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 61
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Southern Iowa Normal College, Bloomfield, Iowa, and was graduated in the commercial course of this institution in 1882. After leaving school Mr. Whisman taught several terms of school in Cherokee and Woodbury connties. He went into business with his father in the fall of 1886, at the old town of Washta, and when the new town was located on the Cherokee & Dakota branch of the Illinois Central Railroad, the store was moved and was one of the first in the place. Mr. Whisman was married July 16, 1884, to Miss Lizzie F. Minnis. at Minburn, Dallas County, Iowa. Mrs. Whisman is a daughter of Will- iam and Frances (Merritt) Minnis, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of England. She was born in Buffalo, New York, August 11, 1859. One child has been born of this union, Ray, born June 24, 1885. They are among the leading members of the Congre- gational Church at Washta. Mr. Whisman is a stanchi supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is an active member of the Washta Cornet Band.
ole ADE SMITH, dealer in general mer- chandise, Washta, Iowa, has been a resi- dent of Cherokee County for sixteen years. He was born near Pontiac, Living- ston Connty, Illinois, October 5, 1865, and is the son of Charles M. and Ellen (Cook) Smith, the former a native of New Hamp- shire and the latter of Kentucky. When he was eight years old his parents removed to the State of Iowa and settled in Willow Town- ship, Cherokee County. There the father bought 160 acres of land which he improved, building a house, barns and sheds, and set- ting out groves. Cade remained under the paternal roof nntil twenty or twenty-one years old, when he went away to school, attending
Pierce's Business College, Keokuk, Iowa. He was afterward a student at Western Normal College, Shenandoalı, Iowa. In January, 1888, Mr. Smith went into business at Washta, Iowa, opening a general stock of nierchan- dise, including dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, gents' furnishing goods, and clothing. The style of the firm was in the first place Stratton & Smith, after- ward Smith & Osborn, and finally, in July, 1889, Smith & McDonald. The firm has a good trade and is doing a profitable business; by fair dealing and courteous conduct these gentlemen have commended themselves to the people of Washita and vicinity. It is the enterprise and pluck of such inen as Mr. Smith that have made Washta what it is to- day. Our subject was married April 13, 1887, to Miss Blanch Hinkson, of Des Moines. Her mother is now living in the State of Louisiana, and lier father died several years ago in the West Indies. Politically Mr. Smith affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Sioux Valley Lodge, No. 470, I. O. O. F., Correctionville, Iowa.
J. SMITH was born November 18, 1848, at Winslow, Stevenson County, Illinois, the youngest of a family of seven children of Abel and Margaret (Wheeler) Smith. The parents removed to Smithland, Woodbury County, Iowa, in 1858, where the father entered a tract of wild land which he improved. Abel Smith was sheriff of Steven- son County, Illinois, for several years, and when he came to Iowa was Deputy United States Marshal for the district in which he lived. In faithfully prosecuting the dnties of this office he made enemies among thie criminal class, who it is supposed murdered
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
him, as he met his death very mysteriously a short distance from Onawa. He set out from that town with a team, and was found the same night with a bullet wound in his head, and numerous bruises on his body. His inurderer or murderers were never found. This occurred in 1871. In the spring of 1865 he had removed to Onawa and opened a hotel, which was known as the Western House. The building still stands, but is now called by a different name. A. J. Smith was ten years old when his parents came to Iowa. He began to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Sioux City Journal, then a weekly paper, edited by Mahlon Gore. He remained there six months, and then returned to Onawa, and was connected with the Ga- zette for about sixteen months. He then re- turned to his native State, and was connected with the Freeport Journal for a time. He took a course in the Freeport High School before going back to Onawa, where he was again a typo in the office of the Onawa Ga- zette for one year, at the end of which time he purchased 120 acres of land in Grant Township, Monona County, which he im- proved and made his home until the summer of 1889. For a time while living on his farm he was foreman in the office of the Dan- bnry Vidette. In May, 1889, Mr. Smith came to Washta and established the Washita Independent. He was married November 28, 1869, to Miss Joanna L. Andrews, dangh- ter of Thompson and Ellen (Hawkins) An- drews. This marriage resulted in three chil- dren: Lydia G., Maggie J., and Etra, who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith died near Smith- land, February 4, 1875. Mr. Smithi was mar- ried a second time, to Miss Nellie A. Church, daughter of Alexander and Mary Ann (San- ford) Church. This event occurred March 3, 1878. Three children have been born of this union: Harry L., Chauncey J., and Christie
Ethelyn, who died at the age of fifteen months. In politics Mr. Smith is Indepen- dent.
