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 46
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horses; he has held the office of justice of the peace for four years, and for eight years has been a member of the School Board, six years serving as president. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. He is a zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, having held the office of treasurer and trustee, class-leader, and superintendent of the Sab- bath-school. Mr. Maltby was married May 7, 1873, to Miss Estella Fobes, daughter of G. M. and Emily (Blodgett) Fobes, natives of the State of New York. Mrs. Maltby was born in Yates County, New York, Feb- ruary 8, 1852. Five children have been born of this marriage: Arthur J., Harrison W., Adda, Lois and Marion.
OHN BRUCE ROWE, one of the most intelligent and enterprising farmers of Amherst Township, was born and reared in Cedar County, Iowa. His paternal ances- tors were German and English, dating back to the time of William Penn. His maternal grandfather, Andrew Crawford, was a native of Ireland, and is also known in the annals of the State of Iowa as the first settler of Cedar Connty. During the first years of his residence there the Indians held war dances but a few rods from his cabin door, and his life there was truly pioneer. Abram L. Rowe, the father of our subject, was an excellent mechanic, and was able to provide well for the wants of his wife and two small children, when death seized him after a long illness. Thus his widow was left with two young sons to support, and her little means was nearly exhausted after paying heavy doctor's bills and other attendant expenses. She after- ward married a farmer with some property. As John B. was the elder of the children, he was early inured to hard labor, with but
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little cessation excepting during the winter months, when he attended the district school. Naturally of a studions disposition, he thor- onghly appreciated even this small opportn- nity, and often struggled through two miles of snow rather than miss a day. His mother always encouraged this desire for knowledge in her children, and trained them to lives of temperance and usefulness. When Mr. Rowe was sufficiently advanced, he entered Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, working Satur- days and evenings to pay his incidental ex- penses. Ile was soon elected a member of the Amphictyon Society, and ranked with the highest students. In consequence of his high standing and his excellent habits he en- joyed the favor of all his instructors. Upon the death of his step father he remained on the farm to assist in the support of his mother and the children. He continued there two years, when he resigned his place to his younger brother, and came to Cherokee County, which was then beginning to attract attention from home-seekers. April 24, 1872, he settled on a quarter section of wild land, which he bought on five years' time, intend- ing to improve it and sell it; with the rise in value he would complete his college course. But these were hopes and aspira- tions never to be realized. The first crop was destroyed by grasshoppers, and the four years following the hardest labor of a life- time were spent in producing that which was harvested by those worse than pirates. When the grasshoppers swept over the land in great swarms, they appeared in the distance like a black thunder cloud, stretching ont for inany miles in either direction. Hard times ensued, and the poor pioneers could not for- sake their homes without dishonor and the certainty that their creditors would seize all they had left after the lavages of their in- numerable foe. They could not sell, for the
" hoppers" were the deadly "Upas tree" that made buyers pass by and through to lands beyond. So the settlers remained, working and hoping for a better day, which finally dawned. During these dark years of trial and privation Mr. Rowe "bached," did his farm work in the summer, and tanght school in the winter season. He was engaged in the profession of teaching twenty terms, and was very successful in his work. At the age of eighteen years he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and since that time he has been a zealous worker in the cause of his Master. He has served in an official capacity for many years, and to Sab- bath-school work he has given mneh time, thought and attention. For five years he was superintendent of two Sabbath-schools at the same time, and for five years he was either president or secretary of the Cherokee County Sabbath-School Association. Of this last duty he was relieved at his own urgent request. In politics he is a Republican Prohibitionist, and has often been elected to offices of trust which he has filled with an eye ever watch- ful for his country's highest good. His com- munity is enterprising, temperate, and has a high standard of morals, a character which Mr. Rowe has been one of the main factors in forming. March 7, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Gibson, near Farley, Dubuque County, Iowa, where she had grown to womanhood. She is a woman of accomplishments, social and domestic, is an excellent wife and mother, and is thor- onghly appreciated and beloved for her many virtues. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe are the parents of two children living: John Woodford and Wesley Newman. Mr. Rowe is a man of refined tastes and sensibilities, and a lover of all that is beautiful both in nature and art and literature. The influence for good which one such man has in a community can
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scarcely be measured, and those who come under his teaching and example may well count themselves among the favored.
