USA > Iowa > Story County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Story County, Iowa > Part 44
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Jonathan H. Fitton is one of the leading grocers of Nevada, Iowa, and since locating in Story County in November, 1880, he has fully identified himself with her mercantile interests. His birth occurred in Prince William County, Va., March 4, 1863, to William H. and Sarah (Pullen) Fitton, the former of whom was born
in Washington, D. C., and died in King George County, Va., in June, 1887, aged sixty- four years. For many years he was in the employ of the United States Navy as a brass finisher. His wife was born in Lincolnshire, England, and is now residing in Washington, D. C., aged sixty-six years. When Jonathan H. Fitton was four years of age the family removed to Logan County, Ohio, and later to Washington City, where he was brought up and educated. He made his home there until November, 1880, when he determined to go to the western country, and accordingly came to Nevada, Iowa, and from 1881 until April, 1884, he was in the employ of Shedd Bros., of this place. He embarked in business in partner- ship with R. O. Withey in April, 1884, open- ing a grocery establishment, but in May, 1887, sold out to R. O. Withey only to re-open a like establishment April 1, 1888, in partnership with his brother, the latter selling out to the former in November, 1889. Since that time he has conducted affairs very satisfactorily on his own responsibility, and, owing to the ex- cellent stock which he keeps, and the fair deal- ing which all receive at his hands, he has ob- tained a fair share of public favor. He was married, on January 20, 1886, to Miss Zella Cessna, a native of Nevada, born August 19, 1866. He is a warm Republican in his po- litical views, his first presidential vote being cast for James G. Blaine in 1884, and socially he belongs to the Masonic Lodge No. 99, of Nevada, and Sampson Lodge No. 77, of the K. of P.
John O. French has been engaged in the lumber business with C. M. Morse only since the 1st of January, 1889, but they are already well-known and popular men of business. Mr. French was born in Eau Claire County, Wis., October 14, 1867, his parents, John O. and Ellen H. (Hutchinson) French, being born in
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New Hampshire and Vermont, in 1827 and 1832, respectively. The former was murdered in his office in Maxwell, on October 22, 1887, and since that time his widow has resided in that place. The subject of this sketch is the third of their four children, and his knowledge of books was obtained in the public schools of Wisconsin and Iowa, entering, in 1885, Cornell College, of the latter State. In 1886 he began dealing in lumber, in Maxwell, and, as stated above, became associated in this business in Jan- uary, 1889, with Mr. Morse, the firm being or- ganized in August of that year, and they are now extensively engaged in selling lath, shingles, sash, doors, blinds, paper, lime stucco, etc .- in fact, everything pertaining to their line of business, as well as hard and soft coal. Mr. French is an intelligent and enterprising young man, and his success in his present enterprise is proof that his well-directed efforts are appre- ciated by the public. He is a Republican, his first presidential vote being cast for Harrison, and socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 463. In his religious views he is a Methodist.
Edward R. Fry is an excellent representative of the energetic business men of Story County, Iowa, and being public-spirited, liberal-minded and energetic in disposition, his career has been successful and honorable. He was born in Delaware County, Penn., in November, 1828, the fourth of six children born to Nathan and Sarah (Hazzard) Fry, both of whom were born in the "Keystone State," the paternal grand- father being Henry Fry, a native German. Ed- ward R. Fry lived in Pennsylvania until 1888, when he removed to Story County, Iowa, and in addition to receiving a common-school edu- cation in his youth, in the State of his nativ- ity, he learned the blacksmith's trade, which calling his father followed. The year 1868 witnessed the celebration of his marriage to
Miss Fannie H. Clift, of Pennsylvania [see sketch of N. A. Clift ], and by her he became the father of two children: Fannie E. and Nathan C. Mrs. Fry has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and in his political views Mr. Fry has always been a stanch Republican. His brothers and sisters are as follows: Ann ( wife of Aaron Roberts, of Chester County, Penn. ), Elizabeth (who died when young), Caroline ( who was married, died in Michigan), Edward C., Mary J. (wife of M. Keller, of Delaware County, Penn., she being also deceased), and Lewis (a resident of the city of Philadelphia, Penn. ). Although Mr. Fry has resided in this county only a short time, he has already become known to many, and in his business as well as his social relations he commands the respect and esteem of all.
