USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 12
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JOHN W. HAGANS.
John W. Hagans is one of the progressive, substantial and en- terprising citizens of Barnum, where he is living retired after forty-four years' identification with business and agricultural interests in Iowa. His residence in Webster county dates from 1879 and since that time his activities have been connected with important industries in this section. He was born in Orange county, New York, on January 5. 1838, and is a son of Wesley and Ellen (Brown) Hagans, the former a native of Philadelphia and the latter of New York. His father was a practicing physician and left his native city in 1857 in order to locate in Goshen, In- diana, where he followed his profession for the remainder of his life. He died in 1866. His wife passed away in Barnum, in 1907.
Mr. Hagans remained in New York until he was nineteen years of age and completed his education begun in the public schools of that city in Indiana, where he removed with his father in 1857. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1862, lo- cating for practice in Goshen, where he entered into partnership
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with Mr. Dickinson, under the firm name of Dickinson & Hagans. He was successful as a lawyer until 1866, when he abandoned this field in order to establish himself in the photograph business at Goshen, in which he continued for one year. In 1867 he pur- chased a shoe store, which he conducted until he came to Iowa in 1868. In this state he located in Clinton county, where he was employed along mechanical lines until 1879. He had an instinct for this work and was successful at it. He then came to Webster county purchasing one hundred and sixty acres on sections 30 and 31, Johnson township, to which he later added eighty adjoin- ing acres. He set about the improvement of this property along progressive and modern lines and gained prosperity as general agriculturist during the short period in which he followed farm- ing, subsequent to which he returned to Clinton, where for eight- een months he worked at different occupations, coming back at the end of that time to his farm in Webster county, which he cultivated until 1902. In that year he retired from agricultural life and moved to Barnum, where he has since resided.
On January 18, 1866, Mr. Hagans was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Gillett, a daughter of Thomas J. and Mary Gillett, natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Hagans were the parents of six children : Francis J., who passed away in 1868; Frances May, who is forty-three years old and the wife of Howard Moore of Missouri; Charles W., who died in infancy; Charles G., who re- sides in Omaha, Nebraska; Nellie; and one child, who died in infancy. Mrs. Hagans died on July 12. 1898.
Mr. Hagans is now active in the insurance business in this city and has varied interests, all of which are forces in local growth and expansion. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and is vice president of the Farmers Grain Dealers' Association of Iowa. He also acts as president of the Barnum Telephone Company and was the organizer of this corporation and of the local elevator company. He has an inborn faculty for invention and is adding to his income by the sale of the Hagans' fence post, which is fully protected by United States and Canadian patents. It has many advantages over the common forms now in use, being cheap. simple, strong and very lasting. It is handled by the American Patent & Promoting Company of Detroit, Michigan.
In his political views Mr. Hagans is a consistent democrat and served as president of the Johnson township school board for
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twenty years. His name is always prominent in any movement looking toward the further development and improvement of the section in which he resides and his life has been a great individual force in its progress. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, having been identified with this order since 1861. He is a Methodist in his religious views and a man of exemplary life. He has all the adaptability and the force of personality which distinguish men who have been active in various representative enterprises. He is straightforward, upright, energetic and hon- orable, and possesses those characteristics which are the essential qualities of public spirit.
CHARLES HENRY ALLSTOT.
Charles Henry Allstot was born July 7, 1868, in Dubuque county, Iowa, and received his early education in the public schools in Greene county, that state. After completing his education he removed to Webster county, Iowa, in 1885 and in partnership with his brother, James Allstot, was engaged in farming for four years. At the end of that time he established himself in farming on his father-in-law's farm, where he remained for nine years. He then purchased a farm of forty acres from Jesse Miles. There he established his home and has since con- tinued to devote his attention to general farming and stock- raising.
