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 43
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general farming pursuits until his removal to the flourishing village of Quimby in March, 1888. He is one of the members of the firm of Smith & Shaul, dealers in drugs, patent med- icines, groceries and queensware. Smith & Shanl opened the first drug store in Quimby, and their progressive traits have been of great benefit to the town. They now occupy a good store building, 24 x 60 feet, which was erected under their direction. Mr. Smith received his education in the common schools, and in the Sycamore (Illinois) High School. He is the present trustee of Willow Town- ship, and was appointed postmaster in March, 1889. He is a stanchi supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a consistent member of the Christian Church. Mr. Smith was united in marriage at North English, Iowa, February 24, 1875, to Miss Alzina Cheyney, daughter of Chandler and Charity (Dennis) Cheyney. Her father came originally from Illinois, and was one of the first settlers in Iowa County, Iowa. Her inother was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had four children born to them: Ernest, Lottie, Ollie and Ada.
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DWARD F. MORGAN has been prom- inently identified with the interests of Cherokee County since 1869. He was born in Plymonth, Windsor County, Vermont, April 1, 1842. His parents, Isaiah and Harriet (Potter) Morgan, were of Eng- lish-Irish, and English ancestry. His Grand- father Morgan was a soldier in the Revolu- tion. Ilis grandmother's people were the Parkers, a family well and favorably known for generations in New England, and active participants in the immortal struggle for in- dependence. Edward F. lived in Vermont until nearly twenty years of age, assisting in
the cultivation of the old home farm. On October 23, 1862, the spirit of freedomn strong within him, he enlisted in Company "C, Six- teenth Vermont Volunteers, and joined the noble army then struggling to preserve the Union his ancestors had helped to establishi. He was honorably discharged October 23, 1863, but again impelled by the impulses of patriotism, he enlisted in the Third Bat- tery of Light Artillery, Vermont Volunteers, September 2, 1864, and served until peace again came to our distracted land. His health was impaired by the exposure and hardships which he endured in the service. He saw much hard fighting; was in the battle of Gettysburg, and saw General Hancock near the Peach Orchard shortly after that hero was wounded. He was in the battles and skirmishes at Hagerstown, Rappahan- nock, Manassas, before Petersburg, near the Rapidan, Culpepper Court-house, Bristow's Station and Warrentown Junction. At Get- tysburg he saw the Louisiana Tigers make their famous but futile charge under General Pickett, and after that battle he was in the march from Gettysburg to Hagerstown, in the Second Army Corps. At different times during his service he was under Generals Hooker, Meade and Grant. After the war Mr. Morgan went to Ean Claire, Wisconsin, where he was an engineer, and afterward to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he was again an engineer in one of the mills. He resided there until 1869, when he came to Cherokee Connty and took a homestead of eighty acres in Pitcher Township; he improved this land and made it his home until 1881, when he settled in Willow Township. He now owns a good farm of eighty acres upon which he has built a comfortable dwelling, and inade inany other improvements. The place is well watered, and offers excellent advantages for stock-raising. Mr. Morgan is a member of
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General Custer Post, No. 25, G. A. R., and was formerly a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. Since liis residence in Cher- okee County he has been called upon to fill .various local offices of trust and respon- sibility, and has ever merited the confidence reposed in him. For five years lie was justice of the peace of Willow Township, and for a time was supervisor of District No. 1. Politically he is a Republican of the old school. Mr. Morgan was united in marriage May 29, 1869, to Miss Alice Collins, of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. She is a daughter of Henry and Lucinda (Walker) Collins, natives of Kentucky and Missouri respectively. Mrs. Morgan comes of a fam- ily of pioneers of Wisconsin and Iowa. Her uncle, Henry Walker, was the first white child born in Clayton County, Iowa, her grandfather, T. B. Walker, being one of the early settlers of that county; at one time lie kept the fort at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Mr. Morgan is a man well informed on the early history of Cherokee County, and has many vivid recollections of the trials and hardships of those times. There was a time when he knew every man in the county.
