USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 3
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 3
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of the silver mines in Ontonagon county and after several years of prospecting and mining, in which he met with little profit, the mines were closed down. Mr. Hooper then took charge of the Nonesuch copper mine, but one year later, on account of the death of the president, R. P. Wade, of Cleveland, this mine was closed. Mr. Hooper afterward leased the mine for a period of seven years and completed the railroad track extending from the mine to Lake Superior. He also built a dock on the lake shore and put in a small stamp mill at the mine. After a very suc- cessful operation of this mining property for two or three years he located else- where, owing to the fact that the mine was sold to a Milwaukee-Chicago syndicate.
It was then that Mr. Hooper removed to Baraga county, Michigan, where he took charge of a slate roofing quarry. After seven or eight years the quarry was finally closed owing to the scarcity of the product. During its operation that quarry fur- nished the best slate found anywhere in the country. It was about this time that the silver mines in Canada were receiving the attention of the public and some excellent mines were discovered. Accordingly Mr. Hooper left Michigan to take charge of the Beaver silver mine in the district of Algona, in the province of Ontario. He there remained for eight years and at about the end of that period silver mining slumped all over the country, so that Mr. Hooper left that district. He then removed to Howard county, Iowa, and purchased the farm that is at present being conducted by his son, Thomas J. Hooper, who is engaged in raising thorough- bred cattle and horses. In 1902 Mr. Hooper was asked to take charge of the Victoria mine in Ontonagon county, Michigan, but refused, stating that he was through with all mines and mining. However, after some persuasion an arrange- ment was entered into whereby he accepted charge of the mine. For two years he there continued and completed one of the most startling engineering feats ever accomplished in connection with mining history. Without the use of a pound of coal or the turning of a wheel he was able to supply all the power needed to operate the mine machinery and engines. By diverting the course of a river into one, two or three large cylinders built in the rock sufficient air pressure is formed to run all the necessary machinery by compressed air. In 1905 Mr. Hooper's son George took over the superintendency of the mine and Mr. Hooper went to Goldfield, Nevada, where he became superintendent and manager of a mine syndicate. He there did considerable prospecting for four or five years but failed to find any bo- nanza ground and shortly afterward suspended operations. Since leaving Goldfield he has not been actively engaged in business, living retired at Cresco in the enjoy- ment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
On the 4th of July, 1862, Mr. Hooper was married to Miss Henrietta Augusta Firman, at Rockland, Michigan, a daughter of William Firman. Mr. and Mrs. Hooper have become the parents of six sons and six daughters. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Hooper gives his support to the republican party. His has been a most active life, fraught with many interesting experiences and much hard labor. He has worked diligently and persistently, mak- ing the best possible use of his time and opportunities, and as the years passed he became a well known figure in mining circles by reason of his ability and the successful achievement of his purpose. He is now numbered among the highly esteemed residents of Cresco, having a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
ROBERT A. DUNCAN.
The home farm of Robert A. Duncan is pleasantly situated on section S, Deerfield, township, Chickasaw county, and in its development and improvement Mr. Duncan has displayed a progressive and enterprising spirit. He was born in Blackhawk county, Iowa, August 27, 1857, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (Walker) Duncan, who were natives of Scotland, the former born June 1, 1821, and the latter on the 11th of May of the same year. They were reared in the land of hills and heather and were
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there married in 1846, after which they came immediately to the United States. They first settled near St. Charles, Illinois, where they resided for only a brief period and in the spring of 1850 came to Iowa, taking up their home in Blackhawk county. In 1864 they removed to Chickasaw county, settling on the farm where their son, Robert A., now resides, the father purchasing eighty acres of land on which he made his home until his death in April, 1870. His widow survived him for forty-five years and passed away July 25, 1915, at the notable old age of ninety-four years, two months and ten days. In early life both were devout members of the Presbyterian church but after coming to Chickasaw county joined the Methodist Episcopal church. They ever lived consistent Christian lives and their many sterling traits of character endeared them to all who knew them. They were the parents of eight children: Jennett P .; Alice J .; John R .; William W. and Robert A., twins; Mary A .; James E .; and Thomas A. Of this fam- ily only three are living-Robert A., William W. and James E.
