USA > Iowa > Boone County > History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 16
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John McCrea Brainard was the fourth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children. The three older sons died in early childhood, while the remain- ing ten children reached adult age. The subject of this sketch began his edu- cation under the teaching of his parents, who instructed him to some extent in the Latin language, in addition to those branches which today constitute the public school curriculum. He was afterward sent to the public schools and in the autumn of 1851 enrolled in the preparatory 'academy at Eldersridge, Pennsylvania, being at that time fifteen years of age. In that school he pre- pared for the junior year at Jefferson College, teaching school in the winter and attending the five months' terms at the academy. In the spring of 1853 the family removed from Pennsylvania to Beloit, Wisconsin, where John McCrea Brainard continued his education as a student at the college at that place, but only remained until fall, when he returned to Pennsylvania, where he alter- nately studied in the academy and taught school until the spring of 1856. With the completion of his academic course he decided to establish his home in the West. Before taking up his abode in the Mississippi valley, however, Mr. Brainard was married to Miss Martha Vale Wilson, a daughter of Sanford and Letitia (Clark) Wilson, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The wedding was celebrated March 18, 1856, in Callensburg. Clarion county, Pennsylvania. The bride's mother was a cousin of Governor James Clark, the third and last territorial governor of Iowa, who shortly after the close of his official term died of cholera and was laid to rest in Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Brainard became the parents of seven children: Justin, born May 9, 1858, at Charles City, Iowa, married Gladys J. Calonkey, September 4, 1884, and is now liv- ing in Florida; Walter L., born March 12, 1860, at Clear Lake, Iowa, was married June 20, 1886, to Lizzie A. Shackleton, and died September 23, 1887; Frank S., born February 18, 1862, at Clear Lake, Iowa, is a resident of Boone, Iowa ; Elmer E., born January 31, 1864, at Nevada, Iowa, was married at Elka- der, Iowa, January 2, 1889, to Fannie E. Woodward and makes his home in Williston, North Dakota ; Mabel Alice, born December 24, 1865, in Nevada, Iowa, is the widow of Dr. J. T. Coveny and they resided in Oscaloosa, Iowa, until the Doctor's death ; Emma Vale, born May 23, 1871, in Boone, Iowa, was
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married February 17, 1896, to Stillman Pearson, and resides in Aurora, Illi- nois. She had a twin brother who died a few days after their birth.
Almost immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brainard started for the middle west, and on the 21st of July, 1856, they arrived in Floyd county, Iowa, becoming residents of Charles City. In the autumn of that year Mr. Brainard accepted the position of teacher in the public schools of Charles City, with which he was connected for a year. He was afterward in the employ of the bank of Ferguson & Eastman, was in the store of Ferguson & Stanley and was connected with the county offices. In 1858 he removed from Charles City to Mason City, where he engaged in teaching through the succeeding year and in the autumn of 1859 accepted a school at Clear Lake, where he taught through the ensuing winter. During his residence there he began newspaper publication, entering into partnership with Silan Noyes in the establishment of the first newspaper at that place, known as the Clear Lake Independent. Since then Mr. Brainard has been almost continuously connected with journalism. He was at that time twenty-three years of age. The following year the Inde- pendent suspended, and the office was removed to New Amsterdam, Hancock county, where Mr, Brainard published the paper during a portion of the year 1861. Times became very hard with the outbreak of the Civil war, however, and again he discontinued his paper and turned his attention to merchandising in Clear Lake, still in partnership with Mr. Noyes, but misfortune attended this venture, owing to the fact that many to whom they had extended credit went to the war and lost their lives on the field of battle, so that the accounts could not be collected.
