USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 37
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James E. Mills resided in Eaton, New Hampshire, until about ten years of age and attended the public schools there. He then started out to fight life's hattles and has come off conqueror in the strife. For a number of years he lived with Carl Drew at Eaton and during that time continued to attend school,
THE NEW YORK PUBLICLIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
JAMES E. MILLS
MRS. JAMES E. MILLS
.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR NOX TILDEN FC'
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until he was qualified to take up the profession of teaching, which he followed for about ten years. He afterward spent one summer as a fisherman at sea and following. his return home again engaged in teaching. He also worked in a cotton factory for two years or more and then went to the south, conducting a plantation on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for A. B. Cook, for one year. He then returned to the old Granite state and in 1866 became a resident of Monmouth, Illinois, where he engaged in teaching for a year, going thence to Roscoe, Minnesota.
It was during his residence in that place that Mr. Mills was married on the 20th of September, 1868, to Miss Ellen V. Smith, a native of New York, and a daughter of William P. and Elsie J. (Andrews) Smith. Unto them was born a son, Jesse John, who was killed by the kick of a horse.
Soon after their marriage Mr. Mills drove an ox team to Iowa and located on a farm of one hundred acres in Freeman township, then Spencer township, Clay county. He cast in his lot with the frontier settlers, for this was still a frontier district, in which the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. Much of the land was still uncultivated and the towns were of little industrial or commercial importance, but a class of men were establishing their homes in the county and their labors were converting it into a most attractive place of residence. Mr. Mills continued to improve his farm for twenty years and still owns the property, the boundaries of which he has increased by the, additional purchase of eighty acres. In 1888 he went south and conducted a newspaper at Enterprise, Mississippi, for five years, but he felt that Clay county was a much more congenial place of residence, and returning, he located at Dickens, where he purchased a house and lot and has since operated a grain elevator, at the same time giving his attention to his farming interests.
Mr. Mills exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and for many years has been justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, so that his official record has won him high encomiums. He belongs to Evening Shade Lodge, No. 312, A. F. & A. M., at Spencer, Clay Chapter, No. 112, R. A. M .; Dickens Lodge, No. 583. I. O. O. F., Spencer Encampment, I. O. O. F., while both he and his wife hold mem- bership with the Rebekah lodge. They are people of the highest respectability, enjoying in large measure the friendship of those with whom they have been brought in contact and a life of well directed activity has gained Mr. Mills a creditable place in business circles.
L. J. HJELM.
The welfare and growth of every town or city depends upon the character of its business men. It is always the merchants and representatives of other business life who are the promoters of all plans of progress and improvement. Among the enterprising citizens of Royal is L. J. Hjelm, proprietor of a hardware and furniture store. His line also includes sewing machines, bicycles and sporting goods and in the conduct of his store he studies the tastes and demands
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of the general public and as the result of his efforts to please his patrons is now accorded a liberal and growing trade. He was born in Clinton, Iowa, October I, 1873, and is a son of Jens and Carrie (Hagadorn) Hjelm. The father, a native of Denmark, came to the United States in 1870 and located in Clinton, Iowa, where he made his home for a time, while subsequently he removed to Cedar Falls and thence came to Clay township, where he still resides. He has devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits and is still busily employed at that labor. His wife was a native of Germany and they were married in Denmark. Unto them have been born eight children: L. J .; Anna, the wife of Martin Nelson, a farmer of Lincoln township, this county; Simon, who follows farming in Clay township: Marus, who is with his brother, L. J., in the store; Hans, Mary. Nels and Martha, all yet at home.
In the public schools of Cedar Falls, Iowa, L. J. Hjelm pursued his education and remained at home until seventeen years of age, during which time he spent his vacation months in farm labor. He afterward went to Peterson, Iowa, and was subsequently employed at different times at J. P. Clagg's hardware store, Webster City, and at Spencer and Sioux Rapids. Throughout this period he was actuated by the laudable desire of one day engaging in business on his own account. In 1900 he came to Royal and saw the fulfillment of his hopes, for from his earnings he had saved sufficient capital to enable him to establish a business of his own. He owns a well appointed stock, keeps everything up-to-date and has a good business. His property interests include the building which he occupies and a residence in Royal.
