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 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
was a second time united in marriage, to Mrs. Mary E. Burris, a daughter of Joseph and Wealthy Ruggles. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, March 19, 1843. By her first marriage Mrs. White has two children liv- ing: Clarence and Herbert. Mr. and Mrs. White are worthy members of the Presby- terian Church of Cherokee.
ILLIAM E. DAVIS, contractor and builder, Cherokee, Iowa, has been a resident of the place since 1882. He is a native of England, born in Somersetshire, August 15, 1844. He received a fair educa- tion in the common school, and later attended a private school. At the age of fifteen years he went to learn the carpenter's trade, and served an apprenticeship of seven years, studying the business in all its branchies. His employer died two months before his time expired, and he then went to work for himself. Believing that America afforded better opportunities for a young man to make his way in life, he determined to emigrate and investigate the question for himself. Ac- cordingly he set sail, and after landing worked at anything that offered itself. He was soon convinced that this was his home, if not by birth then it should be by adoption. Mr. Davis returned to England in a short time and claimed his bride in Mrs. Mary Ann Lillywhite, a daughter of James and An Blackman, natives of England. Soon after his marriage he came back to the United States, landing in the city of New York, and journeying thence directly to Cherokee, lowa. He began working at his trade, in which he has been very successful; he has been engaged in work on some of the finest residences in the city of Cherokee. He built his own dwelling on Cedar street in 1886, and has
531
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
erected four other residences on the same street; he disposed of one, and rents the other three to good advantage. He began his business career on limited means, but energy and determination have served where capital sometimes fails. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had born to them one son, Bertie W. Politically our subject adlieres to the princi- ples of the Democratic party.
ATTHIAS SMITH, a retired farmer of Cherokee County, was an early settler there, and has seen pioneer life in all its phases. He was born in Canada, January 24, 1820, and is the son of Matthias Smitlı, a millwright by trade, also an owner of mills and a practical miller. He was born in Canada, and was a son of Philip Smith, a native of Germany, who settled in America before the Revolutionary War. The mother of Matthias Smith was Rebecca Rouse, who was born in the State of Vermont. After his marriage Matthias Smitli settled in Canada, and he and his wife remained there thie bal- ance of their days. Matthias, the subject of this sketch, spent his yonth on a farm and in the mill; he also worked at the trade of a millwright with his father. He received the advantage of a common-school education, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age. In February, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Christy; she was born and reared in Prince Edward County, Canada, and is a daughter of Henry and Maria Christy. After their mar- riage they settled on a farm, and at the end of three years removed to Victoria County, Canada, where Mr. Smith rented a saw-mill; he divided his time between the mill and clearing a farm, on which he lived about nine years. In the fall of 1859 he removed to
De Kalb County, Illinois, where he settled on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits for ten years. In the spring of 1869 he came to Cherokee County and took up a homestead in Amherst Township consisting of eighty acres; this he improved and added to his first pur- chase until he owned 160 acres, which he made liis home until he reinoved to the city of Cherokee in 1882. Mr. Smith's first house in the county was built of cottonwood, whichi he purchased from the railroad company, and the first winter was a cold one. He de- voted himself to farming and stock-raising. He commenced life for himself on limited means, and lost heavily during the grass- hopper raids for four years; lie was also visited by a cyclone, which brought destruction to his crops; but he struggled on through all these adverse circumstances; he mortgaged his farm for $1,000 and bought stock, after which he sold $1,000 worth each year until tlie fall of the sixth year when he sold $2,200 worth. This set him on his feet again and fortune has since smiled upon his efforts. Since his residence in Cherokee, Mr. Smith has worked at the carpenter's trade, and has built several houses in his immediate neigh- borhood. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and has served as jus- tice of the peace, road supervisor, township trustee, and has been school director for four years. He has been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-three years. By industry and economy Mr. Smith has acenmulated considerable property; he owns 155 acres of well.improved land in Amherst Township, four town lots and honses, which he rents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had born to them ten children: Edwin, a resident of Carthage, Missouri; Adam H., a jeweler in Cherokee; Nelson W., of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; William P., a farmer of Am- herst Township; Lydia L. Chapman, of Car-
41
582
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
thage, Missouri; Edith R. Thomas, residing in Dakota; Patience E. Caswell, a resident of British Columbia; Christy M., of Carthage, Missouri; Phebe A., of Carthage, Missouri, and Ruth G., at home.
