USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 3
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 3
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
Marcus Snyder was about three years of age when the family came to Iowa and in the district schools of Winneshiek and Carroll counties he acquired his education. In 1865 he commenced farming for his father and was thus employed for two years and a half. He was next engaged in railroad work in Kansas and Missouri, and although he had only one dollar in his pockets on leaving Dickinson county, he returned at the end of four years and ten months with eleven hundred and fifteen dollars in cash and a gold watch valued at one hundred dollars. He won part of this money as a champion stake puller, never having been defeated at this sport, and part as a runner against horses, he running forty rods
MARCUS SNYDER
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against eighty rods for the horse and in this also he never was defeated. With this capital he began loaning money at a time when interest was high and from 1872 until 1877 met with excellent success in that venture. In the latter year he established a private bank in partnership with William M. Smith under the firm name of Snyder-Smith & Company, theirs being the first bank opened for business in Dickinson county. It was on the 3d of January, 1877, that they commenced business in Spirit Lake in a building that stood at what is now the entrance of the Opera House on Main street. In 1879 Mr. Smith retired from the bank and Mr. Snyder was alone for a time. In March, 1882, he sold out to Duff Pearsall & Company, who had previously become interested in the busi- ness. A complete account of the early banking operations of Mr. Snyder can be found in Chapter Twenty-four of the historical volume of this work. For a few years after his retirement from the bank he continued to loan money and later became a dealer in wagons and buggies. In the fall of 1899 he bought out an old established shoe business in Spirit Lake, which he has since conducted. From January, 1906, to January, 1910, he served as president of the Spirit Lake National Bank, and has since filled the position of vice president. He is the owner of some valuable farm land and for one year was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Dickinson county, but soon realized that he was unfitted for that occupation.
On the 18th of October, 1874, in Freeport, Iowa, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Ocie Rorebeck, who was born, reared and education in Illinois, being a young lady when she accompanied her par- ents, John and Eliza (Bennett) Rorebeck, on their removal to Winne- shiek county, Iowa, of which they were early settlers. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born in New York and the mother in Illinois. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one child, Amy Vern, a native of Dickinson county. She taught music for a time and is now the wife of A. S. Tyler, who is engaged in the shoe business with Mr. Snyder.
The democratic party finds in Mr. Snyder a stanch supporter of its principles and he has served on the city council in Spirit Lake but the honors and emoluments of public office have no attraction for him as his time is wholly occupied by his extensive business interests. He is a man of recognized ability and sound judgment and the success that has come to him is due entirely to his own well directed efforts.
HON. FREDERICK WILLIAM JONES.
There is probably no resident of Dickinson county more widely or more favorably known than Hon. Frederick William Jones, who repre- sented his district in the state legislature during the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth sessions and who is a leader in the agricultural circles of
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the county. His farm, which is known as Stony Point Farm, is beau- tifully situated on Spirit Lake and in its development and improvement is a fine example of what progressive methods can accomplish. Mr. Jones was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, January 10, 1868, a son of Walter B. and Jane (Corey) Jones, natives respectively of England and of Geneva, New York. In the '50s the father emigrated to the United States and located in Mitchell county, Iowa, where he farmed until the Civil war. He then enlisted in Company K, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, and was at the front throughout the entire period of hos- tilities, or for more than four years, enlisting for one year after the expiration of the three year term of his first enlistment. He took part in a great deal of hard fighting and made an enviable record for bravery in action. After peace was declared he returned to Mitchell county, Iowa, and there learned the mason's trade, which he followed until 1882. In that year he located upon a farm south of Milford, in Dickinson county, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until he retired from active life. He spent his last days in the town of Milford, where his widow is still living.
Frederick W. Jones received his education in Mitchell county, Iowa, where he remained until 1882, when he accompanied the family on their removal to Milford township, Dickinson county. He operated his father's farm in that township until he was married, when he purchased a tract of land near Milford, to the operation of which he devoted his time and energies until 1899. In that year he was elected sheriff of Dickin- son county and in 1900 took office. He proved so capable in the dis- charge of his duties that he was re-elected five times, serving in all for thirteen years and making a record for the length of incumbency in the office that has never been equaled. In 1914 he took up his residence upon Stony Point Farm, which is located on the shores of Spirit Lake, on sections 14 and 22, Spirit Lake township. It comprises two hundred and twenty-six acres and the improvements are all modern and greatly facilitate the work of the farm. He raises both grain and live stock, giving especial attention to the breeding of Duroc-Jersey hogs, and finds general farming more profitable than concentrating his energies entirely upon one phase of agriculture. He is vice president of the First National Bank of Spirit Lake and his judgment is highly respected in financial circles.
