USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 6
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Mr. Mahoney was married June 20, 1898, to Mollie B. Malony, a daugh- ter of Andrew and Bridget (Sherran) Malony, to whom five children were born, those living being as follows: Judith, who married C. S. Marshall, of Charter Oak; Mary, who became the wife of Edward Phalen and lives in Omaha, Ne- braska; Kate, who is now living in Denison and is the widow of D. O. John- son, a former resident of Charter Oak; Mollie, the wife of our subject; and Maggie, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mahoney are the parents of one child, George Andrew, who was born in 1911.
In his political opinions Mr. Mahoney has always given his support to the republican party. In religion he is a member of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of strong character, ever faithful to his duties, which he has always performed with an efficiency that has won for him the commendation of his superiors, and socially he possesses the high regard of a wide circle of friends.
THOMAS NORRIS.
Natives of the Emerald isle have ever been known for their thrift and in- dustry, and Mr. Norris is no exception to the rule. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Nash) Norris, were born in County Cork, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States in 1853, locating in South Reading, Massachusetts. In those days there were no five day trips, as are now made by our modern ocean grey- hounds, and they spent three months en route in an old sailing vessel. The father resided in South Reading until 1862 and then removed to Delaware county, Iowa, accompanied by all his family with the exception of his son Thomas. There he lived for two years and then removed to Spring Grove
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township, Linn county, locating near Troy Mills, but later going to Paris in the same county. He followed the occupation of farming all his life. In religion he was an adherent of the Methodist church and politically was a republican. To Mr. and Mrs. Norris were born six children, as follows: Lucy, the wife of A. Dwindle, of Delaware county, Iowa; Benjamin, living in Central City, Linn county ; James, who died in 1892; Thomas, the subject of this sketch; William, who resides in Manchester, Delaware county ; and the sixth, who died in infancy.
Thomas Norris, Jr., was born in County Cork, Ireland, April 2, 1851. His early education was acquired in the public schools of Ireland, and when fifteen years old, in 1866, being impressed with the better opportunities in the United States, of which he had heard, he decided to come to this country and embarked on the steamer City of Manchester. Upon his arrival he started at once for Linn county, Iowa, and located at Spring Grove, where he spent two years with his father, later coming to Crawford county. One winter previous to his com- ing to this county he resided in Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa. Desiring to resume his education he attended school in Des Moines and later in Denison, and has made his headquarters at the latter town since 1869. Here he resided for four years before removing to his farm. Mr. Noris made his fist land purchase in 1875-6, buying two hundred and seventy acres in Denison township, and there established his farm, which he called "Bonny View," as it commands a fine view of Denison. It is one of the most valuable pieces of property in Denison township, having all the most modern improvements. Mr. Norris makes a specialty of live stock, having some fine Poland China and Duroc Jersey hogs and shorthorn cattle upon his place. He also deals in horses, giving par- ticular attention to Percherons.
The marriage of Mr. Norris took place September 21, 1878, when he was united to Miss Mary Anne Maloney, a daughter of Timothy and Nancy Maria (Smith) Maloney. She was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, and educated in the district schools of that state and the high school of Palo, Ogle county, Illinois. She taught for two years at Pleasant Hill school, near Manilla, from 1876 to 1878. Her father was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and came to the United States when a boy, in 1849, locating in New York state, near Springport. In 1856 he removed to Whiteside county, Illinois, residing there until 1876, when he came to Iowa, taking up his residence near Des Moines. Here he continued to engage in farming until his death, which occurred Novem- ber 12, 1890, at the age of eighty years. He and his wife were married in 1852. Mrs. Maloney was born in Seneca county, New York, September 21, 1820, and died October 20, 1899. She came of a distinguished family which can be traced back to the time of the American Revolution. To Mr. and Mrs. Maloney six children were born, as follows: John Smith, living in Oklahoma; Andrew K., deceased ; Mary Ellen, deceased; Mary Anne, the wife of our sub- ject ; Sarah Ella, deceased ; Effie Elizabeth.