In 1899 Mr. Hjelm was married to Miss Abbie Hullgaard, a resident of Lincoln township, this county, and unto them have been born four children ; Nina, Benna. Alice and Ruby, all yet at home. The parents are members of the Danish Lutheran church and highly esteemed in the community where they reside, their many good qualities having won for them the friendship and confidence of those who know them. Mr. Hjelm is a republican in his political views. His business career has been marked by that consecutive progress which follows persistent labor intelligently directed. Though he started with nothing, he has made consecutive advancement and his success is undoubtedly due in large measure to the fact that he is a first-class tinner and mechanic and able to handle any work that may arise in connection with his business. His store is attractively arranged and he carries a pleasing line of furniture, hardware and other goods and from the public receives a liberal patronage.
JAMES WALTON COOK.
James Walton Cook has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Herdland township for many years. Although he was not among the earliest settlers of the county he came here when there were still many evidences of the pioneer days, thousands of acres of wild, unbroken prairie land surrounding his residence, which is located on section II. During the twenty-six years he has been here he has witnessed many changes wrought by the growth and development of the
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country. He has seen the ox team and prairie schooner supplanted by a net- work of railroads and the log cabin and dugout give place to the modern home. The days of privation have long since passed and Clay county today is the home of a prosperous and contented people and where once the wild prairie stretched upon all sides are now to be seen fruitful fields and orchards and pastures. Mr. Cook has done much to bring about these improvements and this prosperity and is to be numbered among the many who have devoted their energies to making this part of the state one of the finest for farming purposes in the country.
Mr. Cook is a native of Hancock county, Illinois, born November 20, 1862. His parents were James and Margaret ( Yater ) Cook, natives of New Brunswick and Kentucky, respectively, but little is known about their ancestors. However, it is supposed that the founders of the Cook family came from Germany, in which country the name was known as Koch, and records show that several centuries ago two brothers emigrated to England and there established what is known as the English branch of the Cook family. From this source the ancestry of James Walton Cook is supposed to have descended. James Cook resided in Hancock county, Illinois, for about twenty years and in 1883 came to Clay county, locating on section II, Herdland township, paying four thousand dollars for his farm. Here he spent his life in the pursuit of agriculture and stock-raising until he passed away in June, 1906, in his seventy-fifth year. His wife resides in Spencer. In the family were two children: James W. and W. C., who with his wife, Nellie ( Price) Cook, resides in Spencer.
On his father's farm James Walton Cook was reared. He acquired his edu- cation in the district school and assisted in the work of the fields until he was twenty-one years of age, when he started out in life on his own responsibility and engaged in farming for himself. He has one of the finest farms in the township, provided with all the necessary improvements and conveniences with which to carry on the work to the greatest advantage, and everything about his place is indicative of thrift and prosperity. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Herdland township and has an undivided interest in three hundred acres in Woodford county, Illinois, both farms being under a high state of cultivation. Aside from producing general crops, such as hay and the various kinds of grain, he also pays attention to stock-raising and ships cattle, sheep and hogs quite ex- tensively. He is very attentive to his farm interests and has everything on hand with which to pursue agriculture by modern methods.
On January 1, 1890, Mr. Cook wedded Miss Eldora Richardson, daughter of W. R. and Nancy ( Butler ) Richardson, natives of Woodford county, Illinois, and Floyd county, Indiana, respectively. Her father was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Woodford county and passed his entire life on the old home- stead on which his father had lived, his long and useful career having closed May 15, 1907. when he was in his seventy-first year. He survived his wife one year, her death having occurred in 1906, when she was seventy-three years old. In their family were three children : Mary, wife of H. M. St. Clair, of Kearney, Nebraska ; Eldora ; and Eva C., who resides in Secor, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been born three children, namely : Edna, Ada and Russell.