AMES M. LAUGHLIN was born near La Fayette, Ohio, December 28, 1853, and is the son of James D. and Saralı (Mc- Clain) Langhlin, natives of the State of Ohio, and of Irish descent. The grandfather of Mr. Laughlin, who was also called James, was an officer in the Revolutionary War. James M. came with his parents to Tama County, Iowa, when yet a child, and lived there until he removed to Cherokee Connty. His par- ents and grandparents were among the early settlers of Tama County, living in Carlton Township when their houses were the only buildings in sight. Mr. Laughlin may well be proud of ancestors brave and courageous enough to face the dangers and hardships of pioneer life. His grandfather entered 120 acres of land for each of his children, and the old parchment patents are still in the pos- session of the family. His grandfather and father died in Tama County, the former be- fore the Civil War, and the latter in 1864. The mother afterward married Mr. John Strain, and now resides in Willow Township. Mr. Laughlin received his education in the common schools of Tama County, and in the Albion Seminary, Albion, Iowa. In 1882 he came to Cherokee County, having previously bought 120 acres of land there. He after- ward sold twenty acres to his brother, so that he now has 100 acres. When he first settled there the land was wild and uncultivated, and all the improvements in the way of build- ings are the result of Mr. Laughlin's indus- try; he has also brought the land to an ad- vanced degree of cultivation. October 14, 1880, occurred the marriage of James M.
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Laughlin and Miss Eva Cooper, a daughter of H. H. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Cooper. Her father is a native of the State of Penn- sylvania, and her mother of Ohio, the latter being of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Laughilin are the parents of three children: Alice, Alsie and Clarence. In politics Mr. Laughlin supports the issues of the Republi- can party. The people of his township have shown him honor by calling him to fill the office of constable and school director, and he has acquitted himself in these duties with much credit.
HARLES B. BUSH is of a family long known in the history of New England and New York. He was born March 22, 1842, and is the son of Randall and Eliza (Brodhead) Bush. His father was born in Connectient, and his paternal ancestors lived for many generations in New England. His mother was a native of Ulster County, New York, of English and Dutch descent. Mr. Bush is connected on his mother's side with John Romeyn Brodhead, of New York, a historical writer of some note. Referring to an article in Scribner's Magazine we learn that the name Brodhead is intimately asso- ciated with the Dutch occupation of New York. Among the soldiers sent by Charles II in 1664 to subdue the Hollanders in America was Captain Daniel Brodhead, a zealous Roy- alist of Yorkshire. After the English had taken full possession of New York Captain Brodhead determined to settle there, and from him the Brodhead family in America is de- scended, and this donghty Captain is an an- cestor of Mr. Bush's mother. History shows that some of the Brodheads were heroes in the Revolutionary War. Charles B. Bush lived in Sullivan County, New York, till he
was twelve years of age when he removed to Tompkins County with his parents. His early life was spent on a farm, and after com- ing to the latter county he became the pro- prietor of a small farm. In the year 1865 he entered the employ of Hollister & Van Pelt, distillers, Slatersville, New York, work- ing for this firm as traveling salesman for two years, when he was employed by A. S. Gas- kin, tobacconist, Ithaca, New York. After one year this firm was burnt out, and he found employment in the same capacity with the firm of Heir & Aldrich, manufacturers of cigars and dealers in tobacco of all kinds. This business was located in Syracuse, New York, and Mr. Bush remained there until 1884, when he decided to settle on his farm in Willow Township, Cherokee County, Iowa. Before coming to the State he had purchased a farm of 320 acres, which he still owns and where he now resides. The farm was wild, but by industry and good management he has brought it to a high state of cultivation. Four never-failing springs furnish an abun- dance of water, and afford excellent facilities for stock-raising, in which business Mr. Bush has been engaged since coming West. Besides his residence and farm buildings he has on his farm a good set of buildings for tenant use. July 22, 1869, was an eventful day in our subject's life, for on that day he wedded Miss C. Georgiana Cantine, a dangh- ter of Charles and Susan M. (Snow) Cantine. Mrs. Bush is a lineal descendant of the Hugue- not family, Cantine, spelled also Cantyn and Cantaine, well known in the early history of New York. Numerous deeds and grants and patents in the possession of Mrs. Bush, some of which are dated as early as the " third year of the reign of William and Mary," attest the antiquity of the family, and furnish a treat to the lover of musty parchments. One of the most interesting of these docu-
