USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 68
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104
738
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
there, April 22, 1881. His wife is still living at Mason City. She and husband had a family of ten children, eight living. E. C., subject of this sketch, is the second son; he was but three years of age when he came with his parents to America, and eighteen years of age when he came to Charles City ; he attended school here and assisted his brother, M. G. Egloff, who was the first station agent for the Illinois Central Railroad, at Charles City. E. C. remained here, studying telegraphy and station work until 1876, when he was given charge of Aplington Station; remained here some two years and three months, when his brother, M. G. Egloff, was appointed train dispatcher at Fort Dodge, Ia., and E. C. was appointed his brother's former position as station agent here at Charles City, which office he still retains. Mr. E. C. Egloff married Miss Rusha Cilley, at Mason City, Ia., Nov. 8, 1880. She was born in Illinois, and was a daughter of Nathaniel P. and Louisa (Miller) Cilley. Mrs. E. C. Egloff is a member of the First Methodist Church, of Charles City. Mr. Egloff is a member of the V. A. S. fraternity, Charles City Lodge. In pol- itics he is a Republican, and is one of the enterprising, represent- ative citizens and business men of Charles City, where he has been identified since 1868.
S. F. Farnham, Cashier of the Charles City National Bank, was born in Palmyra, Somerset County, Me., May 23, 1846, a son of Samuel and Eliza C. Farnham, nee Robinson, natives of Massa- chusetts, S. F. being the eldest of a family of four sons and three daughters born of this union. He received his primary education in Palmyra, and at the age of sixteen he entered the preparatory school at Bucksport, Me., which he attended two years, and was then matriculated in the Maine Wesleyan College at Kent's Hill, graduating from that institution June 7, 1870. He received the appointment of principal of the Old Town High School, which he accepted and retained five years, and in 1875 he came to Charles City. He was principal of the High School here one year, and upon the organization of the Charles City National Bank, he was elected its cashier, a position he has since held. On Aug. 27, 1871, he was married to Miss Phebe F. Johnson, of Dixmont, Me. She was a daughter of H. C. Johnson and Susan B., nee Edgerly. Two children were born of this union-Le Roy S., born June 6, 1872, died May 30, 1874; and Ralph H., born Dec. 5, 1881. Mrs. Farnham died Dec. 21, 1881. She was a member of Eastern Star Chapter, Masonic fraternity of Iowa, of which she
739
CHARLES CITY.
was Grand Associate Matron. Mr. Farnham is a member of Lodge No. 172, A. F. & A. M., and Easter Chapter, A. O. U. W., Charles City Lodge. He was elected City Treasurer in April, 1878, and held the office one year, and was also elected Treas- urer of the Water-Power Company, of this city, in 1878. He still retains the office, and is also one of the proprietors and direc- tors of that company. Politically, he affiliates with the Repub- lican party, and is one of the prominent business men of Charles City.
John Ferguson, of the firm of Woolley, Snyder, Ferguson & Bailey, proprietors of the Charles City Plow Company, is a native of Scotland, born in the city of Glasgow Jan. 18, 1834, a son of Duncan and Agnes M. Ferguson, nee Hope. His father was born in Crieff, Scotland, and reared and educated in Glasgow. His mother was born in the north of Ireland. They had a family of seven children of whom John was the second son. The family emigrated to America in 1837, and located in Erie, Pa., thence two years afterward to Rockford, Ill. John attended school, engaged in clerking and learned the carpenter and joiner's trade there, and in September, 1855, he came to Charles City, where he embarked in the mercantile business. In 1857 he disposed of his stock to Wright & McKnabb and followed farming until 1874, when he again engaged in the mercantile trade, which he prosecuted until Jan. 1, 1882, when he sold out to his partner, S. H. Starr, and purchased an interest in the Charles City Plow Company, a prom- inent manufacturing interest. He was married in Charles City, to Mary E. Strawn, of Rockford, Ill., on March 10, 1856. They have had three children, Ida E., born Aug. 7, 1858, died while yet in the full bloom of youth on July 15, 1874; J. A., born Aug. 30, 1861, is agent for the New York Life Insurance Company of this city, and Marie M., born. Aug. 20, 1867. The subject of this memoir is a member of St. Charles Lodge, No. 141, A. F. & A. M., and a member of the Chapter. He has served acceptably in many of the city offices and was a member of the City Council four years. Politically he favors the Republican party. He is one of the pioneer and enterprising citizens of Charles City, where he has been identified since 1855.