In the summer of 1863 Mr. Brainard removed to Nevada, Story county, where he purchased the Reveille from George Schoonover, which he rechris- tened The Story County Aegis. After five years spent in Nevada he purchased the interest of John Chapman in the Council Bluffs Nonpareil, which he edited during a part of 1868 and 1869. He next purchased the Boone Standard, and from that time forward was connected with journalistic, business and public interests in Boone, where three years before he had attended the first sale of lots. The Standard was published without missing an issue for nearly a third of a century, or until January 1, 1902, when, because of advancing years and of changed conditions in the field of newspaper publication, Mr. Brainard retired. A contemporary biographer has said in this connection: "While Brainard's modest little 'Standard' was always readable from the first line to the last, the propitious days for a weekly in Boone county, Iowa, had 'faded into the azure of the past.' Some men of his years, when compelled by the logic of their environments to give up a line of business and retire to a life wholly private, become soured and misanthropic, imagining that they have been ill-used, that 'republics are ungrateful' and all that sort of thing. Not so was it with John M. Brainard. He saw that the days of the country weekly had passed away never to return, and he accepted the situation cheerfully without a word of complaint, turning his attention to other fields of usefulness.
"The writer has known Mr. Brainard intimately and well for nearly forty years, and it is a pleasure to bear testimony to his many excellent qualities of head and heart. As a writer for the press he was one of the first among those who came as pioneers into northwestern Iowa prior to 1860. His paper was
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a clean piece of writing and printing. No parent ever felt any hesitancy in having it come into the home. It always contained much aside from the news of the day that was in the highest degree instructive. Even now old settlers speak in most cordial terms of what John Brainard's paper was a quarter of a century ago. A complete file of that most excellent journal is in the State Historical Library at Des Moines."
Mr. Brainard has several times been called to public office, although never a politician in the sense of office seeking. In 1862 he was elected to fill a vacancy from the sixth district of Iowa in the state board of education, but on the 24th of March, 1864, this board was abolished by act of the general assembly. On the 14th of February, 1873, he received from President Grant the commission that made him postmaster of Boone and in 1877-80 he was a member of the Boone school board. In 1886 he was elected to the city council and there lab- ored earnestly and effectively to advance the welfare of the city. In 1893, when it was decided to build a general sewer system, he was largely instru- mental in securing as its advisory engineer in this work, the distinguished Colonel George E. Waring, whose plans were substantially adopted. In 1881-82 Mr. Brainard was active in promoting the St. Louis, Des Moines & Northern Railway, from Boone to Des Moines, now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system. He was also one of the foremost factors in establishing and promoting the public library, which is a monument to his interest in the general welfare. He remains today one of the valued and honored residents of Boone, the growth and development of which he has witnessed for forty- five years, taking most active and helpful part in all the work of progress and improvement. There are few more thoroughly informed concerning the history of this section of the state, and his labors have been effective and far- reaching, not only for the material advancement, but also in behalf of the intel- lectual and moral progress of the district.
ISAAC E. ROBINSON.
Isaac E. Robinson was not only a successful agriculturist of Greene county but there is also honor due him for his long and faithful service in the Civil war. In his farming he always followed progressive and up-to-date methods and established valuable agricultural standards in this state.
Mr. Robinson was born near Utica, New York, October 11, 1836, a son of E. and Catherine (Bushman) Robinson, natives of New York. The father, who was also a farmer, decided upon a settlement in the middle west, where he expected to find better opportunities for advancement. He therefore made his way to Illinois, going to that state in the early days of its history and enter- ing land in Carroll county, to the cultivation of which he devoted the remainder of his days. He was successful in his chosen occupation and esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He died in 1884 and was survived by his widow for two years, the mother passing away in 1886.
Isaac E. Robinson was reared on the home farm and received his education in the schools of Illinois. In September, 1861, his patriotism prompted him
1
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to enlist in Company B, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, and for three years he served on the battlefields of the south during the greatest civil war of our history. He performed his duties faithfully and gallantly defended the Union. After his term of enlistment had expired he was honorably discharged and returned to Illinois, in which state he farmed until 1884, when he removed to Greene county, Iowa, acquiring land which he operated until his death. His demise occurred May 30, 1904, when he was nearing his sixty-eighth birthday. He always fol- lowed the most approved methods of farming and was industrious and tireless in his efforts to transform the wild prairie land into rich, bearing fields. His buildings were in the best of repair and modern machinery was installed upon his farm to increase the yield of his acres.