Robert A. Duncan has always been a resident of Iowa and his educational oppor- tunities were those afforded by the district schools of Chickasaw county, to which his parents removed from Blackhawk county during his early youth. He was but thirteen years of age at the time of his father's death and for some years thereafter the culti- vation of the home farm devolved upon him and his brothers, John and William, the eldest of the three being then but fifteen years of age, while Robert A. and William W., twins, were thirteen. Robert A. Duncan remained upon the home farm until about 1882, when he began farming on his own account, purchasing eighty acres of his pres- ent holdings on section 8, Deerfield township. In subsequent years he has bought more land from time to time and has acquired the ownership of the old homestead. His present holdings aggregate two hundred and eighty acres, constituting one of the ex- cellent farm properties of Deerfield township. He is also a stockholder in the Colwell Grain Exchange and in his business career has demonstrated what can be accomplished through individual effort and perseverance. Steadily he has worked his way upward and may well be classed with the self-made men of Chickasaw county.
On the 1st of January, 1895, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage to Miss Nellie New- bury, a daughter of George Newbury, who was one of the early settlers of Floyd county, Iowa, and is now living retired at Osage, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have become the parents of four children, namely: Gladys M., Margaret R., Ruth A. and Donald G.
In his political views Mr. Duncan is a republican, having supported the party since attaining adult age. While he has never been an aspirant for public office, he has always taken an active and helpful interest in public affairs and has been especially active in support of educational work, serving for a number of years as a member of the school board. He was active in the organization of the Colwell consolidated school district, which includes the district in which Mr. Duncan resides, and he took a helpful interest in building the schoolhouse. Fraternally he is connected with Charles City Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F., and he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as steward and trustee. Deerfield township names him as one of her most prominent and influential citizens-a man whose life has been of worth to the community, while at the same time he has carefully directed his business affairs so that he has advanced from a humble position in financial circles to one of affluence.
THOMAS J. COROLAN.
Thomas J. Corolan is a successful agriculturist residing on section 5, Vernon Springs township, Howard county, where he has owned and operated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres for the past twenty-one years and also cultivates a rented tract of similar size adjoining. His birth occurred in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on the 26th of June, 1867, his parents being John and Johanna (Casey) Corolan, natives of Ireland. who emigrated to the United States in young manhood and young womanhood. Both were in straitened financial circumstances and after coming to America began working by the month, being employed in New York and Ohio and journeying westward until
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they reached Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they were married. They had become acquainted while working in Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Corolan rented a farm in Winneshiek county and so successfully operated the place that prosperity attended his efforts and he was enabled to purchase property of his own, acquiring two hundred acres of land which he cultivated throughout the remainder of his active business career. Since his retirement he has made his home with a daughter.
Thomas J. Corolan obtained his education in the district schools and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he assisted his father in the work of the fields. When twenty-three years of age he rented a tract of land and began farming independently in Winneshiek county, where he remained until 1898. In that year he came to Howard county, here purchasing his present home place of one hundred and sixty acres in Vernon Springs township, where he has since remained and has won well merited success in his farming operations. He likewise cultivates an adjoining quarter section of rented land and his fields respond readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon them, annually yielding rich and abundant harvests.
In 1893 Mr. Corolan was united in marraige to Miss Margaret Drew, of Winne- shiek county, by whom he had eleven children, nine of whom still survive, namely: Agnes; Charles, who is in France with an Iowa infantry of the Eighty-eighth Division; Mary; Francis; Thomas; Effie; Rosetta; Louis; and Margaret. All are still under the parental roof.