L. BELEW .- The Aurelia Sentinel lias for more than seven years been considered one of the most ably edited · papers of Northwestern Iowa. It has always been a strong exponent of the right, and an earnest advocate of every good work tending to advance the town and community, and no backward step has been taken by heeding its advice. Unlike many of Iowa's so-called edi- tors who pander to depraved tastes, and work solely for power and influence, the proprietor of the Sentinel has ever taken an advanced position on every important question from
motives prompted by the desire to advance the public good, regardless of his own per- sonal ambition. He has been quick to feel the public pulse, and his advocacy has fre- quently tended to a better development of his adopted county. Reared in the most beauti- fnl of Virginia's many valleys, and accus- tomed to the beauties of nature, as well as to the scenes of desolation that no other country in America knew so well as did the valley of the Shenandoah, he grew to manhood under most excellent advantages, and much of what is best in the man may be traced to his early surroundings and associations. His father, Peter Belew, was a physician in the town of Edinburgh, Virginia, where he still resides. The family consisted of three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living but one. When our subject had arrived at the age of twenty years lie entered the Baltimore Col- lege of Dental Surgery, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Edin- burgh; he also did professional work at Woodstock, Virginia, and at Hagerstown, Maryland. In 1881 he decided to become a part of Western enterprise and Western influ- ence, and accordingly acted upon the advice of his great predecessor, " Go West, young man." He soon found himself associated with friends in the new town of Aurelia. Believing that to be an excellent opening for a newspaper, and having some inclination and natural fitness for that class of work, Mr. Belew decided to undertake the work of founding a newspaper, and in March, 1882, he began the publication of the Sentinel, an enterprise which has proved satisfactory in more respects than one. Assisted by his ad- mirable wife, Mr. Belew attends to all the details of the publication, and he certainly publishes a most excellent and readable paper He was united in marriage in September. 1886, to Miss Cora B. O' Neal, a daughter of
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Felix O'Neal, the popular dealer in agricult- ural implements at Aurelia.
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LBERT JAMES SHAUL was born in Williams County, Ohio, November 22, 1854. He is a son of Michael P. and Pliœbe (Mussetter) Shaul, and one of a family of six children: Amanda E., wife of A. J. Darr; John F., book-keeper in the Huron Na- tional Bank, Huron, Dakota; William H., stu- dent at the Iowa Agricultural College, Amies, Iowa; Charles L., in the employ of the Northern Pacific Express Company, Helena. Montana; Ada E., a teacher in the Millers- burg, Iowa, public schools, and Albert J., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Shaul was born on a farm, and when a child came with his parents to Iowa County, where his father bought a farm which he improved and has made his home for thirty years. There he grew to manhood and received his first lessons in the public schools. He afterward attended Western College in Linn County, which is now located at Toledo, Tama County. Upon returning home he taught twelve terins of school. In 1881 he began work in a general merchandise store at Keswick, Johns & Wilson being the firm, with whom he re- mained three years. At the end of this time he went into the drug business with Dr. I. F. Cameron, the firm name being Cameron & Shaul. While in this business Mr. Shaul studied pharmacy and took the course of study on pharmacy at the National Institute of Pharmacy, and now holds a certificate from that institution. Upon completing his course he stood the examination before the Iowa and Nebraska Boards of Pharmacy, and is now a registered pharmacist of each of these States. He then went to Long Pine, Nebraska and embarked in the drug busi-
ness upon his own responsibility, remaining there until he came to Quimby to enter into partnership with A. C. Smith, Esq. The firm name is Smith & Shaul, and they are doing a profitable business, having attracted a large patronage by their fair dealings and courte- ous manners. Mr. Shaul was married March 31, 1886, to Miss Nellie Baldwin, of Kes- wick, Iowa, a danguter of A. D. and Anna (Hummer) Baldwin. Mr. and Mrs. Shanl are the parents of one child, Daphne. In politics Mr. Shaul supports the issues of the Republican party. He is a member of the United Brethren Church.