Mr. Allstot was united in marriage, March 2, 1890, to Miss Clarinda Black, a native of Lehigh, Iowa, and a daughter of James Monroe and Mary Jane (Fye) Black. The father was born in the southeastern part of Iowa and celebrated his marriage in Webster county. He and his wife were the parents of four children: Cora Arva; Edward; Clarinda, now Mrs. AAllstot : and John, who married Nettie Rufer, by whom he has one child. Rufer M. Black. The father of this family died in Burnside township at the age of fifty-five and the mother was fifty years of age when she passed away. Both are buried in Otho cemetery. The father was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the mother of the United Brethren church. Mr. Black for twelve years previous to his death had been one of the trustees of Burnside township and lived at the time of his death a retired life on his
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farm of two hundred acres in Webster county, which has since passed through the probate courts and each of his surviving heirs have received their portion of the property, fifty acres of which was the share of the old homestead deeded to Mrs. Allstot. To Mr. and Mrs. Allstot three children have been born: Roy, who died in infancy ; and Archie Ray and Clyde Bertsel, both at home. Mr. Allstot is known to be one of the enterprising farmers of his locality and is numbered among the progressive, useful citizens of his part of the state. Of late he has purchased a fine farm prop- erty near Windholm, Minnesota.
A. L. BESHEY.
A. L. Beshey, mayor of Tara, Iowa, in the eighteenth consecutive year of his service, well known as a general merchant and hotel pro- prietor and active in local democratic politics, was born in France, July 5, 1852, and is a son of Joseph and Mary ( Phillips ) Beshey, natives of that country. The father was a farmer and operated a small tract of land in France. He came to America in 1858 and settled near Portsmouth, Ohio. Here he purchased timber land and cleared and improved his eighty acres, operating the property successfully for eighteen years. At the end of that time he sold out and went to Illinois, where he farmed upon rented land until his death. His wife passed away in September, 1888.
Mr. Beshey was reared at home and completed an education begun in the public schools of Ohio in Lee Center College at Lee Center, Illinois. When he laid aside his books he worked out as a farm hand until he acquired enough money to join his brother in the purchase of a threshing outfit, which they were successful in operating for five years. At the end of that time Mr. Beshey came to Iowa, where he engaged in the mercantile business at Walcott. This enterprise lie operated for about four years, disposing of his holdings eventually in order to go to Clark county, Kansas, where he preempted a quarter section of land, proved up his title and purchased it for one dollar and a quarter an acre. Later he bought one hundred and sixty acres of timber land, to which he added another tract of school land of similar size. He improved this property and operated it for six years, at the same time engaging as a hardware and farm implement merchant. He was successful in both lines of occupation but finally disposed of
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his interests in Kansas and moved to Missouri, where he bought two hundred and fifteen acres in Polk county. Upon this he carried on general agricultural pursuits for six years, coming to Webster county, Iowa, at the end of that time. He located immediately in Tara, six miles west of Fort Dodge, bought village property and established himself in the mercantile business, which he has conducted since that time. In 1909 he purchased a business building and six town lots and opened a hotel, with which he is at present connected. He has been successful in both lines of occupation, having founded his pros- perity on industry, straightforward business methods and unquestioned honesty.
On January 1, 1886, Mr. Beshey was united in marriage to Miss Percilla Miller, a daughter of Ralph and Elizabeth Miller, the former a native of England and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Beshey became the parents of seven children. Those living are Elmer, Ivy, Celia M., Alice, Louis and Edna.
Mr. Beshey is well known and favorably regarded in democratic political circles. He is at present mayor of Tara and has served in this capacity for the past eighteen years. He was for a long time school director of his township and did able work as justice of the peace, which office he is now holding. He was appointed postmaster but refused the office, with the result that there is no postoffice in the village. He belongs to the Roman Catholic church. There is hardly a line of legitimate activity in which he is not interested and active. His business affairs are thriving and ably conducted, his political record is clean and free from any suspicion of corruption, and his labors along both lines have been constantly constructive and his life has been worthy and honorable because it has been useful and valuable.
WILLIAM LINGARD.
William Lingard, who is engaged in business in association with his brother, George E., conducts a meat market and grocery at Kalo and also operates a similar enterprise at Otho, both es- tablishments having a large patronage. His birth occurred in Lincolnshire, England, on the 7th of April. 1852, his parents being Edward and Esther (Smith) Lingard, who were also natives of that country. The father, a mason by trade, brought his family
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to America in 1853, locating in Canada, where he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he came to Iowa, locating first in Dewitt, Clinton county, and later in Boone, where he worked as a coal miner and resided until 1882. In that year he came to Webster county, settling at Kalo, where he engaged in coal mining and made his home throughout the remainder of his life. In 1862, in the defense of the Union, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which command he remained until the cessation of hostilities. His demise occurred in May, 1904, while his wife was called to her final rest on the 30th of November, 1908.
