USA > Iowa > Boone County > History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 38
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In 1862 Mr. Lucas moved from Grayson to Belle Point, where he located on a farm which he improved and developed until he retired from agricultural labors in 1883 and took up his abode in Madrid. He embarked in the real-estate business and has since given his attention to this line of work, also acting as notary and doing a considerable business in insurance and collections. He is considered one of the best judges as regards local realty and his straightforward, honest methods have won him a large clientele. Mr. Lucas purchased the Anderson Addition to Madrid, consisting of thirty-five lots, all of which he has sold but one lot. He was the prime mover in organizing the Madrid Historical Society, which has the honor of being the pioneer society of its kind in this part of the state. Mr. Lucas has one of the finest and largest collections of relics, documents, mound curios, elk horns and other interesting objects that are to be found in any county. It con- tains the first land deed in Boone county. There are also stone hatchets, peace Vol. II-19
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pipes, early firearms and swords, and he preserves a broad-hatchet which blazed the first road into Boone county. He also preserves an inscribed tablet referring to Lieutenant R. S. Granger and bearing the date of December 10, 1845.
On February 9, 1862, Mr. Lucas married in Douglas township, Boone county, Iowa, Miss Nancy Sturdivant, who was born in Clay county, Indiana, March 17, 1839. She came by the overland route to Boone county in 1851, the family settling on a farm in what is now Douglas township. Her father, John Sturdivant, was born in North Carolina in 1790 and died in Douglas township, Boone county, Iowa, July 6, 1866. He was among Boone county's pioneers. Her mother, Mary (Green) Sturdivant, born in North Carolina, died in Douglas township in 1889, aged ninety-four years. The parents were married in their native state and in 1830 made removal to Indiana. In their family were eight children: Rainey, deceased; Mrs. Dora Cagle, deceased ; Mrs. Elizabeth Jenkins, deceased; Mrs. Melinda Payne, deceased; Mrs. Diana Cunningham, who died in Worth township; H. C., who passed away in Boone county ; John, who died in Madrid ; and Mrs. Nancy Lucas, who is the only member of the family to survive. The three eldest in this family were born in North Carolina and the younger members in Clay county, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have had four children : Pandora, who was born Novem- ber 12, 1862, and died January 29, 1869; John, who was born September 2, 1869, a successful real-estate dealer, rice farmer and lumberman of Arkansas county, Arkansas; H. D., born October 15, 1872; and J. G., born January 8, 1879, of whom further mention is made in another part of this work. These children were born, reared and educated in Douglas township, Boone county. John Lucas was for three years editor of the Madrid Register and then spent a year with the Platte County Argus of Missouri. Returning to Iowa, he remained in this state until March 17, 1903, and then removed to Arkansas county, Arkansas, where he is at present successfully engaged as realty dealer and also follows rice farm- ing and is engaged in the lumber business. H. D. Lucas attended the common and public schools of Madrid and is engaged in the hardware business here. J. G., who is further mentioned elsewhere, is the editor of the Register-News of Madrid.
Corydon L. Lucas gives his allegiance to the democratic party and has always supported this organization and taken a deep interest in its progress. His counsel in local affairs is highly valued, and he has been an influential leader in many movements that have proven of value to his community. He was the first mayor of Madrid and during his administration laid the plans for the continued prosperity that has prevailed in his community. Under the second Cleveland administration he was postmaster of his city and earned during that time the high encomiums of all who had to transact business with the postoffice. For twelve years he has served as justice of the peace and his fairness and impartiality is readily recognized. Mr. Lucas is a man of high ideals, always actively interested in all things that affect the material, intellectual, moral and religious improvement of Madrid and Boone county. He is a member of the Christian church and de- voted to its work. His handsomely furnished home in Madrid is a hospitable meeting place for his many friends. Besides his many other interests he owns two city lots and also holds title to three hundred acres of land in Missouri. He has secured a place of trust among his fellows on account of his faithfulness to all tasks imposed upon him, and he is beloved by all because of his genial and
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pleasant disposition, which expresses itself in the helpfulness which he is ever ready to extend to all those who find themselves in situations where a lifting hand is welcome or needed.