OSEPH F. SHELDEN has been a resi- dent of Cherokee County since 1872. He was born in Madison County, New York, December 13, 1822. and is the son of Hezekiah H. and Sallie (French) Shelden, also natives of the State of New York. He is the second of a family of five children, three of whom survive, and are residing in Iowa. Our subject was reared to the life of a farmer and obtained his education in the common schools. When he had obtained his majority he secured employment in the woolen factory at Morrisville, New York. For six years he followed this business, and then took an ocean voyage on a whaling vessel; this occupied three years, after which he returned to the woolen factory. He then worked one summer at the mason's trade and again engaged in farming, which he pursned for five years in the State of New York. At that time the tide of emigration was to the West, and Mr. Shelden drifted to Lake Connty, Illinois, and was there engaged in farming for a period of nine years. In 1863 he removed to Bremer County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm which he cultivated until 1872, when he came to Cherokee County as before stated. He purchased a tract of 320 acres, partly from the railroad company and partly from private individuals. When he took possession of the land it was wild and untouched by the hand of civilization. There were only three fami- lies in the township, and two families in the village bearing the same name. The sur- roundings present to-day a vastly different view. What was wild, waste land is one of the finest farms in the county, and one of
the pleasantest homes in Western Cherokee County has sprung up where the Indian wig- wam was wont to stand. Mr. Shelden's farm lies one and a quarter miles from Marcus, in Marcus Township. He isa man who has al- ways taken an active interest in all enterprises tending to advance the welfare of the com- munity; he assisted in organizing the town- ship, and he was selected to serve as the first trustee. IIe has disposed of a portion of his land, and now owns the quarter section on which he lives, and two lots in the village of Marcus. Mr. Shelden was married January 1, 1850, to Miss Mary Yonmans, a daughter of William and Lydia (Shaw) Youmans, na- tives of the State of New York. Mrs. Shel- den is one of a family of nine children, and was born in New York, April 8, 1821. Their family consists of three children: Mary, at home, was born December 22, 1851; Mada- line, born January 22, 1853, was the first teacher in Marcus Township; she is now the wife of George Procter; the third child, Joseph HI., was born February 20, 1854. For many years Mrs. Shelden has been associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. When she and her husband started in life they had little of this world's goods with which to begin, but through perseverance and industry they have amassed a comfortable competence. He is a stanch Republican, and lias always supported the party since its organization.
A. S. PROSSER, Physician and Sur- geon, Marcus, Iowa, was born in Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada, Janu- ary 29, 1864, and is the son of H. C. and Ann E. (Wade) Prosser, natives of Canada and the State of New York respectively. Our sub- ject is the youngest of a family of six chil- dren, and was reared in the place of his
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nativity. He obtained his education in the graded schools of Ontario, and at the age of seventeen years entered the office of his bro- ther, W. O. Prosser, M. D., who is a graduate of McGill University, Canada; he also re- ceived his degree in Edinburgh and London, and is now practicing his profession in Le Mars, Iowa; he is probably one of the most thoroughly educated physicians in North- western Iowa. In 1885 C. A. S. Prosser entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, taking the regular course, and also a special course in chemistry and microscopic work. He was graduated with the class of 1887, and immediately thereafter located at Potsdam, New York. There he had practiced six monthis when he was called to take charge of his brother's practice during his absence in California; which lasted six months. In the spring of 1888 he came to Marcus and succeeded Dr. Alfred Raymond, and has since built np a substantial and profit- able practice. He is a competent practitioner, and his efforts have met with gratifying suc- cess. Dr. Prosser was united in marriage July 3, 1889, to Miss Clara Raymond, a daughter of James and Mary (Baker) Ray- mond, natives of Canada. Mrs. Prosser was born June 21, 1864. She and her husband are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically the Doctor casts his ballot with the Republican party.
