USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 45
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high state of cultivation. Aside from producing general crops-raising hay, wheat and oats-he also takes an interest in stock-breeding and keeps on hand a number of head of the best specimens of cattle and hogs. He also produces a great deal of corn, but during his long career he has never sold as much as three hundred bushels, claiming that the most profitable department of farming is stock feeding, and to this purpose he has practically devoted all of his corn. His farm is in excellent condition, all his buildings and fences being substantial and in good repair and everything about the place is indicative of thrift and progress.
In 1893 Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Anna Campbell, daughter of Jolin and Anna (Dewarr) Campbell, both natives of Perthshire. Her parents never left their native land. Her father departed this life in 1897, at the age of seventy-six years, while her mother still survives, at the advanced age of ninety years. Mrs. Ferguson comes from an illustrious line of ancestors, as perhaps no name is better known in Scotland than that of Campbell, represented by one of the most famous Scottish clans. On her father's side her grandparents were Duncan and Jessie (McCullam) Campbell, he having been a sheep raiser and a direct descendant of the West Highland branch of the Campbells of Craigish. It is well known that the Campbell clan was the most powerful in Scotland and that it has figured most prominently in the history of that nation. Its head is the Duke of Argyll, called McCullam More, and for centuries the policy of the Argyll family was predominant. During the Stuart troubles they threw their entire influence on the side of the House of Hanover. The brother-in-law of King Edward VII is the present head of the clan, the family seat being Inverary Castle and the war cry of the clan is "Cruachan." the name of a mountain near Loch Arve, while the wild myrtle is inscribed upon the coat of arms. During the days of its ascendancy the clan had a fighting force of about five thousand and the well known march, "The Campbells Are Coming," was written to celebrate its power and bravery.
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The ancient family of the Campbells of Craigish dates back to about the year 1150 and descends from Dugal Campbell, son of Archibald Campbell, so that the family runs backward close to the head of the clan. During the period of Roman conquests Scotland was inhabited by the Picts, Scots and Britons, each being governed by their own kings, but after the Romans partially subdued them they placed over them their own governors to secure their conquests. One of the gov- ernors went to France with a colony of Britons, who there, in Brittania Gallicae, were ruled by their own sovereigns and presently their brethren at home, being harassed by the Picts and Scots, sent to them for aid, offering the rulership to their king, which he declined, but he sent his son Constantine with an army to their assistance in the year 404, during the reign of Fergus II. Constantine reigned over the Britons until about the year 420 and he was the grandfather of Arthur of the Round Table, with whom the Campbells generally begin their genealogy. Thus the ancient race can trace back from fathier to son in an un- broken line for nearly fifteen centuries. They have alike poets, philosophers, philanthropists, doctors and divines.
The descendants of the Craigish family, although so numerous, have been dispersed throughout many parts of the world since. Being inspired with the spirit of adventure, they have settled throughout the British dominions and the United States. In the straith of Craigish they are represented at present by Mrs. Campbell, of Milford, who holds possession of the land belonging to the original family, the members of which were Admiral Campbell, of Barbrec, and Duncan McIver Campbell, of Arkaneish and Loch Gair. Duncan Campbell. another celebrated member of the family and an uncle of Mrs. Ferguson, was a piper to Sir Charles Forbes, of Castle Newe, Strathdon, that gentleman always having pledged his faith that Duncan Campbell was the "creme de la creme" of all the pipers in Scotland.
The members of the Ferguson family all belong to the Presbyterian church, in which they are active workers. In politics Mr. Ferguson is a republican and although he is not an active politician he is always interested in public affairs and contributes his influence and support toward securing. the election of the candi- dates of this party. He was one of the principal promoters of the new telephone lines and is always ready to further any measure which will in any degree tend toward bettering the conditions of the locality. He is a man of high moral char- acter, industrious and enterprising, and his honesty and uprightness have always merited him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
JOHN P. MILLS.
John P. Mills, filling the office of supervisor. is found to be a faithful and efficient incumbent in that position. Moreover, he has long been well known as a representative farmer of the county but is now living retired, having in previous vears attained success sufficient to enable him to put aside business cares at the present time. He was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania. January 11, 1845, and his parents, Samuel and Nancy (Emery) Mills, were also natives of that
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state. The paternal grandfather died in Pennsylvania when about sixty or sixty- five years of age, while his wife lived to be almost ninety years of age. They had several children, including Samuel Mills, who was reared in the Keystone state and followed the occupation of farming as a life work. He removed from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin in the spring of 1846 and settled in Lafayette county. There he engaged in farming and teaming. and became a factor in the early development and progress of that portion of the state. In 1869 he removed to Carroll, Iowa, and in the spring of 1870 came to Clay county, settling near Sioux Rapids. In that state he purchased about six hundred acres of land which was mostly improved through his efforts. He lived a life of intense and well directed activity and as the years passed prospered in his undertakings, his farming interests being very valuable. In his later life he took up his abode in Sioux Rapids, where he passed away at the age of eighty-four years. He had for a little more than a year survived his wife, who died at the age of eighty-two. They were both members of the Methodist church and Mr. Mills held various township offices, the duties' of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mills were born ten children, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth.