GEORGE H. ZIMBELMAN.
Among those who have been active in promoting the business development and material upbuilding of Boone is numbered George H. Zimbelman, whose efforts have largely been of a character that has contributed to public prosperity as well as to individual success. What he has undertaken he has carried forward to completion, and as the years have gone on he has demonstrated his ability to cope with perplexing business problems and legitimately turn them to his own advantage.
Mr. Zimbelman is numbered among the pioneer residents of Boone, the family home being established here in 1856. He was then a little child of scarcely three years, his birth having occurred in Zanesville, Ohio, August 8, 1853. He is a son of John and Magdalene ( Stanger) Zimbelman, both of whom were born in the year 1817, the former in Switzerland and the latter in Alsace. John Zimbel- man crossed the broad Atlantic to the new world in 1832 and five years later was married in Ohio. He first visited Iowa in 1855, entering a tract of government land in Fort Dodge, and in the spring of 1856 brought his family to this state. They journeyed by boat to Keokuk and thence by teams (their own vehicles which they had brought with them on the boat) to Boonesboro, then a village of two hundred and fifty inhabitants. The date of their arrival was April 24, 1856. Subsequently Mr. Zimbelman erected a house on the present site of the Gospel Tabernacle, being obliged to haul the lime from Webster City, lowa, by wagon. He eventually acquired two hundred and nine acres of land just west of Boone. He was a shoemaker by trade but after coming to this state took possession of a brewery in Boonesboro, which he conducted for some time. In 1878 two of his sons, Lafe and Alfred, took over the brewing business and the father then re- tired, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of rest from further labor. He passed away December 16, 1890, and for fifteen years was survived by his wife, who died on the 3d of January, 1906. In their family were ten children : Catherine, who died in infancy ; Jacob L., deceased ; Lafayette, long a prominent lumber dealer of Boone, but now of Los Angeles ; William, deceased ; Louise, of Boone; Albert, deceased; Rovena, the wife of John R. Patterson of Boone; George II. ; Charles, deceased ; and Alfred, living in Los Angeles, California.
George H. Zimbelman spent his youthful days in Boone and attended the public schools until he entered upon business activity. For two years he was associated with his father, but in 1875, when twenty-two years of age, went to Ogden, Iowa, where for two years he was engaged in the grocery business with O. J. Halliday. He then sold out to his partner and embarked in the grocery business in connection with his brother-in-law, Mr. Patterson. They conducted their store for about two years, and in 1880 Mr. Zimbelnan started for Colorado, driving a mule team from Boone to Leadville. He then began freighting between Como and Leadville and in the fall of the same year drove the same team back
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to Boone. In the party with which he traveled were Samuel Johnson, now de- ceased, O. J. Halliday and James Paxton. Following his return Mr. Zimbelman again engaged in the grocery business as a member of the firm of Halliday, Ellis & Company and was thus connected until 1892, when he sold out. At that time, associated with others of the family, he began operating in the coal fields, sinking a shaft on his own property. For fifteen years he continued to engage in the mining of coal and then leased his land, so that he is now living retired.
Mr. Zimbelman has always given his political support to the democratic party but does not seek nor desire office, having always preferred to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. He has a wide acquaintance in this county, where practically his entire life has been spent, and he has been an interested wit- ness of the changes which have occurred, bringing about its present condition of modern development and progress.
JOHN B. STROUSE.
John B. Strouse, who throughout life has always made the best use of his advantages and is now able to lay aside all business cares and live retired in Luther, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, June 3, 1837. His father was John Strouse, who was born in Pennsylvania of German parentage and was left an orphan at an early age. When young he removed to Ohio and was there mar- ried to Miss Mary Reed, by whom he had six children, but four of these died in early life. The others are: Alpheus, who is living in Dakota ; and John B., of this review. The mother was born and reared in Ohio. Soon after their mar- riage the parents removed to Terre Haute, Indiana, and subsequently made their home at another place in that state. Later they became residents of Milford, Illi- nois, but spent their last days in Iowa, the father dying in Pocahontas county at the age of eighty-three years, and the mother passing away at the home of our subject at the age of eighty-six.