Hugh M. Funson, attorney at law of Nevada, Iowa, is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when one possesses a thorough determination to succeed in life, coupled with energy, perseverance and intelligence. Mr. Fun- son was born in the "City of Brotherly Love" June 24, 1851, and almost from his earliest recollections up to the time he left home to attend school, he was occupied with the mo- notonous duties of farm life. His parents, Thomas and Margaret (McCoy) Funson, were born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1812 and 1818, respectively, but emigrated to the United States about 1848, and settled in Philadelphia, Penn., where they made their home for six years. The two following years were spent in the "Buckeye State," at the end of which time they moved to Bureau County, Ill., and there are now living. Hugh M. Funson is the second of their nine children, five of whom are liv- ing, and his early education was obtained in the common country schools, after which he spent four years in the Princeton (Ill. ) high
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school. He then went to Iowa City, Iowa, and in 1877 was graduated from the law department of the Iowa State University, and in the fall of the same year he came to Nevada, where his practice steadily and substantially increased, until he is now one of the leading members of the profession in the county. He is associated in business with Mr. Gifford, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and both possess, in a more than ordinary degree, the natural attri- butes essential to a successful public as well as private career. Mr. Funson is exceptionally successful as a criminal lawyer, and is the pres- ent city attorney of Nevada. He is one of the active Democrats of the county, and in 1886 was nominee for the State Senate from Boone and Story Counties. Socially he is a member of Sampson Lodge No. 77, of the K. of P. His marriage to Miss Ella Shugart took place De- cember 10, 1879. She was born in Illinois, and is the mother of two children: Harry S. and Harvey T.
Elwood Furnas, a leading farmer and stock- raiser, residing on Section 7, Richland Town- ship, located in this county in the spring of 1869. At that time he purchased 160 acres of raw land, on which his dwelling now stands, and immediately commenced improvements, by erecting a small dwelling and breaking about fifty acres of land. Since then he has added, from time to time, enough to make 800 acres now in his possession, all of which is fenced and cross- fenced into pastures and fields; 330 acres of this land is devoted to cereals, and about 130 acres to tame grass, 100 acres of the same being in a blue-grass pasture, in which there is a flowing well running a three-quarter inch stream continually. His farm is well improved with good buildings, etc., and his dwelling is an extra fine country residence, of large di- mensions. Mr. Furnas was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1840, being the sixth in a
family of ten children born to Benjamin and Mary (Patty) Furnas, both of whom were of English descent. The father, born in Ohio, was a farmer by occupation, and died in the spring of 1879, at seventy-six years of age, his wife having previously died in 1867. Of their ten children, all but two grew to maturity: Wilkinson ( now living in Louisa County, Iowa), Charles (a farmer of Louisa County), John (deceased), Adam (a farmer of Louisa Coun- ty), Mary (now the wife of Clark Pinkham, of Los Angeles, Cal. ), Phoebe (now Mrs. Harri- son of Greeley, Kas. ), and Sarah (now Mrs. Dillon of Nevada, this State). Elwood Fur- nas accompanied his parents to Louisa County, Iowa, in 1857. In 1859 he returned to his old home in Ohio, and was married to Miss M. E. Sunderland, daughter of Richard and Eleanor (Reed) Sunderland. Her mother died in 1854, but her father is still living and makes his home in Montgomery County, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs. Furnas are church members, and wor- ship with the Presbyterians. He is a Repub- lican in his political views, and has been one among the prime factors to organize the farm- ers of Story County, that they might better their intellectual, social and financial interests.
William Gates is a prosperous blacksmith, residing in Nevada, Iowa, but was born in Ire- land on St. Patrick's day, March 17, 1842, being the fourth of five children, four now liv- ing, born to the marriage of John Gates and Catherine Carrigan. They removed to Canada in 1845, the mother dying there the same year, but the father lived to be sixty-five years of age, dying in 1871. The subject of this sketch learned his trade in Canada, serving a four years' apprenticeship, and followed that occu- pation there until his removal to the United States in 1865, May 14 of that year settling in Nevada, Iowa. He is exceptionally skillful in his calling, and has become one of the well-
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to-do citizens of the place. He is a well-posted and intelligent gentleman, and aids by voice and purse all enterprises tending to improve the town. Being a Republican in his political views, Rutherford B. Hayes received his first presidential vote. In 1886-87 he filled the po- sition as mayor of Nevada, making an excellent official, and altogether he has been a member of the city council for twelve years, and is now one of the trustees of Nevada Township. He is a member of Nevada Lodge No. 99, of the A. F. & A. M., and 3 X 3 Chapter. His mar- riage to Miss Agnes Maloy, a native of Scotland, born in 1844, took place on March 3, 1864, and by her he has had a family of three chil- dren: William R. (born September 20, 1866), Mabel J. (born January 7, 1871), and Fred E. (born November 10, 1876).