- RAN E. YOCUM, Cashier of the Farm- ers' and Merchants' Bank, Aurelia, was born at Warsaw, Kosciusko County, In- diana, November 26, 1844, and is a son of Lewis M. and Rebecca B. (Riddle) Yocum, the father being born iu York County, Penn- sylvania, February 25, 1820, and the mother in Wayne County, Ohio. They were married May 14, 1843, and settled in Marshall County, Illinois, when the son, Oran E., was four years old; they remained until he was ten years of age, and then removed to Galva, Illinois. The father was a merchant for a long time, but during the last twenty years has been engaged in banking, and still lives at Galva, Illinois. He is president of the bank at Aurelia, of which Oran E. is cashier; he is a large land owner in Iowa and other States, and stands personally responsible for $300,000. O. E. Yocum grew up accustomed to business transactions connected with his father's store, and after receiving a fair edn- cation at the High School, engaged in mercan- tile business for himself at the age of twenty- one years. For upward of fifteen years he continued in the general mercantile trade at
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Galva, Illinois, and also after coming to Aurelia, which was in 1880. He carried a very large stock of goods until the big fire of 1883, when he lost about $7.000. He then discontinued the business, and gave his atten- tion more fully to buying and shipping grain; owning an elevator at Galva, Iowa, also, he was enabled to do quite an extensive business in that liue, which he still continues. March 5, 1884, the Farmers and Merchants' Bank opened its doors with O. E. Yocum as Presi- dent; Alex. Fraser as Vice President, and J. T. McCall as Cashier. After one year's business, L. M. Yocum, father of Oran E., bought the interest of the other gentlemen, himself becoming president, and Oran E. cashier. L. M. Yocum founded the Bank of Aurelia in 1881, furnishing the capital issued by that institution; J. R. Atwood acted as cashier of the bank. In two years he sold to the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Galva, Illinois, and in 1885, as stated above, secured the interests of Fraser and McCall in the present institution. Both the president and cashier are men of large landed interests in Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and Michigan, and are recognized in financial circles as being stroug men. The Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Aurelia is considered one of Iowa's impregnable institutions. The entire man - agement of the bank devolves upon Oran E. Yocumn, and its growth iu popularity and volume of business is ample proof of his con- servative and careful business methods. He is the only child of his parents now living; the only daughter, Josephine Adelaide, was born December 21, 1848, was married to J. R. Atwood, and died May 6, 1881, two weeks after removing to Aurelia. Mr. Yocum was married at Galva, Illinois, March 3, 1875, to Miss Lizzie L. Devinney, who was born iu Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1849. They have had three children:
Willie L., born December 31, 1875, died at the age of nine years; Oran G. lived but two months, his death occurring March 20, 1883; Earl L. was born October 9, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Yocum are strong supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Yocum is Republican. The efficient assistaut cashier of this bank is Peter D. Wine, who was born in Augusta County, Virginia, December 25, 1859. His parents are George and Catherine (Good) Wine, of German ancestry, who are still living in Vir- ginia. In 1881 Mr. Wine came to Iowa, and for nearly three years worked on a farm near Aurelia. He then learned the art of telegraphy with M. O. Miller in the station at Aurelia, and at Storm Lake. In the fall of 1884 he took charge of the office at night in Alden, Iowa, and afterward became the operator at Aurelia, a position which he held for two and a half years. He then accepted a position as book-keeper in the bank, and soon became assistaut cashier, a position he fills acceptably and with credit. Mr. Wine was married October 3, 1885, to Miss Carrie E. Templeman, a daughter of James H. and Mary Templeman. She was born in Illinois, January 19, 1866.
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LIVER PORTER MINOR (deceased) came to Cherokee County in 1871. He was en route to Dakota from Green . Lake County, Wisconsin, and being struck with the beauty and natural advantages of the surrounding country, he decided to make his home in Cherokee County; the same year he bought a tract of 200 acres, and at once began to improve it. He soon after added to it until he owned a beautiful body of 320 acres, lying in the fertile Maple Valley. Through the first few years he had many
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
struggles and privations, but he succeeded in making a comfortable home, and in surround- ing his family with many of the comforts of life. His health began to fail, and after an illness extending over a period of two years he passed away October 8, 1887, at the age of fifty-seven years. He was born April 9, 1830, at Pittsfield, Massachinsetts, and was a son of William and Maria (Webb) Minor. From three years of age until sixteen he lived in Monroe County, New York; in 1846 he settled in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where he was married March 3, 1850, to Miss Ilelen Dent, who was born at Hornellsville, New York, October 18, 1833. She is the daughter of Richard and Jane (MeGibbon) Dent. Her father was born in England and her mother in Scotland; they were united in marriage in Delaware County, New York, in 1819, and later settled in Wisconsin, where they both died, the former at the age of fifty years, and the latter at the age of eighty-three, having survived him nearly thirty years. Mr. Minor's parents also died in Wisconsin, the father in 1855, and the mother in 1889. After his marriage Mr. Minor was engaged in farming in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, for fonr years; he ini- proved a new timbered farin, and then set- tled in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, where he resided until coming to Iowa in 1871. His family consisted of eight children, of whom three, Wealthy J., Olive M. and George C., died in childhood. Those living are: Irvin D., Albert J., William R., Mary L. and Frank A. Albert and William are farining near Canton, Sonth Dakota. Irvin has charge of the home farm and has proved qnite suc- cessful in his management. Prior to luis as- suming the control of the farm he had spent three years in Cherokee, where he built the skating rink that was recently destroyed by fire. Ile was also engaged in the mneat busi-
ness for some time. The death of O. P. Minor was a great loss to his family and to the community, as he was always among the first to recognize every effort to build up the institutions of the town and county. He en- joyed the esteem and confidence of all witlı whom he came in contact. . He had been treasurer of the township repeatedly, and other positions of trust and honor were fre- quently confided to his attention. He left a widow and five children who will ever hold his memory dear, and who will willingly take np his labors where he left them, and will worthily carry out his desires.