John B. Strouse was five years old when the family left his native town, but they remained residents of Indiana until he was seven, at which time they re- moved to Milford, Illinois. There he pursued his studies in a schoolhouse built of hewed logs with slab seats for benches. His educational advantages were meager, owing to the pioneer conditions of the county at that time, but he pur- sued his studies until about twenty years of age and at the same time assisted in the work of the home farm. He then started out to make his own way in the world by working for neighboring farmers. He was married in Milford, Illinois, March 1, 1863, to Miss Cynthia Jane Peed, of Salty Mound, Indiana, and they became parents of eight children. Lee, the eldest, has been twice married, his first wife being Annie Ramsay. He is a graduate of the Cincinnati Eclectic Medi- cal College and is now engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at Cov- ington, Kentucky. Mary is the wife of Benjamin Jennings of Gove, Kansas. John married Emma Likely and lives in Thornton, Iowa. Montgomery is a resident of Los Angeles, California. Frank died in infancy. Noah married Emma Barker and lives in Boone county. Ann is a resident of Des Moines. Wilbur died in infancy.
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In 1865 Mr. Strouse came to Iowa and located on his father's farm near Drakeville in Davis county, where he spent a year and a half. He then removed to Macon county, Missouri, but after residing there for a short time returned to Drakeville and one year later became a resident of Warren county, Iowa, where the following year was passed. Eight years were then spent in Pocahontas county and in 1877 he became a resident of Boone county. In his farming opera- tions here he met with most excellent success and became the owner of a well improved place of three hundred and twenty acres in Garden township, which he sold four years ago. He continued to carry on farming until April, 1900, when he removed to Luther and has since lived retired. Here his wife died April, 1911, and was laid to rest in the Clarke cemetery. She was a devout Christian lady and was loved and revered by all who knew her. Mr. Strouse has ever been devoted to his family and has given his children an excellent start in life, not only dividing his farm of three hundred and twenty acres among them, but also giving them many thousands of dollars. On starting out in life for himself he was in limited circumstances, but he steadily worked his way up- ward and by industry, enterprise and good management became one of the pros- perous citizens of his community.
FRANK PEPPER.
Farming interests have claimed the attention of Frank Pepper since he started out in life for himself, and he today owns an excellent farm of three hundred and sixty acres on section 34, Harrison township, and also one hundred and seventy acres in Jackson township, all of which property he has acquired through his own unaided efforts. A native of Iowa, he was born in Marshall county, on the 16th of October, 1857, and is a son of S. M. and Mary ( Stalling) Pepper. His mother is now deceased, but his father is still living and resides on the old home- stead in Jackson township. He is a native of Connecticut, but was reared in Pennsylvania and from that state came to Iowa in 1852, settling in Marshall county. He removed, however, to Boone county when the railroad was first built in this locality, in 1865. Having learned the carpenter's trade, he followed that occupation here for five years, but, as times were hard and there was not much to do along that line, he turned his attention to farming in 1870 and is still engaged in the cultivation of land in Jackson township. In his family are four children, namely : Frank, of this review ; William, who is engaged in farm- ing in Story county, Iowa; Arlie, the wife of George Brooks, a farmer of Clay county ; and Edward, who makes his home in Des Moines.