William Lingard, who was brought to America by his parents when but one year old, acquired his education at Dewitt, Clin- ton county, this state. After putting aside his text-books he began mining coal at Boone, being thus employed for some time. At the age of nineteen years, however, he went to Nebraska, took up a homestead and resided thereon for six years. It was in 1882 that he came to Kalo, Webster county, locating here in the same year that his father took up his abode in this county. He again turned his attention to coal mining and was thus employed until forty years of age. In 1892, in partnership with his brother, George E., he opened a meat market at Kalo, to which he later added a grocery department and which he has conducted con- tinuously since with gratifying success. The brothers also con- duct a meat market and grocery store at Otho and have built up an extensive trade in both places, having won an enviable repu- tation by reason of their straightforward and honorable business dealings. They do an annual business amounting to over twenty- three thousand dollars. William Lingard and his brother own a well improved farm near Kalo and have an attractive home in that town.
On the 25th of April, 1878, Mr. Lingard was united in marriage to Miss Marion Stewart, a daughter of Louis and Jane Stewart, both natives of Scotland. Our subject and his wife have three children, namely: William, who is thirty-two years of age and assists his father in the conduct of his business; Matilda J., the wife of Adam Krouse, a miner and farmer : and Florence, who is fifteen years of age and is under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Lingard reared a boy named Gus Anderson, who passed away in 1899 at the age of eighteen years.
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William Lingard is a republican and has served as trustee of Otho township for six years. He belongs to the local organiza- tion of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also a valued member of the Congregational church. He has many friends in the community where he resides, and his excellent traits of character have gained for him the respect and regard of his fellowmen.
LOUIS O. MYRLAND.
Louis O. Myrland, a blacksmith and rural mail carrier in Badger, Iowa, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, in December, 1872, and is a son of O. P. and Emily P. (Simondson) Myrland, natives of Norway. The father came to this country with his parents in the early '50s, the family locating in Wisconsin, where O. P. Myrland grew to maturity. He followed farming for a number of years, renting a tract of land in Dane county, which he finally purchased and improved, operating it until 1888. In 1892 he moved to Jackson, Minnesota, where he and his wife have since resided.
Louis O. Myrland was reared and educated in Wisconsin and in that state he began learning the blacksmith's trade. At the end of two years he came to Badger, where he completed his apprenticeship. He worked at this occupation for a year and a half, at the end of which time he was able to purchase a shop of his own, which he has since operated. His business is rapidly increasing, prosperity having come to him because he labored diligently to attain it. He has applied his energies successfully to the promotion of his enterprise and has won success by the sure method of hard and continued work. In February, 1906. he was appointed rural mail carrier of Badger township and has continued in the service since that time. He owns his busi- ness property and a comfortable and pleasant home in the city in which he resides and is interested in its future growth and welfare. He is a stockholder in the Badger Telephone Company. seeking to do his utmost to encourage local enterprises.
In June, 1900, Mr. Myrland was united in marriage to Miss Belle Lee, a daughter of Helge and Anna Lee, natives of Norway. The father was an early settler in Wisconsin, where he followed
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farming until the outbreak of the Civil war. He was drafted in the Federal army and served for some time, returning to Wis- consin after his discharge. Here he resumed agricultural pur- suits, operating his farm until 1877, when he came to Iowa, settling in Hancock county, where he purchased a fine tract of land, which he brought to a high state of development before his death, which occurred in 1896. His wife is still living and makes her home in Britt, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Myrland became the parents of two children: Marvyl, who is nine years of age; and Fern Anniveve, who died in April, 1909, when she was three months old.
Mr. Myrland is a member of the Lutheran church of Badger and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is well known in local republican politics and has served continuously for ten or twelve years as member of the town council. He never seeks to evade the obligations of citizenship and is influ- enced in his public activities by an interest in the growth and prosperity of his section. His standards both in business andl in politics are modern and progressive and his energies, well applied and directed, have brought him a gratifying measure of success.