E. W. Gifford is a member of the well-known and successful law firm of Funson & Gifford, of Nevada, Iowa, and although he was born in Cedar County, Iowa, August 5, 1858, he has been a resident of Nevada since 1882. He is the elder of two surviving children born to his parents, and received his rearing and the rudi- ments of his education in his native county, being an attendant of Springdale Academy. In 1876, with a desire of further increasing his knowledge of the world of books, he en- tered the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, but in 1878 left this institution to take up the study of law in the Iowa State Univer- sity at Iowa City, and graduated from the law department in 1879. Since that time he has been an active practitioner in Story County, and is now recognized as one of the leading members of the legal fraternity in this section. Since attaining his majority he has always voted the Republican ticket, and socially is a member of Sampson Lodge No. 77, of the K. of P. His marriage took place on August 31, 1878, his wife being Miss Carrie A. Sheldon,
a daughter of Dr. M. D. Sheldon, a well-known physician throughout this locality. Mrs. Gif- ford was born in Story County, in 1859, and has borne her husband a son, Judge H. S., who was born September 24, 1879. Mr. Gifford is a son of D. W. and Sarah B. (Worrall) Gif- ford, who were born in Morgan County, Ohio, in 1832. They have resided in Cedar County, Iowa, since 1854, and the father is a well-to-do farmer and is extensively engaged in stock- raising and dealing.
William H. Golly, farmer and stock-raiser, Zearing, Iowa. Personal popularity, it cannot be denied, results largely from the industry, perseverance and close attention to business which a person displays in the management of any particular branch of trade. And in the case of Mr. Golly this is certainly true, for he has adhered so closely to farming and the stock industry that high esteem has been placed up- on him. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., October 25, 1846, and was the eldest of three children: ( William H., Lilias and Mary J.), the result of the union of John S. and Catherine (Logan) Golly, natives also of York State. The father was born in March, 1821, came to Story County in the fall of 1864, and located with his family on the southeast quarter of Section 15, Lincoln Township, where he has a splendid farm of 160 acres. He was one of nine children born to Andrew and Lilly (Scott) Golly, both natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. Andrew was one of the fol- lowing children: Andrew, Joseph, John, Polly and Lydia. The three sons came to America at an early day, and were among the early set- tlers of Oneida County, N. Y. The Gollys were Protestants, and were reared in the Pres- byterian Church. William H. Golly came with his parents to Story County at the age of eighteen years, and in 1868 he started out for himself as an agriculturist, buying the north-
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west quarter of Section 23, Lincoln Township. He selected for his companion in life Miss Jane Perry, a native of England, and the daughter of William and Mary (Menhennet) Perry, natives also of England. Their mar- riage was consummated November 18, 1869, and to them were born ten children: Frederick H., Lillian M., M. Myrtle, Claud E., Clarence R., Walter S., William H., Catherine, Perry and Russell L. Our subject is the owner of 720 acres of good land in the county, all of which he has accumulated by his own exertions and economy. He has good buildings on his place, and, take him all in all, is one of the representative farmers and stockmen of the county. He and Mrs. Golly were both suc- cessful teachers in the county for some time. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has held various offices in the town- ship. He is connected with the A. F. & A. M. Mr. Golly's mother and both sisters died in Illinois in 1850. His father afterward re- turned to New York and in 1854 married Miss Eliza J. Mitchell, of New York. They have one son, John M., of Story County. Mr. Golly and wife expect to make Story County their home for the future, and here, sur- rounded by their children and many warm friends, may they live long in peace and hap- piness.
John M. Golly, farmer and stock-raiser, Zearing, Iowa. Located in the midst of one of the finest agricultural centers of Story County, the farm which Mr. Golly owns and occupies is conceded to be among the best in the vicinity, and this is saying not a little, for on every hand may be seen superior places, whose ownership indicates thrift and prosperity. Mr. Golly is descended from a race who have given their attention principally to farming. His father, John Golly, was a native of New York State [see sketch of William H. Golly ].
John M Golly was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1855, and was married in 1876 to Miss Lucy Spohr, the daughter of Frederick and Lucinda (Piper) Spohr, natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Golly were born six children: Elizabeth, Gertrude, Guy, John, Leona, and Ernest. Mr. Golly bought the northwest half of Section 24, and is now the owner of 240 acres, all well improved. He has in the neigh- borhood of 500 rods of tile on his land, has about fifty-one cattle and eleven horses on his place, and keeps a good grade of all kinds of stock. His fine place is located two and a half miles from Zearing.
