USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 18
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A. M. DAW LEY.
A. M. Dawley was the builder of the first frame house in Fort Dodge and with the history of the city in its upbuilding and devel- opment he was closely associated as the years passed on. He saw the possibilities here and utilized them not only for his own benefit but for the welfare of the community at large, and his name is, therefore, inseparably interwoven with the records of Webster county. Ile was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, March 10. 1830, and was one of a family of three sons and a daughter, whose parents were Thomas and Eliza ( Hook) Dawley, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father was a merchant and was identified with commercial interests in Virginia until he deter- mined to remove to Ohio, becoming one of the early settlers of the latter state. In pioneer times he would raft his goods down
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the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans and he lost his life while on one of those trips when his children were very small. His wife survived him many years and it was in the late '6os when she was called to her final rest. Their children were John, Thomas, A. M. and Catharine Dawley.
A. M. Dawley was reared to manhood in his native state and supplemented his early education acquired in the public schools by a course in Mann College, being graduated from the law department. About 1852 he removed to Granville, Illinois, and in February, 1855, was there married. In March, of the same year, he brought his bride to Iowa, settling in Fort Dodge. He brought with him a stock of dry goods and opened a store in a log cabin a block west of the present site of the Duncombe Hotel, which was also his place of residence for a few weeks. He built the first frame house in Fort Dodge on the present site of the Duncombe Hotel, hauling the lumber from Boone. The family occupied that place for about two years and afterward the house was moved to the eastern outskirts of the town, where it still stands. It was later found, while excavating for another build- ing, that the house originally stood on an Indian graveyard, which was not known, however, at the time, but in excavating many bones of the Indians were exhumed. In 1857 Mr. Dawley erected a large brick residence where the K. C. building now stands and following his demise his widow built a large frame residence ad- joining. He passed away in 1885 and this frame building was erected in 1886. It now stands on South Tenth street, just south of the Wahconsa Hotel.
It was on the 8th of February. 1855, that Mr. Dawley was married to Miss Ellen Parker, who was born in Calais, Maine. March 31. 1833. a daughter of Dr. Charles and Susan (White) Parker. Her father was born in Livermore, Maine, and was a son of James and Phoebe Parker. the former a soldier of the Revolutionary war. In his family there were eight children. namely: James, Jesse, Simon, Charles, Benjamin, Nancy, Sarah and Phoebe. Dr. Charles Parker was for many years a practicing physician at Calais, Maine. He afterward removed to Houghton, Maine, and subsequently lived at Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1882, when more than seventy years of age. His wife had passed away in 1835, when in young womanhood. They were members of the Universalist church and they had two chil- dren, the elder daughter being Augusta, the wife of Horatio
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Sprague, now a resident of Prairie View, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Dawley were born four sons. Frank, the eldest, is an able lawyer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He married Margaret Elizabeth Jacobs, of Fort Dodge, and they have four children, Fred, Cath- arine, Marion and Frances. Charles, the second son of the family, is a court reporter of Chicago. He married Renette E. Love, of DeKalb, Illinois, and they have a daughter, Helen. Fred, the third of the family, died at the age of six years. Harry passed away at Tucson, Arizona, when thirty-six years of age.
The death of the husband and father occurred in Washington, D. C., on the 24th of February, 1885, when he was about fifty-five years of age. He and his wife had traveled life's journey happily together for about thirty years. They held membership in the Universalist church and always displayed sterling qualities of character. Mr. Dawley was the first justice of the peace in Fort Dodge and was appointed register of the United States land of- fice at Fort Dodge in 1869 and filled the position until the follow- ing year. He practiced law here for many years, becoming recognized as an able and learned attorney, and he also developed and improved a farm three miles north of Fort Dodge, although he did not make his home thereon. The last years of his life were spent in aiding to secure legislation for the Des Moines river land settlers and this kept him the greater part of the time in Wash- ington, D. C. The River Land Bill for which he had labored so persistently finally passed the house of representatives the day before his death. He was a forcible public speaker, strong in his convictions, patriotic and fearless in his citizenship and a man of great force of character. He correctly judged life and its opportunities and made good use of his time and talents not only for the benefit of himself but also for others.
WILLIAM H. H. COLBY.