E. J. Fisher, of the firm of Stevens, Hering & Co., wholesale and retail dealers in and manufacturers of furniture, Charles City, is a native of New Hampshire, born in Franklin, Merrimack County, Oct. 9, 1837. His parents, Ellis Fisher, who was a farmer, and
740
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
Hannah, nee Noice, were natives of the Green Mountain State, and had a family of nine children, of whom the subject of this . memoir was the youngest son. He was educated in his native State, and at the age of fifteen went to Lowell, Mass., to learn the machinist's trade. He followed that occupation four years, then went to Manchester, N. H., and remained there three years, learn- ing the furniture trade. From there he went to Boston, Mass., and worked at the cabinet-maker's trade, until his marriage to Abbie Haywood in December, 1861. She was born in Alexander, N. H., a daughter of Walter Haywood. Of five children born of this union three are living-Harry W., born Nov. 21, 1863, is working with his father in the factory; Frank, born Jan. 6, 1869, and Fred, born Aug. 6, 1873. After his marriage Mr. Fisher removed to Two Rivers, Wis., thence to Appleton, that State, where he worked in a furniture factory one year, then established a factory of his own at Leeman, Wis., four years later he took charge of the furni- ture manufacturing department, at the House of Correction at Mil- waukee, Wis. In 1869 he became a resident of Charles City and a partner, in his present business. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, National Lodge, No. 165. Politically h favors the Democratic party.
William N. Fisher, Constable, sexton of cemetery, and farmer, was born in Washington County, Vt., June 13, 1829, a son of Silas W. and Emily (Peck) Fisher; father a native of New Hamp- shire, and mother of Vermont. Of a family of three children the subject of this sketch was the eldest, and is the only one living. He was brought up on a farm, and when within two months of age he left home and worked out two or three years, and in 1854 came West, to Rockford, Ill. In the spring of 1857 he went to Minne- sota with three yoke of cattle to break prairie; but hard times came on and he lost nearly all. He then located in Charles City and started a meat market, which business he prosecuted extensively. Some seasons he would kill as many as fifty or sixty hogs at a time, which were hauled to market at McGregor. But in the fol- lowing spring he abandoned the market, and did odd jobs until 1860, when he started for Pike's Peak; at Denver, however, he learned such facts as discouraged him from going further, and he re- turned, footing all the way from Omaha to Charles City. In the autumn of 1864 he was drafted and attached to Company G, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry; in the army, during the winter, he contracted rheumatism, and was sent to the hospital, where he
741
CHARLES CITY.
-
remained until July. After the close of the war he returned home to Charles City. Except what time he was in the war, he has been Constable ever since 1858. The first time he was elected he had failed of a nomination in caucus by a vote or two, and he ran independently, and yet was elected almost unanimously., In 1862 he was appointed Constable, the elected man not qualifying. He ran independently again in 1868, and was again elected. Mr. Fisher has done much for the interests of his community. In the way of fence building he has done more than any other man in the county, and probably excels all in the neatness of his work. He has, by his business talent, accumulated considerable property and money, and is now independent and happy. Oct. 3, 1867, in Rockford, this county, he married Miss Mary Rudd, of Rockford, Ill., daughter of Joe M. and Miranda (Palmer) Rudd, her parents hav- ing been early settlers of Buffalo, N. Y. She is a member of the Christian church. Of their two children, Victoria E. is living, and Chester S. is deceased.
Luther P. Fitch, one of the prominent physicians of Floyd County, was born in Groton, Middlesex County, Mass., March 26, 1836, a son of John and Lucy L. Fitch, nee Sawtell, natives also of Massachusetts. They had a family of five children, three living- Luther P., W. H., a practicing physician of Rockford, Ill., and A. Lizzie, at present traveling in Europe. When the subject of this memoir was about three years of age, his parents removed to Winnebago County, Ill., and settled on a farm. There his boyhood was passed and primary education received. He attended school at Rockford, Ill., two years; at Groton, Mass., eighteen months, and at Beloit, Wis., five years; four years was spent in the Beloit College, from which he graduated in 1860. He spent nine months in the medical department of Michigan State University, then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at New York City, graduating with honors in 1863. Upon leaving] school he was appointed Surgeon of the Forty-seventh U. S. C. Infantry, and remained with this regiment until January, 1866, when they were mustered out of service. He then formed a partnership with Dr. C. J. Taggert, at Beloit, Wis,, which continued six months when Dr. Fitch went to New York City for the purpose of attending lectures and receiving instruction in special branches of medicine. Eight months later he located in practice in Rockford, Ill., remain- ing there until October, 1868, when he came to Charles City. He has met with deserved success as a practitioner, and is well and
742
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
favorably known throughont the county as a skillful and reliable physician. On Oct. 13, 1869, he married Martha Baker, of Berlin, Wis. Two children have blessed their union, viz .: Charles L., born March 29, 1873, and Lucy, Jan. 20, 1875. Dr. Fitch is a member of the American Medical Association, of the Iowa State Medical Society, and is Secretary of the Upper Cedar Valley Medi- cal Association. He was elected Director of the Independent Dis- triet of Charles City School Board, in March, 1878, and still retains tlre office. Politically he favors the Republican party.
