USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 39
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In the year 1872 Mr. Ryno proudly cast his first presidential vote, supporting Horace Greeley, and since that time he has given his allegiance to the standard bearers of the democratic party. The public school system has found in him a warm friend, and he has, moreover, proved loyal in different local offices, serving
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as highway commissioner, while at the present time he is acting for the ninth consecutive year as township trustee, and his incumbency will continue until 1910. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is still a communicant of the church. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he has confronted many difficulties and obstacles in his life, but through persistency of purpose and undaunted energy, he has worked his way steadily upward in a line where labor is unhampered by caste or class.
ALFRED JAMES LIVINGSTON.
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From the rich farming district of Iowa there have come many men who have won success in agricultural lines and are now enjoying the fruits of their labor. To this class belong Alfred James Livingston, and as he is widely and favorably known in this part of the state, his record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He is yet in the prime of life and his well directed energy in former years has brought to him a competence that supplies him with all the necessities and many of the comforts of living, without recourse to other labor. He was born in Council Hill. Jo Daviess county, Illinois, November 1, 1852, and is of Irish descent, his parents. William and Jane (McKnight) Livingston, having both been natives of County Monahan, Ireland. The grandfather, Alexander Livingston, spent his entire life on the Emerald Isle. and there married, and reared his family of three children, William, Henry and Margaret, all of whom came to the United States.
William Livingston was reared to the occupation of farming and when he became convinced in his own mind that he would have better advantages in the United States, he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for New York. Continuing his journey into the interior of the country, he settled first at Council Hill, Illinois, where he followed teaming for a time, and when his capital permitted, took up the occupation of farming. For a long period he resided in that state, but in the spring of 1892 came to Iowa, spending his last days in Spencer, where he passed away April 13, 1904. Had he lived a day longer he would have reached the age of ninety years. For only a year had he survived his wife, who died on the 6th of April, 1903, a devoted member of the Methodist church, to which Mr. Livingston also belonged. While in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, he held various township offices and at all times his cooperation could be counted upon to further progressive public improvement. This worthy couple were the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom four are living, as follows: Eliza Jane, the wife of W. W. Claypool, of Spencer, Iowa; Margaret, widow of Henry Thuirer. of Summit township; Alfred J., of this review : and Mary Ann, wife of Edward Claypool, of Sioux township.
Farm work in all of its various phases early became familiar to Alfred J. Livingston, as his youthful days were passed on his father's farm in Jo Daviess county, where he soon came to understand the best times for planting his fields and the best methods of caring for his crops. His intellectual training was
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received in the district schools, and when his age and experience justified, he rented his father's farm, which he cultivated for one year. In the fall of 1876 he came to Iowa, settling near Hampton, again engaging in farming, in part- nership with his brother-in-law, W. W. Claypool, with whom he was thus connected for five years. In the spring of 1881 he came to Clay county, arriving on the 9th of April. His partnership with Mr. Claypool continued, and together they bought a section of land in Summit township, but the second year divided their interests, each retaining three hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Livingston bent his energies to the arduous task of developing and cultivating his farm. The land was plowed, crops were put in and as the months ran their course the harvest ripened and was gathered. His produce always found a ready sale on the market, and as he prospered in his undertakings he added to his place all of the modern equipment and accessories of a model farm of the nineteenth century. He was thus actively associated with general agricultural pursuits until March, 1907, save for a period of three years, which he spent in the machinery business in Spencer, during which time he rented his farm. He is now living retired, but he still owns his country place, which is finely improved and indicates in its splendid appearance his careful supervision and practical methods.
On the 28th of March, 1883, Mr. Livingston was married to Miss Kate B. Riley, a daughter of John and Ellen (Donlan) Riley. Their children are four in number: Audrey E., wife of Roy La Brant ; Edna May, Marion Rebecca and Kennith James. Mrs. Livington belongs to the Catholic church and Mr. Livingston to the Yeomen of America. He always votes with the democracy in all matters of public moment, displaying a spirit of marked devotion to the general good. In analyzing his life record it will be seen that persistent, earnest work has constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his prosperity, and his diligence may well serve as an example for others to emulate.
D. E. BEVING.
D. E. Beving, living on section 3. Summit township, devotes his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He is one of the extensive land owners of the county and deserves much credit for the position to which he has attained in business circles, as it is the result of his close application and indefatigable industry. In his home farm he now has three hundred acres, and four hundred acres in another farm in Clay county likewise contributes to his success. His holdings also include one hundred and sixty acres in Dickinson county and two hundred and forty acres in Osceola county. Thus he is numbered among the large land owners of this part of the state. He also owns a half interest in another three hundred and twenty acres in this county.