Mr. Jones was married at Wellsburg, New York, on the 12th of December, 1893, to Miss Cora Miller, a native of Bentley Creek, Brad- ford county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Lewis P. and Jane (Wright) Miller, also natives of that place. The father followed agri- cultural pursuits for many years but is now living retired. The mother also survives. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born two children: Lewis W., who is a student in the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts at Ames, Iowa; and Beulah E., who is attending the local schools. Both children are natives of Dickinson county.
Mr. Jones is a leader in republican circles in this part of the state
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and has the enviable distinction of having been elected to every office for which he has been a candidate. As previously stated, he was sheriff of Dickinson county for thirteen years and for six years he was tax assessor of Milford township. He has also given of his time and thought to the management of the educational interests of his district, having served as school trustee for a considerable period. In 1912 he was honored by election to the house of representatives of the Iowa legis- lature and in 1914 was re-elected to that office. During the thirty-fifth session of the legislature he was a member of the committees on banks and banking, fish and game, roads and highways, commerce and traffic, labor and appropriations and because of his experience as an officer of the law was made chairman of the committee on police regulation. Dur- ing the succeeding session he was chairman of the drainage committee and a member of the committees on roads and highways, railroad trans- portation, agriculture, fish and game, woman's suffrage and ways and means. Although he did efficient and faithful work on all the commit- tees to which he was assigned he was especially active in the effort to secure the framing and passage of bills advancing the cause of good roads and succeeded in accomplishing much in that direction. He also did & great deal to secure better drainage laws. For years he has been a careful student of public affairs and is broad-minded and public-spirited in his attitude toward all questions affecting the general welfare. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and has a number of fraternal connections, belonging to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Masonic blue lodge and chapter of Spirit Lake and the commandery and Mystic Shrine at Estherville, while both he and his wife belong to the Order of the Eastern Star.
ANDREW SMITH.
Andrew Smith, well known in financial circles in Emmet county as the cashier of the Estherville State Bank, entered upon his present relation in 1914 and in so doing the town gained a substantial, enter- prising and progressive citizen. He was born in the north of Holland on the 6th of December, 1872, a son of Walter and Janet Smith. The father departed this life in Holland, where his remains were interred, and the mother is still living in that country. In their family were five children, Andrew, Nick, Kate, John and Walter. Three of the num- ber are now in the United States, John being a resident of Spencer, Iowa, while Walter makes his home in Lennox, South Dakota.
Andrew Smith was a youth of seventeen years when he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the United States. He had acquired a common school education in Holland and after making his way to the new world he settled at Rock Valley, Iowa, and soon after- ward secured employment as a farm hand in that vicinity. He worked
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at farm labor for two years and afterward spent four years as a journey- man blacksmith in South Dakota. At the call of President MeKinley in May, 1898, on the outbreak of the war with Spain, he enlisted in a South Dakota regiment, becoming first sergeant of Company D, with which he served for more than a year in the Philippines, being on active duty for one hundred and thirty-two days. Two months were spent on the ocean. When the treaty of peace between the two countries was signed he received an honorable discharge, but returned to San Fran- cisco to reenlist for service in putting down the insurrection of the Filipinos, He was honorably discharged in September, 1899.
When the country no longer needed his military aid Mr. Smith returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and afterward went to Emery, that state, where he filled the position of cashier in the Farmers Bank until October. 1914. In that year he came to Estherville and has since been closely associated with the Estherville State Bank, of which G. Zeeman is the president and A. D. Root vice president. Mr. Smith has continuously served as cashier with Sever T. Egerton and A. D. Schnapp as assistant cashiers. A general banking business is successfully con- dueted and the patronage of the institution is steadily growing. The bank is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars and has a surplus of ten thousand dollars. Its policy has to a considerable degree been formu- lated and promoted by Mr. Smith, whose previous banking experience well qualifies him for the responsibilities that devolve upon him in this connection.
On April 16, 1904, occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Katherine E. Zeeman, a daughter of G. Zeeman, who is the president of the Estherville State Bank, and they now have one child, Russell C., who was born June 14, 1905. Mr. Smith and his wife attend the Epis- copal church and their sterling worth ensures to them the hospitality of the best homes of Estherville. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in his fraternal relations he is a Mason, loyal to the beneficent spirit of the craft and exemplifying at all times in his life its teachings concerning the brotherhood of mankind and the obliga- tions thereby imposed.
KASPAR FALTINSON.
