiller of the soil was bora in Logan county, Illinois, February 20, 1854, a son of Jonathan Conrad and Caroline (Bauer) Kusterer. natives of Ger- man)-. In the fatherland Jonathan Conrad Kusterer was a successful farmer, while she whom he eventually married was a clerk in her father's brick-yard. After uniting their fortunes for good and all they came to America in June, 1853, the sailing craft making the voyage in sixty-one days. Upon landing in New York they went direct to Springfield, Illinois, by rail, and from there to Mount I'ula>ki. that state, in the vicin- 38o THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ity of which town the}- rented land for ten or eleven years. With the money saved from this undertaking- they purchased eighty acres of land in Sagamon county, Illinois. upon which they lived for eighty years, and this was afterward given in trade with a money consideration for another farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Logan coun- ty, Illinois. There the first wife died in 1886, and two years later the father married Mary Vogel; who, by her previous mar- riage, had one son, John, now living in Quincy. In the course of time the father's health failed, and in search of that vitality supp sed to be imparted by the balmy air and perpetual sunshine of California he went thither with his "wife, and died amid his delightful surroundings in October, 1901. His wife now lives in Mount Pu- laski. Illinois. There were seven children in the family: Wilhelmina, who is now the wife of Christian Schrote, a farmer near Mount Pulaski; J. F. ; John, who married Kate Bresmer and live> in Fulton township, Webster ci unity, Iowa ; Louis, who mar- vied Lena Rose and lives on the home farm in Illinois; Mary, who is now the wife of Garret Rentmister and lives near Mount Pulaski; Edward, who married June .Mc- Neil and lives in Fulton township, Webster county, Iowa; and Samuel, who married Fannie Ellison and "lives in Sangamon county, Illinois. As a buy Mr. Kusterer lived on his fa- ther's farm and received his education in the public schools. His life was practi- cally uneventful up to the time of bis mar- riage, January 30, 1878, with Catherine Voile, who was born near Mount Pulaski, Illinois, December 2, 1858. The parents of Mrs. Kusterer emigrated from Germany in 1830, and two years later settled in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, eventually removing to the vicinity of Mount Pulaski, Illinois, where thev have since lived. They are the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Kusterer is the oldest ; < reorge, who married Nancy Broughton and lives in Kansas; Ja- cob, a resident of Logan count}-, Illinois; |< lin C, who married Leora Lakin and lives in Logan county; Frederick; Lillie; Louis; and Walter. To Mr. and Mrs. Kusterer have been born six children: Fannie E., born September 20. 1879; Lydia M., June 20, [882; Laura A.. April II, 1889; Daniel J., March 28, [892; Luvina, March 25, [894; and Ella .May, September 11, 1898. For twenty-one years Mr. Kusterer lived in Logan county, Illinois, upon rented land, and in the meantime had purchased the farm upon which he now lives, and upon which he moved in 1898. He has spared no pains in general improvements and has spent over two thousand five hundred dol- lars in endeavoring to make his property .me of the finest in Webster county. The buildings are constructed after the most ap- proved manner, and the machinery intro- duced is of modern construction and in ac- cord with latter-day methods of conduct- ing a farm. Mr. Kusterer is affiliated with the Republican party, but has been too ac- tively employed with his general interests to either desire or seek public recognition. He occupies a conspicuous place among the progressive agriculturists and citizens of Fulton township, and is a promoter of the all-around stability of its interests and insti- tutions. LEMUEL LONG. Lemuel L ing, a retired farmer residing on section 34, Deer Creek township, is an honored representative of the early pio- neers of this county and a true type of the- LEMUEL LONG THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 383 .nic, hard}- men who have activebj as- sisted in developing and improving this beautiful and fertile agricultural country. He dates his residence in this county from the spring of 1856 and in its development and progress he has taken an active part. Mr. Long was born in Coventry, Con- necticut, October 29, 1813, and i- now the only one living in a. family of ten children. of win im lie was eighth in order of birth. 'I he Long familj was Founded in the new world by three brothers, who came trs. Like the average youth of Norway, James O. Xelsmi received a practical home training, and was educated in the district sclii K ils. He remained on the home farm until sixteen vears of age, after which he was empli >yed by the month on the sur- rounding farms until the age of twenty- i'i >ur. Hoping much from a complete change of surroundings, he emigrated to America in 1883, and, upon locating in Story City, Iowa, was for a time employed by the railroad, and subsequently worked on a farm until the time of his marriage in Hamilton county, April 1. 1886. Mrs. Nel- son was formerly Torby A. Peterson, a na- tive of Hamilton county, and born March 13. 1869. Her parents, who were of Nor- wegian birth, came to America and settled first in Illinois, from which state they re- moved to Hamilton county, Iowa, where they at present live. Their son Oscar is a resident of Minnesota, while Bertha, the wife of Martin Miller, and Julia, the wife THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 3?5 of J. P. Brakke, arc residents of Fulton tow nship, Webster county. After his marriage Mr. Nelson worked in Marshall county fir a year, and for the following year worked for his father-in- law. In 1 888 he rented land for a year, and then bought the farm upon which he now lives, and where his first wife died March 21, 1894. There were born of this union three children: Nels A., born Janu- ary 16, [887; Alfred T., born March 22, 1890; and Tobias, horn March 12, 1894, and died July 12, 1894. April 1, 1898, Mr. Nelsi m married Bertha Martenson, who was born in Norway February 1, 1861, and whose father died in January of 1878, but whose mother is still living in her native land. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Nelson are : Tobias, who lives in Mar- shall county ; Martin, who is a resident of Omaha. Nebraska; Balate, who is the wife of Andrew Brakke and lives in Norway; Mabel, wdio married G. Larson and also lives in Norway ; Christiana, who is the wife of Samuel Torbgarens and lives in Norway ; and Martha, who is unmarried and lives in the same country. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were born two children: Anna, wdio was born May 2, 1900, and died the following day ; and Amandel, who was born February 13. 1902. Mr. Nelson is engaged in farming and also raises a high grade of cattle. Al- though for several years an invalid, and at present unable to accomplish any great amount of work, he is able, with the assist- ance of his strong and capable sons, to keep things on the farm in a highly prosperous condition. He is a Republican, and a stanch adherent of the principles of that party, but has never cared for political office. He is a man of high moral char- acter, as are most of his countrymen, and the Norwegian Lutheran church near his farm owes its existence to his promotion and supp n~t. TOHN B. GILL. Among the enterprising and public- spirited citizens of Fort Dodge is numbered the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He has made his home here since the spring of 1869, and is now successfully engaged in the grocery business at the cor- ner of Fourth avenue south and Nineteenth street. A native of the neighboring state of Illinois, he was born in Ogle county, December 23. 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Charlotte (Plane) Gill, who were born in England and came to America in 1837. By occupation the father was a farmer. For his early education John B. Gill is indebted to the public schools of Byron, Illinois, where he pursued his studies dur- ing the winter months and aided his father in the work of the home farm through the summer season until he entered the army during the Civil war. He first enlisted in t86i, but his father believing him too young to enter the service, he was not allowed to go to the front. However, on the 1 2th of December, 1863. he enlisted at Byron in Company M, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, under Captain John F. Austin and Colonel John L. Beveridge. who was later governor of Illinois. From their camp at St. Charles. Illinois, the regiment went to Alton, where they did guard duty at the prison fur about three months. After this they were sent to St. Louis, Missouri, and for some time was engaged in fighting bushwhackers in Missouri and Arkansas. They participated in numerous engage- ments, including- those at California Sta- 386 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. tion, Independence, Missouri, and Little Blue, where General Marmaduke was cap- tured. The hardest battle in which they took part was at Otonio on the Arkansas line. They remained there until after the surrender of General Lee. when they were sent out on the plains near Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Gill was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. November 23, 1865, and received an honorable discharge at Springfield, Illinois, six days later. Returning to Byron, he remained on the home farm until his removal to Fort Dodge in the spring of 1869. He was married in St. Charles, Illinois, to Miss Mary J. McClane, whose parents were na- tives of that state, and by this union seven children were born, namely: Xellie. now the wife of J. A. Fletcher, who is engineer in the brickyards of fort 1 lodge; Thomas B., who lives at home with his parents; Carrie M., widow of Dr. A. P. Anderson; Edith, the wife of J. J. O'Brien, of Sioux City, Iowa; Katie M.. a teacher living at home; Alice, wife of E. E. Mason, book- keeper in Olson's drug store; and Frank, at home. After coming to Fort Dodge, Mr. Gill engaged in teaming for two years, and later was employed in the store of J. M. Berry & Company until i8S_\ when he formed a partnership with C. O. Peterson and em- barked in the grocery business on Central avenue, under the firm name of Peterson & Gill. In 1887 he sold his interest in that establishment to his partner and purchased the stock of John Wolfinger, continuing to engage in the same line of business for two years, at the end of which time he disposed of his store. He then gave his attention to the livery business for three years, and on selling out was not actively engaged in any business until 1895, when he erected a store building at the corner of Fourth avenue si lutb and nineteenth street and put in a stock of groceries. This store he has since conducted with marked success, having by fair and honorable dealings and good goods secured a liberal share of the public patron- age. From 1895 until 1901 Mr. Gill was a member of the police force of Fort Dodge, and proved a very capable and trustworthy officer. He also held the office of deputy sheriff one term. In politics Mr. Gill sup- ports the men and measures of the Republi- can partw For three terms he was a mem- ber of the city council from the second ward and also served two terms on the school board. Socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is an honored member of Fort Donelson Post, Xo. 2^6, G. A. R. HENRY HAYLER. This well-known resident of Fort Dodge was born in Battle, County of Sus- sex, England, on the 4th of May. 1837, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Weeks) Hayler, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father was a chartist and a merchant tailor. Our sub- ject has one brother living in the United States — George Hayler, who is a resident of Ann Arbor. Michigan. His half-brother, Guy Hayler, is a well-known English tem- perance leader, the editor of the Temper- ance Witness at Newcastle on the Tyne, and the author of Master Method George Proc- tor, the Teetotaler. Mr. Hayler, of this review, was reared and educated in his native place, and in 1853 came alone to America. He first lo~ THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 387 cated in Lockport, New York, where he had an uncle living, and for about six years was employed in sorting wool in a factory. He then learned the painter's trade, which he followed for twelve years at Ann Arbor Michigan, and then engaged in farming near that city until 1871. which year wit- nessed his arrival in Iowa. Taking up a government homestead in Calhoun county, he devoted his time and energies to its im- provement and cultivation until 1874, when lie removed to Fort Dodge and worked in an iron foundry and machine shop for two years. He next did odd jobs until 1881, when he embarked in the hardware business and carried it en for seven years. Since then he has given his attention to garden- ing. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county, and is held in the highest regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. On the 22d of December. 1859. Mr. Hayler was united in marriage with Mi^ .Maria Ashton, of Ann Arbor. Michigan, who was born in Moulton, England, Janu- ary 26. 1 84 1, and came to the new world in 185 1 with her parents. Robert and Eliza- beth (Beers) Ashton. also natives of Eng- land. The father was born in Lincoln- shire and was a bricklayer by trade. Both he and his wife died in Ann Arbor, Michi- gan. Mrs. Hayler is a sister of the gentle- men composing the firm of Ashton Brothers, grocers, on Central avenue, Fort Dodge. The children born to our subject and his wiife are as follows: Elizabeth A., born October 7, i860, is the wife of Pro- fessor A. V. Storm, of Cherokee. Iowa ; Emma J., born November 7, 1862. is teach- ing- in the high school of Quimby, Iowa ; Hannah T., born September 21, 1865. is the wife of [ason Lowry, a hanker of Pomeroy. Iowa; Robert H.. born March 21. 1867. is a farmer of Webster county; Rudolph A., horn October 20, 1871, is an engineer on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad and resides in Fort Dodge; Charles \\\. horn November 28, 1873, is a carpenter of Fort Dodge; Florence A., born April 14. 1870, is a teacher by occupation; Henry Clarence, horn August 25, 1878, is stock clerk for the Fort Dodge Grocery Company; George R.. born June 25, 1880, is a graduate of the State University and is now a civil engineer; and Arthur F., born June 12, 1885, is at home. The fam- ily is one of which any parents might well be proud, for all are now tilling honorable positions in life. FREDERICK E. WEISS. The subject of this sketch is one of the most progressive and successful farmers of Badger township, where he and his sons own and operate four hundred acres of rich and arable land on section 20. about six miles north of Fort Dodge. A native of Germany, he was born in Prussia on the 24th of June, 1840, and was a lad of eleven years when, in company with his parents, he crossed the ocean and settled in Cook county. Illinois, within ten miles of Chi- cago. The family made their home upon a farm, and there our subject grew to man- hood, early becoming familiar with all the duties which fall. to the lot of the agri- culturist. At the same time he acquired a good practical education in the common schools near his home. While still a resident of Cook county, Illinois, Mr. Weiss was married, in 1863, to Miss Amelia Weiss, who is also of Ger- 388 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. man birth, being born in the same neigh- borhood as her husband. She was a young lady on her emigration to the new world. After his marriage Mr. Weiss engaged in farming and also worked at his trade, that of a carpenter, near Chicago for several years. It was in 1878 that he came to Iowa with his own and his father's family, and took up his residence in Badger township, Webster county, where he now resides. There the father had purchased an eighty- acre farm but partially improved, and while he made his home in Fort Dodge our sub- ject operated the place. At the father's death the children of our subject succeeded to the place. In connection with farming Mr. Weiss has worked at his trade in this county, and. prospering in his undertakings, he has purchased land from time to time until he and his sons now own over four hundred acres under a high state of culti- vation. They have built a comfortable and commodious residence and convenient out- buildings and made many other improve- ments which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the place. Mr. Weiss alone owns two hundred and forty acres adjoining the old homestead, and is to-day one of the well-to-do and substantial citizens of his community. As a carpenter he has assisted in the erection of many buildings in and around Fort Dodge, and in this way has materially aided in the up- building and development of the county. Mi", and .Mrs. Weiss have a family of seven children, namely: Louis and Will- iam are both married and engaged in farm- ing on the home place; Henry is married and engaged in the butcher business in Fort Dodge ; Otto is also married and now holds a responsible position in the county treas- urer's office at Fort Dodge; Louisa is the wife of Rudolph Beecher, a harness maker of Fort Dodge ; and Albert and Carl are both at home with their parents. Air. Weiss cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and twice sup- ported General Grant for the presidency, but since that time has affiliated with the Democratic party. For several years he served as township trustee and supervisor of highways, and his official duties were always most capably and satisfactorily per- formed. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church of Fort Dodge and are people of prominence in the com- munitv where they reside. P. L. LARSON. One of the most progressive and en- ergetic business men of Fort Dodge is P. L. Larson, the well known proprietor of the Larson Greenhouse on the northwest corner o-f Seventeenth street and Central avenue. He was born at Malmo, in the southern part of Sweden, July 6, 1 S65, and was reared and educated in that country. He also served one year in the Swedish army. When a boy of fourteen he was apprenticed to a florist, and in due time thoroughly mastered the business to which he has since devoted the greater part of his time and attention. So competent was he at the age of twenty years he was placed in charge of a line greenhouse in his native land, and held the position two years. On the 1st of May, 1S87, Mr. Larson came to the United States and first located in Litchfield, Minnesota, where he spent a short time, and then went to Omaha, Ne- braska, where he worked in a greenhouse until 1891. He next went to Denver, Colorado, and became a partner in a florist THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 3«9 business there. At the end of two years he removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where lie had charge of a greenhouse until coming to Fort Dodge in July, 1897. In the mean- time he was married in Denver, on the 30th of August. (894, to -Miss Katherina An- derson, who was born in Sweden. On first coming to Fort Dodge Mr. Larson leased the greenhouses for two vears. but in 1899 purchased his present property, which he has greatly improved and enlarged, now having sixteen thousand square feet of glass. He now owns five lots — one hundred and sixty-two and a half feet on Seventeenth street and two hundred and fifty feet on Central avenue — which are covered by seven greenhouses one hundred and twenty-five feet in length. The first of these is devoted to smilax. palms and ferns. the second to tea roses, the third to general propagating, the third and fourth to carna- tions, the fifth to chrysanthemums in season and bedded plants, the sixth to American beauty roses, and the seventh to carnations and violets. The heat for these buildings is furnished by a fifty-horse-power engine, and recently a steam trap has been put in. this being a device for taking the condensed steam from the pipes. Mr. Larson's office is a building eighteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and is located on the north- east corner of Seventeenth street and Cen- tral avenue, while the boiler and workshop is located at the rear just west of the green- houses. In the workshop, which is a build- ing fourteen by one hundred and twelve feet, all the potting and packing is done. Mr. Larson raises large crops of lettuce and parsley all the year round, and in the spring grows all kinds of garden plants and radishes for market. During the winter be confines his trade to cut flowers, palms and ferns, and enjoys an excellent trade extending over a large radius around Fort Dodge. In his business he employs four men all the year round. His greenhouses are equipped with the latest improved ap- pliances, including the latest ventilating machine, by" which the entire roof can be raised by simply turning a crank, lie is very progressive in his methods, is an en- ergetic, enterprising and reliable business man, and well deserves the success that has ci me to him, it being due entirely h own unaided efforts and good business abil- ity. His residence is located just nortb 1 i the greenhouses. Fraternally Mr. Larsi 11 is a member of the Royal Arcanum. JOHN H. KELLY. By industry and good management Mr. Kelly has attained to an enviable position among the farmers of Webster county. A native of County Clare. Ireland, he was horn of Irish parents, who never came to America and who are now deceased. When fifteen years of age he came to the United States, ami up to 1870 was variously em- ployed by the day. He understood the ad- vantage of application and faithfulness, and his life has been attuned to these admirable underlying principles. In May. 187'). Mr. Kelly married Ellen Hanrahan, a native of County Limerick. Ireland, who came to the United States when eighteen years of age and worked out in different families up to the time of her marriage. Her parents, Roger and Jo- hannali Hanrahan. had a large family of children, and of these the following are liv- ing: Bridget, the wife of Jerry Greehey. of Ireland; Daniel, who married Kate Lon- egan and lives in Duncombe, Iowa; Will- iam, who married Mary Reedy and liv< 390 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. a farm north of Duncombe : Roger, who still lives in Ireland; and John, who mar- ried Mary O'Connor and runs a shoe store in Webster City. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Kelly, nine of whom are now living: Mary, born August 22, 1877; John, January 30, 1879; Josie, .May 28, 1880: William. May 5. 1882; Daniel. May 1, 1885; Catherine, Novem- ber 4. 1883; Nellie, April 16, 1888; Norah, January 10. 1890; and Agnes, October 7, 1893. Two of the children died in in- fancy. For two years after his marriage Mr. Kelly was section foreman on the New York Central Railway, after which he came to Iowa, and in March of 1878 settled on land near the town of Duncombe, which at that time consisted of a depot and store anil gave very little promise for the future. His nearest neighbor was one and a half miles distant, and be started in to formulate prosperitv with almost nothing in the world save willing hands and plenty of determi- nation. With the gains permitted by his frugality and wise management he pur- chased some land, to which lie added from time to time, until at present he is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, consti- tuting one of the finest properties in Web- ster county. He has a pleasant and com- fortable home, and is able to enjoy not only the necessities but many of the luxuries of life. He is a member of the Roman Catho- lic church, anil is a Democrat in political affiliation. GEORGE W. FLOWER. The family represented by Mr. Flower, of Washington township, traces its an- cestry to England, whence his grandfather emigrated to America and settled in New York state. His father, Lewis Flower, was born and reared in New York, and there followed the occupation of a con- tractor and builder until his death about 1851. In early manhood he married Eliza- beth Valentine, a native of New York and a life-long resident of that state. Born of their union were eight children, namely: William, who married Miss Martha Watts and is living near the old homestead in Queens county. New York; George W., of this sketch; Charles, who enlisted in the United States navy, but subsequently en- tered the regular army and was killed while in service in the west ; Zeblin, who was also killed in the army; Benjamin F., who resides in San Francisco, California ; Hen- rietta and Lula. who died in childhood; and John H. a resident of Salem, Ore- yon. Some time after the death of Lewis Flower his widow was again married, be- coming the wife of S. M. Havens. After the death of her second husband, she came west and visited her children. Inn finally returned to New York, where her death occurred in September. 1898. In Queens count}". New York, where he was horn December 29. 1844. George W. Flower received his primary education in public schools, and he afterward studied in the schools of Westchester county, that state. At the age of fifteen years he began to lie self-supporting and from that day forward earned his own livelihood. At the opening of the Civil war his sympathies were strongly on the side of the Union, and he determined to serve his country by fighting against the Confederacy. On June 20. 1861, he enlisted in the army, at Brooklyn, New York, and was mustered into Company G, Sixty-seventh Xew York Infantry, which was often called Henry Ward Beecher's regiment. For a time he G. W. FLOWER MRS. G. W. FLOWER THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 395 was stationed at Fort Schuyler and later was transferred to Fort Hamilton and thence to Washington, D. C where he served under General Scott and then under General McClellan. Later the regiment was successively under Generals Meade, Ulysses S. Grant, Joseph Hooker and Am- brose E. Burnside. In all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac up to- the bat- tle of Petersburg, this regiment bore a valiant part and aided the northern troops in gaining a decisive victor)- on more than one closely-contested battlefield. On the expiration of the term of service, Mr. Flower was sent to Washington and thence to Brooklyn, where he was mustered out on the 4th of July, 1864. During his entire service, covering a period of three years, he was never wounded or taken prisoner, al- though he was often exposed to shot and shell from the Confederate ranks. At Shelter Island, Suffolk county, Xew York, December 3, 1866, Mr. Flower mar- ried Elizabeth Manwaring, who was born in Connecticut, May 6, 1843. She was a daughter of Charles D. and Elizabeth M. (Hughes) Manwaring. natives of Connec- ticut, who, after their marriage, removed to Xew York anil resided in that state until their death. In their family were four daughters and six sons, namely : John, who married Fidelia Loper and makes his home in Xew York; Charles, who died at the age of twenty-three years ; Henry, whose home is in Connecticut; Frances, widow of Louis Mulford and a resident of Xew York state; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Flower; Josephine, who married James Ward, of Shelter Island, Xew York; Ellen, wife of Gabriel Edwards, of Amagansett, Long Island; Alexander, unmarried, resid- ing at Shelter Island. Xew York: Arthur, who died at fourteen years of aae ; and Gil- bert, who married Alice Griffin and makes his home at Shelter Island. Eight children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Flower, namely; Addie T., who died at the age of nine years; Lillian G., who mar- ried Lewis Weldon. and resides at Eagle Grove, Iowa; Minnie V., now Mrs. Ed- ward Daniels, who has three children, Ger- trude, Lloyd and Earl, and resides in Wash- ington township, Webster county; Mary E., Mrs. John Xagle, of Freeport, Illinois, who has two daughters, Flossie and Iraie ; George W-, an expert machinist, employed at Freeport, Illinois; Arthur H.. who re- sides with his parents: Walter G., who married Alice Young and resides in Ham- ilton county. Iowa, on a farm; and Gilbert R.. who is with his parents. For a time after his return from the army Mr. Flower pursued the occupation of a farmer in Xew- York, but. believing greater opportunities awaited him further west, he came to Iowa in 1872 and settled in Dubuque. One year later he moved to Delaware county and after three vears, in [876, established his home on section 26, Washington township. Webster county, where he has since resided. The forty acres forming his original purchase com- prised raw prairie land, which necessitated the hardest labor on his part before it was broken and placed in a condition to respond to cultivation. Energy and perseverance. however, in time made of the tract one of the most valuable for miles around. As his means increased he invested in additional property and is now the owner of two hun- dred and forty acres, lying principally on sections 25 and 26, all of which is improved farm land. His crops of grain are large, but are not sold in the markets, being held to furnish winter feed for his stock, of which he has a considerable number of 396 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. head, all high grade. It has been said by many that bis stuck are as fine as can be found in the township and certainly those who are familiar with the stock business would at once judge these to be of the best strains the west produces. As he is closely engrossed by the management of his farm and the care of his live stock. Mr. Flower has no leisure for participation in public affairs, and has hitherto refused to accept official positions, although he keeps posted concerning the problems before our nation and is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. REV. FATHER RYAN". Among the most promising Roman Catholic churches in Webster county is the church of Saint Joseph at Duncomhe. an in- stitution worth}' of special mention because of the extent of its charities and the steady increase of its membership and general use- fulness. Like so many of the parishes des- tined for large accomplishment in promoting morality and peace, this offshoot of the greatest ecclesiastical denomination in the world had a small beginning, and its rise to its present importance among the uplifting influences of a populous district is due to the faithfulness of its congregation, and the de- votion of the fathers who have directed its undertakings. The band of worshippers in whose minds and hearts was conceived the potent necessity accomplished their object in 1889, at which time the present completed structure was ready for any emergency, and a tangible and practical habitation was pro- vided for the continuance of ambitious plans for well doing. Father Garland was in charge until 1893, when Father O'Brien was appointed and continued in charge until the fall of 1898. Father Martin Murray then received temporary appointment and re- mained here until January, 1899, when Fa- ther Leahv assumed charge and ministered to the spiritual wants of members until May, 1900, when he was promoted to the more important charge at Otter Creek, Jackson county, Iowa. At that time Father Ryan, the present pastor, came with his earnestness and faith, and has since wrought exceeding well in many directions, and won the grati- tude and good-will of all with whom he has l>een associated. A native of County Tipperarv, Ireland, Father Ryan was born April 11, 1864', and his father is still living in his native land. His primary classical education was acquired at the local Irish schools, after which he en- tered the College of Saint Patrick, at Thurles, from which he was graduated June 29, 1888. After his ordination he availed himself of the larger possibilities of Amer- ica, and upon locating in Dubuque, Iowa, September 6, 1888, was appointed professor of the College of Saint Joseph, a position maintained by him for six years. On Sep- tember 1 _', 1894, he was appointed to- a pas- torate in Delmar, Clinton count)-, Iowa, and on May 20, 1900, came to Duncomhe, with the most enobling influences of which he has since been actively identified. C. L. GATES. The high standing of the public institu- tions of Webster county is due largely to the excellent character of the men placed over their management, and illustrative of this fact is the wise control of C. L. Gates, super- intendent of the Webster county farm. A native of Paw Paw, Lee county, Illinois, Mr. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 397 Gates was born October 13. 1848, a son of Erastus and Martha (Page) Gates, natives of Ohio. After the marriage of the parents in Ohio they removed to Illinois about 1840, and settled in Lee county, where the father engaged in the mercantile business until 1852. He then removed to California, where his death occurred in [876, his wife having died in ( )hio, in [856. ] le was a Republican, and a member of the Advent church. To this worthy couple were born six children, namely: Edwin, who married Polly Robin- son and lives at Paw Paw, Illinois; Ellen. Who is the wife of William Rawdon, and lives in California; Jane, who died in 1883. at the age of forty-two years; C. L, our sub- ject ; George, who married in Ohio and lives in Democrary, Ohio; and Llewellyn, who went to California and has not since been heard from. At the age of sixteen C. L. Gates dis- continued his studies at the public schools of Paw Paw. Illinois, and in April, iSf>2, en- listed in Company C, Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Lynch Coudy. He first went to Chicago and from there to Springfield. Illinois, from which city the regiment was sent to Memphis, Ten- nessee, where they joined the Sixteenth Army Corps under General A. J. Smith. In their travels they visited Holly Springs. Mississippi, and Oxford, in pursuit of Gen- eral Bragg, and upon returning went to Cairo and Nashville, Tennessee, and East- port. Mississippi; from Xew Orleans crossed to Fort Fisher, and from there went to Blakely, near Mobile. Alabama, and after the battle at the latter town went to Mont- gomery, Alabama, and to Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, then back to Springfield. Illinois, where Mr. Gates was discharged, in April. 1865, ha\ ing served three years in the Union armv. After the war Mr. Gates returned to Paw Paw, Illinois, and engaged in farming on rented land in Lee county. At Malta. Dekalb county. Illinois, October 10. [868, he married Ida M. Collins, who was born in Carrollton, Orleans county. Xew York. May 27, 1852. Mrs. Gates is a daughter of Henry and Deborah (Simpson) Collins, na- tives respectively of Scotland and New York. The parents lived in Xew York until 1858, about which time the father, who had been engaged in the mercantile business, died. The mother came to Dekalb county, Illi- nois, in [860, and in 1862 married Edwin I olby, a native of Oswego county, New "\ ork. Mr. Colby died in Illinois, September 30, [889, and his wife is now living in Lee county, Illinois. By her first union the mother had two children: Ida, the wife of C. L Gates, and Alma, the wife of Lorenzo Abby, of Clear Lake. Iowa. Of the second union the following children were born: Sherman, who is married and lives in Illi- nois; Eddie, who is married and lives in Shabbona, Illinois; Archie, who mar- ried Lucy McGrady, and lives in Lee county. Illinois; Luna, who is the wife of George Fleming, and lives in Malta. Illinois; and Xellie. who is the wife of George Elbridge of Malta, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Gates have been born eight children, namely: Allie, born in Dekalb county. Illinois, January I, 1869, married James Winter, and lives in Utica. Missouri; Charles, born in Shabbona. Dekalb county, Illinois, March 30, 1873. married Xellie Lambert, by whom he has one child, Ida. and lives in North Dakota; Xellie. born at Scranton, Greene county, Iowa, July 23, [875, lives with her parents: Harry, born in Scranton. September 8, 1877. is engaged in the railroad business in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Kittie, born in Scranton, February 1. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 1879, is teaching school; George, born in Otho township, Webster county, Iowa, Feb- ruary 4, 1885, lives with his parents; Frank, born in Otho township. April 2, 1886, and Freddie, horn in Otho township, June 24, 1888, are both at home; and a babe, who died in infancy. For about five years after his marriage Mr. Gates lived on a farm in Illinois, after which he removed to Scranton, Greene coun- ty, Iowa, ami lived on rented land until 1882. He then became identified with Webster cainty, Iowa, where he bought eighty acres of land which he improved and lived upon until he was appointed to his present posi- tion of superintendent of the county poor farm, in 1895. His administration has been well received throughout, and very little of the fault has been found which one naturally associates with institutions of the kind. Mr. Gates is a Republican in political affiliation. and is fraternally a member of the United WOrkmen of America. From time to time considerable property has come into his pos- session, and he still owns a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres at Clear Lake, Iowa. The county farm, of which Mr. Gates is now superintendent, was ushered upon its era of usefulness in 1874. and is located twelve miles northeast of Callender. Will- iam Crandal was the first superintendent, and at that time the main building alone ex- isted, containing seven rooms. Mr. Crandel \\a^ succeeded by Michael Dougherty, whose place was filled by J. M. Hood, since the regime of whom Mr. Gates has had entire control. The room at the disposal of pa- tients has been materially enlarged, so that now there are forty-eight rooms and two hundred and eighty acres of land, with large barns, granaries, and all necessary adjuncts for the extensive carrying on of general farming and stock-raising. The buildings are in good condition and are kept scrupu- lous! v clean, and every where are evidences of a master hand who is not only an admir- able manager, but who is as well a consider- ate observer of the needs of those who are placed under his protection. AMUND HAXSOX. Like man}- other residents within the bounds of Webster county this gentleman is of foreign birth, but America has no more patriotic or loyal citizen. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Norway, in October, 1833, and was there reared to manhood. Before leav- ing his native land he was married to Miss Siiuinsoii, and to them one child was born. In 1870 this little family emigrated to the new world, and on landing in this coun- try proceeded at once to Clinton county, Iowa, where Mr. Hanson worked on a farm for four years, having previously followed that occupation in the land of his birth. He then came to Webster county in 1874, and purchased eighty acres of his present farm on section 3, Roland township, which at that time was all wild and unimproved, but acre after acre was soon placed under the plow until it became a highly cultivated tract. Later he bought an adjoining eighty acres; has set out an orchard and shade trees ; has erected good buildings; and to-day has a well-improved place. Air. and Mrs. Hanson have become the parents of two children, namely : Mary, who is now the wife of Allen Gunderson, of Min- nesota, and has five children. Albert, Amiel. Alisner. Bertha and Jennie; and Caroline, wife of Christ Hendrickson, whose farm ad- joins that of our subject, and by whom she THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 40 1 ■ has one daughter, Gertie. Our subject and his \\ ife are members of the Lutheran church of Callender, and he is a stanch supporter oi the Republican party and its principles. F. G. PETERS" >X. Enterprise and progress are the keynotes to the career of F. G. Peterson, postmaster and business man of Moorland. A native of Norway, he was born April 10, 1861, and is a son of Ole and ( tlena Peterson, who were also born in that country. When five years of age Mr. Peterson came to America with his parents, who settled in Fulton township, Webster county. Iowa, and here he attended the public schools during the leisure of the winter months, and worked in the harvest field during the summer. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and the son naturally availed himself of the opportunity to place himself in touch with this useful occupation, and he also learned the carpenters' trade. On December 30. 1883, Air. Peterson married Sarah IJlinck. who was born in Davenport, [owa, June 1, 1856, a daughter of Fred and Elizabeth (Thorn) Bliuck, na- tives respectively of Germanv and Ohio. Her parents were married in Davenport, Iowa, and the father eventually went to Cal- ifornia, where he died. The mother died February 5, 1896. She had married again. her second husband being William Rowe, with whom she lived until his death in Dav- enport, shortly before her own demise. Of the first union there were four children, two of whom are living: George, who married Anna Barwize, lives in Herald. Texas; and Frank, wdio is married, lived in Scott coun- ty, then in Omaha, and later in Montana. Of the second union of the mother there were three children; Joseph, who married Sarah Henderson, lives in Webster City; Sarah is the wife of F. 1 i. Peterson : and Ed- ward, who married Clara Smith, lives in Webster county. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have three children: Grace I)., who was born December 1. 1878, and now lives in Des Moines, [owa; Alice, born November u. [889; and Gladys, born March 17. [894. Fred and Joseph died in infancy. \fter his marriage Mr. Peterson leased land in Webster county, and in [880 houghl forty acres of land on section 34, Fulton township, where he lived for two vears. He then took up his residence in Moorland, bought land and built a home, and also in- vested in several business lots, upon 1 ne of which he erected the building in which is lo- cated the postoffice. He conducted a hotel i'ir live years, after which he engaged in the implement business in Moorland, and in time worked up one of the largest trades in this line in the county. At present he carries all well-known makes of wagons and imple- ments, including' the Deering and McCor- mick goods, the Gailbraith Company's goods of Des Moines, and the Bain, the Newton, and the Weber wagons. He also handles the Baker. Anchor, and Ilreed buggies, and in smaller commodities handles pumps, wind- mills, and harness. Pie has a thorough un- derstanding of popular needs in his special line of business, and his courtesy, considera- tion, integrity and general obligingness have won for him a deservedly large and increas- ing trade among the best people in the count}'. A great deal of the influence exerted b\ Mr. Peterson has been along political lines. and he has shown particular aptitude for the discharge of public responsibility. As a stanch Republican he served as assessor for six years, and has been a member of the 402 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. school board for twelve years, as well as road supervisor for two years. In 1896, under President McKinley's administration, he was appointed postmaster of Moorland, and the affairs of the office are still managed by him with satisfaction to all concerned. He is foremn >st in promoting- all worthy efforts at municipal improvement, and enter- tains the most substantial and progressive ideas regarding public affairs in general. Mr. Peterson has a large circle of friends in Moorland, and even those who differ from him politically credit him with being a pub- lic servant and business man in whom all may trust, and who is fashioning for himself a clean and untarnished record. WILLIAM MUNN. It is doubtful if any man in Webster county has a more comprehensive knowledge of the coal mining of Iowa than has William Munn, jne of the most substantial farmers of Pleasant Valley township. He was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, November 25, 185 1, and is a son of Robert and Cather- ine (Gilmore) Munn, natives respectively of County Donegal and County Fermanagh, Ireland. The parents were married in Scot- land and came to America in 1851, the voy- age on the sailing vessel lasting six weeks and three days. They settled at Pittston, Lu- zerne county, Pennsylvania, and remained in that part of the state for about eleven years, the father in the meantime engaging in o >al mining. , They afterwards settled in Athens county, Ohio, where they remained for six months, and were later in Perry county. Ohio, for a couple of years. In Muskingum county, of the same state, they staid for a year, and in September, 1865, settled in Put- nam county, West Virginia, which continued to he their home until September, 1869. They then went to Des Moines, Iowa, and remained for ten months, and became iden- tified with Webster county, Iowa, August 1, 1870. As heretofore during all of his active life, the father here continued to engage in coal mining up to. the time of his death in 1884, his wife surviving him until the fol- lowing year. He was a Democrat in politi- cal affiliation, ami was a member oi the Ro- man Catholic church. To this earnest and kindly couple were born eleven children, of whom William is the oldest; James married Mary Mericle and lives in Coalville, Iowa; Ellen is the wife of John Cooney and lives in Washington township. Wehster county; Mary died in infancy; Catherine is the wife of James McMenamin, of Washington town- ship; Patrick is single and lives in Montana; Robert is also unmarried and lives in Colo- rado ; John is unmarried and lives in Cooper township, Webster county; Elizabeth is the wife of William Smith and lives in Carbon, Iowa; [Margarita lives in Washington town- ship; and Thomas lives in Colorado. William Munn attended school in Perry and Muskingum counties, and at Zanesville, Ohio, but at the age of eleven started out to aid the family fortunes by supporting him- self. He naturally became interested in his father's occupation of coal mining, and worked in the same mines with him until twenty-eight years of age. On January 12, 1880, he married Jennie Fitzgearld at Corpus Christi church, the ceremonv being performed by Rev. Father Lenihan, now bishop of Cheyenne, Wyo- ming. Mrs. Munn was born in Xenia, Ohio, February 27, 186 1, a daughter of John and Bridget (Collins) Fitzgearld, natives of County Kerry, Ireland. The parents were married in Xenia, Ohio, the father having emigrated to America in 1851, the mother THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 403 coming over the latter part of the same year. These young people had known each other in the old country, and renewed their ac- quaintance in Ohio, with the result of their marriage. After their marriage they lived in Greene county until 1869, removing then to Clyde, Sandusky county, Ohio, where they lived until 1876, and in September of that year came to Iowa. Here the father bought forty acres of land in Washington township, upon which he lived until his death, in 1885. Before taking to farming he had engaged in railroading. The mother is now living on the old homestead. They were the parents of three daughters: Jennie; Mary, the wife of Thomas Scott, of Pleasant Yallev township: and Catherine, the wife of Nicholas Hanan, of Washington township. To Mr. and Airs. Munn have been born the fi Jli wing children : Kittie S., born January 23. 1881; Frank, January 7, 1883; Robert A., January 4, 1885; Clement J., February 27, 1887; Mary C, July 2_\ 1889; Ray- mond J., May 18, 1891 : Mark A., September 18, 1894; Harold M., < Ictober jo. 1897; and Noel U., February 9, 1901. After his marriage Mr. Munn settled on the farm which he n< >w 1 >ccupies, and which consists of eighty acres of finely improved land, besides an additional forty acres. He has one of the best equipped farms in Web- ster county, and has a splendid rural home. fine barns, and all modern improvements. Although independent in national politics he has filled numerous positions of trust within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He is a member of the Church of the Assumption, at Coalville. While the chief occupation of Mr. Munn at the present time is farming and stock-raising, he is known far and wide as one of the best posted men on Iowa mining in the state. He assisted at the opening of the first large coal mine in Web- ster county, and in the opening of the large coal veins near Des Moines. lie loaded and shipped the first carload of cannel coal that went out of Webster county, and broke the ground for the first gypsum shafts in the count}', this happening on December 9. 1895, under the generalship of Thomas Collins, the promoter of the enterprise. Air. Munn was the first foreman for Mr. Collins, and he has since seen the erection of all the gypsum mills in the count}'. When he first came here twenty men could dig all the coal used on the Illinois Central road between Water- loo and Sioux City, but at the present time it is doubtful if two thousand men could do all the work required. Fie first worked in the state for John F. Duncombe, for whom the town of Duncombe is named, the Senator being at the time a large mine owner, and one of the most enthusiastic developers of this particular resource of Iowa. Mr. Munn is a man of sterling worth and fine charac- ter, and bis services to bis adopted state have been limited only by the number of vears he has lived here. FRANK FIDILK K. A property of particular value because of its combined agricultural and coal de- veloping possibilities is that of Frank Fidilick, located on section 1, Fulton town- ship, Webster count}'. Iowa. This genial and successful citizen was born in Bohemia, February 26, 1852, a son of James and Mary Fidilick, who came to America in 1864, and located in Cleveland. Ohio. Flere the father and son worked in a pail factor}- for nearly six years, and in 1871 shifted their fortunes to Yankton county, South Dakota, where they homesteaded 404 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. land and lived thereon for six months. A later place of residence was Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which was reached by wagon and teams, and there the}' lived for six months. In the family besides Frank Fidilick were three daughters and two sons, namely : Joe, a resident of fdaho; James, who lives in Callendef, Iowa; Anna, who is the wife of Frank Dursmit, of Moorland; Mary, who is the wife of Frank Fibaker, of Boone; and Sophia, who is the wife of Joe Fihaker, of Fulton township, Webster county. The education of Frank Fidilick was acquired in the public schools of Bohemia, supplemented by further study in the schi * As of Ohio. While living in Cedar Rapids. Iowa. January 26, 1879, he married Rose Frank, a country woman, horn in Bohemia, January 26, 1862. Her parents died in their native land. Mrs. Fidilick came to America in 1S76 with relatives, and lived out as a domestic for three years or until the time oi her marriage. She has a brother, Joe Frank, who lives near Cowrie, and a sister. Emma Wheatlick, who lives in San Jose, California. Five children have been born to Mr. Fidilick and wife, namely: Frank, born November 6, 1881 ; William. May 6, 1884; Emma, May i<>. [887; Agnes, Sep- tember 28. 1892; and Ablia, July 31, 1895. After his marriage Mr. Fidilick worked in the coal mines at Kalo, where he put up a shanty and boarded his fellow craftsmen for a couple of years. He then rented a farm for five years, and afterward bought forty acres of land in Fulton township, which he eventually disposed of and pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres in Elkhorn township. At the expiration of ten years this land was also sold, and he bought the two hundred and sixty-six acres upon which he now lives. The farm upon which Mr. Fidilick has expended so much thought and labor is well improved and has all modern labor-saving devices. His home is a comfortable and commodious one, and the barns and general buildings are consistent with the demands created by abundant harvests and large stock-raising enterprises. The farm is un- derlaid with coal, a forty-two-inch vein, sixty feet deep, which he will develop as opportunity affords. In the meantime he is devoting his time to the general improve- ment of his land and to the feeding of large numbers of cattle and hogs. A Republican in politics, he has held numerous important positions of trust in his neighborhood, such as school director and road commissioner, and while living in Elkhorn township he was similarly honored with public trust. He is among the substantial men of the county, and his uprightness and devotion to the general well being of the community is unquestioned. SAMUEL HEFFNER. The genealogy of the Heffner family is traced back to Andreas Heffner, of Eber- stadt, a village four miles south of Darm- stadt, in Germany. On the ship Patience, under Captain Hugh Steele, as one of two hundred and fifty passengers from Wur- temberg and Palatine, lie crossed the At- lantic, landing in America September 19, 1749, after which he settled in Pennsyl- vania. Heinrich Heffner, son of Andreas, ami grandfather of our subject, was a Revolutionary hero, serving under General Washington during his campaign in Xew Yi irk and the retreat through New Jersey. With his brave comrades he suffered the hardships at Valley Forge during the win- SAMUEL HEFFNER THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 409 ter of 1777. Shortly after this time lie was captured by the British and held as a pris- oner of war for two years before being- exchanged. He married Maria Eva Kelch- ner, November 28, 1752. Among their de- scendants was Samuel HefYner, Si'., who was born in Weisenburg, Lehigh count}-, Pennsylvania, and who folli wed the tan- ning business until his death, September 14, 1872. The religion of his ancestors he made his own and held membership in the German Lutheran church. Politically he voted with the Democratic party. By his marriage to Kate Folck, -who was born in 1803 and died in 1883, he had eleven chil- dren, Samuel, of this sketch, being the eld- est. Henry, the second born, who is living in Trexlertown, Lehigh county, Pennsyl- vania, married Rosalinda Smith and has two children, Alar}- A. and Emeline. George makes his home in Allentown. Penn- sylvania. Lydia H., wife of Joseph Kuhns, of Seipstown, Lehigh county. Pennsylvania, has seven children. Adam C, Harvey J.. Milton S., Annie L., Martha L., Savanna A. and John H. Daniel died, unmarried, in Webster City, Iowa, October 29, 1893. Charles, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, mar- ried Caroline Barto. and the}' have four children, Annie B., Jennie D., Frank S. and Carrie. David, of Allentown, married Al- mira J. Schaffer and has six children: Mary Alice, Robert S., John A., Ida S.. William, who d.ied in infancy, and Esther. Peter, of Fogelsville, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, married Fianna Woodring and has < me daughter, Katie L. Mary Ann, twin sister cf Peter, is unmarried and lives in Allen- town. Meno married Isabella Walbert, lo- wborn he had two children, Lily L ami Clista M. He died at Vienna, Fairfax county, Virginia, in 1885. Catherine Maria died in infancy. Solomon, of Seipstown, Pennsylvania, married Amanda Mover and lias three children, Samuel M., Daniel H. and Alfred S. Samuel Heffner, who forms the subject of this article, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. January 23, 1829. Pri- marily educated in his native county, he was later given the advantages of study in Freeland Seminary, in Pennsylvania, where he gained a thorough knowledge of the or- dinal"}- branches of study. In boyhood he was made conversant with the German language, and always afterward was a flu- ent speaker of both German and English. Deciding to enter the medical profession, Ik- began the stud}- of that science, continued in the same until completing a regular course of stud}-, after which he carried on a general practice. Coming to Iowa in an early day. he was afterward identified with the history of Webster county, where he was a citizen of prominence and influence. In 1854 he. purchased from the govern- ment a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he erected a cabin built of logs and covered with shingles hewn by his own hands. Here he lived until i860, when he rented his farm and for the fol- lowing thirteen years roamed about among the wilds of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, being many times with no other companions than his faithful oxen and the treacherous Indian, in whom he found a warm and confiding friend. In 1873 he- re-turned to his farm in Webster county, ti which he made such additions as his humble means would permit. Upon one of these newly acquired possessions he erected a small, sod-covered shanty, in which he lived for ten years. During this time he endured every hardship known to the pioneers of early Iowa. Many times within this period he would walk to Fort Dodge, a distance of 4-io THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. fifteen miles, being without money with which to buy his dinner. For six years Mr. Heffner served as county supervisor. In national elections he voted for Republican candidates, but in ( ither instances he voted for the men and measures he thought for the best interests of all the people. Like his father, he was a faithful member of the German Lutheran church and continued an earnest worker in the same until death terminated .his long and useful existence, June 5, 1893. The marriage (if our subject united him with Miss Flora E. Spainhower, January jo. 1882, at Homer. Hamilton county, h wa. She was born November 28, 1858, and was a daughter of John W. and Lydia M. ( Miller) Spainhower, both natives of Stokes county, North Carolina, the former burn September 2. 1823, and the latter June 24, [824. They were married in their native county. April 20, 1848. where they contin- ued to reside for man}' years afterward. On March 31. 1875. they arrived in Webster county. Iowa, where Mr. Spainhower first leased land and two years later bought one hundred and sixty acres in Washington township. On that farm the mother died July 9, 1 88 1. and from there her body was taken to Blanchard cemetery in Washing- ton township. Deprived of his wife and further afflicted by the loss of his eyesight, Mr. Spainhower left his farm and made his home with his children. He died September 15, 1897, at the home of Mrs. Heffner, his oldest daughter, and was buried by the side of his wife. They were the parents of six children: J. V., of Maricopa county. Arizona, married Eleanor Crouse and has three children, Lydia, John and Luther. S. B., of Coalville, Webster county. Iowa, married Amanda Crouse, a sister of his brother's wife, and they have six children now living: Arthur, Alice, Minnie, Sam- uel, Bettie and Anna. W. H., of Watonga, Blaine county, Oklahoma, married Sarah DeWitt, who died in Webster county, Iowa, February 1, 1888, leaving two children, Ralph and Cora. A. M., of Fort Dodge, Iowa, was twice married, his first wife hav- ing been Alice Widick, who died near Le- high, Iowa, in November, 1887, after which he married Florence Lowry, and they have two children, George and Ethel. The fifth member of the family circle was Flora, who married Mr. Heffner. Mary R.. Air,--. .Monroe Blakely, resides in Maricopa coun- ty, Arizona, and has six children, Charles, Florence, Lydia, Cora, Marion and Doris. The five children of our subject and wife were born in Washington township, Webster county, Iowa. The eldest, John S., born January 11, 1883, wno ' s now man- aging the home farm, was graduated from Tobin College, June 15, 1900, and expects to teach school preparatory to taking up the study of law. The other children are: Floyd M., born June 24, 1884: Daniel, April 4, 1886; Mary E.. May 12. 1889: and Carl I).. May 1, 1893. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Heffner has, with the as- sistance of her oldest son. managed the home farm on section 2~, Washington township, with additional property on sec- tions 22 and 28, the whole aggregating four hundred and thirty-eight acres. On this homestead she has recently' erected a beau- tiful rural home, containing all the modern improvements. Other equipments of a model farm are to be seen there, including large barns, cattle sheds and granaries, and a specialty is made of raising high-grade stnek for the market. Among her other properties are three lots in Gilmore City, Iowa, and two lots in Webster City. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 411 church and a lady whose many pleasing attributes of mind and heart have drawn to her the friendship of a large circle of ac- quaintances. .MORRIS J. BAILEY. The commercial supremacy of Dun- combe is fostered and maintained by the large business undertakings of Morris J. Bailey, one of the most ambitious and suc- cessful grain and cattle shippers of Webster county. He was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in i860, a son of Francis and Ellen (Casey) Bailey, also natives of Ireland. The parents were married in their native land and came to America in 1865. and, upon coming to Boone county, Iowa, resided for a few weeks in Clinton, afterwards settling on a farm, where they lived for two and a half years. They became identified with Webster county in 1868, where the father took up river land, but later bought property in Washington township, where he spent the remainder of his life, and where his death oc- curred in 1888. He was a Democrat in p li- tics but refused to hold office of any kind, and he was a devoted member of the Roman Catholic church. The mother, who is now living in Duncombe, reared the following- children: Morris; Maggie, who lives with her mother ; Frank, who married Myrtle Bailev, and is connected with the Carbon Plaster Company of Fort Dodge; Katie, who is the wife of X. J. Wagner, a merchant at Duncombe; and James, who died at the age of twenty-two years. Until his sixteenth year Morris J. Bailey attended the public schools in Washington township during the winter time, and work- in the harvest held during the summer. As an independent venture he started out in rail- road business as sta'tion agent for the Illinois Central Railroad Company at Duncombe, a position which he held i* r about five and a half years. He afterwards held similar posi- tions at different points on the road, and was thus employed up to the time of his marriage, June 16, 1884. , Mrs. Bailey was formerly Bridget O'Con- nor, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, born in 1862. and a daughter of Patrick O'Connor, who was born in Ireland. The father mar- ried in his native land and emigrated to America about 1856. and settled in Cleve- land, Ohio, from which city he removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and thence to Fort Dodge. He later settled on a farm in Web- ster county where himself and wife eventual- ly died. The}- were the parents of the fol- lowing children : Patrick, who married Ellen Downev, and lives in Industry, Iowa; Mag- gie, who is the wife of John Hannarahan, and lives in Webster City: Arthur L., who also lives in Webster City ; Bridget, who is the wife of Morris J. Bailey; and Nick, who is unmarried and is engaged in the book and shoe business in Webster City. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were born the following children : Francis. Arthur. Jo- seph, Ellen. Anna and Blanch. Francis died at the age of three years, and Joseph at the age of one, both being buried on the same day. For a time after his marriage Mr. Bailey remained in the railroad business, and then engaged in the grocery business in Dun- combe for a year ami a half. Upon the death of his brother, who was a partner, he dis- posed of the store and bought another gro- cery, which he later sold in order to enter the hardware business. A still more recent occupation was that of postmaster, which office he held for four years, and subsequent- ly he engaged in the elevator and grain busi- 412 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ness, which is his present lucrative means of livelihood. He is the owner of a modern elevator of large dimensions, and has an enormous trade in the buying and selling of grain and other elevator commodities. He is also interested on a large scale in the purchase and sale of hogs and cattle. Mr. Bailey owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Colfax township, and also town lots and buildings in Buncombe, and is interested in the coal and lumber business. No mure enterprising citizen has helped to advance the interests of the locality, or has more faithfully and intelligently studied the needs of the commonwealth. Politically a Democrat, be has upheld the political honor of his adopted town while holding various responsible positions, among which is that of township clerk, maintained for thirteen years. He has also been alderman of Duncombe, and is president of the school board. Fraternally he is associated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order United Workmen, and the Yoeman. Himself and family are members of the Ro- man Catholic church. Mr. Bailey is a re- markably successful man and is indebted solely to his own efforts for the position which he now occupies. Among the numer- ous attributes which have strengthened his hold upon the hearts and common sense of his friends and associates is an unswerving integrity, a well balanced judgment, a genial and optimistic personality, and a heart at- tuned to the agreeable as well as substantial things of life. VV. F. CARVER, M. D. Among the younger representatives of the medical fraternity now engaged in prac- tice in Webster county, probably none stands higher than Dr. \Y. F. Carver, of Fort Dodge, who limits his practice to the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. He was born in Madison county, Iowa, December 6, 1869, and is a son of Caleb Carver, a native of Lee county, this state. It was about 1837 or 1838 that the Doctor's paternal grandpar- ents, William and Mary Carver, removed from their old home in Kentucky to Iowa. but after spending a short time in this state, went to Jacksonville, Illinois, and later to Missouri, where they died, their remains be- ing interred at Joplin. In 1861 the Doctor's father returned to Iowa, and has since made his home in Madison county. He married Miss Elizabeth Boicourt, who was born in Illinois, of French ancestry, and died in 1895. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, of whom seven are still living, six sons and one daughter. In the county of his nativity Dr. Carver was reared and educated, and there he en- gaged in teaching school for a time. In early manhood he became a registered phar- macist, and began the preparation for his chi >sen profession in the Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons at Des Moines, but finished his course at the Hospital College of Medicine in Louisville. Kentucky, from which institution he was graduated with honor in 1893, with the degree of M. D., and was then engaged in general practice at Mur- ray, Clarke county, Iowa, for six vears. He subsequently took a special course at the Chicago Polyclinic and Illinois State Eye and Ear Infirmary, and then located in Fort Dodge, where he has since followed his pro- fession with marked success, having built Up quite a large and lucrative practice. Since locating at Fort Dodge. Dr. Carver has de- vi 'ted his entire time to the eye. ear. nose and throat and the adjustment of glasses. Dr. Carver was married April 4, 1894, to W. F. CARVER, M. D. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 415 Miss Edith I. Bishop, a daughter of Captain J. F. Bishop, oi Des Moines, who is edit* r of the Grand Army Advocate, and Wo- man's Relief Corps Magazine. To them have been born three children, namely : Susan M., William Franklin. Jr., and James Clay- ton. By his ballot the Doctor supports the men and measures of the Republican part). Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is connected with the Masonic order and the improved Order of Red Men. He also belongs to the American Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Society, and the Fort Dodge District Medical Society. While living in Clarke count)- he served two terms as county coroner anil was also health officer of his town for a time. In Clarke county — his former place of residence — the Doctor estab- lished an enviable reputation and during the three years of his residence in Fort Dodge he has become identified with the leading citi- zens of Webster count)- and is rapidly at- taining a high place in the esteem of the peo- ple of his acquaintance. JAMES B. IXGALLS. James B. Ingalls was born in Hancock county, Illinois. December 29, 1839, and was reared in Jefferson and Webster coun- ties, Iowa. During the years of youth he worked en a farm in the summers and at- tended school in winter. At Border Plains, January 25, 1862. he enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, which was mus- tered into the Union service in Davenport, and drilled at Benton Barracks, later being ordered south and taking part in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, and the campaign in front of Vicksburg under General Grant. In [863 he returned home on a furlough, and at the expiration of thirl) days rejoined the army at Cairo, proceeding up the Tennessee river to Clifton, and then across the country to join General Sherman at Buzzard's Roost. On July 22, when Hood made the move against the left wing 1 f Sherman's army, he ami eighteen other soldiers were captured by the Confederates and taken to Andersoti- ville, where he remained for sixty days, meantime suffering all the horrors that made the prison famous throughout the world. After his release he joined Sherman at At- lanta and accompanied him on the march to the sea, thence went to Washington and took part in the grand review. Next he was or- dered to Parkersburg. Virginia, and there took a boat for Louisville, Kentucky, where he was mustered out of the service. He was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, July 26, 1865. Returning home, he resumed work on the farm and also was employed f( >r a time in railn >ading. The marriage of Mr. Ingalls was solem- nized at Border Plains, July 23, 1885, and united him with Mrs. China ( Hendricks) Crawford, who was born in Marion county,' Tennessee. November 5, [845, a daughter of Mark and Man- 1 Standerfer) Hendricks, natives respectively of Indiana and Tennes- see. Some years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks removed to Missouri, in 1855, and there both died, the father in 1862 and the mother in 1X72. Their family consisted of ten children : Blackstone, de- ceased ; Anderson, who was killed while in the service of his country during the Civil war ; Caroline, Mrs. Jeremiah Prior, de- ceased ; Jane, widow of Lafayette Prigmore, and a resident of Marion county, Tennessee; Phrenix, who died in California: Skelton, who died during the Civil war; Amanda, 416 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Mrs. Josiah Conn, who died in Hickory county, Missouri; Harrison, who married Susan Steinhaugh. and lives in Indian Ter- ritory ; China, .Mrs. Ingalls; and Fatten, de- ceased. By her first marriage Mrs. Ingalls had four children. No children were horn of her union to Mr. Ingalls, but they have adopted a daughter. Winnie May, who was born in Lehigh, Iowa, November 14, 1885. Mrs. Ingalls is connected with the Order of Re- bekahs. and Mr. Ingalls is a member 1 f the Odd Fellows, and also the Grand Army of the Republic. They attend the Church of Christ in Lehigh, and contribute to its main- tenance. Politically he is a Republican, firm in his allegiance to the party, and interested in public affairs. His home property com- prises forty acres on section 25, Washington township, and in addition he owns property in Lehigh. THOMAS B. INGALLS. The homestead of Mr. Ingalls, purchased by him in 1 88 1, stands on sections 36 and 25, Washington township, and is among the val- uable farms of Webster county. The two hundred and forty acres comprising the es- tate have been placed under first-class culti- vation, and it is the owner's ambition to maintain a high grade of improvements, making of the land a model farm. To a large degree he inherits the qualities of thrift and unswerving integrity that charac- terized his Scotch forefathers, while from his maternal ancestors he inherits the Ger- man resourcefulness and firmness of will. The father of Mr. Ingalls was Abraham Ingalls. a native of New York state and a soldier in the war of iNij, bearing as brave a part in conquering British arms as his father before him had done in the Revolu- tion. After going to Illinois he made his home in McHenry county, later settling in Jefferson county. Iowa, and improving a tract of farm land. In 1854 he became a resident of Washington township, Webster count)-, Iowa, and here remained until his death, which occurred November 28, 1878. While living in Illinois he married Margaret Barger, who was born in Virginia and died in Iowa in 1866. They were the parents of four children, namely : James, who married Mrs. China Crawford, and lives in Wash- ington township, Webster county; Malinda, widow of Joel Wilson, and a resident of Dayton, Yamhill county, Oregon; Willie, who died in infancy; and Thomas B. There were also four children born of the father's previous marriagje to Mary Sea. Thomas B. Ingalls was born in Jefferson county. Iowa, March 29, 1847. He received his schooling- in a district school in Wash- ington township and the village school of Border Plains. After seventeen years of age he gave his entire time to assisting his father on the home farm. At Border Plains. Janu- ary 14, 1866, he married Ruth E. Floyd, who was born in Wisconsin on Christmas day of 1849. and was one of the four children of Charles and Elizabeth (Brown) Floyd. She died December 22, 1866. The second mar- riage of Mr. Ingalls took place in Fort Dodge, Iowa, September 4. J 872, his wife being Victoria Thomas, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 18. 1855. Her par- ents. Asa and Elizabeth ( Knapp) Thomas, were natives respectively of Connecticut and Xew York state, and were married in Penn- sylvania, where her father died in 1856. Three vears later her mother was married to Stephen Whitbeck. and they then came to Illinois, settling in Dekalb count)- and rent- ing land for two years. Their next location THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 417 was at Homer, Iowa, where Mr. Whitbeck carried on a drug business. Later he bought three hundred and sixty acres near Algona, l"\\a. but moved his family to Fort Dodge, where his wife died in 1889. Since then he- has been in the west, principally at < ireat Falls, Montana. They were the parents of five children, three now living: William W., who lives in Washington; A. G., who married Margaret Pendergast and makes his home at Great Falls. Montana; and Clar- ence, who is married and resides in Minne- apolis, Minnesota, being in the railroad busi- ness. By the first marriage of Mr. Ingalls one child was born, William, whose birth oc- curred at Border Plains, N< ivember 1 7. 1 81 ■> i. He married Ida Story.and lives at Lehigh, J' '\\ a. To the second marriage nine children were born, namely: Frederick, who was born April 1, 1874. and now lives in Fort Dodge: George, also of Fort Dodge, born April 22, 187(1; Elizabeth, who was born June 22, 187s, and died February 22. 1879; Minnie B., born December 7. 1879: Harry, who was born June 18. [882, and died in in- fancy; Thomas, who was born November 24, 1883. and died in March. 1885; Artie. born August 12, 1888; Bessie V., April 25, 189] : and Grace M., who was born October 23, 1893, and died July 21, 1894. In poli- tics Mr. Ingalls is a stanch Democrat and on that ticket he has been elected to the various ti iw nship offices. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. L. K. -FROSLAXD. One of those enterprising sons of Nor- way who reflect credit upon their native 1. nd rind upon the country of their adoption is L. K. Frosland, who was born in Nor- way in 1834. and whose parents were horn, reared and were married in the northern land, where also their death occurred. In the family besides L. K. was a brother, Johannes, who lives lin Cajhoun county, Iowa, a brother, Andre, who still lives in Norway, and a sister, Johanna Knudson, who is a resident of her native land. In [863 Mr. Frosland was married in Norway to Rachel Olson, whose father died in that country, but whose mother is now living with her daughter and son-in-law, and is eighty-six years of age. Anticipating much from a complete change of surroundings, Mr. Frosland emi- grated to America in 1871. accompanied by hi- wife and mother-in-law. the voyage last- ing thirteen days. The little party came im- mediately to Iowa, and twenty-four years after reaching the state Mr. Frosland pur- chased eighty acres of land two miles south • \ I norland, upon which he lived for five war-, afterward locating upon the farm where he now lives. His first purchase on section 8 consisted of one hundred and twenty acres, and two years later he bought an additional eighty acres, all of which he ii' w owns and has under a high state of cultivation. Upon this farm have been reared the following children: Carrie, who frst married Isaac Dawson and is now the wife of J. C. Haggem, of Badger. I Oleana, who is the wife of John C. Ander- son, the owner of two hundred acres of land in Fulton town-hip: Gertie, win is the wife of Samuel Ness, of Fulton township; Anna, who is living at home; Minnie, who is the wife of Ole Anderson, of Everett; Matt, who is living with his father; and Elizabeth, who is about to complete her education. Two children have died in America. Mr-. Frosland comes of an en- 4 I! THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ergetic family, as best illustrated by her brother, Andrew Olson, who married Lena Anderson and lives in Fulton township. When he arrived in America he was one of a party of eight, whose expenses across the water amounted to four hundred dollars. Arriving in New York, his available assets consisted of five hundred dollars in cash and any ami unit of determination, and upon set- tling in Iowa he put up a cheap house, bought six cows and paid down one hun- dred dollars towards a span of horses, after which he had hardly a cent to his name. At present he owns two hundred acres of land and is a successful man and honored citizen. Mr. Frosland makes a specialty of rais- ing red polled cattle and high-grade hogs, and feeds and ships large numbers of live stock. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and is a Republican in political affiliation. His son. Matt, runs his farm, and has developed genuine ability as an agriculturist and stock-raiser. Mr. Frosland has an enviable standing in the community, where his integrity and public- spiritedness are a matter of pride to his fellow townsmen. WALTER CLARK GOODRICH. The family represented by this well- known farmer of Webster township is among the oldest in the county, having been founded here by his parents, Walter and Minerva (Beach) Goodrich, who arrived in what is now Lehigh on the 17th of Oc- tober, 1855. At that time only two 'or three families had established homes here and the entire Des Moines valley was a wilderness, in which as yet few attempts at improve- ment had been made. Only a pioneer can understand and appreciate all the hardships they endured, all the discouragements they overcame in an effort to give their children desired advantages and lay up for them- selves a competency for old age. The father of our subject was born in Licking county, Ohio, August 4, 1808, and on reaching manhood was married at New- ark, that county, March 9, 1830, to Miss .Minerva Beach, who was born in Stratford, Connecticut, on the 24th of September. 1807. Unto them were born seven sons, all i>f whom are still living, namely: Curtis Augustus, a retired farmer of Hodgeman county, Kansas, now living in Dodge City, that state; George A., who is a carpenter and painter of Galena, Ohio, and takes an active interest in temperance work: Benja- min B., a retired farmer and old settler of Texas county, Missouri; Ezekiel L, a gen- eral gardener of Sedalia, Missouri; El- bridge and Rolland E., both residents of Lehigh, Iowa; and Walter C, of this re- view. As previously stated, Mr. Goodrich brought his family to Webster county, Iowa, in 1855, and settled on the present site of Lehigh. He was a man of excep- tional ability along mechanical lines, and during his early residence here followed various occupations. As a cabinet maker and carpenter he manufactured furniture, looms, spinning wheels and wagons and built houses for the early settlers. As a blacksmith he made their tools, sharpened their plows and shod their horses and oxen ; and as a cooper he made tubs and barrels in his shop. He also manufactured coffins and caskets and did a general undertaking business. He did some dentistry, and al- though he did not practice medicine, he d< dd Fellow s. EMANUEL E. LOW. Among the prominent citizens and suc- cessful agriculturists of Webster county, Iowa, is Emanuel E. Low, whose fine farm i- located on section 3, Yell township, and is surrounded by some of the finest scenery in the state. His beautiful residence, over- looking the Des Moines river, is an ideal country home, and is fitted with the con> forts and conveniences of modern life. A native of the sister state of Illinois, Mr. Low was born June 21, 1840. on the old national road near Martinsville, Clark county, and is a son of William Low, whose birth occurred in Randolph county. Vir- ginia, March 11, 1772. The father was first married in Ohio, November 4. 1813, in Miss Margaret Hughey. who was born May 28, 1775. and they became the par- ents of the following children: Keziah, born October 17. 18 14, died October 9, 1816; Jesse, born July 28, 1816, married THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 425 Matilda Crawford, and died leaving a widow and nine children, the former still a resident of Clark county, Illinois; Sally, born June 21, 1818. died November 2, [819; Margaret, born December 4. 1820, married John A. Landreth. who died in 1NN7, and she now makes her home with our subject; and Andrew, born December 12. 1823. married Diana Crane, now de- ceased, and lived in Clark county, Illinois, where he died in 1854. William Low was again married, Au- gust 15. 1824. his second union being with Sabrina Davis, who was also born in Ran- dolph county, Virginia, July 6. 179'!. and seven children blessed this marriage, name- ly: Jonathan, horn July 17. 1825. mar- ried Susannah Rodman, who died in Arkan- S« s, while his death occurred in Indian Ter- ritory. John, born June 30. 1827, died February 19. 1899. He married Phoebe Rogers, who now resides in Rooks county. Kansas. Elizabeth, born September 3. [829, married Levi Curtis, who died in Yell township, Webster count}-. Iowa, in 1853, and she subsequently wedded Sanford Day. Her death occurred in 1858. Piety, 1" in in Clark count}-. Illinois. Ma}- 1, 1832, married James Rogers, who died in Clark county, Illinois, in 1897. William married Elizabeth Corbin and resides in Emmet. Idaho, Sabrina died at the age of sixteen years. Emanuel E. completes the family. William Low. the father 1 if our sub- ject, served as a soldier of the war of 1812, under the c< mmand of General W. H. Har- ris, m. During his residence in Fairfield, 1 Mir 1. he filled the office of justice of the peace for the long period of thirteen years, and at the end of that time removed to Rush county. Indiana, where he resided Eot two years. He next made his home upon a farm in Clark county, Illinois, for eight- een years, and in 1855 came to Webstei count}-. Iowa. locating on a river claim in Yell township. There his death occurred June 10. 1 So;, and the mother of our sub- ject passed away in May, 1876. the remains 1 if both being interred in Bass cemetery. Yell township. Both were earnest and o nsistent members of the Methodist church, and the father's political support was given the Republican part}-. In his boyhood Emanuel E. Low at- tended the district schools of Clark county, Illinois, the first temple of learning being one 1 f the little log cabins fast disappear- ing from sight. it< facilities not reaching the demands of any hut the remotest pio-= neer settlements. Later Mr. Low pursued hi; studies in a neat frame structure in the same county, and subsequently took an academic course at Martinsville, Illinois. From eighteen to twenty years be assisted his father in his fanning operations, go- ing then into the sawmill business, to which lit has devoted a considerable portion of his time. He has both taste and talent in the line of mechanical engineering and has given much attention to that occupation. Mr. Low accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and at Burnside he was married. October 22. 1863, to Miss Elizabeth Nicholas, who was born in Lu- zerne county, Pennsylvania, March [848, a daughter of Richard and Abigail (Johnson) Nicholas. Her mother was born in the same county, twelve miles from Scranton, hut the birth of her father oc- curred in Cornwall, England, October 16, [815. Coming west in the fall of 1861, Mr. Nicholas located in Webster county. Iowa, where he followed mining for a short time, and then bought a farm in Yell town- ship, which he operated for seven years. He not only broke his own land, but as- 426 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. sisted others in placing their land under cutlivation, and became widely known Jmu his section of the count}". In politics he was a Republican. Socially he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and religiously was an earnest member of the Baptist church, tak- ing quite an active part in religious af- fairs. His first wife died in 1857 and was laid to rest in McGuife cemetery, and he subsequently took his two youngest chil- dren and removed to Republic county, Kan- sas, locating near Scandia, where he was later united in marriage to Phoebe McGuire, who died there. Selling his landed interests in that state, he subsequently returned to Iowa, to make his home with his daughter in Lehigh. He was taken ill while visiting his daughter. Mrs. Margaret Rolfe, in Burnside. and died there April 16, 1897. All of his seven children were by his first marriage, these being Margaret, wife of S. F. Wheelock Rolfe, who resides on a farm near Burnside. Webster county : Mary Jane, wife of W. C. Beem. of Lehigh: Eliza- beth, wife of our subject: Martha, deceased wife of Daniel Towrrlev. who lives near Le- high in Yell township: George, who mar- ried Hattie Aver and resides in Dixon, Wyoming; Thomas, who married Rose Goodwin and lives near G >ffeyville, Kan- sas; and Francis, who died at the age of two months. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Low were born eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Ulysses E.. May 23, Lezelle. May 1. 1867; George E., March 18, 1869; Elizabeth Mary. April 13. 1S71 : Margaret A.. March 31. 1873; Emri Alfred, February 24. 1S75 : Christina Viola, February 13. 1877: and Minnie Frances. February 15. 1879. Lezelle died March 20, 1S89. but the others are all living and are at home with their parents with the exception of George E., who now re- sides in Fort Dodge. In 1892 Mr. Low bought his present farm of seventy-three acres 1 .11 section 3, Yell township. He raises s< me of the fin- est stock in the state, giving special atten- tion to that line of business, and keeping nothing but high-grade stock. His stand- ing in his locality is that of an excellent ag- riculturist, although his attention has not been given exclusively to farming. During the Civil war he manifested his patriotism and loyalty by enlisting in 1862 in Company B. First Battalion under the command of el Sawyer, and was in active service on the Minnesota frontier, with headquar- ters at Fort William Emmitt. Mr. Low is a stanch Republican in politics, but has never been willing to accept office, his per- sonal business being enough to absorb his time and attention. His wife is an active member of the Methodist church, and the family is one of prominence in the com- munity where thev reside. THOMAS A. McCARYILLE. The fertility and resourcefulness of Webster county has developed the metal and ability of many tillers of her soil, and among the most earnest appreciators of the opportunities thus presented to their con- sideration none have more faithfully dis- charged their trust than has Thomas A. McCarville. one of the agriculturists located on section 16. Fulton township. A native of Lafayette county. Wisconsin, he was ])■ rn February 8. 1865. a son of Dennison and Catherine (Timtnins) McCarville, the former of whom was born in Ireland in THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 427 1835, and the latter in Detroit, Michigan, in 1838. The parents of Mr. McCarville were married in Waldwick township, Iowa coun- ty, Wisconsin, in [864, and went directly to Lafayette county, where the father owned land, and where they lived until 1890. They then located in Fulton town- ship, Webster county, Iowa, whither they had been preceded by three of their children, and here the father died March 29, 1890. To this devoted and conscientious couple were born eight children, of whom Thomas A. is the oldest; Mary A., horn November 8. 1866, is at present keeping house for her mother; Dennis L., born May 21, 1868, married Jennie Halligan and lives on sec- tion 16. Fulton township; Katie A., born July 25, 1870, married Michael Welch, of Jackson township; John ]., born June 4, 1874. married Margaret Flannery and lives on the east half of section 16, Fulton town- ship; James E.. born in 1876, is living at home; Dominick, born in 1870, married Teresa R. McCormick and resides in Mur- ray county, Minnesota, where he removed in the spring of 1902; and Elizabeth died at the age of one year and eight months. The four brothers. Thomas, Dennis, Joseph and James, each occupy one hundred and sixty acres of section H>. Fulton township, Webster count}-. L iwa. At the district schools of his neighbor- hood Thomas A. McCarville received his primary education, a beginning supple- mented by much study and research in later years. While still living on his father's farm he took a lively and intelligent inter- est in agricultural matters in general, and entertained broad and expanding ideas of the best way to conduct a farm and de- velop its possibilities. Otherwise his youth Mas uneventful. On September 6, 1804, Mr. McCar- ville married Josephine Loehr, who was born in Fulton township. January 29, 1876, her parents having been born in Germany, although they arc now residents of this count} - . The other children born into the Loehr famil) are; Mary, the wife of Mels Ellingson, of Calhoun count}-, Iowa; Caro- line, wife of Harry Watson; George, a resi- dent of Moorland: Lorna, wife of Frank Few. of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Fred, who mar- ried Tilla Dickinson and resides in Fulton township; Alice, wife of John Benoit, of Tara, Iowa; Charlej ; Frank; and Adolph. To Mr. and Mrs. McCarville have been lorn four interesting children: Mary, born August 1, 1895; Joseph D., born May 9. 1897; I.eo, who was born May 9, 1899, and died at the age of five months; and Ed- mond, born November 24, 1901. At the time of his marriage Mr. Mc- Carville had made such headway that he owned the farm upon which he now lives, and which contains one hundred and sixty- acres. He immediately settled thereon, and has since diligently applied himself to mak- ing a name and place for himself among the prosperous farmers of the region. Aside fn an general farming he breeds Jer- sey hogs and high-grade cattle, and in the latter capacity supplies a large market trade. His farm is among the most complete in the county, ami the most up-to-date methods prevail, aided by the latest improved labor- saving machinery. A Democrat in poli tics. Mr. McCarville has done much to main- tain the standard of political service ac- ceptable to the highest intelligence and un- questioned morality, and has creditably held numerous township offices, being at pres- ent a trustee. He is a member of the Ro- man Catholic church at Moorland. Mr. McCarville is one of the most influential 428 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. farmers of Fulton township, and his many lire personal attributes have won for him the friendship of many the respect of all. A. J. LOEHR. One of the most successful of the Ger- man-Americans who 1 have contributed to the upbuilding of Webster county is A. J. Loehr, who was born in Germany, Febru- ary 28, 1 83 1 , and received the substantial early "training of the well-to-do Teutonic youth. His father, Jodocus Loehr, was for many years a tax-collector, and died during the progress of the Civil war, while his wife, formerly Fredericka Degraaf, died in 1841. Upon completing his education in the lower schools of Germany at the age of nine years, A. J. Loehr entered the upper school, which he left at the age of fifteen. As a provision for the future he then apprenticed tc an apothecary and served for three years, going later to another city in the fatherland where he received excellent training in the Free dispensary, an institution provided for the poor, remaining there eighteen months. He was then otherwise employed fur a year, and in 1852 set sail in a vessel bound for American shores, and arrived in New York harbor after a voyage of seven weeks from Antwerp. In Chicago he secured a position in the Wallick drug store on the corner of Clark and Ouincy streets, and after two years went to Milwaukee, where he re- mained for a year and a half. A later charge was in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, where he managed a drug store for some time, and subsequently located in Manito- woc, where he worked in a sawmill for three years. In St. Louis he afterward found employment, and was in the southern city at the breaking out of the Civil war. In 1861 Mr. Loehr enlisted in Conv pany K, Second Missouri Infantry, for three months, and later enlisted for three years. During his service he was under command of Generals Lyons, Fremont, Mc- Cook, Sheridan, Rosecrans ami Sherman, and participated in the battles of Corinth, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, besides many minor batjtles and skirmishes. Enlisting as a private, he was afterward commissioned second lieutenant, and at the battle of Mission Ridge was ad- vanced by General Sheridan to the rank of captain of Company F, a position main- tained until he was mustered out. His dis- charge at St. Louis in October, 1864, marked the end of a service faithfully and valiantly performed. In the spring of [865 Mr. Loehr mar- ried Sophia Gochee, who was born in Ger- man)'. Her parents never left their native land. Mrs. Loehr had one brother, who died in a Kentucky hospital during the Civil war. After their marriage the young couple came to Webster county, Iowa, by team, the journey being delayed by a blind- ing snowstorm. Arriving at Fort Dodge after many trials and tribulations, they lo- cated on a rented farm, and afterward took up river land, which they improved and eventually sold. In 1872 Mr. Loehr bought the property which he now owns on section 10, Fulton township, and when fairly used to the new order of things his home was made desolate by the death of his wife, who passed away January 5, 1873. Mrs. Loehr, who was buried in Moorland cemetery, left a family of ten children to the care of her husband: Mary, now the wife of Nels Elligson, of Calhoun county, Iowa; Caro- line, who married Harry Watson and died in the fall of 1900; George, a resident of THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 429 Moorland; Laura, wife of Frank Pugh, of Bussey, Iowa; Josie, wife of T. M. Mc- Carville. of Fulton township: Alice, wife of John Benoit. of Tara, Iowa; Fritz, who married Tillie Dickerson and lives in Fulton township; Charles; Frank; and Adolph. On December 1. 