USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 50
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
PAUL W. SMITH.
Paul W. Smith is a partner in the law firm of Edwards, Langley, Ransier & Smith and in this connection has won a creditable position at the bar of Black Hawk county. His life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage about a prophet being without honor in his own country, for Mr. Smith has won a creditable place at the bar of his native city, his birth having occurred in Waterloo in 1885. His father, E. B. Smith, now deceased, was a native of New York and at a very early day came to Waterloo, where the family home was established and has since been maintained. He married Agnes W. Wil- liams, who still makes her home in Waterloo, although she is now residing in California. The children of this marriage are: Roger W., a practicing attorney of Alaska ; Margaret, the wife of L. G. Braun, of Los Angeles, California ; Paul W., of this review; Lawrence L., who is connected with the Waterloo Cement Machinery Corporation of Waterloo: and Merritt B., who is with his mother in California.
PAUL W. SMITH
٠٠١
-
455
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
Reared under the parental roof, Paul W. Smith mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until graduated from the East Waterloo high school with the class of 1904. He con- tinued his education in a one year's course in the normal college at Cedar Falls and afterward, in preparation for a professional career, entered the law depart- ment of the University of Iowa and was graduated LL. B. with the class of 1908. He then returned to Waterloo for practice and during the first two years thereafter was associated with his brother, R. W. Smith, since which time he has been a member of the present firm of Edwards, Langley, Ransier & Smith. Realizing the importance of carefully preparing his cases, he spares no pains to familiarize himself with every point bearing upon his cause and he has also proven his strength and resourcefulness in argument. He is a member of both the Waterloo Bar Association and the State Bar Association and is a director of the Smith, Lichty & Hillman Company and of the Waterloo Canning Company.
On the 6th of February, 1913, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor R. Sweet, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, and they have one daughter, Sylvia Sweet. Mr. Smith belongs to a college fraternity, the Phi Kappa Psi, and he is affiliated with the Masons and the Elks. He is likewise connected with the Commercial Club and Board of Trade, of which he is a director, and he has membership in the Town Criers Club. The interests and welfare of Waterloo are dear to his heart, for here his entire life has been spent. He does everything in his power to advance the development and improvement of the city along substantial and attractive lines. When he turns aside from professional and public affairs and enters social circles, his fellow townsmen find him a most con- genial, companionable gentleman and his popularity is well attested by the num- ber of his friends.
RANSOM BAILEY.
Along the lines of orderly progression the life of Ransom Bailey was marked out and the record is one which should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished when energy and determination are guided by intelligence and when industry and persistency of purpose find expression in everyday affairs. He never sought to figure prominently in any public connec- tion and yet he became one of the leading residents of Iowa by reason of the extent and importance of the business interests which he built up.
He was born in Windsor county, Vermont, February 24, 1828, and his par- ents, Samuel and Dorothy (Newton) Bailey, were also natives of that state, while his paternal grandparents, Levi and Hannah (Bailey) Bailey, were natives of Massachusetts. The father of Levi Bailey and one of his brothers joined the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war and met death upon the battle- field of Bunker Hill. Two other brothers of Levi Bailey were among the earliest settlers of the state of New York. Levi Bailey was but fourteen years of age at the time his father was killed. He felt it necessary to provide for his own support and, leaving home, went to Vermont, where he began the manu- facture of potash, a business which was just coming to the front at that time. Vol. II-25
456
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
In fact, he was the first potash manufacturer in the Green Mountain state. Later he established the first blacksmith shop, then the first grist mill, the first sawmill, the first woolen mill, starch factory and linseed oil mill in the town of Reading, Vermont. During the later years of his life he became a stock drover and enjoyed the reputation of being one of the largest dealers in the eastern markets. His political allegiance was given to the whig party and he was one of the influ- ential residents of the distriet in which he made his home.
His son, Samuel Bailey, father of Ransom Bailey, was born in Windsor county, Vermont, on the 14th of January. 1794, and remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, assisting largely in the conduct of his father's business. He spent the greater part of his life in the Green Mountain state but passed away in Iowa at the home of his son, Ransom Bailey, on the 14th of February, 1891-almost a centenarian. He was married in Vermont to Miss Dorothy Newton, a daughter of Samuel Newton, and they became the parents of nine children, Orwell, George, Lovira, Ransom, Samuel, Sarah, Levi, Mary and Charles. Like his father, Samuel Bailey gave his political indorsement to the whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party and continued one of its stalwart champions at all times.