Mr. Beving was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, February 5, 1866, and came to Iowa with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ubbe Beving, in 1873. settling in Grundy county. There the subject of this review was reared to manhood.
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No event of especial importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in boyhood and youth. He worked in the fields through the summer months or in fact until harvests were gathered in the late autumn, and in winter seasons he attended school, thus gaining knowledge that has prepared him for life's practical and responsible duties.
After arriving at years of maturity. D. E. Beving sought a companion and helpmate for life's journey, and while living in Grundy county was married on the Ist of November, 1888, to Miss Tena Heikens, who was born and reared in Grundy county. Following their marriage he removed to Clay county and took up their abode in Summit township, where Mr. Beving purchased the farm upon which he now resides. He first bought one hundred and thirty-eight acres of land, and with characteristic energy began to till and improve the place. The crops which he raised brought to him good financial returns and he saved his earnings until his careful expenditure and industry brought him sufficient capital to make further purchases. Thus from time to time he has added to his property, until he now owns seven hundred acres in Summit township in one body, while other realty holdings bring his landed possessions to an aggregate amount of twelve hundred and fifty acres. All of this is good land, and in connection with his farming, which is carefully conducted along the most modern lines of agricultural progress, he raises and feeds stock, shipping about fourteen carloads of hogs and cattle each year. His business interests are thus very extensive, and, moreover, at the present time he is manager of the Fostoria Elevator Company and also of the Telephone Company of Fostoria. In all of his business interests he shows keen discrimination and his judgment is seldom if ever at fault in placing the value upon a business situation or its possible outcome. What he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and unfaltering integrity is numbered among his salient characteristics.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beving have been born five children, Ubbe, George. John, Anna and Harry. The family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death and all are still under the parental roof. The parents are members of the Reform church. Mr. Beving has been one of the active and progressive farmers of the county for a long period. In connection with the development of his own property he buys and deals in land, and his judicious investments and profitable sales have added materially to his property.
NATHAN T. WILCOX.
It is fitting that men in the evening of life should enjoy a season of rest. Nature seems to have intended that this should be so, for in youth he is full of energy and hope and in later years these qualities are directed by mature judg- ment and keen discrimination, resulting in the attainment of success. Such has been the record of Nathan T. Wilcox, whose years of activity are now crowned with an age of ease. He has lived in the county since 1880 and for many years was identified with its agricultural interests. Moreover. he is entitled to men- tion in this volume from the fact that he is a veteran of the Civil war.
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Mr. Wilcox was born in the town of Richmond, Ontario county, New York, January 26, 1838, and is a son of Harvey G. and Zina ( Straight ) Wilcox, both of whom were natives of Rhode Island. The father always followed the occupa- tion of farming and on leaving the east became a resident of Wisconsin in 1853, at which time he settled in Wheatland township, Kenosha county. Four years later he removed to Effingham county, Illinois. Mr. Wilcox afterward returned to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where he passed away August 31, 1860. having been born September 20, 1799. His wife died October 10, 1854. She was born
March 7, 1797. They were the parents of eleven children, but only three are now living. The brother of our subject is William H. Wilcox, of Webb, Iowa, and the sister, Lucy L., is the wife of E. W. Alger, of the town of Rich- mond, Ontario county, New York.
Nathan T. Wilcox, the youngest of the surviving members of the family, lived in Ontario county, New York, until fifteen years of age, spending that period on his father's farm and in attending the district school, where he gained the knowledge that fitted him for the early duties of life. After removing to Wiscon- sin with his father he began working by the month as a farm hand and also cul- tivated land on the shares with his father. His life has always been one of unremitting industry and enterprise until his recent removal to Spencer to enjoy here a well merited rest. In November, 1859, he returned to the state of New York, driving a team all the way, and in the year of 1861, having watched the progress of events until feeling that his duty to his country was paramount to all else, he offered his services to the government on the 20th of October and was enrolled as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Second New York Vol- unteer Infantry. He served for over three years and was mustered out December 24, 1864, at Savannah, Georgia, having in the meantime participated in the bat- tles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. He served for nearly two years in the artillery and never faltered in the performance of any duty.
After the war Mr. Wilcox returned to New York, and in January, 1866, removed westward to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he resided until the spring of 1880. That date witnessed his arrival in Clay county, and here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Gillett's Grove township, which he improved and cultivated for thirteen years, or until January, 1893, when he rented his farm and took up his abode in Spencer in a nice home at No. 909 Prairie avenue, at the corner of East Ninth street. He still owns his farm and it returns him a substantial income. He has made good improvements upon it and throughout his entire connection with agricultural pursuits he utilized modern methods of farming and by his unremitting industry won his success. Mr. Wilcox being a carpenter and wagon-maker by trade, he was enabled to save considerable money by doing his own work in these lines.