John P. Mills was reared in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, on the home farm, amid the scenes and environments of frontier life. As the public-school system of the state was not then organized, he attended one of the old time subscription schools, pursuing his studies through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he worked on the farm. He remained at home until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when the patriotism in his nature responded to the country's need and in 1864, although but nineteen years of age, he enlisted as a member of Company E, Forty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of the war as a private, being only engaged on garrison duty. When hostilities had ceased he returned to his Wisconsin home and there engaged in farming until the spring of 1869, when he became a resident of Carroll county, Iowa. In January, 1870, he arrived at Clay county and rented land near Sioux Rapids, carrying on farming there until 1873. In that year he invested his savings in a farm of eighty acres in Gillett Grove township, on which he established his home, and from time to time added to that property by purchase until he at one time had five hundred and sixty acres. He has since sold one hundred and sixty acres, so that his landed possessions now embrace four hundred acres of rich and valuable land in Clay county. From this property he derives a substantial annual income and he is also the owner of two hundred and thirty-eight acres in Redwood county, Minnesota. In 1902, putting aside the active work of the farm, he removed to Spencer, where he has a nice home and is now living retired. He is the president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, which was organized twenty years ago and of which he has been the chief executive officer for seven- teen years.
On the 19th of December, 1867, Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Sprague, a daughter of Samuel and Ann Sprague. Mrs. Mills was born in Cornwall, England, July 25, 1846, and her parents were also natives of that country. She lost her mother when a little girl and her father died about 1873. They were the parents of six children. of whom four reached adult age.
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After the death of his first wife, her father married again and there were two daughters by that union, Helen and Adaline. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mills have been born seven sons and three daughters. One son, Samuel, is operating his father's farm and he married Bessie Woodman, by whom he has a daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Mills are both members of the Friends church and are most highly esteemed people. Mr. Mills belongs to Annett Post, No. 124, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is as true and loyal to his country in the days of peace as in days of war and is always interested in every progressive movement for the welfare of his community. His political allegiance has ever been given to the republican party and his fellow townsmen have frequently called him to public office. He has served as school treasurer and school director and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He has likewise been town clerk, road commissioner and has served for two terms as supervisor. No public trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his fidelity to honorable. manly principles has ever won for him the good will and friendship of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
LEWIS SCHARNBERG.
Lewis Scharnberg is one of the well known business men of Clay county, who for the past fifteen years has been actively identified with commercial interests in Everly. His labors have not only been a source of profit to himself but have also constituted an element in the general prosperity. He has lived in the county since 1884 and throughout this period has been an interested witness of its growth and progress and an active supporter of many measures for the public good. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, for his birth occurred in the city of Daven- port, on the 13th of March, 1866. There his boyhood and youth were passed and the city schools afforded him his educational privileges. In early boyhood-when twelve years of age-he left Davenport and went to Benton county, locating on a farm near Dysart. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for several years, but believing that he would find commercial interests more congenial and profitable, he went west and lived on a farm in Clay county for three years. He then worked for A. W. Sleeper as manager of his farm. Working at the carpen- ter's trade for a year gave him experience in the lumber business and gained him a lucrative position with a lumber company of Everly. Later he purchased the business of Deacon & Clement, thus becoming proprietor of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank. He has always been a man of enterprising spirit and his efforts have reached out into fields which have constituted sources of public progress as well as individual success. He was one of the promoters and organizers of the First National Bank of Everly and was elected cashier and manager. In this con- nection he is proving himself a capable and successful financier, making this one of the strong moneyed institutions of the county, while his business is continually increasing in scope. He also buys and deals in Clay county lands, also handles Minnesota property and is altogether regarded as a most progressive, energetic,
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determined and prosperous business man. He is part owner of a lumber yard, elevator and tile factory in Everly and his cooperation is eagerly sought in the conduct of business affairs, for it is well known that whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion.
