USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 3
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
and commandery in Masonry and with the Mystic Shrine. He is also a promi- nent member of the Knights of Pythias and for one year was grand chancellor of Iowa. His genuine personal worth and his fidelity to the principles of these fraternities have gained him the high and enduring regard of his fellow members. Mrs. Gillett is a member of the Pythian Sisters and the Ladies' Literary Club, while he belongs to the Country Club. The record which he has made in official and business eireles establishes him as one of the leading citizens of Independence, and through the years of his residence here he has gained a circle of friends that is almost coextensive with the circle of his aequaintanee.
GEORGE ELLIOTT.
George Elliott still resides at his fine farm home on section 7, Fremont township, although retired from active life, and still owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. At one time he held title to seven hundred acres. He was born in Yorkshire, England, about sixteen miles from Sheffield, on the 30th of July, 1830, a son of John and Susanna (Dawson) Elliott, who twelve years later came with their family to America. They went to Winnebago county, Illinois, settling four and a half miles from Rockford on Kent's creek, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying when sixty-eight years of age and the mother when fifty-five years old. The father was a farmer by occupation, and both were members of the Church of England. To them were born ten children, of whom six are deceased. one brother dying while in service during the Civil war. Those living besides George are: Mrs. Elizabeth Bouck, a resident of Minnesota; Mrs. Ann Faulkner, living near Rockford, Illinois ; and Mrs. Hester Faulkner, also living near Rockford.
George Elliott received but a meager education, as he never attended school in this country and as he was but eleven years old when he came here. He remained at home until eighteen years of age and then started out in life on his own account, since which time he has made his way without material help from anyone. He came to Buchanan county in 1853 and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jefferson township, which he fenced with rails and otherwise improved. He resided there the greater part of the time until the spring of 1857. when, with two yoke of cattle he started for Pike's Peak. He passed through Des Moines and Council Bluffs, this state, and Nebraska in company with a Scotchman named Hugh Robinson. His route then took him down the Missouri river from Omaha to Nebraska City and along the southern edge of that state. He fished and hunted and found that region of the country to abound in fish and game. He crossed Iowa with a team four times but never got as far west as Pike's Peak. He eventually returned to Buchanan county and sold his farm in Jefferson township, buying land on section 7, Fremont township, just north of his present home farm. Sinee 1861 he has resided continuously on section 7. He became the owner of seven hundred acres of land, which he improved and brought to a high state of cultivation, but he has sold all of his land except one hundred and sixty acres where he resides. He is now living retired, but was for many years a general farmer and a stock-raiser.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
He was especially interested in the problems of the corn grower and experi- mented for years with selected seed, new methods of cultivation and the effects of different kinds of soil. He was known as a progressive and scientific farmer and won marked financial success. In 1896 Mr. Elliott became president of the Winthrop State Bank and continued as such until 1912, when he retired.
In 1861 Mr. Elliott was married in Byron township, Buchanan county, to Miss Jeanette Sharp, a daughter of John and Jeanette (Ferguson) Sharp, both born in the vicinity of Glasgow, Scotland. She was born near Albany, New York, in 1843, and came to this county in 1857 with her parents, a brother and sister, the family loeating in Byron township. After coming to America her father engaged in farming, but as a young man he was a carpenter and builder and for some time worked at that trade in Glasgow. He was later in the employ of the British government for years and was sent to Ireland. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have been born eight children, namely : John, a resident of Lamont; Alice, the wife of Albert Reed, of Winthrop; William, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Aurora, this county; Florence, the wife of Frank Kerr, of Byron township; Bertha, who died when three years old; Blanche, at home; Leigh, a farmer residing at home; and Belle, at home.
Although not identified with any religious denomination, Mr. Elliott is in sympathy with the work of the churches and aids them generously. Politically he is independent, preferring to follow the dictates of his own reason and conscience in his support of candidates and measures. He has served acceptably as township trustee. He is a man of broad minded views and his tolerance and keen sense of justice make his judgment clear and his counsel much sought. All who know him esteem him highly and his friends prize his good opinion.
COURTNEY L. BRIGHT.
The Jesup State Bank, which was organized in 1901, has in the intervening years to the present time grown steadily in assets, the volume of business trans- acted and the confidence of the public. Much of the credit .for this continued prosperity is due to the foresight and wisdom of its efficient cashier, Courtney L. Bright. He was born in Perry township, this county. on the 11th of Decem- ber, 1873, a son of David S. and Mary (Bantz) Bright. His boyhood was passed at home and after completing the course afforded by the public schools he en- tered Herds Business College at Fayette, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then remained upon the home farm for a time and in addition to assisting with the work of the farm served as secretary of the Jesup Creamery Company. By this time he had definitely decided to devote his life to business pursuits and wished a more comprehensive and thorough knowledge of the most exact and labor-saving methods and also of the larger phases of administration. He therefore took commercial courses both at Ames, Iowa, and at Cedar Rapids, this state, thus making excellent preparation for efficient service in the business world. When the Jesup State Bank was organized in 1901 he was elected cashier and has held that important and responsible position ever since. IIe has detailed knowledge of the routine work of the institution and under his administration
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
all of the accounting is accurately and systematically done. and the broader phases of banking, the investment of funds, the extension of credit and the rela- tions of the bank to its correspondents in the larger cities are all wisely handled.