1897, Mr. Loehr mar- ried Mrs. Eliza Gochee. who was born in Indiana, August 5, 1842, her parents being- natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana. Her father, who is now past eighty-seven years, is living in Illinois, while her mother died in Illinois in 1869. Mrs. Cochee had seven sisters and one brother : Melinda, wife of James Haldron, of Missouri; Eliza- beth, wife of James Morgan, both of whom are now- deceased, the latter having met a tragic death in a cyclone at Storm Lake in 1882 ; Louisa, wife of James Hill, of Illinois ; Evelyn, widow- of Henry Thompson, and a resident of Empire, Illinois; Rebecca, wife of C. P. Moore, of Illinois; and Melissa, wife ot Jack Gassoway, also of Illinois. By her former marriage Mrs. Loehr had eight chil- dren, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Mary Hendricks; Ella Hiveley. a resident of Evanston, Iowa; Thomas, of Monona county, Iowa; Louis; Prentiss; and Elmer. At the present time Mr. Loehr owns eight hundred and forty acres of land, six hundred and forty of which are in Dent county, Missouri. He is a scientific farmer, and understands how' to make the most of his fertile property. In addition, he is an ambitious and enterprising citizen, who takes an active interest in all that pertains to the development of his township. In politics Mr. Loehr has always been in favor of Democracy, but is in no sense a strict party man, believing it right to vote for the candidates best qualified for the office. He has upheld the reputation lor a clean political record in the coun- ty, and has held numerous important official positions, lie voted for the three assassi- nated presidents, Lincoln. Garfield and Mc- Kinley. Fraternally Mr. Loehr is associ ated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Fort Dodge, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, also at Fort Dodge. Fie is a man of advanced views and liberal tendencies, and has intelli- gently studied the needs of the community with which he has been for so long identi- fied. JOHN P. BRAKKE. Norway has sent away from her moun- tainous shores man}- faithful and devoted sons, who have transferred their allegiance to the United States and become integral parts of the prosperity of their adopted land. Among those who have profited by the fertility of Iowa may be mentioned John P. Brakke, whose well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres is proof of the deserving credit of the owner. He was reared to a life of industry and thrift under the faithful guidance of his parents in Nor- way, where he was born October 21, 1852. His father, Peter Brakke, was a farmer dur- ing his entire active life and died in 1897, while the mother, Celia ( Birkland ) Brakke, is still living in her native land, although bem as long ago as 1813. Qt the children reared under the careful guidance of this devoted couple but two sons are now liv- ing, and of these, Iver has never - wandered from the surroundings of his youth, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Upon the paternal farm in the north country John P. Brakke was taught to be a good farmer and faithful member of so- 43Q THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ciety, and interspersed with his farm duties was attendance at the public schools. At the age of fifteen he left home and followed a wandering fancy fur the deep, and For nearly thirteen years shipped on various sailing craft in the North sea. He eventu- ally brought Up mi American shores, and April j^. t88l, located in Lee county, Illi- nois, where for two years he worked on a farm by the month. He later found him- self in Story county, Iowa, where he worked at farm labor for a couple of years, and was thus enabled to make some headway and to save enough money to justify him in marry- ing. On January 7, 1885, Mr. Brakke wed- ded Julia Peterson, who was horn in Lee county, Illinois, September 15, 1864. of Ni irwegian parentage, her father and mother having emigrated to America be- fore their marriage, which occurred about 1S60. They arc now living in Hamilton county, Iowa, on a farm, and are the parents of three children, of whom Bertha is the wife of Martin Miller and lives on section 20, Full on township, Webster county, while Oscar married Sophia Anderson and lives in Minnesota. Ten children have been horn h Mr. and Mrs. Brakke, namely: Celia, born May 22, 1885 ; Nlellie, born August 13, 1886; Inger C, born March 5, 1888: John C, born July 20. 1889; Emma, who was born August 8, 1890, and died January 7, 1891 ; Martin E., who was horn May 4. 1893, and died July 20, 1896; Berthine, who was born October 14. 1895. and died Janu- ary 15, 1896; Marthene, born March 14, 1897; Louisa, born June 15, 1899; and Elma, born March 20, 1901. Following his marriage Mr. Brakke rented a farm for a year, and then unwed to the farm which has since Wn his home. At first in a raw and unpromising condition, unceasing labor and well-directed plans have produced a gratifying fertility, and the original value of live dollars an acre has been entirely lost sight of. A year ago Mr. Brakke built a tine home which cost over a thousand dollars, and which is fitted with modern improvements, and is otherwise comfortable and wisely conceived. He is a Republican in national politics, and though devoted to the best interests of his party, has never sought office of any kind, although for six years he served as township trustee. He is deserving of emphatic credit for the success which has crowned his labors, for many obstacles have presented themselves to block his progress but have been overcome by grit and determination. Four years after his marriage his wife became a bed- ridden invalid, ami for three years he de- spaired of her recover}-. Eight doctors de- creed that her case was hopeless, but in spite of these predictions she began to im- prove and has since been a comfort and help to her devoted family. This and other drawbacks have not broken the courageous spirit of one of the most successful farmers in the township or retarded his general use- fulness as one of the most progressive citi- zens of the community. FRANCIS P.. DRAKE, Francis B. Drake, one of Otho's most prominent and influential citizens, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, July 27, 1832, and is a son of David B. and Caro- line (Wilson) Drake, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire, respectively. The Drake family trace their ancestry back to the Puritans who settled in Massachusetts in colonial days. When nineteen vears of F. B. DRAKE MRS. F. B. DRAKE THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 435 age die grandfather of our subject rerrn ved to Addison ci unity, Vermont, and there lived upon one farm until his death, which oc- curred when he was ninety-six years of age. Jn early life he was a member of the state militia, and took an active part in the Revo- lutionary war. When a young man David B. Drake went to St. Lawrence county, New York, where he carried on business as a \v< manufacturer fur some time, and also cleared and improved a large farm. He was a man of great energy and perseverance and was usually successful in every under- taking. In his family were six children, three sons and three daughters, but only our subject and his sister. Mrs. Harriet L. Tay- lor, are now living, the latter being a widow and a resident of Xew York. Mr. Drake, of this review, passed his rl and youth in his native state, and assisted his father in his various occupa- tions. He was about fourteen years of age when his father leased his farm and from that time on he worked in the woolen fac- tory at Stockholm, Vermont, when not in school. He was given good educational ad- vantages, attending the academy in Potts- dam for some time. On attaining his ma- jority he commenced teaching school. In 1854 Mr. Drake came to Iowa and entered a tract of government land on sec- tion 30, Otho township. Yv'ehster county, but did not locate upon his land. During the following winter he engaged in teach- ing school in Davenport, and in the spring of 1X55 assisted in selecting the swamp and over-flowed lands in Tama county, Iowa. The next summer he was appointed by the county judge as one of the commissioners to select the swamp lands of Webster coun- ty, which at that time included Hamilton county. In the spring of [858 .Mr. Drake settled on section 28, 1 Hho township, where he lived until August, [866, and then 1m lught a farm 011 section _\ Clay township, which was wholly unimproved, all around him being wild land, lie extended the boundar- ies of his farm until he had two hundred and rifty acres, and successfully engaged in its cultivation until 1900, when he- sold the place and remi ived toOtho, where he bought li ts and built an elegant residence, where he now lives. On the 10 th of April. 1S57. Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Miss Caroline E. Hart, a daughter of Norman Hart, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of X. 11. Hart on another page of this volume. Mrs. Drake vva^ horn in Glas- tonbury. Connecticut, on the 16th of May, 1833, hut was only a year old on the re- moval of the family to Hancock county, Illinois, and in 1854 they came to Webster connty. Iowa. She taught the first school ever conducted in this county, it being in a li g cabin near Border Plains. ( >ur subject and his wife have no children of their own but have reared two: Charlotte Malander, who was taken into their home at the age of nine years and was educated by them and given all the advantages of an own child. She is now the widow of Frank York and resides in Dayton. Charles H. Bostwick v.: eared and educated by them, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Drake from the age of three years until he attained his majority. For nearly hal'f a century our subject has been identified with the affairs of Web- ster county, and is recognizi 1' the most valuable and useful citizens of his community. In [857 he was appointed and was the first 43& THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. master of Otho, which position he filled for several years. He has held all of the town- ship offices, and was a member of the county board of supervisors from the fifth district one term. Mr. Hamilton is still the owner of a good farm on sections 19 and 20, Otho township, which he now rents to Hoyt N. Hart, sou of Dr. G. D. Hart. He is suc- cessfully engaged in breeding thoroughbred short horn cattle, of which he has a fine herd upon his farm, and also breeds high- grade horses and hogs, giving much atten- ti< m tn his stock. In early life Mr. and Mrs. Drake united with the Congregational church, and have ever taken quite an active and prominent part in all church work, especially in the Sunday school. For many years he served ■as superintendent and assisted in organizing a number of Sunday schools. He has also been a deacon in his church fur fifteen years, and his life has ever been in harmony with his professions. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and is ever ready and willing to aid any enterprise calculated tn promote the interests of his community or advance the general welfare. He is a member of the township organization that controls the demonstrations on the 4th of July, commencing with 1876, and Decora- tion Day, and, thanks to the committee which has the celebrations in charge, these two 'lays are always observed by the good people of Otho township, aside from the city demonstration. On Decoration Day services are held on the farm of Dr. G. D. Hart adjoining the Otho cemetery, and great preparations are made for celebrating both days. Mr. Drake is pre-eminently public-spirited and progressive and does all in his power to advance the moral, social and material welfare of his community. CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD. This well-known resident of Fort Dodge is one of the leading German-American citi- zens of the place, and in his successful business career he has shown the character- istic thrift and enterprise of his race. He was born in Xiedernhall, Wurtemberg, Germany, February 24, 1822, a son of Charles and Maria S. (Kraft) Arnold. The father was a well-educated man and for fifty years engaged in teaching the public schools of his native land. Our subject at- tended college at Ingelfingen and prepared himself for the legal profession. Prior to his emigration to this country he served as clerk in different offices and was elected as police commissioner with inspector duties of one of the formerly free cities of Ess- lingen, also city clerk and recorder of Goeppingen up to the time of his departure in October, 1854. On the 24th of October, 1848, Mr. Ar- nold was united in marriage with Miss Rosina Unger, of Hochdorf, Germany, whose parents were farming people of that county. By this union were born six chil- dren, but only two are now living: Wil- helmina and Mary, both at home with their father. The wife and mother died in Oc- tober, 1896. One son, Carl, died January 31, 1901, in Sioux City, Iowa, where he was engaged in the drug business. Bidding good-bye to home and native land, Mr. Arnold came to America in 1854, and nine months later was joined by his wife and family. He first learned the cigar- makers trade in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, then moved to Buffalo, New York, where he lived for a short time, next he located in Erie, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Arnold came to Fort Dodge, and started a barber shop, which he THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 437 carried on until 1865. In connection with the simp he also conducted a saloon for eight years. In 1865 he became a member of a firm operating a flouring mill. Five years later he bought his partner's interest and continued to carry on the business alone until 1878, when the mill was destroyed by fire. He three times rebuilt the mill in two years, it having been injured by fire, water and ice on different occasions. In 1878 he was elected county recorder and after filling the office for one term he retired from ac- tive business in 1880 to enjoy a well-earned rest and the fruits of former toil. In 1878 he was appointed notary public, and by re- appointments he has held the office since. He has built and still owns several business blocks in Fort Dodge, from which he de- rives a good income and can well afford to lay aside all business cares.* Fraternally Mr. Arnold is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow's. As a public-spirited and enterprising man, he has taken an active part in local affairs and has efficiently served as a member of the city council nine years and a member of the school board fifteen years. He also served as township clerk and treasurer for two terms and was township trustee a num- ber of years. Although a foreign-born citi- zen, his patriotism is never questioned and he well merits the confidence and respect reposed in him. GEORGE CHRISTIAN SCLEICH- HARDT. Among the natives of Germany who have sought homes on this side of the At- lantic and have become useful and valued citizens of the communities in which they have located is numbered George C. Schleichhardt, now a well-to-do and sub- stantial resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, his home being at 814 Ninth street north. He was born in Saxony, German}-, January 4, 1833, and was eighteen years > if age when, in the fall of 185 1, he came to the new world with his parents, Christian F. and Magdalena (Rankert) Schleichhardt. There were three children in this family : Charles F., George C. and Wilhelmena, who while a resident of Illinois was united in marriage with William Kelner. Later, when her family came to this state, tlfey accompanied them and continued to make their home in Iowa for about twenty years, at the end of which time they removed to Germany, where she died in March. 1890. Her hus- band still resides in that country. Their marriage resulted in the birth of two chil- dren : Willie and Emma. Both are mar- ried and reside in the fatherland. On their emigration to this country our subject's family located in La Salle county. Illinois, after a few days spent in New Or- leans, where they landed. Three years were spent in Illinois, and in 1856 they came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, the journey being made by team from Iowa City. At that time there were still many Indians in this state, who caused the early settlers much annoy- ance, and wild game of all kinds was plenti- ful, our subject having shot many a deer. There were only a few log houses and one brick store in Fort Dodge when the family arrived here, and Mr. Schleichhardt has therefore witnessed almost the entire de- velopment and upbuilding of the city. He joined a company sent against the Indians right after the massacre at New Ulm, Min- nesota, in 1862, and assisted in subduing the red men. As he has never married, he remained at home caring for his parents 438 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. during- their declining years. In his native land the father conducted a large bakery, but after coming to this country followed farming. He died March 6, [869, and his wife, who long survived him. passed away July 20, 1886. .Mr. Schleichhardt, of this review, fol- lowed farming quite successfully until 1875, when he removed to Fort Dodge, and was engaged in the manufacture of brick until 1894. He has also been interested in the real estate business, and is to-day the owner oi a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres of land in Dickinson county, Iowa. He has considerable money out at interest. and is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Fort Dodge. In all his undertak- ings he has steadily prospered, and his suc- cess has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly- balanced mind and by honorable business principles. THOMAS DOXAHOE. One of the most prosperous ami snccess- ful business men of the northwest part of the county is Thomas Donahoe, the well- known cashier of the State Bank of Clare, lie was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1847. an 'l i s a son OI James and Ann Donahoe, both natives of County Cavau. Ireland, the former burn in Bailie- borough, the latter in Cootehill. About [836 the father came to the new world and four years later the mother also crossed the Atlantic and took up her residence in this O untry. Being a coal miner, he at first worked in the mines of Pennsylvania until [856, when he removed with his family to Fort 1) dge, Tow a. and in the fall of that year, in connection with Tom Flahertv, opened the first coal mine at this place, it being known as the Colburn bank. That winter they were assisted in their work by Walter Ford, the father of the present county auditor of Webster county. For two or three years Mr. Donahoe was in the employ of the coal firm of Elliott Col- burn, and then removed to Pocahontas, Iowa, but in i860 returned to Webster coun- ty, and purchased a quarter section of land a few miles south of the village of Clare, and turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits, which he successfully followed up to the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1889. His wife died in September, 1895- In the family of this worthy couple were five children, three sons and two daughters, namely : Thomas, of this review ; Peter, a resident of Pocahontas count}', Iowa: Charles, now mayor of Clare: Rose A., wife of P. J. Crilly, who is conducting a livery stable at that place: and Mary J., who is keeping house for our subject. Thomas Donahoe spent the first nine years of his life in his native state, and l>e- gan his education in its public schools. In 1856 he accompanied the family on their re- moval to Fort Dodge and later to Poca- hontas. Iowa, where he- continued to attend school until twelve years of age. After the return of the family to Webster county he assisted in the operation of the home farm until May, 1889, when he came to Clare and entered the Bank of Clare as cashier. M>out three years later that institution was incorporated under the name of the State Bank of Clare, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars, and R. P. Furlong was made president : C. J. Saunders, vice-presi- dent : and Thomas Donahoe. cashier. The bank is now in a flourishing condition and does a large business among the farmers liv- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 439 ing around Clare, carrying, on an average, about ninety thousand dollars of deposits. As a business man Mr. Donahoe lias been eminently successful and he and his bn thers arc to-day among the large land owners of the enmity. Straightforward and reliable in all things, he generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he under- takes, and is recognized as one of the most capable business men of his community. \s a public-spirited and progressive citi- zen. Mr. Donahoe has ever taken a deep in- terest in public affairs, and in 1868, soon after attaining his majority, was elected clerk of Johnson township, which office he acceptably filled for eight years. He then served as township assessor two years, and was secretary of the board for nine years from 1870. He was also township trustee two terms, and then again served as clerk for nne term. His devotion to the public good is unquestioned and arises from a sin- cere interest in the welfare 1 if his fell* w men. michael Mcdonald. No more enterprising farmer promotes the well-being of Webster comity than Michael McDonald, who was born in Ren- frew county. Canada. February 16, 1865. a son of James and Elizabeth (O'Brien) Mc- Donald. The other children of the family were as follows: Charles, who now lives in Denver, Colorado: John, who married Dora Morley, a native of County Cork, Ire- land, and makes bis home in Colfax town- ship, Webster count}'. Iowa: Richard, who married Annie McMannis and lives one mile south of Duncombe: James and Jo- seph, who are both with their father; Eliza- beth, wife of Patrick Ledden, who came to this country from County Limerick. Ire- land, at the age oi twenty years, and now resides near Fort Dodge, Iowa: Mary, wife oi I In mas McManus, who lives near In- dustry , Iowa: Carrie: Tressie; and Maggie. James McDonald, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Ireland, and was reared to farming pursuits. About 1855 be came to America and settled in Canada, where he engaged in farming and where be was mar- ried in April, 1862, to Elizabeth O'Brien. In 1871 be removed to Iowa and settled in Hamilton county, where he engaged in the railroad business, and was section foreman for four years. He then decided to devote his future entirely to farming, and to facili- tate bis extensive plans for general farm- ing and stock-raising purchased five hun- dred and eighty acres of land, to which he received a clear title. This property was purchased from eastern speculators, and has ever since been the Meld of activity for this broad-gauged farmer and citizen. Upon the fertile acres of this well-con- ducted farm Michael McDonald developed industry and ability, and remained under Ins father's capable instruction until attain- ing his majority. On February I, [891, he married Mary Hogan, of Badger, Iowa, who died four years after her marriage. Of this union there were born three children, two of whom died in infancy, while Charles W. McDonald is making his home with bis paternal grandparents. On August 15, 1900, Mr. McDonald married Kathryn Reed, who was born in County Kilkenny. Ireland. March 5, [878, a daughter of Patrick and Mary Reed, who were the parents also of the following chil- dren: Margaretta, who is the housekeeper for Father Burke, of Corpus Christi church, Fort Dodge: Mary, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska: John, who was born in Ireland 440 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and is a farmer by occupation; Johanna, who is unmarried and keeps house for her father; Ellen, who is working in a steam laundry in Mason City, Iowa; Tern, who assists his father with the management of the home farm; Michael, who is employed on the railmad in Fort Dodge; Bridget, who lives on the home farm in Ireland; Patrick, who also lives in Ireland ; and Will- iam, who was born in Ireland and still makes that country his home. Mrs. Mc- Donald crime to America when thirteen years of age, and upon locating in Port Dodge became housekeeper for Father Burke, continuing in this capacity up to the time nf her marriage, when the position was assumed by her sister. In 1888 Air. McDonald purchased forty acres .if land, which he improved and built up, and so successful was he that the follow- ing year Ik- bought eight}- acres directly op- posite, upon which he erected the commod- ious and comfortable residence which has since been his home. His untiring industry and ability are evinced by the general air of thrift and enterprise everywhere appar- ent, and by the abundant harvests which reward well-directed energy. He is one of the scientific farmers of the township, and exerts a wide influence on the side of progress and good government. GEORGE COOMBER. As one .if the very earliest settler- 1 I Otho township, George Coomber was instru- mental in advancing the best interests of his adopted locality, and up to' the time of bis death, November 14, 1900, enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the many friends and associates who had profited by his well- directed and useful life. He was born in England in January, 1837, and received but a limited education in his youth. In 1852 he embarked on a sailing vessel with his parents and after a voyage of seven weeks landed in Montreal, Canada. Afterward they removed to Lena, Stephenson county, Illinois, where the parents purchased a farm of two hundred acres and lived until their death. Until attaining his majority George ( 11 mber lived on his father's farm, after which he rented land for a time. When just twenty-one he married Mary Cheney, and by this union there were three children, Henry, Richard and Mary, and of these In ili sons are now deceased. While living with her husband and children in Otho township Mrs. Coomber died, and April 19, 1874, the husband married Mary J. Cheney, widow of M. 1). Cheney. The second Mrs. ( in mber was horn March 29, 1839. in Illi- nois, ami was formerly Mary Jane Scott. On April 2, 1 S 5 - . she married M. D. Cheney, who died January 4. 1809, leaving two children, Phoebe and Franklin. Air. and Mrs. Coomber at once took up their residence where she now lives, but at the time they hardly realized the comforts and pleasures which later developments brought into their lives. Then there was a little log cabin on the farm which served as a place of residence pending the general upbuilding of the district, and this was later supplanted by a neat frame house with more modern conveniences. As harvest suc- ceeded harvesl vistas of possibility were opened up, and all needed improvements were introduced, so that the one hundred and twenty acres owned by Airs. Coomber has fc\\ superiors in the township. Air. I oomber was a Republican in political affiliation, but ever refused the offices ten- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 443 dered by his fellow townsmen. lie was a broad-minded, progressive man. and his services in various capacities will never he f< rgotten by those who are to-day reaping the benefit of Ins industry and good man- agement. In the family of which Mrs. Coomber is a member were the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Olive Knapp, a resident of Kansas; Mrs. Luanda Cheney, now de- ■ I ; Andrew, a resident of Pi cahi mas county, Iowa, who married Alice McAlister; John, a resident of Iowa county, who mar- ried Rosa Bell; Mrs. Lunica Hildebrand, a resident of the state of Washington; Mrs. Lydia Henon, of Keokuk county; Mrs. Maggie Cheney, of Millersburg, Iowa; Christ, who died in his eighteenth year; and two others who died in infancy. Since the death of Mr. Coomber his widow has succeeded to his entire estate, having purchased the shares of i ther heirs. This farm comprises one hundred twenty acre's of finely improved land, upon which Mrs. Coomber is making extensive improvements, erecting new buildings, etc. Her daughter resides with her and assists in the management of the farm. ANDREW HOWER. This well-known citizen of Fort Dodge, who is n< b so successfully engaged in busi- ness as a wholesale dealer in flour, o mes from the fatherland, and the strongest and most creditable characteristics of the Teu- tonic race have been marked elements in his .life and have enabled him to win success in the face of opposing circumstances. He sses the energy and determination which -nark the people of Germany, and by the exercise of his powers lie has steadily progressed, and has not only won a hand- some o mpetence but has commanded uni- versal respect b) his straightforward busi- ness methi ds. Mr. Bower was born in Germany, March 19, 1840. and was seven yeai when his father, Nicholas Hower, emi- grated to the United States, accompanied by In- ten children. The family first located in Dunkirk, New York, but in 1849 rem ' ■'' to Wayne county, Michigan, the father pur- chasing a farm near Plymouth Junctii n, 1 11 which they lived for two years. In 1851 they went to Minnesota, where our subject grew to manh 1. When the Civil war broke out he re- 1 to strike a lis ad pted coun- try, and in the [2th of July. r86i, en- listed 1 any K, Second Minn Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Cover- dale and Colonel Van Cleve. ( ioini Kentucky, his regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, January 19, 1862, and participated in the battles of Mills Springs. Pittsburg Landing. Shiloh, Stone River, Murfi and Chickamauga, be- sides a large number > f skirmishes. In 1862 Mr. Hower was made corporal and served in that capacity until the cLse of the war. I >n the ioth 1 if Marcl captured at Big Shanty, Gei rgia, and taken to Andersonville prison, where he was in- carcerated nine months, suffering untold tii 11s. 1 Hiring time he contracted swamp fever and received a sunstroke, from the effects of which lie has never fully recovered. < >n being released fn m prison .Mr. Hower sent to Wilmington, South Carolina, where the Union forces were in possession of the city. and. being . thirty-day fur- li usrh, hi' then returned to hi- In me in Min- 444 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. nesota. He rejoined his command at Wash- ington, D. C, arriving there on the daj of the grand review, and was then sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was horior- ablj discharged July n, 1865. He had two brothers in the same company, while his old- est brother served in the Fourth Minnesota Infantry. One of these, Jacob Hower, was wounded during a battle in South Carolina, and died from the effects of the same Janu- ary 2) , 1898. On die 19th of March, [866, Mr. Hower was united in marriage with Miss Katherine ] [ansel, whose father was a farmer by occu- pation. Both parents are now deceased. Although no children have been born to them, nir subject and his wife have three adopted children that they have reared as their own. Mr. Hower came to Fort Dodge in [866 and embarked in the butcher business, hut was unsuccessful in that enterprise. He next worked in a brickyard for about two years, after which lie engaged in teaming until [880, when lie opened a grocery -tore, but the following year again met witli mis- fortune, his store being destroyed bv fire. With characteristic energy, however, he was again ready for business at the end of three days, though he started with practically nothing. His father died in August. 1881, and while going to the funeral his wife was injured in a wreck on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad. These misfortunes caused Mr. Hower to close out his busi- ness. About eight month- later he em- barked in hi- present enterprise a- a whole- sale dealer in Hour, and in this undertaking he has steadily prospered, his sales now amounting to about twelve thousand dol- lars worth per month. In [896 he built the I lower block on the corner of Central ave- nue and Twelfth street, and to-day o\\ ns considerable real estate, valued at seventy thousand dollars. His life is a living illustration of what ability, energy, force of character can accomplish, and it is to such men that the west owes its prosperity, its rapid progress ami its advancement. So- cially Mr. Hower is a member of Fort Don- elson Post, No. 236, ( i. A. R., and relig- iously is a member of Sacred Heart church of Fort Dodge. HENRY WIDICK. Both in the townships of Webster and Hill and in the village of Lehigh Mr. Widick has many acquaintances, having made his home in each for a sufficient period to enable him to identify himself with local movements and to attract by his honorable character a host of warm personal friends. At this writing his home is in the township of Webs- ter, where he owns a farm comprising one hundred and sixty-nine acres of land, under cultivation to the various cereals. Besides this property, he owns a neat residence and several lots in Lehigh, and is a stockholder in the Lehigh Valley Savings Bank. Macon county, Illinois, is Mr. Widick's native county, and September 30, 1828. the date of his birth. His father, John Widick, a West Virginian, removed to Illinois in earl)- manhood and there engaged in farm- ing. During the exciting election of 1840 he cast his ballot for William Flenry Harri- son, and he was one of the most pronounced adherents of the Democratic party in his lo- cality. By his first marriage lie had four children. William, Michael, Margaret and Emanuel, all of whom are deceased. Llis second wife bore the maiden name of Cath- erine Trauber. Of the children horn to this THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 445 union we note the following: Elizabeth be- came the wife of L. B. Walker, of Macon county, Illinois: Ril married Mary A. Lynch and after her death was united with Mrs. Esther Hartman. and later with Mrs. Fisher, and now lives in Homer. Iowa; Aaron was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth McDaniel, and his second Lucinda Pound; Eli, who lives near St. Joseph, Missouri, was three times married, his first wife being Susan Cox. his second Harriet Hill, and His third Sarah E. Darmor; Edmund married Nancy Ann McDougal, and lives m Moul- trie county, Illinois: Henry was next in or- der of birth; and the youngest was Josiah, who married Hannah Hill, and makes his In me in I >ade county, Missouri. Five different country schools, all held in log buildings and all conspicuous by rea- son of their exceedingly primitive furnish- ings, afforded Henry Widick all the educa- tional advantages he ever received. When he was seventeen years of age he hade a Iasl g 1-bye to his school days and took upon himself the serious responsibilities oi life. beginning to work upon a farm and receiv- ing eight dollars a month. During three summer seasons he worked in the employ Sam Towers, meantime hoarding his small earnings in order that they might ap- ply on the purchase of land. Together with hi- hi' (hers Aaron and Edmund, he bought one hundred and sixty acre- of raw land in Illinois, and this he assisted in breaking and placing under cultivation. About this time his first marriage oc- curred, which united him. October 31. 1850, with Elizabeth Matthew-. This lady was ; a family of -even children, the others being Mary Jane. Sylvira. John. Nancy, Su- san and William. Of her marriage there were seven children, namely: William H.. born July 14. 1852; Sarah E., June S. 1854: Laura E. August 0. 1856; Arminda F... August 4. 1859; Luvina A.. October 12, [863; Ida May. July 29, [867; and Gi C, August j,}. 1872. The oldest -on. who lives near Burnside, Webster county, married Mary Blanchard ami has two chil- dren. Sarah is the widow of W. H. Daniels, and has eight children. Laura E. married I.. Ewing, of Webster count} - , and is the mother of eight children. Arminda E., Mr-. Charles Daniels, of Webster county, has six children. Luvina. deceased, was the wife of A. Spainhower, of Fort Dodge, [owa. Ida May married George Lowrie, of Webs- ter township, and they have three children, i- ( . died September o. 1874. when two year- 1 f age. The mother of these children died in 1878. During much of his acitve life Mr. Wid- ick was a resident of his native county of Macon, Illinois, but in 1864 he changed his scene of activity to Iowa, settling in Webs- ter county and buying one hundred and fifty- eight acres in Webster township. From there he moved to Lehigh, where he made his home for ten years, and meantime ac- quired hi- present farm in Webster town- ship. Both by piece] it and example he up- holds Prohibition doctrine-, while in religion he is identified with the Methodist Episco- pal church and has served as a member of the board of trustees. At different times he has held various township office-. The second marriage of Mr. Widick took place at Decatur, Illinois, in [879, uniting him with Mr-. Catherine Elizabeth Low rv. who was b ni in < ihio, October 29, 1837, a daughter 1 f John and Dorothy (Shriver) Ccnnard. To the union of her parent- there were born five children, those besides herself being named as fi How-; Charles, who mar- ried Jennie I >avis, and lives in Illinois ; Sarah A., widow of John King, of Wheaton, Illi- 446 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. nois ; Hannah, Mrs. James Lowry, deceased; and Angelina, wife of David McCrurv, of Elwin, Illinois. Mrs. Widick has been twice married, her first husband having been Charles Lowry,, who was drowned June 20, 1N77. By him she had three children: George, who married Ida May Widick. and operates a farm in Webster township; Flor- ence, wife of A. M. Spainhower, of Fort Dodge; and James E., who married Emi Hanson, and lives in Lehigh. The only child horn to the union of Mr. Widick and Mrs. Lowry is a daughter. Anna 1).. who is at home. +-*+-*■ — Z. W. THOMAS. One of the most prominent and pros- perous business men of northwestern Iowa is Z. W. Thomas, of Fort Dodge, who came to this city less than twenty years ago with only twenty-five dollars in his pocket. To- day he is one of the most extensive land owners in the county and has real estate in- terests in man)- portions of the west, but his efforts have not heen confined alone to this line, and in other branches of business ac- tivity he has manifested his splendid execu- tive force, kei'ii discernment, sound judg- ment and unremitting diligence, with the re- sult that prosperity has crowned his labors, and Webster count)" now numbers him among her men of affluence. Mr. Thomas is a native of Damascus. Columbiana county, Ohio, born May 18, 1856, his parents being- Jesse and Johanna B. (Stanley) Thomas, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state. The father represented an old New York family, the mother was descended from Virginian an- cestry, and through many generations both families had resided in this country. In 1S65, accompanied by his wife and children, Jesse Thomas came to Iowa, locating at Oskaloosa, where the subject of this review obtained his early education that was later supplemented by a course in ph'ili isophy in Penn College, of Oskaloosa. He was reg- istered among the students at the opening of that institution and his mental training there well equipped him fur the practical duties of business life. When a young man he engaged in merchandising- and for one year followed fanning, while at intervals he engaged in teaching school. After his graduation in Penn College he entered the office of Captain Searle, of < Iskaloosa, learn- ing the abstract and insurance business. He then read law for a year with Major J. F. Lacey, now congressman from the sixth Io\- a district, and afterward entered the law department of the State University, at Iowa City, where he was graduated with the class of 1884. Immediately thereafter Mr. Thomas was admitted to the Iowa bar and the same year was licensed to practice in the United States district and circuit courts. He came a: once to Fort Dodge, and has since en- gaged in practice in real estate law in the courts. At the same time he has carried on an abstract, land and loan business. He is now associated with H. E. Bush}', an at- torney, and the firm is doing an extensive business. Mr. Thomas has property in Kan- sas, Nebraska, Colorado. North Dakota and in various places in Iowa, and now owns twenty-two hundred acres in Webster coun- ty. He also does a general insurance business and his large patronage in that department has materially increased his income. In addi- tion to ill his other interests he individually operates two farms, which he has stocked with fine grades of cattle and horses. He has two creameries, one at Fort Dodge and THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 447 ■the other at Industry, and altogether he em- ploys about forty men. He owns and con- ducts a milk depot, and sends out four wagons from the Oakdale dairy, of which h,' is the proprietor. This is situated three miles west of the" town and is equipped with al! modem accessories for the care of milk. His stock farm, situated two and a half miles north of the town, comprises five hun- dred and eighty acres and the one on the west of Fort Dodge contains four hundred and eighty acres. He also has a farm near Barnum, and each one of his farming prop cnies is worth about fifty thousand dollars. On the 1st of October, 1885, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Thomas and Miss Mice Busby, of Mahaska county, Iowa, and unto them have been born two children: Dana E and Edith Irene, aged respectively fifteen and three years. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, take an active interest in' its work and contribute liberally to its sup- port. Mr. Thomas is one of its trustees. He has served for one term as a member of the city council and is always deeply inter- 1 ted in everything pertaining to the wel- fare and progress of the community. Fort Dodge ranks him among her leading and valued citizens. His business success seems almost phenomenal, vet it has been won 'along the lines of old and time-tried max- ims. It proves that "honesty is the best policy," for in all his dealings he has been straightforward and honorable, following no questionable methods, his career bearing the closest investigation and scrutiny, llis judgment, however, is rarely at fault in business matters, his perseverance conquers obstacles and his unremitting diligence has gained f> r him enviable prosperity, while ai the same time he has maintained an un- tarnished reputation. Such a man is a power in any community, and Fort Dodge is fortunate that he allied his interests with hers. C. H. CHURCHILL, M. D. One of the most exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may lend his energies is that of the physi- cian. A most scrupulous preliminary train- ing is demanded and a nicety of judgment little understood by the Laity. Then again the profession brings its devotees into almost constant association with the sadder side of life — that of pain and suffering, — sc that a mind capable of great self-control and a hea.rl responsive and sympathetic arc- essential attributes of him who would essay the practice of the healing art. Thus when piofessional success is attained in any in- stance it may lie taken as certain that such measure of success has been thoroughly merited. Doctor Churchill has won a most enviable position in the ranks of his chosen calling, and his practice extends far and wide in Webster county, where so many years of his life have been spent. The Doctor was born in Madison, Wis- consin, May 21, 1858, and is a son of E. A. and Laura (Powers) Churchill, the former a native of Leroy, New York. In the fam- ily were hut two children, and the sister of 1 air subject died when two and one-half years of age. The father took up his abode in the Badger state in 1N45 and there re- sided tTr twenty years, coming hi Webster county, Iowa, in October, 1865. He was a contractor and builder and for the past ten years has lived retired. On arriving in this county he took up his abode in Fulton town- ship, securing fn m the government the homestead claim in 1866. There was only 448 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. one house between their primitive dwelling and Fort Dodge, a distance of ten miles, — their neighbor being J. Q. Mack. Three aunts of the Doctor, who are sisters of his father, are still living upon the old home place. Doctor Churchill began his education in Iowa in the summer of l866, when he at- tended school fur a month, the teacher being Anna J. Churchill, who instructed the chil- dren of that part of the county in his father's In une. Through the period of his boyhi od and youth he assisted in the cultivation of the fields during the summer months and in the winter season continued his education. At the age of* nineteen he began teaching and was a successful instructor. Having mastered the branches of the common schi .els, he further continued his own edu- cation in Cornell College, at Mount Ver- non, leaving that institution after com- pleting the work of the junior year. Pre- paring for medical practice in the Rush Medical College of Chicago, he was grad- uated in that institution in [886 with the degree of M. D., and nine years later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Cornell College. Dr. Churchill began practice in Lehigh, where he remained until June. 1888, when he came to Fort Dodge, where he has since enjoyed a large and constantly growing patronage. He is a general practitioner, yet pays much at- tention to surgical work and is particularly ^killed in that department of the profession. On the 1 8th of September, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Cora A. Bond, of Lehigh, who died March _>_>. 1901, leaving two sons: Charles I'arkes Bradford, who was born October 20, [887; and Glenwood Bond, born Au- gust 15, 1890. In his political views the Doctor is a Democrat, endorsing the prin- ciples set forth by Grover Cleveland. In [892 he was elected coroner and filled that position continuously until 1897. He be- Icngs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity; the Ancient Order of United Workmen: the Modern Woodmen of America: the Knights of the Maccabees; the Royal Ar- canum; and the Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is medical examiner for all of these orders with the exception of the first named, and he is now surgeon for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad. In the line of his profession he is connected with the Fort Dodge District Medical Society, the Sioux Valley Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Iowa State Railway Surgeons Society and the Iowa State Western Medical Associ- ation. The Doctor is a deep, earnest and discriminating student, interested in every- thing that tends to advance his profession or to solve the problem to that mystery which we call life. He keeps thoroughly in- formed concerning the advanced thought of the day and his efficiency is shown in the ex- cellent results which follow his labor. ERWIX TAYLOR. A native son of Iowa. Mr. Taylor was bom in Delaware county. October 29, i860, s son of Seth and Clarinda (Raymond) Tay- lor, who are now living on a small farm on section 7. Burnside township. The parents were born in Massachusetts, and two of the mother's brothers were soldiers in the Civil war. Of the eight children born into the family two died in infancy, and the others are: William, who married Catherine Lee. now deceased, and resides in South Dakota: ERWIN TAYLOR MRS. ERWIN TAYLOR THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 453 Chester, a fanner in Webster county, luwa, who married Evelyn Floyd; Lewis, a farmer in Minnesota, who married Mary Bower; Erwin; Ora, living near Lehigh, Iowa, who married Anna Nichols; Thomas, living- in South Dakota, who married Susie Manore; Carrie, who lives in Clay canity. Iowa, and is the wife of Albert Montrie. Air. Taylor was educated m the district schools and worked at farming until the time of his marriage, August 21, 1881, with Alary A. Daniels, who was born November 20, 1S60. Her parents were natives re- spectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mrs. Taylor has four brothers and sisters living, namely: Lucy Ann. who is the wife of Benjamin Ouibell, of Vincent, Iowa; I". X.. who married Eva Widick and lives near Le- high; Flora E.. who married William H. Goodrich and lives east of Lehigh; and Emma, who is the wife of Arthur Owen- son. of Winnebago count}. Air. and Mrs. Tayli >r have tw< > children : Alfred, win 1 \\ as born June 11, iSS_>. and Besta, who was In irn April 28, 1890. After his marriage Mr. Taylor removed to the northern part of Webster count}-, where he lived on a farm for two years, after which he rented his father-in-law's farm for a couple of years. The farm which he now own-, and lives upon was rented in 1885 for three years, after which he pur- chased eight}' acres of the land, and as his fortunes have increased has kept adding to his possessions until at present he has to show for his industry and enterprise two hundred and ninety-five acres of good farm land all in one body. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising, and feeds considerable cattle, ami does his own ship- ping. His interests are by no means self- centered, but extend to the needs of his fellow townsmen and to the general im- provement of the community of which he is a valued citizen. He is a stock-holder in the Lehigh Savings Lank, and in the cream- er}- at Burnside. A Republican in nal politics, he held the office of road commis- sioner for eight years, and is at present a memb [tool board. Both Air. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the United Brethren church in Clay township. ELMER L. ANDERS! >N. The farming- interests of Burnside town- ship are signally advanced by the praisewor- thy efforts of Elmer L. Anderson, who has a fine farm of one hundred and sixtj on section 5. He was born in Lain Alto count}-, [owa, April 21, 1867, his parents having settled there the year before. The father, who is now engaged in the insurance business in Fort Dodge, was a valiant sol- dier during the Civil war, and braved the hardships and dangers incident to strife for four years and six months. The education of Elmer L. Anderson was acquired in the public schools of Em- met and Webster counties, and at the age 01 twenty-three years he entered upon an in- dependent farming life upon a place f eight}- acres purchased on section 5] Burn- side township. In his father's family, be- sides himself, were four sisters: Florence, who is teaching- at Tobin College, at Fort : Alattie. who is teaching- in the public schools at Fort Lodge; Mae. who is engaged in educational work at Callender, Iowa ; and Ernie, whi 1 died in infancy. On February 22, [891, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Grace AJcIntire. win 1 was 1, irn X< i-\ ember 9, [869, ami v parents now live in Lehigh, where tin 454 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. conducting a restaurant. Mrs. Anderson has four sisters and one brother: Malissa, who is the wife of Frank Tuller, of Fort Dodge; Rose, who also lives in Fort Dodge; George, who lives at Lehigh; Elmai, who is the wife of J. M. Fortney, of Otho, Iowa; and Hal- lie, who is living at home. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born three children : Clarence, born October 31, 1892; Merle, born November 16, 1893; and Max, born June 14, 1895. After his marriage Mr. Anderson went to housekeeping on his farm and lived there four years, and also worked other land which was rented. He was so- successful that he later disposed of that place and bought the larger one, upon which he now resides, and where he is engaged in general farming and hog raising. He thoroughly understands the business to which he is devoting the best years of his life, and his friends predict a continuance of his present prosperity. THOMAS S. BILSTAD. This well-known resident of Callender is a Norwegian by birth, and in his successful business career he has shown the character- istic thrift and enterprise of his race. Be- ginning with no capital except that acquired by his own industry, he has accumulated some valuable property, and is to-day one of the mi .st prosperous citizens in the western part of the county. Mr. Bilstad was born in Norway June 5, 1852, and received a fair common-school education in his native land. In 1871, at the age of nineteen years, he crossed the ocean, and on landing on the shores of this country proceeded at once to Vernon county, Wis- consin, where he worked at railroad con- struction for three years, in the meantime gaining a knowledge of the English lan- guage. At the end of that time Mr. Bilstad came to Webster count}-, Iowa, in company 'with his father and the other members of the fam- ily, the journey being made with an ox- team, while driving their other stock. They arrived here in May, 1875. Our subject purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie land, and immediately set to work to break the virgin soil with ox-teams. LJpon his place he built a small house, and as time passed made many other useful and valuable improvements, including two sets of good farm buildings separated by a road which divides his farm. He has extended the boundaries of his place from time to time until they now contain four hundred acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, and which he successfully ope- rated until 1896. In 1892 he bought the farm where he now resides, but did not lo- cate thereon until four years later. This place is pleasantly located just north of Cal- lender, in fact ten acres of it are within the corporate limits of the village. It consists of fifty acres and is well improved, there be- ing a large and comfortable residence, in which the family now live. In 1882, in this county, Mr. Bilstad mar- ried Miss Melissa Nelson, also a native of Norway, who died three years later, leaving one daughter. Mollie, who is at home with her father. He was again married in 1886, his second union being with Mrs. Christina Larson, who was born and reared in Nor- wav. She has one son by her first mar- riage, C. M. Larson, a commercial traveler residing in Callender, who is married and has three children, Floyd, Jay and Francis. With our subject resides his grandson, Clar- ence Johnson, whose mother died when he THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 455 was two years old, and who has since made his In inie with his grandfather. Politically Mr. Bilstad has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles since he cast his first presidential ballot for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, but he has never cared for the honors or emolu- ments of public office, though he served as supervisor of highways at one time. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church of Callender, and are among the most highly respected and honored citizens of their community. Air. Bilstad belongs to that class of men whom the world terms self-made, for coming to this country empty- handed, he has conquered all the obstacles in the path to success, and has not only secured for himself a handsome competence, but by his efforts has materially advanced the interests of the community with which he is associated. JAMES MARSH. Although during much of his active life Mr. Marsh has been a resident of Kansas, he has now returned to Webster county, where he made his home during his youth. Since his return he has taken up farm pur- suits with the energy and determination characteristic of him in every walk of life, and is meeting with the success that his efforts merit. He was born in Lake county, Illinois, January 8, 1848, and is a son of George Marsh, Sr., concerning whom men- tion is made upon another page in this vol- ume. When he was but a boy he gained his primary education in the schools of Lake county, and after the family came to Iowa he was a student in the schools of Webster county. When he was seventeen he left school in order to turn his whole attention to assisting his father on the home farm, and while so doing he acquired a thorough knowledge of all the details connected with the management of a farm. When twenty-one years- of age Mr. Marsh started nut in the world fur himself. At that time much was being said concerning the future of Kansas and the prospects it offered ambitious and energetic young men. These reports induced him to settle in that state. At first he was employed in killing buffalo and antelope, the hides of which were disposed of at fair prices. He was also employed in herding cattle. Later, how- ever, he acquired land holdings and gave his attention to the clearing and improving of a farm in Russell county. For some years after going west he led a bachelors life, but finally brought a bride to his home, having been married at Russell February 25, 1881, to Miss Elizabeth E. Burnett-Blanding, who was born in Missouri May 9, 1864. She is a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Moss) Burnett, natives re- spectively of Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1864 the family moved from Missouri to Iowa and settled at Eddyville, Wapello coun- ty, where Air. Burnett died during the same year. In 1868 Mrs. Burnett became the wife of Levi Blanding, who was a native of New York state. After their marriage they continued to make their home in Eddy- ville until 1877, when they removed to Bar- ton county, Kansas. There the death of Airs. Blanding occurred October i_\ 1001. Air. Blanding still makes his home in that county, as does also the only sister of Mrs. Marsh, Martha, who is the wife of Freder- ick Haddon. The only child of Mr. and Airs. Marsh, Charles Albert, was born De- cember 7, 188 1. They have also an adopted daughter, Mamie, who was born April 15, 1893. 456 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. On disposing of his Kansas laud, in [896, Mr. Marsh returned to Iowa, arriving in Webster county on the 1st of June. At first he rented farm property here. His first purchase was made in February, [900, when he In night, on section 30, Yell township, one hundred and sixty acres of raw and unim- proved land, which, however, his judgment told him would be susceptible to cultivation and capable of being largely enhanced in value. Since settling on this place be has devoted his attention closely to the improve- ment of the property, and has erected a sub- stantial class of buildings, including house, barn and outbuildings. He shares the opin- ion held by many farmers that more profit can be secured from feeding crops to stock than from selling them in the markets. Therefore much of his grain is used for feed. He has on his farm a number of Shorthorn cattle. .Morgan and Norman horses, and thoroughbred O. I. C. hogs, in the breeding of all of which be is engaged. His political views are in harmony with the platform of the Republican party, and his support is given to its men and measures. In religion he is connected with the Baptist church, while fraternally be is associated with the Knights of Pythias. ALBERT A. WILKINSON. Albert A. Wilkinson, who resides on section j 1 , Gowrie township, is the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sections j 1 and 22, whose neat and thrifty appearance well indicates his careful supervision. Substantial im- provements are surrounded by well-tilled fields, and all of the accessories and con- veniences of a model farm are there found. Mr. Wilkinson is proud to claim Iowa as his native state, his birth having occurred in Tama count)'. July 30, 1856. His father, Anthony Wilkinson, was born in Ireland in 1 81 7, and was a lad of fifteen years when lie came to the United States with bis father, William Wilkinson. The family located in Coshocton county, Ohio, and were among the hr->t settlers of that locality. In early life Anthony Wilkinson learned the car- penter's and joiner's trade, which he fol- lowed for some years, and in the meantime went up and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers between Cincinnati and New Orleans many times. He and a brother b >th t< » »k part in the Mexican war and afterward received land warrants for their services. In 1849 the family all removed to Iowa and took up their residence in Tama county, where the grandfather of our subject died some time later. Anthony Wilkinson located his land warrant in that count}', and also bought and entered other tracts of land to the amount of four hundred acres, which he fenced and improved, converting the tract into a good farm. In 1850 he returned to Coshocton county. Ohio, and there married Miss Sarah Ann Graham, who was born in that county, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, her father being one of the pioneers of the locality. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson spent their entire mar- ried life in Tama county, Iowa, where he died November 10, 1888, and she Decem- ber 26, 1896, their remains being interred in the home cemetery. They had a family of twelve children who reached years of maturity, and three sons and two daughters are still living. On the old home farm Albert A. Wil- kinson grew to manhood, early becoming familiar with every department of farm work. He first attended the common schools and later the Friends Academy at A. A. WILKINSON MRS. A. A. WILKINSON THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 461 La Grand, and subsequent!) engaged in teaching' in lama and Webster counties. It was in 1880 that he came to this county and located in Gowrie township where he now resides. For three or four years he and a brother engaged in farming together, I nit since then he has been alone in business. His first tract of land consisted of one hun- dred and sixty acres of raw prairie, which he fenced and broke, ami later he added to it a tract of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining and still later forty acres more. He lias erected thereon good and substan- tial buildings, and to-day has one of the best improved and most desirable farms of its size in Webster county. In connection with its operation he is also successfully engaged in stock raising. At Marshalltown, Iowa, December 27, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wilkinson and Miss Martha McGrew, also a native of Tama count}'. Her father, Findley McGrew, was born and reared in Ohio, and there wedded Miss Mary C. Tra- liern, a native of Knox county, that state. In 1856 he removed to Marshall county, Iowa, and throughout the remainder of his life was engaged in farming in Marshall and Tama counties. He died April 23, 189 1, but his widow is still living, and now makes her home with a daughter in Mar- shalltown. Iowa. They had eight children, four suns and four daughters, of whom one son died in childhood and three sons and three daughters survive. Mrs. Wilkinson was reared and educated in Marshall county. < M~ the three children born to our subject and his wife one died in infancy and Wil- ford at the age of four years. The only one now living is Ralph R., who was born June 25, 1886. Politically Mr. Wilkinson has been a life-long Republican, having supported every presidential candidate of that party since voting for James A. Garfield in 1880, but lie has never sought political honors, pre- ferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He is a stanch friend of education, and has efficiently served as a member of the school board and treasurer of the district. In the spring of [887 lie returned to the old home farm and carried it on for two years, but since 1889 has resided uninterruptedly in this county, lie attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member, and both merit and receive the re- spect and esteem of all who know them. CHRIS M. SOLSO. Chris M. Solso. living on section 1, irr Washington township, was born in Norway March 29, 1863, a son of Mathew and Anna (Simmsrue) Solso, also natives of Norway. The mother died in her native land about 1867, and in 1870 the father brought his lit- tle family to America, and upon landing in Xew York proceeded to Iowa Falls, Iowa, and front there to Webster county. He lo- cated on section 25, Washington township, and in 1878 thought to improve his prospects by removal to Antelope county, Nebraska, where he bought land and where, in 1880, he married Bertha Oleson. He then moved to Newman Grove, Madison county, Ne- braska, where he opened a general merchan- dise store, which he is still successfull) con- ducting. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. There were thirteen children born of his first union, namely: Gillena, wife of Michael Thompson, living in Boone county, Nebraska; .Andrew, who married Anna Hov- 462 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. elschrude, and after her deatli wedded Mary Anderson, and lives in Newman Grove, Ne- braska ; Annie, who is the wife of Louis Nuesi me, and lives in Webster county, Iowa : Nettie, wife of Olof Cleveland, living in Webster county, Iowa; John, who is un- married and lives in Newman Grove, Ne- braska; Olaf, who married Rosa Holverson, and lives in Newman Grove; Ola, who died at the age of fifteen years; Matthew, who is unmarried and lives in Newman Grove; Ma- tilda, who also is single and lives in Newman Grove; Selma, who was the twin sister of Matilda, and died in infancy; Clara, who died at the age of five years: Carl, who died at the age of three years; and two infants who died before being named. While still quite young Mr. Solso was obliged to assist in the family support, and when fourteen years old discontinued attend- ance at the district schools and began to work out by the month on surrounding farms. On December 28, 1885, at the school house in Washington township, he married Gurine L. Nelson, who was born in Clinton county August 19, t868, a daughter of Hen- rv and Belle ( Belland) ' Nelson, who were born in Norway June 9, 1842, and October 7, 1840, respectively. The parents were married May 14, 1863, in Norway, and came to America July 4, 1868, and settled in Clin- ton county, Iowa, near Calamus. Here the father died December 8, 1875, after which the mother removed to Story county, near Story City, where she lived for five years, going then to Webster county, where, in 1880, she married Berger Larson, a native of Norway. Mr. Larson died May 14. 1899. and his wife passed away at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. Solso, December 20. 1901, at the age of sixty-one years. Mr. Nelson and Mr. Larson were Republicans, and both were members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mrs. Solso is the second oldest of the children in her mother's fam- ily. Martha died at the age of fourteen ; Hannah, the wife of Price Cunningham, lives in Kossuth county, Iowa ; Margaret died in infancy ; and Carl J. died at the age of three months. To Mr. and Mrs. Solso have been born seven children : Henry Mar- tin, born February 22, 1887; Arthur S., March 7, 1889; Carl H., August n, 1892; Mabel Luella, July 7, 1894; Lawrence G., March 20, 1896; Helen Amanda, August 7, [899; and John Adrian, December 15, 1901. After his marriage Mr. Solso rented land for a couple of years, and then removed to Pocahontas county, Iowa, where he re- mained for a year. Upon returning to Wash- ington township, Webster county, he bought eighty acres of land in section 1, built a com- modious and well-planned house and large barns, and introduced all modern improve- ments. He is engaged in general farming, and makes a specialty of raising high-grade stock for market. He is a Republican, and has held many township offices, ami nig others being that of school trustee, a position maintained for several years. He is a mem- ber of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Solso is a progressive and enlightened citi- zen, and takes an active interest in general township and county affairs. FRANCIS FAWKES. No more earnest advocate of kindliness ami humanity has exerted an uplifting influ- ence in Webster county than Francis Fawkes, home missionary in the Congrega- tional church and pastor of the church at Otho. He was born in Gloucestershire, England, December 20, 1838, and is a son THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 463 of Samuel and Sarali (Austin) Fawkes, also natives- of England. The father, who was a we.uer it fine cloth, worked at his chosen occupation until about forty years of age, and then entered the employ of the govern- ment in the brass foundry at Sheerness. He came to America in 1866 and located near Dubuque, Iowa, where he farmed on a small scale and worked in the lead mines. After the death of his wife, in 1893, at the age of seventy-nine years, he came to live with his son. at whose home he died in January, 1896, at the age of seventy-nine years. He had three sons: Charles first married Jennie Samuels, now deceased, and afterward mar- ried her sister, Kate, with whom he is living in Dubuque ; and Allen O. married Clara Woodhouse, and is also living in Dubuque. Six children born into the family died in in- fancy. At the early age of thirteen the common- school education of Francis Hawkes was in- terrupted by the necessity of self-support, "and he therefore entered a cloth factory. where he remained for four years. He then engaged as warehouseman for a drug con- cern at Sheerness, and at the end of eight years decided to avail himself of the larger possibilities of America. Arriving in the states March 7. 1864, ne found the country in the throes of the Civil war, and at once betook himself to Dubuque, Iowa, where he found employment as a clerk in a drug store for two years. He then entered the home missionary work of the Congregational church in Iowa, and has been connected with this branch of endeavor continuously since 1866. As predicted by early circum- stances, his education has been self-acquired, and is therefore on broad and practical lines. and in keeping with the demands of his work and influential position in the community. Fellow passenger on the ship that brought Mr. Fawkes to America in 1864 was Elizabeth Fawkes, a first cousin, whom he married in 1865, in Dubuque, Iowa. Mrs. Fawkes, who was the mother of one son, Herbert, now living in Chicago, died three years after her marriage, of consumption. On September 1, 1869, Mr. Fawkes married Susan Woodhouse, of Dubuque, Iowa, who was born October 26, 1847. Her parents were natives of Kentucky. During their fourteen years of happy married life Mr. and Mis. Fawkes lived in Durango, where he continued his ministrations in the church and out of it, and where his wife was killed by lightning July 4, 1883. She left two sisters and one brother : Josqah, who lives in Du- rango ; Airs. Amanda Clark, who resides in Texas ; and Malina, who is unmarried and living' in Durango. Of the second union of Mr. Fawkes seven children were born : Harriet, the wife of N. J. L. Findley, of Otho township, this county; Edith A., wife of John Spensley, of Dubuque; Otis, who died at the age of four years; Clement, who is living at home; Nora; Sarah; and Ernest. On November 20, 1890, Mr. Fawkes married Margaret W. Martin, who was born in Scotland, and came to America in 1875. She is one of five sisters now living: Jeafiette, the widow of Andrew Craig, of Fort Dodge: Mrs. Francis Fawkes; Mrs. Jane Forbes, of Kalo; Mrs. Andrew Johnson, who is living on a farm in Otho township ; and Mrs. Thomas Knott, of Colorado. While preaching in Franklin county, Iowa, Mr. Fawkes lived at Dows for three years, after which he came to Otho and took charge of the church here for live years. He then resigned and returned to Dubuque county, where he farmed and preached in the Congregational church during twelve summers. In 1889 he returned to Otho and 464 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. assumed charge of the church here, and has since made this his home and his uninter- rupted object of solicitude. Mr. Fawkes owns eighty acres of land, upon which he has placed about twenty-five hundred dol- lars' worth of improvements, and which has a good house, barn and outbuildings, with a thorough system of drainage. The better t> 1 attend to the multitudinous duties incident to his pastorate, this farm is ■ rented out, though Mr. Fawkes makes his home upon the place. He has a wide circle of friends scattered over the localities which have at different times benefited by his largeness of heart and his practical, helpful Christianity, and the good that he has accomplished has been limited only by the time allowed f( ir the doing. RUFUS P. HUNTER. Roland township probably has no more prominent or influential citizen than Rufus P. Hunter, whose home is on section 26, where he owns and operates a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres. He came to Iowa in 1850, and for a third of a century has been a resident of Webster enmity. He was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, on the James river, September 30. 1838, and is a worthy representative of one of the first families of that state. His paternal grand- father, Francis Hunter, was a native of the Old Dominion, as was also bis father, Lewis C. Hunter, who was born in 1799. On reaching manhood the latter married Mis> Rebecca Linkinhoker, who was born in the same state, and there they continued to re- side until after the birth of five of their chil- dren. By occupation the father was a farmer. On leaving Virginia, in 1856, he came to Iowa and settled in Marion county, being one of the pioneers of that region. I'pi m the farm which he there opened up he spent the remainder of his life, and died in 1887, his wife surviving him about ten years. Mr. Hunter, of this review, was seven- teen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removel to Iowa, and he as- sisted his father in the arduous task of open- ing up a new farm in Marion county. His school privileges being meager, he is what may be termed a self-educated man. On reaching manhood he left the parental roof and worked as a farm hand for several sum- mers. On the 22d of March, 1866, in Marion county, Mr. Hunter led to the marriage altar Miss Rachel Metcalf, a native of Kos- ciusko count}-, Indiana, and a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Metcalf, who removed with their family to Marion county, Iowa, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter had eight children, namely: Elva Ellen, who died in infancy; Charles, at home; Warren, who is married and resides in Callender, Iowa; Mosier, Oran, William, Grover and Maude, all at home. The daughter has successfully engaged in teaching school in this county,. and is now a student at Tobin College, Fort Dodge. After his marriage Mr. Hunter engaged in farming in Marion county for some years, but in 1876 he rented his farm, which consisted of eighty acres, and removed to^ Pleasantville, where as a carpenter he en- gaged in contracting and building for two years. He then came to Webster county and purchased the farm of eighty acres where be now resides. In his farming op- erations he has been eminently successful, and has accumulated considerable property, being now the owner of three hundred and sixtv acres of land, divided into three R. P. HUNTER MRS. R. P. HUNTER THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 469 Janus. With the exception of twenty-lour acres Mr. Hunter has broken all his land. There is a good residence upon his place, and the barns ami other outbuildings are in perfect harmony therewith. In connection with general farming Mr. Hunter is quite ■extensively engaged in the raising and feed- ing of stock, and annually ships from two to four carloads to the city markets. A man ot indomitable energy and perseverance, he has prospered in his undertakings, and through his own well-directed efforts has become one of the substantial citizens ot his community. Air. Hunter's political support is given the Democracy, and he cast his first presi- dential ballot for Stephen A. Douglas in [860. lie was been a delegate to numerous county and state conventions, and assisted in nominating Boise for governor of the state. For fourteen years he served as jus- tice ot the peace, and filled the office of supervisor of highways about the same length of time. He was also a member of the school board several years, and his official duties have all been most capably and satisfactorily^ performed. Fraternally he is a member of Cowrie Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is a man of considerable promi- nence in the community where he resides. T. P. URELIUS. The well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Burnside township belong- ing to J. P. Urelius is a property acquired after long years of struggle and untiring industry on the part of the owner. How- ever, a willingness to work is a national trait of his Swedish countrymen, and many of them have early surrounding conditions in common with his own. He was born in Sweden January 20. 1847. anc ^ owing to the limited resources of the Family, was obliged when very young to devote his time to much work and little play, and in consequence edu- cation played a minor pan during his child- hood. His father was born in Sweden in 1819, and his mother, formerly Eliza Catherine Surnson, was horn in the same country in 1824. and died in 1898. The parents never emigrated from the fatherland, and letters received from the head 1 f the family indi- cate that he is still fixing and in possession of unimpaired faculties. There were five son, m the family, and of these. Gust mar- ried Matilda Carlson and lives in Dayton township. Webster county, Iowa; Carl Emil married Anna Bolun and lives in Henry county. Illinois: Jonas August married Tilda Colen and lives in Clay township. Webster county, Iowa; and Per married Hilda Gund- bach and lives in Chicago 1 . Of the daughters Christine Elizabeth lives in Sweden, as does Caroline Sophia, wife of August Samuelson. Conscious of the limitations which con- fr< nteil him in his native land. Mr. Urelius emigrated to America in 1868, and settled in Altoona, Illinois, where he worked for others for several years. He then rented land upon which he lived for about six years, and in the management of which he was fairly successful. Much of his good fortune in life he generously attributes to the fru- gality and assistance of his wife, whom be married January 9, 1877, and who was, be- fore her marriage, Christina Swans. m. a na- tive of Sweden, born September _>^. 1854. Mrs. Urelius came to America with her par- ents in 187J, and located in Altoona, where her father died in 1899. and her mother in 1895. She had limited educational oppor- tunities in her youth, and after coming to the United States worked out in Altoona until her marriage. She had four brothers, 47o THE BIOGR M'llliWL RECORD. namely: rohn, who died al the age of wall September 27, 1839, '' l ' ' s a s " n "'" twentj nine years in America ; Andrew, who Robert and Elizabeth (Goldworthy) Quick, married Mar) Moline and lues in Moline, both oi whom died in England. There he Illinois; Charley, who married Miss Hfcti grew to manhood, and in early life was em- strom and lives in Galva, Illinois; and Ed ployed in the tin mines. Before leaving that ward, who married Pilla Johnson and lives countrj hcwas married in Cornwall; in May, at Altoona, Illinois. Three children have [862, to Miss Emma Bray, an English lady, Ihvii born to Mr. and Mrs. I'rclius, as fol- and a daughter of Josiah and Emma I Car- lows: Emma Elizabeth, who died al the age vis) Bray, who also died in the old country, of seventeen ; Selina fosephine, who is living Hiree years after their marriage Mr. :ii home; and Carl Edwin Luther, also al and Mrs. Quick crossed the ocean, and home. joined her brother, Michael Bray, In Mr. Urelius became identified with Michigan, our subject rinding emploj Webster county, Iowa, in 1882, and for ment in the copper mines of the Lake three years lived on a rented farm near liar- Superior region. The brother subsequently court, after which he removed to a rented came to Webster county; toWft, and Mrs. Farm in Dayton township, which continued Quick and her family afterward joined him, t<> l>e Ins home lor four years. In Clay while our subjeel remained in Michigan until township he later rented a farm for three [875, when he, tOO, came to this state. For years, and eventuall) saved enough money about seventeen years he engaged in farm t,> purchase his presenl farm in Burnside ing upon rented land in the southern part township. Since taking possession this farm of the county, but in [889 purchased one has been greatlj improved by Mr. Urelius, hundred and twenty acres in Roland town- general farm work being facilitated b) the ship, where he now resides. This place he addition of modern and labor-saving machin- has fenced, broke and improved, and also ery. He is a past master <>\ the faculty of has added to it until he now has one hun- tilling the soil to the best possible advan- died and sixty acres under a high state of tage, and as a result his crops are rarely dis- cultivation, lie has erected a comfortable appointing, and his finances have increased residence and good outbuildings, has tiled with the passing of every harvest. Mr. the land and set out fruit and shade trees. Urelius is a Republican in national politics, which add greatlj to its attractive appear- but has never sOUghl or desired official rcc- ance. At present he owns another tract of ognition. lie is a member of the Swedish fort} acres on section 28, the same township, Evangelical church at Burnside, and con- making two hundred acres in all. tributes to the extent of his ability toward Unto Mr. and Mrs. Quick were horn its maintenance and charities. nine children, as follows: Richard is now married and resides at (.'hire, [owa, being ♦"♦"* agent ami telegraph operator lor the Rock RICH \KI) QUICK. Island Railroad al that place; Mary Kmma. who was horn in England, died in this coun- This well known farmer residing on sec try iii 1SS0. aged fifteen years; Bessie is the lion jo, Roland township, is a native i>\ wife of Thomas Nicholson, who owns a England, Ins birth having occurred in Corn- valuable farm adjoining that of our subject) I HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 17' [da is the wife of Thomas Somerville, a substantial farmer of Roland township, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume; Anna is the wife of Charles Baxter, a residenl of Lake- < ii\. Iowa, and a conductor on the Chicago & Northwe tern Railroad; Neva is tin- wife oi Emerj Stet- son, a business man of Cherokee, Iowa; \\ illiam II., who is unmarried, is noi gaged in business in Lead, South Da kota ; Leona is the wife of Ira < arr, a farmer ol Ri land ti >\\ nship ; and R >l «rl I . is at home assisting his father in the operation ol the farm. Since becoming a naturalized i itizen Mr. Quick has always affiliated with the Reputn lican party, and cast his firsl presidential >te i' 'i" Rutherford B. I faj es in 1876 I te term as supervisor of highways, and has been a member of the school board, hui has ne\ er cai ed for political preferment. l!i 'th he and his w i fe are acti\ e and tent members of the Methodisl Episcopal church of ' iowrie, and arc held in the esl regard by all who have the plea Lire of their acquaintani ENOS A. CHURCHILL, The fitting reward of a well spent li honorable retirem< nt ft ind a pet ii id 1 in whirh to enjoy the fruil -. of for in' 1 toil. 'I hrough many w.u - Mr I linn li ill was a well known factor in industrial life contributing largely to the improvement of I '"> t I >odge through his work a- 1 onl and builder, hut now, with a comfortable he is enjoying a well merited rest amid friends and neighbors, vbo e teem and honor him for his sterling worth. .Mr. Churchill was born in Leroy, Gene -mi y, < h ' 1 1 1., Septi mbei 1 1. 1831, and is a son of Bradford and Mar) I Mams) I hui chill, both of whom ■■• ei e nal i Vermont, when- they were reared and ncd. i liej rqjresented old New En families, and on lra\ ing the ' Ireen Mi state they took up their aljode in I New York, in 1821 . In in.; 1 il, to Niagara count) . oi the Empire w here they remained until [866, when li came ti i Iowa, purchasing a farm in Fulti n township, Webster county. I here the father carried on agricultural pursuits until his d< ath, w In hi ici ui i ed Man h • i . 1881 . w hen he was eight ; one eat 1 a agi I lie im ther died in I ulton tov nship, at tin agi 1 1 1 two, Bradford < liurchill w a i carpi liter by trade and followed that pui uil in the eai lier eat oi hi ■ life, but latei 1 at 1 ied on fai m ing, In the famil) were 1 1 hildren, four oi whom yet survive, namelv : Rosetta, who is living on the old homestead in I hip : Eno V, of this rev iew ; Sarah J. and Judith Ann. who a re also living on the old hi 'ine fai 111 Em >- \. < linn lull wa i Ii ill. 111 a old when his parents remo^ ed to Niagara 1 ount) . New York, w hi re he pursued his education in the publii 1 h 1 arned the 1 .11 penti 1 ti ade In 18 ard, taking up his abode near Mai \\ isconsin, w het e he ed farming his former 1 ccupatii n. For twent) In- made hi homi in tin Ba then - tught a mori ing in Webster county, towa, in 1865. For he lived in F01 ind on the- at ion ■ f that p 1 - laim in Fulton tow nship his energies to the cultivation and impt ment of his land through tl ■ g lif- 1 ars. I h- then returned to Fort I )i dge and followi until 472 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. a recent date. Many evidences of his handi- work are seen in the substantial buildings of this city. He always lived faithful]}" up to the terms of his contract, was strictly fair and honorable in his business relations and therefore enjoyed the unqualified confidence of his fellow men. Air. Churchill was married February i, 1855. to Laura Jane Powers, a native of Sacketts Harbor, New York, hut at the time of. her marriage a resident of Columbia coun- ty, Wisconsin. They had two children, and the daughter died at the age of two and a half years, while their son. C. H. Churchill, is now a prominent physician of Fort Dodge. The father has filled a number of local of- fices. He served as justice of the peace for six years; was township clerk for eight years; and in all life's relations he has been found true to duty. Since 1876 he has been a Democrat, but was formerly identified with the early Republican party, voting for Pres- ident Lincoln and General Grant. BERTEL LARSON. Bertel Larson is one of the most suc- cessful farmers and energetic business men of Roland township and his life is an ex- emplification of the term "the dignity of labor." The possibilities that America offers to her citizens he has utilized, and though he came to this country in limited circumstances, he has steadily and per- severingly worked his way upward, leaving the ranks of the many to stand among the successful few. Mr. Larson was horn in Denmark, De- cember 13. 1845, aiK ' ' s one °i a family of twelve children, of whom nine, five sons and four daughters, reached years of ma- turity. The other three died in infancy. Of this family nine came to America, two sisters of our subject being now residents of A\ "is- consin and another of Iowa, while one brother lives in Nebraska, another in Florida, and three (including a half- brother ) make their home in Iowa. It was in [862 that our subject crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in New York, where he enlisted in December, 1863, for three years, becoming a member of the Fifteenth United States Infantry, the Civil war being then in progress. As a sailor he was first on a scouting boat along the coast, but was later transferred to his command at .Mobile, and was in active serv- ice until the close of the war. His regiment was then ordered west and was stationed at Fort Wingate, New Mexico, where his term of enlistment expired and he was mustered out. For about eight years, however, he remained in the wilds of the west, engaged in hunting, trapping and scouting. In 1874 Mr. Larson went to Racine, Wisconsin, and was there married on the 1st of November, 1875. to Miss Carrie T. Knutson. a native of Norway. They have become the parents of three sons : Lawrence C, Merril C. and William, who now assist in the operation of the home farm. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Larson brought his bride to Webster county, Iowa, and in 1876 purchased forty acres of land where he now resides, which he at once commenced to improve and cultivate. Meet- ing with success in his farming operations, he has added to this place from time to 1 time until he now has two hundred and eighty acres in the home farm, which is con- veniently located on section to. within a mile and a half of Callender. Mr. Larson also owns another tract of eighty acres in the same locality, making three hundred and sixty acres of land, which he has placed BERTEL LARSON MRS. BERTEL LARSON THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 477 under a high state of cultivation, lie has not confined Ins attention wholly to agri cultural pursuits, however, hut has been in- terested in a number of business enter- prises, lie assisted in organizing the Farmers Alliance store at Callender. which was the beginning of that town, and lie was one of the directors and secretary of the as- sociation, which continued in business there for ten years. He is also a director and vice-president of the Callender Savings Bank, and a director and solicitor of the Webster County Mutual Insurance Com- pany. Mi'. Larson supported General U. S. Grant for the presidency in 1868 and 187J, but of recent years has been independent in politics. In 1877 he was the first constable elected in Roland township, anil has since filled various local offices, serving as super- visor of highways, township clerk and treasurer of the township, having filled the last named office for about twenty years. He has also been a delegate to county and state conventions, and has always faithfully discharged any duty which has devolved upon him either in public or private life. Sociallv he is a member of Gowrie Lodge, No. 506, A. F. & A. M., and is also con- nected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Legion of Honor. For over twenty-six years Mr. Larson has been a resident of this county and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth and development. In its progress he has manifested a deep interest and has ever taken his part in support of those measures calculated to prove of public bene- fit. His strict integrity and honorable deal- ing in business commend him to the confi- dence of all : his pleasant manner wins him friends; and he is one of the popular and honored citizens of his community. WILLIAM SCHRAM. Much credit is due William Schram for the enterprise which has placed him among the foremost farmers of Burnside township. A native of Germany, he was born Novem- ber 15, i860, and when four years old came to America with his father, Ferdinand Schram, and family, the voyage lasting forty days. Arriving in the land for which he entertained such glowing hopes, the father lived in Chicago for three years and en- gaged in railroading, and continued the same occupation for six years after his removal to Boone, lova. At the end of that time he came to Webster count}', lova, took up his residence in the vicinity of Dayton, where he purchased a river claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres, and made thereon many improvements, but owing to a disputed title he eventually lost the property, which was the case with many other early settlers. While still occupying this property his wife died, July 1, 1873, and he eventually went to live with his son William, at whose home he passed away October 21, 1900. In the family, besides William, were Charles, who married Minnie Finnic and lives in Norfolk, Nebraska; John C, who is married and lives in Chicago; August, who married Mary Yost and lives in Hancock county, Iowa; Frank, who married Lena Sandford and lives in Britt, Iowa; and Minnie, who is the wife of George Groner ami lives at Boone. William Schram passed an uneventful childhood on his father's farm and during the winter months attended the district schools. On October 23, 1879, he married Carrie Wolf, who was born in Chicago, Illi- nois. March 3, 1858, of German parentage. After living in Chicago for six years her family removed to Webster county. Iowa, and settled near [>ayton, on the farm where 478 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the father died in July, 1878, while the moth- er died August 20, 1899. They were the parents of the following children : Louis, a farmer in Butler county. Iowa ; Charley, who is married and living in Nebraska ; Henry, who married Lena Petzneck and lives in Oklahoma ; John, a farmer of Oklahoma ; and Minnie, who is the wife of Charles Bane and lives in Dayton, Iowa. Two years after his marriage Mr. Schram left his father's farm and settled upon rented land eight miles northwest of Dayton, where he lived for eight years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the land upon which he now resides, and to which he afterward added forty acres, so that his present farm contains two hundred acres of land. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and is especially successful in the latter occupation. Upon this well-improved farm the following chil- dren have beai born: Mary, born July 9, 1879: Clara. May 12. 1881 ; Gust. January 10, 1883 ; Edith. July 5. 1885 : Lena, August 28, 1890; Edna, April 3, 1893; and Wine. November 25 1899. Mr. Schram is by no means self-centered in his interests, but takes an active part in the general upbuilding of the township. He is a stockholder in the Lehigh Valley Sav- ings Bank, and is a business man of extend- ed experience and unquestioned integrity. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and a supporter of the Democratic party, as are also his brothers. E. W. SORBER. Among the representative business men of Gowrie none are more deserving of men- tion in this volume than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. Keen discrim- ination, unflagging industry and resolute purpose are numbered among his salient characteristics, and thus he has won that prosperity which is the merited reward of honest effort. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born on the Susquehanna river, in \\ 'ilkesbarre, Luzerne county, March 20, 1839, and is a son of Philip Sorber, who was born in the same county in 18 10. His grandfather, George Sorber, was also a native of the Key- stone state, while the great-grandfather was a native of Germany and one of the pioneers of Pennsylvania. On reaching manhood Philip Sorber married Aliss Rebecca Ains- worth, of Binghamton. Xew York. In early life he followed the millwright's trade, but after coming to Iowa, in 1840, be bought a tract of government land in Jackson county and turned his attention to farming. He resided there until 1865, when he removed to Webster county, and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits thn lughout his active business life. After the death of his wife, which occurred in 1872, he made his home with our subject, and died in Gowrie in 1891, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. E. W. Sorber was only six years old when he came with his parents to Iowa, and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Jackson county. His school privileges were limited and the greater part of his education was acquired under his mother's teachings, she being a well-educated lady. In i860 he was married in Jackson county to Miss M. J. Bonham. a native of Indiana, and a daugh- ter of David Bonham, who was also a pio- neer of Jackson county. During his youth Mr. Sorber served a three years and a half apprenticeship to the millwright's trade, which he followed until the Civil war broke out. Prompted by a THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 479 spirit of patriotism, he enlisted in 1861, in Company I. Twelfth [owa Volunteer In- fantry, from which he was discharged in 1862, and re-enlisted, this time becoming a member of Company F, Forty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained until mustered out of service in October, 1864. The following year Mr. Surlier came to Webster county and purchased a farm, and in connection with its operation he engaged in contracting and building, and was also employed on public works, assisting in build- ing the Fort Dodge school-house, which was later destroyed by tire. In the fall of 1873 he took up his residence in Cowrie, and for some time thereafter gave his entire attention to his building interests, and is still engaged in contracting to some extent. He has erect- ed many business blocks and private resi- dences, besides the school-house here, and has materially assisted in the development and improvement of the town. In 1883 he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business, which he still carries on with good success. Since its organization he has been a stockholder of the Gowrie Savings Bank, which has become one of the substantial moneyed institutions of the county. Mr. Sbrber has been called upon to mourn the loss of bis faithful wife, who died in 1896, leaving three children, namely: (1) Florence Imogene is the wife of Frank Trip- lett, of Gowrie, and they have five children, Earl, Elsie, Clare. Frankie and Fannie. (2) Inez G. is the wife of \Y. E. Bomberger, a prominent business man and banker of Gow- rie, and they have one child, Ethel. (3) Nellie E. is at home with her father. Although reared a Democrat, Mr. Sor- ber became identified with the Republican party on attaining his majority, but for the past few years has been identified in politics and votes for the men whom he believes best qualified for office regardless of party lines. He has been a delegate to numerous conventions, and his fellow citizens, recog- nizing his worth and ability, called upon him to serve as mayor of Gowrie for several years. He also filled the office cf township clerk many years, and his official duties were always most capably and satisfactorily per- formed. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army Post of Gowrie, of which he is past commander, and in which be served as adjutant and a member of the relief com- mittee for some years. He also belongs to the .Masonic lodge of that place, and the Odd Fellows lodge and encampment of Fort I)' dge. The career of Mr. Sorber has ever been such as to warrant the trust and con- fidence of the business world, for be has ever conducted all transactions on the strict- est principles of honor and integrity. His devotion to the public good is unquestioned and arises from a sincere interest in the wel- fare of his fellow men. J. P. HOLMSTROM. J. P. Holmstrom, one of the successful business men of Dayton township, was born in Sweden September 29, 1839, and is a son of Johannes and Lizzie ( Neils) Johnson, both of whom were natives of that country. They married in their native land, and there died, having had six children, of whom our subject was the only one who came to this country. The family was as follows: Carl J.. Clause A.. Andrew. Anne Louisa, J. P. and Helen, all residing in Sweden except our subject. Our subject attended school in his native land until he was twelve years of age, and then worked upon various farms by the 480 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. month until he came to America, in 1865, He sailed from Malma, Sweden, and landed in New York city, whence he went to Chi- cago. There he remained a short time, and then removed to Altoona, Knox county, Illi- nois, settling- in the township on the border of Henry county, where lie rented land and remained there Until 1870. On March 11, 1868, Mr. Holmstrom married, in Galesburg, Illinois. Anna Louise Lindquist, a native of Sweden, who was born October 21, [849, and is a daughter of Johannes and Catherine Johnson, both natives of that country. Mr. Johnson died in his native land, but his wife came to America in 1866 and settled at Andover, Henry county, Illinois, where she died at the home of our subject. Mrs. Holmstrom was one of eight children, all of whom came to America except one. They were John, who died in Sweden ; Mary, wife of Charles John- .-011. ;i farmer of Clay township. Webster county. Iowa; Charles, who lived for a time in Henry count} - , Illinois, but now resides in Dayton township, Webster county, Iowa; August, a resident of Dayton, Iowa; Johan- nes, who married Lotta Johnson and resides in Henry county, Illinois; Christina, wife of Charles Donnelson, of Dayton. Iowa; Caro- lina, wife of Lawrens Bjorkgrain, of Day- ton. Iowa; and Mrs. Holmstrom. To Mr. and Mrs. Holmstrom nine chil- dren have been born, namely: Peter mar- ried Selma Ecklind and now resides at Cur- lew. Palo Alto county. Iowa: Hilma died in 1869; Malvina died in 1880: Hilma resides with her parents and is a school teacher in Clay township; Alfred assists his, father on the farm; Sarah. Mary, Martin and Laffler are all at home. After his marriage our subject farmed in Henry county, Illinois, for three years, and then, in 1870, removed to Webster county. Iowa, where he rented land for one year in Dayti >n township, and then purchased eighty acres in Lost Grove township, on section 17. In 1874 he sold that farm and returned to Dayton township, where he purchased a quarter section on section 17, at eleven dol- lars and twenty-five cents per acre. This land was all raw prairie land, but he im- proved it, erected good farm buildings and an excellent residence, when his neighbors were living in cabins. At this time Gowrie was not yet established, railroads had just come into the neighborhood, and all the trad- ing had to he done at Boone and Fort I lodge. Later he sold eighty acres of his quarter sec- tion and purchased eighty acres on section 8, which was also raw r prairie land. Ener- getically he started in to improve it, and again erected good structures, a comfortable house and commodious barn. At present he owns one hundred and sixty acres of excel- lent farming land, all well improved, on sec- tion 27, Clay township, W r ebster county. He makes a specialty of raising stock for the market, and his product always meets with ready and profitable sale on account of their excellence. In politics Mr. Holmstrom is a Repub- lican, and he has served as a member of the school board for a great many years. In religious matters he is a member of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Dayton, Iowa, of which he is a trustee. GEORGE R. PEARSOXS. Great credit is due to the men of cour- ageous spirit, of determined purpose, of laudable ambition and honorable purpose who have the courage to face and overcome the difficulties and hardships of life on the western frontier, to- establish business en- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 481 terprises and carry civilization into a hither- to wild region. There is much to contend with in so doing, for though nature is bounti- ful in her gifts they are • nl\ bestowed after earnest labor, and it is the man who has to meet the natural conditions that has the hardest part to perfi rm in claiming a dis- trict for the uses of the white race. Mr. Pearsons, however, came to northwestern Iowa when the task of development and progress had scarcely been begun and with strong resolution he entered upon the work of winning success here. With keen fore- sight he realized that the future was bright with promise and he was content to await tlie coming .if the harvest of his labors. Since t868 he has lived in Webster county and lias conducted some of the most im- portant real estate transfers which have led to the settlement and improvement of this portion of the state, while his identification with railroad building has been of the great- est possible benefit to the region. Air. Pearsons was horn in Bradford, Orange county, Vermont, August 7. 1830, and comes of a family of Scotch lineage. His parents were John and Hannah (Put- nam) Pearsons, the latter a granddaughter of General Putnam, the distinguished officer of the Revolutionary war. Both parents were natives of the Green Mountain state and at death were laid to rest in the cem- etery at Bradford. The father died at the age of fifty-seven years, but the mother reached the very advanced age of ninety-six. In the schools of his native town ( iei >rge R. Pearsons pursued his education and re- mained in Bradford until twelve years of age. His youth was spent upon the farm, and at the age of twenty-five he entered the service of the Vermont Central Railroad, in the capacity of station and fuel agent and train master. Thus he first became asso- ciated with railroad work. In 1865 he re- moved to Chatsworth, Livingston county, Illinois, where he remained for three vears- in the employ of the Illinois Central Rail- road. In 1868 he came to Fort Dodge and has since engaged in buying and selling laud with the exception of three years when he gave his undivided attention to the building of a railroad which is now" a part of the Min- neapolis & St. Louis Railroad system. Ik- was one of seven men who successfully pro- jected and executed the plan, his associates being A. McBane, William Grant, George Bassett, J. M. Mulroney, I. Garmoe and E. Prussia. The company was incorporated under the name of the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgely Railroad Company, with W. Brown as the first president, while George Bassett later filled the office and the others were directors of the company. Its treasurer was 1. Garmoe and Mr. Pearsons became super- intendent and had entire charge of the con- struction of the road, which was operated by the company until 1879, when it was sold to the Minneapolis 6c St. Louis Railroad, Mr. Pearsons also owned an interest in the Iowa Pacific grade from Fort Dodge to Bel- mont. Wright county, and kept the claim good by changing titles until the road was sold to the Great Northern in 1884. Luring most of the time Air. Pearsons continued his real estate business and through his efforts the county has been largely settled. In 1884 he began draining two great swamps containing twenty-five hundred acres in Humboldt county, known as Owl Lake — an impassable marsh. At a cos1 of six thousand dollars he succeeded in making all this tillable land, digging a ditch nine miles long, thirty feet wide and seven- teen feet deep in the largest part and sixteen feet wide and six feet deep in the smallest part. This is the largest ditch ever dug by 482 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. an individual in Iowa. Mr. Pearsons still owns most of the land thus drained, con- stituting one i if the finest farms in the west. In addition to this he owns over two thou- sand acres in Humboldt county and has one fine farm adjoining Fort Dodge. While with the Illinois Central he sold laud to the value of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars in eight days, In [869 he drove from Fort Dodge to Sioux City when there were but four houses between the two points, these being at Cherokee. Twice during these stirring times was Mr. Pearsons lost in blizzards, first in 1873 when only a mile from his home, fie was in a snow bank for hours, and for two days confined in the ca- boose of a coal train, until help came to his assistance. His other experience was in Montana, when, together with the stage driver, he was lost on a high open prairie and had a narrow escape from death. He can sit for hours and with stories of frontier life entertain one. so vividly can he recall the incidents of those times. Since that time he has witnessed a great transfi >rmati< m of the c< unity, as the land has been claimed by enterprising farmers and transformed into rich farms, dotted here • and there with tine homes, schools and churches, while in their midst villages and towns have sprung up and extensive com- mercial and industrial interests have been introduced. From 1885 until 1888. inclu- sive, Mr. Pearsons held the office of Indian inspector, traveling from one agency to an- other. During that time he visited all the Indian reservations in the United States ex- cept in the Indian Territory, thus going among the wilder tribes. While still in Vermont Mr. Pearsons w as united in marriage to Aliss Wealthie Porter, a native of the Green Mountain state, who died in 1880. Their children were: Tolm Ik, who is engaged in farming near Fort Dodge; George A., a real estate dealer at Los Angeles, California; Daniel K., who is managing the extensive farm in Humboldt county; and Louisa, the wife of Hon. J. P. Dolliver. .Ml were horn in Vermont. In [882 Mr. Pearsons was again married, his second union being with Miss Lulu P. Waldron, of Fort Dodge. Aside from his business Air. Pearsons has contributed in large measure to the up- building and improvement of northwestern Iowa, and has given hearty co-operation to all the various movements and measures which have benefited Fort Dodge. In 1873 he was elected and served as mayor of the city, and in 1890 and 1891 be was again chi 'sen ti 1 the 1 >ffice; 1 lis administration was practical, progressive and business-like and won him high commendation. For many terms he has served on the school board, and the cause of education has found in him a warm friend. He gave his political sup- port to the Republican party until 1882, since which time he has been independent. For thirty-three years he has lived in this city, and his life is as an open book. Those with whom he has so long been associated entertain for him the highest regard and respect, for he has been active and honorable in business, loyal in citizenship and reliable in all life's relations. LOUIS H. HEITKAMP. One of the prosperous and promising farmers of Burnside township is Louis H. Heitkamp, who is a native son of Iowa, born not far from where he now lives, April 20, i860. His parents, John H. and Sophia (Brunchier) Heitkamp, were born in Ger- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 483 many, but married in America, and settled in Webster county, [owa, in 1858. They were successful tillers of the soil, and from an original purchase of eighty acres in- creased their possessions to three hundred and twenty acre-. The father died October 7. 1895, and the mother May 21, [900, and both are buried in Dayton cemetery. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters: William married Louise Brun- chier and lives in Boone county, Iowa; Louis II. is the next of the family; John married Minnie Walters and lives in Bay- ard. Iowa; Henry married Anna Linder- man and lives in Boone county; Minnie is the wife of Henry Linderman and lives on section 28, Burnside township, Webstei count}-; and Lena is the wife of Louis Hoyer and lives at Fort Dodge, Mr. Heitkamp was reared on his father's farm and attended the public schools during the leisure of the winter months. He was married July 2j, 1881, to Sophia Mohn, whose parents emigrated from Germany. Her mother died in Iowa in 1863. The father eventually married Mary Fink, and is now living in Ray county, Missouri. Mrs. Heitkamp has four brothers and three sis- ters, namely: Mrs. Walter Vance, of Colo- rado: Frank, who is married and lives in Missouri; Fred, who is also married and lives in Missouri; Emma; Albert; and Ed- ward. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Heitkamp. as follows ; Carrie, born May 8, 1882; Martin, October 15. 1883; Albert, June 26, 1885: Frank, Feb- ruary 19, 1887: Minnie, April 8, 1889; Lillie, April 19, 1891 ; Tilla, February 12, 1892; Hazel, May 9, 1895 ; Luella, February 12, 1897: Florence, December 2j. 1898; and Ervin, November 9, 1900. Upon starting out in the world for him- self Mr. Heitkamp rented a farm in Burn- side township for eight years, and in 1889 boughl one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which he now lives. At that time the property was raw prairie land, and a stranger to pl«.w or implement of any kind, \< day the abundant harvests reward an un- ceasing toil and wise management, and the land which was originally worth twelve dol- lars and ;•. half an acre is among the most desirable in the township. Mr. Heitkamp bought an additional eighty acre- in 1894 -on the same section, and engages in general farming on a large scale, and buys, feeds and ships st< >ck. lie is a stanch upholder of Republican institutions, and has held several fices of trust within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He is a man of broad and pro- gressive ideas, and practical plans for the general improvement of his section, and ex- erts a wide influence on the side of good government and high citizenship. A. C. DOUGLASS. For many years the name of Douglass ha- stood for prosperity and enterprise in Burnside township, and A. C. Douglass is a worthy successor to his -ire. who represented the highest agricultural excellence and the most admirable citizenship of Webster coun- ty. The present maintainer of family tra- ditions and industry was born in Noble county, Indiana, January 8, 1854, and re- ceived his education in the district schools, and was prepared for future activity on his father's well-conducted farm. He was but two years of age when the family fortunes were shifted to Iowa, and he early evinced traits of character which insure success wherever he might in the future reside. In 1879 Mr. Douglass departed from the surroundings of hi- youth and embarked 484 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. upon the uncertain occupation of mining in Leadville and -different parts of Colorado, but at the end of eight months decided in favor of the slower but surer channels of legitimate business. He tried his hand at railroading near Minneapolis, Minnesota, for one summer, and then returned to the home farm, where he remained until his mar- riage, November 28, 1889, with Anna Ten- nant, who was born near Burnside July 2, 1869. Mrs. Douglass is one in a family of five children, one son and four daughters, the others being: Maude is a teacher in the city schools of Jennings, Louisiana; Ger- trude is also engaged in educational work and is living at home : V. B. married Ethel Green and resides in Griggsville, Illinois: and Nora is the wife of O. J. Woodard and lives on section 4. Burnside township, this county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Douglass: Mabel Gertrude, who was born January 11, 1S91 , and died December 22, 1897; Vera May. born May 28, 1893 ! Bertie Calvin, born June 26, 1895 ; Marion Tennant, born December 17, 1897: and Helen Margaret, born May 28, 1899. After his marriage Mr. Douglass settled on a farm on section 4. Burnside township, where he lived until the spring of 1901, when be removed to Ids present farm of three hundred anil twenty acres on sections 4 and 5, the same township. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and makes a specialty of the breeding of Short- horn cattle and draft horses. With others be is part owner of the Norman stallion Printemps. Mr. Douglass leads a by no means self— centered life, but has interests which extend to the all-around development of his township, financially, educationally and socially, fie is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Lehigh and in the Burnside Creamery. A Republican in national politics, he has held several important offices within the gift of his townsmen, and for twelve years he has been treasurer of the school district. Fraternally he is associated with the Wood- men of the World. Mr. Douglass is a be- liever in the best possible educational facil- ities, and not only makes a continuous effort to improve the system of his township, but is giving his children every advantage with- in his power. He is quite a musician, and a member and one of the organizers of the Burnside Brass Band. He performs with skill upon the organ and violin, and has ma- terially promoted the musical taste of the community in which he dwells. In his younger days he took more than an ordinary- interest in athletic sports, having at one time made a record of a standing jump of twelve feet eight inches, and also a one-hun- dred yard dash in about ten seconds. Per- sonally Mr. Douglass is popular and well known, and is withal an optimistic, genial and thoroughly entertaining gentleman in e\ ery respect. DR. GEORGE D. HART. There is probably no more prominent or highly esteemed citizen in his section of the county than Dr. George D. Hart, of Otho. A native of Illinois, he was born in Adams county, July 26, 1835, and was in his nine- teenth year -when the family removed to Webster county, Iowa. A sketch of his father, Norman Hart, is given in connec- tion with that of N. H. Hart on another page of this volume. On coming to this county the Flart fam- ilv found this section of the state all wild and unimproved, and the Doctor assisted in DR. GEO. D. HART MRS. GEORGE D. HART THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 4S9 the arduous task 1 £ converting the raw- prairie into well-cultivated fields, lie was married, November 11, 1858, to Miss Or- linda S. Moore, who was born in Ohio, in 1840, a daughter of Homer and Sarah (Minton) Moore. She came with her par- ents to Iowa in 1856, and in the summer of the following year taught the first term of school in Otho township, while in the sum- mer of 1858 she taught the first term in what is now Elkhorn township. She died on the 28th of January, 1883, leaving two children: (i) Lillie H., who was horn Septemher 1, 1859. became the wife of Fred E. Payne and died on the eighteenth anniversary of her marriage, September 30, [898. She had two children, Calla H., horn September 6, 188 1: and George E., horn May id. 1S87. (2) Hoyt X.. horn March 26, 1867, who is now engaged in farming in Otho township, was married February 10, 1887, to Carrie M. Plummer, and they have one son, Harrison Dolliver, horn June 17. 1888. Dr. Hart was again married. June 11. 1885, his second union being with Miss Pervilla R. Alsever, who was horn in Oswego county. Xew York, March 20, i^^J. and in 1866 came t" Webster county, b wa. with her parents, Abram and Ar- minda (Fish) Alsever. She had one brother and two sisters, namely: G ra 1'... who married George Buzzard and died at Spokane Palls. Washington, November 5, [889; Milton G., who married Edith Good- year and lives in Pocohontas, Iowa; and Blanche M., who has been a teacher in pri- mary schools for thirteen years, and is now- employed at Fort Dodge. Mrs. Hart was also a successful teacher in early life and followed that occupation for twelve years. Unto the Doctor and his wife was In rn a son, Seth Norman, his birth occurring August 18, [888. On the 12th of October, 1895, they adopted an orphan girl. Albertina Anderson, who was horn March 29, 1880, and was married January 1, 1901, to Henry W. Wakeman, a farmer of Otho township. They also have an adopted son, Dwight M., a son of J. M. Moore, one of the early set- tlers of this county, having come here with his father, Homer Moore, in 1856. Dwight was born December 16, 1876, in Steele City. Nebraska, and was only a week old when his mother died. Her remains were brought back to Otho for interment, and the child was adopted by Dr. Hart and wife, the latter being his aunt. His father was a soldier of the war of the Rebellion, and now lives in Kalo, Iowa. At the outbreak of the Spanish war DAvight enlisted in May, 1898, in Company G of Fort Dodge, but was later transferred to Company B, Forty- ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and went to Cuba, where he served under General Fitz- hugh Lee until the close of the war. He is now living at Nampa, Idaho, and is fol- lowing the trade of mason. The Doctor has ever regarded him as his own son. When the country became involved in civil war Dr. Hart offered his services to the government to assist in putting down the rebellion. He enlisted Augusl i<>, [862, in Company I, Thirty-spcond Iowa Infantry, but never served in the ranks. When the regiment started south from Dubuque he was left in charge of the sick at Camp Franklin, and after rejoining his command at Xew Madrid. Missouri. December 2. fol- li wing, served as hospital warden during his entire term of enlistment at Jefferson I '.arracks. Missouri, where he had charge 1 if a ward • finally dis- charged on account of disability. His hos- pital experience laid the foundation for the profession of medicine and on his return 490 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. In .me he pursued a course of study in the Homeopathic school. Since then he has en- gaged in practice with marked success. The Doctor is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres in Otho township but resides in the village of Otho, where he has a beau- tiful home, ami devotes his entire time and attention to the practice of his profession. Both the Doctor and Airs. Hart are ac- tive members of the Congregational church, of which he has been a deacon since his father's death in 1880, having succeeded him to that office. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Republican party, and he voted for the three presidents who met death by the hands of the assassin. He was a charter member of Fort Donelson Post, G. A. R., of Fort Dodge, and is still closely associated with his army comrades. He receives and merits the high regard of the entire community in which he lives. Those who know him best are numbered among his wannest friends, and no citizen in Webster county is more honored or respected. SYLVESTER B. RICHEY. Prominent among the leading citizens and successful agriculturists of Webster county, Iowa, is Sylvester B. Richey, a large land owner and successful breeder of fine cattle and stock. His birth occurred in Wayne county, Ohio, June 22, 1848, his par- ents being Gasper T. and .Martha (Rich- ards) Richey, both of whom were natives of Pennsvlvania. although their marriage was celebrated in Ohio, where they resided for a number of years. There Gasper T. Richey owned a tract of farming land and a water- power grist and sawmill. In the fall of 1854 he removed his family to Webster county. Iowa, settling in Dayton township, where he entered fine three-quarter sections and eighty acres. This was all raw prairie land at that time, but his industry and ability brought it to a fine state of cultivation and productiveness. The first pioneer home was of hewed logs, twenty by twenty-eight feet in dimensions, two stories in height, and so soundly was it constructed that it remains of use to-day, on section 28, Dayton town- ship. For a number of years Mr. Richey was county supervisor, and also served as justice of the peace and a member of the school board. His political faith was in the Democratic party, and he was long a lead- ing member of the Methodist church. Mrs. Richey died November 18. 1892, and his death occurred in April, 1882. Their children numbered twelve, seven of whom still survive, these being: Marga- ret, who is the wife of Cyrus Burnett, of Dayton; Mary, who married J. R. Lyons and lives in Fort Dodge, Iowa; Priscilla. who married L. Emerson; Etta, who mar- ried Abraham Daughenbaugh. of Gowrie, Iowa: Gasper A., who married Hattie Ly- ons and resides in 1 >ayti m ; James, who mar- ried Louisa Baker and resides in Pilot Mound. Iowa: and Sylvester B.. of this sketch. Our subject's early educational advan- tages were afforded in the Richey district school, in Dayton township, his attendance being during the winters, while his summers were occupied with duties on the farm. On March 27, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Mahan, who was born in Hardin county, Ohio, September 25, 1848. She is a daughter of Edward K. and Hul- dah (Monro Mahan, the former of whom was a native of Ross county, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Hardin county, Ohio, and lived there until THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 491 in the spring- of 1855. At that time Mr. Mahan removed his family to Keokuk, Iowa, where they remained (hiring the summer, in the fall locating on a river claim in Yell township, Webster county. He then went back to Ohio, where he remained for five years, and then returned to WebsteT county, Iowa. In 1871 Mr. Mahan went to Kansas. and there took up a homestead claim and im- proved it. remaining there until his death. February 5. 1893. His wife died on Febru- ary 13. 1893. only eight days intervening". Mrs. Richey was the eldest in a family of .nine children, the other members being: George, who married Jane Aver and lives in Kansas: Samantha. who died at the age of fifteen : Hannah, who is the wife of Louis Barrett, of Basin, Big Horn county, Wyo- ming; Mathew, who married Eliza Scott, and resides in Oklahoma; John, who is mar- ried and resides in Republic county, Kansas ; Van. who is married and resides in Okla- homa: Allison, who is married and resides in Kansas; and Sally, who is the wife of Xoel Cooper, of Rqxiblic county, Kansas. The children burn to Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ey are: George B.. born June 14. 1871. married Tina Eslic and resides on a farm in Yell township, this county, their four chil- dren being Lloyd. Lizzie, Lester and I'.essie. Harry F.. born October 29. 1875, Roy ('■.. born February 22, 1879, James E.. born July 23. 1885. and Shelby S.. born October 26, 1887. are all at home. In the spring of 1875 Mr. Richey of this sketch moved to Yell township, where, the fall previous, he had bought a quarter section of land on section This was only par- tially improved, but in 1886. our subject erected a most comfortable and attractive country house, and has commodious barns, grain and cattle sheds and every appurte- nance for successful modern farming, for he is one of the progressive agriculturists who regard farming not only as an occupation but a great business requiring study and close attention. Mr. Richey is one of the large land owners in this county, having four hundred acres in Veil township, two hundred acres on sections 27 and 28, Dayton township, while his wife is the fortunate holder of some six acres of valuable resi- dence property in Dayton. He has given special attention to the raising of thorough- bred red polled cattle and Poland China hogs, which require the greater part of his yield of corn. Mr. Richey has taken a deep interest in public and educational affairs, and has served as supervisor and a member of the school board. In politics he has been a life-long Democrat. Mrs. Richey, the estimable wife of our subject, is a descendant in the mater- nal line from loyal sol, Hers in the war of 1812, one uncle having given seven vears to his country's service during the Indian trou- bles, and of him it is recorded that he was pursued seven times in one day by the sav- ages. Both Mr. and Mrs. Richey are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist church, and are most highly esteemed throughout the township for their hospitality anil many excellent traits of character. TAMES SAYLES. Among the energetic and enterprising farmers of Webster count) who have met with success in their chosen calling is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is now the owner of a good farm of one hundred acres pleasantly lo- c.ted on section 35, Roland township, with- it' two miles and a half of the village of ( ; i i\vrie. 492 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. His early home was on the other side oi" the Atlantic, for he was born on the Isle 01 Man, January 17, 1847, ,ns parents being- Robert and Catherine (^ Moore) Sayles, who were life-long residents of that country. His paternal grandfather, however, was a native of Scotland, and a weaver by trade. His last days were spent on the Isle of Man. Thomas Moore, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born there, and, being a sailor, lost his life at sea. Robert Sayles, who was a farmer by occupation, died on the Isle of Man in 1867, and his wife passed away six years later. In their family were eight children who reached years of ma- turity, and seven of the number still sur- vive. In the land of his birth James Sayles passed ids boyhood and youth upon a farm, and received a limited education, which has been greatly supplemented by reading in later years. In 1865, at the age of eighteen years, he came to the United States, arriving in New York on the night President Lin- coln was assassinated — April 14. He pro- ceeded at once to Brimfield, Peoria county, Illinois, where he had a sister living, and there worked on a farm by the month for several years. Later Mr. Sayles went to Grundy coun- ty, Illinois, and while there he was married, November 26, 1868, to Miss Georgia Anna S\ nits, a native of Somersetshire, England, and a daughter of James Symes, who brought his family to America and settled in Grundy county at an early day. There Mrs. Sayles was principally reared. Our subject and his wife have eight children, namely: Cora M.. at home; Belle, wife of William Crouch, of Somers, Iowa; William, who is assisting his father in the operation of the farm; Agnes, w^ife of Ed Larson, of Lohrville, Iowa; Florence, a teacher in, the Webster county schools ; and May, Lucile and Georgia, all at home. After his marriage Mr. Sayles engaged in farming on rented land in Grundy county, Illinois, until 1877, when he came to- Web- ster county, Iowa, and spent one year in Cowrie. In the fall of 1877 he purchased sixty acres of land in Roland township, on which he located the following spring. He lias since built an addition to the house standing thereon, and has made many use- ful and valued improvements which add greatly to the beauty of the place. He has ai^o bought more land and now has one hundred acres, which is under cultivation, and yields to the owner bountiful harvests in return for the care and labor bestowed upon it. Mr. Sayles raises a good grade of stock, ^and usually fattens a carload oi steers for the city market annually. In politics Mr. Sayles is independent, his first presidential vote being cast for General U. S. Grant, the Republican candi- date. He takes great interest in educational affairs and has given his children the best possible advantages along that line, and three of his daughters became successful teachers. He was reared in the Episcopal faith, to which he still adheres, although not a member of any church organization. Fraternally he is a prominent member of Gowrie Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he is now senior warden ; and also belongs to Gowrie Lodge, I. O. O. F., having been initiated into the mysteries of that order while a resident of Illinois. ABNER E. PALMER/ The name Palmer, it is supposed, had its origin in the old days of chivalry, during epoch of the crusades. It was the custom of the mailed knights who went upon these A. E. PALMER MRS. A. E. PALMER THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 497 pilgrimages to bring back from the Holy Land branches of palms, signalling the ac- complishment of their mission, and they were called pam bearers. It is easily under- stood how successive changes werejjrought about in the name which ther were called until, shorn of the ideally poetic and fanci- ful, the tin :dern form of 1 'aimer lias been evolved. These richly-adorned searchers for the Holy Grail were held in veneration ■1>v their descendants, many of win an par- ticipated with creditable distinction in the events which led up to English supremacy. Such is the remote history of the family. Later records tell of the founding of the family in America. The Mayflower, which bn ught the pilgrims to the shore of Xew England in nun, was followed the suc- ceeding year by the ship Fortune, which also brought an heroic hand of men to aid in laying the foundations of this republic. Among the passengers of this second craft was William Palmer, who settled in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1621, and in 1629 his brother, Walter, crossed the seas from England with John Endicott, who had charge of six vessels of freedmen. From the family of Walter rainier, which con- sisted of twelve children, has sprung six thousand Palmers, the record of whose lives is in possession of Mrs. A. E. Palmer. Walter Palmer, who married and settled in Stonington, Connecticut, was the direct an- cestor of our subject. Abijah Palmer, the grandfather of A. E., was born in Fairfield county, Connecti- cut, in 1750, and in 1801 married Clarinda Runnels, with whom he went to Ohio in 1811, and located land in Fitchville. Huron county. His property had a two-fold value, for the broad expanse of six hun- dred acres represented what was known as the Fireland grant, and took the place of property destroyed during the war 1 f 1812, and was presented to him by the govern- ment. In this same war Abijah Palmer served with courage and distinction. He had eleven children, and of these, Hiram Palmer, the father of A. E., was born in Fitchville, Ohio, in 1823. Hiram Palmer married, July 21, 1X50, with Maria Briggs, a native of Coshocton, Steuben county, Xew York, born \ugust _>j, [830. The marriage ceremony was performed by Esquire Pray, and the young couple settled on a farm in Fitchville township, where their serenity was somewhat disturbed by the agitation which shook the country over the slavery question. Mr. Palmer came out strong for the anti-slavery cause, and was active in promoting the liberty of run- away slaves. Palmer Station, named after him, was located near the mouth of the Black river, and this pi int was where the salves escaped by In at which con- veyed them to safety in Canada. Air. 1 'aimer voted for James G. Birnev for president, and in 1X48 for the Free Soil candidate, and in 1856 allied his fortunes with the Repubican party. After that he voted for every Republican president, from John C. Fremont to William McKinley. He is now living in Clarksiicld, Ohio, where his character and attainments are appre- ciated by those who have known him dur- ing his useful and worthy life. He is a member of the Congregational church, and a supporter of all worthy enterprises for the good of his neighborhood. The following children were born to Hiram Palmer and his wife: Allen, horn May 28, 1851, married Henrietta Baker, and lives in Fairfield township, Huron county. Ohio; Aimer I 7 ,, is the next in or- der of birth; Charles I\. born April f>, 1X5(1. lives in Clark-Yield, Ohio; Lenora., 498 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. bom April 20, i860, died February 2, 1898, leaving her husband, Casius Draper, and a son, Morris, who lives in Collinwood, < >hio; Carrie, born October 21, 1861, married George Ronk, of Brighton, Ohio, and has one son, Carl, and an adopted son, Paul ; Tama Luella, born June 18, 1863, died when a year and a half old; Ellsworth, born January 4. 1865, lives in Clarksfield, Ohio; and DeAlton E., horn November 20, 1869, died August 1 1, 1891. Abner E. Palmer, second oldest of the grandchildren of Abijah Palmer, was born in Huron county, Ohio. August I, [853, and received his education in the public schools of Fitchville. When eighteen years old he started out to make an independent living, and worked by the month until he was twenty-six years old, his wages in- creasing from seven dollars to twenty- three dollars per month. On October 1. [879, lie was married at Fitchville, by F. P. Hall, to Gertie A. Barnes, who wa^ born July 1, i860, in Evans- ton, Iowa a daughter of Samuel King and Eliza (Jane) Johnson Barnes, the former of whom was born in Jefferson count}-. New York, October 6, 1823, and the latter in Gorham, Ontario county. Xew York. April 8, 1827. ' The Barnes family is of English ancestry, and one Joseph Barnes was born in Connecticut in 1736. He served in the old French and Indian war, which ended in the capture of Quebec, and the death of Wolfe. He was the fa- ther of Hartwell Barnes, who was a native of Connecticut, born in 1758. and served for six years, six months and thirteen days in the war of the Revolution. His wife was formerly Hannah Clark, who was horn in Connecticut, and was a niece of Oliver Wolcott, one of the signers of the the Declaration of Independence. There were eleven ichjildren born of th|is union, and one of these was Samuel Clark Barnes, the grandfather »f Mrs. Palmer. He was born in Wetbersheld. Connecticut, April 5, 1796, and was married December 16. 181 7. in New York, to Miranda Nichols, who was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, December 16, 1799. Mr. Barnes died in Wblccttville, Indiana, May 4, 1874. and his wife passed awav January 7, 1852, in the >ame town. Their children were borr in Xew York, with the exception of the three youngest, who were born in Indiana. Samuel King Barnes was married Oc- tober 1. [848, at Fitchville. Ohio, by F. P. Hall, and settled in La Grange county. In- diana, where he engaged in farming. In December. 1853, ' ie journeyed to Webster county. Iowa. The following June after a seven weeks' journey with ox teams he ar- rived with his family at the new home. While erecting a log cabin he lived m a tent, and his first ground breaking was where the church at Evanstbn, Iowa, now stands. In the fall of 1864 he returned to Huron count)-. Ohio, and in the fall of 1867 he bought a farm in Fitchville township, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred at the residence of his son-in-law, A. E. Palmer, October 20, 1891. He held several township offices in Webster coun- tv. and was a stanch Republican, and a de- voted member of the Baptist church. His wife, who died March 13. 1897. was the mother of four children, of whom Mrs. Palmer is the youngest. Of the other chil- dren, William, born June 26, 1849, died August 2, 185 1. Laura, born September 21, 1852. married by Rev. F. P. Hall to J. C. Evans, September 20. 1877, and re- moved the same day to Evanston, Iowa. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 499 She was the mother of three children: Pearl, who was born July 22, 1878, and died in infancy; Edith, born Septembei [6, 1880; and Edna E., hum September 12, 1882. Airs. Evans died in [884, and March 8, [885, her sister. Mary E., who was born October 5. 1854. and was the first white female child hum in Webster county, was united in marriage with Air. Evans by the same past, r who had performed the pre- vious ceremony. Of this union there is one daughter, Lottie, born September 22, (888. To Mr. and Airs. Palmer have been born four children: King J!., who was born June 18, 1880. and died September 14, [88l ; Alahle F., born May 29, 1881 : Jes- se \\\, born September 30, [883; and Chester R., born April 29, 1885. After his marriage Mr. 1 'aimer moved to Hartland, Ohio, and engaged in farm- ing for three years, and at the expiration of that time settled in Fitchville township, Huron county, where he remained for six years. In A larch. 1889. he became identified with Webster county, Iowa, and as a beginning bought forty acres of land in Washington township at twenty-six dol- lars per acre. The following June he pur- chased eighty acres at thirteen and one-half dolars an acre, and the next September bought another eighty acres for seventen and one-half dollars an acre. He is at present the owner of two hundred acres of land in Washington township, and has an excellent home, commi dious barns and out- buildings, well built granaries and fences, and all modern agricultural implements, and general improvements. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a stanch upholder of Republican issues. Air. Palmer maintains the traditions and excellencies of his capable ancestors, and in his own personality unites those admirable characteristics which are everywhere re- garded as the fundamentals i f desirable citizenship. — ♦—♦ — ANTON BYER. Anton Byer, one of the most intelligent and enterprising agriculturists of Gowrie township, is the owner of a well improved and valuable farm of four hundred and fort) acres on sections ,- and 8, and his management of the place is marked by the scientific knowledge and skill which char- acterize the modern farmer. Air. Byer was horn on the 30th of Oc- toher, 1856, in Denmark, where his parents, Nicholas and Christina (Hanson) K\er, siient their entire lives as farming people. In their family were the following children : Peter came to the new world about [864, and first located in Illinois, hut is now liv- ing in California, where he is engaged in fruit culture. John crossed the Atlantic in [868 and also settled in Illinois. In 1XS1 he came to Webster county. Iowa, hut is now a resilient of Calhoun county, this state. James and Louis came to America in (871 and settled in Illinois, hut are now living in California, where they are engaged in mer- chandising. Anton is the youngest son. Lena married James Behimer and lived for a time in Illinois, hut her last days were spent in Crawford county. Missouri, where she died 111 [893. Katherina died in I mark at the age of twelve years. In the land of his birth Anton Byer spent the first sixteen years ,,f lus life, and his earl_\- education was in his natne tongue. \n 1872 lie emigrated to the United States and located in Grundy county, Illinois, where lie worked on a farm for one man seven years, in the meantime attending the public schools 500 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. to some extent. He also spent nearly two years at the college in Valparaiso, Indiana, and later was a student at the .college in Mor- ris, Illinois. His education completed, Mr. Byer successfully engaged in teaching both in Illinois and Iowa, being thus employed for seven winters after coming to Webster coun- ty in October, 1881. His first purchase of land consisted of one hundred and twenty acres but slightly improved, only forty acres being broken. For four or five vears he and his brother engaged in farming together. Returning to Illinois, Mr. Byer was mar- ried at Ottawa, La Salle county. February 23, 1886, to Ali-- Alma Eddy, who was born, reared and educated in Kendall coun- ty, that state, and engaged in teaching school prior to her marriage. Her father, Thomas F. Eddy, was born in Massachusetts and there grew to manhood. I le was one of the pioneers of Grundy county, Illinois, where lie made his home until after the death of his wife, and then came to live with his daughter, Mrs. Byer, in Webster county, Iowa, where he passed away March 17, 1895. He had but two children, his son being El- mer Eddy, now - a resident of Denver, Colo- rado. Mr. and Airs. Byer have two daugh- ters. Mabel ami Bertha, who are both at- tending the home school. After his marriage our subject brought bis bride to the home he had prepared for her in Webster county, Iowa, and has since engaged in farming with marked success, having accumulated some valuable property. His farm to-day is under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good and substantial buildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. In connection with general farming he carries on stock raising quite successfully, and usually fattens from two to four carloads of stock for market annually. In all his un- dertakings he has met with the success that usually follows the industrious and profes- sive man. On coming to the new world he was without capital, but he has steadily worked his way upward to prosperity until to-day he is one of the well-to-do and sub- stantial citizens of his community. Since casting his first presidential ballot for James A. Garfield in 1880 Mr. Byer has supported every presidential nominee of the Republican party, and has been a delegate to several c< unity conventions. He has served eight years as assessor of Gowrie township, which office he is filling at the present time, and was also treasurer of the scln 10I district for twenty years. Air. Byer is one of the directors and stockholders of the Gowrie Savings Bank of Gowrie. Al- though not members of any religious organ- ization he and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational churches, and are highly respected and esteemed by all who km iw them. AIRS. HATTIE DANIELSON. Airs. Hattie Danielson, widow of the late August A. Danielson, has been a resident of Webster count)- since i860, and is therefore numbered among its pioneers. She was born in Sweden, November 22, 1844, arK ' was a maiden of sixteen summers when she came to the new world with her parents, G. F. and Lottie (Vegrin) Lyon. The voyage. which was a pleasant one. was made on the Kentucky, a sailing vessel commanded by Captain Narraman, and lasted six weeks and three days. On landing in Boston the fam- ily came direct to Webster county, Iowa, and the father took up a government claim in Dayton township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie land. Here THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 503 the mother died September 12, 1872, and was laid to rest in Linn cemetery. Boone county, Iowa. In 1879 the father married Anna Gustafson, also a native of Sweden, and by his second union had two sons, Fred and Edwin, who still reside on the old hi imestead farm. There were thirteen children by the first marriage, but only four are now living, namely: Hattie, our subject ; Anna, wife of J. P. Danielson of Gowrie; Charles J., who married Louise Johnson and lives in Curlew. Iowa; and August, who married Freda Schwartz and resides in Tekamah. Nebraska. The father of these children died September j j. [898. Mrs. Danielson of this review attended both Swedish and English schools and is a well-educated lady. She was first married November 5, 1865, in Dayton township, this county, to J. A. Ritchie, who was born in Ohio, June 9, 184^. and died March n, 1873. His father, G. T. Ritchie, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and died in Dayton township in 1882. The other children of his family were Margaret, who married Cy- rus Burnett and lives in Dayton ; Mary, wife of Reece Lyon, of Fort Dodge; Priscilla, who married Levi Emerson and both died in .Stratford. Iowa; Henrietta, wife of Abe Daughnbaugh, of Des Moines; James, who married Louisa Baker and makes his home at Pilot Mound. Boone count}-. Iowa: and Sylvester, who is married and resides in Yell township, this county. On the 24th of June. 1878, our subject was again married, her second union being with August A. Danielson, of Dayton, who was born in Andover, Illinois. June 19. 1832. His parents. Jonas and Christine Danielson, were natives of Sweden, and on coming to America settled in Andover, Illinois. In the spring of 1 870 they removed to Webster county, Iowa, and located in Lost Gro 1 township, where the father died in 1872. The following year the mother married Audel Strand and now lives in Dayton. Bv her first union she had six children: C. « '>.. who married Christine Lindquist, of An- dover, Illinois, and resides in Dayton. Iowa: Jonas, who married Anna Lyon and makes his home in Gowrie; Gust, who wedded Alary Peterson and lives in Wheeler county, Nebraska; August A.: Joseph, who married Carrie Peterson and resides in Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Emma, wife of Charles Swan- son, of Dayton. The children horn to Mrs. Danielson by her first marriage were as follows: 1 1 1 Edward F.. a general merchant of Si mers, Lowa, married Anna McQure and has two children living and two deceased. ( 2 ) Levi G., a farmer of Dell Rapids. South Dakota, married Cora Carr, and has two children living and one deceased. (3) Charles V. also a farmer of Dell Rapids, married Susie Howard and has two children. {4) Mary A. is the wife of L. A. Sandquist, of 1 )ayti >n. and has four children. (5) Mattie Jane, horn March 2- . 1873, was married Novem- ber 11, 1891, to Frank W. Johnson, of Day- ton, who died September 17. 1895, and was buried in Dayton. She has two children: I lazel, bi irn July 1 2, 1892 ; and Harold, In >rn July 23, [894. Airs. Danielson has four children by her second union: Elmer, Lin- da. Mabel and Maude. ATr. Danielson was engaged in the livery business in Dayton up to the time of his death, which occurred August 28, 1892, and his remains were interred in Dayton tery. lie was a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and was ;. faithful and consistent member of the Swe- dish Lutheran church, to which his family 5°4 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. also belong. They are people of prominence in the community where they reside, and are held in the highest regard by all who know them. ■» « » H. F. AXDERSOX. The sterling traits inherited from in- dustrious Norwegian ancestors have aided Mr. Anderson in his efforts to bring under the highest cultivation the tract of land which he owns in Washington township, Webster county. His parents, Xels and Margaret (Thompson) Anderson, were born, reared and married in Norway. With a hope of finding greater opportunities in America than in their native land they de- cided to cross the ocean, and in 1857 em- barked on a sailing vessel, which for nine weeks was tossed to and fro in perilous storms and heavy seas. After landing in Quebec, Canada, the)' proceeded to Illinois and settled in LaSalle county, where the fa- ther followed the stonemason's trade at Ot- tawa. In 1864 he removed his family to Story county. Iowa, where he continued work at his trade. From there he came to Webster county about 1869 and at first set- tled on river land, but soon moved to Wash- ington township and bought a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. His last years were spent in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it was there that lbs death occurred Sep- tember 14. 190 1. In Norway he had been reared in the Lutheran faith and he contin- ued an adherent of that church after coming to America. In political views he was a Re- publican. Since his death his wife has con- tinued to make her home in Sioux Falls. They were the parents of five children, name- ly : Carrie, wife of Ole Tjneragl and a resident of Hamilton county, Iowa; Martha, who after the death of her first husband, Louis Anderson, became the wife of Ole Peterson, and settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he died January 23, 1897; Andrew, of Sioux Falls, who first married Mattie Hovia and after her death was united in marriage with Bertha Oleson; H. F., the subject of this article; and Julia, wife of John Ostlund, of Sioux Falls, South Da- kota. While his parents were living in La Salle county, Mini is. H. F. Anderson was born September 9. 1861. He was reared principally in Washington township, Webs- ter county, Iowa, where he still resides, and received his education in the schools here. F ; < r si mie years he assisted in the cultivation of the home farm, and then purchased the property, which comprised one hundred and twenty acres on section 12. The farm has excellent improvements, including an at- tractive residence and commodious barns. A specialty is made of stock raising, which branch of agriculture Mr. Anderson has found to lie profitable. Like his father, he is a Republican in. politics and a Lutheran in religious connections. The marriage of Mr. Anderson took place in Newark township. Webster coun- ty, December 10, 1888, and united him with Juruale Serena Munson, who was horn in Benton county Iowa, June 18, 1869. They are tiie parents of the following named chil- dren : Nora M., horn December 16. 1889; Mabel M.. April. 28, 1890; Henry S., Oc- tober 25, -1892; Josie I., January 29, 1894; Alfred L., December 8, 1896; Martin E., February 9. 1898; and Elma M., July 21, 1 901. The father of Mrs. Anderson, Munse Munson, was born and reared in Norway, and there married Martha Hanson. Ac- companied by his wife he came to America in 1868, spending seven weeks in a sailing THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 505 vessel on the ocean. After landing in New York they proceeded to Benton county, Iowa, where lie secured w rk at fifty cents a day. Later he bought a farm of eighty acres, on which he lived until his removal to Webster county in 1874. He took up a homestead claim in Colfax township and for ten years devoted himself to the improving of a farm. From there he moved to Newark township and settled on a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres which he had recently purchased. During 1890 he returned to Norway to visit his relatives and old asso- ciates, and while there was taken ill and died. His body was interred amid the scenes familiar to him in his boyhood. His wife is still living in Newark township. Both were reared in the Lutheran faith and con- tinued loyal to that religion through lite. The children comprising their family were named as follows: John, who died at twen- t\ years; Sarah, Mrs. Anderson; Isabella, wife of Lars Larson, of Clear Lake, Iowa; Mun.se, who died in early manhood; Mary, who married Osman Peterson, and reside in Hamilton county, Iowa; Alice, Mrs. Holver Peterson, who resides mi the home farm; Hans, who died at three years of age; Emma and Munse, who died in infancy. BENJAMIN JONES. After years of active Labor Benjamin Jones is now living a retired life in Fort Dodge, Iowa, enjoying a well-earned rest, surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He was born in Aber- garenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales, No- vember 10, 1837. a son of Benjamin and Maria (Richards) Jones, both of whom were also natives of that country. In [855 the father emigrated to America and located in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade, that of a mason, for one year. In 1856 he was joined by his family in Tamaqua, that count), and in 1857 removed to Iowa county, Wisconsin, where the following nine years were passed. He then took up his residence in Platteville. Grant county, Wisconsin, where he made his In me for four years, and in 1870 came t 1 Fort Dodge, Iowa. He continued to work at the mason's trade until a few years prior to his death, which occurred in 1890, when he was eighty-three years of age. His wife died in 1880, at the age of seventy- seven years. In the family of this worthy couple were three children, one son and two daughters. Mr. Jones, of this review, was reared and educated in his native land and there learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed after the removal of the family from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, in connec- tion with harness making at Dodgeville, Iowa county. During the resilience of the family in Platteville, Wisconsin, from 1806 to 1870, he was engaged in the meat busi- ness at that place, and continued to follow that pursuit after coming to Fort Dodge un- til [882. He also dealt extensively in live stock during the entire time he was in the meat business and continued in that line of business two years after he disposed of his meat market, hut is now resting from his labors, having laid aside all business cares. He has acquired considerable real estate, in- cluding property in Fort Hodge; one farm in I alhoun o unty, Iowa, and three in Web- ster ci iunty. At Mineral Point. Iowa county, Wis- consin, Mr. Jones was married in [869 to Mis. Mary E. Martin, and to them were born seven children, as follows; Francis; 506 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Leah M.; Benjamin. Jr.: label M. ; who died November 15. i8c;_\ aged fifteen years; Octavia; William H. and Anna. Those liv- ing are all residents of Fort Dodge. The family holds membership in the Episcopal church, and Mr. Jones is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His success in life has been the result of honest, persistent effort in the line of hon- orable ind manly dealing, and through his own unaided efforts he has acquired a com- fortable competence. He has also gained the confidence and high regard of all with with whom he has been brought in contact either in business or social life. WILLIAM H. DUTCHER. Among the representative men of Yell township, Webster county. Iowa, is William H. Dutcher. who was bom July 9, 1842, in Ross county, Ohio, a son of Charles and Nancy ( Ratliff) Dutcher. both natives of Ohio, where they were married and where they remained for twelve years thereafter, living upon a farm. They then removed to Moniteau county, Missouri, where the father purchased six hundred acres of raw prairie land. This he broke with ox teams and spent bis life in cultivating the property, liv- ing there until his death, which occurred in 1885. The death of his wife took place in 1870. In politics he was a Republican. Seven children were born to them, namely : Reuben married Lucy Harriman and resides in Stewart, Idaho; John, deceased, married Camelia Dunham, who now resides north of Homer, Iowa; David, deceased, married Ab- bie Burnett, who lives in Oregon; William H., our subject, is the next of the family ; Teramiah married Margarette Jessup and re- sided in Webster county, Iowa, until their deaths ; Charles married Eliza Jane Steeley and makes bis home in Moniteau county, Missouri ; and Robert died at the age of three years. The Dutcher family is of Eng- lish extraction and its founder in this coun- try settled in New York. Various mem- bers of it became prominent, the grandfather of our subject being a well-known Methodist minister. William H. Dutcher attended school at the Pilot Grove church school in Moniteau county, Missouri; at Hopewell, Missouri; and also at Sand Hill in the same vicinity. At the age of seventeen he left schc* >\ and as bis opportunities in that direction were poor his education was necessarilv limited. The schools were conducted on the subscrip- tion plan and held only in winter, the pupils working on the various farms in summer. He remained at home until he was twenty- one, assisting his father upon the farm. On June 15, 1862, Mr. Dutcher enlisted in Company B, Forty-third Missouri State Guards, encamped at the state capital. He did guard and scout duty and remained in the service until December, 1804, when the regiment was disbanded. In the spring of 1805 be came to Iowa and located in \\ ebs- ter township, Webster county, where he worked at the trade of carpenter and farmed a little. Marrying that year, be removed to Homer, where he engaged in carpenter w< >rk remaining in that locality three years. He then came to Yell township and purchased eighty acres on section 22. which was only partially cultivated, and he has since added to his property until he now owns two hun- dred and fifty-eight acres, the greater part of which he has turned over to his sons, as be is now living a retired life. When he was actively engaged in farming lie raised a great deal of stock for the market, making THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 507 a specialty of hogs, and also raised suf- ficient grain to feed his stock. On December u. [865, Mr. Dutcherwas married, at Webster City, Iowa, to Sarah W. Pierce, who was born in Missouri Jan- uary 1, 1X41 1, a daughter of William and Permelia ( Eslick Alcorn) Pierce, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were married in Missouri and lived there until 1851, the father being engaged in farming. In 1851 the family removed to Iowa, settling in Webster town- ship, Webster county, where Mr. Pierce pur- chased seven hundred acres of wild land. There was a log cabin on this land, into which he moved his family. He was a most successful man, possessed great intellect and was the first judge of Webster county. In politics he was a Democrat and always took a deep interest in all that pertained to the advancement of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and during his latter days became a member of the United Brethren church. His death occurred on June 20. 1870, and his remains were interred in the Vigo cem- etery in Webster township. The Pierce family is of English extraction and was founded in America by two brothers, one of whom changed the spelling of the name to Pearce, while the other retained the original f< nn, and it is to the latter branch of the family that Mrs. Dutcher belongs. They were members of the William Perm colony of Quakers that settled in Philadelphia. The family has been well represented in all the wars of this country; Mrs. Dutcher's great-great-uncles, < ie< rge and James Pierce, having taken part in the Revolution- ary war while her father participated in the Black Hawk war and afterward received a land warrant for his services. Her grand- father, Thomas Goldsbury Pierce, bad a family of eight children. Airs. Dutcher's mother now resides with a son, R. (i. Pierce, in Homer. Iowa. By her first marriage she bad two children: Polly, who died in childhood; and Robert, who married Charity 1 1 ice and now lives in Oklahoma. He served through the (nil war as a member of Company D, Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and held the rank of first lieutenant. By her second union Mrs. Pierce bad nine children, namely: Frank M., who enlisted in Company K, Sixth Iowa Cavalry and died in the service: Thomas ( ',., who enlisted in Company D. Sixteenth Iowa Infantry and was killed at the battle of Atlanta. Georgia; Samuel, who died in infancy; Sarah W., the wife of our subject; Levina, who married Matthew Landreth and resides in Baker City, < )re- gon ; Alexander, who married Airs. Mary (Dingman) Hetzel and resides at Homer. Iowa; Martha Jane, who died when one year of age; John W., who died at the age of five years ; R. ( !., who married Mary Dutch- er and later Maud Fisher, and now lives at I [1 mer, b >wa. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dutcher, namely : ( 1 ) Thomas S., born September 6, [866, married Stella Ew- ing and resides in Yell township. They have four children : Ralph. Forest. Lester and Ernest. (2) Reuben W., born September 11, 18(18. married Minnie Bankston and re- sales in Yell township. The}- have six chil- dren : John W.. Floyd, Lillie. Roy. Frank M. and Pierce A. (3) Richard J., born April 9, 1871. married Hannah Odell and resid.es in Yell ti unship. They have three children: ('baric-. Thressa and William. 14) Nancy, born February 15. 1S74. mar- ried Sidney Culver, of Lehigh, Iowa, and 508 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. they have two children: Florence and Syl- vester. (5) Robert, born November 25, 1877, married Sarah J. Carpenter and lives in Yell township. (6) Sadie, born Febru- ary 14, 1884, is at home with her parents. (7) One child died in infancy. Mr. Dutcher is a Republican in politics, and has been honored by election to many of the township offices, always giving entire satisfaction in every position he has been called upon to fill. He is highly esteemed in the neighborhood where he and his fam- ily are so well-known ami his life of hard work is now crowned by years of ease in which to enjoy the comforts secured by former toil. THOMAS PETERSON. It is doubtful if any man in Webster county is deserving of greater credit for the success which he has made of life than is 'I hi imas Peterson, one of the prosperous and well-known farmers of section 9, Burnside township. A self-made man from all stand- points, lie was born in Sweden, January 8, 1845, a son "f Peter Olson and Chastie Swanson, who were born and passed their entire lives in that country, where the mother died in 1886 and the father in 1847. The latter was a farmer by occupation, and bought and sold grain, tar, barrels, pork and other commodities. When but two years old Thomas Peter- son lost his father by death, but he remained on the home place with bis mother until about seventeen years of age, when he went ti work in his brother's flouring mill and remained there until twenty-one years of age. He was educated in the district schools of Sweden, and early evinced habits of thrift and industry. After leaving the flouring mill he had charge of his mother's farm for about two years, and emigrated to America in 1809. In the heme family were the following children : Pete, whose wife is deceased and who lives in Minne- sota; Swan, who married Elizabeth Peter- ,-'ii and lives in Minnesota; Olof, who is married and lives in Sweden ; Peter, who died at the age of twertty-itwo years in America; Betsy, who is the wife of Olof Swenson and lives in Sweden ; and Siesi- elga, who married Xels Williams and lives in Galesburg, Illinois. After arriving in America Mr. Peter- sen went to Burlington, Iowa, where he worked at unloading railroad ties from cars, and was glad to get anything to do, for his available assets upon reaching New York consisted of two dollars in money and a large fund of energy. About a year after coming to the United States he left Gales- burg and took a steamboat at Quincy for Memphis. Tennessee, where he worked on the surrounding plantations. During this experience he lived with two others in a negro hut and did his own cooking, the only light he had coming through the door, for there were no windows in the cabin. After three months of hard labor the heavy rains descended and ruined the crops, and all that he received as compensation for services rendered was fifteen dollars. Mr. Peterson then came north to St. Louis and worked on the railroad for a week, but owing to a severe illness decided to return to Galesburg, Illinois, wdiere he v as ill lor three months. At Moline, Illi- nois, he afterward found work on the rail- road for a month, but cold weather setting io soon put an end to this source of revenue. With but twenty dollars in his pocket he hardly saw how he could face a cold winter, so he again went south to Memphis, and THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 509 on the way the boat was caught in a sand bank and delayed two clays. After the cap- tain had taken the passengers ashore Mr. Peterson walked fifteen miles and took a tram for twenty miles, finally .reaching Memphis. On boarding the boat again he was completely out of money and for the first and last time in his life was obliged to ask for a meal. He received some assist- ance from fellow Masons, however, and upon arriving in the city managed to secure employment at two dollars a day. Having tc work a great deal in the cold water while making trestles his companions were obliged to abandon the work, but he kept at it until the job was finished and received for his persistance six dollars a day. After this he went down the river and. into the w Is thirty miles from any habitation, where he made a big raft of logs, but when they were all piled up ready to float down the river the treasured possession of weeks of toil took tire and burned. This loss was most discouraging, but with a companion Mr. Peterson started out with an ax and sought a job at building, and before long found a man who wanted a house put up from timber yet to be cut and prepared, for which undertaking he was to receive one hundred and seventy dollars. The day be- fore the house was finished the landlord said he was going to Little Rock to draw the money for payment, but the workers never saw his face again. His wife made the matter right to the best of her ability, and gave Mr. Peterson a pony, saddle ami bridle, and to his companion a watch, re- volver and a few dollars. Mr. Peterson then went to work on a hay press in the neighborhood, hoping- that the man would materialize, but bis plans were well laid and all were out of their just deserts. After working on the hay press for ten days he contracted fewer and ague, and so took passage on a steamboat for the north, but was so ill that he did not care whether he went to the bottom or not. Ar- riving in Illinois he was ill for three months, after which he went to work at husking corn, and during the winter husked five thousand bushels. He then rented one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Illinois with his brother, Swan, and farmed for two years, but did not raise enough the first year to pay the rent of the farm. The second year they ditched, hauled corn and engaged in divers occupations, and were therefore aide to meet their expenses, but had nothing left over. In March, 1872, Mr. Peterson went to I'd' t Mound, Boone county, Iowa, and bioke prairie for a year, after which he rented land for a year, and the following year again broke prairie. After purchasing forty acres of land with the proceeds of this lab >r, he engaged in farming in Boone county, and the next year bought another forty acres, this being followed two years later by the purchase of eighty acres, and three years later added eighty acres more. In. 1880 he sold a quarter section of land for twenty-eight dollars per acre, and 1 ought the two hundred acres in Burnside township, Webster county, upon which he now lives, and which is all in one body. At a later day he sold the balance of the J !i 11 me county land. On December 24, 1870. Mr. Peterson married .Miss Louise Johnson, who was born in Sweden, and whose parents never left their native land. In her father's fam- ily, besides herself, were two brothers and one sister, namely: Charley, a resident of Minnesota; Oscar, a farmer of Pilot Mound t< wniship, Boone county, Iowa: and Augusta, deceased wife of John \Y. War- 5io THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ner. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have seven children: Florence, now the wife of Olof Peterson, who lives near her father's farm ; Minnie, Mildred, Alice. Edna, Vina and Constance, all at home. Much of his success in life Mr. Peter- son attributes to the influence of a good and noble wife, who willingly shared his reverses and added cheer to discourage- ment. From an association which was at hist characterized by the greatest frugality, they have advanced to a position where they have all that they want in the world, be- sides the esteem of the whole community. Mr. Peterson rents out a portion of his farm, but still lives on it. He is interested in the First National Bank at Lehigh, and derives a considerable income from the breeding and sale of hue stock. A Re- publican in national politics, he has never been an office seeker, and is liberal to the extent of invariably voting for the best man. With his wife and children he is a member of the Swedish Evangelical Lu- theran church. OLIVER WOOD. Oliver Wood, the well-known postmaster of Tara and also the proprietor of the Em- pire Hotel of that place, is an important fac- tor in business circles, and is thoroughly in- terested in whatever tends ti i promote the welfare of his t<>wn or c< unity. He was born May i, 1844, in Oneida county, Xew York, which was also the birthplace of his parents, Zepheniah and Betsey (Manchester) Wood, their ancestors being among the 1 'blest fam- ilies of the county. There the paternal grandfather, Zepheniah Wood, Sr., followed farming' throughout his life and lived to a good old age. His maternal grandfather, George Manchester, was one of the prom- inent men of the county and served as justice of' the peace for some years. He was also well advanced in years at the time of his death. The father of our subject was a life- long resident of his native county, and was widely and favorably known as an upright honorable man. By occupation he was a farmer. In his family were eight children who reached man and womanhood, and five are still living, namely: George, Stephen, Oliver, Sarah and Amos. In the county of his nativity, Oliver Wood grew to manh 1. and was educated in its public school> and the Rome Academy. He also worked in a Rochester. Xew York, printing house for one year. Coming to Webster county, Iowa, in 1865, he secured a position with the Northwestern Stage Com- pany, and was with them until the Illinois Central Railroad was built. He started in the capacity of second barn boss and from that position he worked his way up until at the time of his resignation he was route agent fur the company at Fort Dodge. For ;. short time he was with the same company in Arkansas, and on his return to Webster county leased and operated a coal mine near ( )tho for two years. He then turned his at- tention tn farming, having purchased land in Johnson township, and engaged in its cul- tivation and improvement until his removal to Tara in June, 1882. His house was the first one built in the village, and during his residence here he has been engaged in the grain and grocer}- business, while at present he is also conducting the Empire Hotel and serving as postmaster. He erected and owns the only brick block in Tara and in ad- dition own- considerable real estate, includ- ing his own residence, a liven* stable and one tenement house. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 5i3 As a companion on life's journey Mr. Wood ch« >se Miss Mary J. Mellor. a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and they were united in marriage January 1, 1873. The children born to them were Mary E., Newton A. ; Xellie B. ; Ralph M. ; Oliver C. , deceased ; Walter A. : Sarah B. ; John F. D. ; and Mabel E., deceased. The Republican party finds in Mr. Wood a stanch supporter of its principles, and he lias most creditably filled the offices of school director, road supervisor and justice of the peace, besides serving as postmaster of Tara since President Cleveland's first administra- tion. He is one of the charter members and treasurer of the Brotherhood of American Ye imanrv. No. 232. He is a man of excel- lent business and executive ability, whose sound judgment, unflagging enterprise and capable management have brought him a well-merited success. In manner he is pleas- ant and cordial, which, combined with his sterling worth, makes him one of the popular citizens of his community. S. W. HERRINGTON. One of the most prominent and substan- tial citizens of Yell township, Webster coun- ty, is S. W. Herrington, who is a native of Iowa, born in Tama, on the 7th of June, 1856. His father, John Herrington, was born in Ohio, and was there united in mar- riage with Mrs. Elizabeth ( Rickord) Hall, also a native of that state. About 1855 they removed to Tama, Iowa, where he embarked in the sawmill business, prospering greatly in that undertaking he became the owner of a half section of land in this locality in addi- tion to other large tracts. He is now a resi- lient of Boone, Iowa, where he is living a life of comfortable retirement. In his political sympathies he is a Democrat, and has al- ways supported the Methodist church. His wife passed away June 7, 1884, and was buried in Otho township, Webster county. She was the devoted mother of eleven chil- dren, two of whom were by a former mar- riage, these being R. Jane, deceased wife of William Lepley, of Hardin county, Iowa; and Elizabeth, deceased wife of White Barnes, of Cody, Nebraska. The children of the second marriage were as follows: Angeline, wife id" Wilson Stump, of Tama, Iowa; Lucinda, wife of John Guthrie, whose farm adjoins that of our subject; S. W., of this review; A. L., who first married Aman- da Brooks and second Nettie Melenger, and resides in Webster county; Mattie, wife of Levi Humphrey, of Minnesota; and four who died in childhood. The educational advantages afforded our subject were limited to a short period in Tama and Hardin counties, as he left school at the early age of twelve years in order to assist his father in the sawmill. One vear later he went on the farm, but the benl of his mind was in the direction of machinery and he studied engineering, becoming skilled enough to run a stationary engine, which he managed for three and one-half years in Hardin county, and for >ix months was an engineer for the Iowa Central rail- road. In 1876 Mr. Herrington came to Web- ster county and for one year was engaged in running an engine in a sawmill, which he later bought and still owns. In 1895 he erected the new mill which is thirty-two feet by sixty-seven -in dimensions with annexes and is run by a thirty-horse p< vver engine and a forty-horse power boiler. Mr. Her- rington thoroughly understands this busi- ness, and mo h; - arranged a system oi water 5'4 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. w urks which not only supplies the plant, but also through pipes is conducted to his hams, residence and dairy. The plans are all his own and he displays real mechanical genius in such matters. In 1878 Mr. Herrington was married in Lehigh, Iowa, to Anna Nelson, who was born in 1862, a daughter of Anthony and Christina Nelson, both natives of Denmark. In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Nelson came to Web- ster City, Iowa, and later removed to Le- high, where he was engaged in the railroad business, dying there in 1880. His widow now resides at Thornton, Iowa. Mrs. Her- rington was the eldest in a family of six children, the survivors being : Myers, win > married Ida Irish, and resides in Lehigh; Peter, who married Lizzie McAnaly. and lives in Webster City; Nettie, who resides in Webster county; and Christina, who mar- ried William McAnaly, and lives in Lehigh. Mrs. Herrington died February 7, 1890, and her remains were interred in Otho cem- etery. On January 21, 1891, at Toledo, Iowa, Mr. Herrington was married to Elizabeth Nash, who was born in West Meath, Ire- land. June 29, 1869. Her parents. William and Maria (Hall) Nash, were natives of the same county, and on their emigration to America, in 1886, settled in Tama, Iowa, where her father bought forty acres of land, tn which he has since added. He is now one of the substantial residents of his locality, a prominent member of the Methodist church, and an active supporter of the Republican party. In his family of six children, Mrs. Herrington is the third in order of birth, the others being Elizabeth . who died in infancy; Anna, who married George Armstrong, and lives in Washington township, this county; Hattie. who married Chestlev Dixon, of Tama county; William, who lives with his parents; and a babe, which died in infancy. By our subject's first marriage were born three children : William, born August 3, 1880; Harry, Sq>t ember 16, 18S2; and Car- rie, on Christmas eve, 1889. The two chil- dren of the second marriage were : Ray- mond S., who was born May 29, 1894, and died December 14, 1894; and Elmer Har- old, born April 18, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Herrington occupy a large and most comfortable home, and in 1891 he erected his commodious barn, one of the best in this locality. He owns two hundred and twenty acres of fertile land in Webster and Yell townships, and his wife has one hun- dred and forty acres on section 25, Webster township. He and his wife are among the leading stockholders of the Lehigh Valley Savings Bank. Mr. Herrington calls him- self a Democrat, but he is independent enough to use his own excellent judgment, and votes for the man he feels assured will represent the best interests of this section. Public-spirited and progressive, he is one of the representative men of Webster county. With his estimable wife, he is a member of the United Brethren church, of which he is a most liberal supporter. JOHN L. HAXXON. While Mr. Hannon is himself a native of England, born in Manchester, July 3, 1N43, he is of Irish parentage and descent. His parents, Patrick and Ellen (Reynolds) Hannon, were natives of Dublin, where they were reared and married, but later for some time the father was employed as master of horse on a nobleman's estate in THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 515 England. In the hope that America might offer them advantages greater than those of Great Britain, they decided to seek a home in the new world, and in 1845 crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel that consumed seven weeks in the voyage. Landing in New York, they proceeded west to Wiscon- sin, and settled on a farm, later buying land in Lake county, Illinois, where the father died in December, 1854. Accompanying her children, the mother came to Webster county. Iowa, where she died January 15, 1887. Four of her children were born in England and two in America. The oldest, Charles, enlisted in Company K, Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry, and remained at the front until he was killed in the battle of Balls Bluff, Georgia. James, who enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, was drowned near Cairo while in the ser- vice. Robert, who married Mrs. Katherine Barnes, and had four children, died, in Washington township, Webster county, August 10, 1900. Andrew, who lives at Duncombe. Iowa, married Mary Hannon, and has one child. Nicholas, a farmer of Washington township, Webster county, married Kate Fitzgerald, and has two chil- dren, Leo and Roy. In this family John L. was third in or- der of birth. When the family came to America he was less than three years of age, hence his earliest recollections are of the United States, and he knows no other home than this. His schooling was secured in Bristol, Wisconsin, and Lake county, Illinois, but after he was fourteen he left school in order to give his whole time to farm work. On August 14, 1861. at Chi- cago, Illinois, be enlisted in Company F, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, which was mustered into service there and ordered to St. Louis, thence up the river to St. Joseph. next to Springfield, Missouri, and was then through the entire siege of Vicksburg under General Grant. A later order sent the regi- ment to New < Means and from there on the Red river expedition, across the gulf to Texas and up to Brownsville. On the ex- piration of the term of service. Air. Hannon was honorably discharged at Chicago, Aug- ust 17, 1864, and returned to the homestead in Lake county. The first marriage of Mr. Hannon took place in Genoa, Wisconsin, in January, 1865, and united him with Mary Ann Lam- bert, who was born in Xew York in 1843. a daughter of Patrick and Ann Lambert, na- tives respectively of Ireland and Newfound- land. Her parents were married in New York state, lint later settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the father died in 1850. Subsequent to In. death his widow came to Iowa and died in Ringgold county in 1892. They were the parents of nine children, named as follows: Joseph P.. of Union county. Iowa: William, who married Alary Hart and lives in Ringgold county, this state; Kate, wife of William Beecher. of Kenosha county, Wisconsin; Alary Ann, Airs. Hannon: James, of Montana; John, of Ringgold county, Iowa; Airs. Ellen McGov- ern. of Chicago. Illinois; Rose, who mar- ried John Shay and lives in Ringgold coun- ty, Iowa; and Alargaret. a twin sister of Rose, who is married and lives in Ringgold county. Airs. Mary Ann Hannon died in 1875- In Chicago, [llinois, January 29. 1879, Air. Hannon married Airs. Bridget (Du- gan ) Finn, who was born in Xew York, October 26, 1849.' Her parents. Patrick and Julia (Madden) Dugan, were natives ol County Limerick. Ireland, where they were reared and married. In 1846 Air. Dugan came to America and a year later Si6 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. his wife joined him. They settled in New York, where lie followed the milling busi- ness. A subsequent temporary location was in Indiana, another in Illinois, and finally they removed to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Mr. Dugan died, in April, 1873, and his wife December 14, 1889. They were the parents of six children, namely : Walter, who died in Ireland at the age of eighteen months; Mary, who is unmarried and lives in Kenosha county, Wisconsin; Bridget, Mrs. Hannon : Anna, who is unmarried and lives at Lake Forest, Illinois; John, who died, unmarried, at thirty-nine years of age; and Michael, also unmarried, now living in Kenosha county, Wisconsin. By his first marriage Mr. Hannon had the following named children: William, born December 12. 1865. is now engaged in the insurance business at Cherokee, Iowa; Robert, born November 13, 1867, is a farm- er near Cherokee; Ellen, born July 24, 1869, lives In Chicago; Mary, born April 14, 1871. is the wife of Emmett Warren, of Webster Citv. Iowa; and John D., born December 20, 1873. completes the family. The chil- dren born of Mr. Hannon' s second marriage are named as follows: Francis, born April 14, 1880; Rose A., who was born August 6, 1882, and is now a teacher in the public schools of Webster county; Laura, born December iS, 18S4: Agnes D., September 21. 1888; and Emmett T.. December 15, [891. By her former marriage Mrs. Han- non has one son, John T. Finn, who is single and makes his home with his mother and stepfather. The family are connected with the Roman Catholic church. The farm which they own and occupy is situated on section 29. Washington township. Webster county, and comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which has been accumulated through the persistent industry and wise management of Mr. Hannon, rec- ognized as one of the most enterprising farmers of his locality. He is a Democrat in political belief and on that ticket has been elected director of the schools of his district. HENRY GIRDEY. The end of the praiseworthy career of Henry Girdey, which occurred March 10, 1900, removed one of the well known men of this section of the county, and one of the best farmers of Dayton township. The acci- dent of birth alone prevented Mr. Girdey from being an American in every sense of the word, for when but seven years of age he left his native land of Norway, where he was born in 1842, and with an older brother set sail for the quaintly interesting town of Quebec, Canada. A short time after land- ing he removed to Wisconsin and labored at various occupations until a demand for his services was created by the Civil war, and in [865 he enlisted in Company B, Forty-Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, under Captain Dens- more and General Fallows. The depriva- tions and exposure to which he was subjected while in the service resulted in severe rheu- matism and neuralgia, and he was there- fore unfitted for active work, so did guard duty at St. Louis and Raleigh, Missouri. With the return of peace. Mr. Girdey again lived in Wisconsin and worked out by the day and month, but finally came to> Dayton township. Webster county. Iowa, where he succeeded beyond his expectations, and not only accumulated a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, but became an important element in the administration of town affairs. His original purchase was a quarter section, but as his interests increased Jp^t ^*»K w #0 wL. M; HENRY GIRDEY THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 5>9 more land was needed, and the result was thai he left his children and wife well pro- vided for. He had three brothers and one sister: Sherman, Knute, Paul and Julia. In his young manhcx d Mr. Girdey mar- ried Hannah Larson, who was born in Swe- den. April 1 J. 1837. and whose parents lived and died in their native land. Besides her- self there were two sons and three daughters in the family: Perry, born in [826, is mar- ried and resides in Sweden; Anna, born in 1833, now deceased; Elsie, born in 1841, lives in Denmark; Andrew, born in Swe- den in 1835. is a farmer two miles west of J >a\ t< m, L >wa. Mrs. < iirdey came to Amer- ica in [864, upon a sailing vessel which left Malma, Sweden, and she landed in Quebec after six weeks and two days. On the way from Quebec to Montreal she sustained severe injuries and a broken arm owing to a railroad wreck caused by an open railroad bridge. This catastrophy was the means 1 E causing death of more than one hundred peo- ple, besides injuring many others. At the time of the accident a boat was passing through the open bridge, and the train, in speeding on its way, plunged down upon the boat with terrific force. As the result of her injuries, Airs. Girdey was confined in a Montreal hospital for a couple of month,, the expense of her treatment being met by the railroad company. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Girdey were born five children, namely : ( 1 ) Ella May is now the wife of Adah Leonard, who lives one and a half miles northwest of Dayton, and they have three children : Frank. Nellie and Arab. 1 2) Sherman Andrew, horn August 31, 1869, married Bertha lies and lives on r. portion of the old homestead. (3) Emma Belle, born November 21, 1871, married George Khmer and has two children. Fern and Iva, 14 1 Charles Henry, born April 4, 1874, lives with his mother and operates the 1 Jd homestead. 1 5 1 Julia I [annah, horn November 21, 1N70, is also at home. Mrs. Girdey is now an invalid, having suffered 1 stroke of paralysis which extends over her whole side and makes walking a greal effort. Air. Girdey was a public-spirited man and a stanch Republican, although he made no effort to secure official recognition. He was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, among whom he had many warm friends, and among whom his associal of a most genial and pleasant nature. GEORGE A. DODGE. George A. Dodge, a skillful farmer re- siding on section 23. Roland township, Webster county. Iowa, was born on the 8th of March, 1855. in Sullivan county. New York, his parents being L. H. and Julia Ann (Lawrence) Dodge, also natives 1 f the Empire state. There his paternal grand- father, Augustus Dodge, was also horn, the family being early settlers of New York and of English descent. The father of our sub- ject was born in 1827, and spent his early life as a farmer in Sullivan county. On craning to Iowa in 1873 he first located in Jasper count}', where he made his home until 1881, and then bought a farm in Greene county, which he operated for a few years, but is now living a retired life in Payti n. a hale and hearty old man of seventy-four. In the county of hi- nativity (in rge A. Dodge was reared and educated, being given good school privileges and completing his education at an academy. Following Hor- ace Greeley's advice he came west in 1X74 and settled in Allamakee county, Iowa, 520 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. where he was employed in a lumber yard for nearly three years. At the end of that time he removed to Jasper county and was engaged in farming with his father for two years. While there Mr. Dodge was married, February n, 1880. to Miss Sophia Smith, who was also born, reared and educated in Sullivan county. Xew York, her father, Shipman G. Smith, being a life-long resi- dent of that county and a farmer by occupa- tion. By this union there were born three children, namely: Clara, who was educat- ed at Tobin College, Fort Dodge, and has successfully engaged in teaching school in this county for nearly three years: Bertha, who is now a student in the home school; and Ray, who died April 15, 1901, in his twelfth year, and was laid to rest in the Gowrie cemetery. After his marriage Mr. Dodge removed to Marshal] county and rented a farm in Timber Creek township. After raising two crops he came to Webster county, in 1882, and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Roland township, where he has since made his home. lie erected thereon a small house, which he has since remodeled and enlarged; has built fences and outbuild- ings ; has set out fruit and shade trees ; and has tilled and broken the land, placing it under a high state of cultivation. He has also added to the farm and now has one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land. He raises a good grade of stock, and in this branch of his business is also meet- ing with success. At the time of his mar- riage he was in limited circumstances, but being industrious and enterprising he has steadily overcome the obstacles in his path, and with the assistance of his estimable wife has succeeded in gaining a home and comfortable competence. On attaining his majority Mr. Dodge became identified with the Democracy and cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J Tilden in 1876, but believing the principles of the Republican party best calculated to advance the interests of the people he now supports that great political organization. For six years he was a member of the school board, and did much to> promote the educa- tional interests in his community. He and his family are members of the Congrega- tional church at Gowrie. In 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Dodge attended the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, and also visited their old home and friends in Sullivan county, Xew York, spending about a month among the old familiar scenes of their youth. FRED EDWARD PAYNE. As a scientific farmer and cattle raiser Mr. Payne is known throughout Webster county, and especially in the latter capacity has a reputation second to none. He was born in Amboy. Lee county. Illinois, Sep- tember 26, 1857, a son of C. H. and Sarah ( Reede) Payne, who were born in Ver- mont and married in Galesburg, Illinois. During his youth Mr. Payne had but limited educational advantages, his train- ing being confined to three terms in the country schools, two winters at Fort Dodge, and two winter terms at Lehigh. The early necessity for contributing towards the fam- ily maintenance caused him to seek employ- ment at an early age of the surrounding agriculturists until nineteen years of age, and what schooling came his way was in return for services rendered on different farms. At the age of twenty long dormant ambitions took definite shape, and in order THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. to satisfy a craving to enlarge bis sphere nf action he went to Chicago and learned the trade of a machinist. ( >n September 31. 