Ransom Bailey attended the district and select schools of his native state and then began earning his living as a farm hand, receiving but eight dollars per month as compensation for his labor. He was thus employed until he reached the age of twenty-four years and during that period as the result of his industry and economy managed to acquire a capital of six hundred dollars. The west with its growing opportunities attracted him and in the fall of 1851 he arrived in Ogle county, Illinois, accompanied by two of his brothers. The three were associated in the purchase and in the entering of land from the United States government, and they founded the town of Baileyville in Ogle county. They devoted their energies to general farming, growing grain and raising stock, and also extended the scope of their activities in the building and operation of a factory for the making of wire-tooth horse rakes. Their efforts along these various lines were attended with well merited success and their business con- stantly grew in volume and importance. At one time Ransom Bailey was the owner of elevators in eleven towns along the route of the St. Paul & Milwaukee Railroad. His plans were carefully formulated and promptly executed and the sound judgment which he displayed in the management of his business affairs brought to him a very gratifying measure of prosperity. About the time of the close of the Civil war he disposed of his interests in the wire rake factory and invested some of his money in Iowa land and in sheep.
Mr. Bailey, however, did not become a resident of Iowa until 1877, when he removed with his family to Grundy county, where he invested extensively in farm lands, becoming one of the most prominent agriculturists of that part of the state. To his original investments he added from time to time until he had about four thousand acres. He arrived in Black Hawk county about 1887 and was at one time the second largest landowner in the county. He continued in the grain trade after coming to Iowa but later retired from that field of labor and engaged extensively in handling real estate and live stock. In 1891 he estab- lished his home in Cedar Falls and from that point superintended his business affairs, which were of mammoth proportions and of great importance. He also
457
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
owned some town property but he operated most largely in farm lands in north- ern Iowa. He was justly regarded as one of the most prominent residents of the county and he might have held any political office had he so desired. It was the wish of his fellow townsmen that he should become a candidate for the office of state senator but this he refused to do. He always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs with the result that his close application, untiring effort and keen sagacity brought to him a most gratifying measure of success that placed him in the class of the leading farmers and stockraisers of the state.
In January, 1867, Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dyer, who was born at East Berne, Albany county, New York, March 8, 1845, a daughter of the late Judge James Dyer, who for many years was a prominent jurist of Albany county. In her father's home the daughter spent her girlhood days and after completing a high-school education in the city of Albany continued her studies in a seminary at Mount Morris, New York. In 1862, in company with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. E. Shrevell, she went to Chicago, where she remained until her uncle returned from service in the Civil war. A removal was then made to Ogle county, Illinois, where she formed the acquaintance of Ran- som Bailey, who successfully sought her hand in marriage. They became the parents of three children: Jennie, who was born November 7, 1867, and died March 16, 1876; and James L. and Samuel O., both of whom are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The life of Mrs. Bailey was characterized by generous charity, a beautiful motherhood and devotion to her home. The death of Mr. Bailey occurred in Cedar Falls, May 28, 1905, and his widow, surviving for about two years, died on the 25th of May, 1907. They were both most highly esteemed and had a circle of friends coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
In the passing of Ransom Bailey the county lost one of its most prominent and representative citizens. His life record proved what could be accomplished when there is the will to do and to dare and when industry is guided by sound judgment. There were no esoteric phases in his career. The methods which he employed were always straightforward and honorable and to build up rather than to destroy was ever his broad policy. While business success was his in large measure he never allowed his prosperity to dwarf his kindly nature, and his life was filled with good deeds.
JAMES L. BAILEY.
Extensive and important are the business interests controlled by James L .. Bailey, who is a stockholder in many of Black Hawk county's most important commercial, industrial and financial enterprises and who is also, in partnership with his brother, engaged in controlling and improving four thousand acres of farm land in Iowa and in feeding and handling stock extensively. They also have important property interests in other states. Wide-awake, alert and enter- prising, they carefully direct their interests, watching all indications pointing:
458
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
to success and never fearing to venture where favoring opportunity indicates the way.
James L. Bailey was born in Baileyville, Illinois, August 8, 1870, a son of Ransom and Mary (Dyer) Bailey, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Their son, James L. Bailey, attended the high school at Grundy Center and afterward was a student in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. His initial business training was received under the direction of his father, with whom he was associated for some time. In 1897, in partnership with his brother, he established a hardware store in Cedar Falls and conducted that business until his father's death in 1905. They then sold out to the Wyth-Johnson & Wyth Company, who still conduct the business. Since the father's death the brothers have been active in the management of the estate to which they have succeeded. They are stockholders in the Cedar Falls National Bank and the First National Bank at Parkersburg and are identified with various important commercial and industrial interests in Black Hawk county, being now stockholders in the Water- loo & Cedar Falls Mill Company, in the Rice & Dayton Manufacturing Company. in the Black Hawk Oil Company, in the Connell & Cowan Lumber Company, in the Viking Pump Company and in the Cedar Valley District Fair Association. As Iowa landowners they own and control four thousand acres of farm lands, the greater part of which is under cultivation, and they also have some farm property in South Dakota. They now devote considerable time to feeding and handling stock, conducting this business on an extensive scale. They make feed- ing their specialty and success is attending their efforts in large measure. They also conduct some real-estate operations, purchasing land, however, rather for cultivation than for further sale.
