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 54
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
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In 1870 Mr. Henderson decided that Western Iowa offered better inducements to a farmer than the eastern part of the State, so he went to Cherokee Connty, having made a trip there the year before and selected a homestead of eighty aeres five miles nortli of the present flourishing eity of Cherokee. Upon this land he erected a house, under which was the first walled cellar in the county. IIe hanled his lumber from Denison, sixty-five miles away, and some of the material from Sioux City, sixty miles distant. He employed the slow bnt sure ox-team mode of transportation. The streams being nnbridged it frequently took from four to six yoke of oxen to pull him through the slouglis. He kept pushing his farmi improvements along and adding to his land until he new possesses 400 acres in an excellent state of cultivation. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Henderson was appointed to fill the office of county treasurer, succeeding D. T. Gearheart, the then incumbent of the office having become a defaulter. He was then nominated and elected to the office, served his term of two years, and was re- elected for another term, which he filled. He was elected on the Republican ticket, and there was never a better and truer county official than James Henderson. After quit- ting the treasnrer's office he remained a resi- dent of the city, having rented his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are the parents of seven children : James A., a resident of Chero- kee; Thomas G., a rising attorney of Sioux City; Howard C., druggist and postmaster of Newcastle, Colorado; Isabella, wife of William M. Snell, postinaster of Cherokee; Ida, wife of Frank HI. Thomas, a Ininber dealer of Dakota, and Ella L., wife of A. Baumgardner, a grocer of Cherokee; Rosilla Ann died in infancy. Mr. Henderson has been a member of the Republican party ever since its organization in 1856, and has been
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active in political matters through all these long and eventful years. However, in the fall of 1888 he voted the Prohibition ticket as a matter of conviction and principle. Be- sides filling the office of county treasurer he has served several years as justice of the peace, a member of the School Board, town- ship trustee, and in other minor offices. He is an honored member of the I. O. O. F., at Cherokee, and belongs to the Baptist Church. When he was a resident of Scotland he was identified with the Congregational Church, even from his early youth, but upon coming to this country he united with the Baptist Church. This truly estimable gentleman, now seventy years of age, man's allotted time, is in the full possession of all his faculties. He began life's journey with no means, but possessed the willing spirit found in so many of his countrymen; he has surmounted one obstacle after another, and is to-day enjoying the fruits of his labors. While he has seen much of hardship at varions times in his life, he has ever lived a true Christian, and hence in his declining years is surrounded by a family who love him, and a great community to revere his life work. Truly he hath builded well, bnilded worthily!
RTHUR W. BOWERS is a native of . the Hawkeye State, born January 23, 1860, in Jones County. His parents are William and Snsan (Davis) Bowers, the father a native of Ohio, of German ancestry, and the mother a native of Pennsylvania. They have six children living: Minda, wife of Williamn Bittinger; Arthur W., the sub- ject of this notice; Fannie, a teacher in Cherokee County; May, Elmer and Mand, the last three living in Jones County. Will- iam Bowers came to Jones County in 1854,
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
and is one of the early settlers there; he bought a farin, and there Arthur was reared to agricultural pursuits. He remained at home with his parents until 1882, when he went to Palo Alto County; after a short resi- dence there he removed to Carroll County, and engaged in farming. Not being fully satisfied with his location he went to Valley County, Nebraska, and pre-empted eighty acres of land belonging to the Government; it lies northwest of Grand Island, near the branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. He broke twenty-five acres, proved up his claim, and then returned to Iowa and spent some time in Cherokee, Carroll and Jones counties. In August, 1888, he came to Washita and opened a first-class livery stable, and has since been doing a profitable business. He owns fourteen head of horses, among them two stallions, one seven-eightlis Norman, the other a high-grade Clydesdale. The barn is well stocked with vehicles of various kinds, and the public are sure of fair and courteous treatment at the hands of the gentlemanly proprietor. Mr. Bowers was married Janu- ary 1, 1882, to Miss Emma Horu, of Jones County, Iowa. Three children have been born of this union: Harvey, Jessie and Blanche. Politically Mr. Bowers affiliates with the Republican party.