THOMAS H. DAWSON.
Thomas H. Dawson is successfully engaged in business as a member of the Craig & Dawson Coal Company, with offices at No. 4 North Seventh street in Fort Dodge. A native of Webster county, he has spent his entire life within its borders and now makes his home at No. 1302 Fifth avenue, South, in Fort Dodge. His birth occurred on the 3d of February, 1877, his parents being Jerry and Mary Jane (Wonders) Dawson, the former a native of England. His paternal grandfather, Robert Dawson, was also born in England and devoted the greater part of his life to general agricultural pursuits. His demise occurred at Kalo, this state. To him, and his wife who bore the maiden name of Alma Peart, were born twelve children, six of whom grew to maturity, as follows : Joshua ; Jerry: Nellie, the deceased wife of David Wil- liams; Mary, the deceased wife of Tabor Moore ; William, who is a resident of Otho, Iowa; and Elizabeth, who gave her hand in
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marriage to Orville Brown and resides in Calhoun county, Iowa. The maternal grandparents of our subject, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wonders, became early settlers of this county and here passed away when about seventy years of age. They had three sons and four daughters, Mary Jane, Margaret, Thomas, Martha, John William, Elizabeth and Joseph.
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Jerry Dawson, the father of Thomas H. Dawson, was nine years of age when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States, the family home being first established in Coshocton, Ohio, and later at Moingona, Iowa. Subsequently the family spent four or five years in Manson, this state, and then removed to Kalo, where both Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dawson passed away when well advanced in years. Jerry Dawson removed from Manson to Coalville and thence to Kalo, where he became a coal mine operator. During the period of the Civil war he enlisted for one hundred days' service as a private, becoming a member of Company G, One hundred and Forty-third Ohio National Guard. He was a stanch republican but never sought nor desired public office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally, he was identi- fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He passed away at Kalo in 1907, when sixty-three years of age, and the community lost one of its most substantial and esteemed citizens. His widow, now sixty-four years of age, lives at Otho and is a Methodist in religious faith. To Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Dawson were born five children, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of William Schnurr, of Otho, Iowa; Thomas H., of this review: Emerson W., deceased; Alma, the wife of Alexander Reid, of Otho; and Mary Ellen, living in Otho.
Thomas H. Dawson, whose name introduces this review, was reared to manhood in Webster county and obtained his early edu- cation in the country schools, while later he attended the public schools of Kalo. Subsequently he continued his studies in the Fort Dodge high school and also in Tobin College. Since putting aside his text-books he has been continuously identified with the coal business operating in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and also in Higbee, Missouri. He recently disposed of his interests in the latter place and now devotes his entire attention to the conduct of the Craig & Dawson Coal Company of Fort Dodge. His efforts have been attended with success and he has long enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the representative and prosperous business men of the city.
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On the Ist of January, 1900, Mr. Dawson was united in mar- riage to Miss Ursula Griggs, a native of Mexico, Missouri, and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Jane (Morris) Griggs. Her father, who participated in the Civil war as a Confederate soldier, passed away at Higbee, Missouri, but the mother survives and makes her home in Denver, Colorado. She has five living chil- 'dren, Commodore Griggs, Sonora, Ursula, Henry B. and Data. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have one son, Emerson Blanton. The mother is a devoted member of the Episcopal church. Fra- ternally, Thomas H. Dawson is known as a Master Mason. His political allegiance is given the republican party. His entire life has been passed in this county and he has attained a creditable position in business circles, while his sincere cordiality has won him the friendship of many.
GEORGE E. LINGARD.
George E. Lingard is well known in business circles of Webster county as the proprietor of meat markets and grocery stores at Kalo and Otho, which establishments he conducts in partner- ship with his brother, William Lingard. He was born in Dewitt, Clinton county, Iowa, on the 2d of October, 1866, his parents be- ing Edward and Esther (Smith) Lingard, more extended men- tion of whom is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of William Lingard.
