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 52
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sively, and has been very prosperous. He and his wife are the parents of two sons: John William, born October 9, 1868; and Charles W., born February 20, 1870. Both sons re- side at home, assisting their father during the summer, and operating a steam thresher dur- ing the autumn. Mr. Bunn affiliates with the Republican party, and is a member of Gen- eral Geddis Post, No. 423, Holstein, Iowa. Mr. Bunn is a man of high integrity of character, and much respected by a wide cir- cle of acquaintances in the county.
ATHAN H. HAYES is an early and well-known settler of Pilot Township. He was born in Washington Connty, New York, near Granville, Jannary 27, 1836, and is a son of Jonathan and Abigail (Bnrton) Hayes, natives of the State of New York. Nathan H. was six months of age when his parents removed to Crawford County, Penn- sylvania, where they lived seven years, at the expiration of that period of time they
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came to the Territory of Iowa, and settled in Clinton County, being among the early set- tlers of the county; there they lived seven years, and then removed to Poweshiek County, Iowa; there our subject remained until he was nineteen years of age. He received his education in the common schools, and early became accustomed to farm labor. His mother died in Clinton County, Iowa, and the father still lives, residing in Clinton County. Mr. Hayes removed from Poweshiek County to Harrison County, where he spent two years with an older brother, Sanford. The spirit of youth was still restless within him, and lie determined to go to Pike's Peak in search of gold; he spent two years in the West, en- gaged in mining and prospecting. He then returned to Harrison County, Iowa, and shortly after went to Clinton County, spend- ing three years in the latter county; he then returned again to Harrison County, settling near Dunlap. In 1869 he came to Cherokee County, and took out a homestead of eighty acres, which he has since made his home. He has been successful in his undertakings, and as his means would permit he has invested in land until he now owns 200 acres in a high state of cultivation. The first cabin, con- structed of logs, sod, and slabs, has long since disappeared, and in its place is a fine frame residence, situated on a natural building site; the plan of the house is modern, and one of the chief attractions of the place is the natural grove surrounding the house, a rare luxury in Iowa. Another of the improve- ments is a large barn; the farm is divided into fields, each of which is well supplied with water. Mr. Hayes was nnited in mar- riage November 22, 1875, to Mrs. Catherine Sheldon, widow of Iram Sheldon. She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Catlin) El- lis, and was born in Muskingum County, Ohio. By her first marriage six children
were born to her: William T., Francis M., Sarah A., Nelson V., Joseph O. and James (). Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have one daughter, Lulu E., born May 5, 1876. Mr. Hayes be- longs to the Democratic party, and has served his township officially as trustee, and as a member of the School Board. He and his wife are honored members of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, Mr. Hayes having served as a teacher of the same. He is a man still in the prime of life, and is one of Chero- kee Connty's solid citizens.
HOMAS SCURLOCK, one of the hardy pioneers, came to Cherokee County in May, 1863, at which time he entered eighty acres of land as a homestead upon which he still resides. He was born in Jackson County, Ohio, December 22, 1816, and is a son of William and Sarah (Humphrey) Scurlock, early settlers of Jackson County; the father served in the War of 1812; the parents were natives of North Carolina. Thomas spent liis youth in assisting his father to clear and im- prove a timbered farm. He was married September 23, 1838, to Julia Perkins, a na- tive of Gallia County, Ohio, and a daughter of Erastus Perkins, a native of Connecticut. Some three years after his marriage Mr. Scur- lock removed to the Territory of Iowa, settling in Jackson County, where he was one of the first settlers. In 1856 he went to Humboldt County, settling on the Des Moines River; at that time Humboldt County had but few set- tlers, and those who were there had to un- dergo many privations and hardships. In 1863 Mr. Scurlock came to Cherokee County, and found it as sparsely settled as the county he had left, there being only seven voters in the county. He has been a resident of Iowa for nearly fifty years, and has witnessed the
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growth and development of one of the best States in this grand Union. He has lived a life of honesty and fair dealing, and has won the confidence and esteem of all whom he has met. Politically his sentiments are voiced by the Republican party. He has served as supervisor of the county for four years, ac- quitting himself with much credit. Mr. and Mrs. Scurlock have ten children living: Jas- per, Levi, Newton, Scott, William, George, Henry, Mary, Thomas and Susan; they have lost three children: Frank died at the age of twenty-eight years; Erastus, at the age of fourteen months; and John, at the age of three years.