M. W. Gossard, steward of the county poor farm, was born in White County, Ind., in 1854, and came with his parents to this county two years later. He was the youngest of nine children born to William M. and Sarah (Ely) Gossard, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Ohio. They were married in the last named State and moved to Story County, Iowa, in 1856, where the father car- ried on agricultural pursuits. He bought an improved farm in 1858, and made this county his home until his death, which occurred in November, 1894. He was a Republican in politics and an honorable, upright man. The mother died in August, 1881. The children were named as follows: W. A. (married and resides in Washington Township; in 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Iowa Infantry, and served three years, being discharged in 1865), J. C. (married and resides in Adams County, Iowa; he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Iowa Infantry in 1861, and served four years, be- ing discharged in 1865), Phoebe Jane (now Mrs. Kelley, resides in Miami County, Kas. ), T. M. (married and enlisted from Story County, Iowa, in 1861, in Company D, Tenth Iowa In- fantry, and served four years; he died in April, 1890), S. W. (married and resides in Nebras-
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ka, where he is treasurer of Red Willow Coun- ty; he enlisted in 1862 in the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, was wounded, but served three years), R. C. (married and resides in La Fay- ette Township), W. W. (resides in Red Wil- low County, Neb. ), Sarah A. (now Mrs. Brown, resides in Holt County, Neb. ), and M. W. The latter grew up with a farm experience, and received his education in the schools of Grant Township, Story County, Iowa. He com- menced for himself at the age of sixteen years, and was married in Story County on September 1, 1881, to Miss Sarah A. Campbell, a native of that county, and the daughter of James and Ann (Eccles) Campbell, both being natives of the Emerald Isle. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell came to this country when quite young, settled in New York City, were married there, and a short time resided in Canada. From there they moved to Story County, Iowa, in 1853, settled on a farm in Milford Township, im- proved it, and there Mr. C. passed the balance of his days. His death occurred in 1880. The mother is still living and resides with our sub- ject. After his marriage Mr. Gossard followed agricultural pursuits in Story County, and now has charge of the Story County Poor Farm. He is not active in politics, but votes with the Republican party. To his marriage have been born three children: Cecil Grace, Charles G. and Genevieve. Mr. Gossard has seen many and great improvements in Story County since coming here, and has witnessed the complete growth of the country. He is one of the county's best men, and has always taken a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the township and county.
Mrs. Sarah J. Gossard, widow of Thomas M. Gossard, is a resident of Grant Township. She was born in Madison County, Ohio, Au- gust 29, 1840, the youngest of seven children born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Shaw) Emery,
natives, respectively, of Virginia and Pennsyl- vania. Thomas Emery, born in 1801, was a. blacksmith, farmer, and retail merchant. He died in Story County at the age of sixty-nine years. Elizabeth Emery, born in 1805, is now living with her daughter at the extreme age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Gossard emigrated with her parents to Story County in 1857, and has witnessed the changes which thirty odd years have brought with them. She was one of the pioneer school teachers of the county, began teaching in 1858, and taught almost continuously until 1865. She taught the first school in the Ames district, and was among the most successful of her profession. She was married July 4, 1865, to Thomas M. Gos- sard, and to this union were born four children -a daughter and three sons: Blanche (a school teacher and undergraduate of the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Falls), Harry A. (a graduate of the State Agricultural College at Ames, and now at home), Will E. (a school teacher and prospective Iowa Agricultural Col- lege student for 1891), and T. Lamont (at home). Mrs. Gossard has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-four years. She expects to pass the remainder of her days in Story County, surrounded by the associations which her long residence has ren- dered dear.