In Everly, in 1889, was celebrated the marriage of Lewis Scharnberg and Miss Amelia Jurgens, who was born in Davenport and there spent her girlhood days to the age of thirteen years, after which she lived in Clay and O'Brien coun- ties. Four children have been born of this marriage, Emma F., Lewis C., Elsie and Nola.
In his political views Mr. Scharnberg is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has served as councilman for a number of years and exercises his official prerogatives in support of all measures that are calculated to advance the best interests of the town. He has likewise been president of the school board for a number of years and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion, whose labors in its behalf are practical, beneficial and far- reaching. His opinions carry weight in the local councils of his party and he is frequently a delegate to the county and state conventions. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, while fraternally he is connected with Everly Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Spencer Chapter, R. A. M., while of the former he is a past master. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp and is in thorough sympathy with the principles and purposes of these organizations. He occupies a very prominent position in business and social circles and is popular in Everly and vicinity, being frequently consulted by numbers of people on business matters, for his advice is always impartial and his judgment is considered sound. He has aided materially in the upbuilding and advancement of the county, being particularly active in promoting the growth and development of this locality. He readily and correctly judges the value of any situation in its bearing upon business conditions and in his private interests has so managed his affairs that he has made steady and substantial progress, being now numbered among the men of affluence in Everly.
HENRY W. EGGERS.
One of the extensive landowners and prosperous farmers of Summit town- ship is Henry W. Eggers, who is living on section 12. There he owns and cultivates a farm of three hundred and eighty-one acres which is constantly increasing in value because of the care and labor which he bestows upon it. The farm lies partly within the corporate limits of Fostoria. While there are many fine farming properties in this portion of the state there are none which excel, in the productiveness of the soil nor the practical methods of its operation, the farm of Mr. Eggers and his careful management and indefatigable energy constitute the salient features of his success.
Henry W. Eggers was born in Hardin county, December 17, 1865. In both the paternal and maternal lines he comes of German ancestry. His parents were Herman and Taalka (Steenblock) Eggers, both of whom were natives of Ger-
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many. In that country the father was reared and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to the new world. For some years he was employed in a sugar factory in New York and while a resident of the Empire state was married. With his young wife he removed westward to Illinois, settling on a farm in Stephenson county, where they lived two years and on the expiration of that period came to Iowa, arriving about 1855. They settled in Hardin county, where the father pur- chased a tract of raw prairie and opened up a new farm, comprising one hundred and thirty acres of land. On this he placed substantial improvements, making it a desirable property, and there reared his family and spent his remaining days, continuing in active connection with general agricultural pursuits until his demise in 1892. His widow still survives him and now resides in Abbott, Iowa. Their family numbered two sons and four daughters: John, who is now engaged in the harness business in Fostoria: Etta. the wife of J. Cramer, of Wright county, Iowa; Tena, the wife of John Groathous, a resident of Kossuth county, Iowa ; Margaret, the wife of Albert Leverton, of Hardin county, this state ; and Della, the wife of John Schlaumpp.
Henry W. Eggers, the other member of the family, was reared on the home farm in Hardin county, Iowa, and the common schools afforded him his educa- tional privileges. He assisted more and more largely in the work of the fields as the years passed by and thus his early training in agricultural lines well qualified him to successfully carry on business on his own account. He has never sought to figure prominently in public life, preferring to concentrate his energies on his business affairs and, as the years have passed, he has won a creditable measure of success, his diligence constituting an important element in his prosperity.
On the 3d of March, 1891. Mr. Eggers was married in Grundy county to Miss Bertha Heikens, a native of that county, where her girlhood was passed and her education was obtained. She is a daughter of George Heikens, a native of Ger- many, who became one of the first settlers of Grundy county. Following. his marriage Mr. Eggers engaged in cultivating the old home farm for three years and in 1894 removed to Clay county. He had previously visited this locality and had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He came to this property when he took up his abode in the county and not only tilled his own acres but also cultivated one hundred and sixty acres adjoining that belonging to his father-in- law. There he carried on general farming for eight years, when he sold this property and purchased where he now resides, becoming owner of three hundred and eighty-one acres, on section 12, Summit township. The work of improvement has been steadily carried forward since that time. He has built an addition to and has otherwise remodeled his dwelling. He also built a good barn and has put up all the necessary sheds and outbuildings for the protection of grain and stock from the inclement weather. The farm is divided into fields of convenient size by well-kept fences, mostly made of barbed or woven wire. He has also set out considerable fruit and in fact all of the features of a model farm property of the twentieth century are here found and indicate his progressive spirit, while his practical methods are evidenced in the success which has attended him. He raises and feeds high-grade stock, for which he finds a ready sale on the market. He is also financially interested in the elevator at Fostoria and in the telephone company.