1880. Mr. Payne mar- ried Lillie Hart, daughter of G. D. Id art. After about ten years of suffering she was released by death September 30, 1898. She was a woman etf must exalted charac- ter, and her patience while an invalid and her beautiful devotion to her family was an inspiration to all with whom she came in contact. She was a Christian in the tru- est sense of the word, and her passing away left a void in the hearts of all who had known and loved her. She was the mother if two children, Calla, born September 6, 1881, and George, born May 16, 1887. On January 10, 1899, Mr. Payne mar- ried Emma Johnson, who bad been a mem- ber of his family for several years, and who had faithfully cared for his invalid wife for six vears before her death : She was born in Kalo September 4, 1880. After his first marriage Mr. Payne re- turned with his wife to Chicago and worked for George P. Bent, the sewing machine manufacturer. In return for services ren- dered he received eighteen dollars a week, and lived with Mr. and Mrs. Bent, who charged nothing for house rent, fire or gas, Owing to the failure of bis wife's health he thought it better to live in the country, and therefore settled in Otbo> township, this county, and engaged in the breeding of thoroughbred cattle and hogs. He is the owner of eighty acres of land, and his home was formerly the parsonage of the Congre- gational^ church. In 1881 be began to raise short horn cattle and finally had nine- teen head, and in 1889 bought a red polled bull and has since also raised that breed of cattle. A complete record is kept of the pedigree of every animal calved, and this is quite an undertaking when it is known that he has sold over one hundred heifers and one hundred hulls. The red pi lied hull COSt three hundred and fifty dollars. Mr. Payne is known as one of the most successful cattle breeders in the county, and his industry and attention to his favorite occupatimi have brought in their train sub- stantial remuneratii >n. A Republican in politics, Mr. Payne is a stanch upholder nf the principles and is- sues of Ins party, hut has never desired pub- lic office and its attendant distractions ami responsibilities, lie is a member nf the Congregational church, while his wife is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. CHARLES H. REYNOLDS. Charles H. Reynolds, who is now so efficiently serving as county surveyor of Websier county, and city engineer at Fort Dodge, is a native of Iowa, born near Man- chester, Delaware count}', December 3, 1874, and was only two or three years old when the family came to Webster county. His father, A. J. Reynolds, who served as street commissioner of Fort Dodge for a time, died in this city, August 11, 1898. His widow still makes her home here. They were the parents of three children, one son and two daughters. Charles H. Reynolds was educated a1 the Fort Dodge high school, and after leav- ing that institution became assistant city en- gineer in June, 1893. in which capacity he served until April, 1899, when he was ap- pointed city engineer and has since filled that position in a most creditable and satis- factory manner, this being bis third term. In the summer of 1898 when the county 522 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. surveyor moved away, Mr. Reynolds was appointed to fill out the unexpired term, and in November, 1899, was elected to that office and is now serving his third term as county surveyor to the satisfaction of all concerned. In this connection he does con- siderable work in the line of constructing' sewers, building bridges, and grading and paving streets, and is meeting with well de- served success in his undertaking's. On the nth of October, 1898. Mr. Rey- nolds was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Beresford, ami to them has been born one child, Miriam Margaret. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and takes quite an active and influential part in local politics. ROBERT HANNAN. The late Robert Hannan, of Washing- ton township, Webster county, was burn in England, January 15, 1850, and came to the United States in early childhood, subse- quently attending school in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, and Lake county, Illinois. In company with bis mother be came to Web- ster county and, after his brother Nicholas left home, be took charge of the farm. His marriage, in Eagle Grove, Iowa, September 24, 1890, united him with Mrs. Katberine (Ryan) Barnes, who was bora in County Tipperary, Ireland, February 16, 1853, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Ryan. Her father was a native of County Limerick, as were also his parents. Matthew and Mary (Dwyer) Ryan. A member of a family de- sirous of giving their children the highest advantages, be was sent to Dublin College, where be remained until graduating. Later he became an employe of the English govern- ment. He died in Ireland June 6, 1865, when forty-seven years of age. His wife was a daughter of Martin and Katberine (O'Shannessy) Ryan, both of whom were buried at the Rock of Cashel, one of the nn >st 111 >ted burying grounds in Ireland. An uncle of Mrs. Katberine Ryan was bishop of the Catholic church in the county of Clare, Ireland. After the death of John Ryan, his widow brought the children to America, landing in Quebec, July 7, 1865, and thence proceeding to Evansville, Indiana. Soon, however, she made another move, this time settling in Iowa City, Iowa- In February, 1868, she was married to J. E Ft wers, and they now make their home in Duncombe, Iowa. By her first marriage thirteen children were born, namely: Matthew, who married Bridget H. Callahan, but is now deceased: Martin, who died, unmarried, at the age of fifty years : Mary, who married Patrick But- ler, of Webster county. Iowa, but both are now deceased; Michael, of Hailey, Idaho; James, who lives in Denver, Colorado' ; Katb- erine, the twin sister of James, and his wid- ow of our subject: John, who is unmarried and makes his home in British Columbia; Hugh, also unmarried, and a resident of Denver, G loradd; Lizzie, who died in in- fancy; Frank, who married Anna Gearren and lives in Wallace. Idaho; Jeremiah, who has never married, and now makes his home with bis sister, Mrs. Hannan; Bridget J., Mrs. John Maloney, of Denver, Colorado: and Morris, who died at three years of age. While in Ireland Miss Katberine Ryan attended a Young Ladies' Seminary in County Tipperary. At the age of twelve years she came to America with the other members of the family, and remained at home until her marriage, August 6, 1871, at Fort Dodge, Iowa, to John Barnes. Like THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 525 herself, Air. Barnes was of Irish birth and descent. He was born in County Kilkenny, in July. 1848, a son of Walter and Man- Barnes, natives of the same county. The mother died in Ireland, and later the father came to America, where he engaged in farm pursuits. Concerning his death nothing is definitely known except that he mysteriously disappeared and it was supposed that he was killed in Buffalo, New York. In his family there were six children, those besides John being as follows: Alary. Mrs. Paul Ryan, formerly of Buffalo, New York, now de- ceased: Martin, who married and settled in Pottawattamie county. Iowa: Richard, who was twenty-two years of age at the time of his death: Michael, who died in Buffalo, New York; and Anastasia. Airs. Thomas Malone, who died in Buffali ►, New Y< nrk. Throughout his active life John Barnes followed farm pursuits, continuing in the same until he died, January 29, 1874. In politics he was a Democrat and in religii >n a member of the Roman Catholic church. The only son of his marriage was Walter Barnes, who was born at Border Plains, Iowa, May 18, 1872, and died December 9, 1876. For many years after the death of her husband Mrs. Barnes remained a widow, but in 1890 she was again married, this time to the subject of our sketch, pour children were born of their union, namely : Ellen, born August 27, 1891 ; John, May [8, [893; Elizabeth, March 7, 1895; and James, Sep- tember 11, 1896. Among the various local offices held by Air. Hannan were those of township clerk, assessor, road commissioner and member of the school board, in all of which he rendered efficient and painstaking ser- vice. As township trustee he was placed in intimate connection with I ship affairs. Throughout his life he was steadfasl in his allegiance to the Demi party. In religii a Roman I olic and for years acted as a trustee of the church at Lehigh. One especially note- worthy feature of his character was his aver- sion to debt. It was a matter of pridi him that he 1 wed m < man. In all of his busi- ness transactions he was upright, winning and retaining the confidence of those who had dealings with him. He died August to, 1900, mourned by a host of warm personal friends. Since his death Airs. Hannan has undertaken the management of the home- stead farm on section 29, Washington town- ship, and the excellent condition of the prop- erty indicates her capability as a business woman. The estate comprises one hundred and forty acres, bearing good improvements, including a neat residence, which is the home of Mrs. Hannan and her children. AUGUSTUS JOHNSON. No foreign element has bec< me a more important part in our American citizenship than that furnished by Sweden. The emi- grants from that land have brought with them to the new world the stability, prise and perseverance characteristii their people, and have fused these qualities with the progres and indomitable spirit of the west. Mr. J< hnson v. hy representath 1 ass. IP was born in Sweden, April 29, [838, 1 of John and ( 'arrie Johnson, who la-ought tli. to America in and I hicago, but the father was 111 >t 1' «g permit ■ h mie, rival. His v survived him. died ::t the sp 526 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Reared in his native land until fifteen years of age, our subject acquired his edu- cation in the schools of that country, and Ins knowledge of the English language was self-acquired after coming to the new world. He accompanied the family on their emi- gration, and made his home in Chicago for several years, being there during the great fire which swept over that city in the fall of 187.1. He was in the one-hundred-day service during the Civil war, enlisting June 2, 1862, in the Sixty-seventh Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, but was never sent out of the citv. his command being assigned to garrison duty, guarding prisoners. In Sep- tember, 1862, he was honorably discharged. On the 26th of March, 1873, in Chica- go, Mr. Johnson married Miss Matilda Carlson, who was also born and reared in Sweden, and they became the parents of six children, namely: Charles W., Robert A., Hilburn E., Anna and Minda. all born i:i Greene county. Iowa; and Oscar, burn on the present homestead in Webster county. Coming to Iowa in 1S73, Mr. Johnson first located in Greene county, where the year previously he had purchased eighty acres of land, only a small part of which had been broken and a small house erected thereon. To the further improvement and cultivation of that farm he devoted his en- ergies until 1886, when he sold the place and removed to Webster county, buying one hundred and sixty acres in Gowrie town- ship, where he made his home until his death. January 29, 1902, after an illness of only seventeen days. This he converted into a well improved and highly cultivated tract, and successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising thereon. From time to time he bought more land until he had four hundred and fortv acres, but later gave three of his sons eightv acres each, as well as a team of horses, and they are now engaged in farming on their own account. Mr. Johnson commenced life without cap- ital, and the success that he achieved was due to his unremitting labor, perseverance and good management. He became one of the substantial men of his community, as well as one of its honored and highly re- spected citizens. At national elections Mr. Johnson sup- ported the Republican party, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, but at local elections, where no issue was involved, be voted for the men whom he believed best qualified fur office, regardless of partv lines. He served two years as a member of the school board in Greene county, and three years in this county, hav- ing ever been a stanch friend of our public school system. J. E. COXKLIX. The Coriklin family, well known in Webster county. Iowa, originated many years ago in Germany. A worthy and sub- stantial member is J. E. Conklin, one of the prominent and successful farmer citi- zens of Yell township. Since the age of eighteen years this state has been his home, although he was born in Allegany county, Maryland, on January n, 1850. His par- ents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Herstine) Conklin, were natives of Pennsylvania, where they lived until the death of the mother, in 1852. The second marriage of Daniel Conklin was to Nancy Scott, a na- tive of Virginia, and in 1854 they removed to Indiana, and in 1868, to Warren county. Iowa, locating near Des Moines. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 527 Among the first of the loyal citizens to respond to the country's call for help in 1861 was Daniel Conklin, who enlisted from Putnam county. Indiana. September 10, 1 86 1, and was mustered in at Lafayette, Indiana. September 18, as chief musician of the Tenth Regiment. Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Third Brigade. Third Division, of the Fourteenth Army Corps, in the Army of the Cumber- land. He participated in all of the engage- ments of his regiment up to the time of his honorable discharge by order the war de- partment, order "No. 126, March 3, 1863. In 1880 Mr. Conklin removed with his family to Webster county and located in Yell township, where his wife died in 1886. In 1891 he married Mrs. E. J. Allen, who now resides in Burnside township. The children of the first marriage numbered two, namely : Margaret, deceased wife of A. J. Little, who is connected with a pub- lishing house of Chicago; and J. E., of this sketch. The children of the second mar- riage were: Flora, deceased wife of Z. T. Hargis. who resided five miles south of Des Moines: John R., who married Angie Comley and resides in Sac City. Iowa : and a child who died in infancy. The early life and school days of our subject were passed in Greencastle, Indiana. He was eighteen years of age when the family removed to Iowa, and he attended school until he was twenty-one years of age, in Des Moines, during the winter sessions, passing the summers in work on the farm. With his father and brother he assisted in operating a large farm and continued there until his marriage. His father, who died in 1896, gave him a quarter section of land in Yell township, and following in the foot- steps of that father, and adopting his methods, he has likewise been successful. Later, by purchase, he became the owner of eighty acres of the Conklin estate, which i- o,n section 32, and now owns two hun- dred and fort}' acres in section 30, in Yell t< w nship, where he not only carries on practical farming, but raises some of the best high-grade stock ever put on the mar- ket in this township. Mr. Conklin owns an ideal country home, his barns, granaries, orchards and general surroundings indicating the pros- perity and good management which pre- vails. In public affairs he has taken an active part and has been honored by his fellow citizens with almost all of the local offices. His adherence to the Republican party has been life-long. On PJecember 22, 1880, Mr. Conklin was united in marriage to Mary Chapman, who was born in Warren county, Illinois. May 30, [858, and is a daughter of Daniel and Hannah (H'ilburn) Chapman, the former a native of Indiana, the latter of South Carolina. They came to Iowa in 1869, and Mr. Chapman took up a river claim, near Dayton, remaining upon it until his death. August 21. 1883. His burial was at Dayton, Iowa. He was a man who had many friends, was a stanch Republi- can and a consistent member of the Meth- ( dist church. His widow survived until May I'). [898. She was the mother of six children : Rebecca, deceased wife of B. W. Paine, of Elmwood, Nebraska: Rhoda C, who is the wife of O. W. Dingman, of Mesa, G lorado; R. L, who married Susie Winslow, and resides in Winterset. Iowa: I W., who married Laura Mead, and re- sides in Winterset; Mary, now Mrs. Conk- lin: and Elizabeth, wife of Alexander En- nis, 1 if Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Conklin a family of nine children has been born, namely: Dan- 523 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ie! Ray, who was born October 21, 1881, and died September 25, 1893; Maggie E., born July 17, 1883; Joseph W., born June 14, 1885; Annie, who was born July 12, [887, and died in infancy; William Ernest, bom July 19, 1888; Charles H., born July 13, [890; Mary Edna, who was born No- vember 19, 1892. and died October 31, 1803: Dorothea May, born February 23, 1895; Emma Pearl, born September 11, [897; and Ida Aurel. born November 5, 1901. NICHOLAS HANNON. Kenosha county, Wisconsin, is Mr. Hanm ni's native place, and August 26, 1855, the 'date of his birth. When quite small his father, Patrick Hannon, moved to Lake county, Illinois, where his education was secured. However, his advantages were limited, as from the age of twelve years he practically made his own way in the world; and, although he afterward stud- ied some during the winter months, yet his attention was principally given to farm work. At the age of eighteen years he took charge of the homestead, in the management of which he continued for si me years. In Corpus Christi church at Fort Dodge, Iowa, November 24, 1884, Father Kelly performed the ceremony which united in marriage Nicholas Hannon and Kate Fitz- gerald, the latter a native of Nenia, Ohio, born August 10, 1865. Her father, John Fitzgerald, was born in County Kerry. Ire- land, in 1815, and at the age of about twenty years came to America, settling in Nenia, Ohio. There he met and married Bridget Collins, who was born in County Kerry, in 1829, and crossed the ocean when eighteen years old. After marriage they settled near Clyde, Sandusky county, Ohio, and re- mained in that locality for fifteen years. Their residence in Iowa dated from Sep- tember 1, 1876, when they arrived in Web- ster county. Immediately afterward he bought forty acres in Washington township and to the improvement of this property he gave his attention, continuing there until he died, September 19, 1885. Since his death the widow has continued to reside on the old homestead. Both were reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic church and always remained true to its teachings. They were the parents of three daughters, Jennie. Mary and Kate. After his marriage Nicholas Hannon settled on a rented farm, leaving his brother, Robert, to take care of the homestead. Two years later he bought one hundred and thirty-eight acres near Border Plains, on sections 29, 30 and 31, Washington town- ship. Since coming here he has erected a modern and comfortable residence and has also put up substantial buildings for the shelter of stock or the storage of grain and machinery. Much of his attention is given to the raising of stock for the market, in which he is meeting with a gratifying de- gree of success. On the Democratic ticket he has been elected to various township ' offices. Both he and his wife are identified with St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church. They are the parents of two sons: Leo James, born October 28, 1887; and Roy Nicholas, March 17, 1892. H. O. BALDWIN. H. O. Baldwin, one of the most popular and successful photographers of Fort Dodge, was born in this city on the 8th of March. 1872. a son of Henry H. and THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 529 Emma (Stephenson) Baldwin. The father is a native of New Jersey, but when young removed to Ohio with his parents, his fa- ther spending - his remaining' days in G 1- lumbus, that state. In 18115 Henry H. Baldwin came to Fort Dodge, and having previously learned the printer's trade in Co- lumbus, he found employment in the office of the Fort Dodge Times, but is now in the mechanical department of The Mes- senger. In former years Mr. Baldwin was associated with the different papers of the city, but since 1893 has practically lived retired from the business. He served four years in the Union Army during the Civil war, valiantly fighting for the old flag and the cause it represented. His wife, who was horn in Strawtown, Indiana, died in Fort Dodge, August 18, 1899, when about fifty years of age. Unto them were horn four children, namely: Carrie, who died in 1886: H. O.. our subject; Richard, a mail carrier of Fort Dodge; and Dawn, who is her father's housekeeper. Reared in Fort Dodge, Mr. Baldwin of this review is indebted to the public schools of the city for his educational ad- vantages. At the age of fourteen he en- tered the employ of Garrison Brothers, pho- t' graphers, whose studio was in the Crosby block, over Rudesill's store, which has since been destroyed by fire. There he served a three years' apprenticeship to the photog- rapher's art, and then accepted a position i 1 a studio at Sioux City. Iowa, where he remained until 1894. Returning to Fort Dodge, he then entered the employ of F. A. Garrison, who owned the gallery now- occupied by Mr. Baldwin, and worked for him until 1898, when he purchased a half interest in the business and assumed the management. In March, 1900, he bought out his prrtner, and has since been alone in business, though he employs three assist- ants. A man of artistic tastes, his work possesses exceptional merit, and he receives a liberal share of the public patronage. His studio, which is well equipped with all modern appliances known to the art, is sit- uated on Central avenue opposite the county court house, and is thoroughly up-to-date in all its appointments. Mr. Baldwin was married in 1895 to Miss Byrd Utley, of Alden, Iowa. He is .1 prominent member of the Photographers' Association of Iowa, is the present vice- president of the same, and also belongs to the Masonic order and the Royal Arcanum. JAMES WELCH. A faithfulness and devotion to duty no less than untiring industry has placed Mr. Welch among the successful farmers of Burnside township. He was born in Illinois August 27, [826, a son of Thomas and Re- becca (Baldridge) Welch, natives respec- tively of Kentucky and North Carolina. His parents, who were fanning people, spent their last years in Fulton county, Illinois, a si range coincidence being the fact that both died on the same day. — March 15. 1847, — the father being eighty-seven years of age, while his wife had attained the age of sixty- three. Many interesting things in connection with his youth in the earl}- days of Illinois are recalled by Mr. Welch, his school train- ing especially being acquired under very primitive conditions. Ilis education was limited to three months' study, and the schoi 1 was held in a part of his father's old log cabin, where about ten pupils delved into the intricacies of fractions and gram- 53° THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. mar. The teacher used the time honored McGuffey's speller, and drew his moral teaching from the New Testament, the only portion of the Bible of which they had any knowledge. The serious and responsible side of life was presented to our subject at a very early age, for his father was dis- abled for some time before his death and the entire management and work on the farm devolved upon the youthful shoulders of his son. However, he proved equal to the emergency and provided for his parents as lung as they lived. The father was a preacher in the Christian church, and for many years combined the occupation of farming with that of ministering to the spiritual needs of his community. Shortly after his parents' death Mr. Welch was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Wheeler, the ceremony being per- formed May 20. 1847. Mrs. Welch was burn in Ohio, January 19, 1831, a daugh- ter of Henry and Eliza (Link) Wheeler, natives of Pennsylvania, and early resi- dents of Fulton county, Illinois. The fa- ther died in October. 1872, while the mother survived him until August 20, 1900. Of the children born to this couple three daugh- ters and two sons are now living, namely : Baldridge, a farmer of Yell township; Webster county, Iowa; Sarah, the wife of Charles Rowley, of Lehigh, Iowa ; James H., who married Polly Phipps and resides in Audubon county, Iowa; and Thomas, who married Margaret Bear and also lives in Audubon county. To Mr. and Mrs. Welch have been born eleven children, of whom seven are now liv- ing: William H., a farmer of Cowrie, mar- ried Mary Marshall ; Adam married Cath- erine Bybee and lives in Oklahoma ; John married Ellen Manchester and lives in Burnside township, this county ; Marion married Mary Manchester and lives in the same township; Mary Ellen, wife of Rich- ard Manchester, also of Burnside town- ship; Theodore, who married Amy Prindle and lives in Lehigh; and Alfred, who mar- ried Cleb Frey and resides in Oklahoma. After his marriage Mr. Welch lived on the home place until 1855, when he removed to another part of the county for a year, and then located in Grundy county, Mis- souri, where he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he farmed for four years. He then disposed of his Mis- souri land and went to Keokuk county, Iowa, where he bought eighty acres of land, upon which he fanned for ten years. This property was also eventually disposed of, after which Mr. Welch bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on section 23, Burnside township, Webster county, for which he paid twelve dollars per acre. He has been particularly fortun- ate in many ways, his harvests well nigh approaching expectations, and his stock bring in fair returns. He is a Republican in national politics, but has never been act- ive as an office seeker. For the long period of fifty-three years he has been an ardent worker and supporter of the Christian church. R. T. MORTIMER. One of the most active business men of Callender is R. T. Mortimer, who has been engaged in the grain and stock busi- ness at that place for the past twenty years. A native of Maryland, he was born within two miles of the city of Washington, No- vember 14, 1852, and belongs to a family of English origin, which was founded in Pennsylvania at an early period in the de- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 531 velopment of that state. His paternal grandfather, John Wesley Mortimer, was horn there, but the birth of his father, John Mortimer, occurred in Virginia, in 1823. The latter grew to manhood in the Old Do- minion, and for some years engaged in truck farming in Virginia and Maryland. In 1844 he was married in Maryland to Mrs. Caroline Frasier, who was also born in Virginia of Irish ancestry. Going to Ohio in the fall of i860, he spent the win- ter in Columbus, and in the spring located in Muskingum county, where he still con- tinues to reside. Since making his home in that state he has given his attention to fruit growing, making a specialty of peaches. His wife passed away June 20, 1899. R. T. Mortimer is one of a family of ten children, the others heing John Wesley, a farmer of Dallas county, Iowa ; William C, who died in Ohio at the age of thirty- three years ; Edwin, a farmer living near his father in Muskingum county, Ohio; George, also a farmer of that county ; Charles, who is at home with his father; Caroline, who married Mathew Crawford and died in Dallas county, Iowa ; Laura, wife of Frank Little, of that county; Mollie, wife of Charles Untied, of Muskingum county, Ohio; and Maggie, wife of Will- iam Untied, of the same count}-. During his boyhood and youth our sub- ject attended the common schools of Mus- kingum county, Ohio, and remained at home until reaching man's estate. In the fall of 1 87 1 he came to Iowa and located in Dallas county, where he engaged in farm- ing two years and in herding cattle three years. There Mr. Mortimer was married, in the fall of 1878, to Miss Anna Belle Bart- lett, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Philip Bartlett, who was one of the early settlers of Dallas county. By this union were horn four children, hut the only son, Othmer, died at the age of nineteen months. The daughters are Anna, Luella and Ruth Lucile. The oldest is now successful lv en- gaged in teaching music. After his marriage Mr. Mortimer pur- chased a farm near Perry, Dallas county, and engaged in its operation until 1881, when he sold the place and removed to Callender, where he has since made his home. He became , the first grain and stock dealer to. permanently locate here, and has actively engaged in that business ever since, shipping on an average of two hundred thousand bushels of grain annually and from one hundred and five to two hundred carloads of stock. When he took up his residence here the town contained only one store, a blacksmith shop and a few dwell- ings, and in its upbuilding and develop- ment he has borne a prominent part. He assisted in organizing the Farmers' Co- operative Store; helped to build two busi- ness houses, and has erected two good resi- dences. Mr. Mortimer is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his family were among the original mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Callender. which they assisted in establish- ing, hie has since been a member of its official board, serving as trustee during the entire time, a period of fifteen years, and as superintendent of the Sunday school. He has supported every presidential candi- date of the Republican party since casting his first vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He has taken cjuite an active and prominent part in local politics, filling the offices of secretary of the township and justice of the 532 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. peace for ten years. He was also a mem- ber of the school board several years, and does all in his power to advance the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his town and county. WILLIAM R. WEAVER. One of the most delightfully reminiscent of the early pioneers of Iowa is William R. Weaver, who suffered all of the deprivations and hardships connected with the supplant- ing of the Indian by the pale-face, and in tilling the soil hitherto pressed only by the fleet footed aborigines in their quest for game. He was born in Morris county, New Jersey, March 27, 1824. and his parents, who were also of American birth, have long since been gathered to their fathers. As may be imagined, education played but an inconse- quent part in his early years, for the duties on the parental farm were of large propor- tions, and there were many mouths to be fed from comparatively limited resources. Of the eight children of the family, he was the fourth in order of birth, the others being: John, the oldest, who died at the age of thir- teen; Benjamin, who died when twenty-four years old; Alfred, who married Cath- erine Teets and died in Washington, New Jersey, in 1896; Eliza, who married John Slack and is now deceased; Mary, who mar- ried Jacob Hartman and both are deceased; Sally, who married John Van Sickle and both are deceased ; and Azubah, who married Morris Terry and both are deceased. On January I, 1854, Mr. Weaver was united in marriage with Catherine Bell, a na- tive of Warren county, Xew Jersey, whose parents are deceased. She had the follow ing brothers and sisters : Lewis, of Warren county, is now deceased; Almond married Mary Shampnore and is deceased; Micajah is married and lives in Wisconsin ; Delilah married George Gook, and after his death married Asa Pellubet, of Sussex county, Xew Jersey ; Abner is deceased ; and Elias married Elizabeth Sutton and is now dead. The following children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Weaver: John F., born Oc- tober 5, 1854, married Julia Mumford and lives in Oklahoma with his wife and five chil- dren. Edgar, Edna, William, Harvev and Luella; and George and Augusta, twins, born October 9, 1859. George is unmarried and lives on the old farm, while Augusta married Alger Lewis and lives near Coop- ersti vvn, X< >rth Dakota. For a couple of years after his marriage Air. Weaver continued to live in Xew Ter- se}' and then came to Sioux Rapids, Iowa, in 1856, and entered a quarter section of land which he partially improved. He disposed of this land at a profit and came to live on a rented farm near Fort Dodge for five years. He then took up his present farm of one hun- dred acres of raw land to which he kept add- ing until he now has two hundred and twenty acres, a portion of which is heavilv timbered. Upon arriving in the township Air. Weaver found but five or six settlers al- ready located here and these were fifteen or eighteen miles apart. The red-skins on the Little Sioux were extremely active and en- tertained particular preference for the white man's provisions and cattle, and there were some lively and dangerous experiences en- countered while trying to protect edibles and cattle. At one time the Weaver cabin was robbed of all provisions and the owner there- of had three guns fired over his head. At one time after being raided by the Indians Air. Weaver was obliged to replenish his edi- bles at a distance of thirty miles and the THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 537 goods were hauled all the way home over the prairies on a hand sled. The surround- ing prairies were prolific of an abundance of buffalo, deer, wild turkey, elk and many kinds i it" smaller game, so that it was possible to subsist for long periods without the usual articles found in a well regulated larder. A nn >st interesting evening can be spent with Mr. Weaver while he recapitulates his many trials and dangers of the early days and one feels more than ever the world's debt to the pioneer, without whom the foundation of American civilization would had never been laid. A Democrat in politics Mr. Weaver held the offices of treasurer and recorder when Buena Vista county was first organized and has since served his township in various po- litical capacities. He is one of the most sub- stantial men who has ever assisted in the de- velopment of Webster county, his accom- plishment, his character and public services being alike unquestioned. ELIAS XELSOX. Elias Xelson, one of the representative Norwegians of Webster county, and a suc- cessful farmer living on section 11, Wash- ington township, was burn on the farm of his forefathers called "Weiestad," near Haugesund, Stavanger Amt county. Nor- way, April 12, 1846, and is a son of John Xelson Gord and Ranvae Karinea Elisdater Weiestad. also natives of Norway. The father, who was born in 1814. and was a farmer and fisherman in the land of his ancestors, came with his wife and children to America in 1857. reaching Quebec. Can- ada, the beginning of July. The little fam- ily set sail from Stavanger. Norway, and tlie voyage took three weeks to accomplish. Upon arriving upon American soil the seekers after a competence located in La Salle county, Illinois, and engaged in gen- eral farming. In the family were the fol- lowing sons and daughters: Margaret, who died at the age of twelve in Norway; Elias; Bertha H.. who married Hans Han- sen, of Clinton count}', Iowa, and now lives in Gilmore City with her husband and two children : X. Andrew, who married Mrs. Engborg and lives in Day county. South Dakota, with her three children, John. In- gal and Ragna; John, who died in the fall of 1873 at the age of twenty-one; Carrie, whi 1 married P. B. Anderson, has one child, Bertha Kathrine. and lives in Ida county; and Margaret, who died in infancy. Of the children born by the father's second marriage, Inger died in 1865 at the age of five years; Xels J., married Margaret Mad- lein Vendal Christenson, and lives with his wife and four children, Christ. Jessie, Em- ma and Xettie, in Duncombe. Iowa ; and Engle is a carpenter and is unmarried. Until his eighteenth year Elias Xelson worked on his father's farm, but February 2, 1865. he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the, army under General Thomas fi if a year. He was mustered out at Camp Irwin. Texas, and was discharged from the service at Springfield. Illinois, in September, 1865. In the meantime his parents had removed to Clinton county, Iowa, and with the re- turn of peace he naturally sought them out. Mr. Xelson then engaged as a farm hand until the time of his marriage at Earl- ville. Illinois, March 18, 1870. with Mar- tha Julia Peterson, win: was born in Nor- way, and had < ne child who died in in- fancy, while her death occurred in Decem- ber, 1870. On July 4, 1873. Mr. Xelson 538 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. married Martha B. Ostrus, who was born in Adams township, La Salle county, Illi- nois August 4, 1853, a daughter of Ole O. and Engborg (Iverson) Ostrus. Her father, who was born September 23, 1826, died June 5, 1900, but her mother, who was born October 3, 1829, is still living on a farm near Leland, Illinois. They were married December 27, 1846, and emigrated to America in 1849. After spending three months in Chicago, they took a boat for Ottawa, Illinois, and from there proceeded to the Fox river settlement. In Adams township, La Salle county. Mr. Ostrus pur- chased lard and improved a farm, making his home thereon until his death. The house erected by this industrious pioneer is still standing, though it has since been re- modeled, and is now occupied by his widow. He hauled the logs to mill to be sawed into lumber for the house, split the shingles for the roof, and built the structure himself. In the Ostrus household were the follow- ing children: O. J., bom September 15, 1847; ' ver ' ,)( >rn Ma y 3. 1850: Martha B., wife of our subject; Emma C. who was born August 24. 1854. and is now the wife of Edward Lindeback, of Ellsworth, Iowa; Ida J., who was born January 7, 1857, and is the wife of A. O. Satter, of Cylinder, Iowa; Josephine, who was burn May 13. 1859, and is the wife of Jacob Sawyer, of Leland, Illinois; Ella, who was born March 7. [861, and died in infancy; Isabella, who was born June 10, 1863, and married Michael Tuntland, of Leland, Illinois, where she died January 24, 1886; Lizzie, who was born March 31. 1868, and is the wife of Andrew Anderson, who lives near Leland; and Minnie, who was born Octo- ber 15, 1874, and died in March, 1886. Mr. Mid Mrs. Nelson became the par- ents of eight children, namelv : Clara May, who was born May 15, 1874, and is now the wife of H. O. Hansen, of Hamilton county, Iowa, by whom she has four chil- dren, Harold C, Myrtle P., Blanche E. and Omar Allerd; John, who was born May 2, 1876, and died in infancy; Oliver Elias, born December 1. 1877; Isabella Josephine, born December 3, 1881 ; Anna, born De- cember 1, 1883; Martha Belinda, born April 22, 1886; Minnie, born October 13, 1888; and Jesse Andrew, who was born May 30, 1892, and died January 25, 1893. Soon after his marriage Mr. Nelson re- moved to Iowa, and in the fall of 1873 lo- cated on section 19, Freedom township, Hamilton county, where he rented land for twelve years. He then purchased forty acres, which was later disposed of, and in 1879 he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Cass county, but never resided thereon. This property was also sold, and in 1883 Mr. Nelson bought his present farm of a quarter section, in Washington town- ship. Webster county, upon which he settled two years later. This property was raw and unpromising, but under the watchful care and diligence of the owner has been de- veloped into one of the fine farms of the ci untv. He has a good house, granaries and barns, and modern labor saving ma- chinery. Mr. Nelson is progressive and capable, and is respected by all who know him. W. W MANCHESTER. From a many sided standpoint Mr. Manchester has been an important factor in the development of Burnside township. He was born near Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. July 20, 1832, and is of English and Revolutionary ancestry, his parents being Richard and Sarah (Smith) Manchester. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 539 Richard Manchester was born in the city of his name in England, where he re- ceived a practical common-school educa- tion and served an apprenticeship as a ma- chinist and engineer. He subsequently worked at his trade in England, and con- tinued it in Pennsylvania, whither he re- moved from his native land when nineteen years of age. He was an expert maker of steam engines, and found it a practical source of remuneration until his removal to Ohio in 1836, when he bought timber land and settled down to general farming. That property he and our subject cleared and put under cultivation. In 1857 he came direct to Iowa and located on sec- tion 32. Dayton township, Webster county, the miles below Dayton, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and also one hundred and sixty acres opposite in Boone county, near Pilot Mound. There he lived until his death, in October, 1865. His wife, who died in 1869, cherished a just pride in the ancestry of her family, who were not only loyal followers of Wash- ington in his effort to lift the oppression of the colonists, but they suffered greatly from a property standpoint, owing to the rav- ages and depredations of war. Several of the Smith family also served in the war of 1812, and the records of the family show that one and all were loyal to their coun- try, and to the interests and obligations of private and public life. Mrs. Man- chester was the mother of six children, and of these but three survive. Powell G. mar- ried Sarah Warfield and lives near Shad- ron, Nebraska, while Milton D. married Emma Little and lives in the fruit region of Arkansas. The youth of W. V. Manchester was not unlike that of other farm-reared boys, and he continued to live amid the home surroundings until his marriage, February 23, 1854, with Martha J. Kindle, a native of Piqua, Ohio. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of the ten sons and daughters born to them but seven are now living: James, a resident of Texas; Will- iam, who died in Ohio ; David ; John E., of Ogle county, Illinois; Baxter; Alexander, of Ohio; and Samuel. Four sons and four daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Manchester, namely : Richard V. mar- ried Ellen Welch and lives in section 23. Burnside township; Walter S. married Minnie Rufer and lives on section 8, the same township; Elvira J., wife of John Welch, who lives on section 27; Bertha M., wife of E. M. Townsend, of Minnesota ; J. E., who married Otelia Carlstrom and was engaged in the hardware business in Burnside, Iowa, for a time, but is now liv- ing in the state of Washington ; Frank, who is still under the parental roof ; May, who is teaching in the home district ; and Jessie G., who is also at home. After his marriage Mr. Manchester op- erated the home farm in Ohio, and the sec- ond year rented another farm, upon which he lived until removing to Iowa in 1855. Here also he rented a farm for a year, and then worked in Greene county for a year. after which he moved to Webster county and purchased eighty acres, which he worked in connection with rented land. With the need of his services in demand by the exigencies of the Civil war, he left his farm to be operated by other hands, and January 5, [864, enlisted in Company D. Thirty-second Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Theodore De Tar, Colonel Scott and General A. J. Smith. He joined the company at Memphis. Tennessee, then moved up the Red river, and the first bat- tle in which he took part was the one which 54Q THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. led to the capture of Fort Derussy. This was followed by the battle of Pleasant Hill, in which Mr. Manchester did not engage owing to a severe illness. His next ex- perience was at Yellow Bayou, an all-day engagement, then Tupelo, Mississippi, after which the regiment crossed the state of 'Missouri and back in an effort to capture Price while on his raid. After this chase they returned to St. Louis and embarked for Nashville, and after driving Hood across the state to the Tennessee river, again embarked in boats for Eastport, Mis- sissippi, the winter quarters of the regiment. After a lest of a few weeks they again) set out as soon as boats could be secured for New Orleans. At that time Mr. Man- chester was in the commissary department, and upon arriving at Montgomery he was transferred to the Eighth Iowa Veterans, and did provost guard duty for several days. He was then honored with the po- sitinn of company commissary, which he held until he was mustered out of the service. After his discharge from the army, April 21, 1866, Mr. Manchester resumed farming, although his home coming was a sad one, for while doing his duty to his country the parents who, by precept and example, had endeared themselves to their children, had died, and the old order of things was no more. In 1873 he sold his farm and bought the one hundred and sixty acres upon which he now lives, and where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. After the war he learned to be a practical plasterer, and devoted some time to that trade. In connection with the enterprise which he has manifested in his home surround- ings Mr. Manchester has been prominentl) before the public as a promoter of general improvement, and has been particularly ac- tive in the affairs of the Republican party. Among the important responsibilities satis- factorily disposed of by him may be men- tioned that of justice of the peace, township clerk, school director and county super- visor, the last named office being assumed in 1893 for three years. At present he is president of the school board, and has been school treasurer since 1881. He is also chairman of the township Republican com- mittee. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank at Lehigh and in the cream- ery at Burnside. HENRY FALLON. A man of prominence in the history of Webster county, Iowa, and one whose life has been an example of energy and perse- verance, was Henry Fallon, who first opened his eyes to the light of day in Ireland, his birth having occurred in County Antrim on the 22d of July, 1833. His parents, Charles and Mary Ann Fallon, were also natives of the Emerald Isle, but left the fatherland for America in 1833, locating in Clinton county, New York, where they resided for a number of years engaged in farming. They then re- moved to Webster county, Iowa, in 1868, where the father spent the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife died at the age of fifty- five years. This worthy couple became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity and the following are still living: Samuel, a farmer of Douglas town- ship; Mrs. Elizabeth Casavan of Sac City. Iowa; Thomas J., of Chicago; Jerry M., of Clay county, Iowa; Maggie, of Sac City; and Mrs. Mary Dessinger, of Douglas town- ship. HENRY FALLON THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 543 Henry Fallon, whose name introduces this review, grew to manhood in the Em- pire state where he received his early educa- tion. His opportunities for a thorough sch » 'ling were limited hnt he made the most of his advantages and laid the foundation of his future career. In 1864 he removed to Webster county, Iowa, and after living upon a rented farm for two years, purchased a large tract of land in Douglas township, a portion of which is where his family now re- sides. It comprised four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land. The greater part of his life was spent in the care and cultivation of this land, which now stands as a monu- ment to his unceasing energy and persever- ance. From the highly cultivated fields and the rich pasture lands to the substantial res- idence and well filled barns, the master hand of the owner was plainly visible, for thrift and neatness, as well as energetic purpose, were strong elements in the nature of Mr. Fallon. He carried on general farming and engaged largely in cattle raising in which he met with signal success. At the time of his death Mr. Fallon was the owner of five hun- dred and twenty acres of land which he had acquired through years of indefatigable la- bor. During the Civil war Mr. Fallon took tip arms to aid in the preservation of the Union, enlisting in Company I, Twelfth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in 1865, and at the close of hostilities was honorably dis- charged, returning to the peaceful duties of his farm. 'While living in the state of Xew York Henry Fallon met and won fur his wife. Miss Margaret Dalton, a native of Ireland, who was born November 9. 1835, a daughter of James and Rose Dalton, both of whom passed away in the old country. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fallon were born nine children, as follows: Mrs. Julia Fryer, of Cummings, Iowa; Minnie, living at Fort Dodge, Iowa; Guilford, also at Fori Dodge; Mrs. Maggie Marsh, a resident of Carroll, Iowa; James, who resides in Fort Dodge; Mrs. Bell Wamsley, of Jersey City. Xew Jersey; Mrs. Alice Burns, a resident of Chicago, Illinois; David, living at Fort Dodge; and Thomas, who resides at home. Mrs. Fallon has also reared one grandchild, Harry Fryer, who is now living with her. Nineteen grandchil- dren and one great-grandchild are the de- scendants of this worthy couple, and throughout Wehster count}' the family is held in high regard. Mrs. Fallon, with three of her sons, is now living on the old homestead, which is one of the most attrac- tive farms in Webster county. In politics Mr. Fallon was an advocate of Democratic principles and actively supported the men and measures of his party. He held the office of road supervisor and also that of treasurer of the school board and always performed his duties with promptness and fi- delity. He was a consistent member of the Catholic church, and the members of his family are still identified with that religious organization. He also held membership in the Legion of Honor. After years of honor- able toil and unwavering fidelity to the prin- ciples which controlled his life and brought to him the success he so well merited, Mr. Fallon was called to his final rest, passing away at his residence in Douglas township January 21, 1901, after several years of suf- fering, as he never was in very good health after he returned from the arm)'. His wife, who had patiently labored at his side during the years of hardship and toil, and who- was always a faithful and loving companion, and his devoted children, are left to mourn his 1' iss, while the memory of his true worth and high integrity still lives in the hearts of the citizens of Webster county. In every walk 544 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. of life, whether that of business or society, he ever stood firmly by his convictions and upheld the principles in which he believed. As an early settler of Webster county he suffered many hardships and privations in- cident to the life on the plains in those early days. SILAS COREY. When the history of Webster county is fully written it will be found that the name of Silas Corey figures conspicuously on its pages, for through forty years he has con- tributed to the material development and improvement of this portion of the state. His memory forms a connecting link be- tween the pioneer past and the progressive present and his acts have been of that char- acter that, promoting individual success, have also contributed in large measure to public progress and prosperity. His strong- character, forceful personality and un- daunted enterprise have dominated many movements leading to substantial impn we- ment, and in the evening of life he may well rest from his labors, in the serene en- joyment of having wrought along the lines of general good. Mr. Corey is a native of Rush county, Indiana, his birth having occurred on the 23d of April, 1824, his parents being Rey- nolds and Elsie (Soules) Corey, both of whom were natives of Oneida county, New York, and representatives of old New Eng- land families. At an early day in the de- velopment of Indiana they removed to that state, the year of their emigration being about 1S1S. The father died in Indiana at the age of sixty-three years, and the mother passed away in Galena, Illinois, in 1844. In their family were thirteen children, but Mr. Corey is the only son living:. He has one sister living, Diana, who married Will- iam Pox and is now living at Blair, Ne- braska. All were reared, married and had families of their own. In the state of his nativity Mr. Corey siient the days of his boyhood and youth, pursuing his education after the primitive manner of the times in a frontier region, as he expressed it, "for three months a year on the flat side of a slab." Though his school privileges were limited he was anxious to advance mentally and would often walk two 1 r three miles to borrow a book. He eagerly read anything be could secure and throughout bis entire life has been a great reader, thus continually broadening his mind and adding to his knowledge. For three years he served an apprenticeship to the millwright's trade, which he followed to some exient in Indiana, but gave the greater part of his attention to carpentering. In 1844 Mr. Corey left the Hoosier state and went to Rockford, Illinois, where he engaged in contracting and building until 1848. At that time Rockford was consid- ered a far western town. In 1849 ne took up his abode in Galena. Illinois, and engaged in contracting and building in Jo Daviess county, working at his chosen vocation in that part of the state for sixteen years. It was in the fall of 1862 that he came to Iowa, locating at Fort Dodge. He engaged in farming on Holiday creek in Pleasant Val- ley township, where he secured a tract of land, of which only thirty acres were under cultivation. It was ninety miles straight north to the nearest neighbor and the wild condition of the country was manifest on every side, showing that Iowa was then a "far west" region. Mr. Corey also pur- chased and began the operation of a coal mine on Holiday creek — the first mine that was worked permanently in the county, Mr. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 545 ( orej continuing to take out the mineral until the supply was exhausted. Subse- quently he purchased coal lauds in Lehigh and at present owns the mines at that place operated by his son. He gave his personal supervision to the working of these mines until 1890 and success attended his efforts. His son has a dry -pressed brick plant there and the business at that point is carried on under the name of the Corey Coal and Dry Pressed Brick Company. In 1893 Mr. Corey began making investments in real estate at Fort Dodge. Pie built the resi- dence in which he is now living, and he has since purchased or erected thirteen brick houses and also owns several wooden dwell- ings, lie has also owned several farms in the county. His realty investments have been judiciously made and return to him a good income. On the 28th of September, 1843, Mr. Corey was united in marriage to Miss Louisa A. Bratt, in South Bend, Indiana. She was born in Canadaigua county. New York, and is descended from old Xew Eng- land families, who early took up their abode in Ontario county. Xew York. When she was about ten years of age her parents re- moved to Ohio, settling fourteen miles west of Cleveland. When she was fourteen years of age the family went to Indiana, and there the parents spent their remaining days, and when death claimed them they were laid to rest in South Bend, Indiana. Mrs. Corey was born December 4, 1820, and to her hus- band has been a faithful companion and help- mate 011 the journey of life. Eleven children were born to them: Silas \\'.. who is en- gaged in the coal business in Fort Dodge; Henry A., a merchant and miller of Lehigh; Kate, who married William II. Mc Anally, of Lehigh ; Elsie, the wife of C. E. Ewing, of Lehigh ; George W., of Pueblo, Colorado ; Ella, the wife of S. D. Connelly, of Le- high; Frank, a coal operator .at Lehigh; C. F., a druggist of Fort Dodge; Lillie, who died at the age of five years; Willie, at the age of eleven months; and Sarah Ann, who passed away when three years of age. Mr. Corey lia> always been deeply in- terested in politics and formerly took an active part in political work. In early life be endorsed the principles of the Whig party and was a stanch Abolitionist. When the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension, of slavery be joined its ranks and has since remained one of its stalwart supporters. His first presidential vote was cast for William Henry Harrison. In 1874 he served as a member of the Fif- teenth General Assembly of Iowa, and has filled a number of local offices. He was a member of the first Sons of Temperance society organized in Rockford and has ever adhered to the principles which he then espoused. He is a spiritualist in religious faith and through seven years has never missed a circle. Mr. Corey ranks among the most respected and honored citizens of V\ eb- ster county. He owes his success in life entirely to his own efforts, for he started upon bis business career without capital or assistance at the age of thirteen years. All that be possesses has been acquired through industry, perseverance and honorable busi- ness methods, and it is, therefore, meet that in his declining years he should enjoy a happy rest from labor. W. T. MARSH. William T. Marsh, whose finely im- proved farm in Burnside township displays many evidences of untiring industry and practical knowledge of farming and stock- 546 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. raising, was born in Webster county, Iowa, September 29, 1858, and has always lived in his native township. His perseverance was put to practically an early test, for the only education available was that dispensed at a little log school house four miles from the parental home, and this walk, under- taken in the cold of winter and all kinds of roads, seems almost incredible to the pres- ent-day youth of either the country or city. Until his twenty-first year he remained on the home farm and faithfully performed his share toward the management of the estate, after which he engaged for two years in the meat business in Kalo and Lehigh. On October 31. 1885. Air. Marsh mar- ried Miss Mamie Cram, who was born in Ogle county, Illinois, December 9, 18G6, and moved with her parents to Mahaska county. Iowa, January 15, 1867. In December, 1868, they came in a covered wagon to Web- ster county, where the parents at present re- side on section 9, Burnside township. Mrs. Marsh has two sisters, Mrs. Anna Heal, who has two children and lives on section 9, Burnside township ; and Mrs. Nettie Bow- ers, who lives in Otho township. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Marsh: Nellie, born May 31, 1888; and Grace, born November 2. 1S90. The original purchase of Mr. Marsh in Burnside township was two hundred and forty acres of land, but he has since sold eighty acres, leaving one hundred and sixty acres upon which he now lives. His farm is one of the finest in the township, and there are over twelve hundred rods of tiling for drainage, besides all modern improve- ments and labor-saving machinery. Mr. Marsh is engaged in raising cattle and hogs on a large scale, and ships his stock in car- load lots. He is one of the most energetic and progressive men in the township, and well abreast of the times on all matters per- taining to his chosen work and to current events in general. His interests are by no means limited to his farm, for he is one of the stockholders in the First National Bank of Lehigh, and may be counted on to fur- ther any progressive movement for the up- building of the community. A stanch Re- publican, he has been honored with numer- ous township offices, and has invariably discharged his obligations to liis party in a most satisfactory manner and with due re- gard for the best interests of his fellow t< iwnsrnen. He is a member of the Christian church, as is also his wife. DAVID M. DANIELS. Examples of great energy, strict integ- rity and financial success may be met with in every portion of Webster county. Notable among these is the life of the late David M. Daniels, who was long and honorably asso- ciated with the agricultural development of Washington township and occupied a valua- ble homestead on section 20. A man of de- cided ability he was generally conceded to rank among the first agriculturits of his dis- trict. Indicative of his success is the fact that although he started in life without means he accumulated a valuable property and at the time of his death owned nearly seven hundred acres of Webster county land. The founder of the Daniels family in Webster county was Abram Daniels, a man possessing all the sturdy traits of character which pioneer life render necessary. Con- cerning his record mention is elsewhere made. David M. Daniels, son of Abram Dan- iels, was born in Crawford county, Penn- sylvania, October 18, 1833, and in early life ||V m l<«R> '#" V ,M -4*. 1* ShDV • J DAVID M. DANIELS MRS. D. M. DANIELS THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 5Si settled in Illinois. A few years after his marriage he removed to Iowa and was after- ward identified with the agricultural devel- opment of Webster county. While living in Illinois he married Sarah Clark, who was born in Tioga county. Xew York. May i. [837, a daughter of Joel and Betsey (Hill) Clark, natives respectively of Xew York and Xew Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were married in Xew Y< irk and remained there until 1842, he meantime farming, also working in the timber and rafting lumber down the rivers. During 1842 they settled ir Bureau county. Illinois, where they re- mained eleven or more years, in the mean- time cultivating their farm. Coming still further west they settled in Webster town- ship, Webster county. Iowa, in 185,4, and here the mother died in June. 1859. Re- moving to Homer. Iowa, in 1865,'Mr. Clark remained there for a time and then estab- lished his home in Burnside, Webster county, where he died in March. 1888. Two years after the death of his first wife he married Lovina Meade. When the Civil war began the sympa- thies of Joel Clark were at once aroused in behalf of the Union. He was opposed to slavery and to the establishment of the Con- federacv. On January 25, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, and soon went to the front, but on account of illness was honorably discharged and re- turned home in 1863. Throughout all his active life he voted with the Republicans. Al» ut 1859 he served as deputy sheriff of AYebster county and at different times he held all of the township offices. Fur years before his death he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in its faith he passed from earth in March. 1888. Since then his widow has removed to Xebraska. To the marriage of Joel Clark and Bet- sey Hill seven children were born, namely: Mary Jane, Mrs. John Crumby. of Grundy county: Sarah. Mrs. Daniels; Euretta. wife of Harvey Brooks, of Boone county. Iowa; Eugenia. ( t\\ in sifter of Euretta ). who mar- ried T. McNealy and lives in Duncombe, Iowa: Hannah. Mrs. William Gardner, of Fayette county, this state; Trypossie, Mrs. Samuel Scoville, of Border Plains: and El- tha, wife of Emory Ford, a resident of Dun- combe. By his marriage to Lovina Meade, Joel Clark had five children, namely : Willis, who died in Boone county, Iowa: Carrie, who died unmarried at Burnside, Iowa: Boyd, of Ames, this state: Effie, who died in childhood; and Cora, who married John Nuby and lives in Arkansas. The founder of die Clark family in America came from England, while through his maternal ances- tors Joel Clark traced his lineage to Germany and also to Scotch-Irish stock. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The mother of Mrs. Daniels made her In une in Illinois during the stirring events connected with the war of 181 2. Of the children born to the union of David M. Daniels and Sarah Clark three died in infancy. The oldest -on. Lawrence, who was born in Illinois June 21, 1853. died November 3. [895; hi- first wife was Belle Ellis, and after her death he married Hattie Gaff, by whom he had four children, and who is now living in Saugache, Colorado. The second son. Joel, was horn in Iowa Jan- uary 28, 1835. and married Elizabeth Blanchard. by whom he has three children, Robert. Grace and D. M. He makes his home in Washington township. The oldesl daughter. Stella, was born in Webster county March 13. 1838. and became the wife of Wilson Sorber. They and their five children live at Salem. Oregon. The fourth member of the family circle was Emmet, born in 552 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Webster county July 15, i860, and now re- sides near Gilmore City, Pocahontas county, this state ; he married Ida Hayes and has six children. Cynthia, bom July 22, 1865, mar- ried John Porter, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and has five children. Betsy, born September 28, 1867, married Delbert Daniels, of Dixon county, Iowa, and they have four children, David, born September 23, 1869, and now- living in Washington township, married I\lar_\- Isham. by whom he has four children. Edgar, born September 16, 1S71, married Minnie Flowers and they and their three chil- dren live in Washington township. Frank, born June 15, 1873. * s a fanner of Washing- ton township; he and his wife, formerly Es- ther Hollis, have four children. Hartley, born September 17, 1878, married Xellie Crouse and they and their child reside in Washington township. Earl, who is the youngest of the large family, was born Jan- uary 17, 1882, and makes his home with his mother on the old homestead in Washington township. DAXIEL HILL. Among the sturdy, energetic and suc- cessful farmers of Roland township who th' iroughly understand their chosen vocation and are consequently enabled to carry on their calling with profit to themselves, is the subject of this sketch, whose home is on sec- tion 7. He was born in Durham township, Oxford county, Canada, April 7, 1844, a son of C. G. Hill, who was born in Vermont in 1805, and was only five years old when taken into Canada by his father, William Hill, also a native of the Green Mountain state. The family were among the early settlers of the county of Oxford, where they and their relatives formed a large Vermont settlement. Our subject's grandfather opened up a farm near Ingersoll, and there C. G. Hill grew to manhood. In early life he was employed on public works, and later engaged in farming in Xew York state. While there he met and married Miss Mary Rowley, who was born in Xew Hampshire, but was reared in Chautauqua county, Xew Y< irk. They made their home in Oxford, Canada, where Mr. Hill purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his active busi- ness life. He died there in 1898, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-three years. In the county of his nativity Daniel Hill passed his boyhood and youth, and was given a good common-school education, which has been of much practical benefit to him in later years. Coining to- the United States in 1865, he spent the first winter in Wisconsin, and then removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, arriving here in the spring of 1866. For several years he worked at anything which he could find to do in that vicinity, but at length rented land and turned his at- tention to farming. In 1884 he purchased a tract of wild prairie land in Roland town- ship, which he began to break and improve the following year, and in 1886 he took up his residence thereon. He has since en- gaged in its operation and now has a well- improved and highly cultivated farm of sev- enty-four acres. In 1867, in Webster county, Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Casterline, a native of Decatur county, Iowa. Her father, B. M. V. Casterline, came from Xew Yi >rk to Iowa in pioneer days and first located in Decatur county, where he opened up a farm, but in 1856 removed to Webster county. Mr. and Mrs. Hill had eight chil- dren : C. G, who is now engaged in the livery business in Polk county, Xebraska; THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 553 Mary, wife of V. C. Head, of Farnham- ville, Iowa; B. M. V., who is engaged in the livery business with his brother in Polk county, Nebraska ; Frederick, a resident of Farnhamville, Iowa ; Elizabeth R., wife of C. A. Hughart, of Webster county; Frank F.. a resident of Osceola county, Iowa; Esther, \\h<< became the wife of Frank Arm- strong, if Fort Dodge, but is now deceased, passing away January 12, 1902; and Har- riet, who is now attending Tobin College, Fort Dodge, and resides at home. Mr. Hill was formerly identified with the Republican party and cast his first presi- dential 'oa Hot for General U. S. Grant, but 11. w votes the Prohibition ticket, being a strong temperance man. He has efficiently served as a member of the school board but. has never cared for political office. In re- ligious faith he is a Cougregationalist, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and as earnest, consistent Christians they take an active part in all church work. Mr. Hill being one of the ofh- cers of his church and one of its organizers. He has made many warm friends during the thirty-five years of his residence in this community, and is held in high regard by- all who know him. WILLI AM B. CRAXDALL. William B. Crandall, a well-known re- tired farmer of Callender, Iowa, has demon- strated the true meaning of the word suc- cess as the full accomplishment of an hon- orable purpose. Energy, close application, perseverance and good management — these were the elements which entered into his business career and crowned his efforts with prosperity. Mr. Crandall was born in Madison coun- ty, Xew York, December 2, 1832, a son of James and. Dorcas (Witter) Crandall, both natives of Rhode Island, his ancestors being early settlers of that state and of English origin. His paternal grandfather was James Crandall, Sr., and his maternal Sam- uel Witter, one of the pioneers of Madison county, Xew York. When a voting man the father 1 f our subject took up his residence in that county, and there he was married and continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life, his time and energies being devoted to farming. He died in 1832, and his wife, who long survived him, reared their family, consisting of three sons, of whom our subject is the youngest. Samuel, the oldest, is now a resident of Evanston, Webster county. Iowa. Noyes F. laid down his life in defense of his country during the war of the Rebellion, He was a member of a Yew York cavalry regiment, and was killed in the Shenandoah valley. Reared in his native county, William B. Crandall acquired his education in its com- mon schools, but his advantages along that line were rather meager. There he was mar- ried on the 7th of March, 1853, the ho 1 \ 1 1 his choice being Miss Lucina Porter, a na- tive of Oneida county, Xew York, though they became acquainted in Madison county, where she was then living. Her father, San- ford Porter, was also a native of the Empire state. Up to the time of the Civil war Mr. Crandall was engaged in farming in Madi- son county, Xew York, but, feeling that his country needed his services, he laid aside all personal interests and in 1862 enlisted for nine months in Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Xew York Volunteer In- fantry, as a private. His regiment was or- dered south to Louisiana and assigned to 554 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. General Bank's army. Mr. Crandall was mostly engaged in picket duty along the railroads. During a skirmish at Brashear City he was taken prisoner, but was soon afterward paroled and sent to the Union lines. He spent some time on Ship Island as a par 'led prisoner, and then rejoined his regiment at Bonnet Carre, Louisiana, where he remained until the expiration of his term of enlistment and then returned to Xew York, being honorably discharged from the service in November, 1863. In the following March Mr. Crandall and his family removed from their old home in Madison county, Xew York, to Webster county. Iowa, where his wife's parents -had previously located. For one year he rented land and engaged in farming near Border Plains, and then purchased eighty acres of prairie land and forty acres along the river, this being the first property he ever owned. He soon a inverted the wild tracts into well- tilled fields, and erected thereon good and substantial buildings. After operating that farm for about six years, Mr. Crandall was appointed overseer of the poor farm, and ac- ceptably filled that position for some years. in the meantime selling his own farm. Sub- sequently he bought a tract of land in Cal- houn county, consisting of two hundred and thirty-four acres, on which he located in the spring of 1884. Later he was engaged in the hotel business in Lehigh for a year, but at the end of that time he resumed farming, and continued to carry on his farm until March, 1901, when he sold the place and bought residence property in Callender, where he now makes his home, having laid aside all business cares. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crandall only three are now living, namely : Henry Dwight, a farmer of Web- ster county, is married and has three daugh- ters, Dora L., Daisy and Lyle. William Ar- thur makes his home in St. Joseph, Mis- souri. Albert L. is a farmer of Calhoun county, Iowa. Of the deceased. Charles Lewis died at the age of six years ; Edward E. at the age of three years ; John Alfred at lour weeks; and one unnamed died in in- fancy. Mr. Crandall cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan in 1856, but four years later supported Abraham Lincoln for the same office, and has since affiliated with the Republican party, taking quite an active and influential part in local politics. For three years he was a prominent member of the county board of supervisors, and previ- ously filled the office of township trustee. He was also an efficient member of the school board several years, and his official duties were always most faithfully and satis- factorily performed. He and his wife were reared in the Seventh Day Baptist church, but are not now connected with any church organization. They receive and merit the respect and esteem of all who know them, and have a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances who appreciate their sterling worth and many excellencies of character. MRS. ELLA WOODARD. That agricultural knowledge is by no means monopolized by men is demonstrated by the superior management of Mrs. Ella Woodard, whose well-equipped farm on sec- tion 4, Burnside township, is worthy the enterprise and well-directed energy of the owner. A native of Vermont, she was born May 27, 1845, an d is of American parent- age. Her father died in Iowa in 1887, while the mother lived until 1895. In the family THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 555 besides Mrs. Woodard, who was formerly Ella Irish, were two sons and five daughters, namely: Mrs. Homer Benson, of Jasper county. Iowa; Mrs. M. C. Holversen, of Forest City, Iowa; George B., of Wesley, Iowa, who married Sadie Weeks; Harry, also a resident of Forest City, who married Alice Price; Mrs. Arthur White, who died at Wesley in 1S98; Callie. the wife of Gifford Rogers, of Jasper county, Iowa; and Cora, the wife of Jacob Faircloth, of Jasper county. Mrs. Woodard was educated in the pub- lic schools and reared on her father's farm. On June 10, 1862, she married John Wood- ard. who was born August 5, 1821, in Maine, of American parentage and agri- cultural ancestors. Mr. Woodard had seven sisters and one brother, namely : Mrs. Sarah Ames, who died in Minnesota ; Mrs. Elvira Whiting, who died in Illinois; Mrs. Jane Weston, who died in Maine; Mrs. Lucinda Florida, who died in Illinois; Miss Olive Woodard, who lives in Illinois; Mrs. Lydia Slate, who died in Minnesota ; Mrs. Mary George, who died in Minnesota; and Mrs. Catherine Florida, now living in Minnesota. The life of Mr. Woodard was an active and interesting one, and his ambitious na- ture led him into various fields of activity. He was essentially a roamer, and his nature was attuned to the adventurous side of ex- istence. In his youth he worked among the pineries and became a carpenter, and in 185 1 went to California, hoping much from the glowing accounts of readily-gotten gold which penetrated the limitations of his iso- lated northern home. For twelve years he tempted fortune with pick and ax, with fairly successful results, after which he re- turned to Minnesota, whither he had pre- viously removed with his parents, and mar- ried. After settling- in Rockford he worked at the carpenter trade and was also a mill- wright, and came from there to Iowa in the spring of 1870. In 1869 he purchased the farm upon which his widow now lives, but after locating on the farm he returned to the fascinations of mining in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He was a member of the company which was developing the mines, and he continued to trust in their output and to give his time to the best interests of the company for three or four years, when he wisely disposed of his shares and returned to his farm in Iowa, where his death oc- curred November 6, 1888. He was one of the first of the California miners to adopt the method of hydraulic mining, and his company built a bridge over the Yuba river which is still standing. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodard were born four children: Bell Van Winkle, of Dayton, Iowa; Fern Lun- dien, of Dayton ; Beatrice Smith, of Ouincy, Michigan; and Olive J., living on the home farm. Mrs. Woodard has a large responsibility and engaged in large enterprises on her farm of two hundred and fourteen acres. The property is well improved, and the thrift and enterprise of the manager is every- where apparent. Mrs. Woodard is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contributes generously towards its support, as well as towards general philanthropic un- dertakings of her vicinity. MARTIN STEGNER. This well-known and successful vet- erinary surgeon of Fort Dodge was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, November 11, 1828, and is a son of David Stegner, who, to- o-ether with his five sons, was also a vet- 556 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. erinary surgeon. Our subject acquired his literary education in the public schools of Wurtemberg and also attended a veterinary school. At the age of twenty-one he en- tered the German army and served as a sharpshooter for five years. In 1854 Mr. Stegner sailed for the new world in company with a brother, who died while at sea. On landing in this country our subject proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent ten years as a veterinary sur- geon, and then removed to Miami county, Indiana, where he made his home until com- ing to Fort Dodge in 1869, but after spend- ing one summer here he returned to Indi- ana, and did not locate permanently in this city until 1875. Here he has since followed his chosen profession with marked success, and is considered one of the best veterinary surgeons of the count)', sixty years of his life having been devoted to practice. Mr. Stegner was married, February 1, 1859. to Miss Margaret Yoars, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 18, 1841. of German parentage. Her father, George Yoars, was a farmer by occupation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stegner have been born the following children : Frederick, born May 27, i860, is a resident of Mason City, Iowa; George, born January 26, 1863, died March 27, 1887; Julia E., born September 10, 1865, Mary A., born December 8, 1867, and Mollie, born January 30, 1871, are all three employed in a candy factory and re- side at home ; Flora E., born February 20, 1874. is the wife of H. O. Schaeft'er, a bar- ber of Fort Dodge; Grace, born September 3, 1877, died August 28, 1878; and Frank, born May 2, 1880, died July 28, 1881. The two older buys were born in Ohio and the girls were born in Indiana. The family hold membership in Corpus Christi church, and Mr. Sterner is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is widely and favorably known throughout his adopted county, and has man}- warm friends in and around Fort Dodsre. FREDERICK A. KRUCKMAN. The subject of this sketch operates a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Cooper township and is recognized as one of the most skillful and thorough agricul- turists of his community. He was born in Wisconsin March 22, 1863, and is a son of F. W. and Eva (Bennaman) Kruckman, na- tives of Germany and Canada, respectively. Coming to Iowa in 1871 they settled in the northeastern part of Webster county, where the father successfully engaged in farming for some years, but is now living a retired life in Fort Dodge. He and his wife have ten children, all of whom are now living, namely : Mar}-. John, Charles, Clara, Fred- erick A., George, Lucy, Herbert, Daniel and Arthur. Frederick A. Kruckman was only eight years old when he came with his family to Iowa and grew to manhood in Webster county, his education being acquired in the Fort Dodge schools. Early in life he be- came thoroughly familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and throughout his business life he has success- fully engaged in general farming and stock raising. On the 1st of March, 1901, he came into possession of the Strow farm, comprising one hundred and eighty acres, and its neat and thrifty appearance plainly indicates the careful supervision of the owner. In addition to this he operates his father's farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He raises corn, wheat, oats and bar- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 557 ley, and annually feeds about one hundred head of cattle, making a specialty of short- horns, and from fifty to seventy-five head of Poland China hogs. In 1S92 Mr. Kruckman married Miss Josephine Wesley, a native of Washington county, Iowa, who died May II, 1901, at the age of nine years. She left two children, Floyd J. and Celia P. In politics Mr. Kruck- man is an ardent Republican and in relied' ms faith is a German Lutheran. He is one of the leading farmers of his community and is highly respected by all who known him. WILLIAM L. MITCHELL. William L. Mitchell is one of Webster county's native sons and a representative of one of her old highly respected families, whose identification with her history dates from an early period in the development of the county. He was born March 3, 1863, on the old homestead on section 19, Badger township, where he now resides. Patrick Mitchell, the father of our sub- ject, was a native of Ireland and was a young man when he came to the United States. After spending a few years in the south he located in La Salle county, Illinois, where he followed farming for some years, and there was united in marriage with Miss Ann Kennedy. In 1856 he removed to Webster county, Iowa, and settled on the farm where our subject now resides, having visited this county the fall previous and en- tered one hundred and sixty acres of govern- ment land. His first home here was a little log house, in which he lived while opening up his farm, but it has long since been re- placed by a more commodious modern resi- dence. He extended the boundaries of his farm until they contained two hundred acres and transformed the wild land into well- tilled fields, which were made to yield abund- ant harvests in return for the care and lal un- expended upon them. He continued to de- vote his time and energies to the cultivation and improvement of his farm until 1890, when he removed to Fort Dodge and spent the remainder of his life in ease and quiet. There he died in the fall of 1897, honored and respected by all who knew him. His \vid< >\v now makes her home with a daughter in Estherville, Iowa. Amid rural scenes William L. Mitchell passed the days of his boyhood and youth, aiding in the labors of the fields and pursuing his studies in the home schools. On the re- tirement of his father he took charge of the home farm and has since successfully en- gaged in its operation. In connection with general farming he carries on stock rais- ing quite extensively, keeping a high grade of stock, and in both undertakings he has prospered. On' the 25th of November. 1889. Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Casey, who was also born, reared and educated in this county, and successfully en- gaged in teaching school prior to her mar- riage. She is a daughter of James Casey, another of the early settlers of Webster county. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have six children, namely : Florence, John, Willis, Helen, Harold and Monica. Formerly Mr. Mitchell was a Democrat in politics and cast his first presidential bal- lot for Grover Cleveland, but is now inde- pendent in politics, and usually votes the Re- publican ticket, favoring expansion and sound money. Reared in the Catholic faith he and his wife attend that church at Fort Dodge, and are among the most highly re- spected and honored citizens of their com- munity. 55S THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. REV. E. ZUERRER. Rev. E. Zuerrer, the beloved pastor of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, was born in Switzerland May 5, 185 2, and is a son of H. and Eliza ( Schmid) Zuerrer, who spent their entire lives in that country. He has one brother and two sisters, who are still residents of Switzerland. His father was a judge. Mr. Zuerrer spent his boyhood and youth in the beautiful land of the Alps and attended the Zurich University, from which he was graduated in 1870. In June of the follow- ing year he came to America and first located in Olmsted county, Minnesota, where he taught school until 1877, when he entered the theological seminary at Springfield, Illi- nois, and graduated from that institution in June, 1880. Being ordained as a minister of the Ger- man Evangelical Lutheran church he took charge of the congregation at Paulina, Iowa. in August, 1880, and remained there until November, 1892, when he was called to St. Paul's church in Fort Dodge, of which he has since been pastor. This church was or- ganized in 1862 and is now in a flourishing condition. During the pastorate of Mr. Zuerrer the membership has been increased from six hundred to nine hundred, and he has greatly improved the church property, building a parsonage in 1893 and a parochial school on Third avenue, south, two years later. The church is located on the corner of Thirteenth and Fourth avenue, south. Mr. Zuerrer was married in 1881 to Miss Eliza Fienup, of Springfield, Illinois, a daughter of Mathias Fienup, a farmer by oc- cupation. They now have three children : Eliza, born in 1882; Ernest, in 1884; and Walter, in 1890. All have attended the par- ochial schools and are still at home with their parents. Ernest now holds a position in the Commercial Bank, of Fort Dodge. Mr. Zuerrer is a zealous, active and effi- cient worker for the church and is held in high esteem not only by the people of his own congregation but by the residents of Fort Dodge e'enerallv. CHRISTOPHER KNUDSON. Christopher Knudson needs no special in- troduction to the readers of this volume but the work would be incomplete without the record of his life. There is probably no man in Webster county who has been more prom- inently identified with her development and upbuilding, and he is often called the king or father of Badger, in which town he is now living a retired life. He cheerfully gives his support to those enterprises that tend to pub- lic development and has been connected with many interests that have promoted general welfare. His name is synonym for honora- ble business dealing and he is always men- tioned as one of the invaluable citizens of his community. Mr. Knudson was born near Stavanger, Norway, February 10, 1836, and grew to manhood in his native land with no school privileges. With the hope of bettering his financial condition he came to America in 1856, and on landing at Quebec, Canada, proceeded by way of the Great Lakes to Illi- nois and located in Ottawa, La Salle county, where he work on a farm for several years. During the first winter spent in this country he attended a night school for ten evenings and there received his first instruction in writing. Feeling that his adopted country needed his services during the dark days of the Civil C. KNUDSON AND WIFE THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 563 war he enlisted in September, [862, in Han- shaw's Independent Battery, No. 6. He was first under fire in the siege of Knoxville, and later took part in several skirmishes. He was subsequently stationed at Loudon, Ten- nessee, where he did guard duty for eighteen months. The war having ended he was then honorably discharged at Springfield, Illi- nois in June, 1865, and returned to his In mie in Ottawa, where he worked by the mi mth for about a year. Mr. Knudson was married at that place July iS, 1807, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Arnet. who was also horn in Nor- way, and on coming to the new world at the age of fourteen years located in La Salle county, Illinois, where she grew to woman- hood. By this union were born seven chil- dren, five sons and two daughters, namely: Anna, now the wife of S. Oakland, a farmer of Badger township; Adaline, wife of Thomas Peterson, cashier of the Badger Bank; Charles, a merchant of Badger; Oli- ver, at home; Adolph and Alfred, twins, who are now operating the old home farm ; and Clarence, who is a student in the home school. For one year after his marriage Mr. Knudson was engaged in farming on rented land in La Salle count)-, Illinois, then bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Lee county, that state, hut after residing there one year he sold the place in the fall of [868 and purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Badger town- ship. Webster county, Iowa. Here he lo- cated in March, 1869, and at once turned his attention to the improvement and cultivation of that tract. At that time Fort Dodge had no railroad and he bad to haul the lumber to build his house from Iowa Falls, for which he paid forty-five dollars per thousand. The house that he erected at that time is still standing on the old home farm on the southwest quarter of section 16, It has been remodeled and added to from time to lime, hut the original part is still there and at the time of its erec- tion it was considered the best house in his section of the county, costing Mr. Knudson about seven hundred dollars. The furniture was bought in Fort Dodge. Common w 1- en chairs cost one dollar each and a small dining room table seven dollars, and other furniture accordingly. As time passed he has steadily prospered in his fanning opera- tions and has increased his landed posses- sions fnun time to time until he now owns about nine hundred acres of land in Badger township, divided into four farms. When the railroad was built across his property he laid out and platted the town of Badger and is therefore the founder of that place. He continued to engage in farming until [899, when he retired from active labor and is now spending his declining years in ease and quiet in the village, surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, which have been acquired through his own energetic and well-directed labors. Since casting his first presidential vote for General Grant in [868, Mr. Knudson has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and has taken quite a prominent and influential part in local poli- tics. His fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability, have elected him to several positions of honor and trust, the duties of which he has most faithfully discharged. He served three years as a member of the county board of supervisors, was township treasurer about ten years and also filled the offices of assessor and township clerk. He has been a delegate to both the county and state con- ventions of his party and has taken a very ac- tive part in public affairs. Religiously he 564 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. is a Lutheran, to which church his wife also belongs. For almost a third of a century Mr. Knudson lias been a resident of Webstes county. His career affords an excellent ex- ample to the young in that he commenced life in this country without capital, but hav- ing a determination to succeed he industri- ously applied himself until he has acquired a handsome competence which enables him td spend his declining years in retirement from active labor. He is well km wn throughout the county as a man of sterling worth, and is held in the highest regard by all who know him. GEORGE A. GABRIELSON. One of Dayton's most progressive and energetic business men is George A. Gabriel- son, a well-known hardware and agricultural implement dealer of that place. In his special line of business he has met with good success and by the energy and zeal he has manifested he has won the confidence and esteem of the public. A native of Webster county he was horn in Dayton April 16, 1864, and is the son of John Gabrielson, who is represented else- where in this work. He attended the Leon- ard district school in Dayton township and also the village school for a time. On com- pleting his education he was granted a teacher's certificate and taught at the Adam- son school house in Clay township for a time. Mr. Gabrielson then engaged in farm- ing with his brother. Axel, and gave his at- tention to that pursuit for ten years. In 1896 he removed to Dayton and formed a part- nership with his brother. Victor, in his pres- ent business. They carry a complete line of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves and ranges, farm implements, buggies, wagons and pumps, and are enjoying a good trade, which is constantly increasing. At Stanton. Iowa, Mr. Gabrielson was married June 5, 1899, to Miss Anna Burke, who was born in Geneseo, Henry county, Illinois. March 15, 1874, a daughter of Au- del and Mary Burke, natives of Sweden, where ther marriage was celebrated. The father was twice married, his first wife hav- ing died in Sweden. On coming to America he settled in Geneseo, Illinois, hut later re- moved to Stanton, Iowa, where he followed farming until called to his final rest. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on coming to this state and to the original tract added from time to time as he pros- pered in business until at the time of his death he owned three hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. His widow is still living and continues to reside in Stan- ton. The two children born of his first mar- riage are both deceased. Those of the sec- ond union are Emma, wife of Alexander Lauger, of Swedesburg, Iowa ; Charles, who married Anna Peterson and lives on our sub- ject's father's farm, a half mile from Day- ton ; May, wife of Edward Stephenson, of Chicago ; Clara, who married C. A. Ji >lm- son, residing a half mile from Dayton, and died August 26, 1901 ; Frank, who lives on the old homestead at Stanton ; Adelbert, who married Nellie Eckluud and resides on his father-in-law's farm four miles west of Day- ton; Anna, wife of our subject; and Mattie, who is now keeping house for her brother, Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Gabrielson have one child, Lester, born September 18, 1900. They own a very pleasant home in Dayton, where they now reside, and besides this and his business property, Mr. Gabrielson still has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres of improved THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 565 land mi section 28, Dayton township. He is a man of good business and executive abil- ity and generally carries forward to success- ful completion whatever he undertakes. He attends the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church and is a member of the [Modern Woodmen of America. The Republican party finds in him a stanch, supporter of its principles, but he has always refused t< 1 ac- cept office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests. RASMUS PETERSON. Since the spring of 1887 Mr. Peterson has been one of the most valued and highly esteemed citizens of Badger township, his home being on section 18, where he owns an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres. Although of foreign birth his duties of citizenship have been performed with a loyalty equal to that of any native son, and when the nation was imperiled by the hydra-headed monster, rebellion, he went to the defense of the Union and protected the cause of his adopted country on many a southern battle field. Mr. Peterson was born near Stavanger, Norway, April 9, 1843, ar| d grew to man- hood in his native land. In 1861 he emi- grated to America and on landing in Quebec came west by way of Chicago and located in Grundy county, Illinois, where for some time he worked at anything which he could find to do. When the country called for more troops in 1862 to aid in crushing out the re- bellion he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was as- signed to the Army of the Tennessee. He participated in the battles of Pittsburg Land- ing and Corinth, and was in a number of skirmishes. Being taken ill he was con- fined in Overton Hospital, at Memphis, for some time, and was then honorably dis- charged and returned home. On sufficiently recovering his health Mr. Peterson resumed agricultural pursuits and for three years operated a rented farm in Grundy count)*. He then removed to La Salle county. Illinois, where he also rented a farm and engaged in its operation for two years. At the end of that time he purchased eighty acres of wild land in Champaign county, the same state, and later added to it another tract of the same size, making a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, pleasantly located near Rantoul. There he spent twenty years of his life, and on selling out at the end of that time came to Webster county Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Badger township, where he now resides. The following year he bought one hundred and sixty acres more, and to- day has one of the best improved and most desirable places in his locality. There is a neat residence on the farm, two good barns and convenient outbuildings, and even-thing about the place testifies to the careful su- pervision of the owner. In connection with general farming he carries on stock raising quite success full}'. In Grundy county. Illinois. Mr. Peter- son was married in 1864 to Miss Rhoda Johnson, a native of that county and a daughter of Ole Johnson, who came to this country from Norway and was one of the first to locate in Grundy county. By this union were born thirteen children, nine of whom are living, namely : Peter, who is now married and en- gaged in the grain business in Badger; Delia, wife of Sever Thompson, of Fort Dodge; Lena, wife of Martin Thompson, a merchant of Badger; Rasmus, who is married and re- 566 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. sides on the home place; Rosa, wife of Louis Oxnes, of Badger ; and Gilbert, Bertha, Ar- thur and Gertie, all at home. Those de- ceased are: Oscar, Delia, Peter and Olena. Mr. Peterson gives his political support to the Republican party, having been identi- fied with that great political organization since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He has never aspired to office, but gives his entire time and attention to his farming interests, in which he has been eminently successful. He is to-day one of the leading agriculturist of his community as well as one of the most highly esteemed citizens oL Badger township. Re- ligiously he and his family are connected with the Lutheran church and are held in high regard by all who know them. JOHN VANDEVENDER. Among the pioneer families of Webster county, none is more highly honored than that, represented by John Vandeventer, a farmer residing on section 28, Washington township. His father, Caleb ■ Vandevender, was born and reared in New York and went from there to Ohio, where he married Kath- erine Piper a native of Pennsylvania. In 1843 he removed to Indiana and engaged in farming in that state for ten years. During the spring of 1854 he came to Webster o mn- tv, Iowa, which was then a vast tract of un- settled and uncultivated land. He camped in a grove near the farm occupied by his son, John. All around him was a vast stretch of raw timber and prairie land which, how- ever, bore marks of fertility and only awaited the pioneer's care and cultivation to become valuable property. Not a single house was to be seen in all the distance from this farm to Batch Grove on Boone river, thirty-five miles away. The nearest point for trading was Fort Dodge. No division had as yet been made between Hamilton and Wabster counties, which had their common county seat at Homer. The now thriving villages of Dayton and Lehigh did not then even oc- cupy a place in the imagination of the most sanguine settler or on the map of the most enthusiastic boomer. Webster City was known as Newcastle and contained only two houses. Deer and elk were to- be seen on every hand and other game was plentiful, af- fording a gratefully received addition to the oftimes scanty larder of the pioneer. Land sold at the government price of one dollar and twenty-five cents' per acre, and even at that low price was not eagerly sought after, but Caleb Vandevender was a man with a profound faith in the future and he bought land, devoted himself to its improvement and in time became a prosperous farmer. He remained in Webster county until his death in January, 1895. He had been a prominent local worker in the Republican party and bad held all of the township offices. In religion he was connected with the Methodist Epis- copal church. The first wife of Caleb Vandevender died in 1836. Of her four children, Eliza mar- ried Michael Butler and settled near Inde- pendence, Iowa, but is now deceased ; Nancy, Mrs. Augustus Story, died in Webster City, Iowa ; John, of this sketch, was the only son of this marriage and was born in Wayne county, Ohio, June 27, 1833; and Mary, the youngest of the four, married Samuel Ar- therton and died in this county. The sec- ond wife of Caleb Vandevender was Isabel Malotte, a native of Ohio, now residing with her daughter, Mrs. James Jameson, in THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 567 Washington township. Four children were I ' 1 11 of this marriage who lived to maturity, one daughter. Ella, having died at the age of five years. Maria is the wife of Henry Barr and lives near Paola, Kansas; William was formerly in South Dakota but now makes his home in Linn county, Kansas; Elizabeth is the widow of James Jameson, of Washington township. Webster county; and Daniel resides in Washington township. William and Daniel married sisters, Cecilia and Minnie Marked, but the former is now deceased. When John Yandevender was about ten years old he went with his father to Indiana and for a time attended school. Later I e worked by the month in Steuben county, In- diana, receiving ten dollars a month. He acaompanied his father to Iowa and for three years worked in the Butterworth and Messmore mill at Border Plains. Mean- time, in 1854. he had entered eighty acres of land and built a house of hewed logs, also cultivated the land, so that he was able to settle upon it and secure a livelihood fn >m its management. In Webster county, Novem- ber 15, 1857, he married Ellen Mayberry, win > was born in McLean county. Illinois, May 7, 1839, being a daughter of Jacob and Mary I Hand ) Mayberry. natives, respect- ively, of Tennessee and Ohio. Some years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mavberry came to Iowa and settled in Humboldt coun- ty, but two years later, in 1857, they re- moved to Washington township, Webster county. Later they went to Miami county, Kansas, and bought a farm, on which they remained until their death. In religion they were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their family comprised five sons and four daughters, namely: George, who died in Nebraska ; Nancy Jane, a widow living in Kansas; Priscilla, wife of John Rutledge and a resident of Kansas; Ellen, wife of our subject; John, who mar- ried Susie Walters and lives at Boone River, Iowa; Henry, deceased, whose widow makes her home in Kansas; Martha, widow of Jos- eph R( >gers and a resident of (.'< ,1, iradi 1 ; Wes- ley, who died in California; and Fletcher, who married Amanda Yager and moved to New Mexico. He became proprietor of a boarding house there and one night an out- law attempted to rob a physician who was stopping at his house, but the latter n and was killed. The outlaw then w, upon by the family and by the neighbors who had been attracted by the outcry, but the murderous desperado succeeded in killing eight persons, including all of the Mayberry family excepting a daughter, ddie latter is now married and living near Ackley, Iowa. To the marriage of John Vandevender and Ellen Mayberry three children were born. "James II.. William F. and Mattie. The older son, who is engaged in the grain business at Duincomhe. Iowa, married Sarah Owens, by whom he had three children : Fmmett, deceased; Zelpha and Altie. Idle younger son, William F. is unmarried and resides with his father. The only daughter married George Best, who is employed in the audi- tor's office at Webster City; they have three children. Marlin, Ray and Claire. At the outbreak of the Civil war the sympathies of Mr. Vandevender were strongly enlisted on the side of the Union and after a year, when a call was made for more volunteers, he offered his services to the country. At Fort Dodge. August 13, iNoj, his name was enrolled in Company I, Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, which was drilled at Camp Franklin, Dubuque, and thence proceeded to New Madrid, Missouri, from there to Fort Pillow, and later to Co- lumbus, Kentucky, under General A. G. 568- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Smith. The next objective point was Vicks- burg, which had recently been captured by the Federal forces. Under General Sher- man the regiment marched to Tombigbee river and then returned to Vicksburg. Dur- ing the expedition up the Red river, in which the regiment accompanied General Banks, while the battle of Pleasant Hill was in progress, Air. Vandevender was captured by the Confederates and taken to Mansfield, Louisiana, where for eleven weeks he was detailed as nurse to Union soldiers in the hospital. On being sent to Parole Camp, at New Orleans, lie was exchanged and per- mitted to rejoin his regiment. His next lo- cation was at Spanish Fort, Mobile. Ala- bama, and soon afterward he participated in the stirring engagement at Fort Blakeley. which took place only a few days before the surrender of General Lee. On the close of the war he was ordered to Montgomery, Ala- bama, and there mustered out of the service. He then returned to Iowa and resumed farm pursuits, in which he has since met with a gratifying degree of success, being the owner of a valuable and well improved tract of eighty acres in Washington township. Every movement to develop the material resources of his township or promote the welfare of its residents has received the sym- pathy and influence of Mr. Vandevender, who has done effective work along these lines through his efficient service in the offices of road supervisor, constable and member of the school board. His first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont. From that day to this he has been stanch in his al- legiance to the Republican party and in his support of its men and measures. His long identification with Webster countv, ex- tending from his youth to the present time, and his close association with agricultural affairs, have given him prominence and in- fluence among the farmers of the county, as well as a high place in the regard of every acquaintance. CARL J. HOUGE. Carl J. Houge, one of Badger township's most enterprising and progressive farmers, has spent almost his entire life in this county, and his name is insqjarably connected with its agricultural interests. He is the proprie- tor of one of the best farms in his locality, it being a valuable tract of two hundred acres on section 7. He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, May 23, i860, but was only two years old when brought to Webster county, Iowa, by his parents, John J. and Karen S. Houge. The father was born in Norway in 181 3, and there grew to manhood. On his emigra- tion to the new world about 1848, he lo- cated in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he subsequently purchased land and engaged in farming until 1868, which year witnessed his arrival in Webster county, Iowa. His first purchase of land in this locality consisted of two hundred acres, which he at once com- menced to improve and cultivate. As time passed he added to his property from time to time until he owned thirteen hundred acres of land in Wehster and Humboldt counties, being one of the wealthiest and most substan- tial men of his community. His success in life was due entirely to his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, as he came to this country empty-handed. Being industrious, enterprising and energetic pros- perity at length crowned his offorts and at his death he was able to leave his family in comfortahle circumstances. He departed this life in 1892. His widow still survives THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 569 him and continues to reside on the old home farm, in Badger township. She has never ridden on a train of cars. In the family of this worthy couple were five sons of whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth. The others are James S-, win 1 now owns and operates the old home farm ; Albert M., also a farmer of this county ; Peter A., a mer- chant of Badger: and Adolph S. All are residents of Badger township. On the old home farm Carl J. Houge passed his early life in much the usual man- ner of farmer boys, assisting in the work- of the fields through the summer months and attending the district schools through the winter season. He remained under the pa- rental roof until he attained his majority, giving his father the benefit of his labors. On the 4th of May, 1890, was celebrated his marriage with Miss Chistena Chantland, a daughter of Thomas Chantland, one of the early settlers of this county, who came to this state from Wisconsin, but was originally from Norway. He is now living in Badger township one mile north of thq town of Badger. By this union were born three children, as follows: Melvin J., Ernest T. and Kermit S. Mr. and Mrs. Houge began their married life upon the farm where they stdl reside, there being at that time an old house upon the place, which has since given way to a more commodious and pleasant residence. A barn, granary, corn cribs and other out buildings have been erected and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place plainly in- dicates the careful supervision of a pains- taking and progressive owner who thorough- ly understands the vocation he has chosen as a life work. He commenced life here with one hundred and sixty acres, but has since sold a part of this and bought other tracts, and now owns two hundred acres all in one body but on three different sections. Mr. Houge gives considerable attention to the raising and feeding of cattle and hogs for market, and in all his undertakings has been eminently successful so that he is now quite well-to-do. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin Har- rison. He has never cared for office, prefer- ring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interest--. Public-spirited and progressive he takes a deep interest in edu- cational affairs, and has efficiently served as school director for a number of years, and gives his support to every enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit. Both he and his wife are members 1 -f the Lutheran church, and are among the most highly es- teemed citizens of their community. BEXJAMIX FRAXKLIX BLACK. Benjamin Franklin Black, a practical and enterprising agriculturist of Cooper township, owns and operates three hundred and twenty acres of land, constituting one of the valuable and highly improved farms of the locality. His possessions have all been acquired through his own efforts, and as the result of his consecutive en- deavor he has won a place among the sub- stantial citizens of the county. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Black was bom in Greene county, on the 29th of Xovember, 1861, and is a son of James A. Black, whose birth occurred in the same county, May 19, 1822. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Steele, was born in Wot Virginia, February 22. [827. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Ben- 57° THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. jamin F. Black, was also born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and died June 10, 1843, while his wife, who in her maiden- hoi d was Sophia Gabler, was born in Ger- man}' and died June 23. 1852. at the age of forty-seven years. In the county of his nativity James A. Black still resides, he and his wife being" one of the oldest couples within its borders. His has been a busy and useful life, and he is one of the prominent men of his locality. He is both a lawyer and farmer, and has most capably filled the position of justice of the peace and other minor offices. I lis family consists of nine children, as follows: Charles F... Marion, Emma, John S., Anna. James B., Benjamin I*'.. Samuel and Asia. Benjamin F. Black grew to manhood in his native county, and received his education in its public schools. He has always given his attention to farming and in his chosen occupation has met with marked success. In 1885 he came to Webster county, Iowa, where his father had previously purchased a farm, and upon that place he has since made his home, having bought the land of his father. He has erected good and sub- stantial buildings thereon, and made many ( ther useful and valuable improvements, which make it one of the most desirable farms in the locality. It consists of three hundred and twenty acres, of which sixty- acres are devoted to corn and forty to small grain, while the remainder is meadow and pasture land. Mr. P.lack gives much atten- tion to the raising of stock, making a spec- ialty of polled Angus cattle, and generally feeds about five car loads of both cattle and hogs for market annually. He has one of the nicest orchards in Cooper township, covering six acres and containing about four hundred apple trees. On the 27th of January. 18X5, Mr. Black married Miss Eva Stevenson, who was also born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 2^. 1864, a daughter of Ellis and Mary (Jones) Stevenson, also natives of that county. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, died at the age of fifty-tw 1 years, but her mother is still living and makes her home in Greensboro, Pennsyl- vania. Their children were Martin, Alfred, Eva, William, Presley. Parmelia, Mary, Priscilla. Maud and Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Black have an interesting family of five chil- dren, namely: Mar}- E., William H, Asia M., Florence C. and Effie L. The family attend the Congregational church, and Mr. Black is a member of the Modern Wood- men Camp No. 438, at Fort Dodge. Polit- ically he is identified with the Democratic part}-. Fie is a wide-awake, energetic busi- ness man. and in manner is pleasant and genial. J. A. NIXON. J. A. Nixorf, the present popular mayor of Dayti mi. ti iwa, was born in St. Clair coun- ty, Illinois, on r6th of September, 18(4, and is a son of William and Eliza (Motz) Nixon, natives of Monroe county, Illinois, where their marriage was celebrated. The father followed the occupation of farming and also engaged in teaching school in Monroe and St. Clair counties for twenty years. He was in the Union service during the last two vears of the Civil war. being a member of the Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which formed a part of the Black Eagle Corps, commanded by General John A. Lo- gan. He was with Sherman on the cele- brated march to the sea. While in the army he suffered a sunstroke, from the effects of which he did not recover for many vears, JOHN A. NIXON THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 573 and on account of ill health he removed to Arkansas in 1888, and lie and his wife are now living on a farm. near Rose Bud, that state. They are the parents of eleven chil- dren, of whom our subject is the oldest, the others being Sarah, who died at the age of one and a half years; Charles, who died at the age of twelve years; Delsie. wife of James Hale, of Oklahoma; Ellen, wife of Henry Osborn, of Heber, Arkansas; George, who died at the age of one year ; Jemima, John, Emery. Alice. Walter and Willie, all at lume with their parents; and one who died in infancy. Reared in his native county. J. A. Nixon received a good district school education in what was known as the Irvin and Hickory Grove school houses, and in 1885 entered the university at Valparaiso. Indiana, where he completed the teacher's course and then suc- cessfully engaged in teaching school in Sin- clair county, Illinois, for six years^ On the 25th of October, 1S90. at Wat- erloo, Illinois. Mr. Nixon was united in mar- riage with Miss Lucinda Burke, who was born there in 1862, a daughter of John and Mary Burke, both natives of Ireland. She was one of a family of seven children, four of whom are still living. Her death occurred February 8. 1893, and her remains were in- terred in a cemetery at Waterloo, Illinois. One year later Mr. Nixon went to Law- rence, Kansas, where he was connected with the photographic business for a year and for a year and a half traveled with the Union View Company. At the end of that time he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he was engaged in the same line of work for nine months and then on the 1st of September. 1896, removed to Dayton, becoming the leading photographer in the southern part of the county. Mr. Nixon was again married. Septem- ber S. [896, at Corning, Iowa, hi- second union being with Miss Sophia Schuck, who was born in Red Bud, Illinois, February 27. 1865. Her parents, William and Sophia Schuck. are still residents 1 if that place. Her father is a native of Germany. In the Schuck family were eleven children, of whom six are living. Mr. Nixon has two children by his first marriage. Pearl and Viola, and one li\ the second, William Homer. Fraternally Mr. Nixon is a prominent member of Granite Lodge, No. 33 J. K. of P., of which he has been chancellor com- mander for the past two years and ha- also served as representative to the grand lodge of that organization. His fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability, elected him mayor of Dayton in 1899 and he has since filled that office. Never have the reins of city government been in more capable hands for he is progressive, energetic and public-spirited, and does all in his power to advance the interests of the city. He is also president of the park association and takes an active interest in all public improvements. ANTON SPIREK. The faculty of not only seizing existing opportunities but of creating additional chances, has had much to do with the rise 1 prominence of Anton Spirek, one 01 the large land owners, enterprising agriculturists, and all around helpful citizens of Webster county. The accident of birth alone prevents Mr. Spirek from being an American in all senses of the word, tor he was but five years of age when he left his native land of Aus- tria, where he was born July 15, 1854. and accompanied his parents, Joseph and Anna ( Houtz ) Spirek. to America in October of 574 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. i866. The family settled in Washington county, Iowa, where they lived for two months, and then removed to Johnson county where the father bought eighty acres of land upon which he lived for four years. After disposing of this property he again settled in Washington county, pur- chased land and remained there until com- ing to Elkhorn township, Webster county, in 1877. Here the father bought eighty acres of land which was sit well utilized that his interests in time required more room and he became the owner of two hundred acres. He was a Republican in politics and in Aus- tria had affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. He was a man of force, determina- tion and unquestioned integrity, and his death, October 6, 1890, removed a man of •\\ hom the community was justly proud. His wife, who is still living at Fort Dodge, is the mother of the following children: Charles, a farmer in Elkhorn t< iwnship, mar- ried Anna Hoyek ; Joseph, living at Fort Dodge, has been twice married ; Mary is the wife of Vince Clobek, of Fulton town- ship ; Frank, a resident of Fort Dodge, mar- ried Lizzie Peterson, now deceased ; Albert, living at Fort Dodge, married Mary Clobek, of Cedar Rapids; Anna ii the wife of Joseph Cole, of Fort I >< idge ; Xettie is the wife of Albert Cole, of Fort Dodge; and Ed- ward is an employe of the Chicago & Great Western Railroad, with headquarters at Elk- horn. The early education of Anton Spirek was acquired under difficulties, for he had' to walk five miles through the woods to a little log school house and attendance at this primitive educational institution was possi- ble only through the leisure of the winter months. At the age of fifteen he ceased go- ing to school entirely and devoted all of his time to assisting with the work on his father's farm. When twenty-one years old he branched out on his own responsibility and practically applied his previous train- ing as manager of the stock farm of Theo- dore Hollies, in Cooper township. Webster county. At the end of two years he filled a similar position for Woolset Wells, in the same township, and after two years had amassed sufficient money to enable him to buy one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 21, Elkhorn township. In the meantime, while on the Hollies farm Mr. Spirek was married, January 4, 1881, at Fort Dodge, to Anna Wesley, who was born in Austria August 10, 1856, a daughter of Frank and Phrona (Feist) Wes- ley, who were born and married in Austria- The parents came to America in 1866 and located in Washington county, Iowa, where the father bought forty acres of land, which was afterward sold upon his removal to Webster county in 1872. In the new loca- tion he enlarged his interests by purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land and was so good a manager and business man that he came to own fourteen hundred acres of land. He is now living in Elkhorn town- ship but has distributed his possessions among his children. His wife, who is also still living, is the mother of the following children : Mary, wife of Michael Fox, of Fulton township; Anna, wife of Anton Spirek; Joseph; Anthony; Albert: Melike: and Frank. With the exception of Frank all of the children are married and live in Elk- horn township. To Mr. and Mrs. Spirek have been born six children, namely : Emma, born November 26, 1883 ; William, May 29, 1885 ; Adam and Lizzie, twins, December 25, 1892; Rosie, July 5, 1894; and David, Sep- tember 26, 1897. After settling on his farm in Elkhorn township, Mr. Spirek built a fine modern THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 575 rural home, large barns, granaries, eattle sheds, and substantial fences, and has by pa- tient application and common sense methods made it one of the finest farms in Webster county. To bis original purchase he has added until he now owns three hundred and sixty acres. Politically, Mr. Spirek has al- ways supported the Democratic party, and has held about all of the township offices within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He is one of the most popular and well-known residents of Webster county, and has taken all of the Masonic degrees at Fort Dodge, being- a member of Lodge No. 1 1 1, and Com- mander}- No. 24. and of the Mystic Shrine, of Des Moines. In bis general character Mr. Spirek embodies those fundamental principles which have ever been regarded as bulwarks of any community in which they are found. He is progressive, enterprising, and charitable to an unusual degree, and in his ministrations to public need has never been bound by creeds or dogmas, or indi- vidual prejudice. Impartially his purse and council are at the disposal of all worthy and deserving causes, and he is known far and wide as one of the best farmers and most substantial men of 'Webster county. TAMES BASS. Prominent among- the citizens of Web- ster county who have witnessed the marvel- ous development of this section of the slate in the last half century, and who have, by honest toil and industry succeeded in ac- quiring a competence, and are now able to spend the sunset of life in quiet and retire- ment, is the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch. For many years he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is now living a retired life in Davton. Mr. Bass was bum in North Carolina April j-, 1832, a son of Edward and Mary (Same) ) Has,, who were of German de- scent. His paternal grandfather fought for American independence in the Revolution- ary war, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. From North Carolina the fam- ily removed to Indiana when our subject was three years old, and in 1855 ms parents came to Iowa, purchasing a farm of two hundred and forty acres of land in Boone county and later forty acres of timber land. 'I he father, who was In rn January 17, [789, died February 3, 1883, and the mother passed away July 15, 1886. This worth)- couple were the parents of the following named children: Jesse mar- ried Polly Landreth and both died in Boone county; Patsy became the wile of Fennel Landreth and both are now deceased; Han- nah married Thomas Landreth and they spent their last days m Webster county; Ma- tilda is the witlow of Matt Cole and makes her home at Mineral Ridge; Betsy married David Spark, of Boone county, and both are now deceased ; James is the next of the fam- ily ; John married Maggie Getzman and lives in ( )gden, Boone county : Sarah first married Jesse Maguire and second David Landreth and died at Missouri Valley Junction; David married Maggie Conrad and they re- side near Boone; and Rachel, deceased, was the wife of Cyrus Haller. James Bass was reared and educated in Owen county, Indiana, pursuing his studies at a subscription school, the building being made of logs. He laid aside his books at the age 'f fourteen, and then assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until he attained bis majority. In the fall of 1852 he came to Webster county, Iowa, and by working as a farm hand managed to secure en- ugh capital to purchase eighty acres of 5/6 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. government land, for which he paid from one dollar and a quarter to one dollar and a half per acre. This was situated seven miles northeast of Dayton and became his home- stead. In 1857 Mr. Bass was married in Boone county, Iowa, to Miss Cassie Halloway, who was also horn in North Carolina. March 24, 1837, and died February 3, 1901. Her par- ents were natives of North Carolina, and there the mother died, but the father came to Boone county, Iowa, and made bis home with our subject until bis second marriage just be- fore the Civil war. He died in February. 1881, and was buried in Beem cemetery, Webster county. By his first union he had six children, four sons and two daughters, but Elizabeth, wife of William Fry. of Yell township, Webster county, is the only one now living. Two sons were killed and an- other died while taking part in the Civil war. Mr. Bass had nine children, namely : ( 1 ) Mary Jane is now the wife of Taylor Scott, of Gowrie and has seven children, Hubert, Nellie, Grace, Clifton. Cassie, Wilson and Leo. (2) Rachel A. is with her father. (3) Addie is the wife of Thomas Bragg, a farmer of Gowrie and their children are Alva and Mina. (4) Sherman, a resident of Dayton, married Julia Casebolt and has three children, Orville, Effie and Fay. (5) Grant married Cora Guthrie and has two children, Halsey and Sylva. (6) Miles, a farmer of Yell township, married Jennie Nelson and has two children, Raymond and Marie. (7) Mina and (8) Elsie are both at home with their father. (9) Ella is the wife of Dr. L. E. Estick of Rockwell City, and they have one child. Lewis Howard. There was an Indian scare in this sec- tion of the state right after the Spirit Lake massacre and about three hundred men. in- cluding Mr. Bass, organized under the com- mand of Johnson McFarland and Joe Thrift for the purpose of defending the settlers. 1 hey marched from Boonesboro to Hooks Point and on to Homer, and from the last named place were ordered to Webster City, where they spent three days and nights. The companies were then- disbanded and the men returned to their homes. In 1863 Mr. Bass volunteered to fight against the Indians under Captain Williams of Fort Dodge and went to Chain Lake on the boundary line between Iowa and Minne- sota, where they established barracks, build- ing stockades and several bouses with port holes, through which they could fire on the red men and still be protected. At that time there were two other posts between Chain Lake and Spirit Lake, Captain Ingams be- ing in command of one of these, and each day during the entire time spent there com- munication passed from one post to the other. At the end of six months the com- pany marched back to Fort Dodge and was disbanded. Mr. Bass joined the regular service in 1864. enlisting on the i8tb of November, in Company K, Sixteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Stattman. Being too late to join General Sherman on the march to the sea, they were ordered to Nash- ville, and on arriving in that citv were quar- tered on the seventh story of the Jolly Coffer House, where they spent the night and were given a very poor supper and breakfast. The next morning the company to which our subject belonged was detached from the regiment and its members assigned to different regiments, Mr. Bass becoming a member of the One Hundred and Thirty- second New York Infantry. As soon as he drew his gun he was placed on the picket line and bullets were dying thickly about him in less than two hours. He was detailed THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 577 as guard at Fort Xeglev one day and night, and at Fort Lookout the following day and night. He saw a negro brigade make a charge on the rebels, and then shell the woods all one night. The soldiers were often compelled to wade in the swamps around Nashville where the water was al- most neck deep, although the weather was bitter cold, it being between Christmas and New Years, and would make piles of rails and brush on which to stand in order to keep out of the water. When Hood was driven out of Nashville the Union troops went in pursuit, but their supplies were cut off by the rebels and for seven days had only two days' rations. On the night of the seventh day, Mr. Bass and his messmates secured three ears of corn when the mules were fed, and parched one-half of the amount for their supper, saving the remainder for breakfast next morning. * The same evening our sub- ject noticed one man eating a piece of raw backbone as he was marching along, so fam- ished had the soldiers became. Mr. Bass and his comrade marched all that day with noth- ing to eat except the ear and a half of corn which they shared between them. Our sub- ject participated in the battles of Kingston and Goldsboro, North Carolina, and at the latter place rejoined his old regiment under the command of General Sherman. With his command he next marched to Raleigh, where they remained two weeks before Johnston finally surrendered, -and then took part in a two days' review at that place. They proceeded to Washington, D. C, by way of Richmond, and took part in the grand review in the capital city. With his command Mr. Bass then went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he. remained until dis- charged from the service July 19, 1865. Fortunately he was never wounded, but during the battle of Louisa Fords a bullet split the rail he was carrying for breast- works between his hands and almost knocked him over. Besides the battles men- tioned he took part in a number of minor engagements, and was always found at his post of duty, valiantly defending the old flag and the cause it represented. After his return home Mr. Bass en- gaged in farming until March, 1896, when he laid aside active labor and removed to 1 )ayti in. In business affairs he has steadily prospered and is to-day the owner of eight hundred acres of valuable land in Webster county, lie also owns the American House; half a business block north of the hotel; and other property in Dayton, including a nice residence on Main street, where he makes his home. He also has a business lot in Stratford, Hamilton county. Although now nearly seventy years of age he has never made a deed or given a mortgage, but is still the possessor of all the property which he has purchased. Starting out in .life for himself with no capital his success is due en- tirely to his own industry, perseverance and good management, and he well deserves the prosperity that has come to him. Fra- ternally Mr. Bass is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and polit- ically is a stanch supporter of the Demo- cratic party. ANDREW HANNON. The prolific resources of Webster county have been utilized in a creditable manner by Andrew Hannon, who, though practically retired from active business or agricultural life has in the past exerted a wide influence toward the improvement of the farming in- terests of his township, lie was born in 578 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Kenosha county, Wisconsin, August 24, 1850, a son of Patrick and Ellen (Rey- nolds) Hannon, natives of Ireland. About 1S30 tlu parents left their na- tive land and took up their residence in England, where they lived until their emi- gration to America in 1845. At Kenosha, Wisconsin, they found a desirable farming region and there spent their busy lives until the death of the father about 1858. The mother and children removed to Webster county, Iowa, in 1865, and here the former died in 1S87. Eight childdren were born into this family, two of whom died in in- fancy ; Charles Harrison was killed at At- lanta, Georgia, during the Civil war; James H. was also a gallant soldier on the Union side and was drowned on his way home after the cessation of hostilities; John M. is the next of the family; Robert H. is de- ceased; and Nicholas H. married Katie Fitzgerald and is now a farmer in Wash- ington township, Webster county. Up to his sixteenth year Andrew Han- non attended the public schools and assisted with the numerous duties around the home farm. He then became identified with vari- ous lumber concerns in Michigan, and for eight years was a clerk for the Kirby Car- penter Company at Menominee. In the meantime he had purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Washing^ n township, Webster county, and upon this property he settled after his marriage with Mary Harmon, September 14, 1875. Mrs. Hannon was born in Kenosha county, Wis- consin, and is of Irish parentage, her father and mother having emigrated to America in 1840, and settled in ' Wisconsin, where the father died October 7, 1857, and the mother May 10, 1876. They were the par- ents of six children : Dennis, who died May 11, 1877, leaving a wife and two daughters living in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Catherine, whose husband, Thomas Nugent, died in Webster county, Iowa, in 1895; Peter H., who married Nancy Lynch, and alter the death of his wife in Kenosha coun- ty, Wisconsin, removed to Webster county, Iowa, where he eventually died; John H., who died in Webster county at the age of forty-nine years; and Elizabeth H., who became the wife of James Kelley and lives in South Dakota. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hannon : An infant died unnamed; John, born Sep- tember 26, 1886, died October 31, 1899; Annie H., burn November 26, 1878, died June 4. 1891 ; Mildred H.. born July 4, 1882. is at present living with her parents; and Andrew H., born October 14, 1884, died June 27, 1899. For twenty-eight years Mr. Hannon was identified with the agricultural prosperity of Washington township and was an import- ant factor in the general growth of the dis- trict. Ripe in years and experience, and with the consciousness of having contrib- uted his share toward the work of the world, removed to Duncombe in 1890, where lie erected one of the finest homes in the vicinity, in which he has since lived. He superintends the management of his farm of four hundred and forty acres near Duncombe, where extensive farming in all its branches is conducted and carries on stock raising and shipping. In addition he owns and supervises property in the town of Duncombe, and is in fact one of the large land and real-estate owners of the township. During the winter of 1901-2 he erected the largest single business block in Duncombe, and is now conducting- a tobacco store in same. Most of his time is devoted to the buying of lots on which he erects buildings and then sells the same, and Mr. Hannon THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 579 has done more than any one man to build up and improve the town. He draws ali his own plans for the different buildings. In politics a Democrat he is one of the stanch supporters of his party and was a member of the board of county supervisors during the years 1898, 1899 and 1900. In addition he has held most all of the impi >rt- ant township offices, and has discharged his obligations with a high degree of intelli- gence and due regard for the best interests of all concerned. Fraternally he is ass.ici- ated with the [Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. With his family he is a member of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Hannon is one of the most substantial men of his t^wnsliip and enjoys the confidence and friendship of all who know him. HENRY WILLEY. The deserved reward of a well-spent life is an honored retirement from business, in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. To-day, after a useful and beneficial career, Mr. Willey is quietly living at his pleasant home in Vincent surrounded by the comfort that earnest labor has brought him. Since 1882 he has been a resident of Webster county, and was for many years success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits, own- ing and operating a fine farm of two hun- dred and forty acres, a mile and a half from the village- Mr. Willey was born in Hesse, Ger- man}-, November 19. 1833, and there grew to manhood upon a farm, receiving good school advantages, but his knowledge of the English language has been self-acquired since coming to this country. In 1S54 he emigrated to the new world, taking passage on a sailing vessel at Bremen and arriving in New York after a stormy voyage of about seven weeks' duration, lie landed in June of that year and at once proceeded to Chicago, where he worked for about a year. At the end of that time he went to Kendall county, Illinois, where he was em- ployed by the month as a farm hand for sev- eral years, and later worked on a farm in Cook count)-, that state, for a few years. We next find him in Champaign county, Il- linois, he having purchased eighty acres of wild land near Rantoul, which he at once ci immenced to break, fence and improve. He was engaged in the operation of that place until 1882, when he sold out and re- moved to Webster county. Iowa. Here he bought an unimproved farm of two hun- dred and forty acres, and to its develop- ment and cultivation he devoted his ener- gies until his retirement from active labor. Upon his place he erected a good residence and substantial outbuildings and made many other useful and valuable improve- ments. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1900 when he rented it and re- moved to Vincent, where he is now living a retired life in a house he erected, enjoying the fruits of former toil. As a stranger in a strange land and unfamiliar with the English language he commenced life in this country without means but has steadily overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in the path to success, and is now quite well- to-do and prosperous. While residing in Kendall county, Illi- nois. Mr. Willey was married in March, 1861, to Miss Doris Evers. also a native of Germany, who was born in Hanover Aug- ust 20, 1828, and there grew to womanhood. They have two children, namely: Henry W.. who is now operating the home farm, married Minnie Echorn, who was born in 58o THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Iowa of German parentage. Charlotte is the wife of William Frudenberg, a business man of Chicago, and they have two chil- dren, William and Stella. On becoming an American citizen Mr. Willev voted for Abraham Lincoln in i860. and at each presidential election since that time has supported the nominees of the Re- publican party. Although reared in the Lutheran faith he and his wife now hold membership in the [Methodist Episcopal church and are people of the highest respect- ability, having the confidence and esteem of all who know them. ALFRED DANIELS. During all of his life Air. Daniels made his home in Webster county. He was born here December 6, 1859, and was a son of Daniel and Alary ( Bennett) Daniels, natives of Ohio, a record of whom appears else- where in this volume. His boyhood was passed in the uneventful manner character- istic of farmers' sons, alternating attendance at the district school in the winter with work on the home farm in the summer; and on leaving school he turned his attention en- tirelv to agriculture, which he followed, with the excqrtion of short intervals, during the remaining years of his life. The marriage of Air. Daniels took place in Homer, Iowa. April 9, 1890, and united him with Miss Edith Ding-man. who was born in Hardin county, Iowa, March 4. 1874. Her parents, William and Elizabeth (Loftier) Dingman. were natives of Ohio. but settled in Iowa at early ages and were married in Hardin county. After some years in Iowa they moved to Indiana but soon re- turned to Iowa, going from this state to Mis- souri, and finally returning to Hardin coun- ty. Iowa. Somewhat later they settled on a farm south of Homer, where they now make their home. In religion they are connected with the United Brethren church, toward the maintenance of which they have been contributors. Politically he has always voted with the Republican party. His wife was twice married, her first husband having" been Henry McClarran, by whom she had a son, Henry. The latter married Sarah Mil- ler and still lives at Mason City, Iowa. Twelve children comprised the family of William and Elizabeth Dingman. Of these we note the following: Samuel, of Webster City, married Addie Daniels and after her death was united with Dora Burddorf; Alary is the wife of Alexander Pearce, of Homer, Iowa; Isaac married Sarah Whaley and lives on a farm near Homer; Ellen was first married to Madison Wheely and after his death became the wife of William Emly. of Webster City ; Charles, of Homer, Iowa v married Addie Morgan, who is now de- ceased ; Sarah died at the age of twenty- four years ; Ulysses resides with his parents ; George married Lulu Crane and resides in the vicinity of Homer; Kate is the wife of Harry Dayton, of Webster City : Frank makes his home with his parents; Edith is the widow of Alfred Daniels, the subject of this sketch ; and Lizzie married Alichael Lil- legard, of Webster township. To the union of Alfred Daniels and Edith Dingman there were born three children, who are named as follows: Daniel W.. born March 1. 1891 ; Erwin L., July 13. 1S9J; and Charles Mc- Kinley, August 22, 1895. For a time during his early life Alfred Daniels traveled with Forepaugh's circus and later with Ringling Brothers as the "Champion Fat Alan.'* his weight being then about 500 pounds. After his marriage he ALFRED DANIELS MRS. ALFRED DANIELS THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 585 moved to a farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 9, Webster township, and here he engaged in agricultural pursuits un- til his death, which occurred March 13, 1899, at the age of forty years, three months and seven days. After he attained his ma- jority he always voted with the Republicans and supported their men and measures. As a member of various official boards of his township he served with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow citizens. While he did not affiliate with any denomination he was of a religious turn of mind and an earn- est heliever in the doctrines of Christian it}-. Since the death of Mr. Daniels, the su- pervision of his estate has fallen into the hands of Mrs. Daniels, who has proved her- self a capable business woman, possessing more than ordinary executive ability, and with the judgment and sagacity necessary for the many responsibilities connected witli the work. Recently she made needed altera- m the farm house, which has tli been transformed into a neat and commo- dious residence. The barns are substantial and well adapted to their special purposes. Altogether the farm is conceded to b< of the best improved in the township, and the high standard of cultivation under which it is maintained proves the efficient oversight of the owner. In addition to the raising of general farm products, high grade stock are n the farm, a specialty being mai shorthorn cattle. I. W. W I Ability as a farmer is inherited by Mr. Welch from a long line of agricultural an- cestors, the earliest of win n 1 their 28 han ests anion- the mi regi< ms of Wales. He was born January 19, 1854, and his parents, who are now residing on 51 23, Burnside township, were also horn and reared in America. The father has twice married, and Mr. Welch is one of the children of the second union, his mother's maiden name having been Wheeler. The other children in the family are: William, who married Nelsie Marshall and lives in Gowrie, Webster county, Iowa; Adam, who married Kate Bibey and lives in Oklahoma; Marion, who married Alary A. Manchester and lives in Burnside; Ella, who is the wife of Richard V. Manchester, and lives on sec- tion 28, Burnside township ; Theodore, who married Amy Pringh and lives in Lehigh township; and Alfred, who married Geo Fry and resides in Oklahoma. Interspersed with the arduous duties which he performed on his father's farm, was the opportunity during the winter months to attend the disl which Mr. Welch availed himself with dili- gence and forethought. When able to de- vote his entire time to the farm he still re- mained at home, and at Gowrie, March 4, 1876, married Elvira J. Manchester, who h in in Greene county, [ova, December 20, 1857. Her parents now live on section lurnside township, her father, who i.s of English descent, having been born in America, while her mother is a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Welch has ters and four brothers: Ella lives on sec- ,;, Burnside township; Walter S. mar- ried Minnie Reefer and lives on sectii n X, Burnside township; John Edwin married Otilla Carlson and lives in the state of Wash- rtha C. married Edward Town- send and lives in Minnesota; Frank is un- married and lives at home; May is a school 5«6 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. teacher and lives at home ; and Jesse was formerly a teacher and lives with his par- ents. For six years after his marriage Mr. Welch continued to manage the home farm, after which he bought forty acres of land which he improved and which he disposed of at the end of six years. He afterward purchased the one hundred and sixty-acre farm upon which he is now living, and which is under a high state of cultivation. A large and comfortable residence has been erected by Mr. Welch and his barns and other improvements are on an equally mod- ern anil convenient scale. Four interesting children. help to create a delightful home atmosphere and give promise of future comfort and usefulness. Elsie was born November 23. 1SS0; Floyd, April 11, 1S85; Myrtle, September 0, 1887; and Clifford V., June 7. 1900. Mr. Welch i prominent in the affairs of the township and is of practical help in the development of any wisely thought out plan of improve- ment, lie is a member of the Christian church, as is also his wife, and both con- trihute toward the maintenance of their chosen denomination. As a stanch Repub- lican he has been called upon to till many positions of trust and responsibility, and is at the present time township trustee, super- visor and treasurer of the school hoard. CHARLES HEILEMAN. Charles Heileman. deceased, was one of the leading citizens of Fort Dodge for some years and was prominently identified with its interests. He won by an honorable, up- r : glit life, an untarnished name, and the record which he left behind him is one well worthy of emulation. Mr. Heileman was born in Lammsdorf, Germany, on the 13th of February, 1.^52, and was one of a family of five children, having three brothers and one sister. His father, William Heileman, came to this country about 1875 and lived with his children up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1900 at the age of ninety-one } ears. Our subject was reared and edu- cated in the land of his birth, and first came to America in 1869, taking up his residence in Fort Dodge, Iowa,, but afterward re- turned to the fatherland. He remained there only a short time, however, and on again coming to the new world settled in Fort Dodge, where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life. During his early residence here he worked at the plasterer's trade, and then with a partner engaged in the brick and tile business from 1882 up to the time of his death. On the 6th of June, 1878, Mr. Heileman was united in marriage with Miss Anna Theis, of Fort Dodge, a daughter of Chris and Anna ( Kriembring) Theis, who were natives of Germany and farming people. ( >ur subject and his wife became the par- ents of four children, namely: Anna, horn February 10, 1879, is now a milliner; Fred, born March 25, 1881, follows farming; and Gertrude, horn June 26, 1885, and Carl, born January 22, 1891, are both at home. With the hope of benefiting his health, Mr. Heileman, in company with his wife and sister, went to Colorado in July, 1895, hut not meeting with the desired results, they returned to Fort Dodge, where he died May 21, 1896, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was an active member of the ( iennan Lutheran church, to which his family also belongs, and commanded the confidence and esteem of all with whom he THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 537 came in contact, either in business or social life. He was public-spirited and progres- sive, and gave his support to all enterprises for the public good. For three terms he was an efficient member of the city council and was creditably tilling that office when called to his final rest. In politics he was independent and always voted for the man best suited for the office, regardless of party line-. ■> « ♦ RASMUS S. LUXD. With the agricultural interests of Web- ster county Rasmus S. Lund has long been identified, and he now owns and operates a ; 1 farm of one hundred and sixty acres "ii section 10, Badger township, a part of which is within the corporate limits of the village of Badger. The fields are well tilled, the buildings are good and substantial; and everything about the place testifies to the careful supervision of a painstaking owner who thoroughly understands his ch< sen oc- cupation. Mr. Lund was born in La Salle county, Illinois. January 12. 1864. a sun of Andrew and Christina Lund,, natives of Norway, where their marriage was celebrated. The father was reared upon a farm and in boy- hood became thoroughly familiar with all departments of farm work. On his emigra- tion to the United States in 1855 he first settled in La Salle county, Illinois, and bought a farm near Streator, which he op- erated for a number of years. There, five of his children were born. In the spring of 1870 he and his family removed to Web- ster county, Iowa, and he bought eight}' acres of unimproved land in Badger town- ship, which he at once commenced to break and cultivate. Later he purchased more land from time to time until he finally owned three hundred and twentv acres im- proved with good buildings ami under a high state of cultivation. His success in life was due to his own industry and well-di- rected labors, as well as the assistance of his sons, and he became one of the prosper- ous citizens of the county. His last days were spent upon the farm and there he died on the 2nd of Xovember, 1896. His wife, who still survives him, continues to reside on the old homestead, but rents the farm. The subject of this sketch was a child of six years when he came with the family to this county, and his boyhood and youth were spent upon the home farm. He at- tended private schools and supplemented his early education by one term of study in the Fort Dodge schools. At the age of seven- teen he accepted a position as fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad, and was in the employ of that company five years, after which he was with the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad in the same capacity for a time. I le was then pr< moted to engineer and held that position until 1897 when he returned home and bought the farm where he now resides. Since then he has engaged in farm- ing and stock raising with marked success. On the 6th of April, 1889, in Badger township, Air. Lund was united in marriage with Miss Anna Christenson, a native of Norway and a daughter of Knut Christen- son, who brought his family to America in 1869 and first located in Benton county, Iowa, but seven years later removed to Webster county, where Mrs. Lund was principally reared and educated. Our sub- ject and his wife have one child. O >ra. Mr. Lund gives his political support to the Republican party, having been one of its stanch supporters since casting his first 588 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison, but he has never sought or cared for official honors, preferring to give his undivided at- tention to his business interests. He takes a commendable interest in public affairs, however, and is now serving as a member of the city council of Badger. Air. Lund is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, No. 320, of St. Paul, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, No. 237, of St. Paul. He is one of the leading and representative citizens of the town, and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church. G. A. GUSTAFSON. In America labor is king and the sov- ereignty that her liberty-loving people ac- knowledge is that of business. The men of influence in a community in this enlightened age are its enterprising, progressive repre- sentatives of commercial interests and to this class belongs Air. Gustafson, who is now successfully engaged in the grain and stock business at Dayton. Iowa. 1 [e was born on the 14th of September, [846, in Sweden, of which country his par- ents. C. A. and Sophia n, were also natives. In 1853 the family took passage on the Sagadahog. a sailing vessel, which 1 nlered many severe storms on this pas- sage and was ten weeks and four days in co issing the Atlantic. Cholera broke out on board and one-third of the passengers died. On landing in Boston the Gustafson family proceeded at once to Toledo, Ohio, where the mother died of the same dread disease. winch also carried away two sisters of our subject, who died during the voyage and were buried at sea. After a week spent in that city the father and his two sons went to Chicago, arriving there in November, 1853. They had left their native land in May of that year. In Chicago the father worked at his trade of carpenter and there he was again married in the fall of 1854. his second union being with Airs. Mary Johnson, nee Gorin- son, who was born in Sweden April 18, 1823. In that country her parents spent their en- tire lives, her father being a farmer and sailor by occupation. "Air. Gustafson and his family came to Webster county, Iowa, in 1856, and he purchased a farm in Dayton township, on which he made his home until called to his final rest. Religiously he was a member of the Lutheran church, and po- litically was identified with the Democratic party. His widow still resides on the old homestead farm. By his first marriage he had four children, hut our subject is now the only one living, the other son, C. F., hav- ing died in 1870," at the age of twenty-one. There were five children by the second union, namely : Emma, who married John Peter- son, and both died in Denver, Colorado; Julia A., wife of A. W. Carlson, of Des Aloines ; Alary, wife of Charles Laurens, who lives on a farm near Marietta, Iowa; Tillie, wife of Henry Lincoln, who resides on the old homestead in Dayton township; and D. A., a resident of Dayton. By her Ei irmer marriage the mother of these children had one son, John A., who married Chris- tina Johnson and lives in Dayton. G- A. Gustafson, of this review, was educated at the Richie school house, five miles southeast of Dayton, where he pursued his studies for about three months during the winter until sixteen years of age and then devoted his entire time and attention to the labors of the farm until he attained his ma- G. A. GUSTAFSON MRS. G. A. GUSTAFSON THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 593 jority. He next worked as a machinist in a sawmill for two years, and at the end of thai time went to Europe, where he spent six months m traveling over England, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Germany. On his re- turn to the United States Mr. < lustafsi >n pur- chased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in the southern part of Dayton town- ship and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1876. lie was next engaged in the stock business at Ogden for ft iur years, and in t88o came to Dayton, where he has since successfully carried on operations as a dealer in both sfc ck and grain, shipping the first carload of each from this place. < hi the 26th of September, 1882, in inty, Iowa. Mr. Gustafson mar- ried Miss Minnie Liliard, who was born in Sweden February 27, 1863, and in 1S75 to the new world with her parents, An- drew and Amy S. (Nelson) Liliard. On landing in Boston they journeyed westward to Dayton, Iowa, and are now living in They have a family of seven chil- dren, namely: Minnie, wife of our subject; Alma, wife of Jake Held, of I',. ne; Tillie. wife of Fred Eighmy, of Ames; Fred, a res- ident of Clinton; Eric and Henry, both of Boone; and Albert and Frank. Mr. ami Mrs. Gustafson are the parents of four chil- dren, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Charles H., May i~ , 1884; Josie, July 29, 1885; Hiram G, May 10. 189] : and Edna, March 17, 1 S< ^ 5 . In his social relations Mr. Gustafson is a member of Dayton Lodge, No. 5711. A. F. & A. M.. and he attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. The Republican party has always fottnd in him a stanch supporter of its prin- ciples, and since coming to Dayton he has been prominentlv identified with municipal affairs. He has always been a member of the city council and was mayor for three terms. He stands high in both business and social circle- and well-merits the high regard in which he is held. C. M. TAPPER. Xo better illustration of the characti tic energy and enterprise of the typical Swedish-American citizen can he found than that afforded by the career of this gentleman, now a well-known resident of Dayton. Coming to this country with no capital except his abilities he has made his way to success through wisely-directed ef- Forl and can now look back with satisfaction upon past struggles. Mr. Tapper was horn August 2. 1825, in Sweden, where his parents, Peter and Anna (Johnson) Nelson, spent their 1 In their family were seven children. of whom one died in infancy. Of the others our subject is the oldest. Louise died in Sweden in 1858 at the age of twenty-five years. John August, who came i in 1855, married Mrs. Harriet Schauffer and resides in Mendota, Illinois. Caroline married Daniel Dohlen and resided in Princeton. Illinois, but both are now de- ceased. Anna Sophia came to America in 1865 and her husband, Mr. Lindberg, died in Princeton. Illinois, in 1877, hut she is still a resident of that place. Isaac Thomas em- igrated to the new world in r868 and is now living in the west. The education of our subject was con- fined to four months attendance in a mili- tar\ school of Sweden. He served eleven years in the Swedish army and was honora- bly discharged while holding the rank of corporal. Before leaving his native land 594 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. he was married, December 26, 1848, to Miss Melvina Vulcan, whose parents were lifelong residents of Wadstena, Sweden, her father being the artist for the royal family at Stockholm. She is one of a family of ten children, only two of whom are now living, the other being Mrs. Gustave Han- son, a resident of Boston. At Gottenborg, in 1855, Mr. Tapper and his family took passage on a sailing vessel, the Anna Washburn, commanded by Captain Mitchell, afterward converted into a frigate during the Civil war. After a stormy voyage of six weeks and three days duration, they landed at Boston, and from that city went to Chicago, remaining there until August 12, 1865. For three years Mr. Tapper worked at the stone ma- son's trade in Chicago, and on leaving that city went to Mendota, Illinois, where he rented land and engaged in farming for ten years. In 1869 he came to Webster county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres of land at five dollars per acre. This tract was all wild and unimproved, but lie at once set to work to break the land and erect buildings thereon and during the twenty-six vears he resided there he converted the place into one of the best improved and most desirable farms of the locality. He prospered in his farming operations and is to-day the owner of eight\- acres of land in Elkhorn township; one hundred and sixty acres in Sumner township; and five acres in Otho township, besides his property in the village of Day- ton, where he has lived a retired life since 1897 surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mr. and Mrs. Tapper have a family of three children: (1) Ellen Augusta, horn April 27, 1850, was married in 1869 1" John Hawk, who died in 1888. She now resides in Winterset, Iowa, and has four children: Ira T., Clara, I. vie and Mabel. (2) John G., horn May 5, 1853, was grad- uated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and is now successfully engaged in practice in Elgin, Illinois. His wife, who bore tlie maiden name of Hettie Stone, died in that city January 16, 1899. leaving one child. Charles. (3) Anna Matilda, born Novem- ber 7, 1855, in Chicago, was married in 1875 to Henry Hawk and now lives in Win terset, Iowa. Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln Air. Tapper has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and he has efficiently filled the offices of school director and township trustee. Both he and his wife are active and prominent members of the Swedish Evangelical Luth- eran church, of Dayton, which they assisted in building, and have also aided in the erec- tion of two others — one in Callender and the other in Burnside. Wherever known they are held in high regard and have a host i'i warm friends throughout Webster county. +*—+■ JOHN REDMAN. John Redman, the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land on sections 4 and 10, Elkhorn township, was born at Grand Ridge, I. a Salle county. Illinois. February 6, 1804, a son of Andrew J. and Sarah (Bunger) Redman, natives of Ohio. The parents were married in Ohio and rem< ived to La Salle county, Illinois, in iNoj, where the father bought land, upon which he still lives, lie is a Republican politically and is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church. Eight children constituted his fam- ily, namely : Etbalinda. who is the wife of Taylor Rutter and lives in Webster countv, Iowa; James, who married Edith THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 595 Kime and lives in La Salle county, Illinois; John, of this review; Samuel, who first mar- ried Anna Shape and second Nora Mackey, and lives in La Salle county, Illinois; Will- iam, called by his intimates "Doc," who married Florence Lang-ley and resides in Webster county, Iowa; Eva, wife of Henry Pn \ ance. of La Salle county. Illinois. An- drew, who is unmarried and resides in Illi- nois; and Lee. who married Daisy Law and lives in La Salle county. Illinois. Educationally Mr. Redman had for- tunate opportunities, and after attending for a time the public schools at Streator, Illim is. went to Adrian. Michigan, and en- tered the college there. Upon returning to Streator he engaged in further study and passed a successful examination which per- mitted of his entrance to the university at Bloomington. Owing to an affection of the eyes he was obliged to abandon ambitious plans for further education when twenty- five years of age. and he therefore returned to La Salle county, Illinois, and engaged in tilling and farming. On November 26, 1891, at Grand Ridge, Illinois, Mr. Redman married Miss Emily Scheerer. who was born in La Salle county, March 3, 1873, a daughter of Henry Scheerer. one of the influential men of the early days of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Redman have been born four children, namely: Paul L.. born January 28, [893; Josephine L., October 8, 181.14; Earl A.. August 10, 1898; and Dessie M.. January 29, 1900. The three oldest children were born in La Salle county, Illinois, and the youngest in Webster county, Iowa. After his marriage Mr. Redman con- tinued to live in La Salle county, where he engaged in farming until 1899, when he re- ed to Elkhorn township, Webster coun- ty, Iowa, and bought two hundred acre- of land on section 4. He has been remarkably successful and nows owns eighty acres in addition to his original purchase, and is besides possessor of considerable Illinois property. The Iowa farm is among the best improved in the county, has a tine residence, large barns and granaries and cattle sheds, and the whole is well fenced and watered. Mr. Redman is identified with the Re- puplican part}' hut has never sought or de- sired public office. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 438, at Fort Lodge, and he at- tends the Methodist Episcopal church. From his German ancestors he has inherited thrift and enterprise and needful conserva- tism, and is one of the substantial acquisi- tions of a prosperous and promising part of a great state. ANDREW P.. JOHXSOX. Among the worthy citizens that Sweden has furnished to Webster county, Iowa, is this well-known farmer residing on section 3, Badger township. lie was born near Gottenborg, in January, 1842, and was reared upon a farm in his native land, be- i\ en g I coo Resolved to try his fortune 1 n this si< the Atlantic, he came to the United States in [870 and took up his residence in Cham- paign county, Illinois, where he at first : on a farm ncal and industrious .Mr. Ji hnsi u soon 5a 1 ed 1 embark in farming on his own account and for six years he engaged in operating rented land. In the spring of [883 he came to Iowa and purchased a partially improved fan eight}' acres in Badger township, of which 596 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. a few acres had been broken and a small house erected thereon. To its further de- velopment and cultivation he devoted his energies with marked success until he owned one of the must desirable farms of its size in this section of the county. He built a good residence and all the necessary nut- buildings. He operated that place for sev- eral years and in the meantime bought his present farm, on which he located in 1893. Here he has laid over eight hundred dol- lars worth of tiling, while all of the im- provements are of a substantial character and stand as monuments to the thrift and enterprise of the owner, who is acknowl- edged to be one of the most progri farmers and stock raisers of the township. Besides his home farm he owns another ol one hundred and sixty acres in Humboldt county, only three-quarters of a mile away, making two hundred and eighty acres in all. This property has all been acquired through his own industry, perseverance and management, as he commenced life in the new world without capital or the assistance of influential friends. On the 14th of April. 1876, in Cham- paign county, Illinois, Mr. Johnson led to the marriage altar Miss Bertha Anderson, whn was born and reared in Norway, and on coming to America in 1874 settled in Champaign county, Illinois. They have two sons: John A., who married Martha John- son, of Webster county, and is now operat- ing his father's farm in Humboldt county; and Albert A., who assists in carrying on the home farm. The parents hold member- ship in the Lutheran church, of Badger, and Mr. Johnson is identified with the Re- publican party, having always voted that ticket. His ambition has not led him to enter public life, as he prefers to give his undivided attention to his farming interests. He is one of the representative men of his community and is held in high regard by all who know him. CHARLES STEVENS. The subject of this sketch is essentially a self-made man, his success in life being due to his own unaided efforts, and the pros- perity that has come to him is certainly well deserved. He is to-day one of the rep- resentative farmers of Gowrie township, owning and operating a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20. Mr. Stevens was horn near Ban Maine, April 6, 1828, a son of Daniel and Mary (Starbird) Stevens, also natives of Id Pine Tree state, where they were married. In 1834 they removed to M county, Ohio, where in the midst of the wilderness the lather cleared and improved a farm, making his home there until 1851, when lie went to Hancock comity, Illinos, and opened up another farm. Upon the latter place he made his home until called to hi- linal rest. He was hom in ijigs. and died August 14. [865, while his wife was horn December 5, [800, and passed away June 15, 1877. On the old home farm in .Meigs county, Charles Stevens grew to manhood, and as his school privileges were limited he is almost wholly self-educated. As his father was a wheelwright and carpenter, he early became familiar with all kinds of tools, and was employed as a mechanic for some years. Mr. Stevens ws married in Meigs coun- ty, Ohio, April 30. 1851, to Miss Mary J. Bellows, who was horn in Nelsonville, that state, July 7, 1831, a daughter of S. C. and >$%* ^■^.^"^^^ ' ~ Hh«^ r jink' A i ; f I • CHARLES STEVENS MRS. CHARLES STEVENS THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 60 1 .Ruth (Vanderhoof) Bellows. Her father was born in New Jersey in 1795, and, re- ceiving a college education; he afterward followed the professii teaching and surveying in Ohio for many years. Air. and Mrs. Stevens are the pari children, two sons and four daughters, namely: Charles is married and resides in Aclaza. Iowa; Edwin C. met death by acci- dent. November 21, [885, at the age of twenty-one years; Luella T. and Emma V. live' with their parents: Lilly May is the wife of Albert Moburg, of Gowrie; and Nettie Belle is the wife- of Charles Malm. a farmer living near Callender in Roland diip. After his marriage Air. Stevens fol- lowed farming in Ohio until 1852, when he removed t< is, and there engaged in the same pursuit for sev- eral years. In the meantime the country ne involved in civil war and he en- listed in February. 1865, in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He remained in the service until after the close of the war, doing guard and -arris, n duty, and was at length honorably discharged at Columbus, Georgia, in January. 1866. Two of his brothers also entered the army and on in the service as the result of a gunshot re- ceived during the first attack on Vicksburg, and die .flier within a month after his dis- charge. Just before bis death the ' wn >te the follow ing 1< "Dear Father and Mother: "I take perhaps the last opportunity of writing you a few lines. I received a severe wound on the boat before leaving Ya.- a shot from one of the rebel skirmishers who attacked the boat just before we left, killing .ne instantly anil wounding three others. The hall struck me in the mouth and lodged in the left side of the neck, earn teeth with it. To-day while 1 was gargling water in my throat it caused bleeding and 1 came near bleeding to death lie: could he stopped. 1 have no hopes of ever getting well. If I should not, don't mourn fur me hut remember that I died an death and in a good cause. Disp little property I have in a way that will make you the most o mfortable. The exped that unwed against Vicksburg pro\ failure, a great many men lust and nothing accomplished. The skirmishers tired out and opened on them which soon put them to flight. The tire was returned by oys. Edwin C. Stevens." After his return home Mr. Stevens worked at the wagon maker's trade for five years, and then I rming in Illinois \\o years. In March, • 1882, he re- ■d to Webster a amty, h wn. whii had visited the previous September, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, only a few acres of which had been broken, but there was m 1 a tree, bush or building upon the place. To the imp ment and cultivation of this place Ik since devoted hi- tint ergies. and now hi buildings, surrounded by fruit 1 le ;ds, i four acres, and owns a In wrie. Tie started 1 tit himself empty- d, and his pr< sperity is <\\k- to his own industry, enterprise and good management. In early life Mr. Stevens was a Whig, but since voting for Abraham Lincoln in das always affiliated with the Repub- lican party. While living in Illinois he served as highway commissioner, but has 602 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. never sought or cared for political honors. He is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his family hold membership in the Congregational church. On the 30th of April, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens celebrated their golden wedding, on which occasion their children and many friends, to the number of seventy-five, gave them a pleasant surprise, and on leaving left many tokens of their good will and esteem. This worthy couple are widely and favorably known and are held in the highest regard by the entire community. HERBERT J. MACK. With the agricultural and stock raising interests of Webster county Herbert J. Mack has practically been identified since the spring of 1864, and has materially aided in the development and upbuilding of this section of the state. He now owns and op- erates a fine farm of one hundred and seven acres on section 6, Roland township, where he has made his home since the spring of 1885. Mr. Mack claims Vermont as his native state, his birth occurring in Addison county on the 12th of April, 1852. His father, John O. Mack, was also born in Vermont in 1824, and was a son of James Mack, a na- tive O'f New England and the son of a Rev- olutionary soldier. On reaching manhood the father of our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah Morton, also a na- tive of the Green Mountain state, and there they made their home until after the birth of four of their children. Mr. Mack being en- gaged in farming in Addison county. In 1863 he came west and after spending about a year in Hardin county, Iowa, he took up his residence in Webster county in the spring of 1864. having previously purchased a tract of land in Elkhorn township, where he improved a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. Being a man of sterling worth and strict integrity be became one of the most prominent citizens of his commun- ity, and was widely and favorably known throughout the county. He held several local offices of honor and trust. After a useful and well-spent life he died upon his farm in 1893. His wife still survives him and now lives with a son and daughter in Fort Dodge. Herbert J. Mack was twelve years old on coming to this county and until he at- tained his majority he gave his father the benefit of his services in improving and carrying on the home farm. He then worked at the carpenter's trade through the summer months for two years, while he engaged in teaching school during the win- ter. On the old homestead farm, October 9. 1874. was celebrated his marriage with Miss Emeline Names, who was born near De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa, where her father. Alonzo Names, settled on coming to this state from New York at an early day- She remained in Clinton county until com- ing to Webster county when a young lady, and here made the acquaintance of the gen- tleman to whom she afterward gave her band in marriage. They have three chil- dren, namely: Minnie E., who was edu- cated at Tobin College. Fort Dodge, and engaged in teaching school two terms prior to her marriage to B. L. Ham, who is now engaged in the implement business in Som- ers, Iowa; Sadie C, wife of John AA". King, ;. farmer of Roland township; and John E., who aids bis father in carrying on the home farm. Mr. Mack operated a part of the old THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 603 home farm for six years after his marriage and then followed the same pursuit in Clay county for two years. In the spring of [885 he located on his present farm on section G, Roland township, Webster county, built a small house and began to till the soil. He has since erected a more commodious and better residence, built a large barn and sub- stantial outbuildings and now has a well improved farm. He raises a good grade of stock, carrying on that entei prise in con- nection with his farming operations. Like his father before him Mr. Mack- is unswerving in his allegiance to the Re- publican party, having supported all of its presidential candidates since voting for Rutherford Ik Hayes in 1876, soon after at- taining his majority. He has been a dele- gate to numerous county conventions and has taken quite an active part in local poli- tics. He has filled the office of commis- sioner of highways and is now serving his tenth year as assessor of Roland township. For several years he was also an efficient member of the scho 1 board. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. M. F. AXDERSOX. D. D. S., M. D. This well-known and popular dentist of 1 layton, Iowa, was born on the 18th of Sep- tember. 1867, in Gottenborg, Sweden, but was not yet two years old on the emigration of the family to America in the spring of 1869. Up to that time his parents. Andrew and Anna (Johnson) Anderson, had spent their entire lives in Sweden. They landed in New York on the Jjd of April, and hav- ing determined to settle in the west, they went to Muscatine count}', Iowa, where the father purchased land and engaged in farm- ing with good success for many vears. He died on the 9th of November, 1901. at the advanced age of seventy-seven years, and his wife is now living in Galesburg, Illinois, honored and respected by all who know her. In their family are six children, namely: Amanda, wife of A. P. Hagstrom, of Gales- burg: Emma, wife of D. L. Peterson, of the same city: Lena, who is engaged in the tailoring business in Galesburg; M. F., of this review : Effie. who is engaged in the dry g L business in Galesburg; and J. E., who was formerly a dentist of Des Moines, but recently went to the Klondike and is now located at Dawson City. Dr. Anderson obtained his early edu- cation in the district schools of Muscatine county and was graduated at the high school of Muscatine with the class .if 1889. He then took up the study of dentistry at the State University, where he was graduated in [892 with the degree of D. 1 >. S., and soon afterward opened an office in Dayton, where he has since engaged in the practice of his chosen profession with marked suc- cess, having built up a large and lucrative practice. In [897 he again took a course at the State University, and w as graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Des Moines in 1900. It will thus be seen that he is a close student of his profes- sion, and lie well merits the liberal pa age he receives. At Dayton, June -'5. 1895, Dr. Ander- 1 to the marriage altar Miss Effie Mar- tindale. who was born in Epworth, Iowa, April 14, 1874, a daughter of Elijah and Anna Martindale, who are now living in Dayton. She has one brother, William, who 1 attending the State University. To the Doctor and his wife have been born children: Leona Irene. August 31, [896; ami Ronald Martindale. Septembers. 6o4 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Politically Dr. Anderson is a Rq)ub- lican and at local elections supports the men and measures which he believes will best advance the interests of the people. He takes quite an active interest in civic so- cieties and is a prominent member of Oak Lodge, No. 531, A. F. & A. M.; Delta Chapter, No. 51, R. A. M. ; Calvary Cbm- mandery, No. 24, K. T. ; Kaaba Temple, A. A. O. X. M. S. : Granite Lodge, No. 332, K. of P.: Seni-Om-Sed Temple. No. 9, I ). ( >. K. K., of ] )es Moines, and Lincoln Homestead Lodge of American Yeoman. JONAS 0LDHE1ME. The landed estate of Mr. Oldheime is licient size and importance to give him a position among the prosperous and suc- cessful property owners of Webster town- ship, where he has made his home since coming to Webster county. The farm which he owns and occupies comprises two hundred and ninety acres, lying on sections 5, 8 and 9, his residence being on section 8. 1 mring the years that have elapsed since he came here his attention has been closely given to placing the land under proper cul- tivation and putting it in condition to bear abundant harvests. Besides his homestead property he is the owner of a quarter section of land in South Dakota and has a one-half interest in a tract of three hundred and twenty acres, also in that state. The family of which Mr. Oldheime is r. member settled in Pennsylvania in an early day; in fact, at a period so early in our national history that the house they built was necessarily made very substantial in order to withstand the attacks of the In- dians and it was also made of sufficient size to enable the family to store provisions for a possible siege. The grandfather was a soldier in war of 1812, serving with a Pennsylvania regiment. The parents of Mr. Oldheime were William and Elizabeth (Lantz) Oldheime, natives respectively of I ngland and Pennsylvania, and made their home in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where their son, Jonas, was born Septem- ber 15, 1837. Shortly afterward the father was drowned in the canal and the mother later became the wife of Eli Williams, a na- tive of Pennsylvania. Accompanied by her son, they removed to Harrisburg, and there the mother died in February, 1844, leaving two sons, Jonas Oldheime and John Will- iams, the latter a resident of East St. Louis, Illinois. .1 time after his mother's death Mr. ( lldheime made his home with his grand- father but later he was taken by a cousin, Jacob Lantz, with whom he remained until he was old enough to make his own way in the world. When sixteen he began to learn the blacksmith's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of two and one-half years, and then found employment as a journey- man in Cumberland county for one year- At that time many young men were seeking the west as a desirable place to locate, and he decided also to seek a home where op- portunities were greater than in the east. For eighteen months he lived at Mount Zion, Illinois, and from there started E Pikes Peak at the time of the great excite- ment caused by the discovery of gold in Colorado mountains. However, he pro- ceeded only as far as Leavenworth, Kansas. when discouraging reports from the gold fields caused him to return to Illinois. 1 lur- ing the ensuing summer he was employed at Chatham. Next he spent a year at Monti- cello, Piatt county, and then went back to Mount Zion for a few months, later settling THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 605 at Elwin. five miles south of Decatur, Ma- con county, where lie remained from the spring- of 1861 until the fall of 1865, mean- time following the blacksmith's trade. On making another removal he settled in Web- ster county, [owa, having traded his Illi- nois property fur eighty acres, where he now lives. Eew improvements had been made on the land. A house of hewed legs pro- tected the family from the elements until, in later years, a modern ami commodious residence was built. From time to time ad- ditions were made to the property, which is now not only large in area hut fully im- proved and equipped with all the con- veniences of farm life. At Elwin, Macon county, Illinois, Aug- ust 14, 1862, Mr. Oldheime married Har- riet Adeline Widick, who was born in that county December 12, 1845, being one of nine children horn to Riel and. Mary Ann (Lynch) Widick. One of the nine died in infancy; the others are named as follows: J. J., who married Mary Walters and lives in Homer, [owa; Nanc) Jane, who after the death of her first husband, Isaac Widick, married Henry Kramer and resided at Fort Dodge. Iowa, until her death in 1S74 ; Ha" riet Adeline, Mrs. Oldheime; Mary I., who after the death of her first husband, Thomas Ellis, of Saguache, Colorado, be- came the wife of Dr. Baird, and now lives in ado; Margaret, wife of George Dan- of Webster City, Iowa; Sadie, who married Commodore Teague and lives at Celona, Colorado; Asberry, unmarried, re- siding on .Mr. Oldheime's farm; and Alice, Mrs. Burton Sparry, of Willmar, Minne- The fust wife of Mr. Widick died in 1863. Two years later he mined to Iowa and settled in Webster count)-, near Homer. There he married Mrs. Hartman, by whom he had four children : Hurt, of Pueblo, Col- . llattie, who is married and lives in Hamilton county, Iowa; Caddie, wife of William Miller, of Webster county ; and one that died in infancy. The third marriage of Mr. Widick took place in Homer, < in [895, and united him with Mrs. Fisher, for some years he has been retired from the .nine management of a farm and is making Homer his place of abode. From early life he has been a member of the Re- publican party and a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family of .Mr. and Mrs. Oldheime consists of three children : Lizzie, Frank and May. The older daughter is now the wife of I. M. Shaefer, whose home is near Websti in Hamilton county. Iowa, and they have one child. Ilarley. May is now the wife of William Lang and resides in Lehigh, Web- ster county. Ever since coming to Iowa Mr. Old- heime has proved his good citizenship by taking an active part in matters contributing to the welfare of his township audi count)' and has held the majority of the township 5, rendering efficient service in all. For some years he has had stock in the First National Lank, of Lehigh, and now is nected with its hoard of directors. Though 1 ive in politics lie has firm c< mvii on political questions and believes thor- oughly in the wisdom of Republican prin- ciples. In relii te and his wife a the Me'thodisl Episcopal faith. CARL CHRISTENSON. Among the wide-awake and energetic citizens of Webster county whose lives have agricultural pursuits is Carl Christenson, wb on section 2, 6o6 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Badger township. He proudly claims Iowa as his native state, his birth having occurred in Benton county on the 14th of July. 1870. His father. Knude Christenson, was born in Norway in 1834, and there he was mar- ried in 1853 to Miss Ellen Peterson, also a native of the Land of the Midnight Sun. They continued to make their home in that country until after the birth of ten of their children, the father being engaged in farm- ing. In 1870 he brought his family to America and on landing came direct to Iowa, his destination being Benton county, where he engaged in farming on rented land for several years. In September, 1877, h e removed to Webster count}', where he had previously purchased eighty acre^ of partially improved land, and to its further development and cultivation he at once turned his attention. Prospering in his farming operations in this county he was able to add to his landed possessions from time to time until he had four hundred acres, three hundred and twenty acres being in the home farm on section 2, and eighty acres on section 11, the same township. He continued to actively engaged in his chosen < ccupation until his death, which occurred December 27, 1887. His wid- ow and sons then took charge of the place and have since built a more commodi- ous and modern residence and a good barn and have made many other useful and valu- able improvements which add greatly to the attractive appearance of the place. Of the fourteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Christenson, only four are now living, namely : Andrew, a farmer of Hancock county, Iowa: Samuel, who now owns and operates two hundred acres of his father's estate: Anna, wife of R. S. Lund, whose sketch appears on another page of this vol- ume; and Carl, the subject of this review. Carl Christenson was only seven years old on the removal of the family to this county and here he grew - to manhood, re- ceiving a good practical education in the local schools and at the same time acquiring an excellent knowledge of agricultural pur- suits by aiding in the work of the farm. On attaining his majority he took charge of the home place. He now owns and operates two hundred acres — a portion of his father's farm — which he has bought. The mother, who has sold all her land, now makes her home with our subject. On the 8th of February, 1893, m Web- ster county, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Christenson and Miss Carrie Hagen, who was born near Albert Lea, Minnesota, and is a daughter of Iver Hagen, a native of X< irway. On coming to the new world her father settled in Minnesota, but later lived in Winnebago county. Iowa, for a time and then removed to Idaho. Mrs. Christenson spent her early life in all three of those states. The four children born to our sub- ject and his wife are Ernest, Eva, Ellen and Lloyd. Politically Mr. Christenson has been a lifelong Republican, having affiliated with that party since casting his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison in 1892, but he takes no very active part in politics. With his wife and mother he holds member- ship in the Lutheran church, of Badger, and well merits the high esteem in which be is uniformly held, having the entire confidence and good will of his fellow citizens. H. E. NELSON, M. D. Prominent among the energetic, enter- prising and successful citizens of Dayton, is the gentleman whose name introduces this THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 007 sketch. He has not only met with success in the line of his profession, but lias also prospered in business affairs, and by Ins con- nection with various enterprises and indus- tries has materially advanced the interests of Dayton and the surrounding country. The Doctor was born in Fort Dodge on the 9th of December, i860, and is a son of August and Matilda (Samuelson) Nelson, natives of Sweden, where their marriage was celebrated. In 1867 they took passage on a sailing vessel and after a voyage of seven weeks landed in Xew York city, whence they came direct to Dayton, Iowa, and took up their abode in a house on Main street, the site of which is now occu- pied by a barber shop. There the father en- gaged in business as a carpenter and con- tractor for a year, and then removed to a farm in Lost Grove township, west of Day- ton, where he followed fanning for one year. He then resumed carpentering and has since made his home in Fort Dodge, where he has served as a member of the city council three terms. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and is a Democrat in politics. In his family are three children: Emma, wife of Rev. L. Larson, now a resident of Essex, Iowa; Victor, who was married in [890 to Bessie Elliott and lives in Chicago; and H. S., of this review! Dr. Nelson first attended the common schools and later the high school of Fort Dodge, where he completed his education. He also took a course and was graduated from a business college in Fort Dodge and was then bookkeeper for a hardware com- pany 1 me year. Later he held a similar posi- tion with the Andrew Moe Grocery Com- pany two years. At the end~of that time he entered the medical department of the State University at Iowa City, where he was a student during the school year of 1890-91, and then attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, for two years, graduating in 1893, with the degree of M. D. He first engaged in practice at Lehigh, Iowa, where he re- mained twenty-one months, and in [894 came to Dayton, where he has since fol- lowed his chosen profession with marked success, having built up a large and lucrative practice. On the 2J(1 of June. 1898. Dr. Nelson was united in marriage with Miss Leona Beem, who was born in Lehigh December 31. 1872, a daughter of W. C. and Jane ( Nichols) Beem, who were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, and were married in Lehigh, Iowa, where they still live. Their children are Lillie. wife of Sam- uel McClure, of Fort Dodge; Mert, also a resident of that city and a fireman on the Fort Dodge & Omaha Railroad ; Leona, wife of our subject; and Minnie and Flovd, who live with their father in Lehigh. The Doc- tor and his wife have one child, Frances June, born June 3, [899. In collection with his father-in-law, Dr. Nelson is a member of the Lehigh Brick & Tile Company, whose works are located at Lehigh, and is secretary and treasurer of the same. He is also treasurer of the Day- ton Investment Company; a stock holder of the First National Bank, of Dayton, and tlie Mitchell Implement Company, of Fort Dodge; and is a member of the Minnesota Land Company, of Dayton, which owns about three thousand acres of Minnesota land. The Doctor is examining physician for all of the old line insurance companies doing business in Dayton and has served as city physician since locating there. He is a member of the Webster County, Iowa State and American Medical Associations, and is 6o8 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. niie of the most progressive and popular physicians of his native county, as well as one of its most energetic and enterprising business men. He is also secretary of the Dayton Telephone Company and was one i>i" its pronn ters and organizers. WILLIAM S. EWING. The life which this narrative sketches began in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August t_\ 1839, and closed in Webster county, Iowa, August 12 1896. The fifty- seven wars intervening between these two dates represented an era of activity and use- fulness, during which, through the exercise of untiring industry and great perseverance, a competent cured in agricultural pursuits. The parents of William S. Ewing were T. and Maria ( r. 1 Stockston) Ew- ing, natives of Pennsylvania who, some years after their marriage, moved to Illinois, settling in Bureau county in 1853. For a year the father worked on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, after which he cultivated farm land for five seasons, first in Bureau and later in Putnam counties. From Illi- nois hi came to Webster a unity , Iowa settled upon a quarter section of raw land. As yet not a furrow had been turned in the soil. The land remained in the primeval condition of nature. The task of breaking the ground and preparing it for cultivation was no sinecure, but the father and his sons had energy, perseverance and patience md carried on their work courageously. With a team of horses in the lead and a team of in following, the land was ploughed and brought into preparation for the crops, which in due time were planted. Buildings were put up as the means of the family per- mitted. In time the farm came to he a val- uable property. In 1881 the father returned to Tennsylvania to visit his old friends-, ex- pecting to enjoy a pleasant vacation from his many responsibilities, but while there he died very suddenly of heart failure. His wife survived until 1898. In the family of David T. Ewing there were six daughter and three sons, but three died in childhood. Those now living are as follows: .Mary A., wife of Harvey S. Baird, of Barton county. Kansas; Sarah J., Mrs. Alexander Beach, of Fort Dodge, James R., who married Hannah Kline and lives in Barton county. Kansas; Clinton D., of Webster county, Iowa; and Margaret A., wife of Walter C. ( loodrich, of Webster township, this county. The sur- viving son, who resides in Webster county, Clinton IT. is one of the best known farm- Webster township, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres on section 17. For a number of terms he has been township >0r. His first marriage occurred at Homer. Iowa, September 13, 1864, and united him with Harriet M. Rector, who born in Licking county. Ohio, March [6, 1846, and died in Webster county. Iowa, 91. Seven children were horn of their union: Mary M., William, Walter, Edgar, Stella, George E., Alva Floyd and May. He was a second time married, at Lehigh. Iowa, November 6, 1893, his wife being Mrs. El- sie 1 Core) I Holiday, wdio was born in Illi- md came to Iowa with her father, Silas now a retired merchant residing in Fort Dodge, this state With his parents William S. Ewing came to Iowa in 1858 and settled in Webster c< unity, where he engaged in cultivating a farm of forty acres. During the subsequent vears of his life he devoted himself closelv THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 609 to agricultural pursuits and aside from vot- ing the Republican ticket did not take any part in political affairs, nor was he active in any fraternal organizations besides the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Tn his tastes he was domestic, in his character up- right and honorable and in his friendships stanch and true. In Bureau county, Illinois, April 17, i860, William S. Ewing married Miss Frances M. Conger, a native of that county, born September 6, 1845. She and a brother who died in infancy were the only children of Cortez Conger, and she was left an or- phan at seven years of age by the death of her parents. Of her marriage to Mr. Ew- ing twelve children were born, of win mi the following attained mature years : Wilde, of Webster township, Webster county, who married Xellie McFarland, now de- ceased: Minnie, who married George Rec- tor, of Coalville, Webster county, and has two children; Viola, Mrs. Edward White, who has four children; May. Mrs. George Libby, who resides in Lehigh, Iowa; Dot, who is in Lehigh; Anna and Elsie, who make their home with their mother on the farm; Guy, living in Lehigh; and Frank, who resides with his mother and manages the home farm. CHARLES S. TOMLINSON. This well-known and popular engineer on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, with headquarters at Fort Dodge, Iowa, was born in Greencastle, Putnam count} - , In- diana, February 25, 1849, alu ^ > s a son °f J. A. and Mary J. (Woodruff) Tomlinson, who were natives of Kentucky and farming people. When he was seven years of age the family came to Webster county, Iowa, arriving here on the 30th of September, 1856, and they located on a farm in Sum- ner township, which was their home until [872, and then removed to Fori Dodge. Here the father engaged in the grain and stock business quite successfully until fail- ing health caused his retirement. He died January to, [891, leaving a wife and four sons and two daughters, who survive him. Since his death two of his sons have died. Mrs. Tomlinson was born April 13, 1828. The brother of our subject is Orin W., who resides at Terre Haute, Indiana, and has been a telegraph operator for the Big Four Railroad for eighteen years. Charles S. Tomlinson received his early education by studying nights while working with his father and others on the farm dur- ing the day time. On the removal of the family to Fort Dodge in 1872 he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and in February of the follow- ing year was made fireman, which position he remained in for six years. In the fall of 1878 he took the examination for engineer,, which was passed successfully, and was sent to Dubuque, where he had charge of a switch engine for four months. He then went upon the mad as engineer, and in 1880 was given a run between Chicago and Champaign, Illinois, on the Chicago divi- sion, and later was transferred to the south division between Centralia and Cairo. Illi- nois, for a short time. Mr. Tomlinson then returned to Iowa and was given a run be- tween Waterloo and Sioux City. In Febru- ary, 188 r, he left the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad and on the 27th of March entered the sendee of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad with headquarters at Fort Dodge, as freight and passenger en- gineer and he has been with that company 6io THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ever since, and is to-day the fourth oldest man in their employ, as well as one of their most trusted and highly respected engineers. On the 29th of September, 1884, Mr. Tomlinson married Miss Sarah E. Dewer Swartz, O'f Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and to them were born two children: Har- ley G., March 19, 1886; and Maude, Feb- ruary 21, 1890. The older is now deceased, passing away February 6, 1898. J. A. ANDERS! IN. One of the most successful of the Swed- ish-Americans, of Pleasant Valley township, is J. A. Anderson, who was born in Sweden. September 9, 1851, a son of Anders and Buel ( Oleson) Jepson, who were born, reared and married in their native land. Ac- cording to custom our subject assumed his lather's first name, adding the letters "on." The mother died in Sweden, but the father is still living, though an old man and past his years of usefulness. There were but three children in the family, of whom J. A. Anderson is the oldest; Xels. who is married and is still a resident of Sweden, as is also Olaf, who married Mary Peterson. In his youth Mr. Anderson attended the public schools of Sweden, and in May, of 1874, when twenty-two years of age, came to America. In McKean county, Pennsyl- vania, he worked in a sawmill for three years, and while there learned considerable of the English language, of which he knew scarcely a word at the time of emigration. In [878 he removed to Pleasant Valley township, Webster county. Iowa, where his winters were spent in the coal mines at Coalville, and his summers in the harvest fields of the surrounding farms. In 1881 he bought forty acres of partially im- proved land mi section 4, Pleasant Valley township, and this was sold at a profit in 1893, Mr. Anderson having, in 1889. pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 3 of the same township. At the time there was a very small house on this latter property and the ground was not en- tirely cultivated. Upon settling upon the farm in 1893 he laboriously worked for its best improvement, and the same year built a substantial rural home, this improvement being followed by the erection of large barns and general buildings, and by the introduc- tion of high grade modern machinery. February 13, 1875, Mr. Anderson mar- ried Betsie Johnson, in Elk county, Penn- sylvania, Mrs. Anderson being a native of Sweden, and a daughter of John and Anna Mary (Bayred) Martinson, natives also of Sweden. The parents were married in that country and there the father died at the age of eighty years, in 1885, but the mother is still living, and is seventy-eight years of age. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Betsie, who is now Mrs. J. A. Anderson; Annetta, who is the wife of Olof Seaberger, of Clay township ; Mary, who has taught the same school in Oalsted, Sweden, for about thirty-five years ; Ingrie, who is married and lives in Denmark; Jo- hannah, who works in a factory in Den- mark ; Bertilda, who is a dress maker in Sweden; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Henry Hannaball, a prominent contrac- tor and builder of Denmark. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born the follow- ing children : Emma, born in Pennsylvania July 14, 1876, married Peter Croonquist May 1. 1894. lives on a farm in Pleasant Valley township, and has three children, John Oscar, Bettie Elvira and Olga Eliz- abeth. Axel Johan, born January 30, 1879, THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 611 died December 17, 1880. Julian August Theodore, born October 23. 1885, died at the age of eleven months and seven days. Arthur William, burn February 6, t888, lives with his father. Amanda Elvira, born November 13, 1891, is also at home. Mr. Anderson now owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Pleasant Val- ley township and also is the possessor of two hundred and forty acres of land in Charles Mix county. South Dakota. Another possession is the mineral right under the farm of forty acres belonging to Mr. Stein. His farm in Pleasant Valley township is known as the Cedar Dale Farm and it is conducted on thoroughly scientific principles, and with due regard to the advanced meth- ods observed in the most enterprising cen- ters of agricultural activity. Mr. Anderson is a Republican and a stanch supporter of his party but has never found time to hold office. His first presidential vote was cast fi ir James A. Garfield. He is a moral in- fluence in the community whose interests he has done so much to promote, and is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and a member of the board of trustees. 'When the Coalville church was erected he was on the building committee, and it was largely due to his intelligent efforts that the matter was carried on so satisfactorily. He enjoys the confidence of all who know him and is one of the most substantial farmers of the township. CHARLES I. LUNGREN. Since the spring of 1877 Charles I. Lun- gren has been a resident of Webster county. Iowa, and has been prominently identified with its farming and stock raising interests. He has recently rented his farm, however, and moved to Gowrie, where he is engaged in the general merchandise business as a member of the firm of Briggs, Lungren & Lungren, having purchased a third interest in the enterprise. Mr. Lungren was burn in Sweden, No- vember 20, 1845, an( l Passed his boyhood and youth upon a farm in his native land, acquiring a good practical education in the Swedish language. He is mostly self-edu- cated in English, however. On coming to the United States in 1868 he located in Bureau county, Illinois, where for three years he worked on the farm of R. D. Jacobs near Maiden and later operated a rented farm for five years. At the end < if that time he came to Webster county. Iowa, which he visited in 1 875, and at that time bought a tract of eighty acres of raw land, some of which he had broken before locat- ing here. In the fall of 1877 he fenced the place and built a good residence, and the same year raised a fair crop. Since then he has purchased eighty acres adjoining in Greene county, and now has a well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and sixtj acres under a high state of cultivation. He has ever given considerable attention to the raising of stock, and is numbered among the successful farmers and stock raisers of his community. While residing in Bureau county, Illi- nois, Air. Lungren was married, September 28, 1872, to Miss Emma Peterson, also a native of Sweden, who came to the new- world when a girl of fifteen years and grew to womanhood in Illinois. She died March 11. 1892, and was laid to rest in Gowrie cemetery. Mr. Lungren has four sons : J. H., the eldest, who is now engaged in the mercantile business in Gowrie; H. W., a resident of Colorado Springs. Colorado; O. 6l2 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. E., who is a student in the Iowa State Col- lege at Ames; and A. F.. who is a student at Tobin College, Fort Dodge. Four children died in infancy, Jennie being sixteen months old at the time of her death. The Republican party has always found in Mr. Lungren a stanch supporter of its principles since he cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield in 1880, and he has taken quite an active part in local poli- tics. He has tilled the offices of supervisor of highways a few terms; township, trustee four years; a member of the school board fifteen years; and president of the district 3 part of the time. He has also been a dele- gate to the county convention of his part}-, and in whatever position he has been called upon to fill he has proved a most efficient and faithful officer. Pie was 1 me 1 if the orig- inal members of the Lost Grove Lutheran Mission church, with which he is still con- nected, and is a man of strict integrity and sterling worth. OLE SHELDOX. The expression "the dignity of labor" is exemplified in the life record of this gentle- man, who without reserve attributes his suc- cess to earnot work. Of excellent business ability and broad resources he has attained a prominent place among the substantial farmers of Webster county and is now able to lay aside active labor and spend his re- maining years in ease and quiet, enjoying the handsome competence acquired by former toil. Mr. Sheldon is a native of Norway, born January 14, 1841. His early life was spent upon a farm and to a limited extent he at- tended the public schools of that country, but his knowledge of the English language has been self-acquired since coming to America. It was in i860 that he crossed the broad Atlantic and took up his residence in Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he worked by the month for two or three years. There Mr. Sheldon was married. May _>o. 1862, to Miss Christine Nelson, who was also a native of Norway and was a girl of eleven years when she came to the new world. She grew to womanhood in Colum- bia and Dane counties, Wisconsin. After his marriage Mr. Sheldon rented a farm in Lodi towndiip, Columbia county, for a few j ears and engaged in farming on his own ac- ci mnt. I le was at length able to purchase a place of one hundred and twenty-five acres in Dane county, on which was an old small house and a few other improvements, and to us further development and cultivation he at once turned his attention. He built a better residence, a barn and fences, and engaged in the operation of that farm until the fall of 1868, when he sold the place and came to Webster county. Iowa. Soon after his ar- rival he purchased eighty acres of wild land in Badger township, on section io. which he soon transformed into well tilled fields. As he prospered in his new home he added to his property from time to time until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land, divided into three farms, which are well improved, and he also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota- Without capital he com- menced life in America — a stranger in a strange land — and his success is attributable to bis own untiring industry and good man- agement and the assistance of his estimable wife. He has erected two houses in the village of Badger, making each his home at THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 613 different times, and in the last built by him he ii' >\\ resides. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon were born eight children, as follows : Oliver A., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Xels. who owns and operates a farm in Badger township: Rosa, wife of Louis Clave, a hanker of Otterson, Iowa: Mary, wife of L. A. Jenson, clerk of the courts of Winnebago county, Iowa; Albert, who now operates the old home farm; Anna, who is now - assistant cashier in the hank with her brother-in-law "at Otterson; Edward, a law- student now at Vermillion. South Dakota: am 1 ( )le. who is a well-educated young man and is now engaged in clerking in Badger. Mr. Sheldon gives his political support to the men and measures of the Republican party, hut takes no active part in politics aside from voting. He has served as commis- sioner of highways but has never sought or cared for office. He and his wife are both consistent members of the Lutheran church of Badger, and are held in the high- est regard by all who know them. He is pre-eminently a self-made man and his life demonstrates what can be accomplished through energy, careful management, keen 11 ire-sight and the utilization of the powers with which nature has aidowed one and the opportunities with which the times surround him. AUGUST PUTZKE. Farming has proved a profitable and pleasant occupation to August Putzke. who was born in Prussia August 29, 1846, his parents also being natives of that country, where they passed their entire lives. He was educated in his native land, and worked on his father's farm until emigrating to America in 1867, at the age of twenty-one years. In his adopted country he w : orked for a year on a farm near Watertown, Wis- consin, and then found employment on a farm in Green county, that state, for three years. His next scene of activity was Mitchell county, Iowa, where he met with an unfortunate accident while running" a threshing machine, and was incapacitated therefrom for four months. He subse- quently tried his luck in the Wise* msin piner- ies for a couple of months, then returned to Green county, where he worked on a farm [1 ir a year. On April 18. 1873. Mr. Putzke married Augusta Welk, who also was born in Prus- sia, the date of Iter birth being November 29. 1854. Her mother is deceased, and her father is living in Stearns count)'. Minne- sota, where two of his sons also make their home. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Putzke, namely: Edward T., a farmer on section 6, Dayton township, Webster county, who married Clara Dowd; Clara Amanda, the wife of A. L. Howarth, of Souix City. Iowa; Matilda C. wife of W. E. Powers, a barber of Dayton; Malinda E., Samuel P.. Louesa Wilhelmina, Julia Augusta, and Daisy Malinda, ail five at hi mie. Following his marriage. Mr. Putzke bought a team of horses and a wagon and drove to Fort Dodge. Iowa, and in October of the same year located on the farm on sec- tion ,X. Dayton township. Webster county, which has since been his home. An inter- esting- fact connected with his arrival in the township is that the log house on the farm, which contained forty acres and cost fifteen dollars per acre, was the first erected in the township, and hi it was held the first town- ship election. The success which rewarded Mr. Putzke's industry and good manage- ment has resulted in additions to his origin- 614 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. al property, so that now he has in his own right three hundred and sixty acres of line farm land, which is devoted to general farm- ing and stock-raising. Air. Putzke is a Republican in national politics, and while carrying on unusually large enterprises on his farm has yet found time to creditably serve his township while holding important positions of trust. He was township trustee for six years, and has been a school director for twenty years, and was for six years president of the board- He is the friend of education, and his ser- vices in connection with the improvement in the school system have been valuable and appreciated. He is a member of the Evan- gelical church. OLIVER A. SHELDON. Oliver A. Sheldon, one of the energetic and progressive farmers of Badger town- ship, his home being on section 10, has been a resident of this county since October, 1867. He was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin, on the 31st of March, 1863, and is a son of Ole Sheldon, a prominent farm- er of Webster county, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Coming to Iowa when only five years old our subject passed his boyhood and youth in this count}* and was educated in its public schools. He remained under the parental roof until he had arrived at man's estate, giving his father the benefit of his labor. He spent about two years in Badger buying grain for other parties and later was a member of a firm engaged in the grain business in Arnold for a time. He next en- gaged in farming on rented land for about z. year and then operated one of his father's farms for four years. In 1890 he returned to the old homestead where he was reared and has since engaged in the operation of that farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. He raises a good grade of sti ck and in both undertakings is meeting with well merited success. In Badger township, April 12, 1891, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage with Miss Judith Chantland, who was born, reared and educated in this county and here she engaged in teaching school prior to her mar- riage. Her father, Thomas Chantland, was one of the first settlers of Badger township. Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have an interesting- family of four children, namely: Ole Cur- tis, Susan Teresa, Florence W. and James Robert. Since casting his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine, Mr. Sheldon has affili- ated with the Republican party, but has never sought or desired official honors, lie was, however, elected township assessor and served in that capacity one term, and he has also been a delegate to numerous a unity conventions of his party. Religiouslv both he and his wife are members of the Luth- eran church, of Badger, and are among the most highly respected citizens of their com- munity. ■» • » MARY H. ANDREWS. Mary II. Andrews, who is the owner of a well improved farm of eighty acres on section .27, Otho township, was born in Licking county, Ohio, June 29. 1840. and is a daughter of Daniel Clark and Deborah (Clafflin) Fuller, who were, born in Xew York state, the former January 16. 1794. and the latter August 18, 1802. The par- ents were married November 2, 1820. Daniel Clark Fuller moved from Xew THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 615 York to Ohio in [833 and settled in Lick- ing county, where he lived for forty years upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He then removed to Fori Dodge, Iowa, and lived there until his death in practical retirement from business cares. His wife, who afterward came to Otho and spent her remaining years with Norman Hart, was the mother of four sons and three daughters. namely: Mrs. Andrews, of this review: Orin P.. who married Amarida Cooley, now deceased, and lives in North Dakota; Edwin, who died March [, 1862, at Grass- hopper Falls, Kansas, his first wife hav- ing been Henrietta Pence, and his second wife May Moore, also deceased; Sarah. who married D. C. Stemson and both are deceased; Jane, wife of Norman Hart, of Kalo : Clark, who married Rowena Mi "ire and both are dead: and Deborah, a widow living at Kalo, her first husband hav- ing been John Van Valkingburg, and her second. Cornelius Clafnin. Mrs. Andrews was educated in the pub- lic schools and also at the Episcopal Acad- emy at Granville, Ohio, from which she eventually graduated. For the following ten years she engaged in educatii >nal w< »rk in different parts of the country, her Last term of school being in the district in which she now lives. Her marriage occurred De- cember 22, 1866, the ceremony uniting her with C. B. Andrews being performed at the Congregational parsonage by Rev. B< ying- ton. Mr. Andrews was born in Wood county. Ohio, June 8, 1836, and was a son of James and Arzelia (Fitch) Andrews, the latter of whom died in Wood count}- Ohio, while the former died at Border Plains, Webster count}-, in December, 1896. The father remarried after the death of his first wife, who was the mother of Mr. Andrews, and with his second wife came to Border Plains in 1851, and they were among the very earliest settlers of that region. Their effort to obtain a competence was accompanied by all of the trials and deprivations incident to frontier life, \ et the} made rapid progress among the crude conditions by which they were surrounded, and reared their children to be useful men and women. The children were: Eliza, who lives at Border Plains and is the widow of Christopher Brogettie Osman, who died in the state of Washington; Emma, who is the wife of Wilson Graves, of Madison, Wisconsin; and Samuel Ilelmer. who lives in Minnesota. C. B. Andrews served during the Civil war for three years as a soldier in the Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and participated in many of the important battles of the war. He was under command of General Banks, Colonel Scott and Cap- tain Dowd, and was discharged from the service August 24, [865. I te was, up to the time of his death, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. To Mr. and Mrs. Andrews were horn four children: Clark Elmer, horn March 2 1868, married Adelia Parsons and lives on the home place with his three children, Clarence. Florence and Marie; Howe X., horn February 21, 1N70. married Jennie Myers, and is engaged in the carpenter bus- iness at Fort Dodge; Arzelia. horn March 7. [873, married Fred Hancock, who i^ en- gaged in the implement business at Fort Dodge; and Osman, horn February 20. [880, lives at Fort Dodge. Mrs. Andrews has a pleasant home on the property which was formerly the pride of her husband, and which in the original contained one hundred and sixty acre- is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and has the reputation of being a 6i6 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. good manager and successful business woman. She is a member of the Congre- gational church at Kalo. WALLACE F. SPERRY. The abundant resources of Otho town- ship have been utilized to the fullest extent by Wallace F. Sperry, one of the large land owners of Webster county, Iowa, and one of its most scientific farmers and stock raisers. He was born in Columbia count}'. New York, January 27, 1854, his parents and grandparents being also of American birth. His father. Frederick L. Sperry, who was a blacksmith by trade, came to Webster county, Iowa, in iS(>~. and settled upon the land now occupied by our subject, having entered eighty acres of river land which he improved and upon which he made his home until called to his final rest in 1898. By bard work and good management he in- creased his possessions until he owned two hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which is now owned by his son, as well as an additional one hundred acres, making in ail three hundred and twenty acres. The wife and mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary J. Taylor, passed away in 1888. In the family were four sons who reached years of maturity, namely: M. L., who married Kate Kinkaid and lives in Fort Dodge; X. G., also a resident of Fort Dodge; Wallace F., of this review : and W. V. Wallace F. Sperry received his education in the district schools near his boyhood home, and was reared to an appreciation of the many benefits to be derived from a prac- tical, enterprising agricultural life. He continued to assist his father in the opera- tion of the home farm until his marriage, in July. 1883, Miss Alma Smith becoming his wife. She was born in Henry count}-, Iowa, November 14, 1857, a daughter of Loring W. and Caroline (Gardner) Smith, the former horn in New York. January r, 1827, and the latter in Xew Hampshire, June 29, [829. Her parents were married February 16 1854, and the following year left their home near Madison, Ohio, and settled in Henry county, Iowa, where they lived until coming to Webster county in 1859. After residing on a farm near Fort Dodge, pur- chased several years before, they removed to that city, where Mr. Smith died August 26, 1891. His wife still makes her home in Fort Dodge. Mrs. Sperry takes a just pride in her ancestry, of which authentic record has been kept since 1650. The fam- ily was first represented in America by Jo- seph Smith, who emigrated from his home in England about the middle of the seven- teenth century, and since that time his de- scendants have been creditable acquisitions to their respective places of residence. Mrs. Caroline Smith is of Scotch descent and is the mother of the following children : Mrs. Hattie Martin, a resident of Henry county. Iowa; Sherman E., who died August 27, 1 888, at the age of twenty-seven years ; Car- rie R. who is a stenographer in Denver, Colorado; Charles L.. who lives in Fort Dodge; Fred E., who died in [878; and Al- ma, now - the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Sperry have eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Fred L.. April 1, 1881 ; Lisle W.. June 15, 1SS7; Merle M.. born April 4. 1889; Ward, born October 2j, 1891 ; Elibu C. June 9, 1893; Mavis and Mildred, twins. March 19. 1895; and Irene, August 26, 1897. After his marriage Mr. Sperry purchased one hundred acres of. land in Otho town- ship, to the improvement and cultivation of THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 619 which lie at once turned his attention, and lias since bought the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead. He is success fully engaged in general farming and stock raising, although he devotes more time to the dairy business than to feeding and sell- ing stock. He is one of the most energetic and up-to-date men of his community, and is foremost in all efforts to improve the edu- cational and material standing of the town- sHib in which he makes his home. S. E. LE VALLEY. S. E. Le Valley, one of the honored vet- erans of the Civil war, and a well-known retired farmer of Dayton, Iowa, was horn on the 24th of March, 1834, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and on the paternal side is of French lineage. His father. J. N. Le Valley, was a native of New York, and in that state grew to manhood and mar- ried Miss Laura Ann Allen, who claimed Connecticut as her birthplace. In 1833 they renn >ved to Pennsylvania, where they con- tinued to make their home until 1857, when thev went to. Illinois and took up their resi- dence in Knox county, where the mother died in 1866 and the father two years later. He was a stone mason by trade and a stanch Democrat in politics. Unto this worthy couple were born eleven children, of whom four died in in- fancy, the others being Debbie D., who mar- ried Michael Slocum and died in Pennsyl- vania; Daniel, who married Maria Row and also died in Pennsylvania; George C, who first married Harriet Brunson and second Jane Miles and makes his home in Knox count}', Illinois; Francis and Levi H., who both died at the age of twenty-seven years ; Silas, who married Minerva Onielia and re- sides in Pennsylvania; and S. E., our sub- ject. The last named was educated in the dis- trict schools of Pennsylvania and assisted his father until twenty-two years of age. Leaving home in 1856 he went to Knox county, Illinois, where he engaged in farm- ing upon rented land until after the Civil war broke out. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism he enlisted August 14. 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Second Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, under General Ward. His command crossed the Ohio river at Louisville and proceeded to Frank- fort and on to Bowling Green and Scotts- ville, Kentucky. They were mounted and did scout duty for nine months. From Scottsville they went to Gallatin, Tennessee, and later to Nashville. Luverne, Chatta- nooga and Atlanta. During the early part of his service Mr. Le Valley took part in a number of skirmishes, but his first im- portant battle was that of Buzzards Roost, followed by the engagements at Resaca, Dallas, Casville, Xew Hope Church (Burnt Hickory), Lost Mountain. Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta and Vining Station, which brought the army to the Chattahoo- chee river. Crossing that stream they en- gaged in battle at Peach Tree Creek. Later they participated in the battle of Atlanta, and on leaving that city accompanied Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea. They took part in the battles of Lawtonville and Columbia, South Carolina, and Averysboro and Bentonville, North Carolina, and then proceeded to Goldsboro without opposition, being stationed there at the time of Lee's surrender. From there they went to Ral- eigh in time to witness the surrender of Johnston to Sherman and then proceeded northward to Washington, D. C, where 620 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Mr. Le Valley took part in the grand re- view and was mustered out June 6, 1865. He was slightly wounded at Atlanta. From private he rose to the rank of sergeant and was serving' in that capacity when the war ended. After leaving the army Mr. Le Valley returned to Knox county, Illinois, where he worked by the month on a farm. On the 1st of February, 1866, he married Miss El- mira F. Le Valley, a (laughter of C. II. and Harriet Le Valley, who were married in New York and on coming west settled in Knox county, Illinois. Her father died in 1895, but her mother is still living. Their family consisted of one son and seven daughters, namely: Elizabeth, wife of William Suydan, of Knox county. Illinois; George H., who married Hannah Lane and resides in Knox county; Elmira F., wife of our subject: Mary, wife of If. P. Tate, of Dayton, Iowa; Julia, who died at the age of thirty years; Hattie, wife of William Palmer, of Galesburg. Illinois: Emma, de- ceased wife of Alonzo Harrison, of Colo- rado; and Xellie. wife of Charles Perkins, of Ottumwa, Iowa. Our subject and his wife have seven children: ( 1 ) Judd N., a resident of Day- ton, married Lulu Carr and has two chil- dren, Frances and Helen. (2) Daniel O., of Dayton, married Carrie Bennett and has four children, Ethel, Eddie, Edith and Nel- lie. (3) Fred S., of Dayton, married Xellie Dowd and has two children, Harley and Harvey. (4) Hattie is the wife of William Snyder, of Belmond, Iowa. (5) Willie W. is at home with his parents. (6) Stella is the wife of William Olmstead, of Dayton, and they have three children. Juddie, Ora and Chauncey. 1 j) Chauncey makes his home with his parents. Mr. Le Vallev continued his residence in Knox county, Illinois, until 1876 when he came to Webster county, Iowa, and pur- chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Dayton township, which he success- fully operated until 1892. Renting his place lie removed to Dayton, where he owns a nice home, and a year after locating here he sold his farm and embarked in the meat business, conducting a market for nine years. Politically he is identified with the Republi- can party and has most efficiently filled the office of justice of the peace. Both he and his wife are active and faithful members of the Methodist church, of which he is trus- tee and steward, and he is also connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic, while his wife holds membership in the Woman's Relief Corps. As a citizen he has alwavs been true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, so that his loyalty is above question, being manifested in days of peace as well as when he followed the old flag to victory on south- ern battlefields. EDGAR L. WOODDLE. Particularly worthy of mention, as prov- ing what it is possible for energetic young- men to accomplish in Webster county, is the success which is rewarding the enterprise and Kvi.se judgment of Mr. Wooddle, of Webster township. He was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, April 22, 1S74, and is a member of a well-known family concern- ing whom mention is made in the sketch of Albert Wooddle. When he was a boy he was given such advantages as the district schools of Rock Island county afforded, and after coming to Iowa he was for a short time THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 621 a student in the Lehigh schools. At the age of sixteen lie left school, in order to assist his father on the heme farm, and during- the winter, when there was little to do on the farm, he clerked in a store. In Webster township. June 18, 1893, Mr. Wooddle married Miss Delia M. Daniels, who was born here March 5, 1874. and is a daughter of William Henry Daniels, a native of Bureau count}-. Illinois. Mention of the Daniels family appears in the sketches of Daniel and C. N. Daniels, elsewhere in this work. Agriculture has so far been Mr. W ldle's occupation in life. For a time he rented a farm belonging- to his wife'-, grand- father, and afterward cultivated land owned by his father-in-law. meantime saving his accumulations in order that he might invest in land for himself. In 1897 he purchased a tract of eighty acres, lying on section [6. With this piece as nucleus, be has kept add- ing to his property, until now his landed possessions aggregate two hundred and twenty acres on sections 16 and 17, while his wife owns an eighty-acre tract on section 17, these several properties adjoining and form- ing one of the best farms in the entire town- ship. One of the chief ambitions of Mr. Wood- die's life has been to make his farm the peer of any property in the entire county, and how well he is succeeding a glance at his place indicates. A neat residence gives the family a desirable abode, and suitable gran- aries provide a place of storage for crops, while barns and cattle sheds provide shelter for the stock. The land is divided and sub- divided into fields of convenient size, some for the pasturage of stock and others for the raising of grain. Especial attention is paid by the owner to the raising of high- grade stock for the market, and it is in this line that he has met with the greatest suc- cess. A number of very fine In irses are t< 1 be seen on the farm, as well as full-blooded cat- tle- The grain raised on the farm is as feed for the stock, which has proved more profitable than its sale in the markets. It would seem that the management of his property, together with all the responsibility attached to the breeding, feeding and selling of cattle, would engross all of Mr. Wood- die's time, but we find that he has for eight winters found time to engage in mining, and lie kept in touch with the occupation through his membership in the Miners' Union. At this writing he is connected with the Amer- ican Yeoman Lodge. While he has thus far in life refused to accept official positions. Mr. Wooddle is in- terested in public affairs, keeps posted con- cerning the problems brought before our government, and supports the Republican party. Both he and his wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church and c< mtribute to its maintenance. He is a stock- holder in the Lehigh Valley Savings Bank and has other interests that are important. Indeed, his success is unusual for one of his age, and without doubt he will be in a posi- tion to retire from active business cares with a competency sufficient for all of his remain- ing vears. at a time when man}- men are ]ust getting a fi u rthold in the business world. In his family there are three children, name- ly: Gladys M.. born March 5, 1804: Lewi- S.. March jo, 181)7: and Mildred, August 22. 1900. JACOB INTERMILL. An esteemed citizen and successful farm- er as well as a large land owner in Webster county, Iowa, is Jacob Intermill, whose property is located on sections X and 5, Day- 622 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ton township. His birth < ccurred in Switz- erland April 8, 1843, h' s parents being Christian and Elizabeth ( Creubuel 1 fnter- inill. who were born, reared and married in Switzerland. In i860 they emigrated to the United States, settling in Tuscarawas coui> ty, < )hio, where the father died five years la- ter, after which the mother made her home with our subject until her death, in 1890. They had a family of twelve children, our subject being the seventh in order of birth. The 1 thers were as folloWs: Christian mar- ried Anna Weir, now deceased, and lives in Oakdale, Nebraska; Elizabeth is the widow of John I louder and resides in I'.urnside township, tli^ county; Rose is the widow of John Schwenderman and lives in Burnside township; John married Charlotte Eckhart and lives in Vincent, Webster county; Sam- uel died in [865 at the age of twenty-six; Susan is the wife of Jacob Echer, of Canton, Ohio; Margrel is the wife of David Brown, of Fort Dodge, towa; Madeline married Nicholas Finzer and resides in Hicksville, Ohio; Annette married John Wenger and lives in Canton, Ohio; Mary died in Switz- erland at the age of ten years; and Rudolph married Carrie Porch and lives in Webster county. I 'mil he was seventeen years of age our subject knew no other land than his native Country. After the family settled in Ohio he attended school in older to perfect him- self in the English language. For five years he remained at home assisting his father on the farm, at the same time studying the English tongue, and succeeding in a wonder- ful degree. He then went west, stopping first in Bureau county, Illinois, where he farmed on shares for two years, after which he removed to Jasper county, Iowa. The trip was made overland in a prairie schooner. From there he went to Benton county and two years later came to Webster county, in ing a river claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Two years later Mr. Intermill went to Philadelphia and in February, 1X71. he was married to Catherine Steit/e. a native of Germany, and a daughter of William and Maggie 1 Waggoner) Steitze, both of whom were born in that country. Mrs. Intermill was one in a family of four children, all of whom are living in America, the others be- ing: Peter, who married Kate Kuster and lives in Rigorsville, Ohio; Maggie, who married Jake Grow and resides at the same place; and John, who married a Miss Echart and lives in Dover. Ohio. Mrs. Intermill, the firs] wife of our subject, died May 13, 1872, and was buried in Rigorsville, Ohio. One child was horn to that union, William I-'., who married Matilda Norstrum and lives in Bruce, South 1 )akota. Mr. Intermill remained at work on a farm near Canton, Ohio, until the fall fol- lowing and then returned to Iowa. On Sep- tember hi. [872, at Canton, he was married to Elizabeth Snyder, a native of Switzerland, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth Sny- der, both of whom were horn in Switzerland. The mother died and the second marriage of Mr. Snyder was to Elizabeth Pfester. By his first marriage Mr. Snyder had three children, namely: Godfreid, a resilient of Stratford, Iowa: Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. Intermill; and Lew. who lives with his brother. Eight children were horn by Mr. Snyder's second marriage, namely: John, who lives in Ohio; Mary, who married James Geisenger and lives in Akron. Ohio; Josephine, Fred and Susan, .also residents of Akron; and George. Nicholas and Sam- uel, who also live in Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Intermill eight chil- dren were born: Anna, born July 3, 1873, THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 623 was married February i_\ [896, to Alberl Rufer who was born in Bureau county, tlli- nois, March 31, 1869, and they live in I »a} ton township, this county. Their four chil- dren arc Clarence, Florence, Harold and ( irace. The 1 >ther members 1 >\ the [ntermill family arc: Charles, at home; Katie, wife of Edward Gabriedson, of Dayton, towa; Louisa, wife of Alvin Kramer, of Burnside township; Minnie: Lydia; Lilly; and Flos- sie. Mr. [ntermill owns two hundred and forty acres of some of the most valuable land in Dayton township and also one hun- dred and sixty acres in Bruce, Brookings county, South Dakota. Although lie lias long been a firm believer in a Republican party management he is no politician, and refuses to accept any public office. I lis re- ligious ci nnection is with the German Evan gelical church, in which faith he was reared. Mr. [ntermill lias been a very busy and in- dustrious man and lias accumulated his large property interests through his own endeav- 1 irs and enji iys the high esteem of his felli 1 . citizens. 4 » » A. J. CROUSE. The rer< 'Hi < ■ 1 i < . 1 1 - • r \ 1 ' back to the pioneer days of Webster county, to which he came in childhood and with which he lias since been identified, being a well-known farmer 1 m sect inn 21, Wash- ington township. He was born in Owen county, Indiana, April 22, [845, and is a son of [saacand Nancj (Cornelius) Crouse, natives of North Carolina. Jli- father was born November 28, [808, and his mother Decemher 10. [803. Alter their marriage id from North Carolina to In- diana, settling in Owen county, where he took up a government claim. The year [85] witnessed their arrival in Webster o lunty, I' wa. \t thai time the o >vm\ Hamilton and Webster were one, und< name 1 »f Webster, and w itli the cot at Ih :iiicr. Settlers were few , imp conspicuous bj their absence, ami hard and privations were the common 1' t of all who, with a pioneer's brave heart, peni trated these then primitive wilds. The family were wholl) without means and the father was Had to secure work in building a gristmill. 1 1 is employer hail taken up a government claim, hut becom ing discouraged with prospects, turned his land and 1' ig house over to VEi 1 rou se, and it was there thai the family spent the m I winter in Iowa, ddic weather was unusually severe and for weeks the snow laj four feel deep, effectually depriving the familj of all Me intercourse with other pioneers. The log house offered hut meager profc fn mi the elements, fi ir the o 'Id w 1 had come 1 m bef< ire there had been an op portunity to daub up the crack-, in order to keep ' 'Ut the ci 'Id. Ti 1 add t' ' their ings there was no stove and no elm As a result of the exposure they were af- fllicted with the ague, with which the fered constantly and seriously. Howi when spring came the} 1 m recovered from the effect- of the hard winter. The father began to break up the land preparatot cultivation. The house, too, < n ndered a. better protection from wind and weather, and when am ther w inter began dim k without fear of further suffering. In 1852 they built a log house four and half miles south of II miei on I >i n m< and there remained until [857, when they d to Brush) creek and bought a quarter aining some imp merits. It was on tin- place that Mr. I •624 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. •died on September 29, 1887. His wife had passed away July 19, 1883. Both were bur- ied at Dun-combe, Iowa. Their family con- sisted of six children. The eldest. Jane, was born August 1. 1832. and became the wife ■of Robert Wilgus of Webster county, Iowa, but both are now deceased. They were the parents of nine children. Sarah Ann was born December 14, 1834. and makes her home with W. L. Crouse in Webster county. John Henry, who was born August 30, 1836, married Betsy Newsum and resided in Web- ster county until his death, on April 7, 1881. Polly Paulina, born April 12, 1840, became the wife of William Paine and died in Web- ster county in 1897. She is survived by one child. A. J. was the fourth in order of birth, while the youngest is Rebecca, horn October 9, 1848, and now the wife of George Townsend. of the state of Washington. The school advantages afforded by Web- ster count}" during pioneer days were exceed- ingly limited but A. J. Crouse succeeded in acquiring a knowledge of the three R's and subsequent habits of observation and self- culture have made him a well informed man. The school which he attended was the result of the ingenuity of the farmers, they having clubbed together and built .1 school house, which they supported by sub- scription. His attendance at the school was limited to three months in the winter; dur- ing the remainder of the year he was em- ployed in helping on the farm. He re- mained on the homestead until he was twenty- four. At Fort Dodge, Iowa. Janu- ary 6, 1868, he married Cordelia M. Jaques, who was born in Ohio- August 1 1, 1850, and died in Iowa June 8, 1898. Her parents, Varnum and Juliana (Porter) Jaques were born, reared and married in Ohio. After his death the widow came to Iowa and set- tled in Webster countv. Her death occurred in 1896 at the home of her son. Franklin, near Salt Lake City. Utah. In her family there were eight children, James, John, Jason, Charles. Caleb, Franklin. Adeline and Cordelia. Mr. Crouse is the father of seven chil- dren, the eldest of whom, Ellora Evelyn, was born November 6, 1869, and died when seventeen days old. Parella Lenoria. who was born November 22, 1870, married The- ron Pratt, of Washington township, Web- ster county, and they have one child, Blanche May. John Wesley Crouse, the oldest son in the family, was born April 26, 1873. He was married at Fort Dodge, Iowa, December 20, 1899, to Miss Jennie C. Webb a native of Webster county, born June 2, 1883. She was one of five children, whose parents, Mar- shall M. and Kate (Ding-man) Webb, are natives, respectively, of Webster county, Iowa, and New York state, now residing a: Fort Dodge. J. W. Crouse and wife have one daughter, born October 25, 1900. The fourth child of Mr. Crouse is Nellie Ala- meda, born May 28, 1877, and married May 11. 1899, to Hartley Daniels, by whom she lias one child. They live in Webster county. The fifth child in the family is Jessie May Ursula, born April 7, 188 1. She was mar- ried January 4, 1900, to Arthur Stump, of Webster county, and died October 4, 1901. The youngest children of Mr. Crouse are Teddy Varnum, born June n, 1883. and Frederick William, born October 26, 1888, both of whom are at home. Ever since his marriage Mr. Crouse has continued to operate the homestead farm, which he has improved by building a resi- dence and barns and by placing the eighty acres under excellent cultivation. The prop- ertv lies on section 21, Washington town- ship. While managing his various personal interests, he finds time to participate in local THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 625 affairs and is well posted concerning move- ments brought before the people for the ben- efit! of the county. At different times he has held a majority of the township offices, till- ing these positions with fidelity and intel- ligence. In his political views he is in sym- pathy with Populist doctrines and usually votes with the People's party, although his citizenship is too broad to be confined to the narrow limits of any political organization. First, last and always he favors such plans and measures as will promote the welfare of the people. SWAN JOHNSON. ( >ne nf the most prominent and public- spirited citizens of Dayton is Swan Johnson, who is now so efficiently serving as county supervisor from district No. 4. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was bdrn in Sweden. May 14, 1844, and there spent the first seventeen years nf of his life. In 1861 he came to America in company with his parents, Andrew and Christiana ( Anderson ) Johnson, the voyage being made in the Margretta, a sailing ves- sel. After six weeks spent upon the water they landed in Boston, Massachusetts, and fn m there went to New York and on to Henry county, Illinois, where the father purchased a tract of land near Orion, and to its cultivation and improvement he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1887, but the mother is still living and continues to reside in Orion, Illi- nois. hi their family were six children, namely: John, who married Margaret Sneges, and resides in Des Moines, Iowa; Mary C, wife of Hans Shult, of Henry county, Illinois ; Swan, the subject of this sketch ; Jonas P., a resident of Gowrie, Iowa, who wedded Alary Larson, and has repre- sented Webster county in the state legisla- ture; Annie, who married P. E. Coleson and died in Boone county, Iowa; and Alggert A., who married Ida Sten, and resides in Calhoun county, Iowa. Swan Johnson celebrated his seventeenth birthday in mid-ocean on the emigration of the family to America. He began his edu- cation in his native land, and attended schi »ol in Mercer county, Illinois, to a limited ex- tent for about two years, but he had little opportunity for study as he worked in the coal mines of Knox and Warren counties, Illinois, during the winter months and as a farm hand through the summer season, be- ing thus employed for six years. On the 1 6th of March, 1867, in Andover, Henry count}', Illinois, was celebrated! the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Mar- garet England, who was also born in Swe- den, February 2. 1847, a daughter of Peter and Cathrina (Coleson) England, natives of the same country. In 1853 the family came to the United States on a sailing ves- sel, which cast anchor in the harbor of New York after a voyage of ten weeks. Going to Knox county, Illinois, Mr. England pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres of land, a" span of horses, a wagon and three cows, for all which he paid three hundred dollars in gold, and in his farming 1 iperatii rti< in of the pn iperty lies 1 m sectii ms (). 4 and 5, Webster township, hut the estate also extends into section 33, Washington township, where stands the commodious and comfortable residence, erected in 1805 by 030 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the present owner. Large barns, cattle sheds and granaries add to the complete equipment of the farm, and over the whole estate is an air of thrift that bespeaks a capable head and intelligent management. In Bureau county, Illinois, Charles X. Daniels was born July 8, 1854. When a small child lie came to Webster county, Iowa, with his father, Daniel Daniels, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. For a time he at- tended the Daniels school in Webster town- ship, held in a log cabin built and at one time occupied by his grandfather .Mercer. Primarily educated in these primitive sur- roundings) he was later given more substan- tial advantages, and was a student in the Webster City school. At the age of nine- teen he secured a teacher's certificate and for five years afterward he taught in Washing- ton and Webster townships. However, teaching was but a stepping stone to the occupation of farming, which he had chosen for his life work, and as sunn as he was in a position to undertake farm pursuits inde- pendently, he began to till the soil. The marriage of Mr. Daniels was solem- nized in Webster township, March 23, 1879, and united him with Arminda E. Widick, who was born August 4, 1859, in Macon county, Illinois, five miles from the city of Decatur. In childhood she was brought to Iowa by her father, Henry Widick, who be- came an influential resident of Webster county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dan- iels are as fellows: Charles E., born April 8, 1SS1 Elsie 1 ; ... born < )ctober 6, 1882; Mary Elizabeth. July 30. 1885; Alice May. who \\a> horn May 5, [888, and died Octo- ber 14. 1901 ; John M., born March 1. 1892; and Blanche Ethel, March 3, 1896. After his marriage Mr. Daniels bought eighty acres of land in Webster township. The property was partially improved and he proceeded to place it under first-class culti- vation, planting the various cereals to which the si ;1 was adapted. With the excepts n of ( ne year spent in Kansas, for the benefit of his wife's health, be continued to reside on this estate until 1889, when he purchased and settled upon his present homestead. Be- sides the latter property, he owns one hun- dred and sixty acres in Hodgeman county, Kansas. Numbered among his various in- terests is his connection with the Lehigh Valley Savings Bank as a stockholder, while his wife holds stock in the First National Bank of Lehigh. It has never been his desire to enter the field of poli- tics, and he has always refused to accept official positions; vet he is interested in whatever promotes the welfare of county, state and nation, and believes thoroughly in Republican principles. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, while in religious associations he is con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee, and to the mainten- ance of which he has been a regular con- tributor. ABE ANDERSON. One of the well-known and most highly esteemed citizens of Webster county, who has been prominently identified with its agri- cultural and public interests since locating here in 1875, is Abe Anderson, the owner of one of the most valuable estates in Day- ton township. The birth of Mr. Anderson occurred Au- gust 27. 1839. in Sweden, and he is a son of Andrew and Mary Anderson, who were na- tives of that country, where they spent their lives. Our subject was the second in order of birth in. a family of four sons and three THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 631 daughters, the others being: J< hn, who mar- ried Louisa Solemans, and resides in Swe- den: Andrew, who married Mary Swan- son and is a resilient of Dayton township, this county; August C, who married Ma- tilda Johnson, and lives in Dayton township; Christiana, wife of Lot Leburg, of Chicago : Mary, wife of Evine Burygree, of Har- court, Iowa: and Eva Lottie, who lives un- married, in Chicago. In his early years out subject attended the schoi )ls 1 if his native country, and accord- ing' to the law. served his allotted time in the Swedish army. He worked for eight years at the carpenter trade and also was a practical farmer, before he decided to emi- grate to America. His mother felt as if -he could not part from her son, but he gave her his promise that he would return in a few years, hoping that fortune would favor him in the new land. Misfortune overtook hum almost at the first stage of his journey as the boat on which he sailed from Guttenborg was so heavily loaded that it was stopped by the authorities, causing a week's delay at Got- tenborg. -However the matter was finally adjusted and he landed in the city of New York July 5. 1866. Crossing the continent as far as Chicago, Mr. Anderson secured remunerative employment in the plow fac- tiry of Young & Hapgood, where he re- mained for one year, and then went to St. I. 'in-. Missouri, and was an employe in the Baxnum plow factory for seven years, in the meantime living a frugal life and saving his money. Remembering his promise to his devoted old mothei, and also remembering the maiden who was awaiting him in the old home, he then decided to return on a visit to Sweden, and reached there in 1875. The J03 of all concerned may be imagined, but Mr. Anderson found hi- mother blind. This wa- an affliction indeed but he had lived in a o untry where such wonderful surgical operations were performedd that he was de- termined to take his mother to a specialist in the city of G ttenb irg and see if her sight could not lie restored. lie had the great satisfaction of not only having the difficulty removed, but of her being able to read, by the use 1 f glasses. When a year had been spent among the old scene-. Mr. Anderson began to feel as if he must return to the bustle and oppor- tunity of the United States again, and with him came Miss Anna Bankson, to whom he was married July 2S, 1875. in the city of I Imago. She was born in Sweden. Feb- ruary 24. 1844. a daughter of Abraham and Christiana Bankson. both natives of Swe- den. Her father died when she was a child, and her mother in 1873. Her brothers bofch reside in Sweden. A family of four chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, namely: Hilda. Carl, John, and Teckla, who died at the age of seventeen years. After his marriage Mr. Anderson de- cided to become a farmer and landowner, and with that end in view came to Iowa, lo- cating in Dayton township, Webster coun- ty, where he owned a one-third interest in a quarter section. Three years later his brother, C. A., and John O. Swanson dis- solved partnership, the two brothers taking the land and Mr. Swanson taking the stock and implements, Die brothers still own that tract. C. A. living on the north half of it, and our subject on the south half. At the time of settlement this was raw prairie land, and they had all the improving to do. The nearest railroad was at Boone and Fort Dodge, and the trading was necessarily done at a little store in the then straggling village ^ THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. of Dayton. All of the grain had to be hauled to Grand Junction, a distance of six- teen miles. Mr. Anderson has lived to see so many wonderful changes that the country almost seem- like a different one, and he has done his full share in the progress and develop- ment. He has built one of the finest resi- liences and one of the best barns in Webster count}' and now owns three hundred and twent} acres of land, on sections 29 and 30, Dayton township. He has taken an active interest in public affairs, has been secretary of the school hoard for twenty-one years, road commissioner and school trustee. Al- though a firm adherent of the Republican party, he desires no political honors, only being willing to serve in some position which he knows will enable him to benefit his locality. The religions connection of the family is with the Mission church at Harcourt, Iowa. BERNARD SUER. One of the thoroughly successful stock raisers and farmers of Webster county is Bernard Slier, whose farm of one hundred and twenty acres is located in Burnside and Yell townships. He was born in Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, July 15, 184(1, his fa- ther being a native, of Hanover. Germany, while his mother, formerly Elizabeth Fecht, was born in Coeurlouir, France. The par- ents were married in Pennsylvania and lived there for a few years, after which they re- moved to Grant comity, Wisconsin, where they owned property and where the father died in March, 1 S57. while the mother lived until 1872. The elder Sner was a Democrat in national politics, and was a member of the Catholic church. At a practically early age Bernard Suer was confronted with the serious and re- sponsible side of life, for when twelve years 1 1 age his father was killed in the lead mines of Wisconsin, and the support of the rest of the family rested upon his inexperienced shoulders. He was therefore obliged to dis- continue his training at the little log school house in the vicinity of his home, and to settle down on the farm which his father had never occupied and there work hard fn lin- early morning until late at night. The breaking out of the Civil war afforded an opportunity for a little broader existence, and at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 31, [863, he enlisted in Company C, First \\ is- consin Volunteer Cavalry, and became a soldier in the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in many of the engagements of the war and in many skirmishes of minor importance, and assisted in the capture of the noted southern leader, Jefferson Davis, May jo, 1865. On July 16, 1865, he was honorably discharged from the service, and then returned to his home, where he re- mained for a vear. In the spring of 1866 Mr. Suer went to St. Louis and worked in the rock quarries and brick yards, and in the fall went to New Orleans and remained until the following spring. Fie afterwards returned to St. Louis and remained until 1869, which year found him in Kansas City, Missouri, work- ing in the brick yards. He then located in Ray county, that state, where he worked in the coal mines. On March 21, 1873, Mr. Suer married Louise Lierman, who was born in St. Louis, October 2j, 1858, her father, Daniel Lierman, being a native of Germany, and her mother, Mary (Flicke) Lierman, being born in Alsace Lorraine, now a province of Germany. Her parents were married in St. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 633 Louis and removed to Ra) county, Mis- s< uri, where the father bought a farm, upon which lie lived until his death in [872. His •wife, who survives him and is living in Lexington, Missouri, is the mother of three sons and three daughters: Michael, who married Minnie Houth and lives in Rich- mi nd, Missouri; Louise, who married Bern- ard. Suer; May. who married George Phil- lipps and lives at Kalo, Iowa; John, who married Nora Ashford and lives in Lex- ington, Missouri, and Edward, who mar- ried Emma Ashford and lives in Lexingti a. dr. and Mrs. Suer have been horn the following children: Benjamin, who was tx rn Jul\- 4. 1876, and married Ruby Ford, h\ whi in he had two children. Archie and Hazel; John F., who was born May 19. [878, and married Bertha Holloway; Will- iam F., born September 21, 1880: Daniel G., born April 24. 1882; Frank A., born May 11, 1884; Emma May, horn July 23. [888; Bertha Anna, born Oct' her 27, [89I : Mary Elizabeth, burn May 23, 1894; and Elizabeth Allen, born December 25, 1896. After his marriage Mr. Suer lived in Richmond, Missouri, until 1874. at which time he removed to Boone county, Iowa, and in 1877 returned to Richmond, where he remained until 1879. Upon removing to Lehigh he bought a farm and worked in the mines and now has one hundred and twenty acres of as fine land as can be found in Burnside township. The rural home is finely constructed and beautifully located, and the improvements are the latest. The land at the time of purchase was practically unimproved, and be has placed it under cul- tivation and built the new home wherein he now lives. Mr. Suer raises stock for mar- ket, and lias the reputation of being one of the most successful stock men in the county. IK- is fraternally associated with the Inde- pendent ( )rder of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He also is a member of the Catholic church, while his wife is associated with the Meth- odist Episcopal church. DANIEL W. VANDEVENDER. Many years ago, during the days 1 1" the prairie schooners, one of those primitive conveyances, drawn by a yoke of oxen, wended it way across the country from Ohio tc Iowa. Many of the most successful men - 1 [owa well remember a journey of this kind and their tin ughts often wander back to the days before railroads were introduced, before telegraphs and telephones had brought the whole country into the most intimate relations, and before L wa had be- et me one of the greatest commonwealths of the United States. The wagon referred to brought the Vandevender family to Webster count}". Iowa, two other families coming at the same time and settling here. This was in 1855. A son was horn into the fam- ily, December 29. 1859. an ^ he it is who forms the subject of this article. His birth occurred in Washington township and he is still a resident of the same, making his home on section 28. Until fourteen years of age Mr. Van- devender attended the sch< "1 in district Xo. 2. Washington township. He then went ta Buchanan county, this state, and secured work on a farm near Independence, receiv- ing seventeen dollars a month, which was considered splendid wages for a boy. After one year there he returned to his home and remained a year, then went to Prairie du Chien. Wisconsin, and from there to the vil- 634 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. lage of Seneca on the Wisconsin river, where he spent four months. From Wisconsin he went to Kansas, where lie was employed in Miami county for six months, and then w ent t< i Shaw nee county. For a year he was employed with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad at Topeka. Returning to Iowa from Kansas, he spent eight months in Webster county and then went to the northern part of the state. After his mar- riage he settled on the homestead on section 28, Washington township, where he has since resided, having in 1899 bought out the other heirs to the property, and now- owns eighty acres of finely improved land. In addition to the raising of general farm products, lie gives considerable attention to the raising, buying and selling of stock. A progressive spirit characterizes him as a citizen. It has always been his aim to sup- port those movements that are calculated to benefit the people and develop local resources. Like all of his name in Webser county, lie- is energetic, capable and intelligent. Po- litically he is a Republican, and on the regu- lar party ticket has been elected to all < I the township offices, being at this writing township clerk. In fraternal relations he is connected with the Modern Woodmen Camp at Duncombe. In Mitchell county, Iowa, June 11. 1882, Mr. Vandevender married Miss Minnie I. Markell, who was born in Wisconsin Sep- tember 6, 1866. Her father. S. V. Markell, was a native of Xew York and in early life moved to Wisconsin, where he married Elizabeth Sickels. In 1807 they settled in Mitchell county, Iowa, purchasing a farm in Union township north of Osage. Here Mr. Markell has since resided with the ex- ception of a short time in South Dakota, where he conducted a general store at Win- fred. Politically he is a Republican, and in religion adheres to Methodist Episcopal doctrines. His wife died in January, 1881, and was buried at Stacyville, Mitchell coun- ty. They were the parents of the following- named children: Ella A., who married S. G. Palmer, of Mitchell county, and has five children; William, of St. Paul, Minesota, who first married Emma Nye and after her death was united with Elsa Failing, by whom he has three children : Cecilia, of Min- neapolis, Minnesota, who is married and has two children: Minnie, now Mrs. Vande- vender; Jessie, who married William Cults, lias one child and lives near Portland, Ore- gon; and Hettie, who died at three years of age. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vande- vender three daughters and a son were born, namely : Edith May, born February 24, 1884; Mabel Louisa, March 27, 1886; George Harrison, August 5, 1888; and Etta Leona. January 18, 1899. C. A. GABRIELSOX. C. A. Gabrielson is a native of Sweden, a land which has contributed some of the best citizens to the United States, and par- ticularly has Iowa benefited by this emigra- tion. He was born February 26, 1855, and is a son of John Gabrielson, who brought his family to America when our subject was quite young. In the schools of Dayton township, Webster count}-, Iowa. Mr. Gabrielson ac- quired bis early education in the English language, later becoming one of the pupils in the Leonard district school, the sessions of which were held in a log cabin. During the winters, until he was twenty-one years old, Mr. Gabrielson embraced every possible opportunity for obtaining an education. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 635 During the summers from the time he was ten years of age, he was employed in some furm of useful work. His first work was for Eli Geyer, driving a hor.se used in op- erating a machine making broom handles, for which he was paid ten cents a day, this being" in 1865. Mr. Gabrielson then worked for his fa- ther for three years, assisting him in break- ing prairie on the home farm. This was followed bj five years of continuous work for Daniel Northum, during which time he learned every detail of practical farming. Next he was employed by Henry Girdy, now- deceased, and then for one year by Jonas Hedburg, and also Peter Ostrum. Mr. Gabrielson next rented a farm and managed it for two years, during which time he had the advantage of boarding at home. About this time he was offered good wages on the Northwestern Railroad, and remained with thai corporation for one year, and the fol- lowing year with the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, after which he located on the tine farm he now occupies. Mr. Gabrielson is now the fortunate owner of one hundred and sixty acre- of valuable land on section 7, Dayton town- ship. Webster county, which lie has greatly improved. His residence, barns, fence- and orchards testify to his industry, and he is now one of the best agriculturists and sub- stantial men of the community. Mr. Gabrielson was married June 22. 1882, to .Miss Clara Nelson, who was born May 9. 1857, in Sweden, a daughter of J. P. and Anna (Peterson) Nelson, both of whom were also natives of Sweden. Her family came to America in 1862, and settled in Boone county, Iowa, where .Mr. Nelson purchased one hundred and sixty acres of river land, improved it and resided upon it until his death, in February, 1870, his burial being in Linn cemetery. lie was a consist- ent member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and a Republican in his political be- lief. The mother of Mrs. Gabrielson died in September, 1893, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband. They reared a family of ten children, namely : Frank, who served one year in the Civil war. mar- ried Louisa Nelson and lived in Madrid, Iowa, where he died at the age of fifty-four years; Caroline, deceased, was the wife of Peter Ostrum, of Dayton, Iowa; Edward, who served three years in the Civil "war, married Louisa Lunblad, and lived in Boone county. Iowa, where he died in 1884; < Iscar lived at Dayton, Iowa, where he died un- married in July, 1897, at the age of forty- nine: David died in 1887, at the age of thirty-five years; John, who died in (897, married Matilda Anderson and lived in Lost Grove township; August resides in Wash- ington; ( 'lara is now Airs. < iabrielson ; Theo- dore died m Sweden; and Gustine died in the first week after the arrival of the family in America, at Mineral Ridge. Iowa. The children born to our subject and wife were: Carl ( )scar, born September 22, 1883, died June 10, 1884: Vena, born No- vember 6, 1S84. died August 18, [887; Vernef is the twin brother of Vena; Hat- tie was born March 28, [886; Amy May was born April 4, [889; Van Axel was born December 17, 1890; Clara Axeline was born December 14, [891; and Victor Irving was born April 26, 1895. After marriage Mr. Gabrielson and wife located on their present farm and there they reared their children and have become iden- tified with the interests of the locality. Mr. Gabrielson has been particularly successful in raising his high-grade cattle — polled An- gus and shorthorns — and also Poland China hogs. 636 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. In public affairs Air. Gabrielson has been verv prominent and lias efficiently served for four years as township assessor, and has also been road commissioner and school di- rector. Socially he is connected with Syca- more Camp. M. W. A., of Dayton, and is a generous contributor to the Swedish Luther- an church of Dayton. His success in life may he attributed in a great measure to his energy and industry, and he enjoys the es- teem of all who know him. and is generally regarded as one of the progressive men of the vicinity. THEODORE JAQUES. A lifelong resident of Iowa, now resid- ing on section 9, Washington township, Webster count}-, Air. Jaques was born in Danville township, Des Moines county, this state, November J4. 184c;. a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (lies) Jaques, natives, respectively, of New York and Ohio. Some years after their marriage the parents, in 1842, moved to Iowa, settling near Burlington and purchas- ing farm property. In [852 they came to Webster county and entered a tract of land in Yell township, where they remained until they died, he in 1873 and she in 1886. Their bodies were interred in the cemetery at Bor- der Plains. Porn of their union were ten children. The eldest. Prances, became the wife of Francis Fuller and is now deceased. He has since married again and lives in Fort Dodge. I. D. married Charlotte Chandler and makes his home in Okarche, Oklahoma. The subject of this sketch is the third of the family. James married Marie Rowey and lives in Webster county. John P. is also married and living in this county. Lorenzo D. married Victoria Sim- mons and resides in Kossuth county, this state. Lydia is the wife of Gilbert Town- send, of Webster county. The other chil- dren died in infancy. The primary education of Theodore Jaques was secured in the Port Dodge schools, and later he studied in the district schools of Veil township. At the age of fifteen he began to work as a farm hand and soon was receiving thirteen dollars a month. On starting out in the world for himself, he rented land in Washington township, where he remained fourteen years, meantime sav- ing his earnings in order that he might in- vest in property. On January jbio; Mr-. Deborah II. Claff- lin i- a w id' '\\ and lives near Kalo, I and Mrs. Mary 11. Andrew- is also a widow and lives in < >tho township. To Mr. and Mrs. Hart has been born one daughter, Theta ().. who was born October 2- . [863, and is now the wife of George F. Findlay. She was educated in the public schools, and attended Olivet College at Olivet. Michi- gan, for three years, subsequently gradu- ating from the college at Tabor, Iowa. She engaged successfully in teaching for several 3 ears. After his marriage Mr. Hart started out in engage in independent farming, and set- tled upon the land which ha- -nice been the source of his increasing properity, on sec- tion 20, Otho township. He is the owner 1 if nne hundred and eighty-eight acres of land under a high state of cultivation, a 1" in' 11 of which i- rented to other parties, the balance being devoted particularly to the raising of high-grade stuck, mostly short horns, and Poland China lings. Mr. Hart is a Republican in national politics, and has at different times held almost all the town- ship offices within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He has also exerted a n and philanthropical influence in the com- munity, is a generous contributor to all worthy causes, and both he and his wife take an active and prominent part in church and Sunday school wrk. For about thirty- live years she has been teacher of the pri- mary class in the < Itho Sunday school. She is a zealous Christian worker and a leading- member of the Ladies Aid Society. She is also very proficient in culinary matters, is a good housekeeper and an excellent enter- tainer. Mr. Hart has long been a member 642 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. of the County Sabbath School Association, and in support of that cause has for the past thirteen years attended each of the township Sunday school conventions in all of the twenty-three townships of Webster county. For twelve years he has also been a member of the executive committee of the State Sab- bath School Association, and for the past four years has been chairman of the auditing committee. He always endeavors to attend every meeting of the State Association and also the meetings of the executive commit- tee, and is untiring in his work for the Sab- bath school and all undertakings for the bet- terment of his fellowmen. ALBERT SOUTHARD. The farm owned and occupied by Mr. Southard lies on section 17. Washington township, and comprises one hundred and twenty acres, bearing indications of intelli- gent oversight on the part of the owner. Mr. Southard was born in Danville, Des Moines county. Iowa. August 31. [856, and is a son of David and Phoebe (Wilrox) Southard, the former born in Licking coun- ty, Ohio, September 27, 1819, and the latter born in Providence, Rhode Island, Novem- ber 1, 1819. They were married in Licking county, Ohio, December 1 1, 1841, and after- ward continued to make that county their home for five years, when they settled in Will count}-. Illini i-. However, one year later they returned to Licking county. In 1849 they again came west, this time set- tling in Des Moines county, low a. Coming to Webster county in 1857. the father bought a tract of land which is now the site of Duncombe. The family made their home in Fort Dodge and then in Homer, but soon came to Washington township,, where the father died November 13, 1874. Since then the mother has remained on the homestead, with her youngest child and only son, Al- bert. The oldest child of David and Phoebe Southard was Luetta Almeda, who was born in Licking county. Ohio, February 19, 1843, and died November 26, 1844. The second daughter, Rachel Elizabeth, who was born in the same county August 17, 1845, became the wife of William Welsh, who died in Washington township, Webster county, in the fall of 1890. The third daughter. Rodasky Florilla", was born Au- gust 30, 1852, and became the wife of Theo- dore Jaques, of Washington township, where she died October 16, 1899. The re- maining member of the family circle is the, subject of this sketch. The children of his sister, Mrs. Welsh, were as follows: Ida Viola-, born December 3, 1870. died August 21, 1877; Albert Roy, born July 22, 1876, married Louise Hilibsch August 1, 1900, since which time they have made their home in Pleasant Valley; Phoebe Ora was born March 24. 1881 ; and William Ray, August 24, 1883. The marriage of Albert Southard took place in Washington township on New Year's day of 1885, and united him with Ida Wellington, who was born in Rolling- stone county, near Winona, Minnesota, De- cember 19, 1858. Her parents, William F. ami Anna (Leitch) Wellington, natives, re- spectively, of Batavia, New York, and Ire- land, were married in Minnesota, and some year- later moved to Dane county, Wiscon- sin, where Mr. Wellington died July 18, 1865, leaving two children. Ida, now Mrs. Southard, and Laura, Mrs. Samuel Jami- son, of Portland, Oregon. In 1870 Mrs. Wellington was agfain married, becoming NORMAN HART, Sr. MRS. NORMAN HART, Sr. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 647 the wife of Robert Carden, a native of Vir- ginia. They moved to Webster county, Iowa, and bought a farm, on which Mrs. Carden died August 21, 1894. Of this union three children were horn, namely : Anna, who married John Berleen and lives in Hamilton county, Iowa; Susie, Mrs. Al- bert Coate, of Webster county; and Will- iam, who married Nellie Perry and lives in Webster county. The genealogy of the Southard family is traced back to England. The mother of our subject's father was a Miss Snyder and came from Germany. Two of the great- grandfathers of Mr. Southard were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Si utliard is also a descendant of English ancestry, the Wellingtons being allied to the Duke of Wellington stock, while through her mother she traces her lineage to Scotch-Irish an- cestors. J. P. JOHNSON. Among the prosperous citizens of Day- ton township. Webster county. Iowa, is J. P. Johnson, who was born February 24, 1834, in Sweden, and is the son of Gernan and Fredrika Swanson, having changed his name to Johnson since coming to this coun- try. The parents lived in Sweden, where the father died, but the mother afterward came to America and settled at Lost Grove, Webster county. Iowa, where she died in the early part of the year 1901. < )ur sub- ject was one of a family of eight children. the others being Lotta. widow of J. Neur- leen, and a resident of Stockholm. Sweden; Christina, wife of Alfred Rinkquist, who lives near Gowrie, Iowa; Johannah, wife of John Carsonson, residing near Harcourt, Iowa; Matilda, wife of Alfred Burgman, of eene county. Iowa; Clara, wife of John Main, who resides near Leonard, Iowa; and Frank, who married Mary Johnson and re- sides in ( Jalesburg, Illinois. Our subject attended school [or a short time in his native land, in all amounting to about two years. Ills father was a poor man and could afford but few educal advantages to his children. All of the chil- dren were forced to work hard upon the farm, and in [866 our subject decided to seek his fortunes in a new land. Borrowing the price of his passage, he sailed from Got- tenberg and landed in New York after a long voyage. From that city he went di- rect to Altoona, Illinois, where he worked for a farmer, earning the first year two hundred and fifteen dollars; the second year two hundred and forty dollars ; and the third year between five and six hundred dollars. Every penny of this money that it was pos- sible for him to save he put aside. The fol- lowing two years he saved nine hundred dollars, and then rented a farm of one hun- dred acres in Knox count}, Illinois, paying five dollars and twenty-five cents per acre for it. The first year he lost money on ac- count of drought, but the next year he had better success, ami after seven years of rent- ing, in 1876, he removed to Iowa and located on the place he now owns on sectii 11 27. Dayton township, Webster county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land at twenty-two dollars and fifty cents pei a part of which was under cultivation, but there were no buildings. This he at 1 nee remedied and now owns two hundred on section 31. Dayton township, and has one of the besl farms in Webster county, and it is supplied with excellent buildings, a comfortable home and substantial barn. On September 30. 1X71, Mr. Johnson was married to Johannah I )orothea Burman, a native of Swollen, born in 1S50. and a 6 4 8 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. daughter of Andrew Mungers. Mrs. John- son lias une brother and two sisters, name- ly: ifelen. wife of George Lundeen. of West Altoona, Iowa; Amanda, wife Alfred Ericson, of Webster county, Iowa; and Al- fred, who married the sister of our subject, Miss Matilda Johnson. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson the following children have been born: Esther Christina, born February 19, [876, married Amiel Ruddeen, of Dayton township, and the}- have three children, — Omar. Melville and a baby; Anna Elizabeth, born September 18, 1871, married John Singrain, of Greene count}-. Iowa, and they have two children, — Melvin and a baby girl; Fr-ank J., born July 20, 1874, resides with his father and manages the _farm; Clara, born April 20, 1876, resides with her parents: Obed S., born May 5, 1881, graduated from Tobins College at Fort Dodge, and is now engaged in teaching school, being a great student; Nellie Rebec- ca, born June 9. 1887, is attending school and resides with her parents. In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican and has served as school director for a num- ber of years and has often been nominated for other offices, but refused to run. He attends the Mission church at Harcourt and is very earnest in his church work. Having attained his present prosperity by hard work and careful management, he may well feel satisfied with the result of his endeavors, and he is held in high esteem by his neigh- bors for his many excellent qualities. ORRIX L. REED. Orrin L. Reed, a prominent and success- ful farmer of Cooper township, was born in Michigan, on the 27th of October, 1858, his parents being Hiram and Mary ( 13utler) Reed, who were natives of Vermont and Michigan, respectively. In 1866 the family came to Webster county, Iowa, and the fa- ther purchased a tract of wild land in Cooper township, which has been converted into the fine farm now occupied by our sub- ject. To the improvement and cultivation of his land Hiram Reed devoted his time ami attention throughout life, and was a sturdy and progressive farmer. After a use- ful and well spent life, he died February 2, 1901, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and was a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. She sur- vives him and still resides on the old home farm. One child, Orrin L.. our subject, was the result of this union. They also reared Leonora, who lived with them twenty years. She is now the wife of John Paine. Mr. Reed of this review was only eight years old when he accompanied bis parents on their removal to Iowa, and is indebted to the public schools of Webster county for his educational advantages. Throughout his active business life he has followed ag- ricultural pursuits, and is to-day success- full}' operating the old home farm, which consists of two hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Mr. Reed usually raises about fifty acres of corn and seventy-five acres of small grain, the re- mainder being meadow and pasture land. He gives some attention to stock raising, keeping from twenty to twenty-five head of cattle, a large number of hogs and about ten horses, young and old. In February, 1884, Mr. Reed, was united in marriage with Miss Xettie S. Wood- worth, a native of Wisconsin, and an adopt- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 649 ed daughter of Spencer L. and Frances L. \\ lw 1 nli. Mr. Woodwi irth came ti 1 Webster count) in [863 and settled in Pleas- ant Valley township, where the gypsum mills are now located. Here he carried on farming for aboul thirty years, but is now living a retired life. He was again mar- ried February 2, 190J. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the parents of two children. Floyd X. and Addie L., and they are also rearing a little motherless bo} , whom they call Robert Henry. In his po- litical views Mr. Reed is a Republican and gives his support to every enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit. JONAS P. LILYARD. One of the successful farmers of Burn- side township is Jonas P. Lilyard, who was born in Sweden in 1853, and until his thir- teenth year was reared on the home farm in his native land. Owing to the many mouths to itmd in the family. Jonas had little opportunity to go to school, for it early became his duty to contribute his mite to- wards the general sustenance. Of the ten children besides himself John is a resident of Sweden ; Andrew is married and lives in Boone county, Iowa; Charles lives in Ne- braska; Samuel lives with his wife and chil- dren in Nebraska; August is married and 1- engaged in the real-estate business in Colorado; Clans- is a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Frank lives in California; Fred is a fanner near Dayton, Iowa; Anna is the wife of Albert Leonard and lives in Minnesi ita. In 1868 the Lilyard family left the home of their forefathers in Sweden, and emigrat- ed to America in search of better opportuni- ties. Upon locating in Henry county, Illi- nois, the different members worked out among the fanners of the locality, but eventually removed u< the vicinity of Day- ton, Iowa, where the death of the father oc- curred August 5, [879, and where the mother is still living. With his brothers Jonas P. Lilyard con- tinned to work on different farms until his marriage with Anna Swenson in Clay town- ship, March t8, 1880. Mrs. Lilyard was born in Sweden November 10. 1858, and came to America with her parents when five years of age. The family located in An- dover, Illinois, where the father was a day laborer, and later lived in Burnside and Clay townships, Webster county, Iowa, for about thirty years. Mr. Swensen has profited by his industry and enterprise since coming to America, and is now the possessor of two hundred and forty acres of land in Clay township. To himself and wife have been horn ten children, of whom Mrs. Lilyard is the only daughter. The other children are: Charles, who married Emma Holstram and lives in Henry count)-, Illinois; John, who married Ida Johnson and is a general mer- chant in Dayton. Iowa: William, who mar- ried Mary Johnson and is also in the gen- eral merchandise business at Dayton; Vic- tor, who married Emma Johnson, and who lives in Gowrie, Iowa; Oscar, who is en- gaged in business in Burnside; Alfred, who married Anna breed and is a farmer in Burnside township; Gilbert, who 1- single and living at home; Norton, who is also unmarried and is engaged in business with his brother Victor in Gowrie. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lil- yard: Floyd, horn January 31, 1881; Laura. November 15. 1884; Carrie, May 31, 1887: and Edith, October 5. 