lumber interest. In 1871 he formed a co- partnership with Cyrus Snyder, who had hitherto been engaged in the coal trade. This firm built a large grain elevator that season, and also an office suitable for both branches of their business. At that day Cherokee was the central trading point of a territory having a radius of seventy-five miles, and the business interests were in- deed immense. The counties of Woodbury, O'Brien, Ida, Buena Vista and Osceola all did the most of their trading at Cherokee. To be fully equipped for business the above firm built a second grain elevator in 1872. Its size is 30 x 50 feet, 40 feet high, and the combined storage capacity of the two grain houses is 35,000 bushels. Steam-power is employed to propel the elevating machinery. The market outlets at an earlier day were Chicago and Milwaukee. Mr. Hobart is a native of Vermont, born in the town of Ran- dolph, Orange Conuty, March 24, 1819. His father was Caleb Hobart, an extensive manu- facturer of woolen goods in the "Green Mountain" State. His mother was Lydia (Packard) Hobart, a native of Massachusetts. She and her husband were of Puritan ances- try, the families coming to New England in 1634. Caleb E. P. is the oldest son and second child of a family of six who grew to maturity, five of whom are still living. His youthful days were passed at Randolph, Ver- mont, where he attended school, including the Randolph Academy, in which institution he was a student three years. After leaving school he drifted west to Wisconsin, and en- gaged in the real estate and lumber business, in which he continued until 1870, at which date lie removed to Cherokee, Iowa, estab- lishiing the business before meutioned. In 1854 Mr. Hobart was married to Miss Eliza Ann Tibbetts, a native of the State of Maine,
ALEB E. P. HOBART, the senior mem- ber of the well-known firm of Hobart & Snyder, dealers in grain and coal, Cherokee, Iowa, has been closely identified with the people and general business inter- ests of Cherokee County since 1870. He came to Cherokee when it was hardly worthy the name of hamlet, and put in a stock of lumber and building material, following that business for two years, when he dropped the : and a danghter of Alva Tibbetts, Esq. By
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
this union seven children have been born, four sons and three daughters: Lillie, the wife of N. C. Buswell, a merchant at Meriden, Cherokee Comty; Alva C., a practicing at- torney at Cherokee; Sarah, the wife of
-- , for seven years a teacher; Adda, also a teacher; Edwin A., associated in business with his father; Mark C., a student of the Iowa Agricultural College, Ames, Iowa; and Victor. Politically Mr. Hobart is a stanch Republican. He has been very active in local politics, and has often held offices of trust and responsibility. He has been a member of the School Board of the indepen- dent district of New Cherokee several years. He has been president of the Temperance Alliance, president of the Bible Society, and warden of the Episcopal Church, of which he was one of the charter members. He is a firm believer in and supporter of the prohibi- tory liquor laws enacted in Iowa during the past decade. To have been an honored citi- zen, a successful business man, and the father of a large and universally respected family in so goodly a county as Cherokee, is indeed worthy of notice in such a work as this. .
EORGE A. JOHNSON, dealer in gen- eral merchandise, Cherokee, Iowa, has been a resident of the county since 1871. He succeeded HI. A. Fife, and con- tinued the business at the original stand on West Main street. He was born in Canada, at the town of Colborne, May 2, 1842, and is the third of a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters. His father, John A. Johnson, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York. He was a manufacturer for many years, and finally sold his business interests and removed to Cherokee County. The mother of George A. Johnson, Eliza (Eddy)
Johnson, was a native of Canada, and died in that country in 1871. George A. passed his youthful days in the county in which he was born; he attended school at Norwood, Peter- boro County, and began his mercantile career in the county of Gray, where he served as a clerk three years. Ile then returned to Nor- wood, where he was variously engaged for the following three years. He again accepted a clerkship in Vassar, Michigan, remaining there three years, and npon leaving that place he went back to Canada and lived there three years. In the spring of 1871 he came to Cherokee, Iowa, and commenced business, as before stated. He remained in the old build- ing until his business had so greatly increased that he was compelled to provide larger and more spacions quarters; so in the year 1884 he began the erection of his present place of business, to which he moved in the autumn of the same year. The building is of brick, 28 x 96 feet, two stories high. The first floor, a portion of the second and the base- ment are used for the stock of goods, which consists of dry-goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats and caps, crockery, shelf hardware, etc. Three competent clerks are employed to at- tend to this stock and serve customers. Mr. Johnson was married January 2, 1871, to Miss Eliza Head, of Colborne, Ontario. She is the daughter of Henry Head, Esq. Both the Johnson and Head families are of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the par- ents of eight children: William R., Ellen M., Maude E., Hattie E., Beulah, Lottie C., Hazel and Henry H. In his political belief Mr. Johnson is a Republican, and has frequently been honored with public offices. He served six years as a member of the Cherokee School Board, and was township trustee for an eqnal number of years. At present he holds the responsible position of county supervisor, having been elected in the fall of 1888 for a
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term of three years. He belongs to the Ma- sonic order, being a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A. F. & A. M., and Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R. A. M., and also of Crnsade Commandery, No. 39, K. T.