Mr. and Mrs. Norris are the parents of six children: James Harry, born July 7, 1879, is now a traveling salesman; Mary Effie, born February 3, 1883, is principal of the Westbrick school of Denison and resides at home; Ralph Arthur, born December 11, 1885, married Clara A. McAhron and is engaged in the shoe business in Denison; Paul Ford, born September 19, 1888, Vera Vic-
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toria, born October 30, 1896, and William John, born December 12, 1898, are all at home. Mr. Norris has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his township and is at present one of the school directors. In politics he supports the republican party.
ALFRED WRIGHT.
Alfred Wright, the manager of the Green Bay Lumber Company at Deni- son, has acted in that capacity since 1899. His birth occurred in Waverly, Iowa, on the 8th of October, 1868, his parents being William and Rachel ( Smith) Wright, both of whom were natives of England. His paternal grand- father was likewise born in that country and became identified with mercantile interests. Unto him and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Eldershore, were born five children, namely: John, Richard, William. George and Thomas. James Junea Smith, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a manufac- turer of sauces and pickles in England. He wedded Miss Rachel Eldershore and their children were James. Zealing and Rachel. Following his demise Mrs. Smith married a Mr. Reynolds of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by whom she had one daughter, Margaret.
William Wright, the father of Alfred Wright, emigrated to America in 1848 and for a short time worked as an architect in Baltimore, Maryland. He entered the Episcopal ministry and in 1866 journeyed westward to Waverly, Iowa, where he preached the gospel, later officiating at Nashua, Denison, Des Moines, Marengo, Grinnell. Carroll and Vail. He likewise served in the Chris- tian commission during the Civil war. In 1852 he was a missionary with his wife in Africa where they encountered many hardships and dangers. He was a man of energy, ability and high character and a devout follower in the foot- steps of the Master. His demise occurred in Denison in 1900, when he had attained the age of seventy-six years, while his wife was called to her final rest in the spring of 1910, being at that time eighty-one years old. They were the parents of six children, three of whom reached maturity, namely: William T .. a practicing physician of Denison; Leighton, who is likewise a resident of Denison; and Alfred, of this review.
The last named accompanied his parents on their various removals and first came to Denison in 1876, remaining here during the following five years. In 1899 he returned to this city and has resided here continuously since. He com- pleted the prescribed course of study in the high school at Marengo, Iowa, in 1886 and in 1890 was graduated from Grinnell College. Subsequently he fol- lowed the profession of teaching for two years and then entered the service of the Green Bay Lumber Company, working for them at Carroll and various other places. From 1893 until 1899 he had charge of the yard at Vail and for the past twelve years has managed the company's yard at Denison. In this capacity he has contributed not a little to the success of the concern, being a man of excellent executive ability and sound judgment.
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On the 12th of June, 1909, Mr. Wright was joined in wedlock to Miss Mar- garet Kelly, a native of Crawford county and a daughter of John and Bridget (Rasp) Kelly. Mr. Wright gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now serving as chairman of the county central committee. In reli- gious faith he is an Episcopalian, while his wife is a devoted communicant of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, be- longing to Sylvan Lodge, No. 507, A. F. & A. M .; Ark Chapter, No. 89, R. A. M .; and also of the council, R. & S. M. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, belonging to Dowdall Lodge, No. 90. He enjoys the full respect and confidence of all who know him and has many warm friends in his locality.
JOHN F. PFARR.
The mercantile business offers an inviting field for a young man of energy and ability especially if he has a gentlemanly address and is actuated by a laudable ambition to win his way to the front by honorable methods. Many of the best known merchants have been attracted from agricultural pursuits and one of this number is John F. Pfarr now senior member of the firm of Pfarr, Gebert & Hunt, of Denison. He is a native of Pomeroy, Ohio, born December 12, 1866, and is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Hoepfner) Pfarr. The father was a native of Germany and was educated in that country and reared as a farmer. At the age of twenty-eight he came to America and set- led in Meigs county, Ohio, now living on a farm near Pomeroy, in that county. His wife was born on the place where they reside. They are both members of the German Protestant church. Our subject's paternal grandfather was also a farmer. He died in Germany when a young man and his widow subsequently married his brother, John George Pfarr, by whom she had two children, Peter and George. She came to America and took up her home in Meigs county, Ohio, where she continued to reside during the remainder of her life. There were three children by the first marriage: Philip, Elizabeth and Catharine. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Peter Hoepfner, who came from Germany and was a pioneer of Meigs county, Ohio. His wife was Catharine Brown and they had one child, Elizabeth.