During his boyhood and youth Frank Pepper had the advantages of a com- mon-school education and under his father's direction gained his knowledge of farming. For six years after his marriage he operated rented land, but in 1892 purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 34, Harrison township, for twenty-six dollars per acre. He subsequently bought a forty acre tract at the same price and later added one hundred and sixty acres to his farm, paying for the last sixty-five dollars per acre. This is also in Harrison township, but at
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the present time he also owns one hundred and seventy acres in Jackson town- ship, for which he paid one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
On the 29th of January, 1885, Mr. Pepper was united in marriage to Miss Mary Diggins, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Reagan) Diggins, who were farming people, living near Ontario, Story county, Iowa, but are both now de- ceased. In the Diggins family were the following children: William, who is still engaged in farming in Story county ; Mary, the wife of our subject; Julia, the wife of Charles McKenna, a farmer of Jackson township, Boone county ; James, a farmer of Harrison township; and Kate, the wife of William Keller, a farmer of Harrison township. Mr. and Mrs. Pepper have seven sons, as follows: Fred, who assists in the operation of his father's farm in Jackson township; William and Raymond, both at home; Frank, who married Hazel York and with his brother Fred operates the farm in Jackson township; and James, Dewey and Edward, all at home. The mother and children attend the Catholic church, but Mr. Pepper is not identified with any religious organization. Although he was reared a democrat, he has affiliated with the republican party since the McKin- ley administration and has taken quite an active interest in public affairs. He served as school director for several terms and has always given his support to those enterprises which he deems calculated to promote the moral or material welfare of his community. In his farming operations he has met with most excellent success, and this has all been due to his enterprise, progressive methods and untiring industry.
WALLACE G. LAIDLEY, M. D.
Dr. Wallace G. Laidley has been a medical practitioner of Pilot Mound for the past eight years and enjoys a reputation as an able and successful repre- sentative of the profession in this county. His birth occurred in Kingston, Canada, on the 23d of January, 1876, his parents being William H. and Mary D. (Gilmour) Laidley, who were likewise natives of that country. The father, who followed general agricultural pursuits in Canada throughout his active business career, passed away on the 9th of November, 1901. The mother sur- vives, however, and yet makes her home in Canada. Their children are seven in number, namely: Oswald, Maude, Florence, Addie, Wallace G., Douglas and Kenneth.
Wallace G. Laidley was reared to manhood in his native country and attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education. Desiring to prepare for a professional career, he entered the medical department of Queens University at Kingston, Canada, and was graduated from that institution with the class of April, 1906. He then came direct to Pilot Mound. Boone county, Iowa, and has here followed his profession continuously to the present time, being ac- corded an extensive and gratifying practice. He has demonstrated his skill and ability in the successful treatment of many difficult cases and ever keeps abreast with the most advanced methods of his profession through membership in the Boone County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the Ameri- can Medical Association.
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On the 30th of June, 1909, Dr. Laidley was united in marriage to Miss Mae Mather, a daughter of Irving C. and Lillie (Caldwell) Mather, who were na- tives of Iowa and Indiana respectively. Irving C. Mather came to Boone county in an early day and embarked in the real-estate and insurance business, being successfully identified therewith until he passed away on the 20th of December, 1900. To him and his wife, who survives and resides in Boone, were born two children : Mrs. Mae Laidley ; and Guy C., who is a resident of Sheldahl, Iowa. Dr. Laidley gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a Metho- dist in religious faith. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the East- ern Star, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. He is most conscientious in the performance of his professional duties and in every relation of life is actuated by high and honorable principles.
WALTER H. CANIER.
From early boyhood Walter H. Canier has been connected with the shoe trade, and since 1886 has conducted a store in Boone. His success in this con- nection is enviable and has come entirely through his persistency of purpose, his close application and his wide-awake, alert business methods. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Washington county on the 26th of April, 1863, his parents being David and Sarah E. (Clark) Canier, both of whom were natives of Ohio. In the early '50s they arrived in lowa, becoming pioneer residents of this state. They settled on a farm in Washington county, comprising two hundred acres of wild and unimproved land. It had been taken up as a claim from the government by another and was purchased by David Canier, who immediately began its cultivation and improvement, converting it into a fine farm, which is still in possession of the family. He continued to reside upon that place until his death, and his wife also passed away there. They were the parents of a daughter and two sons: Eugenia M., the wife of Ezra H. Smith of Washington county; Orlando S., who is living in Long Beach, Cali- fornia ; and Walter H.
