USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 26
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When the war was over Mr. O'Brien returned home and afterward made two trips on the canal, but he had become convinced that the middle west offered better business opportunities for those who were ambitious for advancement and in December. 1865, he arrived in Dane county, Wisconsin. There he worked for his brother and soon became convinced that the step taken when he removed to the Mississippi valley was a wise one. While living in Dane county he was married, an the 30th of September, 1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Emily B. Ames, a native of Toledo, Ohio, who was reared in Wisconsin and was a teacher prior to her marriage.
In 1870 Mr. O'Brien brought his young wife to Iowa, establishing his home in Clay county. It was still a frontier district and much of the land was yet in possession of the government, so that he secured a homestead claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres. All around him stretched the unbroken prairie, the native grasses growing to great height. There were no buildings or forests to break the force of the wind, which swept over the treeless tract at times with almost the force of a tornado. In the winter the ground was covered with one unbroken sheet of snow, but with returning summer the work of the farm was resolutely carried on and the rich soil soon responded in bounteous harvests. Mr. O'Brien not only developed his fields and fenced his place, but also put up substantial buildings, set out a beautiful grove of elms and maples and also planted an orchard. In 1896 he erected his present neat and attractive residence and also built a big barn and other outbuildings for the shelter of corn and other grain and farm machinery and stock. He has today a well-improved property, indicating in its neat and attractive appearance the careful supervision of the owner.
In 1894 Mr. O'Brien was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 19th of May of that year, leaving three living children. Frank, who is a graduate of the Spencer high school, owns one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining his father's place and is in partnership with his father in their farming operations. Ellen is the wife of Walter J. Marr, a resident farmer, who owns a place adjoining the O'Brien home and who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Gertrude is a graduate of the Spencer high school and is now acting as her father's housekeeper. They also lost one son, Charles, who died in infancy. Mr. O'Brien looked upon the remains of the martyred Lincoln as they lay in their casket at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, while on the way to Springfield, Illinois. . His regiment was placed on duty there at the time to pre-
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serve order. He is recognized as one of the stalwart advocates of the republican party in his locality and was here elected the first sub-director in Summit town- ship. Subsequently he was chosen assessor and filled that position for three or four terms, while for some years he was township treasurer. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. He has been a delegate to various county conventions and his son, Frank, has been township clerk and also secretary of the school board. He is likewise a stockholder and president of the Fostoria Creamery Company. Mr. O'Brien gives his support to various churches and attends their services. His son is a member of the Masonic lodge of Spencer and is also a Royal Arch Mason. For thirty-nine years Joseph O'Brien has lived in Clay county and is one of the few who have so long witnessed its growth and development. Throughout the entire period he has made his home on the farm which is yet his place of residence, but has not confined his attention and efforts alone to this property, although he has made it a valuable property. From time to time he has given hearty cooperation to many movements for the public good and Clay county owes her development to such men, who dared to face the hardships of pioneer life and have reclaimed this region for the purposes of civilization.
DAVID J. LOGAN, SR.
Among the respected and valued residents of Spencer is numbered David J. Logan, Sr., who for forty years has been a resident of Iowa. This has cov- ered the period of the state's greatest growth and progress, and in the work of general improvement he has borne his full share as the years have gone by. He has lived in Clay county since 1871 and in recent years has been retired from business cares, although for a long time he gave his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits. He was born near Meadville, Crawford county, Pennsyl- vania, June 14. 1836, his parents, Thomas and Martha (Phillips) Logan being also natives of the Keystone state. The Logan family, however, is of Irish lineage and was founded in America by the grandfather of our subject, who was born in the north of Ireland. Crossing the briny deep to the new world he established his home in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupation of farming. He not only made a creditable position for himself in agricultural circles but was also regarded as one of the valued residents of the community and was called to fill various offices. For fourteen years he served as justice of the peace and in the War of 1812 served as a soldier. His death occurred in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty years. In the maternal line David J. Logan came of Welch ances- try, for his mother's father was a native of the little rock-ribbed country of Wales. He had located in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, when he sought a home on this side of the Atlantic, giving his attention there to general agricultural pursuits.
Thomas Logan, after attaining his majority, became a clothier of Crawford county, Pennsylvania. By trade he was a carder of cloth and throughout his entire life his business interests were in that line and its kindred enterprises. He died in Pennsylvania at the age of seventy-seven years in the faith of the Free
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Will Baptist church, to which his wife also belonged. She was seventy-four years of age at the time of her demise. Of their family of three sons and eight daugh- ters only five are now living: Sarah, the widow of Edwin Brown of Indianola, Iowa; David J., of this review; Elmira P., the widow of W. W. Harrison, of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Jennie, wife of W. W. Campbell, of Jamestown. New York: and Thomas Gaylord, of Linesville. Crawford county. Pennsylvania.
