USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 56
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601
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
was graduated from Epworth with the class of 1891, completing the work in two years. He then attended Cornell College, where he completed the work of four years in two years and two terms, being graduated in 1894, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. While at Cornell he was editor of the Cor- nelian, the college paper, and he was manager of the Cornell Baseball Club in 1894. He had to finance the team in getting it on a paying basis and he came within one game of the championship. He had worked at civil engineering in 1892, in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company and such was his efficiency, that after one month's service, for which he was paid fifty dollars, his salary was raised to seventy-five dollars per month.
After completing his course at Cornell Mr. Rigby was employed on the Cedar Rapids Republican for one year in the business department and on the 1st of November. 1895, he made a contract with H. A. Munger, of the North- western Life Insurance Company to represent that corporation as agent. Not long afterward he was promoted to the position of district agent, in which capacity he has since continued. It was in that year that he came to Inde- pendence, where he has since made his home. He maintains his insurance office on the second floor of the Tabor building in Independence and in all the inter- vening years he has enjoyed an extensive clientage in that field, writing a large amount of insurance annually. His activities have covered a wide and important range. He is senior partner of the firm of Rigby & Deming, real-estate dealers of Kansas City, in connection with which business they maintain a loan and invest- ment department. Their business there is extensive and their enterprise, of most substantial character, is winning for them growing success.
In 1899 Mr. Rigby became secretary of the Independence Street Fair Asso- ciation and put on a carnival which is still remembered as the cleanest and best ever shown in Independence. In 1908 he became one of the organizers and incorporators of the Wapsipinicon Mill & Power Company, which purchased the assets of the old Independence Mill Company from the partners, who had purchased the property at the receiver's sale. Mr. Rigby had personal super- vision of the building of the plant and the concrete dam. He remains as secre- tary of the company, which today controls one of the foremost productive indus- tries of this section of the state. In 1907 Mr. Rigby took a vacation from insur- anee work and temporarily went into the land business, selling twenty-four thousand acres of land in the Las Vegas country of New Mexico. He was one of the organizers and incorporators of the Sherman, Smith Manufacturing Company, of which he became the secretary, and he raised a bonus of ten thou- sand dollars to induce that company to locate in Independence. This he did by purchasing land, which he platted into sixty-six lots and from their sale realized enough to meet the bonus.
Mr. Rigby's business activities have ever been of a character which has con- tributed to public progress as well as individual success and he has been iden- tified with projects which have had for their sole object the development and improvement of city and county. In 1904 he was elected secretary of the Oak- wood Horse Show Association, which was composed of ladies who were active in the social life of the city. He put on a horse show at Rush Park and at its close found that he had netted five hundred and sixty dollars, a check for which he gave to the members of the association. He is the secretary of the Buchanan
602
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
County Fair Association and is secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Association of County and District Fair Managers. He booked the first aeroplane for exhibi- tion ever booked in Iowa, securing this flying machine prior to the one which first exhibited at the state fair.
Mr. Rigby is also a prominent figure in political cireles and yet he has never sought nor desired office for himself, but on the contrary has refused to become a candidate. He it was who managed the campaign which elected the first republican mayor that Independence has had in more than twenty-five years, and he was also manager for R. G. Swan during his campaign for the mayoralty. He has never faltered in his allegiance to the republican party and has done effective work for its upbuilding and the extension of its influence.
On the 24th of September, 1897, Mr. Rigby was united in marriage to Miss Flora Ethelyn Scott, who was born near Oelwein, in Fayette county, Iowa, a daughter of Isaac and Marella (Marston) Scott, the latter a native of Wis- consin. The father was at one time proprietor of a hardware store in Oelwein, but later took up the occupation of farming, which he followed until he retired from active business life, now making his home in Oelwein. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott were born three children: Edith, now the wife of Alfred A. Hanson, a banker of Oelwein; Walter V., who resides on the old homestead seven miles southwest of Oelwein: and Mrs. Rigby. Mr. and Mrs. Rigby have become the parents of two children : Florence Gertrude, born October 24. 1900; and Donald Scott, October 10, 1908. Mrs. Rigby is president of the P. E. O., the largest exclusive secret organization for ladies in the world, and is very prominent in the social and charitable circles of Independence.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Rigby hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is identified also with Crescent Lodge, No. 46. K. P. He has given most generously where aid is needed and he was instrumental in having the municipal Christmas tree, raising the money for the project, which resulted in his being able to turn over seventy dollars to the Poor Relief Society. He is actuated in much that he does by a spirit of broad humanitarianism and such is his personal worth and such the value of his public services that in 1912 he was the recipient of a beautifully engraved solid gold watch, which was presented to him at a banquet held in his honor at Cedar Rapids. In all his works in behalf of the community he is actuated not merely by a sense of duty, but by the deepest and keenest interest in the general welfare. and there is noth- ing that gives him greater pleasure than to aid in the promotion of a project that will benefit the city or the state at large. His labors have, indeed. been resultant factors for good and there is today no more valued or honored citizen of Inde- pendence than Alfred Gerard Rigby, whose life history is that of a self-made man and one whose record should serve to inspire and encourage others.