William Giermann, proprietor of the German meat market, Charles City, was born in Preuzlau, Prussia, Germany, July 19, 1845. His parents were Christian and Caroline (Haman) Giermann. They had a family of five sons and four daughters. William, sub- ject of this memoir, was the youngest, and the only one in America. He attended school in Germany until fifteen, when he learned the butcher's trade four years ; then served three years as soldier in the cavalry of the German army, and in 1870 came to America. He brought his girl with him, and they landed in New York and were married at New Bremen, Cook County, Ill., June 7, 1870. She was born in Germany, and was a daughter of Gottlieb and Caroline (Schultz) Frabel. Mrs. Giermann's maiden name was Emelia Frabel. In December, 1870, Mr. Giermann located in Charles City, and worked by the day at different work till 1864, when he began to work at the butcher's trade, and in March, 1878, established his present market. Mr. and Mrs. Giermann are members of the German M. E. church, and have five children, viz .: Miss Ida, born July 24, 1882; John, born May 25, 1874; Miss Emma, born April 14, 1876; Miss Emelia, Feb. 13, 1879, and Lydia, born Oct. 14, 1881. Mr. Giermann is a member of the A. O. U. W., Charles City Lodge, No. 158. In politics, a Repub- lican. He is one of the enterprising business men of Charles City, where he has been identified since December, 1870. He built his present market-house in 1877, and it is the leading market in the city, and Mr. Giermann tries to please all his customers, and to that end buys the best the market affords. He also carries a fine stock of dried and smoked meats.
Geo. Gilbert, station agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, is a native of New York, and was born in Castile, Wyoming County, July 23, 1842; his parents were Seymour and Permelia (Mabie) Gilbert, natives of New York, and members of
743
CHARLES CITY.
the Baptist church. He in early life was a hardware merchant and in after years engaged in farming. He moved from Wyoming County, N. Y., to Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill., in 1846, where he died. He and wife had two sons and one daughter. Geo. E., subject of this sketch, was the second son; he lived in Winnebago County, Ill., on his father's farm, attending school until twelve when he began to run on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, as newsboy. Subsequently rose to the position of brakeman, then baggageman. In February, 1874, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois Infantry Volunteers and remained in the service until the close of the war, when he returned to Rockford, Ill., and opened a grocery store. Eighteen months later he sold out and engaged in railroading on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway until September, 1869, when he came to Charles City, and began to work as freight agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and was warehouseman operator and clerked for E. J. Gilbert, three years, when he was appointed agent at Garner, Hancock County, and remained two years; then took charge of the station at Algona one year, and was appointed agent at Charles City, where he has since remained. Mr. Gilbert married Miss Ada J. Halsted, at Rockford, Ill., Oct. 22, 1866; she was born in New York, and was a daughter of Egbert and Ester (Kingsley) Halsted. Mrs. Gilbert is a member of the Congregational church. They have had three children, viz .: George H., Archer and Mabel I. Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert is one of the enterprising representative men of Charles City, where he has been identified since 1869. In politics he is a Republican.