A. PHIPPS, one of the farmers of Cherokee Township, has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1858. He was born at Milford, Massachusetts, February 12, 1847, and is a son of Albert Phipps, Esq., one of the prominent and well-known pioneers of Cherokee County. A lad of eleven years when he came to the State, he has witnessed the growth of the county from its infancy. He attended the first school in the county, taught by Mrs. Lemuel Parkhurst. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority. Mr. Phipps was married in Janu- ary, 1877, to Miss Victoria Wheeler, a daugh- ter of Daniel Wheeler, of Afton Township. In 1868 he took a homestead of Government land, which he improved and now owns. In 1873 he came to his present farm, which con- sists of 340 acres of well-improved land; there are two dwellings, barns, groves and numer- ous other improvements, indicating the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Mr. Phipps devotes himself to general farming, and has been uniformly successful in this industry.
He and his wife have one daughter, Erma D., born in June, 1878. Mr. Phipps adheres to the principles of the Republican party. By a life-long practice of the strictest princi- ples of integrity and honesty he has secured an enviable position in the county.
ENRY L. PHIPPS, an intelligent and enterprising farmer of Cherokee Town- ship, has been a resident of Cherokee County since early childhood. He was born at Milford, Massachusetts, May 17, 1854, and is a son of Albert Phipps, Esq., a prominent and widely known pioneer, whose biography appears on another page of this volume. Brought up in a pioneer country he has many vivid recollections of the privations and hard- ships endured in those early days. He at- tended the first school in the county in the summer of 1858, which was presided over by Mrs. Lemuel Parkhurst. His youth was spent in assisting his father to cultivate the home farm. In 1878 he settled on his pres- ent farm, which now consists of 200 acres of finely improved land. Mr. Phipps has erected a good residence, which is attractively situ- ated on a natural building site, surrounded by shade and ornamental trees; there are barns, cribs, and sheds, and all the conveniences for carrying on farming in good style. Devoting his whole time to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Phipps lias made a marked success, and his efforts have been deserving of the success with which they have met. He was married April 19, 1877, to Miss Emily Thompson, daughter of Henry and Marintha (Wheeler) Thompson, the inother being a daughter of Daniel Wheeler, of Afton Township. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phipps: Florence M., Albert V., Charles T., Homer G. and Ben Harrison. Politically
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our subject adheres to the principles of the Republican party. He and his wife are con- sistent members of the Adventist Church, and are among the most highly respected families in the community.
LEXANDER FRASER, dealer in grain and live-stock, Aurelia, was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, November 19, 1848. His parents, James and Isabel (McMillen) Fraser, were both born in Nova Scotia; they settled in Wisconsin as early as 1843, and in 1859 removed to McGregor, Iowa, where they made their home until 1887; at that time they went to Peterson, Clay County, Iowa, where the father passed the remainder of his days, his death occurring December 24, 1888, at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow still makes her home at Peterson. The family consisted of nine sons, of whom Alex was the third. They are: Hugh, William, James, Jacob, John, Charles, George and Henry. Alexander was educated in the common schools, and in the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette. He came to Cherokee County in 1871, his brothers Hugh and William having taken homesteads there in 1869. He first bought 160 acres of land one and a half miles south of Aurelia, which he farmed for four years, when he removed to Anrelia and engaged in the grain and live. stock business. He is one of the most ex- tensive shippers of grain and live-stock in the county, his annnal shipments running from seventy-five to 100 car-loads. He is also interested with his brother John in the grain business at Calumet, Iowa. Mr. Fraser has two fine farins in Pitcher Township; one is located one and a half miles south of An- relia, and contains 240 acres; the other is four miles southeast of Aurelia, and contains
360 acres. This latter place he devotes to stock-growing. He has at different times handled real estate, dealing mainly in farm property. In 1884 the Farmers and Mer- chants' Bank was organized with Mr. Fraser as vice president, which office he held until he disposed of his interest in the business at the end of one year. Politically Mr. Fraser is identified with the Republican party, and has held several village and township offices. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, including Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R. A. M., and Crnsade Commandery, No. 39, K. T. Mr. Fraser was inarried at Prairie dn Chien, Wisconsin, November 14, 1869, to Miss Mary F. McWilliams, a native of the State of Pennsylvania. Five children have been born of this marriage: Zelda, Artlınr, Gilbert, Earl and Avo.
