USA > Iowa > Cherokee County > Biographical history of Cherokoe County, Iowa : Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state ; engravings of prominent citizens in Cherokee County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the county, the cities, and townships > Part 41
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society. Mr. French has done much of the ministerial work in Tilden and Amherst townships, helping to organize the Methodist Episcopal Church in the latter township. He has labored diligently in the cause of his Master, and well deserves the respect and es- teem in which he is held. Mr. French and his family are numbered among the leading people of Amherst Township. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, and has represented his township officially as justice of the peace, and as trustee.
DWARD W. PARKER, M. D., is one of the inen now living in Spring Town- ship who came here in the early days and entered Government land. His settle- ment there dates back to September, 1865, when a company of ten persons migrated from Wisconsin to find homes in this new country. Among them were Mrs. Parker's parents, who settled on land adjoining the Doctor's. Edward W. Parker was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1845, and is a son of Bramen C. and Nancy (Pat- terson) Parker. The father is also a physi- cian, and is practicing at Wilber, Nebraska. Ile was born in the State of New York, of English ancestry. Wilson Parker, grand- father of our subject, removed to New York from Massachusetts, where his family had been rooted for generations, having been among the earliest settlers of that common- wealth. Dr. Parker's mother was born in the Hoosier State, where she was married to his father. There were three children in the family. James W., the eldest, was a home- steader of 1866 in Cherokee County, but left the following year, and is now a locomo- tive engineer. The only daughter, Margaret, died at the age of thirty-two years. Edward
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W. was but four years old when his mother died, and his father afterward reared a large family by a second marriage. At the age of eight years he came West with his father and settled in Dane County, Wisconsin. When he was fourteen years old his father gave him his time and he became his own guardian, and although doing for himself he made his home with his father. When the Rebellion in the South arose he responded to the President's call for men to defend the nation's flag. August 16, 1861, at the age of sixteen years, lie enlisted in Company A, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and after a service of four years he was discharged July 3, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Indiana. For months he was detailed on special duty as provost gnard on General Newton's staff, while he was in command of the First Army Corps. He participated in most of the bat- tles of the Eastern campaign, including Gainesville, Second Bull Run, Fredericks- burg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill and Spottsylvania. After the last bat- tle he was taken sick and for eight months lay at Fort Schuyler Hospital. He was for- tunate enough to escape being wounded, though he passed through many of the hottest battles. When the battle-flags were furled and peace was declared he returned to his home in Wisconsin. While on a fur- lough he had been united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Crooks, October 2, 1864, and on rejoining her the question naturally arose, "Where shall we make our home?" Iowa offering many inducements, they located upon a homestead in Cherokee County, and there they have passed their maturer years. Hav- ing for a long time been desirous of study- ing medicine, our subject embraced the first opportunity and entered the office of R. L. Cleaves, M. D., in 1872. He then took two
courses of lectures at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, gradu- ating in 1876. He began to practice with Dr. Cleaves, with whom he was connected one year, at the end of which time he re- turned to his farm. He has since devoted his time to his profession in connection with some agricultural pursuits. Ilis field of work includes Cherokee, O'Brien and Bnena Vista counties, and he has been very success- ful. He has often been solicited to locate in some city, but he is content to remain where he is surrounded with rural comforts, and where he can give some attention to his apiary, in which he is much interested. He also breeds Poland-China hogs, having a fine herd of thirty head. His son has charge of the farm, and he can now enjoy life as only those can who have passed through the hard- ships of pioneer life and have been successful. Dr. Parker has the respect and confidence of the people of his county, and repeatedly his neighbors have shown their confidence by asking him to attend to the duties connected with the offices of the township in which he. resides. He is thoroughly imbued with the principles of the Republican party, and is a stanch and effective supporter of the same. He is of a strong social nature, and numbers his friends among all classes and beliefs. He is a member of the G. A. R., the I. O. O. F. and the K. P. societies, taking a prominent and active part in the deliberations of these bodies. Mrs. Parker, a most estimable per- son, was born in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania, May 2, 1845. She is a daughter of William and Jane Crooks. The mother died three years ago, and the father is now a resi- dent of Lake Park, Iowa. Dr. and Mrs. Par- ker's family consists of C. Augustus, born April 26, 1866, and Bertha, born June 17, 1870. She has the distinction of being the first white child born in Spring Township.