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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Eggers has been blessed with six children : Tarana H., Ina Georgia, Pearl M., Gertie Rose, Herman John Henry and Harland Gerle. The parents are members of the German Evangelical church and Mr. Eggers gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has sup- ported since age gave to him the ballot. He has served on the school board several years and is always interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always courteous and kindly and those who know him personally have for him a warm regard.
CHARLES A. ROBISON.
Charles A. Robison, editor of the Royal Banner and postmaster of the town of Royal, was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, on the IIth day of February, 1868. He is a son of Henry and Mary (Carleton) Robison. His father was a native of Montreal, Canada, and his grandfather was of French birth, while his mother was a native of England. Henry Robison was afforded liberal educational privileges, being a graduate of the Montreal Military Academy. He came to Iowa about 1846 or 1847, when it was regarded as one of the frontier states, and locating in Poweshiek county, he engaged in driving a stage from Iowa City to Grinnell for two years. It was long prior to the period of extensive railroad building and the stage driver was an important personage in the town, as he formed the connecting link between the scattered little sections of civilization. In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made his way to the Pacific coast in search of the precious metal and spent two years in that state. On his return to Iowa he again located in Poweshiek county, where he operated a sawmill. Various occupations claimed his time and energies until his death, which occurred on the 18th of February, 1881, his remains being interred in a cemetery which was then known as Dresden but is now known as Deep River, Iowa. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was almost continuously an office holder, being called to fill various local positions. His wife was a native of Maine and they were married in Poweshiek county. Mrs. Robison still survives and is now living. in Spencer. They were the parents of six children : J. W., who is engaged in the jewelry business in Grinnell, Iowa ; Charles A., of this review : H. E., who is a barber at Denison, Washington : C. E., a piano tuner at Boise City, Idaho; William C., a printer at Corsica, South Dakota ; and Emma, twin sister of William, now in the Reporter office in Spencer.
Charles A. Robison, entering school at the usual age, continued his studies in Poweshiek county until twelve years of age and later became a student in the high school at Spencer. He started in business life as a clerk at the county seat and was thus employed for several years, after which he secured a position in a printing office and learned the trade. In 1892 he embarked in business on his own account, conducting the Dickens Tribune, at Dickens, Iowa. After a year there he returned to Spencer and in partnership with his brother, J. W. Robison, conducted a bottling works for four years. On the expiration of that period he
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went to the vicinity of Spooner, Wisconsin, where he devoted two years to fishing and hunting and then once more came to Clay county, being again engaged in newspaper work in Spencer until his removal to Royal in 1900. Here he founded and began the publication of the Royal Banner and has been at the head of the paper continuously since. The postoffice, too, was moved to the town from a residence about three miles east and he is the first and only postmaster that Royal has ever had. He is prompt and faithful in the discharge of the duties of the office and at the same time is conducting an interesting country newspaper, which has a large and growing circulation. He also conducts a good job office in connection with the publication of the Banner and is receiving a good patronage therein.
In 1890 Mr. Robison was married to Miss Sylvia Dean, of Spencer, and unto them have been born four children, Ethel. Hazel, Sharley and Jack. In his political views Mr. Robison is a republican, having supported the party since he attained his majority. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Royal and has served as noble grand. Since the age of twelve years he has depended upon his own resources, without support from any one, and as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well. He early learned that industry is the key which will unlock the portals of success and, as the years have passed, he has labored diligently and perseveringly to gain a comfortable com- petence and win for himself a creditable position in the business world. The course that he has followed commends him to the confidence and good will of all. . He has an extensive circle of friends in the county.
HELON WETMORE.
Helon Wetmore, one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, whose mili- tary service has been matched by his loyalty to duty in days of peace, has been a resident of Iowa since 1857 and of Clay county since 1873. Coming here in pioneer times, he has thus been a witness of the growth and progress of the state through more than a half century. His birth occurred in Jefferson county, New York, on the 28th of July, 1832, and when about ten years of age he became a resident of Wisconsin, the family home being established in Jefferson county, where he grew to manhood on a farm, sharing in the hardships and experiences incident to pioneer life. All of the conditions of the frontier were there to be seen and Mr. Wetmore assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm, for his father, John Wetmore, secured a tract of unimproved land, which was covered with timber. This had to be cleared away and the stumps grubbed up before the fields could be plowed and planted. As he had opportunity Mr. Wetmore attended the common schools and when not occupied with his text-books was busily em- ployed at the farm work.
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