ILLAM CLARK MARSH, Postmas- ter of Aurelia, was born in Clinton County, New York, near Plattsburgh. March 31. 1841, and is the fourth of six children of Lyman and Polly (Comstock) Marsh, both of whom were born in Massachu- setts, their ancestors being among the Pil- grim Fathers. In 1849 the family removed to Wisconsin, and the father entered land in Fond du Lac County, where he resided a number of years. Lyman Marsh died in 1884, in Douglas County, Dakota, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife still lives, making her home in Douglas County, Da- kota. William C. Marsh attended the district school, and afterward entered the Lawrence University at Appleton, intending to finish the course; but at the end of the second terin le laid down his Euclid and Lindley Murray to answer to his country's call. Angust 15, 1862, he enlisted at Ripon, in Company B,
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Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and September 25 he was sworn in at Osh- kosh under Colonel Howe, and joined Sher- man's forces at Memphis, Tennessee. In a few weeks he was attacked with typhoid- pneumonia, and was placed in a hospital at Oxford, Mississippi, and soon after was trans- ferred to the Sixth Street Hospital at Keokuk, where he arrived January 6; he suffered a relapse, and February 22, 1863, he was hon- orably discharged without having participated in any battle. He returned to his home, and the following fall entered the Bryant & Stratton Business College, taking a complete course, and receiving a diploma upon gradna- tion. Having a strong desire to return to the scenes of war, he hired to the Govern- ment as a laborer, but became forage clerk to the Assistant Quartermaster, W. W. Weth- erel, to Sherman's army. Returning home in 1864, he obtained an appointment as clerk in commissary to a construction corps in North Carolina. At the close of hostilities he returned to Wisconsin, and engaged in farming until 1875, teaching during the win- ter seasons. In October, 1875, Mr. Marsh came to Iowa and embarked in the grain and coal business at Aurelia, Cherokee County, continuing one winter. In 1876 he erected the first hotel and for two years was a popu- lar host. Then for one year he was employed in the store of Wharton & Reynolds, and Wharton & Burnskill. For two years, dating from 1882, he was buying grain at Meriden, Iowa, with J. W. Burnskill. Since 1884 he has resided in Aurelia, and has devoted the most of his time to the grain trade. In 1886, assisted by J. T. McCall and Alex. Fraser, he opened a bank at Holstein, Ida County, Iowa, acting as cashier until the business was sold six months later. He was recently appointed postmaster, his commission bearing the date May 23, 1889. Mr. Marsh has been a popu-
lar man, and has been of great benefit to his county. He was a member of the Board of County Supervisors, and during his term the Poor Farm was purchased and improved. He has also served as township clerk and treasurer, and a large part of the time he has resided in Aurelia has been a member of the School Board. Mr. Marsh was married March 15, 1871, in Green Lake County, Wisconsin, to Miss Frances Hubbard, a native of the State of New York. The family consists of Edith Luella, Winifred, William C. and Ethel. Mr. Marsh 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.
