USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 14
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Mr. Coffin has done more than any other individual to promote temperance among railroad men by the use of what is known as the "white button." He has had made a little white button, in which are the initials R. R. T. 1 .- Railroad Temperance . Association-and these buttons he gives to all railroad employes who will promise to wear one and abstain from the use of liquor. He has paid out over five thousand dollars alone for these buttons, having distributed more than two hundred and fifty thousand of them, and is still engaged in the work, always having a supply of them when he travels. This conspicuous little button is a constant reminder to the wearer that he has given his word to abstain from the use of those beverages which destroy manhood and render the individual unfitted for the perform ance of life's duties. \ lasting monument to the work of Mr. Coffin is seen in the home for the disabled and infirm railroad men at High land Park, Illinois, near Chicago. . All brotherhood railroad men are eligible as members, the only requirement being that they contribute as much as "the expense of one cigar a month." This entitles any brotherhood man in railroad employ, in case of accident or inability. to a good home for life, containing all necessities and comforts. At this time the work is progressing nicely under the guidance of Mr Coffin and the cooperation of the four railroad brotherhoods, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Brotherhood of Locomotive
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Firemen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Order of Railway Conductors. These four orders have contributed to the home and at the present time they are planning an eighty thousand dollar fire-proof building as an addition to the present home. There are now between sixty-five and seventy-five inmates. Mr. Coffin is the presi- dent of the Railroad Employes' Home, and, more than that, he is the friend of all railroad men, having a warm personal interest in their welfare. The home is now complete and represents an expenditure of about one hundred and forty thousand dollars.
Another important work which will stand as a monument to Mr. Coffin's philanthropy is the home for ex-convicts which he organized and promoted in connection with other leading citizens of Fort Dodge and the vicinity. In 1891 he donated twenty acres of land and ten thousand dollars in cash for the building, besides devoting a great deal of his time to the work. Upon its completion it was one of the finest structures of this character in Webster county and it continued as a convicts' home for six years, when the Anamosa penitentiary was turned into a reformatory and here the work which Mr. Coffin had begun was carried on. He, therefore, deeded the original building and twenty acres of land to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Iowa, in order that they might there establish the Benedict Home, which was formerly located at Des Moines. At the present time there are thirty inmates of this institution and since its foundation it has cared for and relieved over thirteen hundred girls, all of whom have benefited by the worthy and useful teachings of Mrs. McClelland, who is the superintendent and directs the work of a number of assistants.
In the last few years Mr. Coffin has given much of his time and attention to the promotion of a work in which he has always been interested, namely, that of the spreading of temperance among all classes, but especially among the railroad men. In the promotion of this enterprise he has spent five thousand dollars for temperance badges and has distributed over two hundred and fifty thousand white but- tons which are the insignia of the cause. Mr. Coffin in writing of the work which he has done in the Railroad Temperance Association, says : "It is not yet two years since the white button started on its mission. Now go where one will he finds it worn by railroad men wherever a locomotive whistle is heard. That little pledge button for grander manhood, pleads for happier homes, pleads for wife and children; has been heard by thousands of brave, great-hearted men, who have been true as steel to its meaning. The wearing of the white button is the practical carrying out of the teachings of true brotherhood prin-
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ciples as taught in the lodge room. There all are not only taught but bind themselves under solemn obligation to care for the wives and children of each brother. Everyone knows that the greatest enemy to the family of a brother railroad man is the saloon. The wearing of the white button by brothers who never go inside a saloon is a strong and earnest appeal to a weak brother to keep out. It means that we are defenders of home, that we love our future, our wives and our children more than we do a saloon. It means that the great brother- hoods of railroad men have escaped from the saloon's fascinating power."
Mr. Coffin has ever been a friend to the poor and needy, to the oppressed and the suffering, and, believing that the spark of divinity is in every individual and may be fanned into flame, he is ever ready to extend a helping hand to those in need of either material or moral assistance. His home while in Ohio was a station on the famous underground railroad when slavery existed in the land and his strong abolition principles led him to ally himself with the republican party when it was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery. He has since been one of its stalwart supporters.
To what church does he belong? We answer, to the church which Christ founded when he said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel," when he gave the mandate, "Bear ye one another's bur- dens," and said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." One of the most interesting features of the Willow Edge Farm is its chapel, which he built, about twelve years ago for the benefit of his daughter, who was greatly interested in Sunday-school work. In connection with the same is a circulating library for the community. Services are held Sunday afternoons-held in the afternoon that they need not con- flict with the morning or evening services of the city churches. Pastors and people of all denominations are welcome, and the gospel of Christ -- forgiveness and love-is preached. Mong the same line of Christian liberality is his effective work in the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, in which almost each Sunday he addresses a meeting of this organization.