Samuel G. Goddard, contractor and builder, and agent for the Domestic and Victor sewing machines, is a native of Michigan, and was born in Calhoun County, Oct. 26, 1829, he being the first white child born in this county. His father, Josiah Goddard, was born in Massachusetts, and when twenty-one years of age en- listed as Sergeant Major in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg. After the close of the war he went to De- troit, Mich., where he married Miss Hannah Luckett; soon after his marriage he removed to Calhoun County, Mich., and was one of the first settlers of this county. He and his wife had a family of sixteen children, eleven sons and five daughters. Samuel C., subject of this sketch was the third son, he worked on his father's farm, attending school winters until fifteen, when he removed to Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill., and one year later to Green
744
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
County, Wis. They remained there and engaged in farming until October, 1848, when they came to Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, Ia. In 1851 Samuel C. started out with fifty cents in his pocket to make his fortune, and located in Bradford, Chicka- saw County, Ia. He worked at the carpenter's trade and clerked in a store about a year, when he was elected County Clerk, he be- ing the first to hold that office in the county. In March, 1854, Mr. Goddard came to Charles City, Floyd County, Ia., and bought the general merchandise stock of Robert L. Freeman, the first store keeper in Charles City. Mr. Goddard built the first frame house in Charles City, the town was then called Freeman, and Mr. Freeman was the first Postmaster and Mr. Goddard the second. Mr. Goddard sold his store to John and William Ferguson in the spring of 1856, then built the Magnolia Hotel, which he conducted two years, when it burned down in the fire of Charles City; he then elerked in Lehmkuhl's store ten years, since then he has worked at his trade, as carpenter and contractor, and engaged in the sale of sewing machines. Mr. Goddard married Miss Amanda Bigelow, at Waverly, Bremer County, Ia., July 16, 1857. She was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Julius and Philena (Dayton) Bigelow, natives of Connecticut; he was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Goddard had five children, viz .: Cora, born April 26, 1858, wife of Harry A. Merrill (he is Cashier in the Rockford Bank, at Rockford, Ia.); Angie, born July 29, 1851; May, Sept. 21, 1863; Gladys, Feb. 22, 1865, and Guy A., March S. 1867, who reside with their parents. Mr. Goddard is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. In politics he is a Republican. He is one of the oldest settlers, and is an enterprising representa- tive citizen of Charles City, where he has been identified since March, 1854.
E. J. Guilbert, ex-County Treasurer of Floyd County, was born in Rockford, Winnebago County, Ill., June 18, 1848, a son of Milo and Margaret (Palmer) Guilbert; he a native of Vermont, and she of Ohio. They had a family of six sons and four daugh- ters. E. J., subject of this sketch, being the eldest, was but six years of age when he came with his parents to Charles City, Ia., where his father, with Dr. N. H. Palmer, purchased of Joseph Kelly half the town. He built the first frame house here. E. J. attended school and worked on a farm until eighteen, when he was employed as bookkeeper, at Prairie du Chien, Wis., for the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway; worked there two years,
745
CHARLES CITY.
when he was appointed the first station agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, at Charles City, and retained the position four years. He was then elected Deputy County Treasurer for two years, and was subsequently elected County Treasurer, and held that office four years, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres, in St. Charles Township, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Guilbert married Miss Estella Merrill, at Charles City, May 4, 1870. She was born in Harmony, Me., and was a daughter of J. N. Merrill, an attorney at Rock- ford, Ia., and Sarah E. (Parsons) Merrill. Mr. and Mrs. Guilbert have three children, viz. : Roy M., born July 27, 1871; Lulie, Aug. 6, 1873; and Margaret, Dec. 8, 1876. Mr. Guilbert is a member of the Iowa Legion of Honor, and is one of the charter members of Hope Lodge, No.76, and was president for one year. He was elec- ted City Clerk of Charles City, for one year, and has held various local offices of trust. In politics, a Republican, and cast his first vote for Grant for President the second term. Mr. Guilbert is one of the pioneer children of Floyd County, and one of the enterpris- ing, representative men of Floyd County, where he has been iden- tified since fall, 1853. He is of Scotch and Irish descent.
William Hansberg, of the firm of Hansberg & Holbrook, is the oldest merchant in Floyd County, having been identified with the mercantile interests here since 1856. A native of Eckernfoerde, Schleswig, Germany. He was born July 2, 1833, son of John and Anna (Gerber) Hansberg, who were the parents of three children, of whom William was the eldest. His father died when he was four years of age, and he attended school in Germany until fifteen, then served a five years' apprenticeship at a trade in the town of Bredstadt, Germany. In July, 1855, he came alone to the United States; landed at New York after a forty-five days" journey at sea. From New York he went to Lyons, Clinton County, Ia., where he clerked in a store and warehouse for the old firm of Burrows, Prettyman & Pearsall, and at Commanche until 1855, when Mr. Pearsall died and he went to Waverly, Bremer County, Ia., and clerked in a store for Hazlett & Co. until April, 1856, when he came to Charles City with Rumpf, Lehmkuhl & Co., who built a dry goods store here, which they opened in June, 1856, employing Mr. Hansberg as clerk. In 1859 Mr. Rumpf withdrew from the firm, and in 1862 Mr. Hansberg was taken into partnership. They established a branch store at Floyd, of which
746
HISTORY OF FLOYD COUNTY.