William II. H. Colby is one of the leading business men of Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he conducts a livery business on an extensive scale. He was born in Vermont, March 18, 1840, and is a son of Harrison and Mary Colby, who were natives of that state. The father was prominent and successful in the hotel business in Vermont for many years and his prosperity followed
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him when he moved to Wisconsin. He remained in that state for some time, going to Iowa in the '70s. He located in Fort Dodge and resided in this city until his death. He was one of the representative citizens of the community and his activities in the promotion of the Fort Ridgeley Railroad have had an influential result upon the civic prominence of Fort Dodge. He died in 1885 and was survived by his wife for one year, her death occurring in 1886.
William H. H. Colby went to school in Wisconsin and followed the usual course of public instruction. He remained with his parents until his marriage in 1859, when he started in active life for himself in the livery and hotel business at Sun Prairie, Wis- consin. This venture was successful and was later followed by a general merchandise store at Token Creek, Wisconsin, in the operation of which Mr. Colby acted for his father and was suc- cessful in conserving his interests. In 1870 he removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and here engaged in the livery and lumber business upon the same site which he now occupies in his present activities. He has never left this location and has become one of the pros- perous and successful men of Fort Dodge. He has gradually dis- continued the lumber department of his enterprise and devotes his entire attention to the livery and transfer branch. His busi- ness has increased phenomenally and the enterprise which was begun upon a small and humble scale has now evolved into one of the largest of its kind in the city. He has recently erected a new brick building to give him increased capacity for his business transactions and has been an important factor in municipal de- velopment. He has devoted his time almost exclusively to com- mercial pursuits and his energies, directed along well controlled and economic lines, have resulted in a gratifying degree of pros- perity. Although he is absorbed in business he is nevertheless a loyal citizen of Fort Dodge and his cooperation is never asked in vain in any movement looking toward its future prosperity and prominence.
Mr. Colby was married at the age of nineteen in Token Creek. Wisconsin, to Miss Emma E. Spaulding. a daughter of George H. and Mary (Lawrence) Spaulding, both natives of Vermont. The father was a prominent hotel proprietor and farmer in Token Creek for many years. After his wife's death he retired from commercial pursuits and made his home in Fort Dodge with his son-in-law, the subject of this sketch, with whom he remained
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until his death, which occurred in 1874. To Mr. and Mrs. Colby have been born two children: Fred G., now a bookkeeper in his father's establishment; and Nellie, the wife of Arthur Keys, of Santiago, California. On October 10, 1911, Mrs. Colby was sud- denly stricken with paralysis and passed away on October 13. I9II, after fifty-two years of happy married life.
Politically Mr. Colby is a republican but has never sought public office, although he casts his ballot at each election and takes an intelligent interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Masonic order but this constitutes his only fraternal af- filiation. He prefers to keep his attention concentrated on the conduct of his business, believing that in commercial prosperity along worthy lines and in an exemplary private life true success and happiness lie.
CLEMMON L. GRANGER.
Among the enterprising business men of Fort Dodge whose efforts have been freely expended in promoting the development of the town must be mentioned the late Clemmon L. Granger, who contributed generously of both his time and money and worked tirelessly to advance the interests of the community.
He was born at Mount Clemens, Michigan, February II, 1850, and is a son of Sylvester and Mary (Vernie) Granger. The father was born and reared in the state of New York and was of English extraction, while the mother was born in Michigan and was of French descent. Agricultural pursuits always en- gaged the energies of Sylvester Granger, who removed with his family from Michigan to Indiana in 1860, locating at Crown Point, where he and the mother passed the remainder of their lives.
The education of Clemmon L. Granger was begun in the com- mon schools of his native state and completed in a private acad- emy at Crown Point. In his early manhood he went to Belle- ville, Illinois, as local representative of the McCormick Manufac- turing Company of Chicago. Later he was made general agent for this company in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. serving in this capacity for three years. In 1879, he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and established an implement and seed store on the public square, where the Granger Company is now located.
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He was associated with the late George F. Wise for three years, the business being conducted under the firm name of Granger & Wise. Later he formed a partnership with Peter M. Mitchell, also deceased, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work, and for fifteen years the store was conducted under the name of Granger & Mitchell. For three years C. E. Brown now of Sioux City, Iowa, was financially interested in the enter- prise and during that time it was operated under the name of C. L. Granger & Company. Mr. Granger continued to be actively identified with this business until his death, which occurred at the Passavant Hospital, Chicago, April 6, 1900. He met with good success and had built up a nice patronage, being favorably known throughout the agricultural sections of the entire county.