ILLIAM H. ELFORD, one of the leading painters and decorators of Cherokee, Iowa, was born in South Hampton, England, June 24, 1853. He is the eldest son of William H. and Elizabeth (Barton) Elford. At the age of fifteen years he emigrated to America with his mother, the father having died in the West Indies, where he had gone on a business trip. They landed in the city of New York, July 4, 1868, and continued their journey to Chicago, Illinois, where they resided for a period of twelve years. The first year William H. was employed in a boiler factory, and then he be- gan to learn the painter's trade; he served a three years' apprenticeship in the shop of J. B. Sullivan, after which he worked as a jour- neyman. He was then engaged by the North. western Railroad Car Shops in the painting department, and remained there five years. The three years following he was employed by different parties, and then went to work for Heath & Milligan, manufacturers of paints, remaining with this firm one year. In the autumn of 1880 Mr. Elford came to Cherokee, Iowa, and the first year of his resi- dence there lie was in the employ of A. Loft, who was running a paint shop and store. At the end of two years Mr. Elford purchased the stock of Mr. Loft, and continued the business at the old stand. One year later he bought his present store building on Maple street, to which he moved his stock; the house is 20 x 50 feet, two stories high, and is filled with a well-selected stock of paints and
wall-papers. Mr. Elford is himself a practi- cal painter, and during the busy season em- ploys from five to nine men. He lias been twice married; his first wife was Miss Mi- nerva Overton, who died twelve months later. His present wife was Miss Mattie M. Schwartz, a native of Germany. By his first marriage one child was born, Eva R. The second union resulted in the birth of three children: Walter C., Esther May and Bertha E. Mr. and Mrs. Elford are consistent mem- bers of the Congregational Church, Mr. El- ford being a deacon of the society. For many years he was identified with the Republican party, but is now a Prohibitionist, and was one of the twenty-seven men to cast a straight Prohibition vote in 1888, in Cherokee County. Mr. Elford's youthful days were spent mainly in Chicago, where he acquired his education, principally at the evening schools. His mother was a teacher in early life, and now makes her home in Cherokee.
ATSON PELTON was born in Shel- burne Falls, Massachusetts, February 23, 1837, and is the fifthi of a family of eight children of Cyrus B. and Theresa A. (Merrill) Pelton. The father was a carpen- ter by trade, and was a native of Massachn- setts, as was also the mother. When Watson was five years old his parents removed to Livingston County, New York, where they settled permanently; the father died in the fall of 1883, in his seventy-seventh year; his wife is still living in her eighty fifth year, in the full possession of all her faculties; she is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and regularly attends the services. Watson Pel- ton attended the common school at Moscow, Livingston County, New York, hield in the old Black School-house, the memory of which
585
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
is yet fresh in the ininds of all those who (deceased), and Stanley S., a resident of Sioux County, Iowa. By the second marriage four children were born: Herbert, Myrtle, Charles C. and George E. Mr. Pelton was elected the third mayor of Cherokee, filling the office acceptably for one term. He was elected coroner of the county in its early days, and held the office until he went to Dakota; on his return to Cherokee he was re-elected to the same office. He served as justice of the peace for one term of two years. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A. F. & A. M., and of Cherokee Lodge, No. 188, I. O. O. F. He is a man who has been prosperous in business, and to-day owns some of the most valuable property in Cherokee. Mrs. Pelton is a worthy member of the Con- gregational Church. assembled there in years long gone by. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade under his older brother, Hiram B., and in 1860 he drifted West to Painesville, Ohio, where he went to work at his trade. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army, in Company D, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was ordered to Kentucky, where he participated in the battle of Perryville; he was wounded by a minie-ball in his right foot which disabled him for some time, and on account of which he was discharged in September the same year as his enlistment. He then returned to his home in Painesville, Olio. In 1865 he removed to Iowa, settling in Washington County. The same year he was married to Miss Anna McDivitt, of Cleveland, Ohio, whose parents died during her infancy. After coming to Washington County Mr. Watson worked at his trade, and - resided there until 1870. when he removed to Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa; there he engaged in the furniture business for one year, and at the expiration of that time he came to Cherokee, bringing his stock of furniture with him. He continued in the business about eight years, and then sold ont. Ilis next venture was in the grocery business; lie formed a partnership with B. O. Stevens, the style of the firm being Pelton & Co., and continued in the trade until the end of three years. He then embarked in the clothing and merchant-tailoring business, and in abont a year he closed it up and went to Chamber- lain, Dakota. In eighteen months we find him returning to Cherokee, where he is now residing. Mr. Pelton was married a second time in May, 1878, to Miss Margaret Knapp, a daughter of Z. M. and Sarah Knapp. By his first marriage four children were born: De Witt L., a teacher, now fitting himself for the ministry; Bernice (deceased), Walter S. | Janesville for one year. At the end of this