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EV. AMON JOHNSON. - One of the most active and earnest workers for his , Master, and one who has great results to show for his labors in Cherokee County and the surrounding country, is he whose name heads this article. His labors have been among a class of people but slightly affected by the average minister, and it is safe to say that many of this county's best citizens owe much of general culture and fit- ness to be what they now are, best citizens, to the efforts of this gentleman. Mr. John- son was born in the parish of Soggendalıl, Norway, December 9, 1838. His parents were John Williamson and Ingeborge Amon- son; the family came to the United States when Amon was ten years of age, and settled in Racine County, Wisconsin; in 1858 they removed to Dane County, Wisconsin, and there in 1863 the father died; he was a spin- ning-wheel maker by trade. The family consisted of two sisters beside Amon. Helen is the wife of Andrew Hanson, and Hannah married Osmund Thompson. At thirteen years of age Amon learned the printer's trade at the office of the Monthly Church Tidings,
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at Janesville, and at the age of fifteen years he went to Chicago and was employed for some time on the Democrat. Having a strong desire to acquire a more thorough education, he entered the State University at Spring- field, Illinois, in 1854; after devoting the next six years to study he was graduated in 1860, receiving the degree of A. B., and two years afterward that of M. A. While in the University he was a classmate of Robert Lincoln, our present Minister to Great Brit- ain. After his graduation he entered the Augustana Theological Seminary at Chicago, now located at Rock Island, Illinois, and took a two years' .conrse in theology. He was or- dained by the Augustana Synod of the Lu- theran Church in 1863, in Goodhue Connty, Minnesota, and began his ministerial work at Leland, La Salle County, Illinois. He re- mained there for three years and then was sent to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he re- mained until the close of the year 1877. There two churches were built during his ministry, and the charge became one of the largest and most flourishing in the conference. Then he was placed at Aurelia, and for two years had charge of the churchi work at Au- relia, Sloan, Onawa, Sioux Rapids, and a country church in Pocahontas County. He soon succeeded in effecting organization at Aurelia. In 1879 Doucombe and Badger, in Webster County, were given him instead of Sloan and Onawa, which were organized into a separate charge. After three years they were withdrawn from his charge, being able to support a minister, and his work since has been confined to Sioux Rapids, Aurelia and Alta, at which place a society was organized through his efforts. He has built church edifices at Alta, Aurelia, Sioux Rapids and Badger, and his preaching has added about 400 communicants to the churches in Iowa. His health not admitting of confinement he
has given by preference his attention to mis- sionary work, and building up the different societies. Mr. Johnson was married at Le- land, Illinois, February 24, 1863, to Miss Anna Moland, who departed this life July 27, 1881. October 17, 1883, Mr. Johnson was again married to Miss Carrie H. Oppegard. She was born in Norway, October 25, 1844. By his first wife the following children were born: Martha, wife of John Barstad; Henry Arndt, Sven Aron, Julius Godfrey and Ida Matilda. Two children were born of the second marriage: Anna Maria and Julia. Rev. Johnson is a popular minister with other denominations, and is well liked by persons not connected with any church organi- zation. Being a man tall of stature he has a commanding appearance. He has a fine and forcible delivery, and it is a pleasure to listen to him. He is a close student, a thorough reasoner, and an entertaining companion. Few men have so great a faculty of retaining friends, even though of different views on re- ligious matters.