At Crown Point. Indiana, on the 4th of October, 1875. Mr. Granger was united in marriage to Miss Alice A. Willey, a daughter of George and Cynthia (Nash) Willey. The father was a native of Connecticut and when a small lad came to Madison county, New York, with his parents. There he was reared to manhood and subsequently met and married Miss Nash, a native of Madison county and a member of an old colonial family, many of her ancestors having participated in the Revolution. Mr. Willey began life as a farmer, but he subsequently studied law and also engaged in the real-estate business. In the early years of their domestic life he and his wife removed to Indiana, settling in Lake county, and there both passed away. Mrs. Granger, who is of English extraction in both the paternal and maternal lines, was given the advantages of good schooling and attended both the high school at Crown Point and a young ladies' semi- nary, where she completed her education.
When first granted the right of franchise upon attaining his majority, Mr. Granger voted the democratic ticket, but he later transferred his allegiance to the republican party, whose candi- dates he thereafter supported. He was always one of the fore- most men in the community and took an active and helpful in- terest in all municipal affairs. His fellow townsmen manifested their appreciation of his services by electing him mayor of the city on five different occasions. That he discharged the duties of this office with efficiency and in a manner highly satisfactory to the community at large is evidenced by the period of his service. He was mayor when the city voted for bonds for the installation of a waterworks system and he was likewise the incumbent of
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this office when the street railway franchise was granted. In the discharge of his official duties he exhibited the spirit of prog- ress and enterprising methods that characterized him as a busi- ness man, and worked tirelessly in his efforts to promote the development of the various public utilities. He was not identified with any church but attended the Presbyterian, of which Mrs. Granger is a member, and fraternally he was affiliated with Ashlar Lodge, No. 11I, A. F. & A. M .: Calvary Commandery. No. 24, K. T .; and Fort Dodge Lodge, No. 248, A. O. C. W. Although twelve years have elapsed since the passing away of Mr. Granger, his personality was too strongly impressed upon the community in the development of which he had been a dom- inant factor, for him to be readily forgotten, while the various public utilities he assisted in promoting stand as monuments com- memorating his services to the city.
SENATOR FREDERIC LARRABEE.
It has long been an almost universally accepted fact that the professional man cannot win success along agricultural or com- mercial lines, that the qualities which fit him for one of the learned professions are not in harmony with the demands of the farm, the shop or the counting house. The record of Senator Frederic Larrabee, however, shows that the keen discrimination and ana- lytical power which make him an able representative of the bar also enable him to successfully solve intricate business problems, and farming and stock-raising constitute an important source of his revenue in addition to his operations in real estate and his practice of law. Moreover, his fellow citizens recognize him as one well qualified for political leadership, so that he is now repre- senting the twenty-seventh district, comprising Calhoun and Webster counties, in the upper house of the general assembly He was born in Clermont, Iowa. November 3. 1873, and comes of New England ancestry. He is a son of ex-Governor William Larrabee, one of the honored pioneers and builders of the com- monwealth of Iowa, of whom further mention is made on another page of this work. His paternal grandfather was Adam Larrabee. a native of Connecticut, who was of English lineage but more remotely of French descent. He served as a soldier with the
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American troops in the War of 1812, holding the rank of lieutenant, and a wound which he sustained in an engagement hastened his death. Lieutenant Larrabee was a graduate of West Point and made a creditable record during his military service. The ma- ternal grandfather of Senator Larrabee was Gustave Adolphus Appelman, who married Ann Williams. Both were natives of Connecticut and Mr. Appelman was of German descent, while his wife was of Welsh lineage. They were pioneer settlers of Clayton county.