ILLIAM JONES has been long iden- tified with the commercial interests of Cherokee, where he has established a merchant tailoring and gents' furnishing business second to none in the western part of the State. When a man comes into a new unsettled country and commences at the bottom of the ladder, but year by year presses his way onward and upward until his honest efforts are finally crowned with snecess, it is indeed fitting that mention should be made of such a life, not only as a matter of inter- est to his family, but as a beacon light to a younger generation, who need the experience of those who have passed along life's path- way to guide their steps aright. So we will ask the kind reader to let his thoughts bear him away across the deep blue sea to North Wales, and to the quaint little village in which Mr. Jones was born, August 3, 1844. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Davis) Jones. The father died when our subject was four years old, leaving a wife and eight small children; they soon removed from the little farm to the neighboring village, where William served an apprenticeship of five years at the tailor's trade. Afterward he went to Liverpool, England, where he worked at his trade for five years; thence he went to Man- chester, England, and there placed himself under fine workmen, of whom he learned still more of the details of his chosen calling; this last training has served him to a good purpose many a time through life. In read- ing and talking and thinking of America,
Mr. Jones concluded that the "land of the free and the home of the brave" must be a better place to live than any section he had seen in the Old World, so in 1871 he sailed for the United States. He came directly to Cherokee after landing, which was a village of a few inhabitants, bnt full of bustle and high hopes for the future. Mr. Jones had no competitor within a radius of sixty miles, but his customers were few and far between! However, he made np his mind to remain, hold the field, and perhaps conqner in the end as the broad trackless prairie settled up. Accordingly, he opened a little shop, taking the bench himself; under many ditconraging features he toiled on, working early and late when work chanced to come to him. Many are the nights he has toiled till after mid- night, and occasionally all the night! The second year he purchased a small stock of ready-made clothing, running that business in connection with his custom work; he was able to make a living, and also to save a small amount to invest in his business. He re- moved to his present spacious and elegant storeroom in the Vandercook Block in Octo- ber, 1884; the size of his salesroom is 24 x 90 feet, and his shop is on the second floor. He carries a complete stock of ready-made cloth- ing, gents' fine furnishing goods, hats, caps, trunks and valises. He employs from four to six men, and his custom business extends all over his own connty and some of the ad- joining counties, where his work is duly ap- preciated. Mr. Jones was united in marriage in the city of Liverpool, England, in 1870, to Miss Mary Roberts, a native of Wales, born near the old home of onr subject. They are the parents of four children: Jennie, Mamie, Annie and William E. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the or- der of Knights of Pythias, Xenophon Lodge,
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No. - , Cherokee, Iowa. Every true and ill- telligent American citizen has his choice of political parties, and Mr. Jones adheres to the Republicans, taking an active part in all local issues. From first to last he has proven himself worthy the name of a good citizen. Not like many another inan of foreign birth, having become a citizen of this country, he believes it his duty to pay a strict obedience to her laws, which he does more perfectly than inany native-born subjects. In all public en- terprises he does his share cheerfully. He owns a fine residence in what is known as the " Addition." The expression self-made man has never been more appropriately ap- plied than in the case of Mr. William Jones, who has not only worked his way up, but lias contributed to the support of his widowed mother across the sea. His greatest desire seems to be that his children may never be called upon to nndergo the hardships of his early life.