Seven children were born to Philip and Elizabeth Pfarr, namely: Jacob, of Cedar county, Iowa; Mary, now the wife of Paul Stahl, of Okanogan county. Washington; Kate, now Mrs. W. W. Stobart, of Meigs county, Ohio; Lucy, the wife of George Gaul, of Cedar county, Iowa; John F., the subject of this re- view; Philip L., also of Okanogan county, Washington; and Minnie, the wife of Henry Kautz of Meigs county, Ohio.
John F. Pfarr was reared on his father's farm in Ohio and as a boy attended the district schools, later becoming a student in Carleton College at Syracuse, Ohio. After leaving college he worked on a farm for several years, but hav- ing made up his mind that the west offered more favorable inducements than he could hope to find in his native state, he came to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1888.
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His first employment in this state was as a farm laborer but later he became a clerk in a store at Tipton. In 1890 he arrived in Denison and for three years acted as clerk for the firm of J. P. Miller & Company. In 1893 he became as- sociated with J. J. Wieland and Hugo Gebert in the general mercantile business. Later Mr. Wieland sold his interest to N. L. Hunt and the firm has since borne the title of Pfarr, Gebert & Hunt. They have a large general store and carry a well selected stock which meets the demands of an extensive and growing patronage.
On the 10th of October, 1898, Mr. Pfarr was united in marriage to Miss Jessie H. Shattuck, who was born at Francestown, New Hampshire, a daugh- ter of John L. and Sarah (Hartney) Shattuck. She came west about 1896. Her father died in the east in 1903 at the age of sixty-eight years, but her mother is still living at home. There were four children in the family in which Mrs. Pfarr was reared, the others being Anna Belle, John Alfred and Berenice. Two children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pfarr, Dorothy and Sarah Elizabeth.
Since casting his first presidential vote Mr. Pfarr has been in sympathy with the republican party and has given to its platforms and candidates his earnest support. At all times he has cooperated in movements aiming to pro- mote the public good and his influence may always be counted upon in for- warding any project that will make Denison a more beautiful city or a more inviting place for business. Socially he is prominent in the community, and fraternally he holds membership in Sylvan Lodge, No. 507. A. F. & A. M.
ROBERT P. PLIMPTON, M. D.
Dr. Robert P. Plimpton, of Denison, has attained marked success in the prac- tice of his profession in the city of his birth and is recognized as one of the leading homeopathic physicians in this section of the state. He was born July 13. 1871, a son of Edward S. and Salina J. (Bond) Plimpton, both natives of Massachusetts. Silas W. Plimpton, the paternal grandfather, was three times married and by his first wife had four children, namely: Maria, the wife of a Mr. Peabody ; Edward S .; Albert; and Silas Jr. He died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. The maternal grandfather was Albert Bond, also a na- tive of Massachusetts, and by trade a mason. He lived to be about seventy years old. Edward S. Plimpton, the father of our subject, received his early education at Providence, Rhode Island, his parents having moved there when he was a child. 'At the age of sixteen he entered a bank at Providence, in which he worked for five years. In 1857 he came to Denison, Iowa, which he made his home until 1900, when he removed to Salida, Colorado. He was in the mercantile business in Denison and continued in the same line at Salida. Here he took an active part in politics and was elected city treasurer, serving in that office for several years. He was also a member of the school board and has filled a similar position in Salida. The mother of our subject passed
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away in March, 1909, at the age of seventy-one years, and in 1910 Mr. Plimp- ton was married to Miss Lucy Tucker.
There were seven children in the family of Edward S. and Salina J. Plimp- ton, namely: Caroline, now the wife of Rev. E. T. Fegtly, of Des Moines, Iowa; Edward, Jr., of Salida, Colorado; Lilian, the wife of Rev. H. S. Black, of Portland, Oregon; William, of Glenwood, Iowa; Robert P., the subject of this review ; George who died in infancy; and Elfreda, the wife of A. H. Fisher, of Long Beach, California.
