USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 8
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The recognition of Mr. Swan's business ability has led to the solicitation of his cooperation in connection with various other business enterprises and he is now a director of the First National Bank, is a director of the State Savings Bank at Quasqueton and president of the Iowa State Bank at Hazleton. He is likewise vice president of the Independence Cattle & Horse Company, a corpora- tion having over fourteen hundred head of shorthorn cattle and twenty-one hundred acres of land. They also engage in raising mules and their business is attended with substantial results. Mr. Swan is likewise interested in several other business affairs in Independence and is justly accounted one of its foremost citizens. He is forceful and resourceful and is ready to meet any emergency with a conscientiousness that comes from a right conception of things and a just consideration for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
In his political views Mr. Swan has long been a stalwart republican and has taken an active and helpful interest in promoting party successes. He has served as a member of the school board of Independence for nine years and he
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is now county coroner, which position he has filled for fifteen years. For five years he held the office of mayor and worked diligently in that connection to further public progress and uphold the standards of civic virtue.
In 1882 Mr. Swan was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor G. Noble, a daughter of J. D. Noble, who served as captain of a volunteer company which was raised at Independence for service in the Civil war and became known as Company C of the Twenty-seventh Infantry. He married a Miss Gillespie, who was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Swan became the parents of five children, one of whom, Charles Richard, died at the age of six years. The others are as follows: Joseph N., a resident of Oakland, Cali- fornia, is a graduate of the University of California and is now a journalist, connected with the Oakland Tribune. He married Beatrice Lyons, a resident of Oakland. Herbert G., the second son, is a graduate of the high school of Independence and of the Shattuck Military School at Faribault, Minnesota. He married Grace Cole, who was born in Independence, where they make their home, Herbert being now associated with his father in the furniture and under- taking business. Richard Mabie, also connected with his father in the furniture and undertaking business, married Ethel Stocking, a daughter of L. D. Stocking, of Independence. Agnes, a graduate of the Independence high school, is now at home.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Episcopal church and in his fraternal relations Mr. Swan is a Mason, connected with the lodge, chapter and commandery at Independence. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias. His name has figured prominently in connection with public affairs in Buchanan county for many years. He is a man of resolute purpose, who carefully formu- lates his plans and carries them forward to successful completion, and he has been willing to do his public work without any other reward than an occasional expression of appreciation. His business enterprise, too, has been a factor in advancing public prosperity, and his life counts for good in all of its various relations.
NATHAN NORTON.
Nathan Norton is now living retired in Rowley but for a long period was identified with general agricultural pursuits in this county. He has advanced far on life's journey, having reached the seventy-seventh milestone. His birth occurred in Erie county, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1837, a son of Nathan and Nabby (McCray) Norton. The father's birth occurred in Newtown, Con- nectieut, January 14, 1792, and the mother was born there on the 6th of December, 1794. Nathan Norton, Sr., became a farmer and after leaving New England carried on agricultural pursuits in both Pennsylvania and Ohio. He removed to MeHenry county, Illinois, and there purchased and cultivated a tract of land upon which he lived for several years. The year 1855 witnessed his arrival in Buchanan county, where he bought eighty aeres in Homer town- ship and at once began to till the soil and add to the improvements upon the place. In the later years of his life he left the active work of the farm to
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others but continued to make his home upon that place until his death, which occurred August 19, 1872. For several years he had survived his wife, who died in March, 1865.
Nathan Norton, whose name introduces this review, was but a young lad when his parents went to Illinois and there upon the home farm he spent much of his youth, the public-school system of the state affording him his educational opportunities. He was eighteen years of age when the family came to Iowa and continuing upon the home farm, he took charge when his father retired. He also purchased eighty acres adjoining, in Sumner township, and developed both places, adding thereto many improvements which made the farms among the most desirable in that section of the county. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil and in the sale of his crops won substantial success. In 1903, however, he retired and removed to Rowley. He also made stock-raising an important feature of his business, handling shorthorn and thoroughbred Hol- stein cattle and Poland China and Duroc Jersey hogs. Upon coming to Rowley ·he erected a fine residence, which he has since occupied.
On the 9th of November, 1859, when twenty-two years of age, Nathan Norton was married to Miss Lovina Dodson, a daughter of Thomas and Charity (Gear- lock) Dodson, the former born September 1, 1790, and the latter in January, 1794. They were pioneer settlers of Illinois and the father, who was a carpenter by trade, was killed by falling from a building on which he was at work. Mr. and Mrs. Norton became the parents of three children : Walter R., now living in Independence: Arthur E., a hardware merchant of Rowley; and Jessie, the wife of H. Todd, a farmer of Cono township. The wife and mother passed away February 5, 1874, and Mr. Norton was married in October of that year to Miss Orissa L. Blakeley, a daughter of Ambrose C. and Betsy (Lucky) Blakeley, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, the father's birth occurring in Windham, Greene county, New York, September 18, 1814, while the mother was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, August 30, 1818. Mr. Blakeley was a farmer by occupation and removing to the west, became identi- fied with the pioneer development of Buchanan county, taking up his abode here before the city of Independence was established. He secured a tract of land and was thereafter engaged in general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred December 5, 1888, while his wife passed away July 2, 1883. By the second marriage of Mr. Norton three children have been born : Herbert A., now engaged in the grain business in North Dakota; Emerson B., a farmer of Sumner township; and Allen C., residing in Cedar Rapids.