On the Ist of March, 1869, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Fay, who was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in the city of Cleveland, a daughter of Joseph M. and Sophronia (Brainard) Fay. Her father was born July 31, 1804, in Fulton county, New York, and was a cooper by trade. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was married on the 7th of February, 1828. to Miss Sophronia Brainard, whose birth occurred in Connecticut, May 27. 1805.
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In their childhood days they had removed to Ohio and it was in that state that their marriage was celebrated. In 1841 they became residents of Wheatland, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where the death of Mrs. Fay occurred March 14, 1885, while Mr. Fay died on the 24th of July, 1889. Mrs. Wilcox is a member of the Congregational church and a most estimable lady, whose good qualities of heart and mind have endeared her to many friends. Mr. Wilcox is a valued representative of several fraternal organizations. He belongs to Spencer Lodge, No. 247, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the offices and is a past grand. He is likewise connected with Annett Post, G. A. R., in which he has served as commander. He is a believer in republican principles and therefore gives to the party stalwart support. For six years he served as trustee of Gillett's Grove township, but whether in office or out of it, is always loyal to the best interests of the community, manifesting the same fidelity to his country and her welfare as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields of the south. His has been a creditable record as a soldier, as a citizen and a business man, and he is now highly esteemed in Spencer, where he expects to spend his remaining days.
THOMAS GADSBY.
Thomas Gadsby is engaged in general farming in Freeman township, owning and cultivating four hundred acres of land. He has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and his place presents an attractive appearance, con- stituting one of the pleasing pictures in the landscape. Mr. Gadsby is now in the fifty-fifth year of his age, his birth having occurred in Yeavley, Derbyshire, England. November 18, 1854. His parents and his grandparents were also natives of that country. His grandfather, James Gadsby, followed the occupation of farming there but died in early manhood. The maternal grandfather did fancy gardening. Both he and his wife lived to old age and reared a family of three children. The parents of Thomas Gadsby were William and Emma (Johnston) Gadsby, both natives of England. The former engaged in tilling the soil. He died in England in 1888 at the age of sixty-three years and is still survived by his wife, who yet lives in that country. He was a member of the Established Church of England and his widow is also of that faith. Unto them were born five sons and five daughters, of whom four are now living .: Thomas; William, who is located at Radgleywood, England; Elizabeth, the wife of William H. Hargrave, of Sioux township ; and Samuel, whose home is in Yeavley, England.
Only two of the family have become residents of the United States. Thomas Gadsby, of this review, was reared in the land of his birth and in his youth he had few leisure moments. He worked at farin labor and when still but a boy worked for two years at the meager salary of four cents per day. He remained in his native country until twenty-five years of age, when he felt that he had little opportunity to secure success in business there and determined to test the truth of the favorable reports which he heard concerning business conditions in the United States. Accordingly, he sailed for America in 1880 and, making his
,
THOMAS GADSBY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
.
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way westward to Clay county, rented a farm of J. E. Mills, in Freeman township, south of Dickens. There he lived for six years until his industry and economy enabled him to purchase a farm for himself. He at first bought eighty acres but later sold that and invested in three eighty-acre tracts in Freeman township. He today owns four hundred acres of finely improved land and is busily employed in tilling the soil, raising the crops best suited to climatic conditions here. He keeps his fields rich and arable through the rotation of crops and has studied, too, the best time and methods of planting, and the best means of culti- vating the soil. That his labors have been practical is indicated by the results which he has achieved, owning now one of the best farms of the community.
On the 14th of April, 1904, Mr. Gadsby was married to Miss Ethel Goff, a daughter of Dwight and Melissa (Brayton) Goff. There are two children of that marriage, William Maxon and Thomas Eldon. Mrs. Gadsby was born in Ruthven, Palo Alto county, Iowa, April 16, 1874. Her father was a native of Sherland, Illinois, and was a son of Orrin Dowd and Nancy (Fassett) Goff, both of whom were natives of New York. He became an early settler of Iowa, and lived upon one farm in Palo Alto county thirty-five years. He wedded Melissa Brayton, a daughter of Joseph and Permilia (Spencer) Brayton. Her father was a native of Indiana and served as a soldier in the Civil war. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Goff continued their residence in Palo Alto county, but now live in Freeman township, Clay county, and are among the respected citizens of that community. They were the parents of three sons and a daughter, Ethel, now Mrs. Gadsby ; Elmer, deceased; Wilmer ; and Le Grand.
