USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 38
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In his political views Mr. Anderson is a democrat and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true AAmerican citizen should do. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his life is in harmony with his professions. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Yeomen. He is popular with a large circle of friends and the trad- ing public know him as a reliable and enterprising merchant.
JOSEPHI H. ALEXANDER.
Joseph H. Alexander. a veteran of the Civil war, who is now living in retirement in the village of Royal, after having for many years been prominently identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests here, is a native of Warren county, Indiana. He was born December 16, 1843. a son of G. W. and Ruth (Little) Alexander. His father was a native of Springfield, Ohio, where he lived until he was twenty years of age, at which period of his life he went to Indiana with his mother, remaining there until 1847, during which year he located in Green county, Wisconsin. Twenty years were there passed and in 1867 he removed to Jasper county, Jowa. He afterward lived for one year in Cherokee county and thence went to O'Brien county, where he was well known as a general merchant and farmer and where he departed this life in June, 1894. In Indiana he was united in marriage to Ruth Little, who was also born in Ohio, and departed this life in Cherokee county, Iowa, in the year 1873. They were the parents of the following children : Rebecca, Fannie, Mattie, Marguerite A .. Clara B., Ada R., Emma, Lincoln and Joseph H.
J. H. ALEXANDER
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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In the common schools of Green county, Wisconsin, Joseph H. Alexander acquired his preliminary education and subsequently pursued a course of study in the university at Evansville, that state, upon completing. which he returned home and lived with his parents until August 11, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for three years and was honorably discharged on June 29, 1865. He witnessed much hard fighting and was with his regiment in the battles at Resaca. Georgia, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Atlanta. During his military career Mr. Alexander was on the scouting force and served in the capacity of scout throughout the Georgia campaign and until the close of the war. His duty was often arduous and dangerous, but he never faltered when the interests of his country were at stake. After receiving his discharge he returned home and in 1867 removed to the southern part of this state, while subsequently he went to O'Brien county, where for a period he followed farming, and in 1898 came to this county, where he is now retired.
In 1866 Mr. Alexander wedded Miss Annie J. Dawson, and unto them have been born eight children, namely: J. S., an agriculturist of Sully county, South Dakota ; Ada, deceased; George Jesse, who is in the real-estate business at Heron Lake, Minnesota ; Wilfred G., who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cherokee county, this state; Effie, wife of Solomon Breffle, who is connected with an elevator at Osgood, this state; Nellie P., wife of Fred Readle, who is in the restaurant business in Miloma, Minnesota ; Frank C., a solicitor for a creamery in Cherokee county, this state; and Verne, of that county. Mr. Alexander has taken considerable interest in politics, his political faith being in accord with the principles of the democratic party. He served for three years as justice of the peace in Cherokee county, Iowa, for fifteen years in the same office in O'Brien county and in this county he has been justice of the peace for the past eight years. In the office he has gained considerable distinction for his fairness and administrative ability and at all times he is loyal in citizenship. He is a comrade of Spencer Post. G. A. R., and, being a man of sterling character, he has always merited and received the confidence and respect of all with whom business, official or social relations have brought him in contact.
LESLIE M. HURD.
Leslie M. Hurd, whose activity in business has not only contributed to his individual success but has also been an active factor in the development of the county, is now conducting a general mercantile store in Everly and is also finan- cially interested in a similar enterprise in Spencer. However, he makes his home in the former place and the town is glad to number him among its business men whose energy and enterprise are factors in its upbuilding. Mr. Hurd was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on the 13th of April. 1852, and afterward removed to Grant county, Wisconsin, with his parents, Jabez and Elizabeth (Gordon) Hurd. The father was a native of Connecticut and in that state was reared. In early manhood he was for some years a traveling salesman and in Canton, Ohio, he
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married Miss Gordon, who was born and reared in that city, since famous as the home of William McKinley. Following his marriage Mr. Hurd removed to Wis- consin and for a few years was engaged in business in Racine. He afterward be- came a factor in the business life of Huntington, Indiana, where he remained for a number of years and afterward became a resident of Grant county, Wisconsin. There he was engaged in dealing in land and making loans and was a successful business man, whose sound judgment enabled him to make judicious investments and to gain a substantial profit from his labors. Subsequently he removed to Charles City, where both he and his wife died. Their family, which numbered two sons and seven daughters, all of whom arrived at years of maturity, are still living and are now heads of families. A brother of our subject, Wilson Hurd, is well known in Hawkeye, Iowa, where for twenty-seven years he has engaged in the hardware business.
The youth of L. M. Hurd was largely passed in Grant county, Wisconsin, where he was provided with good educational privileges. After attending the common schools he had the advantage of a course in higher schools and upon the home farm he was trained in the work of the fields. Lessons of industry, dili- gence and integrity were carly impressed upon his mind and have borne fruit in later years.