E. R. WATSON.
Among the successful and progressive farmers of Buchanan county is num- bered E. R. Watson, who operates a fine property of two hundred aeres on sec- tion 14, Cono township. His birth occurred at Quasqueton, this county. on the
603
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY
1st of June, 1858, his parents being Francis and Sophia (Bassett) Watson, both of whom were natives of New York, the father born January 5, 1831. About 1852 he came to Iowa, taking up his abode at Quasqueton, Buchanan county. He was a carpenter by trade and there worked at that occupation for a few years, while subsequently he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, purchasing eighty acres, adding to it till he had two hundred acres of land in Cono township. He improved the property and continued its operation success- fully throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in March, 1910. In his demise the community lost one of its substantial agriculturists and most esteemed citizens, for he had been a resident here for nearly six decades and had won many warm friends. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. Politically he was a republican and was an active worker in the party ranks. He also held township office, proving efficient in the discharge of his duties. His widow has now attained the age of eighty-three years and still resides on the old home farm in Cono township. She has been a member of the Congregational church at Quasqueton since 1860. To Mr. and Mrs. Francis Watson were born three children, namely: E. R., of this review; Frank S., who is a resident of Independence, Iowa; and William, who is in the government service at Wash- ington, D. C.
E. R. Watson acquired his education in this county and at Vinton, Iowa. After attaining his majority he operated the home place as a renter for a period of fifteen years and subsequently spent four years in the butchering business at Mount Auburn, Benton county, this state. On returning to this county he undertook the management of the home farm in Cono township and has since continued its operation with good success, following the most practical and progressive methods in the conduct of his agricultural interests.
In January, 1882, Mr. Watson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Smalley, a daughter of Royal and Hannah (Wheelock) Smalley. The father, a native of Vermont, served with the Union army in the Civil war and died shortly after the cessation of hostilities. The mother passed away in the year 1892.
In politics Mr. Watson is a stanch republican and for one term he ably served as trustee of Cono township. He belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Eastern Star, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. A man of excellent qualities of character, of strong and resolute purposes, industrious and enterprising, he is well known throughout the community for his upright- ness and honesty and merits and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neigh- bors and friends.
INDEX
Agnew, F. F.
559
Cecil, George
Ahearn, T. J.
550
Allen, H. A ..
287
Chappell, H. C ..
485
Anderson, D. W.
489
Chappell, Katharyn J.
543
Arnold, Charles
Cherny, J. L.
30
Arnold, Jacob
Clarke, R. F.
419
Arnold, Jacob, Jr.
510
Arnold, William
582
Arthaud, C. F.
Coltman, W. B.
376
Bagley, Alonzo
213
Ball, H. F.
554
Ballou, W. C.
286
Bare, G. W.
44
Barr, J. N ..
Considine, Thomas
332
Bates, J. C ..
72
Cook, R. E. 491
Beatty, A. G ..
Cooper, R. A ..
322
Beatty, Stewart
Copeland, R. H.
388
Beatty, William
396
Berridge, John
76
Biddinger, J. W.
328
Craig, E. O.
534
Black, G. D ...
97
Craig, P. V.
178
Bland, Jonathan
176
Blank, W. H., Jr ..
320
Crumbacker, W. P.
446
Boies, C. E .. 224
Currier, E. L ..
Boies, H. L. 513
Daker, H. J.
401
Destival, L. H.
156
Boyack, C. E.
198
490
Dopp, William
455
Brierly, M. R ..
27
539
Bright, C. L .. .
404
Brintnall, E. E.