George E. Lingard obtained his early education in Boone county, Iowa, and later continued his studies in Nebraska. In 1882 the family home was established at Kalo, Webster county, this state. George E. Lingard subsequently made his way to the Pacific coast and later took up his abode in Colorado, where he spent about eight months at farming and railroading. After returning home he was engaged for some time in digging coal and then went into the meat business in association with Charles Wilson at Kalo. A short time afterward he was married and removed to the state of Washington, where he was engaged in coal mining for about one year. On the expiration of that period lie returned to Kalo and embarked in the butcher and grocery busi- ness, in association with his brother William, in partnership with whom he has since conducted establishments of that character at
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both Kalo and Otho. They do an annual business amounting to over twenty-three thousand dollars and own their store build- ings at both Kalo and Otho. The brothers have residence prop- erty in Fort Dodge, and our subject owns an attractive home in Kalo and he and his brother are stockholders in the Farmers Ele- vator Company of that place.
On the 24th of January, 1889, Mr. Lingard was joined in wed- lock to Miss Martha Nelson, a daughter of Moffit and Margaret (Johnson) Nelson, both of whom are natives of Scotland. The father emigrated to the United States at an early date, first locat- ing in Kentucky and later coming to Kalo, Webster county, Iowa, where both he and his wife still reside. Mr. Nelson was engaged in mining during his active business career. To Mr. and Mrs. Lingard have been born four children, Harley. Myrtle, Merritt and one who died in infancy.
At the polls George E. Lingard supports the men and meas- ures of the republican party. He has served as school director and has also acted in the capacity of constable. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Foresters, the Eagles and the Knights of Pythias, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church. He has gained the esteem of all with whom he has come into contact because of his upright and honorable principles and also by reason of the straightforward methods he ever follows.
PETER MALLINGER.
Agricultural pursuits always engaged the attention of Peter Mallinger until 1907, when he removed to Duncombe, identify- ing himself with its commercial activities. In the development of his various business interests he has manifested as marked effi- ciency and capability as he evidenced in his farming pursuits, and he is regarded as one of the foremost business men of the town. He is a son of John and Mary (Barnech) Mallinger, na- tives of Germany, and was born in Fort Washington, Wisconsin, in October, 1866. John Mallinger was only eighteen months of age when brought to the United States by his parents, who located in Wisconsin. There he was reared and educated. sub-
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sequently turning his attention to agricultural pursuits. For sev- eral years he owned and operated a farm in Wisconsin, but in 1875 he sold it and coming to Webster county invested the pro- ceeds in a place in Colfax township. Here he continued farming with such success that he became one of the extensive property holders of his community, owning at one time five hundred acres of land. He devoted himself to the further improvement and cultivation of his place until 1904. when he withdrew from active work and removed to Duncombe. Here he is now living retired at the age of seventy years, while the mother is sixty-six.
As he was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, the education of Peter Mallinger was begun in the common schools of his native state and completed in those of Webster county. His agricultural training, like that of the average country youth, was begun in childhood, his duties being increased from year to year as his strength and sense of responsibility developed. By the time he had attained his ma- turity he was thoroughly familiar with the practical methods of tilling the fields and caring for the crops and soon thereafter began operating a farm of his own of a hundred and twenty acres in Colfax township. The excellent training he had received under his father, united with his diligence and determination of pur- pose readily enabled him to win success. Not only was he able to further improve his original holding but he kept adding to his tract until he owned three hundred and eighty acres. General farming and stock-raising engaged Mr. Mallinger's entire atten- tion until 1907, when he rented his place and removed to Dun- combe. The next year he became associated with six others in the organization of the Duncombe Cement Tile Company. of which he has ever since been the manager. In 19to, together with P. T. Flynn and James Toohey, he went into the automobile business, having the local agency of both the Ford and Case cars. This proved to be a very lucrative venture and the next year they built a fireproof garage thirty-seven by seventy feet. This firm also operates a garage at Fort Dodge, where they have extensive property interests. When the Farmers Savings Bank was or- ganized in October. 1911, Mr. Mallinger still further strength- ened his connection with local business interests by accepting the presidency of this enterprise, and here as elsewhere has given efficient service. He owns one of the best residences in the town and two blocks of residence lots.
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