On the 16th of March, 1880. in Grant county, Wisconsin, Mr. Hurd was mar- ried to Miss Ella Sprague, who was there born and remained throughout the period of her girlhood. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Buena Vista county, where they continued until 1884. Mr. Hurd bought a farm in Nokomis township near Alta, the place containing one hundred and sixty acres, to the development of which he gave his energies and attention. For four vears he carried on farming there and then sold out, after which he removed to Fayette county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres, which he cultivated for six years. On the expiration of that period he once more sold and removed to Hancock county, Iowa, where he rented land for six years. He next became a resident of Pocahontas county, where he resided until 1005. Throughout his life he has largely traded in farms and bought and sold farm property and on these deals has usually realized a good profit. He has owned two farms since coming to Everly in the year 1905. Here he became a factor in commercial circles, putting in a stock of general merchandise and has since actively managed the store, while his wife acts as bookkeeper and saleslady. In the fall of 1898 he established a general mercantile store in Spencer, which is now under the management of his sons, G. L. and Jay Hurd.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hurd were born four children who are yet living. As stated. G. L. and Jay are conducting a well established general store in Spencer : Harry is in the store at Everly and Sadie completes the family. They also lost a son, Harvey, who died in infancy. The children have been provided with good educational privileges and thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. The members of the family are prominent socially and have many warm friends in the county. Mrs. Hurd, the two oldest sons and the daughter are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Hurd also attends the church and contributes to its support. His membership relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his political allegiance is given to the republican party
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without desire for office. He stands as a representative of our best type of Ameri- can manhood and chivalry. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the obstacles which barred his path to success and has reached the goal of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit liave made him a director of public thought and action.
WILLIAM J. CROW.
No man can be said to have lived in vain whose work has in any way con- tributed to the world's progress. Carlyle has said, "The story of any man's life would have interest and value if truly told." There is much in the history of William J. Crow that is of interest, for he has attained world-wide fame as one of the most successful breeders of Poland China hogs. If the person who causes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before has wrought some good in the world, then the one who has, by careful study and experiment, improved the quality and value of stock breeding animals and caused the weight and size to double, then he also has certainly accomplished something of benefit to man- kind.
Mr. Crow is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Hop- kinton, Delaware county, Iowa, October 4, 1862. He is of English and Irish lineage and is a son of J. H. and Elizabeth (Johnston) Crow, who were natives of Canada and Kentucky respectively. The former was a farmer in early life but afterward directed his attention to mining. There were five children in his family: Mamie, the wife of Oliver Byan, residing in Buena Vista county, Iowa ; William J., of this review ; Charles, residing in Houston, Texas; Annie, the wife of E. D. Smith, residing also in Houston, Texas ; and Jesse, who lives in Idaho.
There was no vent of especial importance to vary the routine of farm life for William J. Crow in his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools and work in the fields on the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors incident to developing the farm. In the spring. of 1882 he arrived in Clay county and settled first about eight miles north of Peterson, on section twenty- one. Peterson township. There, for one year, he performed the arduous task of breaking the sod and then moved to Herdland township where he continued farm- ing until the fields were brought into a rich state of fertility. For eight years Mr. Crow continued on the farm and then removed to Spencer, where he lived for two years. Again he took up agricultural work, and then took up his abode in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. Three years later he removed to Marathon, Iowa, and after a brief stay returned to Sioux Rapids. Two more years passed and he then lo- cated upon the farm upon which he now resides, on section fourteen, Herdland township. Mr. Crow has been engaged in the stock business for many years and has been highly successful, and about a year ago he held the second highest sale in the United States. He is today considered authority on everything con- nected with the breeding, raising and improvement of Poland China hogs. The popularity of the "Crow Type" of hog today is enough to verify that fact. Mr. Crow started in some years ago with the plan and purpose to improve by
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careful breeding the size of bone and meat producing qualities of the Poland China. He started in almost alone with that idea and every step of the road he has had to prove the correctness of his theory by producing the goods. He has sought to produce a size in as high a degree as possible and at the same time to keep the bounds of feeding qualities at the highest limit and with sufficient bone to enable the animal to grow the largest amount of meat, also the finest quality without excessive fat. The results of his study and experiments have made possible what is known as the "Crow Type" of Poland China hogs. This type is remarkable for large growth, heavy bone and well finished,-the kind that has made good in the breeding pen and feed lot, the farmer's friend, the shipper's favorite. During the past few years he has made every animal of the Poland China breed which he has raised bring an average price of forty-five dollars.
While Mr. Crow has gained a world-wide reputation by reason of his devel- opment of the "Crow Type" of Poland China hogs, he has also been very success- ful in the raising and sale of horses and of Plymouth chickens. During most of his residence in Sioux Rapids he was the general agent for the Kirk stock food manufactured by the National Veterinary Medicine Company, and acted as gen- eral agent for the state of Iowa. He is now the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of valuable land in Clay county and his farm is well cultivated, presenting a most attractive appearance in its well tilled fields and substantial improvements.