Politically Mr. Cook for a long time was identified with the democratic party although of late years he has been taking, the stand of an independent, reserving
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his right to vote for such candidates as he deems best qualified to conserve the interests of the commonwealth, irrespective of their party ties. He has served the township in a number of useful offices, among which are assessor and trustee and for the past fifteen years he has been either judge or clerk of election. In all positions of public trust he has proven himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Being as faithful in the performance of his religious obligations as he is in attending to his busi- ness affairs Mr. Cook, together with the members of his family, attends divine services at the Methodist church. of which they are all liberal supporters. He is also affiliated with the Court of Honor, in the affairs of which he is quite prominent.
During his life Mr. Cook has lived close to high ideals and his citizenship is such that it has inspired strength and permanence to every undertaking. in which his cooperation has been enlisted. Companionable and well informed, ob- serving the world from a wide range, he has an abiding faith in the goodness of mankind and in the existence of opportunity for all who seek it. He is a man of noble qualities of character. of strong and resolute purpose, industrious and enterprising, and well known throughout the community for his uprightness and honesty, he merits and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors and many friends.
HERBERT J. TREEBY.
Herbert J. Treeby, a well known livery man and rural mail carrier of Royal. this county, is a native of Iowa. his birth having occurred in Plymouth county, January 4. 1876, a son of William and Elizabeth E. (Graham) Treeby. His father, a native of England, came to the United States in 1852, locating in Stark county, Illinois, but later removed to Plymouth county, near Merrill, this state, where he located claims on which he remained for several years. He then went to Lyon county but after a brief period returned to Plymouth county, where he lived until fourteen years ago when he located in this county on section 21 of Clay township, engaged in general agriculture and stock-raising until five years ago, since which time he has been living a retired life. He is a supporter of the republican party, has held several public offices in the township and is a member and a liberal supporter of the United Brethren church. He was married in Illinois to Elizabeth E. Graham, a native of Ohio, who departed this life in Plymouth county, this state, in 1905. In their family were twelve children, namely: Sarah, wife of H. W. Bristow, an agriculturist of Merrill, this state ; one, not named, who died in infancy ; Alvira, wife of J. P. Weeks, a lumber mer- chant, who resides near Cottage Grove, Oregon ; Mattie B., who became the wife of Peter Leforge, an agriculturist and fruit grower whose farms lic near Lebanon, Oregon ; Anna, deceased ; Nora, deceased ; the next born were twins, who died in infancy ; W. F., an agriculturist, who resides near Willow Lake, South Dakota ; Herbert J., our subject ; Luella .\., wife of J. W. Houghton, who is engaged in farming in Henly, North Dakota : and Mand, who passed away in her tenth year.
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In the common schools of Plymouth county, Iowa, Herbert J. Treeby acquired his education and remained at home engaged in the general routine of farming until twenty-three years of age when he came to this county, operating a small plat for six years, at the expiration of which time he located in the village of Royal and established himself in the livery business which he has since been successfully conducting. Since initiating this venture he has applied himself with unremit- ting energy to increasing the business, and it is now one of the most prosperous enterprises in the city. He owns several first class teams, an imported Percheron horse known as "Pekin," one Winton automobile and also the building in which he conducts his business. In 1904 he established a mail route over which he has since been carrying mails, and this is not only a lucrative business to himself but also one of the most useful improvements enjoyed by the residents of the rural districts.
In 1907 Mr. Treeby was united in marriage to Miss Marion Erickson, a native of Royal and they have one son, Herbert Durand. Mrs. Treeby is a grad- uate of Toland Business College at Spencer, and before her marriage was a stenographer. She also taught school for several terms in Clay county. Mr. Treeby is a republican and, although he is not an active politician, he is always pleased with the success of his party and does all he can during elections to place their candidates in the offices sought. One of the useful services which he has rendered the township is that of school director, and in this capacity he has been serving efficiently for several years. He belongs to Royal lodge, A. F. & A. M. and also to the Yeomen, being corresponding secretary and treasurer of the lat- ter society. For a number of years he was affiliated with the Good Templars and is faithful to his religious obligations in his attendance at the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he and his wife are members and liberal supporters. Mr. Treeby is an enterprising and energetic business man and being still a young man, the progressive spirit which he shows and which has brought him success will no doubt make him a still more influential factor in the financial affairs of the county.