he was manager. In 1868 they closed the store at Floyd, and the business was conducted at Charles City, under the firm name of Lelumkuhl & Hansberg until the spring of 1876, when Mr. Hans- berg purchased his partner's interest, and conducted the business until March 1. 1879, and then formed his present partnership with Mr. W. E. Holbrook. They are the recipients of a firmly estab- lished trade, and are known throughout the county as men of irreproachable business integrity. Mr. Hansberg was married Aug. 30, 1863, to Theresa Merckel, who was born in Andernach, on the River Rhine, Germany, a daughter of Carl and Anna M. Merekel, nee Just. Four children blessed this union, viz. : Mary, born May 31, 1864; Charles in November, 1866; Emil, born Aug. 18, 1868, died Sept. 21, 1869; Ernst, born Aug. 27, 1878. Mr. Hansberg was elected County Supervisor in the fall of 1880, and still holds the office. He was the first Alderman and Treasurer elected in Charles City, and has held numerous other township offices. Politically he is independent, and he and wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church.
A. M. Harrison, a prominent lawyer of Charles City, and a member of the firm of Starr & Harrison, has been actively connected with the legal profession of Charles City since May, 1870. A son of Charles Harrison of New Jersey, and Catherine, nee DeWitt, of Ulster County, N. Y .; he was born on his father's farm in what is now the city of Pit Hole, Pa., on Nov. 5, 1847. His parents were members of the Old School Presbyterian church, in which his father was a Deacon many years. He attended school and assisted on the farm until 1862, when he, with his father and brother, be- gan operating in oil. He worked with them and attended the academy at Pleasantville, Pa., until 1865, when he removed, with his father, to Fredonia, N. Y. He entered the academy at that place, and graduated there in 1868. In the fall of that year he was matriculated in the law school at Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating in 1870, and was admitted to the Michigan Supreme Court bar in April of that year. He came at once to Charles City, where he established an office, and soon after was employed in the law office of Starr & Patterson, and in 1873 was taken into partnership. They continued to practice under the firm name of Starr, Patter- son & Harrison until the death of Mr. Patterson, which occurred Oct. 29, 1878. Since then the firm has remained Starr & Harrison. On Aug. 13, 1873, at Silver Creek, N. Y., occurred the marriage
E. D. mowhose
749
CHARLES CITY.
of A. M. Harrison and Lizzie Chapin, daughter of Charles and Calista A. (Gage) Chapin. She was born in that city on Feb. 4, 1852. Two sons have blessed this union, viz .: Gage M., born March 21, 1875, and Merton E., Oct. 18, 1876. Mr. Harrison is a mem- ber of St. Charles Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 141. He was, too, elected City Attorney of Charles City three terms, and served as Justice of the Peace from 1871 to 1881.
Sanford Harwood, dealer in boots and shoes, and manufacturer of harness, Charles City, is a native of New York, and was born at Hadley, Saratoga County, July 31, 1818. His parents were Jesse and Sarah (Scofield) Harwood. He was a native of Vermont, and farmer; she was a native of Massachusetts, and they had a family of four sons and four daughters. Sanford was the second son. When he was six years of age his father died. He then remained on the farm with his mother until seventeen, when he went to Chautauqua County, N. Y., and worked at the harness trade in Maysville two years; then went to Essex County and worked at Crown Point two years, then came to La Salle County, Ill., and located in the town of Lowell and farmed until spring of 1852, when he came to Inde- pendence, Buchanan County, Ia, where he purchased a farm, and farmed eighteen months; then, in fall of 1854, came to Charles City and engaged in farming until 1863, when he established his present business. Mr. Harwood married Miss Keziah Dryer, Aug. 31, 1843, at Lowell, La Salle County, Ill. She was born in Seneca County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Chester Dryer and Susan (Hobro) Dryer. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood are members of Baptist church, and have had a family of eight children, four sons and one daughter living, viz .: James C., printer and editor of Wright County Monitor, at Clarion, Wright County, Ia .; Miss Susie M. Harwood; Burt E., photographer of Charles City; Will- iam S., of editorial staff of Dubuque Herald; and Frank E., engaged in business with his father. Mr. Harwood has been a mem- ber of the City Council, member School Board, and Township Trustee a number of years, and member of County Supervisors in 1860- held this office two years. In politics, he is a Republican, and has always been a supporter of that party. He is one of the old set- tlers and enterprising representative men of Charles City, where he has been identified since fall of 1854.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.