ADWARD HORNIBROOK, M. D., is one of the popular and successful phy- sicians and surgeons of Cherokee. In a publication of this character where various classes of representative men are given a place for personal mention, it is truly befit- ting that one representing the medical frater- nity should appear. While the banker is given as representing one class, the merchant one, and the agriculturist still another, he who looks after the health of the community must not be forgotten. As well as Dr. Hor- nibrook may be known in Cherokee County and Northwestern Iowa, there are many in- cidents connected with his career away from this vicinity which have place in this notice,
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and which will be read with much interest. Edward Hornibrook was born in Grenville County, Canada, October 29, 1838. He is of Irishi descent, his parents having removed from Ireland to Canada, settling in the town of Wolford, Grenville Connty, in 1826. His father, Edward Hornibrook, was a farmer, which occupation he followed through life. His mother was Fanny Burchill, a dangliter of Samnel Burchill, Esq., a native of Ireland. The Doctor is the fifth son of a family of twelve children; he received a good common and high school education, and also received instruction from private tntors. Early in life he was thrown npon his own resources, and at the very early age of fourteen years he began teaching, school, which profession he followed three years. At the end of that time he matriculated in the arts department of the University of Toronto, taking first- class honors in the natural science branches, and entered the medical department of Vic- toria College, then located at Toronto, Can- ada. Hle was graduated from that institution with honors in 1861. During that year he settled in Mitchell, Canada, where his fine professional abilities won for him a practice seldom equaled by one of his years and ex- perience. He contested South Perth in the conservative interests, and it is worthy of note that in that constituency, which natnr- ally gave a reform majority of several hun- dred, he only ran seventy-seven votes short of his opponent, James Trow. In 1879 Dr. Hornibrook removed to Cherokee, where he engaged in the practice of his chosen profes- sion. Thongh repeatedly urged to fill offices of public trust and honor, he has declined; but he has always taken a lively interest in good public schools, and served as a member of the School Board of Mitchell for fourteen years. In 1863 Edward Hornibrook, M. D., was united in marriage to Rosina Stephens,
a native of England. This union has been blessed with six children: Fanny, Rose, Mary, Edward J., Freeman H. and William H. The Doctor has been an able contributor to various medical journals for the past quarter of a century, and has been a member of im- portant committees in medical associations; at the present time he is chairman of the Committee on Publication of the Iowa State Medical Association. In 1877 he repre- sented the Dominion of Canada in the Ameri- can Medical Association, of which he is still a member. He belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, having attained the degree of Knight Templar, and is now a member of Crusade Commandery, No. 39. Dr. Hornibrook lias had long years of actual experience in his profession, and being a constant reader of the latest medical works, he.stands high in his profession, and from a business and social point of view he is one of the most popular men in his county.
RSON GAGE, who will form the snb- ject of this review, is the present re- corder of Cherokee Connty, to which office he was elected in the autumn of 1884 by a unanimons vote, there having been 2,- 522 votes cast for him, and 2,561 was the total vote cast at that election. He served one term of two years, and was re-elected in the fall of 1886, and again in 1888, at which time his majority was 913 over J. W. Dywer, the Democratic opponent. None but a faith- fnl and capable officer conld possibly sustain such a reputation within a county where so many able and available men are to be found for such offices. Mr. Gage has been a resi- dent of Cherokee County since November 9, 1870. He is a native of Michigan, born September 29, 1843, in Branch County. He
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is the second son and third child of a family of seven children of Elias and Eliza (Vana- ken) Gage, natives of the State of New York. Elias Gage was born July 13, 1804, in Albany County, and was the son of William Gage, who was from New England, and of Puritan ancestry. The mother of Orson Gage is a native of Onondaga County, New York, and is the daughter of Cornelius Vanaker. Elias Gage was a farmer in New York until 1835, when he came to Michigan. It was there he married, in Lenawee County. He afterward settled in Branch County, Michigan, enter- ing a Government tract at an early day. It was timber land, and it was no light task to clear it and improve it. He remained there until his children grew to the age at which they needed better school facilities, when he sold his place and located near Coldwater, Michigan, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died December 25, 1875. He was a hard-working man, who served his county by filling numerons offices of trust and responsibility. He was the first assessor of Girard and Butler townships, Branch County, Michigan. In politics he was of the Free-Soil party, and later aided in organizing the Republican party. His widow remains upon the old homestead, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. The son, Orson Gage, was reared to the life of a farmer, and at- tended the schools common to that day. Ile remained with his parents until the dark war cloud of the Rebellion hovered between the North and South, threatening the destruction of our free institutions, when he said fare- well to home and friends, and enlisted in Company C, Nineteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was attached to the Third Division of the Twentieth Army Corps in the Army of the Cumberland. On Janu- ary 1, 1863, the regiment was stationed at Danville, and belonged to Colonel Cobnrn's
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