Mr. Norton votes with the republican party and has ever kept well informed concerning the questions and issues of the day. He filled the office of trustee while living in Homer township, and he has been treasurer of the school board for several years. Aside from his business his greatest activity has been along the line of church work. He is a devout Methodist and is a trustee of the church and one of the class leaders. He united with the church when but fourteen years of age and has always been most loyal to its teachings and pre- cepts. The Methodist :congregation of Rowley was organized in 1870 and the house of worship erected in 1871 at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars, previous to which time the meetings had been held in the schoolhouse. That building was wrecked in 1874 by a tornado. The members picked up the pieces
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and rebuilt the church and in 1913 a new building was erected at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. Today there is a membership of seventy-five and the church is in a flourishing condition, the work being well organized and con- stituting a force in the moral development and progress of the community.
ALEXANDER T. McDONALD.
Many of the business enterprises in Independence and a number of movements for the welfare of the community along lines of civic progress owe much of their success to the efforts of Alexander T. MeDonald, who is one of the most prominent men of Buchanan county. He was for many years a merchant of Independence, but has now retired from active business, although he is still interested in a number of concerns. The marked success which he has achieved has been due entirely to his own initiative and business acumen, as he began life without capital or the aid of influential friends. Although he has accomplished much and has been an important figure in many lines of activity in his county, he is quiet, unassuming, approachable and affable.
Mr. McDonald was born in Manilla, Ontario, Canada, on the 14th of March, 1850, a son of Donald and Ann (Edwards) MeDonald. His father was born in Canada in 1825, his parents being Archibald and Flora McDonald, natives of the highlands of Scotland, where their marriage occurred. They emigrated to Canada in 1820 and the father operated a farm near Toronto, Canada, where he passed away when about seventy years of age, and his wife died when about seventy-five. They were members of the United Presbyterian church in good standing.
Donald McDonald, the father of our subject, was reared upon the home farm and educated in the schools of the neighborhood. His marriage occurred in Canada and he continued to reside in that country for some time afterward, but subsequently removed to the United States, arriving in Buchanan county, Iowa, in 1875. He purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of land in Byron township and began the improvement of his farm, which he operated for a num- ber of years. He eventually sold the place, however, and removed to Inde- pendence, living retired until his death, which occurred in 1898 when he was seventy-three years of age. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and his political allegiance was given to the republican party. His wife was born in London, England, but accompanied her parents, Edward and Ann (Ashton) Edwards, to Canada when but a child. Both her father and mother were also natives of England. The former was a farmer and was also engaged in the banking business and accumulated a considerable fortune. He died in 1847 when but forty-eight years of age and his widow survived for many years, dying in 1880 when eighty years of age. They were both members of the Church of England. The mother of our subject was reared and educated in Canada and is still living at the age of eighty-eight years, making her home in Independence. Her church membership is with the Presbyterian denomination. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, namely: Alexander T., the subject of this review; Flora, the wife of Walter Thompson, a farmer
ATM Donald
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living in Byron township; Edward, of Seattle, Washington, government pure food and drug commissioner for Washington and Oregon; John, who previous to his death in 1911 was a merchant of Tacoma, Washington; Richard, who is engaged in the mercantile business in Tacoma; and Elizabeth and Sarah, both living with their mother in Independence.
Alexander T. McDonald passed his boyhood under the parental roof and was educated in the public schools. In 1872, when a young man of twenty-two years, he came to Independence and engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with his uncle, Thomas Edwards, this association being continued for about twenty years. The firm operated a branch store at Brandon which Mr. McDonald managed, and they also had another branch at Oelwein, Iowa. Mr. Edwards eventually sold his interest in the business to James M. Romig and Mr. McDonald continued as a partner of Mr. Romig for a number of years, but he finally sold his interest in the enterprise to Mr. Romig and then engaged in the wholesale glove and mitten business. He was associated in that under- taking with James A. Wells under the name of the McDonald Glove Company. This concern carried on business for about eight years but in 1907 was sold out to Wells Keagy & Company. The McDonald Company had about five traveling men upon the road and sold their product in Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas. Mr. McDonald was highly successful both as a merchant and manufacturer, as he conducted all of his business dealings upon the principle of fairness and justice to all, and his name stood for a high standard of commercial ethics. He also at one time owned an interest in his brother's store in Tacoma. He has invested heavily in land and owns about nine hundred and sixty acres of land in Dickey county, North Dakota, a part of which is improved and which he rents. He also holds title to about three thousand acres in Martin county, North Carolina, which he expects to put upon the market in small tracts. Until 1914 he was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Buchanan county, but a short time ago he sold it, receiving one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. He has a half interest in two store buildings in Independence and is one of the most substantial citizens of the place.