Mr. Bright was married April 6, 1912, to Miss Minnie Miller, a native of Perry township, and a daughter of Edward and Eliza (Diehl) Miller. Her father was born in Ohio in 1828 and became a resident of this county about 1850, teaching school in this locality for many years. He and his wife are both deceased. Mrs. Bright has passed her entire life in this county and has many warm friends here. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children : Rush C .. Mildred B. and Keith L., all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Bright are both members of the Methodist church and give their moral and material support to the forces that make for righteousness. He is a democrat in his political views and was for eight years township elerk and for one term mayor of Jesup, in both capacities safeguarding as carefully the interests of the public as in his private life he looks after his personal interests. Before his election to the office of mayor he was for a time treasurer of Jesup and two years after his term of office as chief executive expired he was again elected treasurer and still holds that office, his repeated reelection being the best proof of the acceptability of his service. He is also a notary public. He served as secretary and treasurer of the Jesup Creamery Company for ten years and for the past eight years has been secretary and treasurer of the Farmers Telephone Company. Fraternally he belongs to Kingsley Lodge. No. 416, K. P., and to the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is prominently identified with the business, religious, civic and social affairs of Jesup and is one of the most valned and most respected citizens of the town.
ALBERT WILLIAM NORMAN.
Although Albert William Norman bas retired from his labors as an agricul- turist, he is actively interested in public affairs in Winthrop and is connected with a number of business enterprises there. He was born on the 31st of August, 1854, in Ohio, a son of Nicholas V. and Mary A. (Taylor) Norman. The former was a native of Somersetshire, England, born on the 15th of June, 1819, and remained upon a farm in that country until 1848. when he came to the United States and followed agricultural pursuits in the east until 1864. He then rame to this county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Fremont town- ship, situated about two miles northeast of Winthrop. The land was partly im- proved when it came into his possession and he did much to increase its value. making it one of the best developed properties of his locality. He followed mixed farming, raising cattle and hogs, and his enterprise and good judgment won him snecess, enabling him to add to his land until he became the owner of about six hundred acres. This achievement was the more creditable, as he began business with no capital. About 1889 he retired from active life and rented his land, coming to Winthrop, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 7. 1901. He was a republican in his political belief and was steadfast in his support of that party. He held various township offices and for many years
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
was one of the leaders of his party in this county. His religious affiliation was with the Church of England. His wife was also a native of Somersetshire, England, her birth occurring on the 1st of May, 1830, and she remained in her native land until 1848, when she emigrated to the United States, locating in Ohio, where she was married to Mr. Norman in August, 1849. She survived her husband and passed away in this county, August 23, 1910, at the age of eighty years, three months and twenty-two days. She was likewise a member of the Church of England and is buried beside her husband in the Winthrop cemetery. To them twelve children were born, namely: Freeman W., who died, leaving a family ; one who died in infancy unnamed; Frances A., the wife of Edgar Hur- mance, of this county, by whom she has several children; Albert William, of this review; Charles, of Bellingham, Washington; Ida M., who married Richard Braden and passed away leaving one son ; Frederick S., the agent for the Illinois Central Railway at Independence, Iowa; Henry, who died leaving a family ; Grant, who died when nine years of age; huey A., the wife of Wilbur Knight, of Oelwein, Iowa, by whom she has three sons: Lafayette N., of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work; and Homer E., a farmer of Fremont town- ship, this county.
Albert William Norman was brought to this county by his parents in 1865 when a lad of eleven years and was reared at home, attending the publie schools in the acquirement of an education. Upon reaching his majority he rented land in this county, which he farmed until 1879, when he removed to Fayette county, this state, and operated a rented farm for three years. He then returned to Buchanan county and rented land for a year, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Fremont township. He carried on agri- cultural pursuits there with gratifying success until 1913, when he sold the farm. However, he still owns considerable land, including one hundred and fifty-six acres, fifteen of which are within the limits of Winthrop and eighty aeres in Fremont township. He rents his land and derives therefrom a good income. Although he did not sell his home place until 1913, he retired from active farm work in 1911 and came to Winthrop, where he has since resided.