In politics Mr. Corolan is a democrat, while his religious belief is that of the Catho- lic church, to which his wife and children also belong. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America, as are also two of his sons, Charles and Francis. The family is widely and favorably known through- out the community and Mr. Corolan enjoys an enviable reputation as a substantial agriculturist and representative citizen.
L. W. CLARK, M. D.
Dr. L. W. Clark located at Chester in September, 1913, and since then has been actively engaged in medical practice. He and his wife also conduct a drug store there. His birthplace was Maquoketa, Iowa, and his parents, Mortimer W. and Fannie (Evans) Clark, still reside at that place. He acquired his education in the Maquoketa high school, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago, and the medical department of the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, where he received his degree in medicine in 1909. Subsequently he located at Onaka, Faulk county, South Dakota, where he practiced medicine and conducted a drug store until the fall of 1913, when he came to Howard county.
In 1910 Dr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Rubie M. Richardson, of Maquo- keta, and they are the parents of two sons, Richardson Evan and William Jerome. Dr. Clark and his wife have ever the welfare of the public before them and believe in giv- ing their time and energy to the betterment of the community in which they reside.
GEORGE E. WILKINS.
George E. Wilkins, county treasurer of Chickasaw county, Iowa, was born in Will- iamstown on the 25th of September, 1867, but now makes his home at New Hamp- ton. His parents were Charles and Eliza (Stubbins) Wilkins, natives of England, both having been born in Somersetshire, in the town of Wookey, near Wells. They came to the United States, the father in young manhood, and the mother when a girl with her parents. They were married in Wisconsin and two or three years later removed to Iowa, settling on a farm at Williamstown, making this removal immediately after the close of the Civil war. The father purchased two hundred acres of land and subse.
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quently added to the property until the farm, which he still owns, comprised three hundred and twenty-seven acres. He resided thereon until about 1890, when he re- tired from active business life and removed to New Hampton, where he still makes his home. For several years, however, he has spent the winter seasons in California His wife died in July, 1907. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal church and possessed many excellent traits of heart and mind.
George E. Wilkins was educated in the district schools and in the New Hampton high school and also pursued a commercial course in the Lincoln Business College at Lincoln, Nebraska. There lie became ill and afterward resumed his studies in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. He then went to Britt, Iowa, in April, 1889, and entered the Citizens Bank in the capacity of bookkeeper, thus serving for two years. Later he was made cashier of the institution and was identified with the bank for a decade. In 1899 he returned to New Hampton and previously had become interested with a brother in the drug business. After his return he spent almost two years in the store and later was employed by the Deering Harvester Company as collector, his field covering Iowa and Nebraska. He was thus engaged for three years, after which he turned his attention to the jewelry trade in New Hampton and conducted a store for seven years, when failing health compelled him to retire from that field of labor. He was advised by his physicians to live an outdoor life and removed to the home farm in order to recuperate, spending his time on the farm until his election in November, 1916, to the office of county treasurer. His first term's service received endorsement in reelection in 1918, so that he is the present incumbent in the position.
On the 23d of November, 1892, Mr. Wilkins was united in marriage to Miss Clara A. Morrison, of Britt, Iowa, a daughter of Horatio L. and Mary A. (Sawyer) Morrison, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire but were of Scotch descent. On her mother's side Mrs. Wilkins is a relative of the man who discovered Pike's Peak, which was named in his honor. To Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins have been born a daughter, who is deceased, and a son, George M., who is a sophomore in the high school at New Hampton.
In politics Mr. Wilkins has always been a republican and gives loyal and stalwart support to the party and its principles. He belongs to Arcana Lodge No. 274, A. F. & A. M., also to Adelphia Chapter, No. 115, R. A. M. Both he and his wife are members of New Hampton Chapter, No. 75, O. E. S., of which Mrs. Wilkins is a past matron and is acting conductress. She is also grand representative for Vermont to the Grand Chap- ter of Iowa. She belongs to the Christian Science church and is keenly interested in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of the community. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are held in high esteem and he has long occupied an enviable position in busi- ness and political circles.