M ORDECAI VANDERCOOK, deceased. was one of the early set- , tlers of Cherokee County, and was one of the most active business men con- nected with its history. He was born in Rensselaer County, New York, Jannary 5, 1823, and was a son of Henry and Margeory (Lester) Vandercook, who were members of old New York families, of Hollandish de- scent. When our subject was nine years of age his parents removed to Sandnsky County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was trained to agricultural pnrsnits, and obtained his education in the district school. When about sixteen years old he went into his brother's store, where he received a thorough training in mercantile business. At the age of twenty-three years he concluded to try his fortunes in the West, and removed to Wis- consin, engaging in the mercantile trade in
586
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
time he went to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he was successfully engaged in busi- ness until his removal to Cherokee in 1870. Mr. Vandercook was united in marriage in Beaver Dam, October 3, 1847, to Miss Jen- nette Van Epps, a native of Genesee County, New York, and a daughter of John and Hul- dah (Smith) Van Epps, who came to New York with the Mohawk settlement. Thirteen children were born of this union, five of whom are living: Emma J., the wife of A. L. Porter, of Norwood Park, Illinois; Cor- delia Lorette, the wife of C. F. Fous, of Cherokee; Nellie, the wife of F. J. Stano- sheck, of Cherokee; Henry, of Tacoma, Washington Territory, and Inez, of Chero- kee. Mr. Vandercook was a man who at- tended strictly to his own business, and although frequently solicited by his friends to accept public office, he always declined the honor. After he came to Cherokee he formned a partnership with his brother-in- law, William Van Epps, who had come to the place one year previous. This partner- ship continued one year, when Mr. Van Epps withdrew from the business, and re- moved to Sioux Falls, Dakota. Mr. Vau- dercook remained in business, which he car- ried on with more than an ordinary degree of success, until the spring of 1882, when he relinquished all active effort. His death occurred August 31, 1882. Besides his pros- perous mercantile business he accumulated a large landed estate. Politically he cast his suffrage with the Democratic party. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Re- ligiously he believed fully in the Golden Rule, that of doing to others as he would that they should do by him. That was his rule and guide of faith in the future for himself. He exacted the saine principle of others, and when he found that person worthy he always found in him a warm, obliging friend. When
he found him otherwise, he was decidedly the opposite, having no patience with dis- honesty. During the great grasshopper scourge in this country for several years, many then living in the counties of O'Brien, Clay and Cherokee found in him a true, kind friend in their time of need. In his family he was a kind and loving husband and an in- dulgent father.
-
DWARD MILLER, Secretary of the Citizens' Life Association of Cherokee, Iowa, and ex-county recorder, is a man well known and universally respected through- ont Cherokee County, as well as over a broad expanse of country in which life assurance policies of the company are found. His his- tory in this county should here be prefaced by something concerning his earlier life. He was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1850, and is the sixth of a family of eleven children, ten sons and one daughter. His father, M. G. Miller, also a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer and merchant by occupation. He married Elizabeth Rider, a native of the same State, and a daughter of Jacob Rider, of German ancestry. The father is still living, but the mother passed from the scenes of this life in 1873. M. G. Miller is a resident of Cedar County, Iowa, whither he removed when Edward was one year old. In that county our subject grew to manhood, receiving a liberal common-school education. He remained on his father's farm until 1873, when he decided to come to Cherokee County. He carried this plan into execution, and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until 1880, when he was nominated by the Republican party for the office of county recorder of Cherokee County, to which position he was elected by a majority of 100 votes. He served a term
587
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
of two years and was re-elected, inaking his terin in all four years. Upon his retirement from the office which he had so acceptably filled, Mr. Miller became a member of the Citizens' Life Association of Cherokee, which was organized in 1885. He was made its secretary, a position which he still fills with much credit to himself. Mr. Miller was married in 1876 to Miss Belle Stone, a daugh- ter of James Stone. The result of this union was two children: Aretas H. and Orville Gny. Mrs. Miller was called from earth and the happy surroundings of her home and family in 1884. She was a devoted mother and a faithful wife, who had many friends to join her family in sorrow for her death. Mr. Miller is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which he is recording steward and chorister. He is an honored member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A. F. & A. M .; of Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R. A. M., and of the Knights of Pythias. He owns a tasty residence in the Addition, with fine sur- roundings. No man in the county stands higher in point of true moral worth than does Mr. Miller, of whom we have heard many deserving compliments while gathering the data for this brief review of his life.