Mr. Norman was married on the 2d of February, 1882, to Miss Martha J. Braden, who was born in this county on the 8th of June, 1859, and died in 1889, leaving three children as follows: Maude, the wife of Martin Bucher, of Winthrop; Samuel Venn, cashier in the Waverly Savings Bank of Waverly, Iowa; and. Albert W., a resident of Dubuque, Iowa. On the 11th of September, 1906, Mr. Norman was again married, Mrs. Jennie M. Overbaugh becoming his wife. She was born in Griggsville, Pike county, Illinois, on the 28th of September, 1874, and when a girl of eight years accompanied her parents to this place. She is a daughter of T. R. and Susan (Lightle) Marshall, natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Norman have a son, Kenneth William, born June 3, 1909.
Mr. Norman is a republican in his political views and is quite prominent in local affairs. He is now serving his second term as mayor of Winthrop and is giving the municipality an efficient administration. He has been a member of the school board for six years and for the last two terms has been president thereof. He has been constable for a great many years and is fearless in the dis- charge of his duties in that connection. He is president of the Winthrop Tele-
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
phone Company, of which he was one of the founders, and is a stockholder in the Peoples State Bank of Winthrop, which is one of the flourishing and reliable financial institutions of the county. His wife is a member of the Methodist church and takes a lively interest in the furtheranee of the work of that organ- ization. Fraternally he belongs to Winthrop Lodge, No. 550, I. O. O. F. He is a representative of that fine type of man who, upon retiring from the cares of business, devotes his time, energies and his wide experience to the public welfare, and the town of Winthrop has gained much from his residence within its bounds.
ROBERT F. CLARKE.
No history of Buchanan county would be complete without extended refer- ence to Robert F. Clarke, so prominently, actively and helpfully has he been connected with its business enterprise and advancement. No man today occupies a more enviable position in commercial and financial eireles-not by reason alone of the success which he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward, honorable business policy which he has ever followed, his course being guided by the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and industry.
He was born in Independence, April 12, 1868, a son of Asa B. and Margaret (Hedges) Clarke, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. The father's birth oceurred in Conway, that state, in 1820, and the mother was born in 1830, near Westfield, in which town their marriage was celebrated. In the year 1849 the father made his way over the plains to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast. He was educated in Amherst College and previous to his trip to the far west had engaged in teaching. In 1854 he removed to ยท Iowa, establishing his home in Dubuque, where lived four brothers of the family. There he studied law and was soon admitted to the bar, becoming one of the pioneer lawyers of the state. At that time the railroad extended only as far west as Freeport, Illinois, and there were many distriets of Iowa which bore all the evidences of pioneer life. With his brother Albert, Mr. Clarke came to Independence, where they engaged in the land business, entering large tracts of land with soldiers' warrants which they had purchased. In the sale of that property, after the increase in land values, they realized a handsome competence. After continuing in the business for a number of years Asa B. Clarke established a drug store on the west bank of the river, which he conducted for a considerable period. He erected the brick building now occupied by the West End Grocery Company and was otherwise identified with the material development and im- provement of the city. About 1881 or 1882 he retired from active connection with commercial interests. However, many business affairs have profited by his cooperation and benefited by his sound judgment. He was interested in the flour mill company as treasurer for a number of years when that was one of the flourishing concerns of the city. He was one of the organizers of the Presby- terian church of Independence and was serving as an elder at the time of his death, which occurred December 18, 1882. His wife survived him for twenty- four years, passing away in 1906. While an active business man, Asa B. Clarke
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
was also prominent in connection with public affairs and filled various offices in his town. As justice of the peace he performed many marriage ceremonies in the early days.
To him and his wife were born four children: Virginia, now the wife of William S. Boggs, who is cashier of the California State Bank at San Bernardino, California; Fannie E., residing at the old home in Independence; Archer E., who at the time of his death was engaged in the wholesale lumber business at Los Angeles, California, where his family still reside; and Robert F., of this review.
The last named supplemented his publie-school education, acquired in Inde- pendence, by study in Ames College and in Coe College at Cedar Rapids. When twenty years of age he engaged in the grocery business in connection with the establishment that is now conducted under the name of the West End Grocery Company, this being the same store which had formerly been conducted by his father and older brother. He gave the business his attention until 1900 and then organized a stock company under the name of the West End Grocery Company, of which he became and still remains the president. His attention, however, is now divided among other business enterprises with which he is associated. In 1900 he entered the Peoples National Bank as cashier and in 1906 was elected president and still remains at the head of the institution. He is likewise a stockholder in the Wapsipinicon Mill Company, is president of the Brandon State Savings Bank and is identified with various other corporations. He is likewise a landowner in Buchanan and other counties of Iowa and in South Dakota and Canada.