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She has chosen the profession of teaching, and is fitting herself to do her work well. She is attending the State Normal at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and will soon finish the course of study of that institution. She has taught four terms, and has met with most gratifying success.
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ILIAS DUBES, a prominent farmer of Silver Township, entered eighty acres of Government land in Cherokee County . in 1868, and his family have been residents of the county since 1870. He was born September 17, 1828, in York County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Jacob and Betsey (Motter) Dubes, his mother being the daugh- ter of English parents. At the age of twenty- one years Elias removed to Carroll County, Ohio, remaining there one year, when he re- turned to Harrison County. There he was married January 8, 1852, to Miss Hannah Sawvel, a daughter of Michael and Sarah (Warner) Sawvel, natives of York County, Pennsylvania. The father died at the age of seventy-seven, and the mother lived to be sixty-five years old. Mrs. Dubes was born in Harrison County, Ohio. In 1853 the tide of emigration flowing westward, Mr. Dubes emigrated to Iowa and settled in Clayton County; thence he removed to Allamakee County, Iowa, where he improved 120 acres of land. In August, 1862, he left the peace- ful pursuit of agriculture to engage in the defense of the Union; he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and served two years and a half; he participated in the battles of Clifton, Jack- son, Mississippi, and Holly Springs, Arkan- sas. He was honorably discharged on account of physical disability, when he returned to Allamakee County, where he lived until he
came to Cherokee County. Mr. Dubes now owns 360 acres of land in Silver Township, and forty acres in Diamond. His dwelling was built in 1883 at a cost of $2,300, and is one of the handsomest farm residences in the county; he has a large and substantial barn, a modern windmill supplying water for live- stock, and stock scales; there is a large grove adding to the comfort of the place, and all the indications are that Mr. Dubes is a suc- cessful farmer. Ile and his wife are the par- ents of seven children: Lucinda Clara, wife of J. P. McDowell, of Diamond Township; Michael Francis, of Silver Township; Sarah E., wife of H. M. Lane, of Silver Township; Daniel, of Diamond Township, and Maggie A., at home; two children have died; Flora J., in 1881, in her thirteenth year; Amanda E., in 1882, in her twenty-first year. Mr. Dubes is a member of the Republican party, and has served his township seventeen years as treasurer, eight years as trustee, and two years as justice of the peace, and his county as coroner; he has filled these offices with credit to himself and honor to his constitu- ency. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and their house was for many years known as the Baptist headquarters. Mr. Dubes is a member of the General Cus- ter Post, No. 25, G. A. R. He is frank and genial in manner, and is honored and re- spected by many friends.
ILLIAM B. CHICK, the present treasurer of Cherokee County, has been closely connected with public inatters hereabonts for nearly twenty years, coming to the place when the broad, trackless prairies made up the surroundings of a mere hamlet, and before the iron horse had found his way to this part of Iowa. He came in
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March, 1870, in company with Dr. Royal L. Cleaves; they came overland from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, seeing lots of " beautiful prai- rie " between here and there. In attempting to sketch the life of so active a man as Mr. Chick it is the writer's first duty to gain what facts he can from the subject, and then draw from the fund of popular sentiment for the remainder. It will ahnost go without the saying that this gentleman, by reason of his ability and genial traits, has no real enemies in the county, where he has mingled with all classes of mnen for almost two decades. But before speaking of liis career in Cherokee County, the reader will please go with us in thought to the old "Pine Tree " State, Maine, down by that wave-washed and rocky coast whence came so many of Iowa's early and best set- tlers. In York County William B. Chick was born July 25, 1848, his parents being Nathan and Barbara (Foster) Chick, natives of Maine, and of Puritan blood. The father died when William B. was a mere child, and he was thrown upon his own resources to carve out life's history by his unaided hand. At the age of thirteen years he went to the city of Portland, where he remained until that great conflict, the Civil War, demanded the serv- ice, and life if need be, of the bravest and best of our sons. Accordingly, young Chick enlisted in April, 1864, when only sixteen years old, becoming a member of the First Maine Battery; he went South and partici- pated in the battles of Cedar Creek. Fisher's Hill, and others, and was discharged July 15, 1865, before he had reached his seventeenth birthday. He returned to Maine, and shortly thereafter went to the city of Boston, Massa- chusetts, where he was employed as clerk in a clothing house for two years and a half. Thence he went to Chicago, Illinois, in 1868, but remained there only a short time before he retraced his steps as far east as Michigan, where