Kasper Faltinson, a well-known member of the bar at Armstrong, has served as postmaster since June, 1913, and has made a record which is highly creditable to his efficiency and fidelity to trust. A native of this state, he was born in Iowa county, September 10, 1864, and is a son of Faltin and Anna Maria Faltinson, both of whom were born near. Stavan- ger, Norway. In 1855 they came to the United States and five years later took up their residence on a farm in Iowa county, where the father died in 1889. The mother still lives on the homestead. They were the parents
KASPAR FALTINSON
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of twelve children, of whom seven survive. After becoming a naturalized citizen the father supported the democratic party, casting his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas and taking an active part in local politics. Pos- sessing the high regard for the individual and the strongly developed sense of personal independence characteristic of the Norwegian race, he hated a monarchial form of government and was heartily in sympathy with the ideals of the American democracy.
Kaspar Faltinson was given unusually good educational advantages, as after attending the public schools he was a student in the Iowa City Academy and the State University of Iowa, graduating from the law department of the latter institution in 1891. In 1893 he located in Arm- strong for the practice of his profession and has since been a member of the local bar. He has demonstrated his ability to meet successfully the problems that arise in the preparation and trial of cases and has built up a representative clientage. From 1894 until 1908 he was also editor of the Armstrong Journal and since June, 1913, he has been postmaster. He has so discharged his duties as to win the commendation of the citizens of the town and in fact in all that he has done has proved highly capable.
On the 4th of June, 1899, Mr. Faltinson was married to Miss Lora Marie Haughton, who was born August 20, 1879, and is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Haughton. She is a granddaughter of Captain Hiram Haughton and a niece of Colonel Haughton, early settlers of Toledo, Ohio, and for many years prominent in business circles of that city and in state politics. When twelve years of age she accompanied her parents to Iowa and has since been a resident of this state.
Mr. Faltinson was reared in the Lutheran faith and has always taken a keen interest in those movements which make for righteousness. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1894 and in 1895 and 1900 served as worthy master of Emmet Lodge No. 533, A. F. & A. M. He is one of the most prominent democrats of his section of the state, has been a delegate to every state convention of the party since 1894, was its candidate for congress in the tenth district in 1900 and four years later was a candidate for county attorney, while for six years he served as mayor of Armstrong and was also for six years a member of the city council.
THOMAS R. PEGDEN.
Thomas R. Pegden, who has lived within the borders of Dickinson county for a period of forty-seven years, was long an active factor in agricultural and business circles of the community but is now spending the evening of life in honorable retirement at Milford. His birth occurred in England on the 24th of August, 1831, his parents being William and Susan (Atkins) Pegden, also natives of that country. In 1835 the father brought his family to the United States, locating in New York, where
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he became a farmer and spent the remainder of his life. His demise occurred in the year 1849, while his wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1874.
Thomas R. Pegden was but four years of age when brought by his parents to the new world, and after obtaining his education he secured work by the month as a farm hand, being thus employed until 1862. In that year he became a private of Company D, One Hundred and Tenth New York Infantry, with which command he served for three years and twenty-two days, being mustered out with the rank of sergeant. He had proved a brave and loyal soldier and returned home with a most creditable military record. In 1866 he made his way to Ossian, Winneshiek county, Iowa, and rented a tract of land which he cultivated until 1870, which year witnessed his arrival in Dickinson county. Here he made a partial payment on a tract of land which he later traded for a homestead in Center Grove township, improving the same and continuing its operation for ten years. On the expiration of that period he sold the property and took up his abode at Okoboji, where he successfully conducted a dray line and made his home for fourteen years. In 1896 he removed to Milford, where he has resided continuously to the present time, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
In January, 1859, Mr. Pegden was united in marriage to Miss Kathe- rine West, who passed away in January, 1910, at the age of seventy-six years. In politics Mr. Pegden is a republican, having ever stanchly sup- ported the party which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades as a member of Waller Post, G. A. R. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church, the teachings of which he exemplifies in his daily life. The period of his residence in Dickinson county covers nearly a half century and he has therefore wit- nessed its development from pioneer times to the present. He has now passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey and is one of the vener- able and highly esteemed citizens of his community.
RALPH M. BUTLER.
Ralph M. Butler, who is acceptably serving as cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank of Ringsted, is a native of Iowa, his birth occurring in Benton county on the 15th of February, 1890. His parents are Allen R. and Josephine (Grettenberg) Butler, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Black Hawk county, Iowa. It was during his childhood that the father came to this state and located in Benton county, where he made his home until 1894, when he removed to Emmet county, lowa. After farming here for some time he embarked in the hardware business at Dolliver and in April, 1915, after serving as sheriff of Emmet county for eight years, removed to Ceylon, Minnesota, where he has since engaged
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in the banking business, being president of the First National Bank at that place and one of its leading business men. His wife is also living.