J. FOOTE stands classed among the successful business men of Cherokee, and therefore his biographical sketch readily finds place ir. this record of representa- tive men. He is a native of Ohio, born in Huron County, near Norwalk, February, 1851. He is the youngest of a family of six cliil- dren, four of whom still survive. His father, Moses R. Foote, is a native of New York, born in Wayne County, in 1812. He was an industrious, prosperous farmer in his active days, and is now living in Michigan. His wife was Mary Lockwood, a native of New York, and a daughter of Moses Lockwood. She died at Cherokee, Iowa, in 1875. In 1855 Mr. Foote removed with his parents to Clayton County, Iowa, where they resided for several years, and then went to Marion, Linn
County, Iowa. At the latter place Mr. Foote's school days were spent in preparation for the business life before him. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty- five years of age, and then started out as traveling salesman, handling among other things agricultural implements. In 1874 he came to Cherokee, which was thien a mere hamlet, and established his home. From this point he has traveled for various branches of business. He is a ready reader of human nature, of good address, an excellent conver- sationalist, and a person of fine bearing. In 1883 he married Miss Imogene K. Bird, who was born at Cedar Falls, Iowa, a daughter of James Bird, Esq. Her parents moved from New Jersey to Iowa at an early day, and to Cherokee in 1871. Mr. Foote has been a successful financier, and has accumulated a handsome competency. He owns valuable property in Council Bluffs, Iowa, as well as in his own town. In 1887 he erected his handsome residence, situated on East Main street; it is one of the finest in the place, being built after the most approved style of modern architecture; it is elegantly and tastefully furnished throughout. Not quite content with his surroundings, Mr. Foote has purchased the lots to the west of his place, upon which for long years lias stood the home of pioneer George W. Lebourvean. When the house is removed the grounds will be further improved, and the location will be one of the finest in the city. Mr. Foote is a member of Xenophon Lodge, No. 158, Knights of Pythiias; also Armory, Ingersoll Division, No. 20, U. R. K. of P., and of the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 197. Mrs. Foote is a member of the Episcopal Church. She grew to womanhood in Cherokee County, and was identified with the educational interests of the same for a number of years, having taught several terms. Politically Mr. Foote
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is a firm believer in the principles of the Re- publican party. Impelled by a robust consti- tution and guided by a sound judgment, he has steadily pressed his way to the front ranks of the leading men of the county.
OBERT GICK, a prominent hardware dealer at Clierokee, Iowa, succeeded Mil- lard Brothers in the business in 1880. Of Mr. Gick's earlier life, and that part of it lived away from this county, it may be said in introduction, that he was born on the Isle of Man, October 17, 1845. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Cain) Giek, both of whom were reared in the land in which their son was born. The father was a shoemaker by trade; he died in 1887, bnt the mother is still living, a resident of the Isle of Man. Robert is the second son and fourth child. His early boyhood and school days were spent in the land of his nativity. At the age of sixteen years he was placed as an apprentice at the blacksmith's trade, serving four years; after this he remained in the shop where he had mastered his trade for six months. He then worked for other parties until he was twenty-three years of age, when he sailed to America, and at once found his way to War- ren County, Illinois, where he spent one sum- mer. In 1871 he came as far west as Prairie City, Iowa, and in 1872, to Cherokee, where lie has since resided. The first six months he worked for some one else, and then started a shop of his own; he then followed black- smithing for eight years, when he sold the shop and bought the hardware business of Millard Brothers. Being well acquainted with hundreds of the citizens of the county, he easily won them for his patrons, and has built up a substantial and profitable business. On March 2, 1887, his store was burned, in-
volving him in a heavy loss. Considering the matter sufficiently, he finally concluded to rebuild, and erected a fine brick structure, 28 x 100 feet; the ground floor is used for his extensive stock, and the second floor for a tinshop and storing room. In 1872 Mr. Gick was married to Miss Lucy E. Lemons, a native of the State of New York, but reared in Buchanan County. By this union five children have been born: Lizzie, Rose, Earl, Royal and Hyel. Mr. Gick is a member of the Methodist Church, and for ten years lias been superintendent of the Methodist Epis- copal Sabbath-school. He has been a faith- ful and consistent member of the church since he was twenty-two years of age.