he worked in the lumber business for about a year. In August, 1869, he came to Iowa, stopping at Cedar Rapids until March, 1870, and then came to Cherokee. In company with Dr. Cleaves he bought a pre-emption claim on section 30, Cherokee Township, about two and a half miles west of the city. The romance of breaking prairie with ox- teams soon wore off, and the quarter section was sold at a good paying margin. Mr. Chick then clerked for two years for F. W. Hux- ford, and January 1, 1874, began his duties as deputy conuty treasurer, which position he held for two years. In the fall of 1875 he was elected county auditor, and was twice re- elected, holding that responsible office for nearly six years, resigning to engage in the mercantile business as a member of the firm of Ballard & Chick. Later he bought his partner's interest and continued in the trade until the spring of 1882, when he again took charge of the county anditor's office, manag- ing it until the next general election, which occurred in the fall of 1883, when he was elected treasurer of the county. He was re- elected again in 1885 and 1887, and is, now serving the third terin of this office, to which he was called without opposition. Mr. Chick was married February 9, 1875, to Miss Sarah Delaney, a native of Wisconsin, and a daugh- ter of Mitchell and Prudence Delaney. By this union three children have been born, one of whom is living, named Myrtie; Howard and Edith died within a week, in the month of November, 1887; Howard was six years old, and Edith, three years and five months. This sad bereavement cast a deep gloom over the fond parents, whose hearts still feel the great affliction. Mr. Chick is a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A. F. & A. M .; of Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R. A. M .; and of Crusade Commandery, No. 39, K. T. He has served as Master of the Blue Lodge,
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and High Priest of the Chapter. He is now serving his fourth year as Commander of the K. T. Commandery. He also belongs to Cus- ter Post, No. 25, G. A. R., of which he has been Adjutant. He has been Chief of the Fire Department for many years, and there is no better business man in all the county than " Chick," by which name he is known far and wide, but seldom is his given name mentioned, if indeed it be known to the masses. In his manner he is polite and pleas- ing, in business matters prompt and reliable, and as a friend, neiglibor, and good citizen, no one stands higher than William B. Chick.
UGENE COWLES, deceased, during his life-time justly won a place in the bio- graphical record of his county, as well as in the hearts of his fellow-citizens and brothers at the legal bar of Cherokee County. Never did the hand of death strike down one more highly honored and universally be- loved, or one whose demise awoke more genuine sorrow in the public heart. Mr. Cowles was born in New Haven, Vermont, March 10, 1835, where he grew to manhood. He there distinguished himself as the bright- est of his class in school. On leaving Ver- mont he entered a commercial college in Chicago, as he intended pursning some busi- ness enterprise. There he received an ex- cellent training, but having a love for the study of the law, he entered an office at Bellevue, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. The next year he was married to Miss Julia Potter, who for twenty years lived with him a life of happiness such as but few realize. This marriage was blessed with two danghters who grew to womanhood: Eugenie and Harriet. After practicing law a few years, Mr. Cowles entered the grain
business at Dubuque, Iowa, but again in 1870 we find him engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at Cherokee, Iowa, where he resided until death overtook him in the full vigor and prime of his manhood, July 26, 1880. He was a few months past forty-five years of age, and was ill but a few hours. As a citizen no man stood higher than he, and he was foremost in every work tending to benefit the community. He was truly a charitable man, but lie gave so nn- ostentatiously that on'y his most intimate friends knew the goodness of his heart. He ministered to the poor and distressed, not to be seen of men, but to relieve and sustain the needy. Mr. Cowles was an active Mason, and was buried by that order. The mer- chants of the city closed their places of busi- ness as a last tribute to his noble manhood, knowing full well that one of Cherokee's best inen had passed from earth. The newspapers thronghont the Northwest gave extended obituary notices, and the home papers were heavily draped in turned "column rules," as a sign of deep mourning.