His sympathies took the practical form of liberal financial sup- port, for he contributed one hundred dollars to the building in Mar shalltown, Iowa, of the first Railroad Young Men's Christian Assona tion ever erected in Iowa. Mr. Coffin delivered the address of dedica tion and has since been actively interested in the move nent.
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In business he has achieved splendid success, but the most envious could not grudge him his prosperity so worthily has it been won, so well used. He has builded to himself a monument more lasting than stone in the freewill offering of grateful hearts.
Who can measure the influence of such a life?
"Our echoes roll from soul to soul .And grow forever and forever."
KNUTSON BROTHERS.
Adolph and Alfred Knutson, twin brothers, are operating one of the most prosperous business enterprises in Badger, being engaged in the implement and automobile business with which they have been connected for the past seven years. This is only one of the many important undertakings with which they have become identified in the course of fourteen years of active business life, during which time they have never separated their interests, work- ing harmoniously together to their mutual advantage. They were born in Badger, August 28. 1877, and are the sons of Christopher and Anna (Arent) Knutson, natives of Norway. The brothers were reared at home and were educated in the public schools of Badger. finishing their education at Tobin College in Fort Dodge. Iowa. After completing their studies they engaged in farming in partnership, operating their father's tract of land for five years. At the end of that time they sold the property and went to North Dakota, where each took up a homestead claim, which they still own. They combined their prop- erties and operated the enterprise as one large farm, being en- gaged at the same time in the buying and selling of land. After two years they returned to Badger and established themselves in the implement and automobile business, with which they have been identified for the past seven years with constantly increasing success. They also own and operate a cement block factory and own the building in which they are doing business as well as their own home in the residence section of the village. They also own a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Badger township. They have been in all the business relations of their
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lives upright, straightforward and honorable and these qualities dis- tinguish their private characters.
Adolph Knutson was married in October, 1909, to Miss Cora Lund, a daughter of Rasmus and Anna (Christenson ) Lund, natives of Norway. Mrs. Knutson's father came to America with his parents at an early date, locating in Badger township, Webster county. When he grew to manhood he became identified with a local railroad and later went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he fol- lowed the same line of occupation for twenty years, returning at the end of that time to Badger, where he purchased land. He operated his farm for several years and only abandoned agriculture in order to serve as sheriff, which office he still holds. . \dolph Knutson and his wife have a daughter. Ruth C., who is a year and a half old.
The two brothers affiliate with the republican party and .Alfred served as assessor of Badger township for three years and as justice of the peace for two years. He also did able and effective work as a member of the town council. Both brothers are stockholders in- the Farmers Elevator Company and in the Badger Telephone Com- pany, and affiliate with the Improved Order of Red Men, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Loyal Order of Moose, being also prominent in the Masonic order. They belong to the Lutheran church. Their relations have always been most harmonious and their partnership productive of good results. Both are active, pro- gressive and substantial business men with the ability to make their enterprises successful. They do not neglect their duties as citizens and though they are only thirty-five years of age, have gained distinct prosperity which promises well for greater future attainment.
LOUIS W. NEWDECK.
The agricultural and stock-raising interests of Webster county found an able and successful representative in the late Louis W. Newdeck, who owned and operated eight hundred and eighty acres of land in Douglas township. He was born in St. Anthony. now East Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 3d of May, 1852. Ilis parents were Louis and Catherine (Wolf) Newdeck, natives of Germany, the father's birth having occurred in Wurtemberg on
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Christmas day, 1821, and that of the mother in Westphalia, on the 7th of December, 1826. Louis Newdeck emigrated to the United States in 1842, first locating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From there he went to Illinois, where he engaged in the cattle business, following which he conducted a dry-goods store in Stillwater, Minnesota. He subsequently became identified with the lumber interests of St. Anthony, that state, being one of the pioneer settlers of that vicinity. At the time of the Indian uprising in 1862, he joined Anson Northrup's company organized among the settlers, remaining in the service until the natives were sub- dued and peace was once more restored. The next year he crossed the plains to Helena, Montana, where he established a cattle ranch. He remained there until the spring of 1864, when he returned to Minnesota, but he later went back to the west, and was killed by the Indians while crossing the plains with a load of provisions for a mining camp in the gold fields of Idaho. He was long survived by the mother, who died on the 14th of April, 1881.