On the 26th of February, 1896, James L. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Anna House, who was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, a daughter of Judge A. J. and Emma (Millard) House, who were natives of Canada. Her father was born January 12, 1848, and her mother on the Ist of April of the same year. Mr. House has devoted his life to the practice of law and is now serving on the bench, having recently been reelected and having the highest vote among ten candidates in his district. His incumbency in the office covers a period of more than twenty years, a fact which is indicative of the confidence and trust reposed in him and of his fidelity to the important duties of the office which he fills. His decisions are strictly fair and impartial, being based both upon the law and the equity in the case, and he is today recognized as one of the ablest jurists in his part of the state. His life has been a busy, active and useful one, and he is prominent in the community in which he makes his home. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey the following children were born : Millard, whose natal day was February 6, 1897; Allen Ransom, born December 9, 1898; Margaret, who was born September 25, 1900, and died April 6, 1901; Carrie, born June 25, 1902 ; Ralph, February 10, 1904; Joseph Levi, January 25, 1906 ; Mary Emma, February 7, 1909; and John Richard, October 25, 1912.
In his political views James L. Bailey is a stalwart republican. He has never sought nor desired political office but in 1913 was elected president of the school board of Cedar Falls. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion and one who is doing effective work in the interests of the schools. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and to its teachings he is most
459
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
loyal. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the York Rite, and is now captain general in the Knights Templar commandery. He also belongs to the Mystic Shrine and has membership in the Modern Wood- men Camp. His wife is connected with the P. E. O. society. They occupy an enviable position in the public regard and the hospitality of the best homes of Cedar Falls and the county is freely accorded them.
SAMUEL O. BAILEY.
The name of Bailey figures conspicuously in connection with business activity in Black Hawk county because of the extent and importance of the interests of Samuel O. Bailey and his brother, James L. Bailey, with whom he is associated in all of his business transactions. His birth occurred December 27, 1872, in Baileyville, Illinois, and his ancestry in the paternal line is traced back to New England. Extended mention of the family is given in connection with the sketch of his father, Ransom Bailey, on another page of this volume.
Samuel O. Bailey attended school at Grundy Center and also was a student in Cornell College at Mount Vernon. In 1897 he became the partner of his brother in a hardware business which they conducted with growing success until the father's death in 1905, when they sold out in order to give their attention to the management of the large estate which he left to them. They now own and control four thousand acres. Their farms are highly cultivated and splen- didly improved, and they make a specialty of the raising and feeding of stock which they handle in large numbers. Their business interests likewise include connection with many corporate interests. They are stockholders in the Water- loo & Cedar Falls Mill Company, in the Rice & Dayton Manufacturing Company, in the Black Hawk Oil Company, in the Connell & Cowan Lumber Company and in the Viking Pump Company. They are also stockholders in the Cedar Falls National Bank, the First National Bank at Parkersburg and in the District Fair Association and other corporations.
On the 26th of June, 1912. Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Grace Simpson, a native of Estherville, Iowa, and a daughter of C. T. and Julia (Babcock) Simpson, who are residents of Cedar Falls. Her father is a carpenter and con- tractor and is still active in business. Mrs. Bailey was the third in order of birth in their family of five children. She was liberally educated, being a graduate of the Cedar Falls high school and the Iowa State Teachers College and for a time she was a successful teacher in the Cedar Falls high school. By her mar- riage she has one son, Ransom, who was born April 26, 1913.
Mr. Bailey is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to the lodge, chapter and commandery, and in the last named he has filled all of the chairs, serving as eminent commander for two years. He likewise holds membership with the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias, while his wife belongs to the P. E. O. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to the work of which they contribute generously, taking an active interest in all measures to further its upbuilding. The efforts of Samuel O. Bailey have been carefully
460
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
directed along the lines leading to legitimate success. He has that confidence and courage that come of conscious personal ability, the right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
G. W. HAZLETT.
G. W. Hazlett is living retired in Waterloo. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the state and has at different times been connected with agricultural and educational interests as well as with events which have had to do with shaping the progress and promoting the upbuilding of his county. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one and his rest is well merited.