and claim the fruits which the earth will yield to those who understand the secrets of agriculture. The subject of this sketch was an early settler of Cherokee County, and has been prominently identified with its history since the beginning of his residence here in 1869. He was born in Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, June 16, 1819, and is a son of Jesse and Olive (Spencer) Bailey, of English ancestry. He was only eight years old when he began the task of maintaining himself; he obtained his education in the district school which he attended a few months in the winter season. At the age of sixteen years he went to learn the joiner's trade, and served an apprenticeship of four years, after which he followed the business in his native State until 1859. Mr. Bailey was united in inarriage June 28, 1840, to Miss Lydia Ann Wells, a native of Middlesex County, Con- nectient. She was a daughter of William and Lydia Ann (Clark) Wells, of Welsh ancestry. By this union two children were born: Mary, the wife of John F. Potter, and Erastus E. Mrs. Bailey departed this life September 25, 1843. Mr. Bailey was again married Au- gust 18, 1844, to Miss Mary Jane Wells, a sister of his first wife. Three children were born of this marriage: Frances Leah, wife of Charles Stiles; Lydia Imogene, who died January 10, 1874, at the age of eighteen years, and Lura Estella, who died Jannary 15, 1874, at the age of nine years. In 1859 Mr. Bailey emigrated to Iowa with his famn- ily, and arrived at McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa, May 1, of that year. There he pur- chased forty acres of land and set about making at home on the frontier; he cultivated his land, and bought 160 acres adjoining, which he farmed until his removal to Chero- kee County in 1869. He first entered eighty acres of Government land, which he soon
RASTUS BOWEN BAILEY .- In pe- rusing the history of the early pioneers of Iowa, onr admiration is ever aroused, and we are impelled to pay that homage due to the. courage and bravery of those who un- dertook to redeem the wilderness and prairie from the state in which nature had left thein, afterward sold; he then purchased 320 acres
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of unimproved land in Silver Township, on which he settled and made many valuable improvements. In addition to those already accomplished, he mnade another purchase of 120 acres, and still another of 160 acres, in the same township; he bought 240 acres in Pitcher Township, and also owns eighteen acres of timber land along the Little Sioux River. He superintended the cultivation of these lands until he removed to Cherokee in 1876; he now rents the farms, but still at- tends to all the business connected with his estate. Politically he affiliates with the Demo- cratic party.
H. SHELDEN, of the firm of Shelden & Barnes, dealers in general merchan-
kind, and they are doing a thriving business. Mr. Shelden is a Republican, and has served as mayor of Marcus for four years; he lias also been justice of the peace for several terms. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Marcus Lodge, No. 359, and of the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 233. He has passed all the chairs of both orders, and has represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge of the State. Mr. Shelden was united in marriage February 2, 1881, to Miss Henrietta Weaver, a daughter of S. W. and Julia Weaver, who was born near Davenport, Iowa, October 10, 1860. The result of this union is one child, Joseph Leroy, who was born March 20, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Shelden are worthy members of the Christian Church, and are among the most respected citizens of the county.
O dise, Marens, Iowa, is a native of the - ILLIAM P. GOLDIE, Editor of the Cherokean-Democrat, Cherokee, Iowa, is a native of Canada, born in 1856. He is a son of Richard and Catherine (Pirie) Goldie. His grandfather on his mother's side was an old newspaper man, as is also his father, and at the early age of eight years he entered his father's printing office. He obtained a limited education in the com- mon schools of his native place, and on com- pleting his trade he removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where he remained until 1874, when he came to Cherokee, Iowa. He obtained positions on various Cherokee papers, and for three years was editor and co-proprietor of the Cherokee Free Press. After that time he was absent from the city for a period of two years. In December, 1878, he started his paper, the Cherokean-Democrat, and has met with a gratifying degree of success. Mr. Goldie is a self-educated man, acquiring much old Empire State, born in Madison County, February 20, 1854. He is a son of J. F. and Mary Shelden, and is the youngest of a family of three children. When he was ten months old his parents removed to Lake County, Illi- nois, and resided there for ten years; they then came to Iowa, settling in Bremer County, where they made their home until 1872, when they came to Cherokee County. Mr. Shelden was reared to the life of a farmer, and continued in this avocation until his twenty-third year, when he embarked in the general mercantile trade. He purchased an interest in a stock of goods in Marcus, and did business under the firm name of Weaver & Shelden for two years; and under the firm name of J. F. Shelden continned in business until May 26, 1888, when F. S. Barnes, of the Citizens' Bank, entered into partnership with Mr. Shelden. They carry a stock of $8,000, and their annual sales amount to $20,000. Their stock contains everything that will be found in a general store of this : of his information by the careful perusal of
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books, and from close observation. He was united in marriage in September, 1879, to Miss Lulu M. Lewis, a danghter of R. A. Lewis, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work.