Frederic Larrabee was a pupil in the public schools of Cler- mont, Iowa, and afterward attended the State University, being graduated from the collegiate department in 1897 and from the law department in 1898. He afterward pursued a special course at Columbia University. Throughout his life he has been a student not only of professional problems but also of the great economic, political and sociological questions which claim the attention of the statesman and the thinking man of the age. He became a resident of Fort Dodge in 1901 and has since that time here engaged in the practice of law and in the real-estate business. He is also interested in stock-raising and farming, breeding and handling thoroughbred cattle. He has large landed interests, owning several farms in the state which prove good sources of income to him. He is likewise interested in the Iowa Savings Bank and several banking and other business institutions. His property in- cludes land in northern Iowa and a farm in Cooper township, Webster county, south of the Fort Dodge city limits, he and his brother Charles owning there four hundred acres. Upon that place they raise Brown Swiss cattle, their father having brought the first herd of Brown Swiss cattle into the state. He selected these as the breed best adapted to climatic and other conditions in northern Iowa and since that time the name of Larrabee has been connected with the breeding and raising of cattle on an extensive scale.
Senator Frederic Larrabee has always been a republican, in- terested in the growth and success of the party and doing all in his power to further its interests. In 1908 he was elected to repre- sent the twenty-seventh district in the state senate, of which he is now an active member, making a creditable record by in- dorsement of the measures which he deems essential and valuable in promoting the welfare of the state. He has among his warm friends many of Iowa's most distinguished citizens and he, at all
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times, commands the high regard and confidence of those with whom he associates. He was a member of Company G, Iowa National Guard, served as its first lieutenant and was connected with the state militia for about six years as an officer. He acted first as lieutenant and later as battalion adjutant of the Fifty-sixth Regiment and is widely known in military as well as in other circles throughout the state. His ability and fidelity have placed him in a position of public trust where he is accorded the honor and respect of his fellowmen.
REV. FRANCIS FAWKES.
Rev. Francis Fawkes is living retired in Otho after a period of active service as a Congregational minister, embracing almost fifty years of useful and forceful work in the cause of religious expansion. He is one of the most widely known and prominent clergymen in Otho township, where he has resided for almost half a century and where his sincere, earnest and useful life has gained him many friends. Mr. Fawkes is a native of England, born December 20, 1838, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Austin) Fawkes, natives of that country. The father was a weaver of woolen cloth in England and later spent ten years in the govern- ment employ, working in a dockyard. Ile remained in his native country until 1867 and then came to America, settling near Du- buque, Iowa, where he purchased a tract of timber land and began its improvement and cultivation. This farm he operated during the summer months for a number of years, working in the lead ore mines through the winter. He was finally obliged to retire on account of old age and took up his residence in Dubuque, where he lived until after the death of his wife, which occurred in 1892. In 1893 he came to Otho and made his home with the subject of this review until his death, in 1896.
Rev. Francis Fawkes was twenty-five years of age when he came to America. He had received a limited education in Eng- land, laying aside his books when he was thirteen years of age. being compelled at that time to earn his own livelihood. He has, however, improved his leisure by constant and well selected read- ing and is now one of the most cultured and educated gentlemen in Webster county. . At thirteen years of age he went to work in
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a woolen cloth factory and for four years labored arduously in this employment. Afterward he obtained a position in the gov- ernment naval depot in the county of Kent and later secured work in a drug store in that vicinity, where he remained for eight years. In March, 1864, he came to America and settled in Dubuque, coming later to Wisconsin, to an uncle, where he lo- cated near Mineral Point. After some weeks' temporary resi- dence in that section he returned to Dubuque, settling there for the second time in May, 1864. He obtained a position in a local drug store and for two years retained his connection with this enterprise. During all of these various removals he read and studied constantly and soon gained a liberal education. He de- lights in recalling his early struggles for the acquirement of learning and when asked from what school he was graduated, answers that he obtained his degree from a drug store. He was influenced in joining the ministry by Dr. Guernsey, head of the Congregational missionary work, and after his ordination became active as a missionary in Iowa. For three and one-half years he worked in Durango and . then received a call from a church at Dows, where he remained for four years. His first residence in Otho dates from 1873 and here he remained for five years, preach- ing the gospel and doing other important missionary work. At the end of that time his health failed and he was obliged to give up active labor. Returning to Dubuque, he purchased a farm and operated it for twelve years with the object of regaining his shattered health by constant labor out of doors. His activities served the purpose for which they were intended and in 1890 he returned to Otho, where for fifteen years he was active in all kinds of ministerial work. At the end of that time his hearing and eyesight became poor and he was obliged to retire from the min- istry, although he still maintains his residence in Otho. He owns a fine eighty acre farm two miles from town and two fine resi- dence lots in the village and upon one of these he has built a modern and comfortable home in which he lives. For almost half a century he has worked for the spread of the doctrines in which he sincerely believes and his life, although quiet and unassuming, has been a potent factor of their widespread acceptance. His retirement is a well earned rest after arduous and faithful labor and was made necessary by failing health.