Mr. McDonald was united in marriage on the 17th of September, 1882, to Miss Clara Romig, a native of Wisconsin, born November 13, 1856, and a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Romig. Her father was born in 1814. The family came to Iowa at an early day in the history of the state and settled in Brandon, where Mr. Romig engaged in farming and also in mercantile business until his death, which occurred on the 13th of May, 1887. His wife survived for eight years, dying June 25, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have no children of their own but adopted his brother John's daughter, Nellie, when she was but a small child and reared her as their own. She is now the wife of Perry .J. Miller, a real-estate man of Independence.
Mr. McDonald is a republican but has never been willing to accept local office. He was, however, for a number of years one of the board of trustees of the Hospital for the Insane, which is located at Independence, being appointed to that office by the state legislature. Fraternally he belongs to Independence Lodge, No. 87, A. F. & A. M .; Aholiab Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M .; and Kennethı Commandery, No. 32, K. T. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church. In addition to his business connections previously
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mentioned, he is a stockholder and director of the Commercial State Bank of this city and was also for a time engaged in the manufacture of lumber here and was likewise interested in a number of the early business enterprises of Inde- pendence. He has done a great deal toward developing the commercial and industrial life of the county and has been associated in business with many people. It is much to his credit that his dealings have been invariably straight- forward and honorable and all those who have been brought in contact with him hold him in the highest esteem and respect.
CHESTER M. ROBERTS.
Chester M. Roberts, who since 1905 has been cashier of the Peoples National Bank at Independence, was born December 28, 1867, in Fayette county, just over the border line of Buchanan county. His father, John B. Roberts, was a native of southern Indiana and in the early '50s arrived in Iowa, settling upon a farm in Fayette county. He wedded Louisa M. Carpenter, who was born in the state of New York and with her parents removed to St. Charles, Illinois, whence they came to Iowa at an early period in the development of this state.
For many years Mr. and Mrs. John B. Roberts continued to reside upon a farm in Fayette county but about 1883 removed to Fairbank, Buchanan county, where he established a lumber yard, continuing in the business to the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1900. His wife survived him until December, 1912, when she, too, passed away. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Roberts enlisted for service in Company F' of the First Iowa Cavalry and remained at the front as a private for three years. He was always loyal in his citizenship, displaying the same spirit of patriotism in days of peace as in times of war. To him and his wife were born five children, all of whom are vet living : John H., a farmer residing at Lanark, Illinois; Guilford W., who is engaged in the lumber business at Webster City, Iowa; Chester M .: Cora E., the wife of W. C. Brant, a resident of Fairbank, lowa; and Griffith, who is engaged in the lumber business at Ames.
Chester M. Roberts attended the public schools at Fairbank and also the distriet schools, but his educational opportunities were somewhat limited and it has been in the school of experience that he has mastered life's most valuable lessons. He early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the farmer and remained at home, assisting his father until twenty years of age, when he began clerking in a store in which he was employed for about two years. He was afterward with an elevator company for about two years and for a year was connected with his father in the lumber business. He then came to Independence, having been appointed to publie office. His politi- cal allegiance has always been given to the democratic party. He filled the position of deputy elerk under L. F. Springer for two years and was city collector for seven years prior to 1901, when he was elected county treasurer, succeeding James A. Poor, who had held this office about thirty years prior to his death. He was elected on a minority ticket with a majority of over two hundred. This office he filled for two years and was then reelected. Ile
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resigned his position, however, to accept the office of cashier in the Peoples National Bank in 1905 and has since served in that capacity. He has been a popular official of the bank, courteous and obliging to its patrons and ever loyal to the interests of its stockholders. He also owns an interest in a farm of two hundred and ten acres, in which his partner is Rudolph Ligtze and which is operated as a general stock and dairy farm. He is likewise interested in the Wapsie Company and owns real estate in Independence.