OHN A. METCALFE, one of the repre- sentative and leading men of the legal profession at Cherokee, Iowa, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, on April 19, 1853, and was the second child and oldest son of a family of seven. Thomas Metcalfe, his father, was born in the same county, in 1799, and died in 1873; he was a butcher and storekeeper mnost all his life, living on the farm during the last fifteen years of his life. The Metcalfe family are of English ori- gin and came to Virginia in an early day
from Berkshire, England. The father of our subject was the oldest son of John Metcalfe, the grandfather of our subject, and came to Kentucky, from Fanquier County, Virginia, in early youth, with tive brothers and a wid- owed mother. He was a brother to Thomas Metcalfe, the stonemason, who became a po- litical orator in 1809, and fought under Gen- eral Harrison at Fort Meigs and the battle of Tippecanoe, where he greatly distinguished himself. After 1813 he was much in public life; was in the Legislature from 1810 to abont 1820; in Congress from 1820 to 1829; Gov- ernor of Kentucky from 1828 to 1832; State Senator in 1834; president of Board of Inter- nal Improvement in 1840; United States Sen- ator in 1848. Died in Nicholas County, Ken- tucky, in 1855. He was a Clay Whig and had great ability in public affairs. Thomas, the father of our sketch, was also a soldier in 1816, though he was only sixteen years old. All the Metcalfe family were Whigs before the war and most of thein Republicans since the war. Colonel Lon Metcalfe, son of the Governor, killed two rebels in duels in Ken- tucky about the time and during the war, and fought through the Civil War with Gen- eral Nelson, with great bravery. On account of the war our subject was deprived of the public schools, only learning the common rules of arithmetic and grammar by the time he was twenty-two years old. In 1875 he came to Warren County, Illinois, and worked on a farın for five years, attending school in the winter months. In the winter of 1878 he entered Abingdon Collegeand finished a three years' course in 1881. In the same year he entered the law office of Stewart, Phelps & Grier, at Monmouth, Illinois, and read law until fall, when he taught school five months and then during the summer of 1882 attended the Wesleyan Universitaty Bloomington, Illi- nois; in the fall of 1882 he again returned to
.
.
588
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Monmouth, Illinois, and taught school; in 1883, March 1, he entered the Law Depart- ment of the State University at Iowa City, and gradnated March 5, 1884. He imme- diately began the practice at Charles City, Iowa, but in the fall returned to Knoxville, Illinois, and practiced with Judge R. L. Hannaman nutil 1886, when he came west to Plymouth Connty, lowa, where he remained until 1888, when he moved to Cherokee and became the successor to Hon. A. F. Meser- vey, in practice. Mr. Metcalfe is perhaps an equal to any yonng attorney in Northwestern Iowa; he is careful in giving advice, is fear- less in the court-room, is a sonnd speaker to the jury, and is a hard student in his office; keeps the same clean and always ready for business; is a Republican, but says but little on politics. In fact, he is a good lawyer. He was married in 1888 to Mrs. M. K. Dines, of Blandinsville, Illinois, a mnost accomplished and charming lady. She was the daughter of William Land, of Blandinsville, Illinois, who was a merchant all his life, and died in 1878. Mrs. Metcalfe was born in New Jer- sey and came to Illinois with her parents when a child. The mother of Mrs. Metcalfe is still living and was a Hampton, all of the Democratic persnasion, and a cousin of Hon. Wade Hampton. Returning to our sketch, John A., his mother was a Parker, a distant relative of Captain John Parker, of Revolu- tionary fame, who lost his life at the battle of Concord. Since Mr. Metcalfe has been in the practice in this State he has liad some very close escapes. In the spring of 1887, as he, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Porter, were going from Kingsley to Le Mars, on March 1, there being at that time a general thaw, they crossed many streams, and fonr miles south of Le Mars they attempted to cross Plymonthı Creek at what is known as the Sibly Bridge; in the attempt Mr. Porter lost
his team, and wonld have lost his wife had not himself and our subject made a bold and desperate struggle and swam sixty feet with the lady, thereby saving her life, but the team, a fine span of horses, was lost. Mr. Metcalfe is now doing a fairly good business in Cherokee, and we bespeak for him a success- ful career. His office is at present over the First National Bank, Cherokee, Iowa, where he can be found for anything in the way of law, real estate or loans.