EV. JAMES T. SAUNDERS, Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church of Chero- kee, Iowa, was born in Ireland, in March, 1843. He remained in his native country until he was nine years old when he sailed for American soil, landing in the city of New Orleans. From that city he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and thence to La Fayette County, Wisconsin. There he commenced his school career; he first entered St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, beginning his pri- inary course of study ; then he went to Toronto, Canada, where he took a full course of study, remaining in school for seven years. At the expiration of that time lie returned to Milwaukee, finishing his full course in two years, and received minor orders, sub-deacon- ship and deaconship, on March 17, 1887. That same year, August 15, he was ordained priest by Bishop Hennessy. of Dubuque, and was sent to Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, where he took charge of his first congrega- tion: there he remained ten years, locating there in 1877, and in 1887 coming to Chero- kee to enter upon his duties as pastor of the congregation of the Immaculate Conception. His parish is composed of sixty families, and besides the work in Cherokee he also serves the people of a church organization whose building is situated in Sheridan Township. This church numbers about forty families, and the language spoken is the German. Father Saunders is a gentleman of the true type, and has always the respect of the entire community, whether of his church or not.
He is a diligent reader, and is a well-informed man, being ever alive to the best interests of his church.
HARLES B. HUXFORD, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Cherokee, Iowa, was born in New Albany, Indiana, May 7, 1860. His father, Frederick W. Huxford, who was a successful business man, was a native of the State of Michigan, born in the year 1829, a son of Samuel Huxford, a native of Massachusetts. Samuel Huxford is descended from an English family, and is still living at the age of eighty-three years; the summer of 1889 lie made a visit to Chero- kee, Iowa. Frederick W. Huxford married Mary B. Bothwell, a daughter of William and Catherine (Thompson) Bothwell. She was a native of Michigan, her father having removed there from New Hampshire at an early day. Soon after his marriage, which occurred in 1859, Mr. Huxford removed to New Albany, Indiana, where he engaged in the manufacture of furniture, and remained there until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the service of his country. On the organization of his company he was elected First Lieutenant, and was a faithful soldier for two years and eight months; his regiment belonged to the Army of the Ten- nessee. On receiving his discharge he re- moved to Boonesborongh, Iowa, and engaged in mercantile business in 1866; he also dealt largely in real estate. In the spring of 1872 he came to Cherokee, and opened a stock of goods in an old log house, in the old town of Cherokee; there he remained a number of years, and after the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad he moved his business to the new town, remaining there six years. He then sold out and turned his attention to
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farming; he became largely interested in lands, and at one time owned 1,800 acres. On December 17, 1885, he passed from his earthly career, having lead a life of active usefulness, much beloved and respected by all who knew him. He had no political aspi- rations, but was a stanchi adherent to the principles of the Democratic party. His family consisted of three children: Charles B., Edward D., Cashier of the Cherokee State Bank, and Clayton W., who died in 1887, in his twenty-second year. Charles B. was but two years of age when his parents removed to Michigan, where he lived with his Grand- father Bothwell until he was fourteen years old. In 1874 he came to Cherokee and en- tered the public schools, where he pursued his studies for three years. On leaving school he began his business career as a farmer, and to this occupation he has devoted his whole time and attention. As a stock-raiser he has met with more than ordinary success; he feeds from fifty to 125 head of cattle annu- ally, and his hogs are of the Poland-China breed. Of late years he has given some at- tention to the breeding of fine horses, in which enterprise he has been prosperous. In Jannary, 1886, Charles B. Huxford was united in marriage to Miss Alice Jillison, a daughter of Franklin Jillison, Esq. Mrs. Huxford was born in the State of Connecti- ent, and before her marriage was one of the successful teachers of Cherokee. Mr. Hnx- ford is a member of Xenophon Lodge, No. 158, K. P.