C. HAWN, deceased, late of Silver Township, was widely and favorably known in Cherokee County. He was born July 13, 1820, in Mifflin County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Daniel and Eliza- beth (Smiley) Hawn. He lived in the county of his birth until sixteen years of age, when he went with his parents to Clarion County, Pennsylvania. There he grew to manhood, and learned the carpenter's trade. He was married February 13, 1843, to Miss Elmira Magee, who was born and reared in Clarion County. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Frampton) Magee. In 1855 Mr. Hawn made a trip to Iowa, and settled in Daven-
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port, remaining there two years At the end of that time he removed to Muscatine County, Iowa, living there for the same length of time. In 1859 he went to Jones County, Iowa. When there was a call for men during the great Rebellion, he enlisted in September, 1862, in the Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, Company H. He served as hospital carpenter on the hospital boat, The City of Memphis. This position he held for nine months. For a time he was in Captain Shanks' command in the Quartermaster's de- partment of the Army of the Southwest. He was in the battle of Arkansas Post, and en- tered Vicksburg on the day of surrender. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and at one time was hauling ammunition in the ordnance train in the front of the bat- tle. He was honorably discharged in July, 1865, and returned to his home in Jones Connty. In 1870 he came to Cherokee County, and settled on eighty acres of wild land, residing there until his death, which occurred Angust 8, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Hawn reared four children: D. B. and J. M., residents of Silver Township; Henrietta, wife of M. L. Dial, of Sioux City (she has six children), and Mrs. Sarah M. Steiner (de- ceased), wife of F. P. Steiner, who left three children. Mr. Hawn affiliated with the Re- publican party. He served his township as trustee, justice of the peace, and as assessor, with inch credit to himself. He was a member of the General Custer Post, No. 25, G. A. R. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the reliable and representative citizens of the county. His widow resides on the home- stead with her son, D. B. Hawn. D. B. Hawn, the eldest son of R. C. and Elmira (Magee) Hawn, was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. In 1870 he came with his parents to Cherokee County, and purchased
120 acres of wild land in Silver Township. He has brought this land from the natural state in which he found it to one of high cultivation, and has erected a dwelling, a good barn, and other buildings necessary for the protection of grain and live-stock. He has planted a grove, which is a beantifnl ornament to the place. Mr. Hawn also owns 120 acres of land in Griggs Township, Ida County. In political thought and action he is Republican. He is a man yet in the prime of life, is intelligent and progressive, and is one of the leading citizens of the township.
RANK E. WHITMORE, junior mem- ber of the well-known and reliable real- estate firm, Corbett & Whitmore, Cherokee, Iowa, has by reason of his long residence here, together with his extensive business operations, made a record which truly entitles him to more than passing men- tion in the review of representative men of Cherokee County, where Mr. Whitmore has resided over eighteen years. To gain infor- mation concerning his earlier career, one must needs go back to the place of his nativity, in the old Empire State. He was born July 22, 1843, in the town of Georgetown, Madi- son County, New York, and is the youngest child of a second marriage. His father, Dr. E. Whitmore, was a native of East Haddam, Connecticut, in which State he was reared and educated. He removed to the State of New York in the year 1810, and settled in George- town, Madison County, where he continued to practice medicine until his death, which occurred November 6, 1851, the date of his birth being February 24, 1784. Mr. Whit- more's mother was Betsey (Barnett) Whit- more, a daughter of James Bamett, Esq. She was born November 26, 1808, in Con-
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nectient, and died August 15, 1850. She was the mother of two children: Cerissa A. Whit- more and Frank E. Dr. Whitmore's first wife was Miss Susanna Hovey. Frank E. Whit- more was reared in his native town where he attended the public schools. When about ten years of age lie went to Morrisville, New York, and entered the Morrisville Union School, where he remained until 1860. He then taught school four months, commencing November 5, 1860, after which he went to Cazenovia, New York, and entered the Oneida Conference Seminary December 4, 1861. After leaving that educational institution he enlisted for nine months, November 1, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Seventy- sixth New York Volunteers, and was sent to Louisiana under General B. F. Butler; he afterward joined the expedition under Gen- eral N. P. Banks. He was detached as a bugler and later as a member of the regi- mental band. On June 23, 1863, he was taken prisoner of war at Morgan City, Louisiana. Ile was paroled and sent to Ship Island, held sixty days, and then exchanged, when he returned to the service, his regiment being at Bonnet Carre, Louisiana. He was mustered out in the antumn of 1863, and returned to Morrisville, New York, and soon went to Peterborough, New York, where he took charge of a store owned by an uncle, James Barnet. He remained there about three years and then went to South Carolina, July 1, 1866, rented a sea island cotton plantation in company with others, abont thirty miles north of Charleston, in which he owned an interest in crop and equipments; he resided there about one year, and on account of sick- ness was compelled to return to the North. He went to Utica, in his native State, April 15, 1867, and was there employed in a hard- ware store owned by J. E. Roberts & Co., with whom he remained about two years. At