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
ments is a patent given to General John Cantine for 1,000 acres of land in Tioga County, New York, for services rendered in the Revolutionary War. General John Can- tine was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Bush. . Another interesting document is a deed to lands " in ye county of Ulster and Privince of New York," to Peter Cantine, and dated January 19, 1723. Mrs. Bush was born at Mott's Corners, now Brookton, New York, and lived there until her marriage in 1869. She was educated in the common schools of that town and at the Ithaca Academy. For a number of years after completing hier edu- cation she was a school teacher, and her suc- cess in the profession is attested by the fact that she held a State teacher's license from the school authorities of the State of New York. After her marriage Mrs. Bushi lived for a time at Adams, and afterward at Sandy Creek, where she was engaged in the millinery and ladies' furnishing goods business for eleven years. In 1882 she sold ont her business at Sandy Creek, and lived for two years at Caro- line, her native township, before coming to Cherokee County. On June 14, 1885, at night, Mr. Bush's house was totally destroyed by a cyclone. Mr. and Mrs. Bush sustained some injuries, but the rest of the family were unharmed. In politics Mr. Bush is a Democrat. He is a charter member of Al pine Lodge, No. 471, A. F. & A. M., hav- ing been made a member at Speedville Lodge, No. 365, Speedville, New York. He was also a charter member of Caroline Lodge, No. 681, A. F. & A. M. He is connected with the A. O. U. W., Sandy Creek Lodge, No. 256. The following are the. names of Mr. Bush's brothers and sisters: Mary Ann, de. ceased; Nancy, wife of Albert Go-lee; Cor- delia, wife of David Calkins; Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Merwin; Daniel Bush; Cather- ine, wife of Hiram Hitchcock, and Lottie
Bush. Mrs. Bush's brothers and sisters are: Maria Elizabeth, wife of William E. Heath ; Charles A. Cantine, Holmes F. Hoffman, son of Mrs. Susan (Snow) Cantine by her second marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bush are the parents of one child, Charles C. R., born at Sandy Creek, New York.
SAAC LANE, the proprietor of the Washta House, Washta, Iowa, and one of the early settlers of Willow Township, has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1869. He was born on a farm near Eagle Village, Boone Connty, Indiana, March 19, 1835, and is the son of John and Charity (Standige) Lane. His father was born in Kentucky, of Irish ancestry, and his mother was a native of Georgia, a descendant of Dutch colonists who came to Georgia in the early history of the State. Isaac Lane is the youngest of ten children, and to him fell the responsibility of caring for his parents after his brothers and sisters had grown up and left the old Indiana homestead for the new States then coming into favor in the region of the setting sun. He grew to manhood in Howard County, Indiana, whither his parents had moved when he was yet a lad. In 1864 he came to Benton County, Iowa, with his mother who died there. He worked at farm- ing in this county until 1869, when he moved to Willow Township, Cherokee County, and took a homestead of 160 acres, section 32, on which Joseph McCoun now lives. This land Mr. Lane sold before he proved upon it, and bonght 120 acres in sections 31 and 32, Wil- low Township, which he improved. He built a honse, a barn and sheds, equipped the place for the raising of live-stock and grain, in which pursuits he was engaged until coming to Washta in 1888. In that year he sold his
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
farm and built the Washta House, near the station of the Cherokee & Dakota Railroad. The Washta Honse is the pioneer hotel in the town, and through the efforts of Mr. Lane and his gentlemanly associate, Charles Tuel, Esq., it has become deservedly popular with the traveling public. Mr. Lane is also pro- prietor of two livery barns in Washta, which he manages. July 22. 1862, finds our sub- ject enlisted in Company B, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Captain George Dearth. He served with his command until 1865, and saw some hard fighting at Chickasaw Bluffs, Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Atlanta, Jackson and in other battles and skirmishes. He was wounded in the left arm by a bullet at the battle of Arkansas Post; he was with Sher- man when that famons General made his im- mortal march to the sea, and shared the hardships and the glories of that grand can- paign. He is the present trustee of the town- ship, and is a member of William Barker Post, No. 292, G. A. R., Correctionville, Iowa. In politics he is an ardent Republi- can. He is a member of the Congrega- tional Church. Mr. Lane's brothers and sisters are named as follows: Mrs. Mary McConu, Mrs. Margaret Dodson, Thomas Lane, John T. Lane.