Being only four years of age on the removal of the family to Emmet county, Ralph M. Butler was here reared and educated. At the age of eighteen he entered a bank at Dolliver as bookkeeper and held that posi- tion for three and one-half years. Subsequently he was cashier in a bank at Cylinder for the same length of time, and then came to Ringsted, Emmet county, to accept the position of cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank. This institution was organized in 1915 by Mr. Butler and his father and the capital stock is fifteen thousand dollars, while the deposits now amount to seventy thousand dollars. The present officers are Andrew Larson, president; J. M. Resh, vice president; R. M. Butler, cashier ; and S. C. Horen, assistant cashier. Beside his interest in this bank Mr. Butler is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Ceylon, Minnesota. He is a man of good business and executive ability, thoroughly understands the financial interests of the country and in his chosen field of labor is meet- ing with excellent success.
In politics Mr. Butler is a republican and is now serving as town clerk of Ringsted and as secretary of the school board. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian church and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Yeomen. He is one of the repre- sentative young business men of Emmet county who has already met with success in life and a bright future seems in store for him.
JOHN T. VIGDAL.
Since 1906 John T. Vigdal, a farmer and stock raiser of Iowa Lake township, Emmet county, has lived on his fine farm on section 23. He was born in Chickasaw county, Iowa, in September, 1874, of the mar- riage of John and Anna (Wickman) Vigdal. The father was born in Norway but in early life came to America and located in Algona, Iowa. He was an engineer in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway for several years and helped to construct the road as far west as Algona. He afterward engaged in farming in Chickasaw county and there passed away in 1888. His wife, who was born in Clayton county, Iowa, is still living.
John T. Vigdal passed the days of his boyhood and youth in Chicka- saw and Kossuth counties, Iowa, and remained with his mother until he became of age. He then bought from her a farm in Kossuth county which he operated for four years, after which he sold it back to his mother. He then went to Armstrong, Emmet county, and for two years farmed rented land. It was in 1906 that he bought his present property, which com- prises eighty acres on section 23, Iowa Lake township. The improvements upon the place compare favorably with those found on neighboring farms.
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Every facility is provided for the care of live stock and he feeds about a carload of cattle a year. His well-directed activities are rewarded by a gratifying profit and he ranks among the best farmers of his locality.
In February, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Vigdal and Miss Martha Lubka and they became the parents of seven children, Laura, Emma, John, Hazel, Myrtle, Roscoe and Martha. The wife and mother died in April, 1907, and in July, 1908, Mr. Vigdal wedded Miss Ida Lubka, a sister of his first wife. To the second union have been born three chil- dren, Theodore, Ida and Willic.
Mr. Vigdal gives his political support to the republican party and is now serving his second term as township trustee and has also held the office of constable. Furthermore his interest in educational matters has been recognized by his election as a school director. Fraternally, he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and in religious faith he is a Lutheran.
GEORGE ALLEN NICHOLS.
George Allen Nichols, editor and business manager of the Vndicator and Republican at Estherville, was born November 27, 1859, in Oneida county, New York, his parents being Charles B. and Henrietta E. (Taft) Nichols, who were natives of the Empire state and who is 1865 removed westward to Wisconsin, settling in Richland county among its early set- tlers.
It was there that George A. Nichols obtained his education by at- tending the district and high schools and in 1881 he was graduated from the Sextonville high school, after which he entered upon the study of law in the Wisconsin State University and also read under the direction of his uncle, N. F. Nichols, a well known attorney of Aurora, Illinois. Hav- ing been admitted to the bar, he practiced his profession in the territory of Dakota in 1885 and 1886 and then turned his attention to the news- paper business, which he followed in Dakota territory and in South Dakota after the admission of the state into the Union. There he re- mained until 1893, when he removed with his family to Estherville, Iowa, and purchased a half interest in the Emmet County Republican, of which he afterward became the sole proprietor. The Republican was later merged with the Northern Vindicator and the paper is now published under the name of the Vindicator and Republican with Mr. Nichols as editorial and business manager. He has devoted his entire time to news- paper work since taking his initial step in that field save for the three winters of 1896, 1897 and 1898, which he spent in Des Moines as journal clerk of the senate in the state legislature. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking but served for two terms as a member of the city council of Estherville. His influence, however, has always been on the side of progress and improvement, of right and reform, and he has
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE A. NICHOLS
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done much to further advancement along those lines. His only financial interests, save for some minor investments, are in Estherville property and in land in Michigan and in Florida.
On the 16th of February, 1885, in Richland county, Wisconsin, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide M. Carson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Carson, who were pioneer settlers of south- western Wisconsin. The mother was the first white child born in what is now Muscoda, Wisconsin, and represented one of the oldest families of that portion of the state. The father remained an influential farmer and mill owner of southwestern Wisconsin until called to his final rest. Mrs. Nichols is liberally educated and is a graduate of the Minneapolis Conservatory of Music. By her marriage she has become the mother of a son and two daughters: Herbert T .; Emma E., now the wife of W. E. Deming, of Estherville; and Henrietta A., at home.
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