549
124
Eddy, M. L ..
556
Ehler, Joseph
26
Elliott, George
458
Brown, W. G.
374
Buck, J. A .. .
183
Buckley, E. P.
170
Buckley, R. I ...
55
297
Falck, W. C ..
427
Farmers Savings Bank, Lamont.
398
Fest, John
144
Burns, John
Fiester, C. W.
452
Forrester, E. V
65
Fouts, M. C
63
Franck, Fred
243
Franck, G. W ..
71
Campbell, Richard
412
Carr, James
379
Carr, J. F ...
268
Carsey, R. F.
372
Frush, Charles
Carvey, D. C .. . :
Freeman. P. G ..
291
French, R. F.
167
Cobb, H.
186
Combs, J. D .. 267
249
Comfort, E. W.
288
Comfort, Z. A.
128
Considine, M. R ..
335
583
Cornwell, E. D.
Cowles, E. S. 498
260
Blamer, G. T ..
562
Crew, O. K ..
149
Crooks, A. B ...
102
Bolton, W. H.
572
Bordner, E. A. 236
Donnan, A. M.
Boyack, William
168
Duckett, E. D.
Brintnall, E. P ..
514
Brintnall, Mrs. Mary.
512
Brown, J. L ..
285
Elliott, John
136
Everett, C. B.
191
Everett, E. E ..
Buehler, Albert
331
Bunnell, Mrs. Joseph.
445
Burke, H. E ..
13
116
Burrhus, A. P.
501
Butterfield, C. W.
469
Butterfield, W. E.
5
Franck, W. J.
172
58
Catt, C. L ..
78
519
Chapman, F. L.
480
278
497
Close, G. B .. 276
565
Combs, N. N.
19
544
479
Douglas, D. G ..
576
605
606
INDEX
Gallery, Edmond
161
Krapf, W. H. 509
Gardner, John
478
Kress, Jacob 573
Gardner, W. H.
464
Garland, J. .
218
Laird, J. D. 101
Lake, Jed 8
Lamb, J. F 421
Lamont Savings Bank. 463
Leach, Ephraim 596
293
Gillett, O. M ..
22
Leary, John
441
Gladwin, O. C .. 477
162
Lewis, E. A .. .
352
Gould, C. H ..
511
Limbert, Joseph
250
Griswold, W. E.
147
Lotts, O. H. 588
Lowry, George 192
314
Luloff, E. F. W
418
Luther, A. R .. 295
359
Lynch, H. T. 535
McBane, Lafayette 467
McCarthy, Mary (Cowie) . 123
McClernon, A. L. 163
McDonald, A. T. 86
64
Hearn, W. D ..
264
Mackenzie, Ezra 431
262
Heiserman, Gottlob 522
Mason, S. G .. 560
150
Henderson, A. R.
530
Metcalf, O. J.
312
Henderson, P. J ..
79
Meyer, Henry
62
Hermann, W. H.
15
Meyer, John
77
Herrick, C. F ..
66
Meyer, Nicholas
502
Higbee, W. M.
91
Meythaler, C. E ..
361
Higgins, Andrew
185
Miguet, N. M ..
337
Higman, Harry
555
Miller, W. B ..
227
Hittle, S.
390
Miller, W. C ..
546
Hood, D. C.
553
Hood, James
94
Morning, Theodore
542
Houck, Alexander
138
Housholder, H. A.
308
Mumford, E. F.
239
Housholder, T. B. 284
Hovey, H. W. 217
Nabholz, B. F. 409
386
Nabholz, J D.
532
Netcott, H. E.
394
Ney, J. J ..
Nichols, F. W 206
28
Norman, A. W.
252
Norman, F. C ..
536
Norton, A. E.
84
Jakway, G. H.
545
Jamieson, R. H. 348
Orr, James
189
Ossman, J. F.
129
Kaesser, W. C. . 475
Parker, Elias
122
Kassar, L. L ..
157
Pelley, G. S ..
531
Kautz, Daniel
199
Perkins, A. W 366
Kelsh, Thomas
360
Perry, M. I. 238
16
Kenyon, C. A.
Plank, E. L.
205
Kerr, F. E ..
245
Kiefer, W. G.
34
Pooler, W. L ..
340
Kimball, L. T.
Powles, W. E. 158
Klotz, G. W. 283
296
Purdy, C. E ..
99
Klotz, L.