On the 5th of September, 1891, Mr. Roberts was married to Miss Myrtle M. Higbee, who was born in Fairbank, Iowa, a daughter of R. H. and Rachel (Patterson) Iligbee. In early life her father engaged in merchandising at Fairbank as a partner of Mr. Roberts' father, and after the latter's death Mr. Highee removed to Lewiston, Idaho, where he is now living retired. He served in the Civil war with an Iowa regiment. To Mr. and Mrs. Higbec were born four children : Marvin H., who condnets a cafe and delicatessen store in Lewis- ton, Idaho; Mrs. Roberts; Elizabeth, the wife of T. J. Gorman, who is conducting a millinery and tailoring establishment in Independence, and Maud G., the wife of A. R. Luther, who is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Independence.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. Eva R., who was born August 25, 1892, is a graduate of the Independence high school and is now remittance elerk in the Peoples National Bank. Esther L., born July 30, 1894, is also a high-school graduate. Albert Chester, born December 21, 1906, com- pletes the family. Mr. Roberts holds membership with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. His entire life has been passed in this section of the state and he has an extensive cirele of friends here who entertain for him warm regard because his life has been well spent. His salient traits of character may be marked sterling and his worth is acknowledged by all with whom he has come in contact.
WALLACE M. HIGBEE.
For fifteen years Wallace M. Higbee has been one of the prominent and suc- cessful merchants of Fairbank and since February, 1914, has served as post- master of the town. He has also served acceptably as sheriff of the county and as marshal of the city of Independence. He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on the 17th of August, 1856, a son of Charles and Flora S. (Smith) Higbee, the former born in Onandaga county, New York, and the latter in Cayuga county, that state. The mother is a direct descendant of the English family of Smiths who came to America in the seventeenth century, one branch locating in New York and the other in New England. Charles Higbce died in Fairbank, Iowa, but his widow survives and resides in Cedar Rapids. Three children were born to their union, namely : Wallace M., of this review ; Lawrence C., who was born in January, 1866, and resides in Fairbank; and Mrs. Linnie Kraft, who is a resident of Cedar Rapids, this state. The two younger children were born in Oren township, Fayette county, Iowa, and all were reared there.
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Wallace M. Higbee accompanied his mother to Iowa in 1857, as his father had located in Oren township, Fayette county, the year previous. They traveled to Dubuque, Iowa, by rail and thence by team to Oren township, where the son grew to manhood. He spent a great deal of his time in assisting his father with the farm work but during the winters attended the district school. He subsequently completed the course in the Independence high school and was for a time a student in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. After completing his education he engaged in the livery business in Fairbank for a number of vears, but in 1891 gave that up in order to give his entire attention to his duties as sheriff of Buchanan county. Although the county is strongly republican, he was elected to the office upon the democratic ticket, which was a strong tribute to the esteem in which he was held by the electors. He served as sheriff for one term and was then appointed city marshal of Independence, holding that office for three years. In 1899 he returned to Fairbank and established a store, carrying jewelry, wall paper, paints, oils, cigars, stationery and drugs. On the 14th of February, 1914, he disposed of his drug interests but retains the rest of the business. He has a large and representative patronage and his customers are assured of fair treatment, as he has an enviable reputation for integrity and just dealing. On the 14th of February, 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Fairbank and has proved prompt and accurate in his manage- ment of the affairs of that office.
Mr. Higbee was married in Fairbank township, this county, on the 31st of December, 1876. to Miss Harriet L. George, who was born in that township on the 4th of October, 1860. She grew to wemanhood there and was there educated. Her parents, Sampson and Cynthia (Saylor) George, were natives of England and Tompkins county, New York, respectively. Her mother was born on the 29th of December, 1829. They were among the pioneers of Fairbank township, having made the long journey overland from the cast when it consumed weeks instead of days as at the present time. Her father was a farmer in Fairbank township during his active life but passed away at Independence. Her mother is still living and resides in that city. They had eight children, seven of whom survive : William F., a resident of Leadville, Colorado; Mrs. Lela Warburton, of Ames, Iowa ; Horace G., who was born August 7, 1857. and resides in Fair- bank; Mrs. Iligbee; Mrs. C. A. Mills, of Waterloo, Iowa; Ulysses S., deceased ; Ernest S., living at Palo Alto county, Iowa : and Clarence, also a resident of that county. All were born in Fairbank township and with the exception of the eldest, in the same house, and attended the common schools of the community. The family was well known and highly esteemed in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Higbee have been born four children, three of whom survive. Herbert George was born September 13, 1878, and after graduating from the high school at Independence completed the four years' course at the Military Acad- emy at West Point. He also graduated in pharmacy at a college in Des Moines. At present he is deputy revenue collector of Dubuque, Iowa, and captain of the famous Governor's Grays of Dubuque. Mrs. Alice L. Smith, who was born Sep- tember 8, 1880, is also a graduate of the Independence high school. She resides at Storm Lake, Iowa, where her husband is a very successful physician. Pearl died in infancy. Mrs. Amy M. Agnew, who was born November 27, 1886, was graduated from the Independence high school and lives in Fairbank. All of
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the children were born and reared in this county. Mrs. Higbee is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Fairbank and is active in the work of the various organizations in the church.
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