David J. Logan spent his youthful days in his parents' home in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and the work of the farm carly became familiar to him, for through the summer months he assisted in the labors of the fields. His early education was acquired in the district schools, while later he enjoyed the benefit of instruction in Austinburg Seminary of Ohio. For seven years during his early manhood he did railroad contracting work. During the period of the Civil war, no longer content to remain at home while the issue of the struggle was still a doubtful one, he offered his services to the government in March. 1864, and joined the boys in blue of Company G, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry, serving with that command until the close of the war. He participated in the hotly contested battle of the Wilderness, the engagements of Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania Court House. Petersburg and a number of others, and on the field of battle gave unmistakable proof of his valor and loyalty.
When the war was over Mr. Logan returned to his native state and soon went to Pithole City, Pennsylvania, where he erected a store building and in it opened a stock of groceries and provisions. On the 9th of March, 1868, he was married to Miss Eunice Luke, who was born in Linesville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, and is a daughter of John and Martha (Reamer) Luke, who were natives of Albany county, New York. Her father was a son of Henry and Martha (Phillips) Luke, who were also born in the Empire state. Henry Luke served his country as a soldier in the War of 1812, and in days of peace devoted his energies to agricultural interests. John Luke, the father of Mrs. Logan, passed away in 1865, while his wife died some years later at the age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of nine daughters and three sons. The surviving members of the family are: Henry; Mrs. Sarah Van Tassell, a widow; Phoebe. the wife of Dewey Connick, of Springboro, Pennsylvania : Solomon ; Eunice, the wife of David J. Logan; and Maria, the wife of Newton Thayer of Crawford county, Pennsylvania.
David J. Logan and his wife began their domestic life at Linesville, Penn- sylvania, but in October, 1869, left the east and removed to Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where they resided for a year and a half. During that time Mr. Logan took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and still owns. In 1871 they came to Clay county and he purchased two eighty-acre tracts of land in Riverton township. To this he has since added until the farm now comprises two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land, which an- nually returns to him a gratifying income. Year after year he tilled the soil, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation and adding modern equip- ments and accessories to his place. At length, feeling that his financial resources were sufficient to cover all of his expenses throughout his remaining days, he removed to Spencer in 1903 and has since made his home in the city, living. a retired life. Mr. and Mrs. Logan reared their family on the farm. They became
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the parents of six sons and three daughters: Ralph E., a farmer, who married Minnie Hein and has one son. Leland; Clara M., the wife of Lafayette Hines, by whom she has five children, Harry, Archie, Milton, Roy and Doris; Fred W., a practicing physician of Fenton, Iowa, who married Emma Heis of Algona, Iowa, and who has one son, Donald ; Minnie, who is the wife of W. B. Johnson of Riverton township and has two daughters, Edna and Lyle; Herbert, who was killed by a horse when twelve years of age: David J., Jr., who married Josie Seible and is living on the home farm: Charles, who wedded Maud Jones and is now a resident of Spencer : Benjamin F., who is at home with his parents; and Grace, a student in the high school. Mr. and Mrs. Logan are members of the Methodist church and he belongs to Annett Post. G. A. R., delighting there to meet his old army comrades and recall the events which occurred upon south- ern battlefields. He is always stanch in his support of the republican party and has served as township clerk, supervisor and school director. He has never been remiss in the duties of citizenship, but has always been watchful of the interests pertaining to its progress and has given his cooperation to many movements for the public good. In his seventy-third year Mr. Logan is still a well preserved man, his age resting lightly upon him. Unflagging industry and unfaltering determination have constituted the basis of his success, enabling him, as the years have passed, to so conduct his farming interests that he is now one of the prosperous residents of the county. Moreover, he deserves mention among its pioneer settlers, for Clay county was still regarded as a frontier district when he located within its borders. It had little railroad connection with the outside world, there were many uncultivated tracts of land, and the settlers were still obliged to suffer many of the hardships and difficulties incident to improving the new locality. Mr. Logan did not hesitate to perform his part of this work, and now rejoices in what the county has accomplished, as it is today numbered ameng . the leading counties of this great commonwealth.
FRANK P. RILEY.