WILLIAM W. CULVER.
Iowa draws its wealth from the soil. The boundless prairies of this state offer excellent opportunities to the agriculturist and the farmer who resolutely tills his fields and carefully cultivates his crops may in the course of time attain enviable success, acquiring as a result of his labors a handsome competence, that will relieve him in his later years from the necessity of arduous toil. Realizing these facts, Mr. Culver, while identified with farming interests, carefully con- trolled his business and through his industry, economy and perseverance won the prosperity which now classes him with the substantial citizens of Dickens. His life record began in Iowa county, Wisconsin, January 22, 1843. Back of him is a Scotch ancestry, with the typical characteristics of that nation, noted for its thrift and industry. His grandfather, John Culver, was born in the land of hills and heather and became the founder of the family in the new world. He
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was a farmer by occupation and throughout his entire life gave his attention to the raising of crops. He wedded Miss Mary Sleter, and to both were allotted a ripe old age, Mr. Culver being seventy-eight when called to the home beyond, while his wife survived him but two years. They had a large family, namely: Alvah, Alanson, William, Fannie, deceased; Wilson, Melinda, Walter, John, Joshua and Alphonso.
Alvah Culver, the father of William W. Culver, was born in New York and was reared under the parental roof to the duties of the farm. He turned his attention, however, to the carpenter's trade, and thinking that the new and growing west offered better business opportunities, he made his way to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1836. There he spent one winter and one summer, after which he removed to Helena, Wisconsin, where he resided until his death. He worked most of the time for the American Shot Company, but also became proprietor of a hotel and proved a popular host. His life span covered seventy- three years and was ended in 1885. His wife survived him for only thirty days, and died at the age of seventy-one years. They were members of the Seventh Day Adventists church. Their family numbered ten children, seven sons and three daughters: David W., who makes his home in Spring Green, Wisconsin ; DeWitt C., also a resident of that place; Fannie, who died in infancy ; Abigail, who became the wife of A. C. Bedell, but is now deceased ; William W., of this review ; Alvah, Jr., who resides in Lone Rock, Wisconsin ; George W., a resident of Dickens ; John F., of Lone Rock, Wisconsin ; Joshua B., who is deceased ; and Sophronia M., who has also departed this life.
William W. Culver lived in Iowa county, Wisconsin, until seventeen years of age, and the public schools of Helena afforded him his educational privileges and prepared him for life's practical and responsible duties. He was reared as a farm boy, working in the fields when not attending school and at times enjoying such sports as the youth of the locality indulged in. At the age of eighteen years, thrilled by the spirit of patriotism, he joined the Union army, enlisting in 1862 as a member of Company A. Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years and held the rank of corporal. In many important engagements he proved his loyalty and valor, participating in the entire siege of Vicksburg, also the siege of Fort Blakeley and Spanish Fort. He was likewise in the battles of Marksville Prairie, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Pleasant Hill, Nashville, the second battle of Corinth and numerous skirmishes, and never faltered in the performance of his duty. whether on the firing line or the lonely picket line. He was twice wounded, in the siege of Vicksburg and again at Tupelo, but as soon as his injuries permitted he took his place again in the ranks and continued to defend the old flag until it was planted victoriously in the capital of the southern Confederacy.