BARSNETTE DELL EVERINGHAM.
In a history of Howard 'county mention should be made of Barsnette Dell Everingham, who for more than a half century was a resident of Cresco, where he long carried on business as a contractor and builder. He was born in Niagara, Ontario county, Canada, on the 18th of January, 1832, and passed away at Cresco on the 15th of November, 1916, so that he had reached the notable old age of eighty- four years at the time of his demise. He was a son of Jacob and Margaret (Dell) Everingham. His father was of English descent and birth and after coming to the new world established his home at Niagara, Ontario county, where he followed the occupation of farming. He afterward crossed the border into the United States and took up his abode at Freeport, Illinois, where he also carried on farming for some time. Still attracted by the opportunities of the west, he later made his way to Dubuque, Iowa, and subsequently became a resident of Wagner, Polk county, Iowa. During the period of his residence there he lived retired, making his home with his son, Barsnette D. Everingham. His wife died near Lawler, Iowa, at the home of her son William. Mr. Everingham was a democrat in his political views and in his fraternal relations was a Mason.
BARSNETTE DELL EVERINGHAM
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Barsnette D. Everingham of this review spent his boyhood days in Canada, and in Freeport, Illinois, to the age of fourteen years, when in 1846 he removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and later became a resident of Wagner, where he continued until after the outbreak of the Civil war. Aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union, he offered his services to the government in 1862 and joined the "Boys in blue" of the Thirty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until 1865. He was made a sergeant in 1864 and later was advanced to the rank of second lieutenant. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, in the expedition to Jackson, Mississippi, in the pursuit of General Johnson, in the capture of Brownsville, Texas, in the siege of Fort Morgan on Mobile bay and in the battle of Blakeley, Alabama, which was the last engagement of the war. He was a brave and loyal soldier, always faithful to his duties, performing any task that was assigned him most capably and bravely. When the country no longer needed his aid he returned to his home with a most creditable military record, making his way to New Oregon, Iowa, where on the 29th of August, 1865, he was mustered out. Through the intervening period to the time of death Mr. Everingham was engaged in carpentering, first in the employ of others and later as a contractor. He was very active in the building of the town of Cresco and of the courthouse. He put up many of the public buildings and residences of the city and on all sides are to be seen monuments to his skill and handiwork. In addition to his connection with the contracting business he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning a farm south of Cresco, comprising eighty acres of land.
In 1857 Mr. Everingham was married in Minnesota to Miss Elizabeth Moon, who died some time later. There were five children of that marriage, Frank D., Helen M., Mamie, Emma and Ida. In 1873 Mr. Everingham was again married, his second union being with Miss Helen D. Hunt, a daughter of Warren B. and Mary Ann (Moon) Hunt. She was born in Chautauqua county, New York, of which district her parents were also natives. They came west in an early day, settling first at Janesville, Wisconsin, where her father was engaged in the restaurant business. Later he removed to Iowa, establishing his home in Clayton county, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he owned and cultivated for a number of years. He afterward removed to New Oregon, Howard county, where he conducted a general store in connection with his brother-in-law, M. M. Moon. His wife died in this county, after which he returned to New York and spent his remaining days in the Empire state. To the second marriage of Mr. Everingham there were born seven children, Effie F., Edith L., Mabel D., Bertha F., Alice E., William W. and Elias L. The last named was run over by a train on the "Soo" Line and left a wife and two children.
The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when in 1916 Mr. Everingham was called to his final rest. In politics he was a democrat and he belonged to the Masonic fraternity, which found in him a worthy representative. "As the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity, its evening of completed and successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night," so was the life of this man. He lived to round out more than four score years and his record was one of usefulness and honor.
JOSEPH CRAY.
Among the most prominent and influential pioneers of Howard county was Joseph Cray, who came to this locality in 1857 and always took a very active part in the up- building and development of this region. He was born on the 9th of March, 1825, at Buckland. near Frome, Somersetshire, England, and was the third son in the family of George and Ann Cray, who were the parents of seven children, five sons and two daugh- ters. At the early age of seven years he began working for his father, who was the owner of a lime kiln at Buckland, and continued with him until his marriage, delivering lime at Frome with a horse and cart.