The boyhood and youth of Louis W. Newdeck were passed in his native state, his education being obtained in the public schools of Minneapolis. He was a promising and capable youth, and in 1870, at the age of eighteen years began his business career in Duluth, Minnesota, where he owned and conducted a meat market for a year. At the expiration of that time he went to Austin, Minnesota, and there engaged in the same business until 1872, when he removed to Red Wing, Minnesota. He conducted a meat market in the latter place for nine years with very good suc- cess, and at the end of that period went to Minneapolis, where he engaged extensively in the meat and cattle business until 1887. In the latter year he came to Webster county and pur- chased eight hundred and eighty acres of fertile land in Douglas township. The remainder of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising in both of which activities he met with more than an average degree of success. He bred Polled Angus cattle, his herd numbering two hundred head, French coach horses and Poland China hogs, all high-grade stock. He was widely known throughout this part of the state as a stockman, and had one of the best developed and equipped farms in the county. He was a tireless worker, possessed more than average foresight and sagacity in recognizing business opportunities and was endowed with the diligence and enterprise that enabled him
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to successfully develop anything he undertook. From early youth he led a life of marked activity, and as his powers were capably organized and intelligently directed he prospered in the promotion of his interests.
On the 9th of October, 1878, Mr. Newdeck was married to Miss Clara O. Eames, a daughter of Captain Obadiah and Mary ( Bige- low) Eames. The father was born in 1824 and died in 1881, while the mother's birth occurred in 1837 and her death in 1904. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Newdeck, Winnie E., Louis M., Harry W., Mabel C. and Gertrude M.
Mr. Newdeck was prominently connected with the Masonic fraternity, and in matters of religious faith he was a Methodist, his widow and children also being identified with this church. In politics he was a stanch democrat. Mr. Newdeck was one of the foremost agriculturists of the county, in the progress and development of which he took an active and helpful interest, belonging to that class of men, who in the development of their personal interests, never lose sight of their duties as citizens.
MRS. EMMA ROY.
Mrs. Emma Roy, who has been postmaster of Moorland since 1910, has made her home in Webster county for over thirty- two years. She is a native of Missouri, her birth having occurred in St. Louis in August, 1864. She is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Kerns) O'Melia, who were born in Ireland. The father . emigrated to the United States in early life, locating in St. Louis, and was employed on steamboats plying on the Mississippi river until 1866. In that year, he decided to seek his fortune in the gold fields of California, and leaving his family in St. Louis went to San Francisco. There he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring about 1870. He is survived by his widow, who is seventy-one years of age and makes her home with her daugh- ter, in Moorland.
The first sixteen years in the life of Mrs. Roy were passed in St. Louis, her education being obtained in the public schools. In 1880, she and her mother removed to Webster county, which has since been their place of residence.
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In the month of December, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Emma O'Melia to James Roy, a son of Peter and Mary (O'Neil) Roy, natives of Canada. Of this marriage were born two children: Frank, who is twenty-four years of age and a resi- dent of Chicago; and Louise, who is twenty-two years of age, a trained nurse of Des Moines, Iowa.
In religious faith the family are Roman Catholics. Mrs. Roy is a capable woman and has many friends in Moorland, where for two years she has held the office of postmaster, discharging her duties in a highly creditable manner.
WILFRED E. ALTON, M. D.
. A progressive and enterprising mind scientifically inclined, a thor- ough knowledge of surgery in all its intricacies, the power of deep and continuous study and a firm faith in the present and ultimate use- fulness of life are the qualities which make Dr. Wilfred E. Alton a prominent and efficient physician. He is now practicing with rapidly increasing success in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he is well known as a representative member of his profession. He was born in Monroe county, Wisconsin, December 4, 1863. His father, Joseph Alton, was a member of a prominent family of that name, whose ancestral home is in Athelstan, England. He was born on the ocean, the son of an officer in the English navy. He went to New York with his parents when he was still a child and was educated in the public schools of the state. When he laid aside his books he immediately engaged in agricultural pursuits, residing for a short time in New York, but subsequently removed to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1872. In that year he went to Minnesota and settled on a farm which he operated, improved and cultivated with much success until his death, in March, 1906, at the age of eighty-six years. He took part in the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-third Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, serving for one year, after which he re- ceived his honorable discharge. He was an active participant in the engagement with the Indians which has since become known as the Spirit Lake massacre. In all the relations of life Joseph Alton was distinguished by thorough honesty and integrity of purpose and his death caused widespread and genuine regret. His wife, Matilda
WE Alton MIT,
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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1 X AND FOUNDATIONS.
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( Barrett ) Alton, whose birth occurred in New York state, died in June. 1904, two years before the demise of her husband.