1890. After his marriage Mr. Lilyard lived for •650 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. a year on rented land near Dayton, and ow- ing to the fact that he had practically noth- ing tn begin with, the greatest economy and thrift prevailed in the little household. He later rented other land, upon which he lived fur seven years, and (hiring that time pros- pects brightened perceptibly, and so much money was saved over and above expenses that in 1X84 Air. Lilyard purchased eighty- acres of land on section 29, Burnside town- ship. So successful was he after this in- vestment that he was soon enabled to still further add to his possessions by the pur- chase of forty acres, upon which he now lives, and upon which he has a tine and com- modious residence, with substantial and •convenient outhouses and barns. A general farming industry is carried on. and in con- nection therewith considerable stock is fed. Air. Lilyard is a Republican in national politics, and owing to his particular fitness has held several positions of trust in his township, and has rendered valuable service as a member of the school board. Himself and family are members of the Swedish Evangelical church at Burnside. Air. Lil- yard is regarded as one of the reliable and substantial farmers and citizens of his town- ship, and is esteemed by all who know him. . EMORY D. PORTER. During an early period in the settlement of America the Porter family emigrated from Scotland and settled in Rhode Island. Later generations made their home in New York, and a number bearing the name were participants in the Revolutionary war. Irie Porter, the father of Emory D., was a na- tive of Madison county, New York, and in 1849. at the time of the gold excitement in California, he went to the Pacific coast by way of Cape Horn, returning east in 1851. However, a year later he again went to California, this time by way of the Isthmus of Panama. The pursuit of gold and silver mining led him as far into the interior as Nevada, and there he died in 1871. Fra- ternally he was a Mason and in politics voted with the Republican party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Jaques, was horn in Oneida county. New York, and now resides at Independence, Iowa. She is a daughter of Yarnum Jaques, a typical fron- tiersman, who was an unerring" shot and fond of hunting, keeping a pack of hounds to accompany him on his hunting expedi- tions. In fishing, too, he was unusually skillful. He kept up a friendly acquaintance with the Indians and frequently traded with them for skins and hides. In the midst of these various diversions, he did not neglect the management of his farm, but was said to lie a very progressive and enterprising farmer. Emory D. Porter was the only son of his parents. When a boy he attended school in Knoxboro, New York, but left school at the age of sixteen and from that time to the present has made his own way in the world. During 1870 he came to Iowa and settled in Washington township, Webster countw Few improvements had been at- tempted here at that time. The railroad, al- ways the forerunner of civilization, had not yet been built through the county, and all the regions around here were sparsely set- tled. With a desire to earn the wherewithal necessary to begin farming, he ran a sta- tionary engine on the Des Moines river for two years, and then rente*d land for a similar period. With the means thus accumulated he invested in farm property, buying eighty acres of partly improved land on section 21, THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 6u Washington township. In the bringing of this land under cultivation and the, making of desirable improvements he has shown zeal and a progressive spirit. From time to time additional purchases have been made until his landed possessions now aggregate two hundred and sixty acres, all lying in this township. The residence is an attract- ive country home with modern improve- ments. In addition to the raising of crops Mr. Porter has engaged in buying stuck and grain here for the past fifteen or more years, and he also raises on his farm high- grade stock for the market. Additional- to these interests, he is a stockholder in the First National Hank of Lehigh, Iowa. On the Republican ticket he has been elected to almost all of the township offices and is now township treasurer, which office he has held for seventeen years. Since 1886 he has been connected with the Masonic Lodge of Le- high. He is also a member of Spartan Lodge, No. 226, I. O. O. F.,'at Kalo, Iowa, and Wahkowsa Camp, No. 53, at Fort Dodge. In Augusta. New York, April 25, 1869, Mr. Porter married Miss Carrie M. Powers, who was born in London, England, April 3, 1849. Her parents, George and Marie Raym >r, were natives of England, and came to America when she was eighteen months old. Her father died when she was six years of age and her mother three years later, leaving two daughters, Mrs. Porter's sister being Emma, wife of A. P. Truth, who resides near Munnsville. New York. After cuming to the United States Mr. Raynor worked at the carpenter's trade un- til his death, which occurred n Middletown, New York. He and his wife were identified with the Baptist church, but Mrs. Porter was reared in the Presbyterian faith, and thirty-five years ago united with that de- nomination at Knoxboro, New York. In [899, accompanied by her daughter Cecil, she visited in the east, renewing the asso- ciations of her girlhood, and at that time had the pleasure of meeting her old Sunday- school teacher and attending the class of which she had been a member so long ago. In C900 she united with the Methodist Epis- copal church at Lehigh, Iowa, and has since been active in its work. After the death of her 1111 ither, she was taken into the home of A Walter Powers, a farmer whose family numbered ten children, and there she re- mained until her marriage with Mr. Porter. "I hey are the parents of the f< Ah '\\ ing named children: Augusta Sabrina, who was born June 26, 1870, and died February 14, 1877; Emory Edson, who was born August 29, [874, and died January jj, 1877; Minnie Luella, who was born March 9, 1877, and became the wife of Charles Cn nise, 1 >f Wash- ington township, November 10, 1897; George Woolsey, who was'born March 25, 1879, and died December 26, 1882; Arthur I)., born January 19, 1884; Cecil M., Oc- tober 3, 1888; and Robert Earl, September 3, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Porter also have an adopted son, George W., who was born April 6, 1883. WALLACE W. DANIELS. One of the most promising farmers in Washington township is Wallace W. Dan- iels, who was born in Webster county, Sep- tember r6, 1871, a son of David and Sarah (Clark) Daniels, for many years identified with the best agricultural interests of this county. In the Brushy district Mr. Daniels attended the public schools, and at the same time industriously applied himself to learn- ing farming in all its phases. Out of the 652 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. early experience thus impressed upon his mind he evolved practical theories for use in future years, many of which have been applied with undeniable results. Oil January 7, 1894, he married Minnie V. Flowers, who was born in Earlville, Iowa, October 20, 1871, a daughter of George W. Flowers. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniels have been burn three interesting children: Lloyd Gilbert, born May _>_>. 1 N04 ; Gertrude Elizabeth, born February 11. 1896; and Earl Raymond, born Decem- ber 3, 1900. After his marriage Mr. Daniels contin- ued to live on the home place, and for six years managed the farm for his mother. At the present time he owns a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 8. Washing- ton township, and he also owns a quarter section of land in Ransom county. North Dakota. He devotes his time principally to the raising of high-grade stock for market purposes, and his stock-raising ami general fanning are conducted on scientific and ap- proved lines. He has been remarkably suc- cessful, and is accounted one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers in his part of the county. He is a Republican in politics, but has never intimated a desire to hold office. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Brushy. *-•-• LUCIUS W. HART. Lucius W. Hart has been one of the most extensive land owners of Webster county and still has valuable possessions. For many years he was closely associated with farming interests but is now living re- tired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. If we examine into the life record to find the secret of his success, we will learn that his prosperity has been gained along the old and time tried maxims, such as "There is no excellence without labor," and "Honest}' is the best policy." Industrious, energetic and enter- prising, he has steadily worked his way up- ward until he now occupies a prominent po- sition upon the planes of affluence. Lucius W. Hart is a native of Glaston- bury. Connecticut, born on the 28th of Octo- ber, 1837, his parents being Norman and Marcia < Hale) Hart. He was the second in order of birth in a family of four children, all of whom are yet living, the eldest being Xorman H.. while diose younger than our subject are Carolin-, the wife of E. B. Drake and Dr. George Hart. Lucius W. Hart, of this review was only six years of age when his father with the family left Con- necticut for the west, taking up his abode in Illinois, in which state the family residence was maintained until 1854. In that year they removed to Iowa, locating in Webster county. Mr. Hart of this review was at that time twenty-seven years of age. He had ac- quired his education in the public schools of Illinois, continuing his studies until about eighteen years of age, after which his at- tention was devoted to farm work. He had early received practical experience in the work of the fields, having assisted in the plowing, planting and harvesting as soon as st length fitted him for such duties. When twenty-four years of age Mr. Hart was united in marriage on the 1st of May. 1851, to Miss Catherine Livingston, a native of New York, and the daughter of rt G. Livingston, who went to Illinois at an early date. He was a farmer by occu- pation and in his family were eleven chil- dren, Mrs. Hart being: the youngest. The L. W. HART MRS. LUCIUS W. HART THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 657 marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with four children. DeWitl Clinton, who was born in Illinois, February 23, 1852, died at about die age of thirty- seven years. He had married Miss Mary Wakeman and they were the parents of seven children. His widow now resides in Otho township, Webster county. The second of the family died in infancy. Cora A., who was born in Iowa. November 16, 1857, is the wife of F. R. Payne, by whom she has three daughters and two sons, their home being now in Williams. Hamilton county. Carrie, born in Webster county, in Decem- ber, i860, is the wife of Charles A. Payne, a brother of her sister's husband. They reside in Berlin, Wisconsin, and have five sons .-111(1 two daughters. The wife of our subject passed away in March, 1886. at the age of fifty-seven years and her remains were interred in Otho cemetery. She was a member of the Congregational church and 3 mosl estimable lady, whose influence was felt for good throughout the community. From early boyhood until his retirement from business life, Mr. Hart carried on ag- ricultural pursuits. When the family came to Iowa he secured a claim from the government in Webster county, and af»er\vard purchased land until he was the owner of four hundred acre-. Much of this, however, he has given to his chil- dren. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres south of * )tho and sixty-four acres on section jo. Otho township. For several years past he has been living in retirement anil now makes his home with his son-in- law Mr. Payne in Williams. He was a most progressive and enterprising agricul- turist and his efforts brought to him de served success, lie improved his farms with all modern equipments and his labors lir> night t<> him rich reward. In his political views he has always been a Republican and has long been a consistent and zealous mem- ber of the Congregational church. As one of the pioneers of Webster o mntv, he is hi sn- ored and respected by all who know him. lie came to this portion of the state a; an early period in its development and watched it- gradual transformation from a wild dis- trict into a densely populated region; its raw prairie land, as the result of cultivation and improvement became ' rich farming tracts. Towns and villages sprung up. churches and schools were built and many lines of business activity were introduced. In all of the work of advancement and pn gress Mr. Hart has taken a deep interest and just pride, and has ever faithfully per- formed his duties of citizenship, while in business he has sustained an unassailable reputatii n. WILLIAM WREDE. One of the representative citizens and successful farmers of Webster count)'. Iowa, is William Wrede. the owner of some two hundred and eighty acres of the richest si ll in this great state. His birth occurred Jan- uary 5, 1856, in Cook county. Illinois, his parents being Henry and Minnie 1 Tim 1 Wrede. who were born, reared and married in Germany. In the autumn of 1855 the parents decided to emigrate to the United State- in order to better their condition, and embarked on a sailing vessel at Bremen, and after a passage of seven weeks, reached New York in safety. Work was plentiful for tin m willing to perform it. ami none were more willing than Henry Wrede. For live years the family were residents of the grow- ing city of Chicago, Illinois, and Mr. Wrede was one of th c faithful workers 0:1 the rail- 658 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. which now extern 1 in every direction from that great center. The rich lands of the state of Iowa at- tracted the attention of Mr. W'rede, and in i860, with oxen and a prairie schooner, the family made the journey overland, and lo- cated in Webster county. In Dayton town- ship, he bought forty acres of raw prairie land and went to work with his character- istic energy and industry. His first desire was to provide a home and shelter for his family and later for the stuck which he soon accumulated, resulting in the erection of a small frame house and sheds, these hav- ing walnut siding on the outside, no plaster, but brick walls on the inside. The bricks were made by the family and sun-dried. This home was not as attractive as later ones, but it was warm and comfortable, and was the family home for twenty-two years. Then a removal was made to the residence now occupied by our subject. In 1882 the father moved to Colorado for the benefit of his son's health and re- sided there for eight years, returning then to Webster county. For the succeeding eight years the parents resided with our subject, but in 1890 the mother died, and since that time the father has resided in Ogden. Iowa, with his son Charles. Few men have been more successful in their farming operations than Mr. W'rede. In his earlier life be voted with the Democratic party, but cast his last vote for President McKinley. His religious connection has al- ways been with the German Lutheran church, where he is most highly esteemed. William Wrede, of this sketch, was the eldest in a family of three children, the others being: Charles, who married Anna Bergeman, and is engaged in the mercan- tile business at Ogden, Iowa: and Theodore, who married Cecelia Bergeman, who now resides at Ogden, Iowa, her husband dying at the age of twenty-five years. Until he was sixteen years of age our subject attended the Leonard school at Day- ton, Iowa, then leaving his books in order to assist his father in the management of the farm, and remaining with him until he reached his majority. On May II, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Haganow. who was a native of Germany, where she was born February 1, 1854, a daughter of Frederick and Minnie (Bachet) Haganow, both of whom were born, reared and married in Germany. They came to the United States in 1865 and settled in Cook county. Illinois, later moving to Fort Dodge. Iowa, where they now reside, Mr, Haganow being a stone mason by trade. Mrs. Wrede has one sister. — Frederika, who married Charles Mandelko. and resides in the Missouri valley, near Council Bluffs, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Wrede a family of children were born, as follows: Alvira, who was born July 2. 1876. and is the wife of Fred Zeitz, residing on his farm near Chur- dan, Greene county. Iowa; Edward, born August 14, 1881 ; Henry, born February 24, 1883; Samuel and Sarah, twins, born Au- bust 1, 1885; Matilda and Caroline, twins, born September 6, 1887; William M., born July 22, 1890; David T., born November 17, 1892: Caroline E.. born July 7. 1894; and Therese Minnie, born May 24. 1896. Mr. Wrede has been one of the most successful farmers in his township. After his marriage he and wife remained for one year on the home farm and then went to Fort Dodge, where he spent one year at car- penter work, returning then to the farm where the family have resided ever since. Mr. Wrede owns two hundred acres on sec- tion 4 and eighty acres on section 3. Dayton THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 659 township, and is one of the progressive and intelligent agriculturists of his section, be- lieving in scientific fanning and proving, by his success, that his ideas are sensible. His fields yield abundant harvests and his high- grade stuck find a ready market. In politics Mr. Wrede is a stanch Re- publican. His interest in educational mat- ters lias induced him to serve for a number of years as school director, and treasurer for twenty-one years. He is a member and has reared his family in the precepts of the German Lutheran church, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the community in which he has spent bis life. GEORGE F. RHOADES. The fitting reward of a well spent lite is an honorable retirement in • which in enjoy the fruits of former toil, and this has been vouchsafed to George F. Rhoades. He is what the world calls a self-made man. With limited edu- cational privileges and no financial as- sistance he started out in life as a common laborer, but becoming imbued with a laud- able ambition to obtain something better, he made the most of his opportunities and through unremitting energy, diligence and perseverance, he commanded not only suc- cess, but also the respect and esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He is now numbered among the representa- tive and progressive citizens of Webster City. George F. Rhoades was born in Pick- away county. Ohio, April 4, 1839, and is a son of Allen and Nancy (Flannigan) Rhoades, who were also natives of Ohio, where the father followed the occupation of farming. The father died in 1842 and the mother afterward became the wife of Absa- lom Julian, b) whom she had three children. Elias, William and Minnie. By her first marriage there were two sons and two daughters: Mary, the widow of D. Norton, of Champaign, Illinois; Hannah, the widow of Ellis Wellington, of Nebraska; John, who died when twelve years of age; and George F., of this review. The mother passed away in 1880 in Iroquois county, Illinois, where she had resided for a number of years and the stepfather of our subject died several years previously. When only four vears of ag"e George F. Rhoades went to live with an uncle, with whom he remained until he had attained to manhood. His uncle was a farmer and our subject worked in the fields during the sum- mer months, while in the winter seasons he pursued his education in the district schools. At the time of the Civil war his patriotic spirit was aroused, and in the fall of t86l he enlisted at Centerville, Ohio, as a mem- ber of Company I, Fifty-eighth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, under the command of Captain William Morris and Colonel Dies- ter. His regiment at different times was under the command of Generals Grant, Sherman and Wallace. He served three vears and two months as a private and was never wounded. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, and the battle of Arkansas Post, and was also mi mortar boats at the siege of Vicksburg, having been detailed for that duty' In February, 1863. be was trans- ferred from the army to the navy, being thus engaged until the following August, when he again joined the land force. On the 14th of January, 1865, he was mustered out at Columbus. Ohio, paid off and honor- ably discharged. 66o THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Not long afterward Mr. Rhoades moved to Illinois, settling in Piatt county, where he worked at farm labor and also engaged in driving cattle for a drover until 1867. In that year he was married and soon after- ward engaged in farming on his own ac- count, lie continued to reside in Piatt county until the fall of 1899, when he dis- posed of his business interests in Illinois and came to Webster City. Iowa, where he has a handsome residence and is now living re- tired. In 1867 Air. Rhoades was united in mar- riage to Miss Savanna Coberley, who was born near Columbus, Ohio, in 1840, a daughter of James and Hannah 1 Watkins i Coberley. Her father was a farmer by oc- cupation and with his family removed to Piatt county, Illinois, whence he afterward went to Rates county, Missouri, where both he and his wife spent their last days. Mrs. Rhoades has three brothers and two sis- ters who are yet living: Chandler is a resident (if Missouri; Rachel is the wife of William Switzer, of Adrian, Bates count}-. Missouri; and Victoria is the wife of Stephen Gillan, of llates county. The home of Mr. and Airs. Rhoades has been blessed with five children: Allen J., who married Nora Mulvane, and is living in Webster county: George P.. who married Eva Haw- thorne and makes his home near Flagstadt, Webster county; William 1)., who married Bird Edgar and is living at Storm Lake; Charles 1'... who married Ida B. Grant and makes his home at Webster City; and Dais) M., the wife of J I. S. Toney, of Webster City. Mr. Rhoades maintains pleasant rela- tions with his eld army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. I f i -. wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political views he is a Republican, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attrac- tion for him, as he has ever preferred to give his time and attention to his business af- fairs, in which he has ewer met with grati- fying success, lie to-day owns a half sec- tion of land in Webster county and a half sectii 4. Washington township. Webster county. low a. He is proving him- self to be a scientific and up-to-date farmer, and maintains a high class of improvements upon his place. At this writing he makes a specialty of Polled Angus cattle and Poland China hogs, with both of which he is suc- cessful. To facilitate the work of the farm he has convenient cattle sheds, substantial barns and granaries, while he and his wife occupy a modern and commodious residence. In addition to managing the farm, he has during recent years also had charge of drill- ing the wells for the water works at Be- ment, Illinois, and the city wells at Sulli- van, that state. Like his father, he believes firmly in the wisdom of Republican prin- ciples, and advocates protection of home in- dustries, the continuance of the gold stand- ard, and the policy of expansion. Among the local offices held by him are those of road supervisor and school director, both of which he has filled with judgment and dis- crete m. JOHX GABRIELSOX. Among the highly respected citizens of Dayton. Webster county, Iowa, is John Gabrielson, a worthy representative of a 666 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. country to which the United States has learned to look for men of brawn and brain, steady and industrious, who finally become the best of American citizens. The birth of Mr. Gabrielson occurred in Sweden, November 16, 1826, his parents being- Gabriel and Martha Catherine (Nel- son) Johnson, both of whom lived out their days in their native country. They had but two sons, our subject and his brother, An- drew Augustus. The latter came tO' Amer- ica with John, in 1857, and married Mary Swanson, also a native of Sweden, who died in December, 1900, in Colorado. He now lives in Andover, Illinois. Mr. Gabrielson of this sketch came to this country with his family when he was about thirty years of age. On June 25, 1853, in Sweden, he was married to* Flor- ence Peterson, a daughter of Peter and Eliza (Samuelson) Johnson, both of whom died in Sweden, having had a family of ten chil- dren, all of whom came to America with the exception of three. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gabrielson were: Axel, born in Sweden, married Clara Nelson and lives in Dayton ; Charles G. burn at Galesburg, Illinois, in 1857, died unmarried, in August, 1900; Frank A. married Ida Jansen, and conducts a hardware business at Sioux Rapids. Iowa; George A. married Anna Bork and lives in Dayton, where he has a hardware business; Eddie married Kate Intermill and is now a retired farmer in Dayton; Victor married Hannah Sackerson and is engaged in the hardware business with his brother in Day- ton; Hattie C, a teacher in the public schools in Webster county, died at the age of twenty-seven years ; and Mary married Hans Shold, a blacksmith in Dayton. Mr. Gabrielson recalls his trip to Amer- ica as one of his pleasantest experiences, both on account of the pleasant weather en- countered and also because of the kind and careful attention bestowed upon his two hundred passengers by good Captain Ny- gard. As a testimonial of their personal regard, the passengers presented him with a thirty-dollar clock. Landing in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Gabrielson went direct to Chicago, and from there to Galesburg, Illinois, where many of his countrymen are located. In the spring of 1858 he came to Dayton Iowa, living there until his enlist- ment for service in the Union army dur- ing the Civil war. He became a member of Company C, Second Iowa Infantry, un- der General John A. Logan, joining- the army at Rome, Georgia, and marching with Sherman from Atlanta to Savannah. He was at Raleigh, North Carolina, at the time of the surrender of Johnston to Sherman, and then accompanied his regiment to Washington, D. C. He was discharged in May, 1865, and was mustered out of the service at Clinton, Iowa. Upon his return to Webster count)- Mr. Gabrielson bought one hundred and sixty acres of land near Dayton and lived there from the fall of 1865 to 1888. improving the property all the time. He also bought eighty acres on section 7, Dayton township, and this he gave to his son. He owned five acres of very valuable timber land, but he has disposed of that, and now resides in a very comfortable and substantial home in Dayton. Few foreign-born citizens have taken a deeper interest in the public affairs of their adopted country than has Mr. Gabrielson, from the time he offered his life in her de- fense until the present, having most faith- fully served in almost all of the local offices of trust and responsibility within the gift of his fellow citizens. He has been road THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 667 commssioner for several years, township trustee, for six years was a member of the board of supervisors and for eight years was township assessor, performing the du- ties of all of these positions with an eye sin- gle to the benefit of the community. Mr. GabrieJson is a stanch Republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, during his term of service, while in Rome. Georgia. He is one of the valued members of the Grand Army Post and from 1870 to [900 was trustee of the Swedish Meth- odist church. No citizen stands higher in public esteem in Webster county than John Gabrielson. D. D. DANIELS. Although one of the younger farmers in Washington township, Mr. Daniels has prospered to a gratifying extent, and his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, bears many evidences of his skill and good management. A native son of the county, he was born September 23, 1869. a sun of David M. and Sarah (Clark) Daniels, who are mentioned at length in another part of this book. While still very young Mr. Daniels evinced habits of indus- try and thrift, indications fostered by the capable training of his father, who was one mi tlie substantial tanners of the county. His education was acquired at the public schools, which he attended during the leisure of the winter months, the summer time be- ing devoted to the multiplicity of duties upon the home farm. On October 25, 1892. he married Mary E. Isham, who was born in Washington township, February 28. [872, a daughter of Eugene and Alpha C. ( Dryden ) Isham. natives of Dane county, Wisconsin. She is descended from English ancestors who set tied in New York and constituted what is known as the old Knickerbocker stuck-, and on the paternal side she claims kinship through her grandmother with Colonel Clough, who followed the martial fortunes of Washington during the Revolutionary war. Her parents were reared and mar- ried in Wisconsin, and in 1872 removed to Webster county, Iowa, where the father bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township, and where the mother also owned a similiar amount of land. They lived here until the spring of 1894, when they disposed of their Webster county land, and bought two hundred and fortv acres in Cass township. Hamilton county, upon which they at present reside. The father is a Republican, and is a mem- ber of the Baptist church. Nine children were born into this family, of whom Mrs. Daniels is the oldest; Anna E.. the wife of Frank E. Creed, lives in Washington town- ship and has two children: Ada C, the wife of J. C. Carpenter, lives in Wright county. Iowa, and has one child; Bessie H. lives with her parents: Cassius I. died July 31, 1898, at the age of thirteen: Harry D. died March 31. 1887, at the age of seven months: Ray D. lives with his parents: and Mason C. and Robert E. are also at home. To Mr, and Mrs. Daniels have been born four chil- dren : Eva }'... born November 10. r S94 : Eugene W., January 21, 1897: Marian, December 1 1. [899; rind David D., May 2j. 1 901. For a vear after his marriage Mr. Dan- iels fanned on the homestead, and then re- ed to another part of the same farm, where he lived a year. He then came to his present farm in Washington township, out .if which he developed a fine property, fitted with every modern improvement, including 668 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. commodious house, barns, granaries, good fences and the latest agricultural imple- ments. He also owns some timber land in Webster township. CARE SCHRADER. The ability of the German to transfer his allegiance and thrift to American shores ami to become an integral part of the pros- perity of his adopted location is illustrated in the career of Carl Schrader. one of the large land-owners of Dayton township, and a man who has depended solely upon his own efforts for the place which he occupies to-day. The first thirty years of his life were spent in Germany, where he was born April 20. 1845. an d where he was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. His father died in 1858, but his mother lived tn accompany her son to the United States, where she died near Watertown, Wisconsin. in 1884. Carl was the second oldest child in the family, and the other children were : Johanna, who died near Watertown two months before the mother; William, who is married and lives near Charles City, Iowa; and August, who came to America in 1870 but died shortly after landing. While still in Germany Mr. Schrader married, in 1868. with Eliza Drager, who died the following year, leaving one child who is now living. In June, 1870. Mr. Schrader married Soplhia Drager, whose parents are both dead, the mother having died in 1880 while living with her daugh- ter and son-in-law. To Mr. and Mrs. Schrader have been born seven children, namely : Herman, a farmer in South Da- kota, who married Elza Meyer; Frank, also a farmer of South Dakota, who married Emma Williams; William, living with the rest of- the family in South Dakota; Anna; Julian; Paul; and Elza. The last four named are living at home. Shortly after his second marriage, in 1870. Mr. Schrader embarked with his wife and mother from European shores, and in due time sailed into Xew York harbor, the journey taking a month. He went direct to Wisconsin and lived on a farm for about four years, working for another man. He arrived in Webster county, Iowa, in [874, and. with the money saved from his toil bought eighty acres of the land upon which he now lives. Prosperity has rewarded his efforts, and with the coming of many suc- cessful harvests his fortunes were increased sufficiently to permit and even necessitate the purchase of additional land, so that he now owns a quarter section of fine farm land on section 6, of Dayton ti wnship. His property is well stocked, and whether in stock-raising or general farming. Mr. Schrader endeavors to keep abreast of the times and to introduce such methods and improvements as to place him in the front ranks of progressive tillers of the soil ami cattle breeders. He is a Republican in poli- tics, but always votes for the best man. and has never desired public office. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. TOHX CRAM. For thirty-one years Mr. Cram has been an active promoter of the best interests of Burnside township, and during - all this period has lived continuously upon his pres- ent farm on section 10. In his youth he was reared to an appreciation of a life of agriculture, and in Onondaga county. Xew THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 669 York, where he was born July 9, [836, was early taught to be of assistance in the per- formance of those duties incident to profit able farming-. His father. Jehiel Cram, was burn about 183] in Burlington, Ver- mont, and was of English lineage, although his father* Ebenezer Cram, was also a na- tive of the Green Mountain state. The lat- ter had a family of seven suns. Jacib, Orin, Lorin. Alhanan. Jehiel. Heman and George, all born in Vermont. The father of our sub- ject was a tanner and manufacturer of leather and also engaged in the manufacture of shoes for a number of years. He mar- ried Susan Chase, who was likewise born in Vermont and whose ancestors came to America as Pilgrims on the Mayflower. In i860 the parents became residents of Illinois, removing thence to Mahaska comity. Iowa, in 1868. There the mother died about 1874, while the father died at the home of his son in Thayer. Kansas, in 1883. They were the parents of five sons and 1 me daughter : Dan- iel, who died in Onondaga county, Xew York; David, who died in Carroll county, Illinois, and left three children: Henry, who died in Thayer, Kansas, leaving a wife and one child : Heman. who married Frances Shook and resides at Thornburg, Keokuk county, Iowa; and Mary P.. the wife of William Smith, of Kansas. Two of the sons, David and Henry, served in the Civil war. John Cram, of this review, was edu- cated in the common schools, and as an aid to future independence learned the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed up to the time of his marriage, which important event in his life occurred December 27. 1859, the lady of his choice being Harriett \Y. Cush- man. She was horn at Buffalo Grove. Ogle comity, Illinois, January 14. 1839; her fa- ther was a native of Georgia, Vermont, while her mother was horn April 18, 1X17. in Delaware county, Xew York. In [836 the former removed to Buffalo Grove, Illi- nois, and two years later, with a colony of seventy people, the lady whom he made his wife also located there. The ancestry of the Cushman family can be traced back in direct line through eight generations. Rob- ert Cushman, the first of whom we have authentic record, was born in England in 1580, and with the Pilgrim fathers came to America, where he filled the office of colonial agent. He died in England, whither he had gone on a trip in the interest of the settlers. Thomas Cushman. the rep- resentative in the second generation, was born in England, February 3, 1608, and wedded Mary Allerton. He came to Amer- ica in the historic craft, the Mayflower, and died Decemher 11. 1O91. Elkanah Cush- man, of the third generation, was horn June 1, 1651, married Elizabeth Cole, and died in Plymouth, Massachusetts. September 4. 1727. John Cushman, of the fourth gen- eration, was born August 13. 1690, and married Johanna Pratt. Their son, Charles Cushman, was born at Plymouth. Massa- chusetts, September 3. 1735. wedded Mary Hardey. and died in Rutland, Vermont, in 1 791. Frederick Cushman. of the sixth gen- eration, was horn in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1758, married Alice Coswell, and died October 22, 1852. They were the great- grandparents of Mrs. Cram. Solomon Cushman, the grandfather, was horn in Bur- lington, Vermont, in 1785. and married Phila Strong. Their son. Charles Cush- man. the father of Mrs. Cram, was horn in Vermont, October 24. 1X11. and wedded Mary B. Waterbury, who was horn April [8, 1X17. at Andes. Delaware county. Xew York. She was descended from English an cestry, who were Pilgrims and also came to 670 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. America on the Mayflower. The family is a prominent and honored one of New Eng- land and has been represented in the two wars with England. Eventually representa- tives of the name removed to New York and thence to Illinois with a colony of seventy, settling in Ogle county, where Mrs. Cush- nian. the mother of Mrs. Cram, is still liv- ing at an advanced age. In her family were four children. Ed- win S. Cnshman. the brother of Mrs. Cram, was born in August, 1841, and is now a resi- dent of Nampa, Idaho, where he is engaged in fruit growing and the real-estate busi- ness. At the time of the Civil war he en- listed in Polo, as a member of Company E, Ninety-second Illinois Infantry, and served fur three years. John W. Cushman, the second brother of Mrs. Cram, was born at Buffalo Grove, Illinois, August 14, 1844. and enlisted in Company D, Ninety-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and when three years had passed re-enlisted as a veteran. He was with Sherman on the celebrated, march to the sea. He wedded Mary Lewis and for a number of years engaged in the jewelry business in Polo, Illinois, where he died in 1888. Phila Cushman, born Oc- tober 1, i860, now makes her home with her mother in Polo. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cram has been blessed with three children: Anna. born September _>_>, 1861, is the wife of Ed- win Heal and with their two children they reside on section 10, Burnside township. Mary F., born December 9, 1866, is the wife i l W. T. Marsh, by whom she has two chil- dren, and their home is on section 3, Burn- side township; and Inez M., who was born March 9, 1871, is the wife of Colly C. Bowers, a farmer residing on section 33, Otho township, by whom she has four chil- dren : John, Floyd, Harriett and Iva. Soon after his marriage Mr. Cram lo- cated on a farm in Ogle county, Illinois, where he remained for five years, and in 1866 .removed to Keokuk, Iowa. In Jan- nary, 1870, he took up his abode in Web- ster county, Iowa, and settled on his present farm of one hundred and -twenty acres. The land was then but partially improved, but soon the labors of Mr. Cram were effect- ing a change in the appearance of the place. The fields were placed under cultivation and the green tints of summer gave promise of golden harvests in the autumn. Barns and other necessary buildings were erected and Anna, the eldest daughter, planted many of the fine trees which adorn the place. In ad- dition to general farming Mr. Cram has en- gaged in the breeding of Ohio imported Chester white hogs and he also raises and ships other stock, thereby annually increas- ing his income. Mr. Cram has always taken an active and intelligent interest in local politics and for twelve years has been an efficient mem- ber of the school board. Fraternally he is identified with Lehigh Lodge, No. 27, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Christian church in Lehigh and to the extent of his ability contributes toward its charities and general maintenance. His judgment and ad- vice are of great value in connection with all important township enterprises and he is accounted one of the leading and influential residents of the community. GEORGE C. LEMON. George C. Lemon, one of the successful and enterprising farmers of Washington township, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, May 5, 1843. an d is a son of Joseph and THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 671 Jane (Carter) Lemon, the latter of win mi was born in Ohio and died Februan 28, 1871, while the former still lives in Ohio and is eighty-two years of age. Of the eight children born to the parents two sons and one daughter survive and are residents of Zanesville, and of these. Frank married Lucy Arter; Serena is the wife of Will Pherson; and Elmer married Laura Carter. While assisting with the work on his father's farm George C. Lemon attended the district schools as opportunity offered, and afterward worked out by the month until twenty-one years of age. On March 25, [866, he married Martha Ferguson, who was born in Livermore, Pennsylvania, No- vember 19, 1845, a daughter of J. G. and Maria ( Watson) Ferguson. The father was a shoemaker and farmer. Of his eight children but four are living: Watson, a tanner of Missouri, married Lizzie Waters, ami after her death married Anna Thomp- son; Samuel, living at Homer, Iowa, mar- ried Mollie Stotts ; and Cinda, a resident of Zanesville, is the wife of Will Temple. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lemon, five died in infancy, and May died at the age of eighteen, the surviving children being George A., Frank and Morton. Soon after his marriage Mr. Lemon set- tled in Muskingum county, Ohio, which continued to be his home for thirteen years, ami where he was engaged in general farm- ing, gardening and coal mining with the success to be expected from one of his en- ergy and practical common sense. At the expiration of his stay in Ohio he settled upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Washington township. Webster county. Iowa, and this farm has profited by his in- dustry and good management and is one of the most desirable farms in the township. \dded to a comfortable and commodious farm resilience there are good barns and out- houses, and the implements include all of the known aids to expeditious labor-,, not the least valuable of which is an up-to-date threshing outfit. Mr. Lemon is known for his public spiritedness, for his business sa- gacity and his unquestioned integrity. DANIEL A. PETERSON. For nearly half a century Daniel A. Peterson has been identified with the agri- cultural and political advancement of Day- ton township, where he owns one hundred and seventy acres of finely improved land, redeemed from a wild state by years of arduous toil. One of the most progressive of the Swedish-Americans in Webster county, he was born in Sweden, December 22, 1840, a son of Andrew and Maria Peter- son, who emigrated to America in 1849. an ^ located in Madrid, Boone count)-, Iowa. In 1852 they removed to Dayton township, Webster county, where both eventually died, the father December 19. 1885, and the mother in September, 1893. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters : John, who married Charlotte Hanson and resides in Oregon; Matilda, the wife of E. S. Atkinson, of Stratford, Iowa; Lars A., who married Augusta Carlson and is a farmer living on section 34, Dayton town- ship. this county: Augusta W.. who mar- ried Charles Asp and died in Mississippi in 1880; Emma, who died at sea at the age of six years while the family were coming to America : Melker. who died in Dayton town- ship at the age of four years : and Jennie, wife of A. A. Olson, of Ogden, Iowa. Before coming to America with his par- ent* Mr. Peterson attended the country 672 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. schools of Sweden for two summers, and afterward studied at Madrid. Iowa, and later still in a little schoolhouse one-half mile from his present home. He remained on the parental farm until his marriage, January 20, 1861, with Sophia Hanson, who was born in Sweden, December 17, 1X4(1, and came to America with her father in 1853, ' ier mother having died in the old country. They settled first in Hardin town- ship, Webster county, and then in Boone county, where the father died in i860. He had hut one son, John A., who was a valiant soldier during the Civil war, and died in a hospital in Mound City. Illinois, from dis- ease contracted in the service. Of the chil- dren born to .Mr. and Airs. Peterson, Manda, Bertha, Willie and Linda died in infancy, and the children still living are: Edward, a cashier in the State Bank at Stratford ; Nellie, the wife of Elmer Shostrom, who lives in Dayton and has three children, Ethel, Russel and a babe unnamed; May, the wife of August Olson, who lives in Bi one county and has three children. Ver- ner, Floyd and Gay; Maude, a student, who is living at In me ; and Ruben, also attending school and living at home. After his marriage Air. Peterson lived with his father for two or three years, after which he purchased the land upon which he now lives. He is the oldest living settler in the township, having been here continuously since 1852. When he first arrived here there were but four others in the township, but these have long since passed away, and he alone recalls the hardships and depriva- tions which beset those who ventured to till the primitive si il. The particular fitness of .Mr. Peterson for official office has been recognized by his fellow townsmen on many occasions, and as a loyal Deiw crat lie served for one term as county recorder, ami is at present township assessor. Though still retaining all of his land he rents out considerable of it, but lives nevertheless in the old homestead which has weathered the storms of succeeding sum- mers and winters. In the estimation of all who have profited by his industry or en- joyed his friendship he is held in high esteem, and is one of the most venerable and kindly gentlemen in his neighborhood. JOEL ELLIS DANIELS. A native of the county which has since been his home, and toward the improve- ment of which he has so earnestly worked. Joel Ellis Daniels was born January 28, 1 - MR. AND MRS. C. S. PRATT THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 683 spring-wagon and he started for Nebraska. When he reached Webster county the June rains rendered further progress undesirable, so he remained and operated a threshing machine for his brother. The next year he rented eighty acres from D. M. Daniels, but in the fall purchased a farm in Washington township. His faith in the future is indi- cated by the fact that he had to borrow money with which to make the first payment on the land. Few improvements had been made on the property, but the land was part- ly broken and a walnut plank house had been built. The industry and capable management of Mr. Pratt showed quick results. The in- debtedness was paid off and soon he was on the road to prosperity, largely through the scientific and modern manner in which he conducted his place. After settling on that farm he engaged in threshing every season, and owned a very fine threshing machine and engine, a corn sheller and corn shredder. He was a stockholder in the Elevator O im- pany at Duncombe. which buys and sells cattle, hogs, lumber and coal. At no time in his life has he been an office seeker, yet lie is firm in his allegiance to the Republican party. Like all the members of his family, he is imbued with the spirit of patriotism, inherited not only from his paternal amis tors, but also from the Xash family (of English stock), his great-grandfather Xash having taken part in the Revolution and the war of 1S1 _>. In Webster City, Iowa, Tanuary 21, 1882, Mr. Pratt was united in marriage t « « Miss Marion Colburn, who was born in Montreal, Canada, May 29, 1850. a daugh- ter of Major E. E. Colburn, a sketch of whom follow this. She had excellent edu- cational advantages, attending first the Mound Street Seminary, in Cincinnati. Ohio, while later she was a student in a pri- vate academy, subsequently continuing her studies at Fort Dodge, Iowa, and then com- pleting her education in the Wesleyan Uni- versity of Cincinnati. She has devoted her- self to school teaching and has acquired an excellent reputation for success in that work. For fifteen years she was connected with the public schools of Webster county; for three years was a teacher in the high school of Fort Dodge, and at one time was principal of the schools of Lake City. In February, 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt sold their farm to P. T. Flynn, of Duncombe. and the last of April moved to Snohomish. Washington. There they have bought a handsome resi- dence, and after a life of toil expect to take life more easily. MAJOR E. E. COLBURX. Major Ezekiel Elliott Colburn, an hon- ored veteran of the Civil war, was for sev- eral years prominently identified with the in- dustrial interests of Webster county, and during that time became widely and favor- ably known throughout this community. He was born in Parisville. Xew York. July 14, 1814, and was descended from English no- bility. During their residence in this coun- try the Colburn family has ever been a very patriotic and loyal one. having representa- tives in every war in which America has been engaged. The Majors parents were Rev. Thomas Chandler and Sarah (Phil- lips ) Colburn, the former of whom was born in Chester. Vermont, April 15. ijS,}. and died in Montreal, Canada, January T2. 1S48, while the latter was born in Surrey, New Hampshire, October 14, 1788. and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 9, [876. They were 684 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. married at Madrid, New York, on the 24th of December, 1809. Mrs. Colburn's father was a physician practicing in the town of Surrey, New Hampshire, and her husband's father was an Episcopal clergyman. The Major was named both for an uncle and for Commodore Elliott, who was a dis- tant relative of the family. When only four years old he accompanied his parents on their removal to Montreal, Canada, and be- ing reared among French Canadians he was able to speak the French language as fluent- ly as the English. He received a thorough- ly practical business education, and began his business career as a clerk in a hardware store of Montreal. In that city, September 30, 1837, Major Colburn married Miss Elizabeth Helen Bostvvick, who was a native of that place and was then about eighteen years of age. She was educated at a fashionable boarding school in Schenectady. New York, of which state her father was a native, being a de- scendant of the Bostwick family that came to this country from England in 1630. Unto the Major and his wife were born the fol- lowing children : Helen, who is a music teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio; Sarah L., who resides with her sister Helen; Frederick, also a resident of Cincinnati: Elliott, whose home is near Puget Sound in Washington; and Marion, wife of Clarence S. Pratt, whose sketch appears above. The older of the two sons married Elizabeth Davis, of Portsmouth, Ohio, and has an only daugh- ter. Mrs. Alice Moeller, now a resident of the city of Mexico. The younger son mar- ried Ella R. Cramer, and they have three children : Lloyd, who served in the Span- ish \nierican war; Dell Rose; and Florence. During the residence of both the Bost- wick and Colburn families in Canada they never gave up their allegiance to the United States. At the time of his marriage the Major was engaged in the hardware busi- ness in Montreal, and later was part owner of an extensive wholesale flouring mill, but the firm was one of the many that failed dur- ing a financial depression at that time, and he concluded to try his fortune in the United States. He first went to New Orleans, and accepted a position as bookkeeper and for- eign (French) correspondent in a large wholesale sugar house. He was delighted with that beautiful city, but fearing the cli- mate would prove too great a change from what he had been accustomed to in Canada, he retraced his steps as far as Cincinnati, where his brother Charles had already lo- cated. There the Major embarked in the wholesale dry goods business as a member of the firm of Watts & Colburn, but failure again overtook him during the panic of 1855. In those dark days the "great west" was the hope and beacon of young and un- successful business men, so with several others, including Messrs. Booth and Kava- nagh, Major Colburn journeyed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, which at that time was scarce- ly more than a frontier military post. He pre-empted a half-section of land on the west bank of the Des Moines river, and after four years of disheartening hardships inci- dent to a frontier settlement, during which time the railroad looked for did not ma- terialize, he returned to Cincinnati in [860 to engage in the insurance business with William Glassford. While at Fort Dodge he commenced the development of the first coal mine in Webster county, opening what was known as the Colburn vein. He oper- ated the mine with varying success until his return to Cincinnati. When the Civil war broke out he offered his services to the government, enlisting in the summer of 1861. at Portsmouth, Ohio, THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 685 as regimental quartermaster with the rank of lieutenant, but was rapidly promoted, within six months being made brigade quar- termaster under General Sill, with the rank of colonel, and then as division quartermas- ter under Generals Buell, Nelson and Rous- seau, with the rank' of major. He became a personal friend of both General Sill and General Nelson, and was highly compli- mented by the latter in the reports which were sent to Washington, but as the army business was imperfectly conducted in the whirl and rush of war times and especially owing to the sudden and unexpected death of General Nelson, Major Colburn's papers were never formally made out and signed. Consequently, beyond his pay as an officer, he reaped no advantage for himself or fam- ily, although he had a splendid army record. He was much beloved by the soldiers. All his spare time was spent in the hospital tents and numberless were his acts of kind- ness for the sick and wounded. Upon leaving the army Major Colburn accepted the position of cashier in the bank of H. O. Gilbert, and while there was very fortunate in some speculations, from which he made one hundred thousand dollars, but this sum was quickly dispersed in other ven- tures in the oil fields of Kentucky and Athens county, Ohio. With the remnant of his fortune the Major returned to Fort Dodge in 1866, and occupied himself in lay- ing out the town of West Fort Dodge. He next undertook the development of coal mines on the west bank of the Des Moines river, sinking three shafts and about fifteen thousand dollars in this disastrous work. Al- though the coal was of a fine quality, faulty construction destroyed the shafts and water accumulated in the mines, and thus he lost his entire fortune. In 1869, at the age of fifty-five years. Major Colburn started for New York, in- tending to take up the battle of life there, but during the year spent in that city he was unsuccessful in seeking employment, as was also the case the following year in St. Louis. He then formed a partnership with two men and went to Dallas. Texas, for the purpose of furnishing beef to a New York firm, but one of his friends soon afterward died, and the other partner, a wealthy cap- italist, returned to Xew York, leaving the Major to pursue his plans alone. He trav- eled all over Texas and a part of Mexico for a year or two, and at length settled in Dallas, where he engaged in several differ- ent enterprises. At the end of two years he formed a partnership with three men under the name of the Dallas Ice Company. They built an immense ice house on the outskirts of the city with the intention of furnish- ing ice not only to that place, but also to the towns along the coast, but just as it was completed and densely packed with ice a flash of lightning struck it and burned it to the ground. At the time of his death -Major Colburn was manager of a lumber mill at Gladewater, twenty miles from Dal- las. Here were employed two- hundred men of a lawless character, and the Major never appeared among them without being armed to the teeth. The proprietor of the mill got in debt to him for his services as manager and rewarded him simply with a profusion of thanks and praise for his brav- ery in controlling such desperate characters. Gladewater being situated in a marshy district. Major Colburn contracted malarial fever, from which he died November 30, 1875. The illness was kept a secret from his family until hope was passed. He had become a warm friend of a noble yi >ung man, Captain W. G. Currie, formerly of the Xew York Volunteers, who with great in- 686 NIK lilOGRAl'IMCAL RECORD. \ enience to himself and sparing no pains or trouble to make the sufferer comfortable had the Major in charge until the arrival of the I.iiut's son, Elliott, at Dallas. When he passed away Captain Currie mourned him .1.1 i m would a Father, and too much can- imi be said by the family in their gratitude for thai gentleman's tender can-. The Earn ilv had no last look at their beloved dead. For the remains were buried in one ol the Dallas cemeteries. In early life Major Col- burn was a very handsome man. anil he pos- sesed great and shining talents, especially fur financiering and the management <>f wholesale wink, but For some unaccountable reason, whether ill luck or the combination nf unfortunate circumstances, his life was >>ne long series of reverses and brillianl fail- ures, Mis course was ever honorable and upright, and he enjoyed the confidence and high regard nf all with whom he came in contacl either in husincss or social life, so that his death was widely and deeply mourned'. The following were among the manj tributes paid in his memor) at that lime. "The announcement nf the death ol Maji 'i I' . E. ( '■< ilburn w ill he receh ed w ith sad feelings by his nld arm) comrades in tins vicinity. At the commencement ol the war Mr. Colburn, then a merchant nf Cin- cinnati, was appointed quartermaster ol the Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, Colonel J. W. Sill commanding. Naturally of a military east nf mind, and bringing excellent Imsiness qualities to Ins official position, he soon won the entire con- fidence uf his commander and fellow officers, and the writer nf this has often heard the late General Sill speak nf him in terms ol the highest praise and as an invaluable of- ficer. Once in the field his peculiar fitness fur the position soon attracted attention and in a very short lime he was placed on the i. iii of Major General Nelson, whose entire confidence he always enjoyed. The approval nf such officers as the two ahnyc named speaks in no light terms n\ his peculiar fit- ness and ability as an officer. Alter the war he again engaged in commeroial pursuits, and has now passed away. The many genial and kind qualities of Major Colburn will be long remembered by his nld comrades." This article appeared in a Ross a >unty, Ohio, paper, November 30, 1875, and was signed "Adjutant," and mi the same date there ap- peared in the Cincinnati Enquirer the fol- li iwing : "Major Colburn was for many years a resident nf this city. Me was at one time in the wholesale dry goods Imsiness on Pearl street, and had many friends among business men, who esteemed him highl) for his ster- ling integrity nf character. Me served with distinction in the Union army during the late war i>\ the Rebellion. Me entered the service as a lieutenanl in the Thirtj third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, hut was speedily promoted to the rank nf major for meritori- ous services and assigned in duty mi the Staff of the late ( iencral William Xelsmi, w ho became a warm friend <>\ his. Me was die soldiers' friend: was always trying to do something in make the private soldiers more comfortable, especially the sick- and wound- ed, There are many soldiers nf the nld \111iY ni the Cumberland who will remem- ber his visits to the hospitals and his efforts to alleviate their sufferings and well was he repaid for all his kindness, for being far away from home when taken sick and among strangers Major Ransom, formerly nf Ransom's Battery, an nld army comrade, and \Y. G. Currie. ^\ Dallas, sought him out and lavished every care and attention upon him until his son reached him. and THE UK (GRAPHICAL REC< )RD. 687 even then they never left his bedside until all was over. He was especiallj devoted to Ins family and grieved sadly at being de- prived oi their loving kindness in his last illness. He became united with the Protest ant Episcopal church several years since, and was much comforted in his last hours by his faith in the church and his hopes of a future existence in the land where peace and happiness reign evermore." \\ [LLIAM II. WIDICK. The fertile acres of Burnside township have proved .1 pr< Stable soui ce oi 1 e\ enu< to William II. Widick, who is the owner of two hundred and fort) acres of well-im- proved land, and is engaged in general farm ing and stock raising. He was born in Macon county, Illinois, July 14, 1852, and continued to make thai his home until the age of twelve years. The family then re moved to Webster county, Iowa, and here he worked on his father's farm until twent) one years of age. He then started out on an independent \ enture in Illinois, and after working for nine months returned to towa and worked on his lather's farm until twen i ] 1 1 ■.. i . ,11 -, old. On November 11. [877, Mr. Widick married Mary A. Blanchard, who was bom in Burlington, Eowa, December 28, 1853, her parents also being of American birth, and at present residents of Webster City, w here the lather is li\ ing a retired life. 'The famih own a farm northeast of Lehigh. Mrs. Widick is one of a family of nun 1 hil dren, the others being: Preston, who died .11 the age of twent) seven; I .i/zie, who mar- ried Joel I'*.. DanieN and lives on a farm 111 Washington township; Louisa J., widow of \\ llliam I '< well, w ho died in W eb itei ' in [896; Henry, who married < 1 11 a Bald- ridge and lives mi a farm iuai Lehigh; Caroline, who died al the ag< oi years; Beecher, who married Martha Blair and lives at Fi at I >odge ; Emma, whi 1 died in infancy ; and Emmet, w ho died at il, n\ five years. Two children have been born ti ' Mr. and Mrs. Widick : Benjamin B born December 28, [879; and Louisa, born September 23, 1888. After leaving his father's farm Mr. \\ idick lived 1 m rented land southeast of Dayton for four years, and in (882 n moved to the farm upon which he now lives, and which was then one hundred and sixty acres in extent. To this he has added until he 1 'W ns the two hundred and fort; acn before mentii med. I lc has mam inh aside from those which pertain to his immediate surroundings, and is a stockhold- er in the Lehigh Savings Bank, and has an interesl in the creamery at Burnside. He is a Republican in political inclination, and is fraternally associated with the Modern \\ 1 h idmeii ■ >f America. He is one oi the progressive farmers of his township, and his counsel and practical assi tance are evei at the disposal of worth) township entei prises. 'ETER LINN. Sweden has furnished to V\ ebster COUllty many of her most prominenl and highly 1 e pei ted 1 itizens, and t> 1 this class beli mgi d Peter Linn, whose last days were spent in I >;i\ ton, w liel e Ills w idow Still resides. I le was born in Lindkopings Lan, Sw edi 11 |une 21, 1823, and in that country his par mi pent their entire li\ es. In the famil) were six children, three sons and threi THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. daughters. All of the former came to America, these being Peter, our subject; John, who is now a widower and a resident of Stratford, Iowa; and Gust, deceased. His widow makes her home in Dayton. In the land of hu birth Mr. Linn grew to manhood, and was married in 1846 to Miss Sophia Olson, who was born in the same country, March 24, 1822, a daughter of Peter and Mary Olson, who were fann- ing people and life-long residents of Sweden. She has two' brothers, John Peter, who lived in .Dayton township; and Frederick, who was married and lived in Sweden until his death. It was in 1851 that Mr. and Mrs. Linn bade good-bye to friends and native land and sailed for the new world, where they landed after a stormy voyage of eleven weeks. One of their three children had previously died in Sweden and another in New York soon after reaching this country. They did not tarry long in the eastern metropolis but came at once to Iowa, and took up a government claim in Pilot Mound township, Boone county, on which Mr. Linn was successfully engaged in farming for thirty-three years. He was then able to retire from active la- bor and spend his last days in ease and com- fort, having in 1884 purchased a splendid brick residence in Dayton, now occupied by his widow. There he died December 22, 1892, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a consistent and faith- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and served as president of the board of trustees. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Linn were born the following children : Olaf Peter, born in 1S47, died in infancy in Sweden; John Ed- ward, born March 1, 1849, died in New York. August 1, 1851 ; Olaf Leonard, born December 2, 1850, died in Iowa in 1852; Oscar Peter, born January 7, 1853, died March 9, 1872, in Iowa; Matilda, born Oc- tober 30, 1854, married William Carson, now a resident of Texas, and she died April 20, 1879, while their only child died in in- fancy; John Frederick, born September 7, 1856, died April 9, 1880; Julia, born De- cember 28, 1861, died April 10, 1879; and Maria Sophia, born August 17, 1864, died August 4, 1886. Of this family only the mother is now living. She is an earnest member of the Swedish Methodist Episo 1- pal church and is a most estimable lady of many sterling qualities, who has a large circle of friends in this communitv. GEORGE F. YUNGCLAS. One of the most prosperous and prom- ising of the younger generation of farmers of Webster county is George F. Yung- clas, who was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, November 14, 1875, a son of John Henry and Catherine (Kober) Yung'clas, natives, respectively, of Cassel and Wur- temberg, Germany. The parents of Mr. Yungclas came to America about 1850, and were married in Connecticut, where they afterward lived for a short time. With the hope of ma- terially brightening their prospects they then removed to Tama county, Iowa, where the father bought eighty acres of land upon which he farmed until the spring of 1869. Before removing to Hamilton county, Iowa, he purchased a half section of land in 1868, and upon this property they eventually settled, and in time acquired over six hundred acres of land. They were among the most successful farmers of the county, and amassed a fortune by reason of THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. their industry and toil. At present the par- ents are living at llighview. Hamilton county, where they have a pleasant home and are comparatively retired from active life. The father is a Republican in polities, and i- a dev> ted member and supporter of the G ngregaitional church. The following children have been born into the family: Henry, a farmer of Hamilton county, who married first, Emma Stahl. and after her death. Anna Argubright; Martha, who is the wife of William Burns, of Webster county; Emma, who first married Louis Staid, and is now the wife of Charles Stahl, ■ •\ Geneseo, Illinois; Katie, who is living with her parents; and George F., our sub- ject. At the district schools of the neighbor- h 1 Mr. Yungclas studied diligently until lus seventeenth year, after which he de- voted his entire time to assisting with his fa- ther's extensive farming enterprises. On August 22. 1900, at Webster City, Iowa, he married Winnie Stahl, who was born in Geneseo, Illinois, December 4, 1882, a daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Doyle) Stahl. also natives of Geneseo. The par- ents were married in their native town, and in 1883 removed t< 1 Iowa, and located upon a farm purchased by the father in Hamilton county. Here the mother died in 1890, and the father afterwards married Anna Billington, and lives in Webster City. He is a Republican in polities, and is the owner cf much property, among other possessions being a farm of half a section in South Dakota. Airs. Yungclas is a child of the first union, and of the second union there 1- one child. Gladys, who is living with her parents. After his marriage Mr. Yungclas moved to the farm upon which he now lives, and which is admirably equipped for the most scientific tanning. There is a modern and particularly well built and well furnished residence, commodious barns, granaries, and all manner of up-to-date agricultural implements. In all Mr. Yungclas manages tour hundred and ninety acres in Hamilton eount\, and one hundred and sixty acres in Webster county. The house is located on section 36, Fremont township, Ham- ilton county. Although a stanch Re- publican, and vitally interested in the un- dertakings of his party, he has steadfastly refused to hold officiaj positions, preferring to devote all his time to the management of his large interests. Fie is one of the influ- ential farmers of Hamilton and Webster counties, and his friends and associates prophesy a future of extended usefulness and accomplishment. A. G. ANDERSON. Among the very successful, highly re- spected and well-known farmers of Web- ster county, Iowa, is A. G. Anderson, who owns some of the most valuable property in Dayton township. He was born in a coun- try which is bound to the United States by many friendly ties, so many of the best citi- zens in every part of this great land having originated in far-off Sweden, where his birth occurred June 2, 1838. He is one of a family of eight children, whose parents were Andrew and Carrie Anderson, life- long residents of their native land. Three brothers of our subject also came to Amer- ica, these being: John, deceased, who mar- ried Lotta Anderson, now- a resident of Omaha, Nebraska; Samuel, who married Marie Nelson and lives in Perry. Okla- homa; ami Charles, who married Carrie 690 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Johnson, now deceased, and resides in Pat- ins, m. New York. Air. Anderson of this sketch was edu- cated in his native country, leaving school at the age of fourteen years, and was con- firmed in the Lutheran church, at the age of sixteen, showing that his parents were careful and pious people. He was taught also to be honest and industrious and was employed both at farm work and on rail- road building. He also worked in a tan- nery for a time. According to the law of the land, he served in the Swedish army, and he was twenty-six years old when he decided to emigrate to America. In [865 he sailed from Gottenberg to Hamburg and thence to Xew York. He was first em- ployed at Princeton, Illinois, for two years. On leaving that state Mr. Anderson went to Minnesota, hut a year later we rind him in Chicago, going thence to the lumber re- gions of Michigan, where he worked in a sawmill through one winter, and then re- turned to Chicago. In 1868 he came to Boone. Iowa, where he worked as a stone mason. It was while there that he was united in marriage, December 31, 1870, to Han- nah Peterson, also a native < 1 take their places among the representa- tive citizens of this great state. In politics he is a Democrat, but has always refused to In ild office. Kind and charitable and in- terested in all religious movements, he has libera] ideas and does not hind himself to any particular church, believing that true religion consists in doing one's full duty. ANDREW" A. VINSAND. Andrew A. Vinsand, whose farm of one hundred and sixteen acres is pleasantly lo- cated mi section 3. Badger township, near the village of Badger, has spent his entire life in Webster county, his birth having occurred October i_\ 1870, on the old homestead where he now reside-. His father, Andrew K. Vinsand, was born in Norway, Decem- ber 31. 1 82 1, and there grew tO 1 manhood and married, it being the home of the fam- ily until after the birth of seven of the chil- dren. In 1868 they emigrated to America, and after spending one year in Dane county, Wisconsin, took up their residence in Web- ster county, Iowa, where the father secured a tract of government land In the spring of 1870 he located thereon, it being the place now owned and occupied by his youngest sun. Andrew A. 'I'm the work of develop- ment and improvement he at once turned his attention, and was successfully engaged in 11- operation until called to his final n the 1 1 tli of September, 1 8< j 7 . His wife passed awa\ some years previously. The) had seven children, four sons and three daughters, who are still living. During his boyhood and youth Andrew A. \ insand pursued his studies in the home school and aided in the work O'f the farm. After reaching man's estate he rented the place fur several years, and when his father died he purchased the interest of the Other heirs and succeeded to the old homestead where his entire life has been passed, lie has since enlarged and remodeled the house, making a very comfortable home; has built a granary, put up a windpump and made many other improvements which add greatly t«) the value and attractive appear- ance of the place. He is now accounted one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Badger township. In Trempealeau count}, Wisconsin, in March. 1891, was 1 celebrated the marriage of Mr. Vinsand and Miss Betsy Kolve, who was horn, reared and educated in that state. and they have become the parents of four children: Elmer, Clara. Laura and Elsie. Mr. and Mrs. Vinsand are members of the Lutheran church, and he has been a stanch Republican since casting his first presiden- tial vote for Benjamin Harrison, hut has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to devote his un- divided attention to his business interests. For the past seven years he has owned and operated a corn sheller in connection with his other work, and in this way has added not a little to his income. He is a wide- awake, energetic business man. and is also public-spirited and progressive. 692 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. M. H. ANDREWS. Among the practical and progressive farmers of Burnside township is numbered M. H. Andrews, whose home is on sec- tion 24, where he owns a most desirable place of one hundred and sixty acres. He was born in Union county, Ohio, near Rich- wood, July 12, 1850, a soil: of Hiram and Catherine (Schisher) Andrews, both of whom were of German lineage and natives of the Buckeye state. There they were mar- ried and continued to live until 1853. the father being engaged in shoemaking and the grocery business. On leaving Ohio they came to Iowa and he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Mahaska county, but after residing thereon for two years they removed to Indianapolis, that county, where they made their home for five or six years, at the end of which time they disposed of the farm. The following four years were spent in Springfield, Keokuk county, Iowa, and then the father purchased another farm near that place, whereon the family lived until i860, when the place was sold and they came to Webster county, lo- cating in Webster township, near Lehigh. There the father died in August, [889, and the mother in February, 1901. In order of birth the children of their family were as follows: Mary, deceased, was the wife of John W. Dugger, of Sum- ner township, this county; Adeline is the wife of Allen Dugger, of Webster county; Upheus married Sarah L. Carter and lives in Nebraska; John, deceased, married Het- tie I. Beightol, who is now the wife of James McKibben, of Storm Lake, Iowa; M. H. is the next of the family; and Anna E. is the wife of Robert Aken, of Webster City, Iowa" During his boyhood and youth M. H. Andrews accompanied his parents on their various removals and remained at home un- til twenty-four years of age, acquiring his education in the district schools. He was married on the 19th of March, 1874, to Miss Lillie Dale, who was born in Clear- field count}', Pennsylvania, January 9, 1854. Her parents, Thomas and Sarah Aurelia (Hoyt) Dale, were also natives of that state, the former born in Clearfield county, where their marriage was cele- brated. From Pennsylvania they removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1855, but three years later returned to the Keystone state. The following year, however, we find them in Rock count}-, Wisconsin, where they made their home until 1863, and then removed to Hamilton county, Iowa. In 1866 they came to Webster coun- ty, locating near Lehigh, where they re- sided for many years. The mother died 1 >e- cember 8, 1892, at the age of sixty-nine years, and the father subsequently married Eliza Jane Hoyt and returned to Rock conn ty, Wisconsin, where he is now living at the age of eighty-two. Mrs. Andrews is the fourth in order of birth in a family of five children, the others being : George M., who married Iowa Payne and both are now deceased; Albert, who was scalded by falling into a vat while making sorghum molasses at the age of eighteen years, and died fourteen days later; Sarah, wife of E. A. Taylor, of Storm Lake, Iowa; and Em- ma, wife of George Post, of Lehigh. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews became the parents of four children, namely: Thomas H.. born December 24, 1874; Clifford, who was horn May 27, 1878, and died at the age of eight weeks; Walter C. born June 16, 1879; and Cecil, who was born August 16, 1886, and died April 9, 1889. Since his marriage Mr. Andrews has THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 693 made his home in this county, and has given his lime and attention to agricultural pur- suits. At one time he owned two hundred and eighty acres of land, but has since dis- posed of one hundred and twenty acres, be- ing still the owner of a tine farm of m hundred and sixty acres on section 24, Burnside township, besides fifty acres in Webster township, to which he has fallen heir. Upon his home place he has built a good residence, and made many other im- provements which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the farm. Mr. Andrews is a thorough and systematic ag- riculturist, and i> an upright, honorable man, who commands the respect and confi- dence of all who know him. STEPHEN B. OLNEY, M. D. The present generation, enjoying the comforts and conveniences of the twentieth century, cannot realize and scarcely imagine the trials and hardships which were endured by the pioneers who made their way west- ward, braving the dangers of frontier life. Great courage, fortitude and determination were necessary ti > meet these, and to the hon- ored pioneers a debt of gratitude is due which can never lie repaid. To Dr. Olney particularly came the difficulties incident to living upon the borders of civilization, for his professional duties called for long drives in all kinds ••( weather. He had to face the winters storms and to endure the heat of summer, but never did he hesitate to respond to a call of duty. For many years he min- istered to the sick and suffering, using his professional knowledge for the aid of his fellow men, and for some years enjoyed a well-earned rest amid friends who had for him the highest esteem and regard. Dr. Olney was born October 13, 1821, in Saratoga county. New York, and traced his ancestry back through many generations to ;m earl_\' period in American hist ry, when the Olney famil) was 6 unded in the new world. Thomas Olney and his son and namesake were partners of Roger Williams in the proprietorship of the settlement of Rhode Island, and our subject is of the eighth generation from Thomas Olney, Sr. The Olney settlement in New York i^ also on historic grounds, for the homestead upon which the Doctor was born was a part of the Saratoga battlefield, where the British under Burgoyne were overwhelmed by the American forces under General Gates. Stephen Olney, the grandfather of the Doc- tor, was born on the Rhode Island planta- tion and thence removed to the Empire state. Benjamin Olney, the father of our subject, was also a native of Saratoga coun- ty. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Berry, who was born in New York and represented one of the early Dutch families — the Beekman — of that state. She died in 1823, when the Doctor was only two years of age, he being the only child of that marriage, but the father afterward mar- ried again and by the second union had sev- eral children. In 1833 he removed with his family to Wood county, Ohio, and settled in the midst of a forest, where Dr. Olney for the first time had practical knowdedge of the experience^ of frontier life. There he was reared to manhood, and at the age of eighteen vears he became a student in Miami College, then the principal educational in- stitution in that part of the state. When twenty-one years of age he took up the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Bur- ritt, who resided in what is now Grand Rap- ids. Ohio, and later he was graduated in the regular school of medicine in the Cleveland 694 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Medical College, with the class of 1847. In [865, lmwever, he abandoned that system of treating diseases and adopted the sys- tem of homeopathy. He became a very suc- cessful practitioner of the latter school, his broad knowledge and his sympathy making him most capable in his effort to minister to tlu- needs of suffering humanity. For four or five years alter his gradu- ation Dr. Olney practiced in Damascus, Henry county, and in Waterville, Lucas county, Ohio. The year 1X55 witnessed his arrival in the Des Moines valley, becoming a resident of Fort Dodge on the 1st of April. During the succeeding thirty years he trav- eled many miles up and down the valley and over the bluffs on either side, in the practice of his profession. On account of his edu- cational qualifications he was made the first superintendent of schools in Webster county, hut the demands made upon him for his professional services would not long permit him to remain in that capacity. He also served in other public positions, and in every office which he was called upon to fill he dis- charged his duties with marked fidelity. In September, [862, Dr. Olney was sur- geon of the Thirty-second [owa Infantry, and served in that capacity until January, 1865. lie was compelled to resign on ac- count of his health, hut through almost three years he carried aid to the sick and wounded soldiers, many of whom praise his memory and hold him in the highest esteem. For main- years after leaving the army he kept the horse which he rode while at the front ,"d which he purchased in Dubuque in [862, retaining him in his possession until the animal died in 1883, when twenty-six years "Id. In 1841) was celebrated the marriage oi Dr. Olney and Miss Stella Badger, of Wood countv, Ohio, and to them were born five children, namely: Floyd B., a practicing physician; Edith A.; Charles C; Edward B. ; and Mary Elizabeth. In 1890 the Doctor removed to Ham- monton, New Jersey, and on March 31, 1891, died from an attack of chronic peri- tonitis, due to disease contracted while in the service during the Civil war. In his political views in earl)- life the I li ctor was a Whig, and on the dissolution of that party he joined the ranks of the new Republican party, which he ever after- ward strongly endorsed, believing firmly in its principles and policy. Socially he was connected with the Masonic Tiler, belong- ing to lodge, chapter and commandery, and he exemplified in his life its_ beneficial and fraternal principles. Judged by wdiat Dr. Olney did for his fellow men, he certainly occupied a prominent position in public es- teem. He was an able physician of Web- ster countv and probably no man within its boundaries was more widely known or held in higher regard or more justly merited the universal respect and confidence of those among 1 whom he lived so long. FLOYD B. OLXEY, M. D. Dr. Floyd IS. Olney is one of the suc- cessful and capable physicians of Fori Dodge and is a representative of one of its most honored pioneer families. He was horn in Waterville. Ohio, November jo. 1851, and in 1S55 came to Fort Dodge with his parents, a sketch of whom appears above. The first school which he ever attended was taught by a Mr. Gunn. He pursued his edu- cation here and after some years he read medicine with his father, determining to make its practice his life work. He was for a time a student in a seminary in Ohio. He THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 695 then entered the office of the old Northwest Weekly, the predecessor of the Messenger, and learned the printer's trade, which lie foi- l-wed for six years. In [875, however, he entered seriously upon the work of prepar- ing for the medical profession as a -indent of Hahnemann College of Chicago, where he was graduated with the class of 1881. In the meantime he had begun medical prac- tice with his father in 1879, and since that time has been an active representative of the profession, enjoying a large and loyal patronage. His skill, his comprehensive knowledge of the science of medicine and his accuracy in applying his learning have all contributed to his success, which has for a number of years ranked him among the lead- ing physicians in Webster county. On the 5th of April. 1877. the Doctor was united in marriage to Mi-- llattie E. Greig. a native of New York, and at that time a resident of Fort Dodge. They be- came the parents of four children, but Kate died in 1899 at the age of nineteen years. The living are Anne, Elizabeth and Doris. The Doctor is identified with the Im- proved Order of Red Men and with several other associations. In politics he is a Re- publican, and served as pension examiner under Presidents Harrison and McKinley. He keeps in touch with the advanced thought in his profession and his reading and research are continually broadening his knowledge and making his efforts of greater value to his fellow men. A. A. PRALL. M. D. Among those who devote their time and energies to the practice of medicine and have gained a leading place in the ranks of the profession is Dr. A. A. Prall. of Dayton, lie i- a native of Iowa, horn near Kei qua, Van Buren county, in July. [860, and is a son 1 1 rhomas and Rachel I R ii Trail, the former horn in P( l, No- vember 11, 1800, the latter in Ohio. maternal grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Richard- son, was a most intelligent woman, \vl early life learned from the Indians the use of roots, herbs, harks, etc., as cure- for dis- 1 1 \ at i' 'ti- kinds, .1- she subsequently practiced medicine among her neighb rs, who relied more upon her judgment than upon that of the regular physicians. In March, i860, the parent- of our subject came to Iowa and took up their residence in Johnson county. After the Civil war broke out the father enlisted in September. 1862, at Iowa City, in Company G. Twenty-sec- ond Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Dr. Prall is the oldest in a family of six sons, the others being as follows: Nathan C. married a Miss Miller and makes his home in Warren county. Iowa; Ellsworth, a resident of Mason City, Iowa, has been twice married : Charles is married and re- sides in Warren county: George Franklin married a Miss Randalman and lives in Des Moines: and James is married and make- his home in Warren county. The Doctor was educated for his pro- fession at a medical college, Chicago, where he also took a post-graduate course. For a time he was a member of the staff of St. Luke's Hospital at Niles, Michigan, where he added to his theoretical knowledge by practical experience in the treatment of dis- eases. He then came to Dayton, Iowa, and has since successfully engaged in practice at this place. Dr. Prall was united in marriage with Miss Delia E. Bufkin. a daughter of L. H. and Sarah 1 Kenworthy) Bufkin. The Doctor is a member of the National and 696 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Iowa State Eclectic Medical Associations, and 1 is examining surgeon for a great many insurance companies and fraternal organiza- tions, including the Independent Order of I iild Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the American Yeomen, to which he belongs. For two years he served as county physician of Boone county, Iowa, and for the past three years has been county physician for three townships in Webster county. He is a pro- gressive member of his profession, and his skill and ability are attested by the liberal patronage he enjoys. ANDREW JOHXSOX. With the agricultural interests of Yell township Andrew Johnson has been closely identified for many years, and now owns and operates a well-improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 32. He was born in Sweden, November 29, 1857, and was fourteen years old when brought to this country by his parents, J. A. and Christine Johnson, who were also na- tives of Sweden and emigrated to the United States in 1871. After spending ten years as a laborer in Elgin, Illinois, the father came tn Webster county, Iowa, in 1885, and now makes his home with our subject on a farm near Dayton. He has two other sons: John, who married Christina Swanson and lives in Elgin, Illinois; and Frank, who mar- ried Emma Peterson and resides in Emmet count). Iowa. Mr. Johnson, of this review, was reared and educated in Illinois, and came to Iowa in 1885. Believing Webster county to be a favorable location, he settled in Veil town- ship, where he now has a tine farm under a high state of cultivation and well improved. In connection with general farming he car- ries on stock-raising, making a specialty of Hereford cattle. In 1879 our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Ida Johnson, a native of Sweden and a daughter of J. J. and Helena Johnson. She has six brothers and sisters, namely : Conrad, who first married Jennie Gustafson, now deceased, and second Mrs. Hanna Nelson, and is now conducting a meat market in Dayton; Charles O., who first married Emma Peterson, now de- ceased, and second Edith Peterson, and lives in Elgin, Illinois; Peter, who is single and lives in this county ; Axel, who married Lina Anderson and follows farming in Webster county, Iowa; and Jennie and Hilda, twins, the former of whom lives with our subject, and the latter with her father in Dayton, Our subject and his wife have three children : Warren, Tollie and Al- thead, all at home with their parents. The family hold membership in the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church of Dayton, and are people of prominence in the community where they reside. JOHN L. HEDLUND. There was probably no more energetic or enterprising business man in Dayton, Iowa, than John L. Hedlund, now deceased. He was born in Jemptland, Sweden, on the 17th of March, 1837. His parents were poor and his early advantages were few. At the age of twenty \ears he came with his parents to this country and settled in Web- ster county, Iowa. Subsequently Mr. Hedlund went to Bishop Hill, Henry count}-, Illinois, where THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 697 he remained until the death of his step- father, when he returned to Webster county, Iowa, to care for the family, he being the oldest of the seven children. His mother was a cripple and one sister was a helpless invalid. He became the head of the family at the death of his step-father, and although the charge was a heavy one, the task was cheerfully undertaken, and loyally did he care for those depending upon him when most young men would' have been looking ahead to their own interests. On the 8th of July. 1867, Mr. Hedlund married Miss Christina Schill, of Boone county, Iowa, who was born in Sweden, Oc- tober 1, 1846, and was sixteen years of age when she came to the United States with her parents and three brothers, the latter being Charles, who married Elizabeth Cannon and lives in Dayton ; Frank, who married Caroline Johnson and resides in Harcourt ; and Gus, who married Ida Hall and makes his home in Fort Dodge. Of the eleven children, born to Mr. and Airs. Hedlund six are living, namely: Franklin, who wedded Mary Harper, of Fort Dodge, and with his family, consisting of wife and three children, resides in Day- ton; Melvin, who married Selma Olson and lives on a farm east of Dayton; Charles, at home with his widowed mother; Maude, who was married May 29, 1901, to Ben Lundquist, of Dayton; and Myrtle and Lo- rena, both at home. Mr. Hedlund carried on farming with marked success until August. 1892, when he removed to Dayton, and there made his home until called to his final rest on the 16th of April, 1894. He was engaged in buying and shipping stuck in partnership with Charles Lundblad, and' in that undertaking he also prospered, being able to- leave his family in comfortable circumstances. Soci- ally he was a member of Oak Lodge, No. 531, A. F. & A. M., and politically was identified with the Republican party. He filled the office of assessor for many years, and also served as township trustee. His course in life was ever such as to gain for him the commendation of all with whom he was brought in contact, and in his death the community realized that it had lost a valued and useful citizen — one devoted to the pub- lic good. Besides her pleasant home in Dayton, Mrs. Hedlund owns a fine farm of two hun- dred acres in this county, and in the man- agement of her affairs has displayed excel- lent business and executive ability. She sold thirty acres of timber land adjoining the town of Dayton for a park. She is a most estimable lady who makes many friends and is held in high regard by all who know her. JAMES TOOHEY. Prominent among the developers of the town of Duncombe may be mentioned James Toohey, who was born near Lucau, Ontario, Canada, October n, 1855, a ^" n of Timothy and Mary (Reder) Toohey, who were horn in Ireland and still live in Canada. Into the family has been born the following children: Bridget, who is the wife of Dennis McGee; Martha, who sister in St. Joseph's Hospital at Chatham, Ontario; James; Julia, who is the wife of Michael O'Mara, of Ontario; Margretta, who is the wife of John Carroll, of Ontario; Hugh, who married Kate Duff and lives in Manitoba; Dennis, who married Anna Car- roll and lives in Ontario; and ( Mrnelms, who married Bridget Harry and also lives in On- tarii '. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Until his twenty-sixth year Jerries Toohey worked on his father's Canadian farm, and his education was equal to that of the average country reared boy. Upon leav- ing his northern home he located in Michi- gan and for three or four years worked in the pineries, after which he went to Storm Lake, Iowa, and rented a farm for three years. During this time he married Julia Gallery, who was born in New York state and came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, with her parents, who were of Irish birth. After his marriage Mr. Toohey lived in Fort Dodge and engaged in daily labor for a couple of years, locating then in Duncombe, where he started his present successful business. For a time his home was made desolate on account of the tragic death of his wife, who. owing to a burn received while attend- ing to her household ditties, which proved to be beyond all human aid, died Janu- ary 3. [895. On September <>, 1896, Mr. Toohey married \'<>ra Lonergan, who was born January 21, 1868, in County Tippe- raiv. Ireland, a daughter of Patrick and Alice (Casey) Lonergan, farming people of that country. Thirteen children were born into the Lonergan family, eight of whom survive: Margretta, who lives in Austra- lia; Kate, who is the wife of John Ryan, oi Ireland; Johanna, who is the wife of Pat Beary, also of Australia; Alice, who is the wife of Richard Hackett, of Australia; Bridget, who is the wife of John Condon, of Ireland; Nicholas, who lives 111 Australia; and John, who married Ellen Kirby and lives in Ireland. Mrs. Toohey came to America in 1878, and located in Duncombe, Iowa, where she had relatives living. Afterward she engaged in general house work in Fort Dodge, and for three years was housekeeper for Father O'Brien up to the time of her marriage. For four years she lived in Que- bec, Canada. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Toohey: Thomas, born August 23. 1897 ; and Mary J., born October 12, 1899. Mr. Toohey is among the progressive and influential citizens of Duncombe, and Ins assistance may be always counted on to further any wise scheme for improvement. He has erected a fine home in the town, and his interests also extend to the country, where, in Washington township, he owns eighty acres of fine land. He is a Democrat in political affiliation, and is fraternally as- sociated with the Foresters. LEE VINTON SMITH. One of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Sumner township is Lee Vinton Smith, who was born on the 18th of July. 1S35, in Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania, of which state his father was also a native, while his mother was bom in Ot- sego county, New Yonk. The father labored long and earnestly in the ministry, being at first connected with the Baptist church and later with the Universalist denomination, and he accomplished much good in the world. Fie carried his ministrations into Wisconsin and Minnesota, and finally came to Webster county, Iowa, about the close of the Civil war. Locating on a farm near Lehigh, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in connection with his ministerial labors throughout the remainder of his life. He died on the 7th of October, 1894, honored and respected by all who knew him, and his wife passed away in November of the same year. The}' were the parents of six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters, of whom Lee Vinton is the eldest, the others being MR. L. V. SMITH MRS. L. V. SMITH THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 701 Martha J., who died in Utah; Harvey, who died in Fort Dodge, [owa; Silas V., a resi- dent of Lehigh; Aaron, deceased; and Laura,, wife of John Buck, who lives near Lehigh. While attending the public schools near his boyhood In une Mr. Smith was variously employed, and his life was rather uneventful until the breaking nut of the Civil war cre- ated a need for his services. At Detroit, Michigan, August 8, 1861. he enlisted in Company F, Fifth Michigan Volunteer In- fantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac under the immediate command of General McClellan. Owing to physical disability brought on by the exposure ami vicissitude of armv life he was incapacitated fi >r active service and was mustered out on the roth of November, 1862. For almost two years after his return home he was ill, and then went to Minnesota, hoping much from an all around change of climate and occupation. At the end of two years he re- turned tn Iowa, and has since made his home in Webster county. His first pur- chase of land consisted of eighty acres in Sumner township, which he later traded for the forty-acre tract on which he now lives. His present place is pleasantly located on section 12. is highly cultivated and well im- proved, the buildings being of a good sub- stantial character. In connection with gen- eral fanning Mr. Smith is engaged in stock raising quite extensively, and is meeting with g 1 success in his undertakings. On the 5th of August, 1873, was cele- brated his marriage to Mrs. Arathusa Price. nee Summers, who was a native of Cascade, Iowa, and the widow of M. D. P'rice. She had two brothers and two sisters, and at the time of her death, which occurred May 28. 1895, she left two children by her for- mer marriage: 1). J. Price, who married Phoebe Frey and lives in Cla) township, this count}-; and Clara, who married John Q. Beam, hut is now deceased. In his political affiliations Mr. Smith is a Republican, and at an earl\ da; register of deeds in Minnesota. Religiously he is an earnest and consistent memtx the Methodist Episcopal church, and fra- ternally is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent ( Irder of Good Templars. He is one of the old and honored citizens of his community, hav- ing been an eye witness of almost the entire development and upbuilding of the county, and in the work of progress he has been an important factor. He has aided in trans- forming the wild land into highly cultivated fields, and has done all in his power to pro- mote the interests of the community in which he resides. His career in life has ever been such as to command for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and there is probably no man in the community held in higher regard than Lee Vinton Smith. life's journey. Always we journey to the tomb. When the skies are wintry, or when the flowers bloom. Sooner or later life's journey is o'er, For us the seasons come no more. There are varied experiences along the way, Sunshine alternates with storm}' day, Hastening to that bourne, From whence no traveler doth return. I -ife has its trials, its teal's. Mingled with the passing years, Till the dark-winged angel's call. And we before the reaper death fall. 702 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Jesus, our help divine, and guide, Saving all who will in Thee confide, Receptive of Thy love, uplifted by Thy grace, In the new Jerusalem may we have place. JOHN L. HAMILTON. John L. Hamilton, of Lehigh, Iowa, is one of the most prominent factors in the business circles of that thriving little town, and is a man whose worth and ability have gained him success, honor and public con- fidence. He enjoys the well-earned dis- tinction of being what the public terms a self-made man, and an analyzation of his character reveals the fact that enterprise, well-directed effort and honorable dealing have been the essential features in his pros- perity. Mr. Hamilton was born on the 3d of October, 1848, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, of which country his parents, James and Jo^ lianna Hamilton, were life-long residents. The father, who was a miner by occupation, died in 1869, and the mother passed away in 1847. In their family were eight chil- dren, five sons and three daughters, five of whom are still living, namely : Robert, a resident of Webster. Pennsylvania; John L., of this review; James, a farmer of Webster county, Iowa ; Thomas, a resident of Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. John ( !aster, also a resident of that county. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native land, but left -1I1. ol at the age of eight years and com- menced mining, which occupation he fol- lowed for forty years. In 1868 he crossed the broad Atlantic and landed in Montreal, Canada, whence lie proceeded to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he made his home un- til 1875. In the meantime Mr. Hamilton was married. May 2, 1872. to Miss Mary Jane Gillingham, who was born in the Keystone state, June 30, 1840, a daughter of George and Jane 1 Gibson) Gillingham, also natives of Pennsylvania, where the father died in 1897, the mother in February, 1899. They had four children, two sons and two daugh- ters, namely : William, a resident of Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania; Lyle, wife of George Jenkins, of Pennsylvania ; Hugh, who was killed in the mines of that state, at the age of thirty-three years ; and Mary Jane, wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have become the parents of six children : James, born April 19, 1873, is now serving as first corporal in the Twenty-sixth United States Infantry in the Philippines ; Lizzie Jane, born November 13, 1874, is the wife of F. A. Avers, who is agent for the Crooked Creek Railway and Coal Company at Lehigh ; Anna, born April 28, 1875, was formerly a teacher in the Le- high schools; and Mildred, born October 22, 1877, George, born October 13, 1879, and Lyle, born August 25, 1883. are all at home. On leaving Pittsburg, Mr. Hamilton and his family removed to Coalville, Webster county, Iowa, where the)' spent four years, and then came to Lehigh, where he engaged in mining for some years. In 1885 he was made superintendent of the Crooked Creek Mining Company, and held that responsible position for six years, after which he was superintendent of the mines for the Crovs & Rogers Mining Company at Boonesboro un- til 1895, when he returned to Lehigh and embarked in the lumber business. He now deal- in all kinds of building material and agricultural implements, and is president of THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 703 the Lehigh Valley Savings Bank, which he organized July I, 1901, and which now has a surplus. The other officers of the bank are C. M. Trumbar, cashier, and W. C. Beeni, vice-president and director. Mr. Hamilton owns a good home in Lehigh, be- sides some business houses on Main street, and some lots in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. In business affairs he has steadily prospered during his residence here, and is to-day quite well-to-do. His life record is one well worth) - of emulation and contains many val- uable lessons of incentive, showing the pos- sibilities that are open to young men who wish to improve every opportunity for ad- vancement. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Chris- tian church, and also affiliates with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. In political sentiment he is a Republican, and has served on the school board and city council, being a member of the first council of Lehigh. He is a recog- nized leader in public affairs and always uses his influence to ; promote the best inter- ests of the town. A. W. SCOTT. ( >ne of the most thrifty and .successful agriculturists of Cowrie township is A. W. Sci 1 1 . who 1 1\\ lis and operates a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres on sections 26 and 27. He dates his residence in Iowa from 1855. and has made his home in Web- ster county since 1879. He was born on the 28th 1 i < Ictober, 1846, in Clermont county, < Hin'. and i> a son 'if Elias Scott, a native of North Carolina, born in 1804. On reach- ing' manhood the father went to Ohio in [825, and settled in Clermont county, where he married Miss Sarah Hall, who was born in Cincinnati. Mr. Scott continued to reside in that county for some years, being engaged in fruit growing, and there all his children were born. He next made his home in Marion county, Indiana, fur five years, and in 1855 removed to Jones county, Iowa, where he conducted a wayside inn for seven years. Going to Linn county, in 1861, he located on a farm near Central City, and devoted the remainder of his life to agri- culture. There he died in 1889, having sur- vived his wife about two years, her death having occurred in 1887. A. W. Scott was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and was reared in Jones and Linn counties, his education being ob- tained in country schools. On the 14th of March, 1876, he was married in Johnson county, Iowa, to Miss Jennie Graham, a na- tive of that country and a daughter of Thomas Graham, one of its early settlers, who was formerly from Maryland. By this union were born three children, namely : Maud, who is now the wife of Mason Ellis, of Gowrie, and has one son, Walter Scott; and Graham and Ellen, both at home. After his marriage Mr. Scott followed farming in Linn county for a time, raising four crops, and in October, 1879, removed to Webster county, purchasing eight}- acres of land in Gowrie township, which he at once commenced to break and improve. As he prospered in his farming operations he added to his farm from time to time until he now lias two hundred and eighty acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and on which he has erected a good residence and substantial outbuildings. He has also set out shade and fruit trees and made many other improvements which add 704 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. i beauty of the place. He raises a good grade of stock, and is considered one of the most skillful farmers of his locality. Al- though he started out in life for himself in limited circumstances, he has steadily over- come the ohstacles in the path to success and is now quite well-ti -di . Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1865, Air. Scott has never wavered in his allegiance to the Re- publican party, and has taken quite an act- ive interest in local politics. lie has been a delegate to county and state conventions; has served as tow nship trustee several term- ; and was once elected justice of the peace, but refused to qualify. As a member of the School board for several years, he did much to promote the educational interest- of bis township by securing better schools and more competent teachers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scott are earnest and consistent mem- bers of the Congregational church of Gow- rie. and he is now serving as one of its deacons. Wherever known they are held in high regard, and the fact that those who know them best are numbered among their warmest friends is evidence of their noble b\ es. TOHX BURNS. To such native sons as John Burns Webster county looks for its most intelli- gent development and its highest citizenship. Although cme of the younger generation of agriculturists, having been born in Pleasant Valley township, June 1, 1868, he represents the teeming vitality of a region of vast pos- sibility, of which fact no one is more thor- oughly conscious. His parents, John and Mary i Condon ) Burns, are natives re- spectively of County Mayo and Count} r Tip- perary. Ireland, and have led lives broader than the average farmer and his helpmate. The father came to America when but eleven years of age, Ireland having lost its greatest interest for him because of the death of his parents. He settled in Philadelphia and became stabile boss for a large livery and stage firm, in win >se employ he remained for about four years. The following four years were spent in similar capacities in and near the Quaker city, after which he re- moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and later to Des Moines, eventually finding his way to Fort Dodge. Here he became interested in the team freighting business, and hauled the first load of goods taken from Iowa City to Fort Dodge. While in the freighting business he heard a great deal about the chances awaiting the venturesome in the gold fields on the Pacific coast, and in 1858 he started out to make his way thither, accompanied by two families who owned between them two yoke of oxen and one wagon. The vicissitudes of primitive travel seemed to de- velop inharmonious tendencies among the tourists, the upshot of which was that they decided to separate, and in order to divide equally they sawed the wagon in two, each fiction appropriating two wheels and a y ike of oxen. This riff* in the lute proved more serious for Mr. Burns than for the rest, for he was thus thrown upon his own resources, and for the remainder of the way to the Golden West was obliged to walk. Nevertheless he reached his destination in due season and met with fair success, so that lie continued to engage in mining for about four years, and during that time owned two claims. About the time the Civil war broke out he returned to Fort Dodge and engaged in freighting for Uncle Sam. hauling mu- nitions of war from Fort Leavenworth to Kansas City, Missouri. At a later period he THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 705 saw active service at the front, and contin- ued in the employ of the government until the close of the war. With the return of peace Mr. Burns again settled in Fort Dodge and continued his freighting business, and at the end of a year went to New Orleans, where he re- mained for a shorl time, going then to St. Louis, which also proved an unprofitable place to live in. A short time afterward lie went to Natchez, Mississippi, where he engaged in ditching, and remained thn nigh the winter, returning in the spring t < ► his former In -me in Fort Dodge. In the vi- cinity of the town he purchased a farm and then worked for George Creelv, in the suburbs. The following winter he put in his time at Xatchez at his occupa- tion of ditching. In the spring he was mar- ried at Fort Dodge, and then began farm- ing for himself on one hundred and sixty acres of land in Pleasant Valley township, Webster county. He was most successful as a farmer and stock-raiser, and was par- ticularly interested in the latter occupation, -.> that he eventually came to own a whole section of land. Rich in experience and the material things of life, he retired from busi- ness in 1892, and has since lived in a pleas- ant home purchased at Fort Dodge, and is resting on the laurels of a life well spent and admirably planned. He has invariably taken an active interest in public affairs, and al- though a stanch Democrat, has preferred the quiet life of the farmer to the uncertain strife of political competition. He is a mem- ber 'if the Catholic church. John Burns, Jr., the only child of our subject, enjoyed all the advantages which surround the well-to-do farmer'-' sons. He attended the public schools until his four- teenth year, and later profited by individual research and intelligent observation. From earliest boyhood he was his father',-, most trusted assistant and reliable helper, and he learned to be a model farmer and an excel lent judge of fine stock. On August 25, 1890, at Eagle Grove, Iowa, he married Evelyn A. Hannon, the ceremony being per- formed b\ Rev. Father Garland, at St. Mary's Catholic church. Airs. Burns was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, July 13, [869, a daughter of Peter and Anna | Lynch ) Hannon, natives of Kenosha county, Wis- consin. The parents were married in that state, where the mother died, and in iS-S the father removed to Webster county, Iowa, and lived mi his farm in Wa ton township. Here he married Margaret Murphy, and died July 7. [894. His widow has since become the wife of John Kclley. who lives seven miles north of Dun- combe. In politics Mr. Hannon was a Democrat, and he held a number of import- ant offices, being supervisor of Webster county for two terms. In religious faith he was a Catholic. By his first marriage he had five children, three of whom are still living : Evelyn A., now Mrs. Burns; Lucy, wife of Henry Kelly, of this count}-; and Grace, wife of Alfred David, who lives on a farm near Coalville, Iowa. Of the second union there are two children living : Geneveive and Wilfred, both at home. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Burns, Jr., are Francis E., born May 2, 1891 : Mary, who was born October 18, 1892, and died No- vember _'_'. [895; Anne, born January 20. 1894; John, born August 3. 1895; Evelyn Rose, who was born February 3, [895, and died February 1, [902; Mary, who was born October 14, 1898. and died June 1, 1 and Bertha Agnes, horn June 1, 1901. After his marriage John Burns, Jr. tied on the farm which he now owns on sec- tion 2, Pleasant Valley township, and which 706 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. consists of two hundred and forty acres of splendidly improved land. He has just completed one of the finest rural homes in the county, and his barns, granaries, cattle sheds and general appointments are in ac- cord with the most advanced and scientific farming and cattle-raising. He has a fine herd of short-horn cattle and a drove of sheep, and raises in large numbers Berkshire hogs and Percheron horses. He is ac- counted one of the finest judges of live stock in the county, an ability inherited from his father and fostered by long experience while under the parental guidance. He is intelli- gently alive to the best demands of the citi- zen and farmer, and appreciates the fact that as the farmer wills and accomplishes so the country prospers or languishes. He there- fore keeps in touch with all advancement in machinery and method, and has one of the most complete and remunerative farms for many miles around. Although a Democrat, Mr. Burns, like his father before him, de- votes the greater part of his time to his home interests, and has never entered the arena of political striving. He is a member of the Catholic church, and is fraternally as- sociated with the Order of Foresters and the Yeomen. C. D. WATERBURY. I Prominent among the capable financiers and successful business men of Webster county is numbered C. D. Waterbury, the well-known cashier of the First National Bank of Dayton. A native of Illinois, he was born in Ogle county, October 12, 1855, and is a son of John and Electa (Mallory) Waterbury, the former born in Andes, Del- aware county, New York, and the latter in Sullivan county, that state. The family dates their residence in 1 America back to 1646, when Samuel Waterbury came to this country on one of the trips made by the May- flower and settled in Stamford, Connecti- cut. There he lived and died, as did also the next generation of the family. Later some of his descendants removed to Nassau coun- ty, New York, and our subject's great- grandfather was born in the town of Andes, Delaware county, that state, which was also the birthplace of his grandfather. John Waterbury, who was one of a family of nine children. In 1836 the latter removed to Illinois, making the trip with ox teams, and entered a large tract of government land in Ogle county, so arranging it that each of his ten children received one hundred and sixty acres. He was one of the earliest set- tlers of that county and continued to make his home there throughout the remainder of his life. Of his ten children only one is now living — Mrs. Mary B. Cushman, who has reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. She is the widow of Charles Cush- man and a resident of Polo, Illinois. Shortly after their marriage the parents of our subject left New York and removed to Ogle county, Illinois, where the father purchased land and engaged in farming quite successfully upon one hundred and sixty acres until his death, which occurred September 19, 1871. During the dark days of the Civil war he served one year as a member of the Seventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and was subsequently a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He also belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Presbyterian church. In politics he was a Republican. In 1891 his widow became the wife of Arah Leonard, and now resides in Davton, Iowa. Bv her THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 707 first marriage she had four children : Fred M., who married Ella Healy, of Ogle coun- ty, Illinois, and died in 1881. while his wid- ow now resides on a farm in her native county: one who died in infancy; C. D., of this review; and Harriet, who died at the age 1 >f sixteen years. C. D. Waterbury began his education in the district schools near his boyhood home in Ogle county, and later attended the high I of Polo, Illinois, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1876. The following three years were spent in California, he be- ing engaged in teaching school in Yolo and Sacramento counties. On his return to Polo, Illinois, he studied law in the office of Judge J. D. Campbell for two years, and then came to Webster county. Iowa, where he was admitted to the bar in 1881. He has since, however, given his attention principal- ly to the banking business, establishing what was then known as the Bank of Dayton, which in October, 1866, was re-organized under the name of the State Bank, and in April, 1900, the name was again changed to the First National Bank of Dayton. It is one of the solid financial institutions of the county and does a successful general banking business. Mr. Waterbury is widely known as a man whose word is as good as his bond, and although a comparatively young man his advice was eagerly sought on matters . if finance by men of m< >re mature years. On the nth of March, 1880. Mr. Water- bury was married in Knox county, Illinois, to Mi<> E. Frances Le Valley, who was born in that county in 1859. a daughter of George C. and E. Jane 1 dames) Le Valley. She died in April. 1895. and was laid to rest in Dayton cemetery. By that union two chil- dren were born: Mabel and Jessie. Mr. Waterbury is a prominent Mason, belonging t<> Oak Lodge. No. 531. A. F. & A. M.. of Dayton; Delta Chapter. No. 51. R. A. M. ; Calvary Commandery, X". 24, K. T. : and Za-ga-zig Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S. For three years he served as mayor of Dayton, and is now a member of the school board. He has had little time, however, to devote to public affairs, as his extensive business interests claim the greater part of his attention. In addition to his banking business he is a member of the Cole Drug Company of Dayton, and is secretary of the Dayton Investment Company. He owns considerable farming propertv in other states, especially in Minnesota, and is to-day one of the most substantial men, as well as one of the most reliable and highly respected citizens of his community. Mr. Waterbury is a trustee of the Grace Methodist Episco- pal church of Dayton, and is a stanch Re- publican in politics. C. E. ERICKSOX. The future of Hardin township rests securely in the hands of such promising and industrious young farmers as C. E. Erick- son, who is the owner of a well-improved farm of eighty acres, upon which he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He comes honestly by his ability to successfully till his land, for his parents, wdio were born in Sweden, and emigrated to America in 1850, have been farmers for their entire act- ive lives, and are now living on a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Hamilton county. Iowa. Upon this parental farm C. E. Erickson was born, August 15. 1870. and is the second oldest in a family of ten children. The others are Frank, who is living at home: Will, who is a harness maker at 70S THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Nevada. Iowa; Selma, who is the wife of Victor Peterson, of Boone county, Iowa; Louise, who is living at home; Eric; Oscar; Abbie ; Julia ; and James. C. E. Erickson was educated in the pub- lic schools, and lived on the home farm until his marriage, in Boone county, September 4. 1 Si 14, tn Ada Lurena Johnson, the only child of parents born in Sweden. Her mother is now deceased, while the father is living in Stratford, Iowa. Three children have been burn to Air. and Mrs. Erickson: Lillie, born December 14. 1895; George, August _'. [897; and Nellie J.. April 14, 1898. Mr. Erickson is already attaining to prominence in township affairs, and his judgment and assistance are in accord with the best government and greatest progress. He is a Republican in national politics, but believes that the man best qualified for pub- lic trust should hold office regardless of his political affiliation. As an evidence of the esteem and confidence which he has in- spired among his fellow townsmen it is only necessary to state that he has been township clerk for four years, and is also justice of the peace. He is a practical and thorough farmer, and has the faculty of making and keeping friends. JAMES L. FINDLAY. Among ( Itho township's most progress- ive and enterprising citizens is numbered James L. Findlay, who is now successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 29. He was born on the 5th of Au- gust, [865, in Lee county, Illinois, a son of James A. Findlay. His paternal grand- father also In re the name of lames. The father was born in Grand Isle county, Ver- mont, in 1828, and there grew to manhood. On leaving his native state he removed to Illinois, and made his home there until com- ing tn lnwa in the spring of 1871. He first sailed in Clay county, but in July. 1877, he came to Webster county and located on sec- t n >n 29, ( >tho township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the Wells estate. To the cultivation and improvement of this farm he devoted his time and energies for many years, convert- ing it into one of the most desirable places of its size in that locality. The present com modious residence was erected in iNSj. Since locating here Mr. Findlay has been thoroughly identified with the growth and development of his township, and is num- bered among in most useful and valued citi- zens. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Republican party. On the 27th of October. 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Olive Good- year, who was horn in Geauga county. ( Ihio, in 1843. Her parents were natives of < Ihio and early settlers of Geauga county, Ohio, but spent their last days in Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Findlay were born three si ns, George F., Charles V. and James L. all born in the Prairie state. Charles V. is now one of the managers of Tobin Business Col- lege at Fort Dodge. In the family there is also an adopted daughter. Lib V. The early education of our subject was acquired in the district schools near his boy- hood home, and for one term he was a stu- dent at Highland Park Normal School at Des Moines. He remained under the parental roof working with his father upon the farm until his marriage, when he removed to his present place, where he owns eighty acres of well-iniproved and highly cultivated land. In addition to this he also operates his fa- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 709 ther's farm and gives considerable attention to stock-raising, feeding cattle which he ships to the Chicago market, and breeding Jersey hogs. lie also owns an interest in a Percheron Norman stallion. "Printemps," 43,992 and 24,262. Mr. Findlay was married, November 28, 1895, to Miss Harriet Gertrude Fawkes, who was born in Franklin county, Iowa, July 20, 1870. Her mother, who was a na- tive of Indiana, died in 1884, at the age of thirty-six years, at which time the family were living in Dubuque county, Iowa. Her father was born in England and was again married in 1891, his second union being with Miss Maggie Martin. He now lives on section 20, Otho township, and is pastor of the Congregational church at Kalo. By his first marriage he had eight children, namely : Frank H., who married Ollie Staley and lives in Chicago; Harriet Gertrude, wife of our subject; Edith Spensley, a resident of Dubuque; Otis Vincent, who died in infan- cy; Clermont Watson; Nora Maria; Sarah Rebecca, who is now engaged in school teaching; and Ernest Winfred. Mr. and Mrs. Findlay have two children: Myrtle Olive, born September 17, 1897; and James Francis, bum March 19, 1898. With the family resides our subject's cousin, Lloyd Davis, who has made his home with them for some years. Mr. and Mrs. Findlay are members of the Congregational church at Kalo and are people of prominence in their community. He is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, and in politics is identified with the Republican party. For six years he has efficiently served as town- ship treasurer, and he has ever taken an act- ive and commendable interest in public affairs, faithfully discharging any duty de- volving upon him. EMORY A. ROLFE. Emory A. Rolfe is well known in con- nection with journalitic interests in Webster county, early becoming imbued with a laud- able ambition to attain success, and he has steadily advanced in those walks of life de- manding intellectuality, business ability and fidelity until he to-day commands the respect and esteem not only of his community but of many people throughout the state. He was born March 30, 1865, near Burnside, Iowa, a son of S. F. W. and Margaretta Rolfe, who were early settlers of Webster county. He completed the course of in- struction of the common schools and as- sisted in the work of the home farm until he had attained his majority. Wishing to en- joy better educational privileges, he after- ward entered the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa, where he was gradu- ated with the class of 1890. He was after- ward graduated in Highland Park College of Des Moines in 1892. In the meantime he had become identified with educational in- terests as a teacher, entering upon the pro- fession in 1886, his work in college being alternated by his services as an instructor in the school. From 1892 until 1894 be was principal of the public schools of Kellogg, Iowa, and in 1894-5 he pursued his classical studies in Highland Park College of Des Moines. From 1895 tintil 1900 he was prin- cipal of the public schools of Dayton, and under his direction practical and substantial advancement was made. In 1898, however, in connection with A. Patron, he purchased the Dayton Review, becoming its editor, and on the 1st of June, 1900, he bought his partner's interest, becoming sole proprietor, at which time he retired from school work and has since given his entire attention to journalism. The paper receives a liberal ;io THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. patronage and is one of the leading country newspapers of this portion of the state. On the 16th of June, 1898, Mr. Rolfe was united in marriage to Miss Lillie A. Peterson, and they have a very pleasant home in Dayton. In his political views Air. Rolfe is a Republican, and socially is con- nected with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, and his religious faith is manifest by his membership in the Church of 1 'hrist. D. D. WOODARD. One of the most successful farmers of Washington township is D. D. Woodard, who was born in Jefferson county, Xew York, February 20, 1852, a son of O. B. and Lavina (Bailey) Woodard, who came to Iowa in 1866, and settled near Homer, Webster county, where they lived for eight- een months. The parents then removed to a farm, now owned by Mr. Jewell, where thev remained for two years. For the fol- lowing two years they rented a farm in Freedom township, Hamilton county, where thev eventually bought a farm and where the father died in September. 1900. The mother, who is still living on the homestead, reared to maturity three children, and of these, Brayton B. died at the age of twenty- two, and Amelia, the wife of John Miller, lives on a. farm in Freedom township, Ham- ilton county. The youth of D. D. Woodard was une- ventfully passed on his father's farm and in attendance at the district schools when the leisure of the winter months permitted. He subsequently operated a threshing ma- chine throughout the county, an occupation which brought a neat little income, and seemed to justify his marriage, April 2, 1SS4. to Mary Pierce, who was born in Van Buren count}-, Iowa. Her par- ents, Joseph and Nancy (Hagler) Pierce, were natives, respectively, of Ohio and Tennessee, and were married in Knox coun- ty. Illinois, in 1S35. They were among' the earliest settlers of that county, where the father took a homestead and lived thereon until his removal to Iowa, when he located in Van Buren county. At the end of seven years he sold out with the intention of going to Kansas, but the guerrilla warfare then raging in that state and western Missouri, influenced his decision in favor of a return to Knox county, Illinois, for a year. In 1865 he settled in Hamilton county, Iowa, where he died June 26, 1886. As soon as his sons were capable of managing the farm he engaged in general carpenter work, at which lie was an expert, and was thus em- ployed up to within a short time of his de- mise. His wife sold the home farm and re- moved to Webster City, Iowa, where her death occurred in 1897. She was the mother of several children, of whom five daughters and two sons are now living: Melissa is the wife of Dill Knight, of Pulaski, Iowa; Jane is the wife of John Walker, of Missouri; Martha is the wife of James Abernatha, of the state of Washington; William married Molly Stockwell and lives in Oklahoma ; George C. married Sarah Hamilton and lives in Guthrie county, Iowa. The Pierce family claimed one hero soldier of the Civil w 7 ar. for A. J., the oldest son, was killed on the field of battle. To Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ard have been horn six children: Mabel, born December 24, 1884; Cora. September 24, 1886; Clarence, January 6, 1888; Lester, February 26. 1890: Ralph. August 31, 1893", and Vinnie. who was born August 1 1, 1895, and died June 30, 1896. After leaving- the home farm and his THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. threshing business, Mr. Woodard lived in Hamilton county for a couple of years, and then removed to where he now lives, llis farm consists of eighty acres in Washington township, and he also owns forty-six acres in Webster township. Mr. Woodard is prominent in the affairs of his county, and though a stanch Republican, has never been officially connected with township affairs. I le is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Homer, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is greatly interested in the breeding of tine horses, and is the owfler of the Percheron .stallion, "Volcan." He is progressive and influential, and has the confidence and friendship of all his neighborhood. THOMAS SOMMERVILLE. Thomas Sommerville, who is now suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 35, Roland township, where he owns a fine farm of two hundred acres, pleasantly located within three miles of Gowrie, claims Scotland as his native land. Amid the hills of. that beautiful country he was born January 29. 1849, a son °f A. F. and Isabella ( Buoy) Sommerville, also na- tives of Scotland. In 1852 the family emi- grated to the new world and settled in Mer- cer countw Pennsylvania, where the father engaged in mining and also operated a small farm which he owned. Selling his property in that state, he came to Webster county. Iowa, in 1884. and took up his resi- dence on the farm in Roland township where our subject now lives, while he now makes his home in Gowrie, having retired from act- ive labor. Thomas is his oldest son, the other children > if the family being : Isabelle, wife of John Shedden, of .Mercer count}-, Pennsylvania : William, a resident of Cali- fornia; A. B., of Gowrie, Iowa; J. B. and John, both of Cascade count}-, Montana; II. B., of Gowrie; and Walter, of Cleve- land, Ohio. Air. Sommerville, of this review, was only three vears old when brought to this country by his parents, and his boyhood and youth were passed in Mercer county, Penn- svlvania. He had but limited educational advantages in earlv life, and is almost wholly- self-educated. At an early age he com- menced work in the Pennsylvania coal mines with his father, and was there employed un- til he reached his twenty-third year. He then went to Illinois, and worked in the mines of Grundy county for about a year. Deciding to try his fortune still farther west, he proceeded to Wyoming in 1875, and was engaged in mining at Rock Springs for sev- eral vears. He then returned to Illinois, and found employment in the mines of Km tx county for three years, after which we again find him at Rock Springs, Wyoming, for a time. He was next interested in silver mining in Colorado. In 1884 Mr. Sommerville came to Web- ster county. Iowa, and purchased the land which he now occupies, though at that time it was only slightly improved. He spent about a year making improvements, and then leaving the farm .in charge of his fa- ther he returned to the west, and followed mining in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho until February, 1896, when he returned to Iowa, and has since devoted his time and at- tention to the management of his farm. He has built a good residence upon the place and made many useful and valuable im- provements, so that it is now one of the most desirable farms of its size in Roland town- ship. Mr. Sommerville carries on stock- 712 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. raising in connection with farming, and is meeting with excellent success in both branches of his business. On the 1 2th of July, 1897, he led to the marriage altar Miss Ida Quick, a daughter 1 >f Richard Quick, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. She was born in Michigan, but was reared in this count} - . Mr. Sommerville supported William McKin- le_v for the presidency in 1900, believing in the expansion of territory and the protec- tion of American industries, but at local elections he votes independent of party lines, supporting the men best qualified for office. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge. Xo. $$/, at Oneida. Illinois, where he was initiated in 1876. His life has been a varied and useful one, his experiences in the mines of the west being extensive, and he has visited a large number of the states and territories of the Union, having seen much (if Uncle Sam's domains. He has mined for coal, silver and gold from the Cumber- land to the Rocky Mountains, but is now engaged in the more quiet pursuits of farm life. » » ♦ — FREDERICK GREENER. Frederick Grebner is one of the leading and influential citizens of Cooper township, who has taken an active part in promoting its substantial improvement and material development. An adopted son of America, his loyalty is above question, being mani- fested by his service in the Union army dur- ing the war of the Rebellion. A German by birth, Mr. Grebner was born in Saxony, May 11, 1843, an <^ > s a son of Michael and Henrietta (Weneerter) Grebner, natives of the same place. The father followed the mason's trade in Ger- many. In 1858 he and his family emigrated to the new world and settled in Jo' Daviess county, Illinois, but he was not long per- mitted to enjoy his new home, as he died from the effects of a sunstroke soon after locating there, leaving his widow with five small children, of whom our subject, then a lad of twelve years, was the oldest. After residing in Illinois about ten years the fam- ily came to Iowa and took up their residence in Webster county, but the mother now makes her home with a daughter in Yank- ton, South Dakota. Her children were Frederick, of this review ; Katie, wife of R. Sulzbach, of Fort Dodge; Christina, widow of M. T. Camp, of Yankton; and Lizzie and Matilda, now deceased. Frederick Grebner grew to manhood in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and attended the town schools there, making the best use of his educational privileges. After the death of his father he was obliged to assist in the support of the family, and followed various occupations in early life, but since attain- ing man's estate has given his attention principally to agricultural pursuits. In 1863 he enlisted in Company I). Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and served his adopted country faithfully and well until the close of the war, being honorably discharged in June,. 1865. On the 12th of the following July, Mr. Grebner was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Winter, who was born in Jo Daviess count)-, Illinois, January 0, 1847, a daughter of Henry and Lizzie Winter, both of whom are now deceased. By this union were born five children, who are still living: Henry, Frederick and John, twins. Katie. and Clara, while Willie died at the age of twenty-two years. In 1871 Mr. Grebner came to Webster county, Iowa, and has since made his home THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 713 in Cooper township with the exception of two years. He purchased his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres in 1873, and has since converted the wild land into well-tilled fields, making all of the improve- ments upon the place. He is engaged in general farming, raising from forty to fifty acres of both corn and small grain, while the remainder of his land is devoted to pas- turage. He breeds black polled and short- horn cattle, keeping from fifty to sixty head upon his farm, and from twenty-five to one hundred head of hogs and eleven horses. He has ever been a hard-working man, and the success that he has achieved is due en- tirely to the united efforts of himself and wife, she having proved a true helpmeet to him. Mr. Grebner and his family attend the Reformed church, and he affiliates with the Republican party. He has filled the ofhce of assessor of Cooper township for four- teen years, and has been school director for the past eighteen years, still holding the lat- ter position. He belongs to Fort Donelson Post, G. A. R., and the Odd Fellows Lodge, of Fort Dodge, and commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact either in business or so- cial life. H. ROSE, M. D. One of the leading physicians and sur- geons of Fort Dodge, Iowa, is Dr. Rose, whose early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born near Berlin, Germany, April 14, 1849. His father. Rev. E. F. Rose, spent his entire life in that coun- try, his time and energies being devoted to ministerial work. He died in 1881, but his widow is still living and continues to make her home in Germany. The Doctor and his family recently returned from a visit to his mother. He is one of seven children still living. Four of his sisters reside in Germany, while the other makes her home in Monroe county, Iowa, and his brother, John, is a resident of Abegglen. His oldest brother, Paul, was an ofhcer in the German army and died from the effects of wounds received in the Franco-Prussian war, hav- ing been wounded on seven different occa- sions. Dr. Rose obtained his literary education at a gymnasium in Germany and then at- tended lectures at the Medical University in Greifswald, where he was thoroughly pre- pared for his life work. On leaving that institution he came to the United States in 1872, and first located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was engaged in the practice of medicine until 1889, and then removed to Lovilla. Monroe county, Iowa, continuing in practice there until coming to Fort Dodge in November, 1896. It was not long before his skill and ability were widely recognized, and he is now successfully engaged in gen- eral practice of medicine and surgery. At Cincinnati Dr. Rose was married, November 21, 1885, to Miss Mary Nedder- man, of that city, and they have one child, H. C. William, now thirteen years of age. Since coming to this country the Doctor has taken considerable interest in political af- fairs, and has done much to advance the in- terests of the Republican party and insure its success. While a resident of Monroe county he was a member of the county Re- publican committee and has served as a delegate to party conventions on several oc- casions. The year following his arrival in Fort Dodge he was elected county coroner, and was re-elected in 1899, being the pres- ent incumbent. He is examining physician 7'4 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. for a number of fraternal organizations and insurance companies, including the Phoenix, the New York Mutual, the New York Life and the German Insurance companies. The Doctor is a member of the American Asso- ciation of Life Insurance Examiners and the Fort Dodge District Medical Society, and also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a physician he has been quite successful, and his ability is recognized by all, while as a citizen he is devoted to the public welfare, and is ready at all times to do his part in everything that will tend to the advance- ment of his adopted city and county. GODFREY SNYDER. The career of Mr. Snyder has been a diversified one, and he has been successful as a farmer, shoemaker and lumberman, having also meritoriously served as a valiant soldier during the Civil war. Although born in Switzerland, December 25, 184-2, he has but a faint recollection of the beauty and grandeur of his native land, for in 1850 he came with his parents to America, and for a time lived in Dunkirk, New York. After a while the family settled in Ohio, where the father died in March, 1901, while his wife died the year after coming to the United States. The father was a shoemaker by occupation, and in later life married again, the second wife, who was formerly Elizabeth Feister, being now a resident of Ohio. Godfrey Snyder received a fair educa- tion in his youth, which was augmented in after years by considerable study, so that at the present time he is an unusually well-in- formed man. A natural consequence was that he should work at the shoemaker's trade with his father, which occupation he continued until fifteen years of age. He then engaged in various work until the breaking out of the Civil war lent opportun- ity to- an otherwise uneventful youth, and September 3, 1864, enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Volunteer Infantry, commanded by GeneraN Milroy and Sherman, Colonel Shoemaker and Cap- tain Millinger, and participated in the bat- tles of Murfreesboro, Cumberland Gap, Peach Orchard, Kingston, North Carolina, and many others, and followed the martial fortunes of Sherman in his march to the sea. He was thrice wounded in the service, with a sabre, bayonet and piece of steel, but his wounds did not materially interfere with his activity during the war. After being mustered out at Charlotte, North Carolina, July 11, 1865, he returned to Ohio, and ran a sawmill for about fifteen months. The marriage of Mr. Snyder and Miss Mary Jane Allen occurred in 1870. Mrs. Snyder is of Scotch descent, and one in a family of six children, the others being. Christina, who married George Corker, and died in Ohio; Maggie, who married Christ Miller and lives in Ohio; Peter, who married and died in Ohio*; and Ellen, who was killed in a railway wreck in New York in 1880. The father of Mrs. Snyder served during the Civil war in the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Regiment, and after two years of- ac- tivity was discharged for disability. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder: Cyrus, a resident of Boone county, Iowa, married Lvdia Woods and has two children; William H. married Emma Putzka, lives in Dayton township, Webster county, and has two children ; Mag- gie is the wife of John T. Fleming, lives in Cedar county, Missouri, and has two chil- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 7'5 dren : Ezra married Emma Barquist and lives at home; Frank died at the age of fif- teen vears; Pearl is living at home; and Charlotte is also at home. After his marriage Mr. Snyder engaged in farming with considerable success in Ohio. Michigan and Iowa, and for five years devoted his energies to lumbering in Ohio, where he furnished heavy timber for ship- building purposes. Subsequently he lived fi n- fi iiirteen years in Dayton township, Webster county, Iowa, after which he set- tled on the farm in Hardin township, which has since been his home. He is a Republican in politics, but has never been an office seeker, and he is associated with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is also a mem- ber of Grace Methodist Episcopal church, and is an active worker in the affairs of the church. During his many years residence in Webster county Mr. Snyder has won many friends and the appreciation of all for his disinterested and progressive spirit. C. A. LUXDBLAD. Success is determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity and to pursue this with a resolute and unflagging energy. It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his puipose usually becomes an important factor in the business circles of the community with which he is connected. Through such means Mr. Lund- blad has attained a leading place among the representative men of Dayton, and his well- spent and honorable life commands the re- spect of all who known him. He was burn in Sweden on the 25th of March. 1S50, but was only seven years old when in company with his parents. Andrew and Carrie Lundblad, he crossed the ocean and took up his residence at Pilot Mound. Boone county, Iowa, where his father and mother are still living. The former cele- brated his eightx -second birthday on the 2jst of September, [901. Six of their children are now deceased, while those who. are still living are Alf, who married Sophia Swanson and resides near Pilot Mound: C. A., our subject: Lottie, wife of William Peterson, of Pilot Mound; Lu, wife of Edward Nelson, of Dayton; Augusta, wife of Andel Bergdal, who lives on the old homestead at Pilot Mound; Julia, who is now keeping house for our subject; and Henry, who married Minnie Bishup and resides in Pocahontas county, Iowa. In the public schools of this state C. A. Lundblad acquired his education, and he remained with his father, assisting in the operation of the home farm until the spring" of 188 1. In the meantime he was married at Pilot Mound, February 23. 1S77. to Miss Anna Moard, who was born in Moline, Illi- nios, in 1859, a daughter of Andrew and Martha Moard. both natives of Sweden and now deceased. It was during the '50s that her parents emigrated to the new world and settled in Moline. They had four children: Charles, who married Xellie Johnson and resides in Dayton township. Webster coun- ty, Iowa; Andrew, who married Selma An- derson and lives in the same township; John, who married Gertrude Shields, of Burling- i' 11. Iowa, and died in 1887. leaving a wid- ow and two children, who still reside in that city; and Anna, wife of our subject, who died June 10. 1883, and was laid to rest in Dayton cemetery. There were three chil- dren born of this union, namely: Daisy, who is now the wife of Ernest Johnson, of Dayton, and has one child, Lucile; John L., who was a student for two vears at Carlton 7i6 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. College, [Minnesota, and is now jn the em- ploy of Lundblad & Company at Dayton ; and Delia, who is a graduate of the Dayton schools and is at home with her father. In 1 88 1 Mr. Lundblad purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres a mile and a half south of Dayton, and to the cultiva- tion and improvement of that place he de- voted his energies until the spring of 1884, when he removed to Dayton, bought prop- erty and built his present comfortable home. He shipped the second carload of hogs ever shipped from this place and has dealt in both stock and grain since the railroad was built. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man, and due success has not been denied him. Besides his property here he owns one hun- dred and sixty acres of improved land in Oklahoma, and is a stockholder and direct- or in the Farmers State Bank, of Dayton. He is now associated in the stock and grain business with G. A. Gustafson, and they have elevators at both Dayton and Harcourt. As a Republican Mr. Lundblad takes quite an active interest in local politics and is now serving as councilman, while for one term he was mayor of the city. He has also filled the office of township trustee twelve years, and was a member of the school board the same length of time. CHARLES HUGLIN. The history of this esteemed citizen of Dayton. Iowa, is of unusual interest, and his numerous friends, here and elsewhere, will peruse the outline as given below with keen relish. Few of our citizens have been more loyal in their devotion to this, the land of their adoption, than he has been during his residence here. A native of .Sweden, he was born at Smedjegarden, Stockholm, June 25, 1834, and was baptized the following day as Carl Johan Quiskey, but changed it to Charles Huglin while in the arm)' during our Civil war. His parents were Alexander and Elenora Quiskey, natives of Stockholm. Our subject was only three years old when his father died, and as his mother was not able to provide for all of her nine children he was placed in an orphanage in Stockholm, and remained there until six years of age, when he was adopted by Isaac Peterson and made his home with that gentleman until his emigration to America in 1858. The voy- age was made on a sailing vessel and was quite a stormy one. After ten weeks upon the water Mr. Huglin landed in Boston, a stranger in a strange land, without a cent of money. By rail he proceeded to New Sweden, Iowa, by way of Chicago, and com- menced work as a farm hand at twenty-five cents per day and board. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Hug- lin enlisted in 1861, at Orion, Henry coun- ty, Illinois, in the Eleventh Ohio Battery, and served under Generals Grant and Rose- crans for a little over three years. During the battle of Iuka, September 19, 1862, he was wounded in the hip and in both legs, though no bones were broken. For ten weeks he was confined to the hospital at Jackson, Ten- nessee, and his wounds were healed by his own ministrations. Later he took part in the battle of Corinth, and ! from Helena, Louisiana, went to Millikin's Bend, where his command spent two weeks awaiting the siege of Vicksburg, in which they took an active part up to the time of the surrender of that stronghold. July 4, 1863. After a rest of two weeks they crossed the river to Little Rock, Arkansas, and then proceeded to Duvall's Bluff, where Mr. Huglin was taken seriouslv ill and was confined in the CHARLES HUGLIN ^w wr v - ■t! ; fi^> p I ^*,**^p r ■ r v MRS. CHARLES HUGLIN THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 721 hospital For seven weeks. He was then taken in Keokuk, towa, on a Mississippi river steamer; and from there went by rail to Cin- cinnati, and on to Columbus, Ohio, where lie was mustered out of service in ( )ctober, [86 5 . On leaving the army Mr. Huglin re- turned with one of his comrades, Samuel Nelson, to Colona, Henry county, Illinois, and the following spring rented a farm of sixty acres near Coal Valley, which he suc- cessfully operated for four years. In the meantime he was married at Andover, Illi- nois, November JJ, 1867, to Miss Christina Louisa Swanson, the ceremony being per- formed by Rev. John Swanson. Her par- ents, Gabriel and Sarah Swanson, were na- tives of Sweden, and came to the new world in 1865, taking- up their residence in And- over, Illinois. The father died in 1887, the mother in 1900. In their family were the following children: Roland, who was mar- ried in Sweden and now lives in Moline, Illi- nois; Marie, wife of John Engstrom, of Burnside, Webster county, Iowa; Christina Louisa, wife of our subject; Alfred, who died in Andover, Illinois, at the age of twen- ty-four years; Ida, wife of August Daniel- son, of Moline, Illinois; Tilda, wife of Adee Johnson, of Andover; Lizzie, wife of Gust Swanson, of Moline; and Minnie, wife of August Norlin, of Dayton township, Web- ster county, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huglin were born ten children, namely: Alfred, born July 15, 1868, died July 21, 1868; the second, born September 14, 1869, is a lawyer of Fairfield, Iowa; Luther C, born August 23, 1871, op- erates his father's farm in Boone county, Iowa; Elizabeth, born February n, 1874, in Lancaster county. Nebraska, lives with her parents; Oscar E., born January 15, 1876, is on the old homestead ; Gilbert, born Jan- uary 7, 1S78, Tilda, born October 23, 1880, and Ida, born November 30, 1882, are all at home; Norton, born December 10, 1887, died December 16, 1887; and Esther, born April (>, t.SXd, died on the same day. After his marriage Mr. Huglin pur- chased a farm of eighty acres near Geneseo, Illinois, for which he paid twelve hundred di 'liars, and four years later traded that place for a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Lancaster county, Nebraska, where he made his home for three years. At the end of that time he removed to Boone county, Iowa, and after operating rented land for three or four years he purchased a farm, and' kept adding - to« his landed possessions from time to time until he had three hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land under cultivation and a tract of fiften acres of timber land. Mr. Huglin continued to ac- tively engage in agricultural pursuits until March, 1899, when he removed to Dayton and purchased a nice home, where he has since lived a retired life. The prosperity that has come to him is certainly justly merited, and it is due entirely to his thrifty habits, untiring industry and good business ability. He was formerly a trustee of the Swedish Lutheran church, to which he be- longs, and is an honored member of the Grand Army Post at Dayton. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and always gives his support to any enterprise calculated to pn inn ite the general welfare. F. T. SCOTT. More than forty-five years have elapsed since this gentleman arrived in Webster county, and he is justly numbered among her honored pioneers and leading citizens. 722 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. He was born in Noble county, Indiana, Jan- uary <;, 1H49, and is a son of E. A. and Lusina (Mars) Scott, natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. They were married in the Buckeye state and from there re- moved to Indiana, the father being engaged in farming in Noble county until coming to Iowa in [854. After spending two years in Marion county, this state, he removed to Webster county and took up his residence in Yell township, just north of Dayton, which town at that time contained only two dwelling houses and no business blocks. There was not a store nor blacksmith shop nearer than Fort Dodge. Mr. Scott at once turned his attention to the improvement and development of his land and became owner of two farms, one of these being the noted Des Moines river farm, below Lehigh, wihle the other was on the prairie. He con- tinued to engage in agricultural pursuits throughout his active business life, but spent his last years in ease and retirement in Day- ton, where he died in 1896, at the age of seventy-four. He was one of the most prominent men of his community, and was called upon to' serve as county supervisor ami till other offices of honor and trust. His wife still survives him and now resides in Lake City, Iowa. The subject of this sketch was only six years old when he came to- this county, and amid pioneer scenes he grew to manhood. I lc attended the common schools near his home, but the greater part of his education was acquired through reading and observa- tion in later years. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, and then located on his present farm, he and his brother owning and operating three hundred and twenty acres of land together for several years. When the property was divided our subject took the quarter section of land where he now resides, and has made all of the improvements upon the place, til- ing and fencing the land, setting out shade and fruit trees, and erecting a good set of farm buildings thereon. In connection with the cultivation of his land he is engaged in raising a good grade of stock. On the 6th of April, 1879, in this coun- ty, Mr. Scott was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bass, a native of the county and a daughter of James Bass, who was one of the first settlers of the county, his home be- ing in Yell township until his retirement from active labor, since which time he has lived in Dayton. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have seven children, namely : Hobart, who is now engaged in farming on his own ac- count; and Nellie, Gracie, Clifton, Cassie, Wilson and Leo, all at home. In politics Mr. Scott is a true blue Re- publican and supported General U. S. Grant for the presidency in 1872, soon after at- taining his majority. He served two terms as township trustee, but has never cared for political honors. He attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is an earnest member. He can re- late many interesting incidents of pioneer days in this county when most of the land was wild and unimproved and the few set- tlers were widely scattered. In those early- days he often saw : large droves of deer, and once saw about one hundred elk in one herd which had come down the river, being driv- en south by the severe winter and deep snow. Other wild game was very plentiful, but all have now disappeared, and the country has taken on all the evidences of an advanced civilization. When Mr. Scott first located here the soldiers were still at Fort Dodge, which was then one of the frontier posts. THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 723 In the improvement and development of the count v he has ever borne his part, and is deserving of prominent mention in its his- b t\ . II. C. GRABENHORST. H. C. Grabenhorst, one of the largest land owners and most ambitions tanners of Dayton township, was born in the province of Brunswick, Germany, November _'i, 1829. The family, whose reputation for industry he so well sustains, was first rep- resented in America by the paternal grand- father, who spent eight years in America during the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury, and while absent from his native land followed for a time the martial fortunes of Washington during the Revolutionary war. In all he remained in America about eight years and finally 'returned to the associations of his youth and the home of his kindred and friends. Henry George Grabenhorst, the father of our subject, was born in the village of Watzum, Brunswick, Germany, March 17, 1799, and spent his early life among the vine-clad hills of the fatherland. At the age of thirteen years he comenced working on a farm near his native village. During the French Revolution the farmers were re- quired to furnish teams to carry away the stricken soldiers from the battlefields, and he assisted in the duty of conveying the wounded to the rear of the army. Leaving the farm he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed until his emigration to America in 1850. He landed in New York, and from there went to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming for five years, and then removed to Illinois, locating- eight miles north of Chicago. The same summer, however, he came to Webster county, Iowa, and entered a half section of government land northeast of Dayton, which is still known as the Grabenhorst place. The fol- lowing spring he and his family took up their abode in the log house which is still standing upon the farm. At that time Day- ton did not exist, their nearest postofHce be- ing Homer, which was then the county seat of Webster county. Iowa City was their nearest market, and thither they were com- pelled to go for their supply of provisions. With the help of his son-in-law, Mr. Graben- horst raised the first house in Dayton. He was twice married before leaving Germany, his first wife having died in that country in 183 1, during the infancy of our subject. For his second wife he married Dorothy Branders, who came with him to America and died in Webster county, Iowa, in Sep- tember, 1885, her remains being interred in Dayton cemetery. He departed this life on the 23d of May, 1899, at the extreme old age of one hundred years and two months. I lis life was an active and useful one, and he commanded the respect and confidence of all who knew him. At the age of thirteen years, just before leaving his native village, he was confirmed in the Lutheran church, and was ever afterward a faithful member of that denomination-. Besides our subject he had two other sons and one daughter, namely : Andrew married Catherine Bart- lett, who died at the their home in Pennsyl- vania in 1899; Fred married Mrs. Mc- Devitt and lives in Boone county, Iowa: and Dorothy married first Jacob Fisher and after his death wedded Bernhard Wolf, who is also now deceased. At the time of his death Mr. Grabenhorst had fifteen grand- children and thirty great-grandchildren. He was always a home-loving man and very devoted to his family. 724 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. The children were reared to a life of ag- riculture and were educated in the public schools of Germany. The parents were quite well-to-do, owning thirteen hundred acres of land in Brunswick, and upon this farm H. C. Grabenhorst remained until 1849, when, with all the enterprise of a young man of eighteen years, he sailed for the new world and eventually found himself working on a farm in Pennsylvania. Things being greatly to his liking in the United States, he sent for his parents in the spring of 1850 and after their arrival in this coun- try the family made their home in the Key- stone state for five years, as before stated. On the removal of the father to Iowa, our subject went to Maryland, where he con- ducted a dairy in the vicinity of Baltimore, and owned one hundred and ninety cows for that purpose. He was successful beyond his most sanguine expectations, his irulk and cream sales amounting to about forty thousand dollars annually. For the long period of sixteen years he supplied one ho- tel in Baltimore with milk, delivering be- tween thirty and eighty gallons daily to the appreciative hostelry. For twenty-one years he remained in the same location, and in 1874 removed to a farm near Frederick City, Maryland, where he lived for seventeen years. In 1891 he decided to permanently locate in Iowa, and for four years resided in the city of Des Moines. As far back as 1859 he had visited his father in thi ; local- ity and purchased large land holdings, among his other possessions acquired at that time being two hundred acres in section 18, Dayton township, Webster county, and six hundred and forty acres of land on section 12. the latter costing him between fifty-four hundred dollars and six thousand dollars. While living near Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. Grabenhorst married Margaret Ann Layer, whose family was among the early settlers of Pennsylvania during the last cen- tury, the grandfather having arrived from Germany in 1816. The parents of Mrs. Grabenhorst were farmers during their years of activity and in 1855 the mother settled on a farm in Maryland, the father having died in Pennsylvania in August, 1849. She survived him until July, 1901, at which time she was eighty-five years of age. There were but three children in the family, and of these Jacob F., who married Christiana Wolf j and Louisa, who married Daniel F. Wolf and lived in Baltimore, are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Grabenhorst have been horn five children : Jacob F., who lives with his parents on the home farm ; William H., who lives on a farm near Dayton, and mar- ried Eva Haight, of New York state; Anna L., who died at the age of ten years; Car- rie C.j who is at home; and George, who died when only sixteen months old. Several years ago Mr. Grabenhorst dis- posed of the section of land upon which he now resides to his son and daughter, and himself and wife are now living on the farm with their children. He has a wide ac- quaintance in Dayton township and is es- teemed bv all who know him. VAN ILES. Among the promising and successful farmers of Dayton township may be men- tioned Van lies, who has never wandered far from his present home, having! been torn two miles from where be now lives May 13, 1863. His parents, John and Eliz- abeth (Southard) lies, who were of Ger- man descent, were born in Ohio, but eventu- ally found a profitable and congenial loca- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 725 tion in Veil township, where they spent the remainder of their days, respected and hon- ored members of the community. Here, surrounded by the fruits of their industry, and with the knowledge of having wisely directed their lives, the father died January 16, 1 901, his wife having died April 23, 1897. They were the parents of the follow- ing children : Mrs. Alvin Fuller, who lives on the old home place ; Charles, who lives at Pilot Mound and married Viola Hook ; Al- exander, who died at the age of twenty-two ; Van, the subject of this sketch ; Fred, who lives in Boone county and married Etta Phipps ; Leona, who is now the wife of Wal- ter Deck, and lives near Stratford ; and Ber- tha, who is the wife of Sherman Girdey. While living on his father's farm Mr. lies not only learned to be a model agri- culturist, but received a thorough common school education, which he later practically applied by teaching school for ten terms. On November 16, 1893, he married Elzada Bowman, who was born September 6, 1866, in Hamilton count}'. Iowa, and taught thir- teen terms of school in Iowa and Arizona previous to her marriage. Her parents, William and Maria (Hardin) Bowman, were born in Ohio and were of German de- scent. William Bowman went to Hamilton county, Iowa, in 1856, and lived there until his death in 1884, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife came to this state at the age of fourteen and has ever since lived in this and adjoining counties, at present re- siding with her son-in-law, Mr. lies. Har- din township was named for her father, Joseph Hardin, who was its first settler, and the first election held there was in the home of Mrs. Bowman. She is now sixty-five years of age and is the mother of the follow- ing children : Sarah, who married Frank Cofer, and lives on a farm in Arizona: Mi- nerva, now the widow of George Bentley; William, who died at the age of twenty- eight ; Mrs. Van lies ; and Cora, who lives at Stratford. To Mr. and Mrs. lies have been born four children : Fay, born Octo- ber 7, 1894; a son who was born February 28, 1896, and died April 13, 1896; Fern, born December 17, 1897; and Clarice, burn May 29, 1899. For the past eleven years Mr. lies has occupied his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which has yielded him a reasonable income for time and money in- vested, and has been improved in a thor- oughly scientific manner. Mr. lies is en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising, and has a fine country residence, as well as adequate barns and modern general im- provements. In political affiliation he is a Silver Democrat, and has served with satis- faction to all concerned as a member of the school board. JOHN COONEY. The life of John Cooney, one of the most prosperous farmers of Washington town- ship, has been a varied one. He was born in County Sligo, Ireland, July 18, 1854, a son of James and Bridget (Berrig) Cooney, na- tives of the same part of Ireland. Various members of the Coonev family were identified with the religious upheaval in Ireland caused by the rigorous mandates of the great Cromwell, and Cooney No. 4, as he was called, owned the largest estate in Ireland during the Cromwell war. His property was confiscated by the government, and this act of English impudence caused a feeling of intense grief among those who had for so long lived in the ancestral abode. The place was so located that the cows which 726 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. grazed upon the fragrant meadows could be watered in what was known as Sligo bay, in the Irish sea. The grandfather of John Cooney, Richard by name, was, like his forefathers, a stanch upholder of the doc- trine of the Catholic church, and naught could disturb his faith in its infallibility. He could have leased land for two shillings six pence an acre had he been willing to re- nounce his church in favor of the Church of England, and his unwillingness to comply with the government demand increased his taxes tn three half guineas, or eight dollars per acre. James Cooney, the father of John, lived in Ireland at what was called Skreen Parish, where he engaged in farming primarily, but was general agent for Pat Durham, the owner of many ships used for shipping pota- toes to all parts of the world. Mr. Cooney did the greater part of the buying for Mr. Durham, and in his combined occupations managed to make a more than average liv- ing. His death occurred in October, 1861, and he was survived by his wife until Feb- ruary, 1863. He was also a Roman Catho- lic. In his family were eleven sons and one daughter, four of whom came to America. The children are as follows : Daniel ; James ; John ; Hugh ; Patrick ; John ; Mary ; John; Richard; two who died in infancy unnamed; and Hugh. The children who came to America are : Daniel, who married Bridget Bradley and lives at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; James, who lives at Massil- lon, Stark county, Ohio; Mary, who died at the age of eighteen; and John. In Ireland John Cooney received but a limited education, and in 1866, at the age of twelve, he came to America on the steamer Hibernian. Arriving in Pittsburg he learned the iron moulder's trade, at which he worked as an apprentice for three years. He then engaged in coal mining on the Monongahela river for three months, and then moved to Stark county, Ohio, and continued to engage in coal mining for three years. He later spent a short time in Madison, Indiana, and two months in St. Louis, going afterward to Coal Creek, Fountain county, Indiana, where he spent the winter in the mines. He afterward set- tled in Braidwood, Will county, Illinois, where he worked in the mines for a year, and then went to Hampton, Rock Island county, Illinois, where he worked in the mines for seven months. At Grand Junc- tion, Greene county, Iowa, he helped to sink a shaft, and this completed, he moved to Coalville, Webster county, and worked in the coal mines, remaining there until 1896. In the meantime he had lived frugally and saved considerable money, and with this he purchased the farm upon which he now lives, and which consists of one hundred and sixty a.cres. On February 22, 1888, at Fort Dodge. Mr. Cooney was married at the Corpus Christi church, to Miss Ellen Munn, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Lannahan, now Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming 1 . Mrs. Cooney was born Febru- ary 9. 1856, a daughter of Robert and Kath- erine Munn, natives, respectively, of coun- ties Fermanagh and Donegal, Ireland. The parents were married in Ayrshire. Scot- land, and came to America on a sailing ves- sel in 1857, the voyage being a pleasant one and lasting seven weeks. They settled at Scranton, Pennsylvania, where the father engaged in mining, and later lived at Lex ington, Ohio, and Charlestown, West Vir- ginia. In 1869 they came to Des Moines, Iowa, near which city they farmed for some time, and in 1870 settled in Coalville, Iowa, where the father died September 24, 1886, THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 727 .iml the mother the following year. They were the parents of eleven children : Will- iam, who married Jennie Fitzgerald and lives in Pleasant Valley township; James, who married Mary Miricle, and lives in < oalville, lew a; Ellen, who is the wife of our subject; Mary, who died at the age of four years; Katherine, wife of James Mc- Maiiii. of Washington township, this coun- i\ : Patrick, a resident of Red Lodge, Mon- tana; Robert, who is engaged in mining at Cripple Creek, Colorado; John, a resident of Pleasant Valley township, this county ; Mag- gie, who lives with our subject; Thomas, a resident of Cripple Creek, Colorado; and Lizzie, wife of William Smith, of Pleasant Valley township. Mr. and Mrs. Cooney have four children : Mary C, born March 28, [887; Annie C, November 28, 1891 ; Helen Ruth, April 11, 1893; and James' R., August 28. 1895. Mr. Cooney has been unusually success- ful in his farming and stock-raising, and now owns one hundred and seventy-five acres on section 12, Washington township. He has a good modern house, ample barns, sound fences and well-built granaries and sheds. Although not an office seeker in any sense of the word be has, at the earnest so- licitations of friends, held several positions of trust in the township, and has thereby re- flected credit upon the Democratic party. He is a member of St. Joseph's church at Dun- combe. SHERMAN GIRDEY. • Though one of the younger generation of farmers of Dayton township, Mr. Girdey is one of the most enterprising and the farm of one hundred and twenty acres which has For some time been under his manage- ment, is evidence of his thorough knowledge of agricultural methods and devotion to duly. A native son of the township, he was born August 30, (869, and is a son ot Henry Girdey, who was born in Norway in [842, and came to America with his older brother when seven years of age. The father served in the Civil war with courage and deep-rooted patriotism for his adopted country, and eventually became a resident of Dayton township, where he accumulated three hundred and twenty acres of land, and where his death occurred March 10, 1900. He married Hannah Larson, who was born in Sweden April 12, 1837, and came to America in 1864. She is now an invalid and residing on the property left by her hus- band. Sherman Girdey is the second oldest in his father's family, the other children being: May, Emma, Charley and Julia. He was educated in the public schools and was reared to an appreciation of the dignity and usefulness of an agricultural life. The father's large possessions afforded abundant occupation for all of the children, and Mr. Girdey continued to assist in the manage- ment of the homestead up to the time of his marriage, December 8, 1897. Mrs. Girdey was formerly Bertha lies, who was born near Stratford, Iowa. Her parents, who were natives of Licking county, Ohio, came to Webster county, Iowa, in 1858, and settled on a farm in Yell town- ship. Here the}- passed the remainder of their lives, the death of the father occurring January 16, 1901, and the mother April 23, 1897. In their family were four sons and three daughters, name- ly: Alice, now the wife of Alvin Fuller, who resides on the old homestead in Yell township; Charles, who married Viola; Hook and is a merchant of Pilot Mound ; 728 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Alec, who died in 1881 at the age of twenty- two years ; Van, who married Elzada Bow- man and is engaged in farming in the east- ern part of Dayton township; Fred, who married Etta Phipps and is a farmer of Boone county, Iowa; and Leona, wife of Walter Deck, who lives near Stratford. After his marriage Mr. Girdey took pos- session of a portion of the old homestead, upon which he now lives, and here he has secured a good start in life. In spite of his well-applied energy his interests are by no means self-centered, for he takes an active interest in promoting the general improve- ment of the neighborhood, and is also inter- ested in political affairs and other matters. N. C. RASMUSSEN. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has acquired a high reputa- tion in his chosen calling and whose social prominence is not less the result of an irre- proachable life than of recognized natural gifts. It is a pleasing indulgence to write the biography of a man of this character such as Mr. Rasmussen is known to be. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man who is operating the Callender Roller Mills, of which he is the proprietor. A native of Wisconsin, he was born in Winnebago county, April 21, 1866, and is a son of H. P. and Mary (Nelson) Ras- mussen. who were born and reared in Den- mark, but were married after coming to this country. The father was a young man when he crossed the Atlantic in 1864 and took up his residence in Xeenah. Wisconsin. By trade he was a millwright, as was his father before him, aid on coming to Iowa in 1879, he built the mill at Callender, which he op- erated for some years, but is now living a re- tired life at that place. He and his estimable wife have five children, four sons and one daughter: N. Christ, of this review; Charles, a farmer of Roland township ; Henry, helper and engineer in the mill of which our subject is now proprietor; A. P., also a resident of Callender ; and Christina, at home with her parents. N. C. Rasmussen accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Callender and here grew to manhood with limited educational advantages. He began his business career as a well driller, and followed that occu- pation for thirteen or fourteen years, with a gang of from ten to- eighteen men. He sank a large number of wells throughout various parts of the county, and made over one hundred in Callender. At an early age he became thoroughly familiar with the mill- ing business, and on discontinuing well drill- ing he took charge of the mill at Callender, which he has since remodeled, putting in the roller process, and to-day has one of the best mills in the county, with a capacity of fifty barrels of flour and fifty tons of chopped feed every twenty-four hours. He does a merchant milling business and man- ufactures more meal than all the other mills of the county put together, shipping as high as four carloads to Des Moines at one time. He has a high reputation for the excellent quality of both flour and meal manufactured by him. In addition to 1 the business at Cal- lender, Mr. Rasmussen now owns and op- erates a new mill at Lohrville, Iowa, which is proving quite profitable owing to his skill- ful management. Mr. Rasmussen was married in Callen- der, February 17, 1888, to Miss Katie Stone, who was born in New York, but came to Iowa when a child and was reared in Web- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 729 ster county. Her father, James Stone, was a native of England and an early settler of this county, where he died in 1876. His widow subsequently became the wife oi James Langdon. Her death occurred in 1891. Our subject and his wife have three children : Clifford, Mina and Thomas. Politically Mr. Rasmussen has been a stanch Republican since casting his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison in 1888, and was elected and served as council- man tor six years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Callender. As a pub- lic-spirited and progressive citizen Mr. Ras- mussen has taken a very active part in the development] and upbuilding of the town, and has erected some of its best business houses and private residences. By untiring industry and sound business judgment he has won merited success in all his under- takings, and is in all respects worthy of the high regard in which he is held by his fel- low citizens. A. STROMBERG. The substantial national Swedish traits which insure success to their owners in all parts of the world are embodied in a large degree in A. Stromberg, one of the enter- prising farmers of Otho township. A na- tive of the province of Skane, near the city of Helsingborg, Sweden, he was born De- cember 25, 1854, and is of Swedish parent- age. The family emigrated to America in 1868 and settled in Menard county, Illinois, where the father worked out by the day in his effort to make headway amid the new conditions. In this way lie managed to save some money, and in 1890 removed to Todd county, Minnesota, where he bought two hundred and forty acres of land, upon which himself and wife at present live. They are the parents of the following children who, with the exception of A. Stromberg, are residents of Minnesota; John; Nelson; Mary, who is the wife of O. Nelson, and has two children; and A. Stromberg. Mr. Stromberg attended the public schools in Sweden and worked for his father on rented land until his emigration to Amer- ica at the age of fifteen. The family sailed from Copenhagen and landed at Quebec, coming from there direct to Illinois in 1870. On January 8, 1884, Mr. Stromberg mar- ried Hannah Johnson, who was born in Sweden, August jo, 1865, her birthplace be- ing also near the city of Helsingborg. Her parents, who were also born in Sweden, at present live with their daughter and her husband. They came to America in 1871 and located in Menard count)', Illinois, and that is where the young people became ac- quainted. The parents came to Iowa in 1897 and bought forty acres of land in 1900, on section 28, Otho township, Webster county. Mrs. Stromberg has but one brother, C. E. Johnson, who married Jennie Winsick and lives in Minnesota. Two chil- dren have been born to Mrs. and Mrs. Stromberg: Ernst Siegfrid, born May 30, 1886; and Ebba Eredrica, born March 4, 1891. After his marriage Mr. Stromberg left the familiar home surroundings and settled in Greenview, where he engaged in house and carriage painting until 1894. He then came to Iowa and bought the two hundred acres of land upon which he now lives, and on which is located the cemetery and the school house. At the time of purchase his property was somewhat improved. Mr. Stromberg is a breeder of fine stock and red 73Q THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. polled cattle, in addition to carrying- on an extensive general farming enterprise. lie is a Republican in political affiliation, and among the offices creditably sustained by him may be mentioned that of township trus- tee and school director. He is fraternally associated with the Masons, and is a mem- ber of the Swedish Lutheran church. FRED PUTZKE. Fred Putzke, formerly one of the ener- getic and successful farmers living on sec- tion 8, Dayton township, but now a resident of Humboldt, North Dakota, was torn in Germany, June 27, 1839, of parents who also were natives of the fatherland, but who never sought the opportunities existing in America. Of the children born into this typ- ical German household Fred and August only are living, William, the oldest, having died during the war in a German hospital, while Herman, the second son, died in his native land at the age of twenty-two. On his father's farm Fred Putzke was reared to a knowledge of agriculture, and his education was acquired in the district schools. He was an ambitious lad, and while still quite young began to dream of broader fields and more reachable chances. It was therefore not surprising that in 1863 he came to the United States, and after locat- ing in Wisconsin, worked out on different farms for a couple of years. In 1865 he sought a wife and helpmate in Wilhelmina Petznick, who was born in Germany, March 13, 1840, and came to America in 1865 with other members of her family. Her parents joined the children in the United States in 1868, and after living for a couple of years in Wisconsin removed to the vicinity of Grafton, Iowa, where the mother died in [88o, the father surviving her until [884. Besides Mrs. Putzke, who is the third old- est in the family, there were the following children : Louisa, who lives in Montrose, South Dakota, and is the wife of August Meyer; Augusta, who is a resident of Burn- side township and is the wife of Christian Drager; Fred, who married Henrietta Budke, and lives in Charter City, Iowa; and William, who married Louise Felt, and lives in Grafton. Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Putzke have been born the following children : William, a resident of South Dakota, mar- ried Johanna Meyer, and has four children; Louise, also a resident of South Dakota, married August Borke, and has two daugh- ters ; Herman, a farmer lives on his father's farm; Emma, also living on the home place, is the wife of William Snyder, and has two children; Frank, a farmer, is not married; Ellen, living in South Dakota, is the wife of Amel Borke; Halena and Otto are living at home. The children have enjoyed all of the advantages which their parents have been in a position to give them, and are well educated and capable of caring for them- selves. After his marriage Mr. Putzke rented land in Wisconsin for three years, and then removed to the vicinity of Fort Dodge, Iowa, where lie rented another farm. In 1873 he located on section 8, Dayton township, pay- ing fourteen hundred dollars for his land. To this he later added until he owned two hundred and forty acres in the home place, and had, besides, a farm of four hundred and twenty acres in a different part of the state. The property of Mr. Putzke was well culti- vated and utilized to the best possible ad- vantage, general farming and stock-raising being carried on with successful results. Mr. Putzke is a Republican in national poli- THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 73' tics, and has intelligentl) served his town- ship as trustee and road supervisor, lie is well known and highly esteemed, and has the confidence of the entire community. J. M. GUTHRIE. J. M. Guthrie, who has been closely as- sociated with the fanning interests of Web- ster county for many years and is very suc- cessful in his business affairs, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, March 13, 1847. and is of Irish lineage. His father, Rich- ard Guthrie, was also born in the Buckeye state, and his mother's birth occurred in Ashland county. They were married in Ohio and the father died there in 1852. The following year his widow' became the wife of Adam Steinhouer, a native of Ger- many, and in 1854 they came to Iowa. After two years passed in Johnson county, Iowa, they removed to Tama county, where the husband followed farming for twenty years. He afterward removed to Boone county, but when three years had passed returned to Tama county, where he pur- chased land, which he cultivated until bis death, in 1S77. The family afterward re- moved westward and the mother died in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1887. By her first marriage she had three children : Margaret, the wife of Orrin Holbrook, who resides near Sioux City, Iowa; J. M., of this re- view : and Mary, the deceased wife of M. Corrington, of Tama, Iowa. By the sec- ond marriage of the mother there were eight children, of whom three are living: Melvina, the wife of J. Hanson, of Des Moines, [owa; Emma, the wife of William Howell, of Council Bluffs. Iowa; and Maria, the wife of George B. Scott, of Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Guthrie of this review attended school to a limited extent in Iowa City and spent "lie year as a student in Tama, but lii-* educational privileges were meager and his knowledge has been mostly acquired in the school of experience. At the age of seven years he l>egan earning his own living and has since been dependent upon his own exertions, so that he may well be called a self-made man. lie worked at herding cat- tle for a year and afterward worked for his board and clothing for three years. He then began working by the month as a farm hand at a salary of six dollars per month, the second year was given seven dollars and a half per month, and the third year, remain- ing in the service of the same employer, was paid nine dollars. During the second year he saved enough to buy a horse, sad- dle and bridle. The next year be engaged in cutting timber. He was then seventeen years of age. In the spring of 1864, when eighteen years of age, be enlisted in Company I!. Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, at Iowa City, and with his regiment was ordered to New ( Irleans under General A. J. Smith, where he was on skirmish duty. Later he was ordered to Cedar Creek, but did not take part in the battle of that place, for he had become ill and was left in the hospital at Xew Orleans. In April, 1805. he rejoined his regiment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and from there went to Savannah. Georgia, thence to Augusta and again to Savannah in July, 1865. arriving home the following month. Mr. Guthrie afterward worked as a farm hand by the month until 1868, when he was married, in Hardin county, in the month of November, to Lucinda E. Her- ringtonj who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, October 11, 1851. Six children have 732 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. been born to them : Mary, who died at the age of four years; Anna, who died at the age. of three years; Carrie L., the wife of Grant Bass, who resides on a farm in this county, and by whom she has two children, Halsey and Sylvia; William M., a farmer of Webster township, who married Lizzie Brooks, by whom he has one child, Velva ; James Garfield and Grade, at home. After his marriage Mr. Guthrie re- moved to Hardin county, but after a short period returned to Tama county, where he cultivated rented land for about five years and then purchased forty acres. Selling that he came to Webster county, where he engaged in teaming for a year. He then rented a farm, which he operated six years, on the expiration of which period he bought thirty-seven acres on section i6, Yell town- ship. He has since been very successful and has purchased an additional tract of twenty-three acres on section 16, and one hundred and sixty-two acres on section 21, Yell township, and twenty-six acres on sec- tion 21, Webster township. When he took possession of his farm the land was raw, but his labors have transformed it into rich and arable fields and the many improve- ments which he has added have made his place a valuable and desirable farm prop- erty. He has good barns, cattle sheds and all modern equipments and buys and feeds cattle for the market. In addition to con- ducting his business affairs in a prosperous manner he has rendered valuable aid to his fellow townsmen in the office of trustee for nine years. In politics he is a Republican and he attends the United Brethren church.