When the war was over Mr. Culver gladly returned to his home and resumed the pursuits of peace in his native town, where he engaged in farming for a year. He then went into the pineries, where he spent three years, and in 1874 he came to lowa. For a year he resided in Dickinson county and then returned to Clay county, where he has now lived continuously for a third of a century. He is, therefore, numbered among the early settlers and has been an interested witness of the changes that the years have brought, as the county has
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been transformed from a frontier district into one of the leading counties of the commonwealth. Mr. Culver secured a homestead claim of eighty acres in Freeman township, about a mile and a quarter north of Dickens, and improved this property, living thercon until 1890. In the meantime he added a tract of forty acres, but eventually sold the entire farm and removed to Dickens, where he has now made his home for nineteen years. On taking up his abode in the town he turned his attention to the carpenter's trade and has been associated to a considerable extent with its building interests. although for nine and a half years he filled the office of postmaster. His administration of the duties of that office were entirely satisfactory to the general public, for he was always prompt and capable.
On the 7th of April. 1870, Mr. Culver was united in marriage to Miss Susan A. Jewell, a daughter of William and Annie (Cornelius) Jewell. She was born in Catabranca, Brazil, on the 4th of November, 1843, while her parents were natives of England. Her father was killed in the mines of Catabranca, while his wife survived him for some time and married again, her second husband being James Cox. By her first marriage there were born two children, Jane and Susan A. By the second marriage there were five children, James, Emma, Lizzie, Kate and Louisa Cox.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Culver was blessed with two daughters and a son : Maude E., who is now the wife of Anton Anderson, a station agent at Garner: Fred A., who married Belle Marchant, and is station agent at Castalia ; and Mabel, who is the wife of Fred Cederholm and resides in Freeman township. Mr. and Mrs. Culver are members of the Congregational church and are earnest Christian people, whose influence is always on the side of right, progress and improvement. He votes with the republican party and is much interested in its success, giving to it loyal allegiance. He also belongs to Annett Post, G. A. R., and thus keeps in touch with those who wore the blue uniform when he, too, was a soldier on southern battlefields. While his life has been quietly passed in some ways, it has nevertheless been fruitful of good, in that he has always been faithful to every trust reposed in him, progressive in his citizenship and reliable in his business connections.
ALFRED ANDERSON.
While one of the more recent additions to business circles in Royal, Alfred Anderson has already made for himself an enviable position in public regard and is numbered among the progressive and valued merchants of the town. He is as- sociated with C. P. Jones in a general mercantile store which was established on the 15th of March, 1908, and which they are conducting under the firm name of Jones & Anderson.
The junior partner was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on the 12th of May, 1880, and is a son of Olaf and Lottie (Olson) Anderson. The father was also born in Stockholm and in the year 1882 he came to the United States. As he looked over the country and saw the opportunities which it offered he believed that he might wisely establish his home on this side the Atlantic and in 1884 he
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brought his family to the new world, settling at Peterson, Iowa. In his native country he had learned the carpenter's trade in early life and had become a con- tractor and builder. After crossing the Atlantic he still continued in that field of labor for a time. His wife was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and they were mar- ried there. She still survives and is living at Royal. In their family were seven children : Elmer E., deceased : Charles W., a farmer residing in Montana ; Anna. the wife of John Switzer, a butcher and stock buyer of Sioux Rapids, lowa ; Lottie, who is the twin sister of Anna and the widow of Ed Colby, of Sioux Rapids; Alfred, of this review ; Ellen, deceased ; and Olaf, a farmer of Glendive. Montana.
Alfred Anderson was but four years of age when he came to the United States and has since been a resident of Iowa. He pursued his education in the common schools of Peterson and after leaving school started to work as a farm hand, in which manner he was employed for five years. He was always industri- ous and determined and his labors were therefore valuable to his employers. After five years devoted to work in the fields he began clerking in a general store in Royal and in that way gained a good knowledge of business methods, so that experience well qualified him to engage in business on his own account when on the 15th of March. 1908, he opened a general store in Royal in partnership with C. P. Jones. They have already secured a good trade and are building up a substantial business. They are young men of well known enterprise and of reso- late purpose, who carry forward to successful completion whatever they undertake.
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