Frank P. Riley is an active business man of Fostoria, where for thirteen years he has been connected with various enterprises that have been factors in the business development and progress of the town as well as a source of grati- fying individual income. Clay county has numbered him among her citizens since 1878 and regards him as a valuable addition to the ranks of her progressive men. He has always lived in the middle west, however, and seems imbued with the spirit of energy that has been the most forceful feature in the growth and development of this section of the country. He was born at Turner Junction, now West Chicago, in Dupage county, Illinois, November 26, 1859. His father, John Riley, was a native of New York city, where his boyhood was passed and in the eastern metropolis he wedded Ellen Donlin, a native of Ireland. Removing westward, they established their home in Dupage county, Illinois, where Mr. Riley lived until after the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1862 he joined the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry and served throughout the period of hostilities between
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the north and the south. On one occasion he was captured and was taken to Libby Prison, where he remained for some time. He participated in a number of battles and was always most loyal to the old flag. When the war was over Mr. Riley removed westward to Iowa, becoming a resident of Meadow township, Clay county, where he lived several years. He then sold out and went to Spencer, and is now living a retired life, the fruits of his former toil being sufficient to permit him to rest without further recourse to labor.
Frank P. Riley was reared and educated in Dupage county, Illinois, and as a young man of nineteen years came to Iowa, settling in Clay county in 1878. Here he became identified with farming interests and so continued for several years, or until 1895. He was one of the promoters of the Fostoria Creamery and was its secretary for ten years, during which time he contributed largely to the success and capable management of the enterprise. He also became one of the promoters of the Farmers' Elevator at Fostoria and acted as its secretary for a decade. In 1907 he became actively engaged in the live-stock business, buying and shipping, and each month sends out from this point about eight or ten car- loads of fat stock. His business interests are very carefully conducted and his sound judgment and unflagging industry are manifest in the prosperity which has come to him.
In March. 1883. in Fostoria, Mr. Riley was married to Miss Sarah Hutchin- son, who was born in the state of New York but was reared in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and engaged in teaching school in Clay county prior to her mar- riage. Two children have blessed this union, Wilfred and Nellie.
Mr. Riley is independent politically, casting his ballot for candidates rather than for party. He has never been an officeseeker nor desired political prefer- ment, yet he acceded to the request of his fellow townsmen that he should serve as trustee of Meadow township and filled that position for a few years. He was for some years the owner of a farm in that township, which he cultivated and improved, making it a valuable property of one hundred and sixty acres. This he still owns but rented the place when he removed to Fostoria to engage in business there. He is a man of determination and force of character, who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In manner he is modest and unostentatious and those who know him speak of hirn in terms of praise. Mr. Riley is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
WILLIAM PALMER WOODCOCK, M. D.
For forty-three years Dr. William Palmer Woodcock remained an active, successful and honored member of the medical profession, but is now living retired in Spencer, devoting his time and attention to such interests as afford him pleasure and promote his progress in lines of intellectual and moral develop- ment. He has now passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey, and a review of his record shows that at all times his career has been characterized by honorable, manly principles, as well as successful professional attainment. He was born in New York city March 6, 1827, and is of English lineage, being
HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
descended from a noted family of that country. His grandfather, John Higgen- bottom Woodcock, was born on the "Merrie Isle," and crossed the Atlantic to America, making his home for a time in New York, while subsequently he removed to Nashville, Tennessee. He married a Miss Beck, of Philadelphia, and they became the parents of two sons, William P. and Thomas Woodcock.
The former, when a boy of twelve years, was thrown upon his own resources, and not only provided for himself but also supported his mother, following various pursuits which would yield him an honest living. He was energetic, dili- gent and persevering, and his economy enabled him in later years to make invest- ments in property. Through his speculations in real estate and his capable con- duct of other business interests, he became a wealthy man, being, worth about two million dollars at the time of his demise. While residing in the city of New York he served as captain of a company of militia, and did service at the time of the flour and negro riots of New York city. His history was a notable one from the fact that he started out empty-handed and gained classification among the millionaire residents of the county. Nor was his path at any time strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes. He wedded Mary Ann Astor Cook, also a native of New York, and a daughter of Peter Cook. Her father was a native of Germany, and after coming to the United States established his home in New York. There he wedded a sister of John Jacob Astor, and both lived to an advanced age. Their daughter, Mrs. A. A. Cook, was their only child. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock were born seven children, but five of the number have passed away, the surviving ones being William P. and John, the latter of New York.
Dr. Woodcock was reared in New York city, and supplemented his literary education by a course in the medical department of the New York University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1850. In that year he located for practice in the eastern metropolis, and remained as an active member of the pro- fession in the city and vicinity for a number of years. Subsequently he removed to Bedford, Westchester county, New York, where he followed his profession for several years, and then went to Ossining, formerly called Sing Sing. His untiring devotion to his professional duties at length undermined his health, and in 1879 he came to Spencer, Iowa, for needed rest and recreation. Here he devoted his attention to hunting., fishing and other outdoor sports and interests and recovered his health, eventually resuming the active practice of medicine, in which he continued until the period of his connection with the profession cov- ered forty-three years, when he retired, giving his supervision at the present time to his invested interests. By his father's death he came into possession of con- siderable property, and is now the owner of about five hundred and fifty-four acres of valuable and productive land, together with a beautiful home on the southern edge of Spencer, and twenty-four dwellings in the city, from which he derives a substantial rental.