A native of Illinois, G. W. Hazlett was born in the town of Lena in 1859, a son of Hugh and Eliza (Young) Hazlett. The father is now deceased, having passed away about twelve years ago. In pioneer times he removed with his family to Iowa and became a prominent factor in the development and upbuilding of Bremer county. He was widely recognized as a man of sterling worth and of unimpeachable character. His well known integrity is indicated in the fact that he served for forty years as township school treasurer without being asked for a bond. He also filled the office of justice of the peace for nearly a half century. His decisions were always fair and impartial and won golden opinions from all sorts of people. His widow survives at the advanced age of eighty-four years and is yet living upon a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Bremer county. of which one hundred and sixty acres was entered by her husband from the gov- ernment soon after their arrival in Iowa, and the patent, which is still in posses- sion of the family, is signed by General U. S. Grant, who was then president. The family shared in all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life in that section and lived to witness the notable changes which have brought the county to its present condition of progress and prosperity. To Mr. and Mrs. Hazlett were born five children. of whom three are yet living. The eldest is J. Y. Hazlett, an active and able member of the bar of Bremer county, who has three times served as county attorney and is now mayor of Waverly. The second sur- viving member of the family is G. W. Hazlett of this review. His younger brother, L. C. Hazlett, is now agent for the International Harvester Company at Grand Forks, North Dakota. He, too, is prominent in the community in which he resides and has served as mayor of the town.
G. W. Hazlett was quite young when his parents left Illinois and came to Iowa. settling on a farm near Tripoli. There Mr. Hazlett was reared and attended the common schools, completing his education under the tutelage of E. G. Bennett. From his boyhood he proved a valuable assistant to his father in the farm work and when but twelve years of age was an expert in driving oxen. He was largely engaged in handling an ox team in breaking the sod and developing the fields and as the years passed on his usefulness increased.
Nor was his attention confined alone to efforts for material advancement. When but eighteen years of age he was secretary of the Union Sunday school and did much to further moral advancement in the community. When twenty years of age he began teaching school and proved a very successful educator, imparting
461
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. Such was his efficiency and popularity as an instructor that pupils came from adjoining districts to receive the benefit of his instruction. When twenty-two years of age he obtained a first-grade certificate, which he retained during the entire time he taught school. He continued in that profession until twenty-six years of age and then purchased a farm in Bremer county, devoting his time to general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising until he removed to Tripoli. He continued his resi- dence there for five years before coming to Waterloo and during that period he served for two terms or four years as mayor of Tripoli, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many progressive and beneficial public measures. He also served as assessor of his township and as a member of the board of educa- tion and he was secretary of the Tripoli Creamery.
In 1884 Mr. Hazlett was united in marriage to Miss Melvina Eisenhart, a native of Tripoli and a daughter of Eli and Mary (Leaman) Eisenhart, who removed to the west from York, Pennsylvania, and took up their abode in Tripoli in 1854. The father was the first merchant in the eastern part of Bremer county, hauling his goods from Dubuque before there were any bridges over the rivers and creeks. To Mr. and Mrs. Hazlett have been born three children: Edith, who is now deputy superintendent of schools in Black Hawk county; Clara, the wife of Paul S. Duncan, of Virginia City, Montana : and Ray E., who died at the age of twelve years.
The mother and daughters are members of the Walnut Street Baptist church of Waterloo and Mr. Hazlett has membership in Helmet Lodge, K. P., of which he is a past chancellor, and has also been a member of the grand lodge. He became a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Tripoli and was its second chancellor commander. His political allegiance has always been given the democratic party and he was the party candidate for the office of sheriff of Black Hawk county. When he was but twenty-four years of age he was the candidate for clerk of Bremer county, and though there was a normal republican majority of eight hundred, he succeeded in reducing this to such an extent that he was defeated by only one hundred and seventy-two votes-a fact which indicated his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him.
A. H. PONSFORD.
A. H. Ponsford, who devotes his attention to the pursuits of farming and stock-raising, is the owner of a well improved and valuable property embracing one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 27, Mount Vernon township, part of which came into possession of the family fifty-six years ago. His birth occurred in St. John, New Brunswick, in 1849, but in 1857 the family crossed the border into the United States and took up their abode in Wisconsin. The follow- ing year they came to Black Hawk county, Iowa, the father purchasing a tract of land in Mount Vernon township which he cultivated until his death in 1865. The mother, who survived him for more than two decades, was called to her final rest in 1887. Seven children were left to mourn her loss and five of the number survive, namely : Joseph, who is a resident of South Dakota ; Walter F., living in
462
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
Oregon ; A. H., of this review ; Hattie, who gave her hand in marriage to William Everett, of Black Hawk county; and Minnie, who makes her home with our subject.
A. H. Ponsford, who was a lad of nine years when he came to this county with his parents, here attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. He has always remained at home and when both his father and mother had passed away took charge of the home place of eighty acres in Mount Vernon township, which he later purchased and which he has operated continuously and successfully since. He has brought the property to a high state of cultivation and improvement and has extended its boundaries by additional purchase until it now embraces one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting one of the valuable and productive farms of the community. It is situated three miles from Waterloo and lies on an interurban car line. In the conduct of his agricultural interests Mr. Ponsford has won a gratifying and well deserved measure of prosperity, and he has long been numbered among the substantial representative and esteemed citizens of Black Hawk county.
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.