Robert P. Plimpton received his preliminary education in the public schools of Denison and later graduated from the high school. He then entered Des Moines College, graduating in 1896 with the degree of A. B. Having decided upon a professional career he became a student in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and in 1900 was graduated with the degree of M. D. He began practice at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, but in the fall of 1901 came to Denison and bought out Dr. Bolles. He has since continued in this city, where he has made for himself a creditable name and gained a goodly measure of financial success.
On the 10th of December, 1902, Dr. Plimpton was united in marriage to Miss Etta F. Walker, who was born in Bloomington, Illinois, and is also a grad- uate of the Des Moines College, being a member of the class of 1897. She is also a post-graduate of the University of Chicago of 1898, and previous to her marriage successfully engaged in teaching school in this county for four years. Her parents, Henry C., and Sophia (Darrow) Walker, were both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they removed to Bloomington, Illinois, and in 1880 came to Iowa, locating on a farm near Atlantic in Cass county. In 1890 they removed to Des Moines but are now living at Boulder, Colorado. Mrs. Plimpton is their only child. Her paternal grandfather was John Wallace Walker, who married Mary (House) Foster and lived at New Milford, Penn- sylvania. He was a teacher during the greater part of his life and died at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife lived to the advanced age of eighty- nine years and eleven months. In their family were seven children, namely : Catharine, Henry C., Byron F., Harriet, Emma, William and Ella.
Mrs. Plimpton is entitled to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution as she traces her ancestry back to Nathan Darrow, who fought for the independence of the colonies. He was the youngest of four brothers but the others were all forced into the British service and died at sea. He mar- ried Anna Perkins, whose father and his two brothers were taken prisoners during the war and the two brothers were later killed in the battle of Fort Griswold. Gurdon Darrow, the son of Nathan, was born at Groton, Connecti- cut, and married Sally Moxley. In early life he left his old home in the Nut- meg state and traveled on foot to Pennsylvania, locating at Harford, Susque- henna county, where he built a log cabin and developed a farm. He was a sol- dier of the war of 1812. His son, Austin Darrow, has spent his entire life on the old homestead at Harford. By trade he is a carpenter and he followed that occupation for some time but later turned his attention to farming. He married Sarah Evans and they are the parents of Mrs. Sophia Walker, the mother of Mrs. Plimpton. He was one of the founders of the Odd Fellows lodge at Har-
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ford and is a member of the Baptist church, to which the Darrow family have always belonged.
Dr. Plimpton and his wife are both identified with the Baptist church and he is a member of its board of trustees, being one of the most active and effi- cient supporters of the church. Fraternally he is identified with Sylvan Lodge, No. 507. A. F. & A. M., and his wife holds membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. Ever since casting his first ballot he has voted with the republican party. He stands high in the estimation of his professional brethern and the large practice he enjoys is evidence of generous appreciation on the part of the public.