593
Irwin, E. F.
Jakway, F. E. 466
465
Norton, Nathan
204
Jenks, C. R .. 564
Jenks, E. K. 563
Ozias, M. D.
200
Kanouse, Sam 397
Parker, N. G.
Kenney, W. C ..
307
Plane, R. R.
330
305
Plank, F. T.
524
Hovey, L. S ..
591
Hovey, S. B .. 585
426
Huschke, J. G.
Iliff, C. E .. 50
Norman, L. N.
259
Jakway, G. A.
197
Miller, Samuel
382
Hill, Thomas
177
McGrath, J. L ..
Heiland, Charles 269
Marshall, T. R ..
Hekel, J. F ... 380
Merrill, Albert
Harmon, M. W.
6
Harrington, P. F.
456
Hammelann, Otto
274
Grover, A. H ..
Grover, G. I .. 222
Gunzenhauser, C. 41
Haines, H. 56
Lux, J. B ..
Haines, W. O. 135
Halleck, W. B .. 194
Halstead, T. F. 164
356
Gerstenberger, George
Gilbert, C. H.
214
Gill, Isaiah 517
Leach, R. E.
Leaven, J. W. 221
Gleerup, Chris
Loy, W. N ..
Hardwick, G. W 365
Miller, W. F.
428
Mount, A. D .. 403
Garland, W. H. 443
Gates, Darius 275
INDEX
607
Quick, William
453
Swan, R. G ..
80
Swartzell, L. T.
318
Raines, R. B ..
470
Sweeney, J. D.
381
Taylor, T. E .. 108
Tempus, Henry 342
Revel, D. H .. 433
Thedens, P. C ..
14
Richardson, Ezra 486
Thompson, G. G.
448
Rigby, A. G ..
599
Thompson, J. D .. 363
Thompson, Walter 436
Risk, George
474
Tielebein, A. P. 137
Roberts, C. M.
90
Tielebein, B. W.
148
Robinson, Thomas
273
Tielebein, Otto
133
Rogers, J. R.
581
Titus, G. E ..
113
Todd, A. N .. .
130
Sauer, George
169
Toomey, Cornelius
364
Sauer, Louis
448
Scarcliff, Thomas
120
Schneider, Martin
203
Tunks, H. E.
457
Schroll, Peter
325
Searls, S. F.
523
Van Orsdol, James
444
Sells, B. B ..
578
Van Orsdol, W. F. 112
Sheffield, G. E.
190
Shellito, A. G.
282
Wackerbarth, Jacob
304
Sherren, William
134
Walker, Dan
563
Sherrer, George
Walker, J. L.
311
Sherrets, J. C.
508
Walter, L. F. 584
476
Shine, M. L. 93
Ward, E. C ...
327
Shoenut, Lewis
270
Warren, W. I ..
496
Short, M. I 408
Watson, E. R.
602
Simmons, L.
230
Weart, J. L.
232
Slemmons, G. F.
61
Weiher, John
237
Smith, Adelbert
520
Whitney, C. M ..
410
Smith, A. A.
.435
Whitney, E. M.
375
Smith, Joseph
319
Willey, J. H.
208
Smith, J. J.
339
Williams, F. M.
42
Smith, J. N.
326
Wilson, S. A .. .
492
Smith, M. A.
21
Wolgamot, C. W.
231
Snow, G. A ..
115
Wolgamot, D. S
253
Soules, A. J.
488
Wolgamot, J. W.
281
Spangler, G. F
566
Woodrum, D. C ..
106
Spangler, S. T.
298
Woodward, J. S.
574
Stephenson, J. F.
575
Wooff, J. W ..
341
Stevenson, J. C ..
Wurtz, G. W
352
Stevenson, W. G.
228
Stoddard, B. F.
411
Zimpfer, Adam, Sr.
541
Stumma, C. F.
Zimpfer, A. E.
587
Stumma, W. F.
387
Zimpfer, W. H.
552
Suhr, H. F ..
354
Sullivan, P. R.
451
Zimpher, Jacob
500
Ramsey, G. W .. 254
Raymond, E. W. 182
Retz, Fred
393
Riseley, J. H. 154
Trask, C. G.
422
Tunks, A. F. 246
Shimer, F. E.
244
Walton, W. N.
595
Singer, U. S. G.
35
Weber, J. A.
223
36
240
Vol. II- 28
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