HARLES M. SMITH is one of the well- known farmers of Willow Township. He was born in Moltonboronghi, Car- roll County, New Hampshire, and is one of a family of twelve children of Elephalet B. and Mary (Leavitt) Sinith. His father is of English ancestry. His grandfather, John Smith, was a Lientenant in the United States Navy in the War of 1812, and was wounded at Portsmouth Harbor. Charles M. lived in his native State until 1853, when his father
died, and left him to rely upon his own re- sonrces. He went to East Cambridge, and ran an engine in the cabinet mannfactory and planing mill of Bartlett & Brown. He re- mained in the employ of this firm for seven years, and then went to Pontiac, Livingston Connty, Illinois, and rented a farm which he cultivated until 1873, when he determined to try his fortune in the new connty of Chero- kee, Iowa. He settled on section 29, Willow Township, buying 160 acres of land which had not been improved. He broke out the land, built a honse, barn, and granaries, and otherwise eynipped the place for general farming purposes. The fine groves which are found on the Smith homestead were planted by the present owner's hand, and are not only a beautiful ornament, but serve as a wind- break. When Mr. Smith first settled where he now lives there was not a single house in sight toward the east, and Cherokee was the nearest trading point. His neighbors were A. J. Whisman, Mr. Guilliams, Elias Strat,- ton and Joseph McConn. In those days the mills at Denison, Sionx City, Smithland and Oto did the grinding for people living in Willow Township. Soon after coming to Cherokee County Mr. Smith began to pay especial attention to the raising of cattle and hogs, and was one of the first men from his neighborhood to sell hogs in the town of Cherokee. He was married January 10, 1861, to Miss Ellen Cook, of Livingston County, Illinois. She was born in Kentucky, and is a danghter of Micajah and Elizabeth (Lewis) Cook. This marriage has resulted in the birth of six children: Mary, wife of James Campbell; Cade, whose biography is given in this volume; Sarah. William B., Effie and Cora. James and Mary (Smith) Campbell are the parents of one child, Earl. Mr. Smith has given his children the advantage of a I common-school education, two of them ad-
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
561
vancing beyond this conrse. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Congregational Church. In politics Mr. Smith is Democratic. Although not one of the earliest settlers he has many recollections of pioneer times in his neighbor- hood. At the first election after his comingto the county there were but twenty votes cast in the townships of Willow and Grand Meadow, which were then combined and known as Willow Township; there were no bridges across the waters of the Little Sioux, and the inail was brought twice a week on horse- back to the Washta postoffice.
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RTHUR G. STEWART is an intelli- gent and enterprising member of the farming community of Cherokee Town- ship. He was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, October 2, 1853. His par- ents, John and Sophrona (Dunham) Stewart, were also natives of the State of Massachu- setts; the father was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The youth of onr subject was passed within the borders of his native State, and his edu- cation was obtained in the public schools. Choosing the trade of painting he served an apprenticeship, and afterward worked as a journeyman for some time; later he became foreman, contractor and jobbe in the business. Not content to spend his life in Massachu- setts without at least seeing something of the rest of the world, he removed to Illinois in his twenty-first year and settled at Waterman, De Kalb County. Afterward he went to Genoa and worked at his trade until 1883, when he came to Iowa and bought eighty acres of land; this was partly broken, but there were no improvements in the way of buildings. Mr. Stewart erected a good resi- dence of a modern plan, on a most attractive site; there are shade and evergreen trees, and
a beautiful lawn nicely laid out in walks. The conveniences for farming are numerous, and indicate the thrift and good management of the owner. He has since added forty acres to his farm. Mr. Stewart was married in De Kalb County, Illinois, October 31, 1875, to Miss Zelia A. Spencer, a daughter of N. W. Spencer, whose biography appears upon another page of this volume. Three sons have been born of this union: Norman W., Herbert A. and Clarence I. Mr. Stew- art is an active member of the Adventist Church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a man in the prime of life, and has won an enviable position in the county.