Mrs. Gadsby belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is interested in its work and loyal to its teachings. Mr. Gadsby holds membership relations in Dickens Lodge, No. 583, I. O. O. F. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen and is in harmony with the spirit of these fraternal organizations. His life has been a busy, useful and active one and his success is indicated in the fact of his ownership of one of the valuable farming properties of the county.
JOHN FELL.
John Fell, actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising, is one of the extensive land owners of the county, his possessions aggregating eight hundred acres. In the management and conduct of his property he displays excellent business ability and his enterprise, careful control and keen discernment are the factors which have gained him the substantial place which he is filling as one of the leading business men of Lone Tree township. A native of Germany, he was born in Prussia, on the 14th of February, 1858, and there remained until nine years of age when, in 1867, he crossed the Atlantic with the other members of the family. Landing on the eastern coast, they continued their journey across the country to Keokuk county, Iowa, and there John Fell was reared to manhood upon the home farm. He remained with his father, Matthew Fell, until he had attained his majority and the events of his youthful days were those which usually fall to the farm lad of the central Mississippi valley. He worked in
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the fields, and in the common schools acquired his education and after he had reached manhood he determined to follow as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared. He was thereafter connected with general agricultural pursuits in Keokuk county until 1888, when he came to Clay county and first purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which constituted the nucleus of his present extensive possessions. At that time only forty acres had been broken and there were no buildings upon the place, but he resolutely set himself to the task of developing a fine farm and soon brought the remainder of the tract under a high state of cultivation. The necessary buildings were also put up and the farm work was conducted along progressive and practical lines. As he gathered good harvests, for which he found a ready sale on the market, and his financial resources were thus increased, he added to his property from time to time until he now owns over eight hundred acres of valuable farm land in Clay county. He has also erected a two-story frame residence, which forms one of the attractive features of the landscape. It is supplied with many modern conveniences and is tastefully furnished. He has also built good barns and large cattle sheds and the outbuildings show care in their neat and thrifty appearance. There was not a rod of fence on the place when he took possession but it is all now enclosed with barbed wire and is thus divided into fields of convenient size. He raises corn and other cereals and he likewise raises, feeds and fattens stock, selling on an average of one carload of cattle and one of hogs each year.
On the Ist of January, 1896, Mr. Fell was married to Miss Mary Grendler, a native of Germany, in which land she was reared. There are eight children in the family, Peter, John, Edward, Bessie. Alice. May, Clara and Susie, all of whom are yet under the parental roof, the family circle being still unbroken by the hand of death. In politics Mr. Fell is a democrat and while he votes for the men and measures of the party the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. The only official position that he has filled has been that of member of the school board for several years, during which time he has labored effectively to promote the cause of public education. As one of the land owners and successful farmers and business men of Lone Tree township he is well known in Spencer and throughout Clay county. His life record shows what may be accomplished by a determined spirit and by unfaltering enterprise. He has carefully noted and utilized his opportunities, making each moment count and his example of unremitting industry and perseverance is one well worthy of emulation.
WILLIAM WARREN.
Comparatively few of the men who came to Clay county in the period of its pioneer development early enough to secure a homestead claim from the government are now living. William Warren, however, is among the number who have been identified with the progress and upbuilding of this portion of the state for many years. He dates his residence in Clay county since 1872 and, securing a government claim, he developed from the wild prairie a good farm of
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one hundred and sixty acres. He was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, April 10, 1840, a son of James Warren, who was born and reared in New York. The father married Elmira Yarrington, also a native of the Empire state, and removed to the west and cast his lot in with the pioneer settlers of Stephenson county, Illinois, where he died when his son William was a little child of but three months. His wife survived him and later married again. By the first marriage there were four children, two of whom survived, the sister of Mr. Warren being Mrs. Maric Hill, who lives in Illinois.
Because of his father's early death Mr. Warren was thrown upon his own resources at a tender age. His youthful days were passed in Winnebago county, Illinois, on a farm where he received thorough training in the work of the fields, although his opportunities for obtaining mental discipline in public schools were very limited. However, he early learned the lessons concerning industry, persc- verance and integrity, and these have constituted important features in his success as the years have gone by. On the 10th of November, 1861, he offered his serv- ices to the government, for the country had become involved in Civil war, and he was resolved to strike a blow in defense of the Union. He therefore joined the Fourth Battery of the Wisconsin Light Artillery and the command was assigned to the army of the Potomac under General Butler. He participated in numerous engagements, was with several reconnoitering parties and was wounded in the defense of Richmond by a piece of shell which struck him in the right leg. Being thus disabled he was forced to remain in the hospital at Philadelphia throughout the winter of 1864 and 1865, and was then honorably discharged on the 14th of April of the latter year, after which he was mustered out in that city.
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