On the 17th of June, 1890, Mr. Clarke was married to Miss Lillian Scarcliff, who was born in Independence, a daughter of Thomas and Hattie (Crippen) Scareliff. The father's birth occurred in Lincolnshire, England, in 1828, and when about eighteen years of age he came to the United States. A short time after his arrival on American shores he made his way to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he resided until about 1854. He then came to Iowa and purchased forty acres of land, borrowing the money to make the investment. He paid one hundred dollars for the land but had to pay forty per cent interest on the loan. He did not take up his abode upon that traet but settled on a farm which he had previously purchased that is now within the city limits. He platted and laid out the northeastern and southeastern portions of Independence, known as Searcliff's additions, while Mr. Clarke's father laid out the southwestern part of the city, known as the A. and A. B. Clarke addition. The Clarke brothers were also largely instrumental in getting the state hospital located at Independence and thus both Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clarke are representatives of families who have taken a most helpful part in promoting the upbuilding and progress of the city. Her father is still a resident of Independence. He has recently sold a traet of land which he divided into lots. In early times he dealt in grain and on various occasions shipped as high as thirty thousand bushels. He it was who shipped the first carload of grain ever sent from this point. With the business development of the city he has been closely associated from pioncer times and for many years he has been the vice president of the Peoples National Bank of Independence. His wife, a native of New York, passed away in 1911. They were the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Clarke
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
was the eldest and the other surviving member of the family is Thomas Scar- cliff, Jr., who is now engaged in the coal business in Independence.
To Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have been born three children : Margaret Scarcliff, who was graduated from the Lake Forest College at Lake Forest, Illinois, in June, 1913; Harriet Daisy, who is now a senior in the same school; and Frances Josephine, who is attending high school in Independence.
Mr. Clarke is an independent republican in his political views but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He and his wife hold membership in the First Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder, and he has been a generous contributor to its support. Throughout his entire career duty and honor have been his watchwords, and justice has been one of his strong characteristics. In business affairs he has long occupied a central place on the stage of activity, and he is today one of the most prominent and representative citizens of Independence, his labors having found culmination in success- that success which is as well a feature in public progress and prosperity.
LEONARD T. KIMBALL.
Leonard T. Kimball, president of the State Savings Bank at Quasqueton, is one of the more progressive among the younger business men of the county. He never fears to venture where favoring opportunity points out the way. More- over, he is fortunate in possessing character and ability which inspire confidence in others, and it has been the simple weight of his character and ability that has carried him into important business relations.
Mr. Kimball was born in this county in 1886, a son of T. H. and Lilly (Cot- trell) Kimball, also natives of this county and representatives of old pioneer families. The paternal grandparents came to Iowa at an early period in the settlement of this state, and in Quasqueton T. H. Kimball was reared. In early life he began farming on his own account and later bought and sold cattle in and near Quasqueton. He likewise engaged in buying and selling land and became an active factor in business eireles. He was also one of the organizers of the State Savings Bank, of which he became the first president, and he has been interested in several different business concerns and projects but has given the greater part of his time to his live-stoek, real-estate and banking interests, in which he is still engaged, making his home in Quasqueton. His fellow townsmen have called him to the office of mayor through popular suffrage and his administration was characterized by a prompt and businesslike dispatch of duties. He has placed not a little of his money in the safest of all investments and is now the owner of considerable land in Buchanan county.
Leonard T. Kimball, who was one of a family of two children, the other being a brother, Bernard, who died when two years old, attended the country schools of Quasqueton and when eighteen years of age embarked in business on his own account as proprietor of a shoe store, which he conducted for two years. He then turned his attention to the hardware trade at Aurora, Iowa, but remained in that line for only a brief period, after which he engaged in general merchandising for two years. His entrance into the banking business was
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
made while he was conducting his shoe store, at which time he was elected assistant cashier of the State Savings Bank of Quasqueton. He proved capable and efficient in that connection and three years later was promoted to the position of cashier, serving in that capacity for four years. He was then elected to the presidency and has since remained at the head of this institution, which is conducted along safe, conservative lines, its business affairs being characterized at all times by thorough reliability. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Kimball owns valuable farm lands and is engaged in the raising of Polled Angus cattle, thus adding materially to his income.
In 1907 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kimball and Miss Blanche E. Spees, a native of Buchanan county and a daughter of W. E. and Roberta (Cooper) Spees, both representatives of well known pioneer families of Buchanan county. The father was born in 1862 and in early life he followed farming but afterward became proprietor of a hotel in Bellingham, Minnesota. He also engaged in the elevator business and at different times has conducted a barber shop. For a period he was also a traveling salesman. His wife, who was born in 1864, died in February, 1911. In the family were three children, including Mrs. Kimball, who by her marriage has become the mother of two daughters: Norma Maxine, born May 24, 1909; and Lorraine, born May 10, 1914. Mrs. Kimball is active in the social, club and literary circles of Quasqueton, in which she moves as a prominent and influential figure.
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