Mr. Fawkes was married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth Fawkes and they had one son. Frank H., who is agent for the Northwest-
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ern Mutual Life Insurance Company at Pasadena, California. Mr. Fawkes' first wife died in 1868 and in the following year he wedded Miss Susan R. Woodhouse, a daughter of William and Ann (Boyd) Woodhouse, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Kentucky. To this union were born seven children, Harriet G., Clement W., Sarah R., Edith A., Nora M., Ernest W., and Otis, whose death occurred in 1874. Of the six who survive all are married except Ernest. Mrs. Fawkes was struck by light- ning on July 4. 1883, and instantly killed. In November, 1890. Mr. Fawkes was again married, his third wife being Miss Mar- garet W. Martin, a daughter of James and Janet (Lyon) Martin, natives of Scotland. The father was a farmer in his native coun- try and continued in that occupation all his life. He died in Scot- land in 1859 and his wife died there in 1875. Five of their children at different times came to the United States, all settled in Webster county and are married. Mrs. Fawkes was born in Scotland in October, 1839.
Mr. Fawkes gives his allegiance to the prohibition party and is an active worker in this organization. He is a fine example of a sincere, earnest, unselfish and industrious clergyman. Per- sonal advancement has never entered into his plan of life and his professions of faith are supported by good works and charities which make him an influence in the promotion of the universal religion of kindness and good-will.
HENRY H. BALDWIN.
Henry H. Baldwin is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, who now, after many years of successful attention to his chosen vocation as a printer, is living retired at Fort Dodge, Webster county, Iowa, where he has spent the major portion of the active business years of his life. He was born on Orange Mountain, New Jersey, February 10, 1843, and is a son of Lemuel and Rachel (Perry) Baldwin, the former of whom was born in Orange, New Jersey, in 1806. The mother was a native of New Jersey and was related to Commodore Perry, of Lake Erie fame in the War of 1812. The father, of English descent, removed with his family to Columbus, Ohio, and there established his home in 1845, where he died in July, 1856.
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Henry H. Baldwin was reared in his parents' home and re- ceived his elementary education in the public schools of Columbus, Ohio. At the close of his school years he became an apprenticed printer on the Ohio State Journal and in that occupation he con- tinued until the opening of the Civil war. He then enlisted at Columbus, Ohio, in Company H, Eighty-fifth Ohio Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, and at once went with his command to Camp Chase, where his company was employed in guard duty at the federal prison. He was among the early volunteers who re- sponded to President Lincoln's call for thirty-day men and at the expiration of his three months of service he went to Cambridge, Illinois, to which place his mother had removed, and there en- listed in Company C, of the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and continued as a soldier in the field until the close of the war. His command campaigned through the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, dur- ing which time his regiment was detailed for six months as mounted infantry. He was then transferred to Company F, of the Sixty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. A few of the engage- ments in which Mr. Baldwin took part during his life as a soldier were the battles of Knoxville, Dallas, Peachtree, Atlanta, New Hope Church, Ezra Church, the Franklin and Nashville cam- paigns, the battle of Town Creek and the capture of Fort .Ander- son. His command then joined Sherman at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and immediately following the surrender of Johnston the regiment went into permanent camp at Greensboro, North Carolina, where it remained until the subject of this review was mustered out of service in July, 1865. His command was detained in Greensboro for the purpose of restoring civil government in that part of North Carolina, and thus failed to participate in the grand review of veterans at Washington. Company C, of the One Hundred and Twelfth Volunteer Infantry, of which the sub- ject of this review was a member, belonged to the Third Brigade, Third Division of the Twenty-third Corps of the Army of the Ohio. At the close of the war Mr. Baldwin returned to Illinois and located at Cambridge, at which place he celebrated his mar- riage in 1865. Two years later he established his home at Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he accepted the position of foreman of the composing room on the Fort Dodge Messenger, and in various positions he continued until 1911, at which time he severed his connection with the printing business and retired from active life.
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