S. A. DOW.
The name of Dow is an old and honored one in Crawford county, having been prominently identified with its progress and development for more than half a century. The present head of the family, S. A. Dow, who is mayor of Dow City, was born in the town where he now resides on the 12th of March, 1856. The father S. E. Dow, was a native of New Hampshire, his birth oc- curring in 1821, but at the age of eleven years he migrated to New York with his parents, where they resided for one year and then went to Cass county, Michigan. He was educated and reared in the latter state, remaining a member of the paternal household until he had reached his twenty-fifth year. On the 28th of October. 1846, he was united in marriage to Miss Chloe Anne Smith, who was born in Verona, New York, in 1825, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. Jacob Price. The young people began their domestic life in Michigan continuing to reside in that state until 1852, when they came to Iowa, first locating in Harris Grove, where they remained until November, 1855, at which time they removed to Crawford county and settled on a farm in Union town- ship, the present site of Dow City. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dow possessed the essential qualifications of the pioneer and despite the hardships and privations, discouragements and misfortunes never lost hope and persistently clung to their determination, which was to establish a home on the Iowa prairies. In 1866 the Northwestern Railroad came through Crawford county and a postoffice was located on their homestead called Dowville, Mr. Dow being made postmaster. Some time thereafter a church was erected through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Dow, who in 1857 had united with the Baptist church under the ministrations of the Rev. J. W. Denison. A school and stores followed later and soon quite a village had sprung up which was incorporated and named after the man on whose farm it stood. Mr. Dow was a man possessing unusual business acumen and at one time was interested in several projects, in all of which he met with most gratifying success and accumulated real estate in Union township, which aggregated twenty-six hundred acres. Although engaged in the grain, stock and lumber business in addition to the cultivation of his large farm, he always had the time to fulfill his civic duties and gave his services to the advancement of any movement the adoption of which he felt would be of benefit to the com-
MR. AND MRS. S. E. DOW
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
munity. He was always prominently identified with all local political matters giving his support to the candidates of the democratic party. That he was held in high esteem is evidenced by his election to many of best offices, among which were those of county treasurer and probate judge, which he filled in a highly creditable manner. Six children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Dow, three of whom died in infancy, and those who attained maturity were: Alma, now de- ceased; S. A., our subject; and William, a carpenter, residing in Dow City. The father passed away on the 3d of October, 1907, and the mother survived him only a few days, her demise occurring on the 30th of November.
S. A. Dow acquired his preliminary education in the common and high schools of Dow City, after which he attended the Baptist University at Des Moines. Returning home from college he went into business with his father, with whom he was identified until he was twenty-nine years of age, and then engaged in farming for a time, later opening a real-estate office. He has ever since continued in this business, handling both local and western property, and is meeting with more than average success.
In 1883 Mr. Dow was united in marriage to Miss Candice E. Davis, who is a native of Maryville, Missouri, and they have become the parents of two chil- dren : Golda Alma and Chloe Anne. The family attend the Baptist church and fraternally Mr. Dow is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Improved Order of Red Men, while formerly he was also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a strong advocate of the prin- ciples of democracy and takes an active and, helpful interest in local govern- mental matters. He has occupied the highest office in the municipality for the past two years, the responsibilities of which he has discharged in a manner generally satisfactory to the community at large. He is highly esteemed in his native town, in the social life of which his family hold a distinguished position.
RUDOLPH KNAUL.
For more than thirty years closely identified with the business interests of Denison and also an active and efficient worker in the cause of public education, Rudolph Knaul is justly held in high regard by the people of the city. He was born in Berlin, Germany, February 24, 1850, a son of Adolph and Mary (Woltke) Knaul, the former of whom was born in Brandenburg and the latter at Wittenberg, Germany. There were four children in the family, our subject being the only one now living. The mother and the other children died from cholera in 1856. The father learned the tanner's trade and later became a mer- chant in Berlin. In 1868 he emigrated to this country and spent the first eigh- teen months in Chicago, then locating at Clinton, Iowa, where he entered the drug business. He was three times married, and by his second wife had four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Gertie, who married George Rumsey; Anna, who became the wife of George Naeve, a banker of Denison ; and Lena, who married J. C. Mastie and now live at Chardon, Ohio. The third wife of Mr. Knaul was a Miss Horst, and there were two children born to that Vol. II-4
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union : Otto; and Bertha, now the wife of Dr. H. C. Simpson, of Denison. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a tanner and died in Germany from the effects of an accident. There were four children in his family: Ru- dolph, Robert, Adolph and Johanna. John Woltke, the maternal grandfather. who was a watchmaker and jeweler and passed away in the old country but had spent about twenty years in the United States.
Rudolph Knaul received the advantages of a good education in his native land and engaged in the drug business for a year and a half in that country after leaving school. In 1868 he arrived in America and spent the first two years in Chicago, clerking in a drug store. He then went to Clinton, Iowa, and clerked in his father's store, after which he returned to Chicago, where he was identified for a year and a half with the same line of business. He again came to Clinton and spent two years, at the end of which time he decided to locate permanently and in 1879 he selected Denison as his home. He has ever since been connected with the drug business in this city and maintains a neat and well stocked store, being accorded a large and lucrative patronage.
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