OBERT A. LEWIS, one of Cherokee County's excellent citizens and enter- prising business men, is the proprietor of the Green Hill Nursery and Apiary. " The man who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is a bene- factor of the race," and as one views the grounds and fields of the man of whom we are now writing, he is duly impressed with this trite saying. Mr. Lewis is a native of New York, born in Erie County, at the town of Concord, April 25, 1836. He is the fifth of a family of seven, and his parents were Oran and Nancy (Nichols) Lewis. The father was born in Vermont, May 11, 1803, and the mother was also born in the year 1803. Robert A. removed with his parents to Mc- Henry County, Illinois, in 1841. Ilis father was a millwright by trade, and followed that business in Illinois; in 1852 he reinoved to Independence, Iowa, where he spent the re- mainder of his days; his death occurred at Quasqueton, Iowa, in April, 1884. Robert attended the common schools, and also
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availed himself of the facilities found at Rock- ton and Belvidere. He then learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked several years. In 1863 he embarked in the mercantile business at Quasqueton, Iowa, continuing there until 1872, when he came to Cherokee; previous to this time he made a trip through the Territories, spending five months on the Columbia River. Upon his removal to Cherokee he worked at his trade, but in 1873 started what is known as the Green Hill Nursery, situated one-half mile south from the city of Cherokee. At first his attention was turned to the production of ornamental and fruit trees, but later he en- gaged extensively in growing small fruits in connection with the nursery business proper. His trade has always been large, and his prod- ucts have been among the choicest. Besides being extensively engaged in the nursery business Mr. Lewis has come to be one of the leading apiarists of the county. The location of his bees for the production of choice honey is excellent; he employs all the modern methods, using among other appliances the celebrated Root hives; one of the peculiari- ties of his plan is the protection given to bees during the severe winter months, when the top of the hive is removed, the top boxes of honey taken out, and a pillow of chaff put in their place; this at once equalizes the temperature and also absorbs the moisture. There are 100 hives. Mr. Lewis breeds from Italian becs and keeps bec-keepers' supplies for sale. His farm contains 133 acres, one-sixth of which is in timber and nursery. His nursery business is for sale. Mr. Lewis was united in marriage in 1859 to Miss Mary A. Firman, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Alva G. Firman. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have three daughters: Lnella, wife of W. P. Goldie, editor of the Cherokee Democrat; Carrie O. and Mertie E. In 1879 our subject erected
one of the finest residences in the county, upon the elevated ground across the Little Sioux River, south of the city. The location and arrangement of the grounds are truly beautiful, and the premises are the first ob- ject of attraction to the passenger who comes to Cherokee by rail from the East. Politi- cally Mr. Lewis is a stanch Republican, and is also a radical advocate of temperance, be- lieving in total prohibition. He was post- master at Quasqueton, Iowa, under General Grant's administration as President, from 1867 to 1872. He is a consistent member of the First Congregational Church of Cherokee. He is comfortably situated in a financial point of view, and has the respect and admiration of all his fellow-citizens. These with the blessings of a good family usually constitute happiness, and happiness is true success!
HARLES A. DURKEE, contractor and house-mover, Cherokee, Iowa, was born in Rutland County, Vermont, Angust 22, 1833, and is the son of Oel B. and Har- riet (Baird) Durkee, also natives of the State of Vermont. His father was a carpenter by trade, but in later years turned his attention to farming. In 1844 he removed with his family to Wisconsin, and remained there two years; he then went to McHenry County, Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his days. His death occurred in Cherokee, Feb- ruary, 1881. The mother had died when our subject was seventeen years old. Charles A. passed his school days in Vermont, Wiscon- sin and Illinois, and when he left school be- gan to work at the carpenter's trade. In 1853 he took a trip to California, where he spent seven years. It was there that he met with the serions accident which deprived him of his right hand and eye. In 1856 there
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