On September 3, 1874, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Flora Davis, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine ( Hallet) Davis, natives of Wayne county, New York. Her father was a stonemason by trade and in 1855 took up his residence in Illinois, where he continued in this occupation until his death, January 5, 1881. His widow survived him until February 27, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson had eight children: Ella, who married William Tilley, of Incline, this state; Pearl, the wife of T. C. McWhinney, of Odell, Iowa; Leonard, a farmer in South Dakota : Marion, who conducts a blacksmith shop at Boone; Lillian, whose husband, W. H. Fister, farms in South Dakota ; Myra, the wife of Guy Hoover, of Boone, Iowa: Isaac L., a coal miner residing in Boone; and Leroy G., who passed away September 15, 1881.
After Mr. Robinson's death his widow made her home with her children for some time but two years ago she came to Ogden, where she bought a hand- some home about a block from the main street. She has won many friends in this city, who esteem her for her kindness of heart and high qualities of char- acter. She is a member of the Christian church.
NOAH HARDING.
Noah Harding, now living retired in Boone at the age of nearly eighty- eight years, is the oldest pensioner of the lowa division of the Northwestern Railway. He was a faithful and trustworthy employe of that company, stand- ing high in the esteem of his superior officers, and he is highly respected by all with whom he has come in contact. He now makes his home with a daughter, Mrs. D. C. Crandell, at No. 515 Green street, Boone, and receives that respect which is due to one of his age who has done well life's work.
Mr. Harding was born September 11, 1826, on a farm in Rush county, Indiana, his parents being Jesse and Hannah ( Burkett) Harding, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of South Carolina, of German ancestry. His paternal grandfather was Eade Harding, who served for seven years under Washington in the war for independence. When our subject was only three or four years old the family, then consisting of the father, mother and three children, removed to Boone county, Indiana, the trip being made with two horses and a wagon. There the father took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres twelve miles from Indianapolis and made his home thereon until his son Noah was eighteen years of age, when he removed to St. Joseph county,
NOAH HARDING AND GREAT-GRANDSON
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that state, there acquiring title to a farm of similar size, which he cultivated for two years. At the end of that time he sold out and returned to Boone county, but subsequently went to Hamilton county, Indiana, and took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on the Miami Reserve, where he and his son Noah hewed the logs and erected a house. The Indians were still liv- ing in that locality. The father spent his last days at the home of our sub- ject in Boone county, where he passed away at the age of ninety-two years. His wife also died here, at the age of seventy. In their family were the following children: Noah, of this review; Lavina, who married Joseph Emler and is now deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of John Doty, of Boone county; Nancy, who married James Larkins and died in Oklahoma; and Susan, who wedded John Larkins and died in the same state.
In early life Noah Harding .learned the carpenter's trade and worked at this occupation successfully, building mills, houses, barns and other structures. In 1853 he removed to Story county, Iowa, and on his way there remained one night with the soldiers at Fort Dodge. He then took the trail to Boonesboro, looking over the land in order to select a homestead. He settled on one hun- dred and sixty-four acres where Story City now stands and subsequently served as its second postmaster and was the first county supervisor from Lafayette and Howard townships. He built the first schoolhouse and the first church there, and also erected the first railroad bridge in his township. During the war he operated a mill between Collegetown and Ontario, and also drilled a company which was sent to the front. He assisted in the erection of a mill at Marshalltown in the spring of 1863 and September 15, 1863, began to fell and prepare timber for Walker & Blair, contractors, who were building the North- western Railway from that point. Mr. Harding and a Mr. Dye, now deceased, had the contract for building the bridge between Nevada and Harding creek, which was named in honor of our subject. Mr. Harding assisted in build- ing the first railroad bridge across the Des Moines river at Moingona, having taken over the sub-contract from Walker & Blair, and is the only survivor of the first party which crossed that river on a locomotive, the others being W. W. Walker and John I. Blair. In February, 1873, he was appointed foreman of the Northwestern shops at Boone, which position he filled for twenty-nine years, retiring on a pension in February, 1902. He was the second man in the city to be retired by his company under the pension system. As a railroad man Mr. Harding enjoyed the full confidence of all who came in contact with him and proved himself trustworthy and faithful. He was just and exacting, but he also was kind, sympathetic and ever ready to help those who were in need of his services. For over twenty years he was assistant fire chief in Boone, and even when an old man it was a question whether there were many on the force who could outrun him. He was always first on duty, day or night, summer or winter. He saw the town developed from a small settlement of three houses until it is today one of the flourishing cities of the state, and not only did he watch the onward march of civilization, but he contributed to develop- ment and in many ways was instrumental in making possible the prosperous conditions which now prevail here.