the expiration of that time he went to Red Wing, Minnesota, April 9, 1869, and took a position as bookkeeper in the hardware store of E. L. Baker & Co .. whom he served two years. In July, 1871, Mr. Whitmore came to Cherokee, Iowa, and soon after formed a partnership with John H. Roe, in the real- estate business. This co-partnership existed until 1873, when Mr. Whitmore purchased the interest of Mr. Roe, and afterward sold a one-half interest in the business . to Carlton Corbett, Esq. The firm now known as Cor- bett & Whitmore are extensive dealers in both wild and improved lands, and are agents for the Iowa Railroad Land and Town Lot Company. Mr. Whitmore was united in marriage June 6, 1871, to Emma E. Bates, a daughter of John W. Bates, and a native of Utica, New York, where she grew to woman- hood. In his political choice Mr. Whitmore now favors the Prohibition party, believing that no great reform is likely to be enacted by either of the other two political parties. Being a thorough-going business man, he has frequently been placed in public office. He served as secretary of the School Board of Cherokee for several years, has been a mem- ber of the Town Conncil, and is a director of the Cherokee State Bank, in which he is a stockholder. He is a member of the Congre- gational Church, and holds the office of clerk of the same. He is also an active member of the Y. M. C. A., of which he is director and treasurer. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., belonging to the Loyal Order at Cherokee, of which he is an officer. Cherokee County has an unusually large number of excellent business men in proportion to its population, yet none stand higher in point of intelligence and moral superiority than he of whom this sketch is written. He was endowed by na- ture with a very keen perception of right and wrong, which invaluable characteristic he has
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cultivated from his early youth; this fact alone causes him to stand out prominent among his fellow men as an exemplary Chris- tian and exceptionally correct business man whom all classes admire and greatly respect. Cherokee County can boast of no better type of a good citizen than that found in Frank E. Whitmore.
YMENEUS C. KELLOGG was born on August 15, 1824, in the town of Tin- mouth, Rutland County, Vermont. His father, Frederick Kellogg, was a native of Windham County, in the same State, and descended from an old family of South Had- ley, Massachusetts. This family was of Eng- lish ancestry aud dates back to the colonial days of America. Mr. Kellogg's mother was also a native of Vermont, having been born in Windsor County. Her maiden name was Sophia Ranney. Hymeneus grew to man- hood in his native county, receiving a good education, and laying the foundation for a successful career in life. He went to Poult- ney in the same county and commenced to read law, and was finally admitted to the bar in the year 1846. He practiced his profes- sion for a time in Vermont, but soon went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived two years variously engaged. In the same year in which he completed his legal studies he was married to Miss Elizabeth E. Wheeler, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Jona- than R. and Eusebia (Hoar) Wheeler, of Massachusetts, the marriage taking place in Pittstown, New York. On leaving Boston he returned to his native State, where he re- mained until the year 1855, when, attracted by the glowing accounts of the wonderful opportunities open to young men in the newly developing West, he left his native State and
removed to Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa. At the time of his location in this. county it had not been organized, and the country was characterized by all those features so peculiar to newly settled regions, and so well known to every one experienced in fron- tier life. Here Mr. Kellogg lived until the year 1869, following his profession and deal- ing in real estate, and also being engaged to some extent in farming operations. Not be- ing fully satisfied with his surroundings, and wishing to again change his location, he, in company with his son-in-law, Charles H. Lewis, came to Cherokee County, in this State, in the early spring of 1869, with a view to locating in the county if the prospects were sufficiently promising. They arrived in Cherokee, or what was then called Cherokee, on the 22d day of May, 1869, having driven for a long distance over the then unsettled prairies of Northwestern Iowa. Although there was then no town in the county, yet the tide of immigration was so great, and so many were coming to take up the free, fertile lands then subject to homestead entry, and the prospect of the advent of a railroad in the coming year being so bright, Mr. Kellogg and his son-in-law concluded that it was the place for them to settle. This they did, and their families soon followed them to the new home. Mr. Lewis had taken a course of legal study in the Iowa Law School, and had been admitted to the bar, and a firm was formed by the name of Kellogg & Lewis, being the first law firm in the county, as also was a real-estate firm, which included as one of its members Mr. N. T. Burroughs, who had shortly before taken up his residence in the county. A new town, called Blair City, was started on a site about a inile north of the present town of Cherokee, and during the summer and fall of 1869 grew apace with the tide of immigration, until it numbered quite
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