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HILIP CLINE, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Willow Township, was born in Washington County, Ohio, Angust 14, 1843, and is the third of a family of twelve children of Samuel and Phoebe (Gray) Cline, natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. His father was born of Ger- man ancestry, and his mother was of Welsh origin. When Philip was seven years of age his parents removed to Jones County, Iowa, where they lived for some time. They then removed to Fayette County, where they were among the early settlers. The father entered 160 acres of Government land on which he lived until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1888. Mr. Cline grew to inanhood near Fayette, Fayette County, and bought a farm near that place, which he owned until he came to Cherokee County in October, 1882. About the year 1867 he went to In- dian Territory, and afterward to Kansas; while in the latter State he was foreman of a force of men who built the first house in the present thriving city of Wichita. At that
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
time a thousand Indian tepees were standing on the site of that prosperous city. Mr. Cline took a homestead of 160 acres in the State of Kansas, but when the Indians be- came troublesome there he returned to Iowa, and afterward disposed of his claim. As before stated, he came to Cherokee County in October, 1882, and bought what had once been the Whitehouse homestead, a farm of eighty acres, of E. P. Purcell. He made numerons improvements upon this place, and in addition cultivates the rest of the north half of section 14. Never-failing springs supply an abundance of pure water, which admirably adapts the farm to the purpose of raising live-stock. A good barn, sheds and other buildings betoken thrift and prosperity. Mr. Cline received his education in the com- inon schools of Fayette County, and in the Commercial Department of the Upper Iowa University. While a young man he was a successful teacher in Fayette and Wright counties. He was married November 30, 1864, to Miss Harriet F. Roberts, of Salem, Massachusetts. Two children were the re- sult of this union: Harriet F., who died in childhood, and Etta, the wife of J. D. Bing. Mrs. Cline died August 15, 1870, in Fayette County. Mr. Cline was married a second time March 3, 1872, to Miss Sophia J. Fox, daughter of Stephen and Mary Ann (Har- rington) Fox, natives of New England, of English ancestry. Her parents are now resi- dents of Willow Township. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are the parents of three children : Charles E., Martin W. and Edwin L. The parents are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. Cline was made a Mason at Oelwein, Fayette County, Hebron Lodge, No. 374. He is a charter member of Alpine Lodge, No. 471, A. F. & A. M., Holstein, Iowa, which was organized in 1886. In Fayette County he was called to fill several
local offices, and the same honor was con- ferred upon him since coming to Cherokee County. In politics Mr. Cline adlieres to no party principles, but casts an independent vote.
-- A. CHAPMAN, an active agriculturist of Cherokee Township, was born in º Essex County, New York, November 5, 1827. Alphens Chapman, his father, was a native of Vermont, and was a lumberman by trade. His mother was Nancy (Messen- ger) Chapman, a native of Massachusetts, of Puritan stock. D. A. was reared in ,the county of his birth, and was trained in farm- ing pursuits. He received his education in the common schools. December 25, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Worcester, who was born in Essex County, New York, near Fort Ticonderoga. Her par- ents were New England people, of Puritan stock. In 1850 Mr. Chapman emigrated to the West, and settled in Winnebago County, Illinois. There he engaged in farming and inade his home until 1884; then he came to Cherokee County and bought his present farm, which was partly improved. He has not lagged in carrying out the plans begun by the former owner, and the place is now one of the best in the township. There is a fine residence built in the midst of a grove, a large barn, and four miles of fence. The land has been well handled, and the harvests have been abundant. Mr. and Mrs. Chap- man have seven children: Isabelle, wife of Andrew Bulis; Fidelia, wife of H. B. Perry ; Mary, wife of Albert Thompson; Lois, Ellen. Grace, and Lahrett, who owns a good farm adjoining his father's, and lives at home. The parents have given their children good educational advantages, the two oldest daugh-
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HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
ters being very successful teachers for several years. The family are all members of the Presbyterian Church, and are among the most highly respected people of the county.
S. GATES has been identified with the history of Cherokee County since 1869. He was born in Steuben County, New York, June 21, 1852, and is a son of D. J. Gates, one of the old settlers of Sheridan Township, who took a Government home- stead. When R. S. was a lad of nine years his father removed to Michigan, and the family lived there three years, during which time D. J. Gates was in the army They then removed to Dodge County, Minnesota, and resided there until 1869, when they came to Cherokee County. R. S. was then eighteen years of age. The country was new and wild, and the task of improving a farm was not a light one. Our subject remained with his father for some time, and gave him much needed assistance. When his father was able to spare him he engaged in breaking prairie for several seasons. He bought and sold two or three different tracts of land, and in 1882 located on his present farm, which he has improved in good style. A fine two-story residence was erected in 1887, and buildings and feed lots and yards indicate the thrift and wise management of the owner. At the age of twenty-seven years Mr. Gates was married to Miss Flora Kenyon, a daughter of William Kenyon, of Cherokee County. Two children were born of this union: Herbert and Flora. Mrs. Flora Gates died January 15, 1883. Mr. Gates was married a second time, in December, 1886, to Miss Mary Hinkeldey, a native of Germany. By this marriage two children have been born: Mabel and an infant son. Mr. Gates is a member
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