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On reaching manhood Mr. Cray was married June 26, 1845, to Miss Matilda Coombes, who was born at Graytown, near Frome, November 25, 1825. They had previously planned to leave their native land and make a home for themselves in America. Ac- cordingly on the 7th of July, 1845, they bade adieu to their home and friends and embarked on a sailing vessel at Southampton bound for the new world. On the whole the voyage was a very pleasant one, as they encountered but little rough weather and at the end of six weeks landed at Quebec, Canada. They proceeded up the St. Lawrence river by boat to western Canada and located thirty miles from London, in South Zora township, where they made their home nearly twelve years. For some time Mr. Cray was in the employ of a wealthy landowner from England as gardener, working with the flowers and plants out-of-doors in the summer time and in the greenhouse during the winter. He and his wife were both very ambitious and industrious and she, being an excellent seamstress, found plenty of work to occupy all her spare time from her house- hold duties. They saved their earnings for future investment. While residing in that locality five children were born to them, namely: Frances Matilda, Rhoda Ann, Mary Jane, George and John Austin. The first named died in January, 1850, at the age of three years and two months, but the others reached years of maturity.
During his residence in Canada, Mr. Cray made several trips to the United States and worked for one season at Ogdensburg, New York. In the spring of 1851 his youngest brother, John, came from the "homeland" and lived with him for several years, working at different points near-by. Finally the western fever gripped them both and in 1856 John made his way to Michigan and brought back favorable reports of that state and also of the prairie lands of Iowa. During the winter of 1856-7 he again came west and settled in Chester township, Howard county, Iowa, his plan being to take up homesteads for both himself and brother. On the 1st of April, 1857, Joseph Cray, accompanied by his wife and four children, started for Iowa, traveling by train to McGregor and by team in a lumber wagon to Howard county, reaching their destination in Chester township on Sunday afternoon late in April. On passing through Lime Springs they found only one log house to mark the site of that town, this being the store of A. D. C. Knowlton, and a buffalo robe was hanging on a rail fence outside to dry.
The two brothers filed on adjoining claims in Chester township and held the same throughout the remainder of their lives. In the summer of 1857 this land was placed upon the market and they bought it for the government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. The family found shelter in the home of an early settler, William Munger, who had come to the district with his family from Illinois in 1856. After staking off their claims Joseph Cray and his brother would start out every morning with an axe in hand to cut down the poplar trees, which were the only kind of any size that grew hear-by, to build a house in which to live. These logs were cut the desired length and then hewed down to equal size. At the end of two weeks the house was ready to occupy and the family moved in. During those early days they endured many hardships and privations but without complaint. Their humble cabin was scantily furnished, containing only three chairs made of young saplings cut from an adjoining grove by a young man named Thomas Lewis, who lived on a claim a half mile away. Several crude benches were made from poplar slabs, and besides these the house con- tained a table bought from a family named Bovee, and a stove with a high elevated oven common in those days. The winter of 1856-7 was very severe and the only means of bringing wood from the groves was the home-constructed hand sled drawn by man. No water was obtainable except melted snow and the principal food was corn meal, which some of the early settlers ground in coffee mills. By economy and industry a few comforts were gradually added to the home of Mr. Cray and the amount of cultivated land was increased. He and his wife were instrumental in starting a school in the settlement, it being opened in the spring of 1858 in a log house on the bank of Beaver creek and taught by Mrs. A. A. Sage, the wife of one of the early settlers. For years this was known as the Beaver Creek school. Mr. and Mrs. Cray also helped to organize and maintain religious services, which were held in the homes of the settlers, some having to travel many miles in order to enjoy the privilege of attending churchi. At different times Mr. Cray filled nearly all of the various offices connected with the schools
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