NTHONY COTTINGHAM, of the firm of Cottingham & Grne, undertakers and dealers in furniture, Aurelia, was born in Yorkshire, England, October 15, 1829, and is the son of Anthony and Jane (Hunt) Cottingham. His father was a miner, and died when he was a boy ten years of age. His early years were passed in the laborious work of mining. July 6, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Harker, and emigrated to America the following year. Ile was accompanied by two brothers, John and Miles. His mother and brother Timothy had come to America the previous year. Ile settled in La Fayette County, and resumed labor in the mines of that State, and con- tinued in this work until , six years had gone by. He then purchased land and began farming. In 1881 he decided to migrate to Iowa, and he invested in lands and still owns one fine farm in Sionx County, near Calliope. Not caring to continue agricultural pursuits, soon after coming to Aurelia he secured an interest with Charles Grue in their present
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business, and has since given his attention to the demands of the store. Mr. Cottingham and wife have an interesting family of three daughters: Mary Jane, wife of T. J. Mur- phy, the efficient railroad agent at Aurelia; Margaret Elizabetlı and Emma Adeline. Margaret is at present conducting a millinery store, and Einma is still at home. A niece, Miss Isabel Harker, now Mrs. Reuben How- ells, has been a member of the family from her eighth year, when her mother died. Mr. Cottingham has a delightful home, and hav- ing the respect and confidence of a large cir- cle of friends, he takes life easily and gets a large share of enjoyment where many men would find only vexation and unrest. Twenty- nine years ago he embraced the Christian religion, and became connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a strong supporter. Politically he casts his ballot with the Republican party, and has ever been alive to the great questions before the American people. He appreciates the right of every American to cast his vote, and has never neglected to attend to this first great duty of all loyal citizens. To such men as the subject of this review the country owes much, and while we receive annually thousands of foreigners to our shores, no plea will ever be made that we are receiving too many of this stamp and mold of men, but we will ever have room for such. Charles Grue, of the firm of Cottingham & Grue, Aurelia, was born in Norway, July 28, 1847. He is a son of Christian and Oleana (Sorenson) Olson. He took the name of the county in which he was born, bade farewell to his native clime, and sailed away to the New World, ar- riving in Chicago, that typical American city, June 24, - . He liad served an appren- ticeship of five years at the cabinet-maker's trade in Christiania, Norway, and after com- ing to this country he worked at the business
in Chicago for three years. Desirous of see- ing yet more of this land, he went to Utah, and for some time worked at his trade in Salt Lake City. One summer he assisted in build- ing a quartz mill, remaining in the Territory in all three years. He then journeyed toward the east, and settled in Cherokee County, Iowa. His brother, Martin Christianson, was then at Alta, and he remained there six months, after which he came to Aurelia in 1877. There he opened the pioneer furni- ture store of the place, and has since con - tinned in the business, having disposed of a part of his interest to Mr. Cottingham. They are agents and manufacturers of the Mitchell Washing Machine. Mr. Grae was married at Christiania, Norway, August 15, 1869, to Miss Anna Johnson. Three children born of this union are living: Fanny, Lizzie and Sophia. One died at the age of two years. Mr. Grue was a member of the town council for eleven years. In church matters he has always taken an active interest. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, of which he was secretary and treasurer for twelve years. For six years he was prominently connected with the Missionary Society.
ETER WESLEY DINGMAN was born Christinas day, 1833, in Middlebury, Wyoming County, New York. His parents were Henry and Catherine (Vader) Dinginan, descendants of early Dutch settlers on the Mohawk. In 1857 they emigrated from New York to Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, where the father died the follow- ing year. His widow is still living, at the age of ninety years. At the age of sixteen years the subject of this notice entered the office of the Attica Atlas as an apprentice. The editor of the Atlas was Silas Folsom, a
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brother of Mrs. Grover Cleveland's grand- father. His health failing after one year of type-setting, he returned to the farmn and at- tended school for a time. He then entered a bakery at Rushford to learn the trade, and remained there nearly two years. After working at his trade at Jamestown one snm- iner he returned to Batavia, and entered the employ of a firm with whom he remained three years. In the fall of 1856 he was sent to Chicago by his employers as foreman in a steam bakery. He occupied this position for two years, and the following two years were spent in Janesville, Wisconsin, as foreman in a bakery. January 1, 1859, Mr. Dingman was married in Winnebago County, Wiscon- sin, to Miss Ellen Folly. His father having died the year before, he went to Fond du Lac Connty and purchased the home farmn, adding forty acres to it. After two years he sold this place, and the next two years farmned in another portion of the county. He then re- moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and for a year and a half was engaged in the wholesale and retail bakery and confectionery business. During this time he was twice burned, and having no insurance he was $1,000 behind. In the spring of 1866 he came to Sac City, Iowa, and took a homestead near that place. He next accepted a position as cook to a party of surveyors locating the Northwestern Railroad, which was pleasant and profitable employment. The following season he was eook on the steamer Lincoln, plying on the Fox River. He next conducted a bakery and restaurant, and in 1871 resnmed farmning, which he continued until 1876, when he re- moved to Buena Vista County, Iowa, and bought a farm upon which he lived for eight years. Since his residence in Aurelia he has been engaged in handling real estate, loans and insurance. Having a natural gift of language, he is widely known as a forcible
and genial anctioneer. During the past three years he has had charge of the city scales. Politically Mr. Dingman is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of Maple Lodge, No. 495, I. O. O. F. His family consists of Julia A., wife of A. A. Reed; Estella Maria, wife of Nel- son Sighn; Cora Elcie, wife of T. B. Parker; Clara May, wife of H. K. Leonard; Arthur and Leon.