Dr. „Alton was nine years of age when his parents removed to Minnesota. He received his primary education in the public schools of that state and made use of every opportunity to expand his knowl- edge. He was graduated from the Wadena high school and imme- diately entered the State University of Minnesota. He engaged in teaching school from 1886 until 1890. It was his desire to become a member of the medical profession but he did not receive paternal sanction to this plan. His father on the contrary wished him to be- come a farmer and offered him a section of land if he would remain at home. He felt, however, that his opportunity was in the other direction and refused to devote himself to agricultural pursuits. The fact that his father would not give him a cent to aid him in prepar- ing for practice did not cause him to lose heart. He knew that others had been able to make their way through college unaided and re- solved that he would also do so. In 1891 he began his studies and in 1896 was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical Col- lege. During the last year his living eost him on an average of nine cents per day. He brought to his early studies in medicine a keen and intelligent interest in the profession which he intended to adopt, marked sympathy with the sick and suffering and broad humanitarian principles. These qualities guided his actions and influenced his ca- reer. When he laid aside his text-books to enter upon his profes- sion he located at Estherville, Iowa. From 1896 to 1899 he remained in that city and built up during these years an enviable practice, to which he gave his entire time and attention. He came to Fort Dodge in 1899 and has been one of the prominent and successful physicians in this city since that time. Dr. . Alton has at all times realized his responsibility to the people whom he serves, and, desiring to advance his professional attainments, in 1898 he entered the Chicago Poly- clinic, pursuing a post-graduate course in medicine until 1901 and doing advanced special work in pathology under the able instruction of the head of the surgical staff of that school. In his practice he has specialized to some extent in surgery. He was chief of the surgical staff of the Webster City Hospital until 1905, when he became a member of the surgical staff of the new St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Hahne- mann Medical Societies of Chicago and Iowa, and his name is well known in all of these organizations.
Vol. 11-10
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On March 10, 1898, Dr. Alton was united in marriage to Miss Jennie A. Salisbury, a daughter of O. A. and Vestalina (Kenyon) Salisbury. The parents were natives of New York and went to Wisconsin in the early days of its settlement. In 1888 they removed to Estherville, Iowa, where the father took a prominent part in busi- ness and political circles until his death in 1905. He was a justice of the peace for many years, making a most creditable record in that connection. His wife is now living in the family home at Esther- ville and has reached the seventy-sixth year of her age.
Politically Dr. Alton gives his allegiance to the prohibition party and is always ready to give his support to its principles. He is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the Knights of Pythias. He affiliates with the Order of Red Men and belongs to the Royal Arcanum and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church in Fort Dodge, actively connected with religious work.
Although deeply interested in his profession, Dr. Alton has not allowed medical practice to narrow his mind into a set groove. There is hardly any field of municipal or commercial activity in Fort Dodge in which his name is not prominent, and his reputation as a busi- ness man is second only to his prominence as a physician. He owns two thousand acres of land in Florida and an extensive ranch in Ore- gon. He has invested in Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa farms and his ventures have always been successful because they have been judi- ciously made. He owns the beautiful residence in which he resides at No. 1217 Fourth avenue. North, Fort Dodge, and has extensive in- terests in local industrial enterprises. He is a stockholder in the Iowa Foundry & Machine Company, in the Lehigh Clay Manufacturing Company and the Armony Company. He is distinguished in his professional and business life by activity, industry and unwavering integrity. While he has applied himself closely to the practice of medicine and to the conduct of important commercial interests, he has also recognized the fact that the nature of a man's recreation is al- most as important as the nature of his vocation and has given such time to pleasures as to maintain an even balance with his professional and business activity. He is an enthusiastic boatsman and has nearly completed one of the largest motor boats ever built in Iowa. It is a torpedo type cabin cruiser with staterooms which accommodate twelve people and it is one of the most completely equipped vessels of its kind in the middle west. Dr. Alton contemplates making a trip down the Mississippi to the gulf and is looking forward to this
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vacation with enthusiasm and eagerness. His friends are numbered in every rank of life in Fort Dodge and his life is influenced by genial friendliness and by his recognition of the truth of universal brother- hood.
JOHN H. EASTMAN.
In 1898 John H. Eastman came to Barnum and opened the first bank in that village, founding it upon standards of conscientiousness and honor and gaining his reward in quick success. He is well known in local financial circles as a prosperous private banker, being identi- fied with the conduct of his original enterprise. He was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, December 22, 1865, and is a son of Ransom and Phoebe (Crain) Eastman, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. The father went to Wisconsin at an early date and remained in that state for some time, going later to Minnesota, where he purchased land. He improved and operated his farm until his death, which occurred in the spring of 1867. His wife later married W. G. Rundell, who followed farming for some time but later operated a stave factory in Fillmore, Minnesota. . After four years he engaged in the egg and poultry business in Spring Valley. in the same state, and for eight or ten years was successful in this enterprise. He then moved to South Haven, Michigan, where he owns and operates a fine fruit farm. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted at the time of President Lincoln's second call for volunteers in Company C, Third Minnesota Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He is now seventy-six years of age and is still active and successful.
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