On the 28th of September. 1886, Mr. Crow was married to Miss Emma Kauffold and they have five children: Vivian, born March 26, 1889: Adrian. born June 27, 1894 ; Minnie, born January 23, 1899; Vera, born December 11, 1904; and Jessie Marie, born August 4, 1907. In politics Mr. Crow is independent, voting for men and measures rather than party. He is a valued and popular mem- ber of Sioux Rapids Camp No. 3228, M. W. A., which he joined on its organiza- tion on the IIth of September, 1895. He has held all of the important offices of the lodge and enjoys in the highest degree the confidence and good will of his brethren in the fraternity. He is a man of alert and enterprising spirit, possess- ing the resolute will that enables him to carry forward to completion whatever he undertakes, and at all times his methods are practical and progressive.
J. W. HARTMAN.
J. W. Hartman, proprietor of a hotel in Royal, this county, at one time a traveling salesman for a prominent Chicago firm, is well known in business circles here. Moreover, he is entitled to mention in this volume from the fact that he is a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Union county, Pennsylvania. March 8, 1845, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Mottern) Hartman. His father, who was a native of the Keystone state and a well known furniture dealer there, left Pennsylvania in 1847 and located in Freeport, Illinois, where he remained until the year 1869, when he removed to Boonesboro, Boone county. Iowa, where he resided until he departed this life in 1902. his remains being interred in the cemetery at Boonesboro. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and throughout his
J. W. HARTMAN AND FAMILY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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entire life was connected with the furniture business, establishing a reputation for excellent workmanship and straightforward dealing. Politically he was a demo- crat and being quite influential in his party he served in a number of public offices. He was highly respected for his good character and throughout his life was a consistent member of and worker in the Lutheran church. His wife, also a native of the Keystone state, departed this life in Boone county, in 1903, and was laid to rest beside her husband in Boonesboro. In the family were nine chil- dren, namely : Henry, a retired policeman of Boonesboro; Amanda, wife of Jess Shull, who is engaged in the windmill business ; Helen, who departed this life in 1908: J. W .: Albert, a railroad engineer, residing in Alaska; Perry, a retired blacksmith of Boonesboro; Eliza, wife of Albert Scott, who is living in retire- ment in Des Moines, Iowa; Ella, deceased, who was the wife of Shepard Rick- ard. a well known clothier of Freeport, Illinois; and Emma, the wife of John Akeman, a potter of Des Moines, Iowa.
In the common schools of Cedarville, Illinois, J. W. Hartman acquired his preliminary education and subsequently pursued a course of study at the high school. He remained at home with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when, in 1863, he enlisted at Freeport, Illinois, in Company B, Forty-sixth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years and was honorably dis- charged at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 18, 1866. During his military experience he participated in a number of skirmishes and battles, among which were : The Wilderness : Mobile, Alabama, where he fought continuously for seven and a half days; Blakeley, where he participated in two charges ; Macon, Mississippi, from which place he went to New Orleans and then with the troops was sent up the Red river to reinforce General Banks, under whom he served in the Red river campaign. At the battle of Pine Ridge Mr. Hartman was severely wounded in the hip, which injury has since caused him much suffering.
At the termination of his military service Mr. Hartman went to Ilinois and rented a farm fifteen miles from the city of Freeport, on which he remained for two years. At the termination of that time, in 1870, he came to this county, locat- ing in Lincoln township. He operated these farms for fifteen years and then disposed of his interests and removed to section 17, Riverton township, where he actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising until fourteen years ago, when he retired and took up residence in the village of Spencer. In Spencer he lived for a brief period and then went to Webb, where he engaged in the hotel business for a pastime, in the meantime traveling on the road for Farr & Wheeler. a well known Chicago firm. Later he returned to Spencer, where he remained until 1907. during which year he located in Royal, where he established a hotel, of which he is still proprietor. Mr. Hartman is a man of considerable means and he pursues this occupation not that he might obtain a livelihood, but simply be- cause the hotel business has a fascination for him and he follows it for the pleas- ure and recreation he derives and for the same reason as one spends his time in auto riding. or yacht cruising. While Mr. Hartman has prospered and is now numbered among the substantial citizens of the county, all days in his life have not been equally bright. In fact, he has met discouragements and difficulties, especially in the early days, when he experienced the grasshopper plague and for five seasons raised nothing on his farm, the insects taking every living thing.
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However, as the years have gone by his capable management and energy have brought to him well earned and justly merited success. In addition to his other interests he now owns two good residences in Spencer, a business block and other valuable real estate.