Thomas M. Gossard (deceased) was a native of the Buckeye State, born in Ross County, May 17, 1842, the fourth of nine children, all of whom are living at the present time with the exception of the subject of this sketch. They are named as follows: Phoebe Jane (married Hezekiah Kelley, a farmer, and now resides in Kansas), Allan (farmer, Story County ), James C. (farmer, Adams County ), subject (deceased), Willis (county treasurer of Red Willow Coun- ty, Neb.), Rufus (a carpenter, Boone County ), Walker (a mason by trade, in Red Willow
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County, Neb.), Alice (married William Brown, a farmer in Nebraska ), Wallace (farmer, stew- ard of the county farm of Story County). Mr. Gossard's parents were natives of Ohio. He removed with them to Indiana in 1855, and thence to Iowa in 1858. He obtained a good practical education in the public schools, and commenced life for himself as a farmer when seventeen years of age. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Tenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and followed the fortunes of his reg- iment until August, 1865, when he was mus- tered out of service. He participated in sev- enteen battles, among them Corinth, Iuka, Champion's Hill, Jackson, Miss., siege of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, Missionary Ridge, and many of the fights on the way to the sea with Sherman. He also took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. He was a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 30 at Ames. He was a member of long standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was iden- tified with the Sunday-school work of his town- ship for many years as superintendent and general worker. He contracted his sickness in the service of his country, and died at his home April 11, 1890. His remains are in- terred at Ames. This gentleman was loving as a husband, kind as a father, brave as a sol- dier, upright as a citizen. His memory will remain green in the hearts of his relatives and friends long after his body has returned to dust.
William Hill Grafton, M. D., is a prominent citizen and a retired physician and surgeon of Cambridge, Iowa. He was born in Baltimore, Md., March 25, 1827, and was the fourth of a family of ten children-four sons and six daughters-five of whom are now living: Sam- uel (a merchant by occupation, died at the age of sixty-nine years; he was married to Miss Mary David, a native of Baltimore), Edward
(died at the age of nine years), Julia ( wife of T. Newton Kurtz, a son of Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, a very prominent member of the Luther- an synod of Baltimore), Mary (who died at the age of twenty years), F. D. McHenry (who was a wealthy commission merchant of Baltimore died at the age of thirty-seven years), Isabella (deceased, was the wife of Mr. Tonge, a cotton manufacturer of Bain- bridge, Ga.), Martha (is the wife of John M. Frazier, of Baltimore, speaker of the House of Delegates at Annapolis, Md. ), Helen (resides in Baltimore and was the wife of Joseph D. Fahne-tock, deceased, an oyster packer), and Anna M. (resides in Anne Arundel County, Md., and is the wife of James H. Forbes, an agriculturist). Dr. Grafton's father, Mark Grafton, was born in Harford County, Md., September 25, 1794, and was reared to a farm life until he attained the age of seventeen years, at which time he engaged in mechanical business with his brother, but later turned his attention to the real-estate business in Balti- more. He died in 1854, at the age of sixty years, and was laid to rest in Green Mount Cemetery at Baltimore. He was an earnest and enthusiastic politician, and held several positions of trust and honor in the above men- tioned city. His wife, Miss Keziah Hall, was born in Baltimore County January 2, 1800, and died in Baltimore at the age of seventy-three years. Dr. Grafton's early training was received in the select schools of Baltimore, remaining there until fifteen years of age, when he entered a drug store and there re- mained four years learning the profession of a practical pharmacist. At the age of nineteen years he entered the employ of Dr. Mott, and took entire control of his drug establishment, at Leesburg, Va. During this time he com- menced the study of medicine under the Doc- tor, and afterward entered the University of
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Maryland, graduating from the medical college in 1849, and immediately commenced his prac- tice in Baltimore. He was afterward appointed as physician in the Baltimore Dispensary, but prior to this was a resident and practitioner in the Baltimore City and County Almshouse, where he received a nine months' clinical prac- tice and study, which admirably fitted him for his chosen profession. After practicing in Bal- timore for about four years, he was appointed physician to the quarantine hospital for the city of Baltimore, a position he held for two years. This position was of first importance in the gift of the city, and was filled by the Doctor at the early age of twenty-five years, an honor conferred upon very few men so young in years. Later he came west looking for a suitable place in which to locate, and visited the principal cities of Ohio, Illinois, Wiscon- sin and Iowa, and at Dubuque he stopped to hear Hon. Stephen A. Douglas make his won- derful railroad speech. From there he went to St. Paul, Minn., thence to Des Moines, and finally found himself in Story County, where he met a Mr. Chandler, with whom he formed a partnership in the erection of the Cambridge Steam Flouring Mills. He located perma- nently in Story County, Iowa, in 1856, and commenced the practice of his profession in the hamlet of Cambridge. The county at that time was an overflown region, wet and boggy, and did not offer a very favorable prospect to settlers. Skunk River bottom was a terror to emigrants. The Doctor very graphically tells how several families-thirty-one persons in all-lived (or sojourned) for the winter in the only house then in Cambridge, and belonging to its founder, Josiah Chandler. The Doctor has seen this region converted into one of the most productive regions of Iowa, and has done his share in bringing about this desirable result. His life has been a varied one, but in
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