ANIEL PHELAN, a retired farmer liv- ing in Cherokee, is a native of tlie State of Vermont, born in Rutland County, February 23, 1849. He is a son of Patrick and Anna (Rowe) Phelan, the father being a farmer by occupation. The family removed to the old " Green Mountain " State when Daniel was five years old; they settled in Winneshiek County, where the father died in 1863, and the mother now lives in Alla- makee County, Iowa. There were seven chil- dren in the family, all of whom are now liv- ing. Daniel passed his school days in Winneshiek County, and remained on the home farm nntil he was seventeen years old, when he left liome and worked by the mnouth at farm work. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Philia Goodrichi, of Alla- makee County, Iowa, a dangliter of Lyman W. Goodrich. After his marriage Mr. Phe- lan settled on a farm in Winneshiek County on which he lived until the spring of 1876, when he removed with his family to Chero- kee County, Iowa; he settled in Afton Town- ship on a farm of eighty acres, to which he kept adding until he had 280 acres, all of which is now well improved. He resided there and carried on farming until 1889, when he came to town, having erected a com-
589
HISTORY OF CHEROKEE COUNTY.
modious dwelling in 'Huxford's Addition. Mr. and Mrs. Phelan are the parents of four children: Jennie E., Lettie, Harry and Ethel M. In 1881 our subject was elected a mem- ber of the Board of County Supervisors. and he has served as trustee of his township. In State and national affairs he affiliates with the Democratic party. Commencing in life with no means he has had to " hoe liis own row." and lias indeed made a good record.
HARLES A. STILES, capitalist and land-owner, Cherokee, Iowa, was born in Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada, at Frederickton, in October, 1852. His par- ents were Thomas and Catherine (Stennette) Stiles, natives of England. They were both boru in the city of London, and soon after their marriage emigrated to America, set- tling in Canada; there they resided eighteen mouths, and in 1855 removed to McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa. When the dark cloud of war spread its awful blackness over this land, and there was need of brave men and true, Thomas Stiles did not shrink from the duty of aiding his adopted country in her terrible necessity. He enlisted in the Third lowa Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. During this time, while he escaped all the horrors of war unharmed, his wife was called to her eternal rest, leaving three sons and oue daughter to mourn her loss with the bereaved husband. Charles A. passed his school days at McGregor, Iowa, and later ou had the privilege of attending the State Uni- versity for two years, an opportunity which he gladly embraced. Previous to this time he had taught school. At McGregor the family was divided, Charles A. going to live with E. B. Bailey, who held his papers for three years. In 1871 and 1872 he was trav-
eling through the Western States and Terri- tories, and finally came to Cherokee County and purchased 160 acres of land; this he im- proved, and made additional purchases until he owns 960 acres of Cherokee County land near the Ida County line; this vast tract is under cultivation, and is rented out by Mr. Stiles. In May, 1878, occurred the marriage of Mr. Stiles to Miss L. F. Bailey, a daugh- ter of E. B. Bailey, of Cherokee County, Iowa. Mrs. Stiles was born in 1852, in the town of East Hampton, Connecticut. Three children have been boru of this union: Mamie L., Nestor L. and Fred B. In 1876 Mr. Stiles began traveling as salesinan with a large nursery stock, aud controlled at the same time a force of from ten to seventeen men, handling the same stock. He is a very suc- cessful business man, and although he began with no means he has by industry and good judgment accumulated a handsome compe- tence. He owns valuable property in Sioux City and Council Bluffs, and a good residence in Cherokee.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.