On March 14, 1867, Mr. Hartman was united in marriage in Oneco, Illinois, to Miss Amelia Runkle, by whom he had four children, namely: John, a general merchant of Spirit Lake, Iowa ; Jacob Samuel, an expressman, of Spencer ; Bert, a land promoter of Milestone, Canada ; and Libbie, who became the wife of Els- worth Hagarty, who has a barber shop in Spencer. Mr. Hartman's political views were in accord with the democratic party before he enlisted in the army but after he was discharged he changed his opinions and has since been loyal to the republican party. He has served the township as school director, and for the past three years has been secretary of the school board. He is a comrade of Spencer Post, G. A. R., and always finding time to devote to religious duties, he and his wife attend services at the Friends church. Mr. Hartman's record is a telling evidence of what industry and perseverance will do if reinforced by intelligence, for when he began his business career he had neither means nor influence to aid him, but he possessed resolute purpose and unfaltering courage and gradually reached his present position as one of the men of affluence in the county. In all of his dealings he has been thoroughly reliable and in matters of citizenship he is helpful and progressive, giving his aid and influence to many measures for the public good.
GEORGE W. RYNO, Sr.
George W. Ryno, one of the public-spirited men of Lone Tree township, whose labors have been of material and substantial value to the community in the line of general progress, makes his home on a farm on section 27, where he owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land. He is also operating other land, in connection with his sons, and is classed with the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock raisers of the county. Here he has lived since the spring of 1883. His birth occurred in Union county, New Jersey, across the river from New York city, April 9, 1848. His father, Hugh D. Ryno, was a native of England, and in early life became a resident of New Jersey, where he was married to Miss Sarah Graves, also of English birth. She died in New Jersey in 1854, when her son George was a lad of six years.
On the home farm in the state of his nativity, George W. Ryno spent the first twenty years of his life, and there learned the tinsmith's trade, which he followed for four years. He was afforded good common school advantages, but is wholly a self-made man, being dependent upon his own labors from the early age of six years. The struggle for an existence was a hard one, but he soon became self-reliant and early learned the lessons of industry, perse- verance and integrity. Upon these qualities he has builded his success. Hoping to better his financial conditions in the middle west. when a young man of twenty years he made his way to Will county, Illinois, where he worked in a rolling mill, being first employed as fireman and later as engineer. He has neglected
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no opportunity that would promote his business advancement throughout his entire life, and his success has been gained in legitimate lines of business.
In Joliet, Illinois, on the 12th of July, 1871, Mr. Ryno was united in marriage to Miss Mary Gorman, a native of Queens county, Ireland, who came to the new world when a young lady of sixteen years. Following their marriage they established their home in Joliet, where they lived for a few years, and later Mr. Ryno worked by the month as a farm hand until he could make arrange- ments to rent land and begin farming on his own account. For a few years he carried on general agricultural pursuits in Illinois, and in 1883 came to Iowa, locating in Clay county, where he has since lived. He first rented a farm for three years, during which time his industry and careful expenditure brought him capital sufficient to enable him to purchase the tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Lone Tree township, on which he now resides. It was at that time raw, open prairie, on which he built a small frame house, while with characteristic energy he turned his attention to the development of the fields. Persistently and energetically he has continued his work year after year, until he now has a well improved property, classed with the model farms of the twentieth century. He has added to his house until he now has a large, sub- stantial residence, which is comfortably furnished. A commodious barn and granary furnish shelter to grain and stock. He also has stock scales upon his place, and many modern equipments, while the latest improved machinery is used to facilitate the work of the fields. The place is well fenced and divided into fields of convenient size, and although the farm was a treeless prairie when it came into his possession, he now has a nice grove of maple, willow and box-elder trees. An orchard of his own planting yields its fruits in season, and the farm is in every way a well developed property. He likewise raises and feeds stock, having a large number of hogs each year. He also has carried on a dairy business for several years and furnishes supplies to the creameries. Moreover, he is interested in the North Rural Telephone Company, as one of its stockholders and directors, and is justly accounted one of the active and pro- gressive business men of this part of the state.
As the years have gone by nine children, five sons and four daughters, have been added to the household, namely: George W., Jr., who is the owner of land in Minnesota and is engaged in farming on his own account; John E., who follows farming in South Dakota; Jary G., who is in partnership with his father in his farming and stock raising interests; William H., who is a student in Humboldt College, at Humboldt, Iowa, but is interested with his father and brother in farming and stock raising interests ; Charles F., who is a student in the Everly high school; Catharine F., the wife of Andrew Griffith, a farmer of Dickinson county, Iowa; Sarah E., the wife of William H. Rose, a farmer of Riverton township, Clay county; Mary M., the wife of Victor LeClaire, a farmer of Roberts county, South Dakota; and Anna L., the wife of R. Elmer Dake, a business man of Peterson, Iowa.
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