OBERT T. MCCREADY, breeder of pure Clydesdale horses and Polled An- gus cattle, Cherokee, Iowa, is probably as widely known as any man in Northwestern Iowa. His beautiful farm of 960 acres lies in Diamond and Silver townships, .eleven miles southeast of the county seat of Cherokee County, and the reward of a life of hard strug- gles and hardships, coupled with intelligence and determination. Robert T. McCready was born in the old historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, June 19, 1844. His parents were Robert and Jane (Mathews) McCready. His father was born at Paisley, in the Ilighilands, August 29, 1800. The father of Robert, Sr., was a Presbyterian minister, and the mother lived to the advanced age of 104 years. Robert McCready, Sr., was a stocking and silk weaver by trade, and determined to emigrate to America in 1849. After arriving in the United States he settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he conducted his business for three years; he then engaged in farining in Sauk County, Wisconsin, until 1865, when he met with financial reverses; he at once returned to his trade, working in Fayette Connty, Wisconsin. The latter years of his life were passed in Cherokee County, where he died July 16, 1882. His wife had died in 1859, and he had never re-married. His
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family consisted of seven children: Elizabeth and Anna died in childhood; William died at the age of fifteen years; John died in Califor- nia, aged thirty-one years; Albert W. resides in Madison, South Dakota, and George died in infancy. Robert T., the subject of this notice, enlisted in his country's service Sep- tember 9, 1861, in the Sixth Wisconsin Light Artillery. His command was sent to St. Louis, and soon joined General Rosecrans at Cairo; he participated in the action at Island No. 10, and at Corinth, where he was wounded in the right hand by a minie-ball. He was sent to St. Louis, where he was discharged in April, 1863, the surgeon in charge not cou- sidering him able for further service. Not content to remain inactive, he secured ein- ployment with the Government as mule driver, and while thus engaged was taken ill at Nashville, Tennessee, and was compelled to give up this work. He returned to Mc- Gregor, Iowa, and found work in Clayton County, but his health was so shattered he was not equal to the demands upon his strength. and was dismissed with only ten cents in his pocket. A few months afterward he secured a position as fireman on the Mil- waukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad, which he held for nearly two years. Mr. McCready was married at Postville, Iowa, October 6, 1867, to Miss Arvilla Dresser, a native of Woodstock, Ohio. She was born February 18, 1843, and is a dangliter of Calvin and Sarah (Hawkins) Dresser. Mr. McCready spent one year working for his father-in-law, and then decided to seek a home in Cherokee County. Accordingly, in the spring of 1869 he set out on foot, and finding a suitable loca- tion he entered eighty acres of land in Pilot Township, and that summer brought his wife and baby, driving from Postville with two yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows. For three months they lived in the wagon, and by that
time a sod shanty had been erected which served as a dwelling for six years. In the year 1875 he removed to his present beautiful tract of land, which is one of the finest farms in the county; about one-half of the 960 acres is seeded to grass. Mr. McCready makes a specialty of stock-growing; he keeps 150 head of cattle, aud feeds from two to five car-loads annually. He breeds the finest grades of cattle, and makes a marked success of breed- ing fine-blooded horses. He has two comino- dious barns and other farm-buildings; his residence, now in process of erection, will add much to the beanty and attractiveness of the farın. The family consists of Albert W., Rosilla May, wife of John Klein, and Lucy Jane, wife of Thomas Klem.
HERON SHELL was born in the vil- lage of Tonawanda, Erie County, New York, March 30, 1839. His father, John Shell, was born in 1795, of German an- cestry; his mother, Catherine (Wire) Shell, was born in 1804, and was of Welsh origin. John Shell died in 1863, and his widow, twenty-two years after. They were the par- ents of seven sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity. Theron remained at home until the age of eighteen years work- ing on the farm, and at times at the carpen- ter's trade. In 1858, in company with two other boys, he started across the plains in quest of a life more exciting than that fur- nished in his native town. They went as far west as Fort Kearney, when he came back to St. Louis; there he met a party organized for a hunting expedition to the wilds of Arkan- sas; he joined them and after some weeks of rough life he was attacked with swamp fever, and was brought back as far as Memphis, where his brother Jacob met him, and took
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