LOYD DENISON YAW is the proprie- tor of the largest livery barn in Chero- kee, Iowa, and is also a prominent horse dealer. To acquaint the reader with his earlier life it will be necessary to review his 33
career in the regular order of a biographical sketch, beginning with his birth, which oc- curred June 17, 1836, at Brookfield, Madison County, New York. His father, Samuel Yaw, was a native of the same State, born in 1808, of French and Irishi extraction. Lenra Denison, his mother, was born in the State of New York, and was a daughter of Nathan Denison. Mr. Yaw is the third son and fourth child in a family of five. His educa- tional advantages were limited, being con- fined to the common schools which were not then up to the grade of to-day, and he early began to rustle for himself! Impelled by that desire to "go west," which has seized so many of our bravest and most courageous youth, he drifted into the tide, and took hold of anything his hands conld manage. He drove cattle and handled horses whenever he could get an opportunity. Coming to Iowa, he lo- cated in Delaware County, buying and selling stock. In 1863 lie bonghit horses for the United States Government, furnishing 600 at one time. He continued in this business of buying and selling horses until 1875, his principal points being Chicago, Omaha and New York; at that time the " bottom seemed to be completely knocked out " of the mar- ket, and to use Mr. Yaw's own language, he "was financially busted." But such men can not be down long. He came to Cherokee and formed a partnership with C. A. Dow, and engaged in the manufacture of brick. A year's experience in this business proved to be unprofitable, and not suited to his tastes, so he sold out, and in 1876, the great Cen- tennial year, he embarked in the livery bnsi- ness in a modest way. His stable was on the corner opposite the railroad station; he was reasonably prosperous in this undertaking, and continued in the business until 1882, when he removed to Huron, Dakota, at which place he run a livery business two years; at the
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end of this time he sold out and returned to Cherokee, purchasing the livery stock then owned by G. W. Hodgins. He remained at the old stand, but made many improvements, and now has one of the best arranged barns in the State; he has a side-hill basement, aud uses that together with the first floor proper; the most of the teams are kept below, the carriages above. Mr. Yaw being a first-class judge of horses, keeps the best animals for his livery. In connection with this branch, he also conducts another extensive business, that of buying and selling horses; he goes as far west as Montana, and ships to the Atlan- tic Coast; he also operates a breeding barn, raising trotting and running animals. Mr. Yaw was married September 16, 1859, to Miss Ella Hamlin, a native of Massachusetts; she is the daughter of Paris and Susan (Gott) Hamlin, and her father was for many years a practicing physician, but in later years re- tired to his farm. The Hamlins trace their family history back to three brothers who came over from England, each settling in a different State. Mrs. Yaw is a distant con- nection of the Hon. Hannibal Hamlin. Susan Gott, her mother, lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years, and seemed active in both mind and body. Mr. and Mrs. Yaw are the parents of ten children, only three of whom are living: Ida W., wife of Dr. A. H. Bailey, veterinary surgeon at Spokane, Wash- ington Territory; Wendell and Gertrude.
A. RISLEY, one of Cherokee's active business men, was born in East Wind- sor, Hartford County, Connecticut, April 22, 1830. His father, Joshna Risley, was a native of the same State, born in Octo- ber, 1800. His father was Timothy Risley, of English descent, and his great-gandfather
was one of twenty who originally bought the township of Hartford. The mother of our subject was Betsey Crane, a native of East Windsor, Connecticut, and a daughter of Ru- fus Crane; she was the inother of thirteen chil- dren, ten of whom lived to maturity, and is herself living at the ripe old age of seventy- nine years. The Crane family were of Eng- lish ancestry. Mr. Risley is the oldest of his family, and liis early years were spent in at- tending school at East Windsor Hill Acad- emy. His father was a carriage and plow maker by trade, and he worked at that busi- ness and went to school nntil the fall of 1855. He then removed to Wisconsin and worked at his trade at Platteville, where lie remained until the following July. He was then mar- ried to Miss Sarah Nye, and after his mar- riage he went to Minnesota, where he pre- empted 160 acres of land near Plainview. In April of the following year he returned to Platteville, and soon after went to Rockford, Illinois, at which place he remained two years. He then returned to Platteville, Wis- consin, where he remained till the spring of 1864, then returned to the home of his child- hood in Connecticut, remaining there six years. In the month of June, 1870, he came to Cherokee, Iowa, and in company with his brother-in-law built a store. He sold his in- terest in that property the same year and went to Sergeant Bluff, Woodbury County, Iowa; there he engaged in the live-stock business, and at the same time kept the City Hotel at Sergeant Bluff, where he remained seven years. In the spring of 1876 he came back to Cherokee, and again formed a part- nership with Mr. Nye in the general mercan- tile trade, which continued four years. Au- gust 8, 1878, Mrs. Risley died; she was a . devoted Christian, a meinber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1880, Mr. Risley mar- ried for his second wife Mrs. Stowe, whose
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