On March 1. 1847, Mr. Harding married Miss Elizabeth Anderson, who died in Indiana in 1852, having borne her husband three children: Mary Ellen,
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who married D. C. Crandell, of Boone; Robert, who died in young man- hood, in Texas; and Ann Eliza, who died in infancy. In 1853 Mr. Harding married Miss Nancy Anderson, a sister of his first wife and a daughter of Robert and Catherine (Crum) Anderson. By this union were born the following chil- dren: Minerva, who married Edward Fisk, now of Boone; Christina, the wife of Walter Shropshire, of Omaha, Nebraska; Daniel, who died in Oklahoma; and Frances, who married Frank Saunders, of Olympia, Washington. Mrs. Nancy Harding died in Ontario, Iowa, and Mr. Harding now makes his home with his daughter at No. 515 Green street. He is revered by all who know him, and the city of Boone honors in him a pioneer who came to this state when primitive conditions yet prevailed. He is stll active in mind and body and takes a lively interest in all issues and questions of the day.
Mr. Harding is a lifelong democrat and was appointed postmaster of Story City by President Buchanan, serving in that position for eight years. He is a true Christian, yet does not belong to any particular denomination, although he always has attended church and has given his support to various religious institutions. For years he was a meinber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but after the Civil war only seven members of the lodge returned and the local organization was given up.
GEORGE E. SLAUGHTER.
George E. Slaughter is engaged in the feed and cereal business at Boone, where, in 1912, he entered into partnership with E. B. Cordell, which partner- ship is still maintained. There are no spectacular phases in his life history; it is.a record of a man who early recognized the value of industry and who, through the years of his manhood, has diligently and persistently labored for success. He was born in Ogle county, Illinois, July 31, 1874, and is a son of Joseph H. and Susan (Cooley) Slaughter, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Iowa. The father made farming his life work and in the year 1877 removed with his family to Iowa, but afterward went to Nebraska, where he spent two years. He then returned to this state, settling in Ames, where he lived for about six years, after which he returned to Illinois, where he still makes his home. In 1897 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the ioth of January of that year. In their family were six children : George: Mazy, the wife of James Elder, living in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho ; Guy, who is located at White Salmon, Washington ; Floss ; Leah, the wife of Roy Musselman of Ogle county, Illinois; and Harvey L., also a resident of Ogle county.
When thirteen years of age, George E. Slaughter started out to make his own way in the world and for several years was employed at farm labor in Boone county. His education was such as the public schools afforded. He continued to engage in farming until after his mother's death, when he turned his attention to railroad work, becoming a fireman. Later he entered the machine shop of the railway company and was identified with industrial activity as a representative of the railroad for a number of years. On the expiration of that period he
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resumed farming, to which he devoted about six years in Boone county, bringing his land to a high state of cultivation. At length, however, he established his home in Boone and entered the feed and cereal business as a partner of E. B. Cordell under the firm style of Cordell & Slaughter, which relation has been maintained since 1912. They are accorded a liberal patronage, and public opinion places them among those whose business methods are above everything that savors of deception or underhanded dealing.
On the 2d of March, 1898, Mr. Slaughter was united in marriage to Miss Hilda May Carlson, a native of Sweden, and unto them have been born two children: Ethel May, whose birth occurred January 6, 1899; and Lawrence Edward, who was born on the 22d of April, 1901. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Slaughter are loyal to its teachings and are much interested in its growth and development. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and also with the Degree of Honor, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party, which he has supported since reaching adult years. His life has been a busy one, and gradually he has advanced step by step, his industry, close application and determination winning for him the success that now crowns his efforts.