In 1854 Dr. Woodcock was married to Miss Mary Wiltse, who died, leav- ing three daughters. Flora, the eldest, became the wife of William Casey, and since his death has married Frank Hunter Potter. a brother of the late Bishop Potter of New York. Matilda died in early womanhood, after spending two or three years in Rome, where she became ill with Roman fever, passing away after
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her return home. Hattie, the youngest daughter, is now the wife of Hon. Her- bert G. Squires, minister to Panama. He is a West Point graduate, and was military attache to the Chinese embassy during the Boxer war. They have three sons, Herbert, Bard and Jack.
On the 22d of May, 1894, Dr. Woodcock was again married, his second wife being Miss Adelaide Tracy, a daughter of Albert G. and Angeline (Starkey) Tracy. There are six children of this marriage, Adelaide, William P., Jr., Annita, Thursia, Fletcher Howard and Gertrude. The mother was born in Jessup, Buchanan county, Iowa, while her parents were natives of Ohio. They had four children, the eldest being Mrs. Woodcock, while the others are George, Albert and Minnie, the wife of A. J. Cuttell of Spokane, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy were early settlers of Buchanan county, Iowa, where the father engaged as a produce dealer. He was killed by lightning July 21, 1891, when fifty-eight years of age. His wife survived him for six years, but never recov- ered from the effects of the shock of her husband's death. Both Dr. and Mrs. Woodcock are members of the Episcopal church, in which he is serving as senior warden, and in the support of which he has been a most liberal contributor. His political allegiance is given to the democracy. A lover of flowers and plants, he has a large greenhouse at his home which he established some years ago for his own pleasure. He has made additions to this from time to time, and now has many rare and beautiful flowers in which his wife also takes great delight. He has been an extensive traveler and is a lover of the beautiful, having a collection of rare pictures, some of which are very valuable. Beauty in any form makes strong appeal to him, and in later years he has had opportunity to indulge his taste in this direction and cultivate those graces of character which are developed through the intellectual and aesthetic. As a resident of Spencer he has been loyal in his advocacy of everything pertaining to the welfare of the city, and has made some substantial contributions to its development and progress.
J. W. McDOWELL.
Perhaps no one is better known throughout Clay county as a breeder of a high grade of draft horses than J. W. McDowell, who operates a large farm near Greenville and who is a native of the state of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Pickaway county, September 5. 1845. He is a son of Robert T. and Mary (Wolf) McDowell, his great-grandfather having been a native of Scotland. His father was a native of Fairfield county, that state, where he resided until 1854. when he located in Livingston county, Illinois, and lived there until he departed this life in 1885, his remains being interred at Streator, that state. He followed general agriculture all his days, and was ranked among the substantial and finan- cial factors of the township. In politics he was a whig, at the dissolution of which party he naturally allied himself with the republican party to which he was there- after loyal. He was known throughout the community as a Christian character and was throughout his life an earnest worker in the United Brethren church. His mother, now in her eighty-eighth year, is also a native of Fairfield county.
T
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Ohio. She was united in marriage there and now resides with her son, J. W. McDowell. In their family were eight children, namely: Noah, a resident of California; J. W .; Susanna, who became the wife of J. W. Shropshire, a farmer and stockman of Alvarado, Texas; Louisa, who is wedded to F. P. Giles, now residing in Streator, Illinois; Lewis, an agriculturist of Forest City, this state ; and Albert, Alice and Mattie, deceased.
In the common schools of Livingston county, Illinois, J. W. McDowell acquired his education and remained under the parental roof until he was seven- teen years of age, when he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty- fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the one hundred day service, and received an honorable discharge six months later. Upon returning home he began to farm in Livingston county and remained there until 1895, during which year he removed to the place on which he now resides, his farm consisting of five hundred acres of land located in Lincoln and Meadow townships. His property is highly improved, being provided with an elegant dwelling house and substan- tial barns; is well fenced and drained and one of the most desirable pieces of property for agricultural purposes in the county. Hle deals largely in corn and oats and in addition pays attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of breed- ing draft and road horses with particular attention to the Percheron and Ham- bletonian breeds. He has the reputation of having the best horses in the county. He began the breeding of this class of animals when thirty-five years of age and his long experience together with the profound study he has given to the business has made him a recognized authority. His horses are all graded and registered and upon the whole Mr. McDowell is without a peer in the state as a judge of their points and qualities. He does quite a shipping business in graded cattle, raising the shorthorn class in particular, and has also gained quite a repu- tation as a breeder of Poland China hogs.
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