The last named. at the age of twelve years, left the farm as a result of an injury sustained in a cyclone, in which he was carried a quarter of a mile by the storm. This rendered him unqualified for the arduous work of the fields, and he sought employment in other directions. After five years spent in a shoe store at Washington, Iowa, he came to Boone and has been constantly in the shoe busi- ness from that time to the present. In 1886 he embarked in business on his own account and is now a partner in the firm of Canier Brothers & Herman, Mr. Her- man having been admitted to the firm in 1889. The business has been in con- tinuous existence for a quarter of a century and is today one of the old established houses of the city. They carry a large and well selected line of boots and shoes, both high grade and medium priced, and their stock is always adequate to the demands of the public, while their straightforward and honorable busi- ness policy commends them to the further support of old patrons and brings them many new ones.
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On the 14th of August, 1892, Mr. Canier was united in marriage to Della M. Broughton, a native of Indiana, who was reared, however, in Bremer county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Canier have had no children of their own, but have reared seven children, of whom one, Ivadelle, the wife of Richard H. Sturges of Los Angeles, California, was born of Mrs. Canier's first marriage, when she was Mrs. Rogers.
When age conferred upon Mr. Canier the right of franchise he indorsed the principles of the republican party and has never seen reason to change his views. He always votes for its men and measures, for he believes that the party platform contains the best elements of good government, yet he never seeks office as a reward for party fealty. He is in hearty sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the Masonic lodge, to which he belongs, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He stands stanchly in support of all that pertains to the social, moral and intellectual welfare of his community and is justly accounted one of its most worthy citizens.
GEORGE H. STANGER, M. D.
Dr. George H. Stanger is a well known and successful physician and surgeon of Boone, where he has practiced his profession continuously for the past twenty- two years. His birth occurred in Louisa county, Iowa, on the 18th of February, 1866, his parents being George and Margaret (Suitte) Stanger, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Cambridge, Ohio. The father, who in 1856 took up his abode in Louisa county, Iowa, was engaged in the business of carpentering and contracting throughout his active career. He passed away in Valley, Nebraska, on the Ist of January, 1913, while the demise of his wife there occurred on the 31st of December, 1912. Unto them were born seven children, as follows: Sarah Belle, who was born on the 5th of June, 1857, and died in 1902; Mary Virginia, who is the wife of C. V. Crooks, of Omaha, Nebraska: Carrie E., who gave her hand in marriage to J. W. Johnston, of Ayrshire, Iowa; Georgiana, deceased; George H., of this review; John S., an agriculturist residing in Webster City, Iowa; Ima Grace, the wife of J. S. Ken- nedy, of Valley, Nebraska.
George H. Stanger acquired his early education in the district schools at Boone and when twenty-three years of age entered the State University of Iowa at Iowa City. Having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he took up the study of that profession in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago, which institution conferred upon him the degree of M. D. on the 31st of March, 1892. He at once opened an office in Boone, Iowa, and that city has remained the scene of his professional labors throughout the intervening twenty-two years. An extensive and lucrative practice has been accorded him, and he has won a merited reputation as an able physician.
On the 27th of June. 1900, Dr. Stanger was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Champlin, a daughter of Frank and Lavinia ( York) Champlin, who took up their abode among the early settlers of Boone, this state. The Doctor gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is identified fraternally with
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the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his wife are freely accorded the hospitality of many homes and their genuine personal worth has gained for them the warm and enduring regard and friendship of all.
PAUL R. DYER.
Paul R. Dyer, a farmer of Colfax township, was born January 18, 1882, on a farm in that township, now the property of J. J. McKone. He is a son of William R. Dyer, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He received his education in the common schools, his first teacher being Miss Amelia Walker and his last John Menton. His schooling was completed at the age of eighteen years and he remained upon the home farm, assisting in its cultivation, until after his marriage, which occurred in 1901. He then operated the home- stead, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Colfax township, until three years ago, when he bought his present property, a valuable eighty acre farm located on section 15, Colfax township. He has made many improve- ments upon the place since it came into his possession and his knowledge of soils and proper methods of carrying on the work of the farm enables him to raise abundant crops, which bring him gratifying financial returns.
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