WILLIAM H. BERGER.
William H. Berger, who carries on general agricultural pursuits, now owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Amaqua township. The appearance of the place indicates his practical and progressive spirit. The fields give promise of good harvests, buildings are kept in repair and all work is done on time, there being no needless delay or waste of energy. Mr. Berger is a native of Kankakee county, Illinois. He was born December 16, 1880, of the marriage of Gustav and Louise (Appel) Berger, who were natives of Germany. In early life the father and mother came to the United States with their respective parents, and Gustav Berger worked upon the home farm for his father until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account. He took up the occupation to which he had been reared and for a time cultivated rented land, but eventually saved enough money to enable him to purchase property. He then bought a farm in Kankakee county, Illinois, and has since owned and operated it. He also owns one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 20, Amaqua township, Boone county.
His son, William H. Berger, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in Kankakee and La Salle counties, Illinois, and remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he started an independent busi- ness career by renting land in Kankakee county. He operated that farm for two years and then came to Boone county, where he cultivated his father's farm in Amaqua township for seven years. He next purchased one hundred and sixty acres, constituting his present farm on section 29, Amaqua township, lying just across the road from his father's place. This is splendidly improved and was formerly the property of C. H. Last, of Beaver. Since making the pur- chase Mr. Berger has concentrated his energies upon its further development
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with good results. Timely spring planting and careful cultivation result in the production of good harvests, and for his crops he finds a ready sale on the market. He is also a stockholder in the Beaver Cooperative Company of Beaver.
Mr. Berger was married in February, 1906, to Miss Rose Guhl, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Guhl, who were natives of Germany and became pioneer settlers of Kankakee county, Illinois. Mr. Guhl is a mason and still follows that trade at Bonfield, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Berger became parents of two children : Luella F., now six years of age; and Bonita, who died September 5, 1913, at the age of three years. The religious faith of the parents is that of the German Lutheran church, while the political belief of Mr. Berger is that of the republican party. He is now serving his third year as trustee of his township and cooperates in many movements relative to the welfare and upbuilding of the community. He is yet a young man and in the careful conduct of his business affairs has already achieved a success which many an older man might well envy.
THOMAS L. JONES.
Since 1892 Thomas L. Jones has been identified with business interests in Boone and since 1896 has concentrated his efforts upon real-estate dealing. He has been agent for many property interests here and has negotiated many im- portant realty transfers. In all that he does he is actuated by a spirit of enter- prise that enables him to overcome difficulties and obstacles and work his way steadily upward to success.
Iowa claims Mr. Jones as a native son, his birth having occurred in Story county, November 18, 1866, his parents being Richard and Henrietta (Ross) Jones, who were married on the 20th of May, 1860. The father is a native of Wayne county, Indiana, while the mother's birth occurred in Porter county, that state. Richard Jones came to Iowa in 1855, settling in Johnson county, where. he lived for a year, and then removed to Story county, where he carried on general farming, bringing his fields to a high state of cultivation and developing a splendid property. Year after year he raised good crops and in due time had acquired a handsome competence, which enabled him to put aside further busi- ness cares, so that he is now living retired. Ile has made his home in Boone county since 1892. He was a soldier of the Civil war, responding to the country's call for troops on the 29th of July, 1862, when he joined Company A of the Twenty-third lowa Infantry, of which he was made second corporal. On the 17th of May, 1863, he was wounded in the battle of Black River Bridge, Mississippi. In June, 1864, he was made first sergeant and with that rank served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out July 26, 1865, at Harrisburg, Texas. His was a creditable military record, covering three years of active service, in which he participated in a number of hotly contested engage- ments. He was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa, August 11, 1865, but he still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. To him and his wife were born four children : Thomas L .; Edward W., whose home is in Crookston, Minne- sota : James F., who studied medicine and engaged in practice in Arizona to
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