USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 8
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ities had ceased he went to Washington, D. C., and was there dis- charged. He immediately returned to St. Louis and was active in the banking business for many years. He was widely known as an honorable, sagacious and conservative financier, whose activities were largely responsible for the growth of the institution with which he was connected. He gained a reputation in St. Louis for the sound and concise policies, along which his banking transactions were con- ducted, and no breath of suspicion was ever connected with his name. He died on November 1, 1861, after an illness of only five days. He left behind him a wife and three children to mourn his loss.
Mr. Carter's marriage occurred December 14, 1854. His wife in her maidenhood bore the name of Mary Rhodes, who was born in Virginia, February 9, 1835. She is a daughter of Hillary and Marion (Carter) Rhodes, who were prominent residents of Virginia, in which state her mother died when Mrs. Carter was eight years of age. After her death the husband and family removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where the daughter Mary was reared and educated. Mary Rhodes was married in that city and after her husband's death removed with her children to Fort Dodge, Iowa, traveling here by stage coach at a time when there were no railroads. In 1865 she bought the beautiful home of Dr. Pease on the corner of Fourth street and Fifth avenue, which was the residence of this first and well known physician in Fort Dodge. She resided here until 1881, when she rented her prop- erty and removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where she made her home until May, 1896. At the end of that time, however, she returned to Fort Dodge, and again took up her home in the old residence in this city, where she is now living. The house may well be termed one of the historical buildings in the city. It was built in 1857 and the brick for this building, which was one of the imposing structures of its day, had to be hauled by wagon from Dubuque, Iowa. The house was built for the purpose of a doctor's of- fice but it was also the home of other tenants which are of more or less interest to the general public. While the first courthouse was in course of construction and pending its erection, court was held in the upper story of the house and at the same time a basement room was used as the postoffice. In another part of the lower story was conducted the only drug store existing at that time in the city. The house even today, after standing over fifty years, is in an excellent state of preservation and here Mrs. Carter still makes her home. The site where it stands is that of old Fort Dodge and the band stand in the city park now occupies land where the old parade grounds were,
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while the new Wauhkonsa school stands on the place where once the soldiers' mess house was. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Carter were the parents of three children, namely : Edwin S., who died in 1883 when he was twenty-five years of age; John F., who died December 22, 1911, after an illness of only six days with typhoid pneumonia, and who was a prominent and wealthy jeweler of Fort Dodge and pro- prietor of the Carter Jewelry Company, which enterprise his widow is now conducting ; and Anna S., who is residing with her mother.
Mrs. Carter and her daughter affiliate with St. Marks Episcopal church of Fort Dodge, and are well and favorably known in religious circles of that city. The prosperity which they now enjoy they owe to the efforts of Stewart Carter whose activities in financial circles of St. Louis resulted in his accumulation of a comforable fortune. The character of the work which he did during his life and the prominence of the place which he obtained were evidenced by the deep regret which attended his death. He won prosperity, but he was a man who valued the respect and esteem of his friends higher than business suc- cess, and was happy in the attainment of both ambitions.
MARY ALICE CAREY.
Mary Alice Carey is filling the position of county superintendent of schools and is making an excellent record in that connection. She has given proof of her ability as an educator and she keeps in close touch with the most advanced ideas on educational matters. A native of Hazelton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, she is a daughter of James and Mary ( McCabe) Carey, who were natives of Ireland, the former born in County Tipperary and the latter in County Cavan.
Mary Alice Carey was brought to Fort Dodge in early girlhood and has here spent the greater part of her life. She was educated in the parochial schools and was graduated from the Lady of Lourdes Acad- emy, in charge of the Sisters of Mercy. She then began teaching, having charge of a school in Buena Vista county, while later she be- came a teacher of Webster county, being identified with the work of the schools here for twenty-eight years. In this connection she made a creditable record, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowl- edge that she had acquired. She was appointed county superintendent of schools in September, 1909, to fill out the unexpired term of E. E. Cavanaugh, who resigned, and in 1910 she was elected to the office.
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She has always been interested in educational matters, seeking prog- ress along those lines, and she takes an active part in teachers' meet- ings. Her religious faith is that of the Catholic church. She be- longs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and is president of the Young Ladies's Sodality of Corpus Christi church.
ERNEST L. WEISS.
Ernest L. Weiss owns and cultivates a large farm in Cooper town- ship, Webster county, and by constant application has gained an en- viable degree of prosperity. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, where Maywood is now located, on the 14th of May, 1864, a son of F. L. and Reinhelda (Gunther) Weiss. The father came from Ger- many to America with his parents when he was but sixteen years of age. The family located in Cook county and in that early day fre- quently drove with ox teams to Chicago when there were only two stores in that city. The grandfather entered land in that vicinity and the father at one time owned the property upon which the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad tracks from Chicago to Maywood are now laid. He improved his farm and was engaged in operating it until- 1870, when he disposed of it and came to Webster county, Iowa. In this county he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Cooper town- ship at fifty dollars an acre and later added ten acres. He immediately began improving the property and was busily engaged in clearing and cultivating it until 1890. In that year he rented his property, retired and removed to Fort Dodge, where he resided until his death, which occurred May 25, 1893. The mother passed away in February, 1901.
Ernest L. Weiss acquired his education in the public schools of Fort Dodge. Being but six years of age when his parents removed here, he has spent almost his entire life within the confines of the county. Until his father retired and removed from his farm he re- mained at home. Afterward he rented the farm, which he operated until 1896, the year in which he purchased the home place .. His entire active career has been spent upon the farm and during that period he has been a most active factor in bringing its fields under a high state of cultivation and he has made many substantial improvements. Few farms in Cooper township present a more thrifty appearance. Not only is it all under a high state of cultivation but the buildings and machinery with which it is equipped are all of the most modern and
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improved kind. Mr. Weiss raises from fifty to ninety head of hogs each year and keeps about twenty-five head of cattle and eleven head of horses. He also cultivates one hundred and seven acres of rented land.
On the 24th of May, 1888, Mr. Weiss was married to Miss Bertha Weiss, a daughter of Ernest and Wilhelmina (Beecher) Weiss, natives of Germany. The father came direct to Webster county, Iowa, when he left his native land in 1876 and immediately accepted employment in the Coalville mines. For about five years he worked there before going to Humboldt county and purchasing forty acres of land, which he immediately began to improve. As he was financially able to do so, he purchased additional property and at one time he owned four hundred acres. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on the 14th of May, 1898. The mother's death occurred. January 13, 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Weiss five children have been born: Alma, who is the wife of the Rev. William Schaffer and resides in Martinsburg, Nebraska; Alvin, Walter and Emma, all at home; and Matilda, who is attending the German Lutheran school at Fort Dodge.
In his political views Mr. Weiss has long been a stalwart democrat and, though he has not been a politician in the sense of seeking office, he is ever loyal to the best interests of the community and has served as road supervisor of his township. He is a stockholder in the German Investment Company and also the Commercial National Bank of Fort Dodge. In his religious faith he is a Lutheran and he and his family hold membership in the 'German Lutheran church of Fort Dodge. Prominent in the county where he has resided for many years, he well deserves representation in this volume, for his social qualities have made him many friends, while his business record is creditable and enviable.
HUGH COLLINS.
Hugh Collins was among the early settlers of Webster county, taking up his abode in Jackson township in 1855. He was a native of Ireland and followed farming as his life occupation, passing away on the 9th of September, 1889, just two years after the death of his wife, Mrs. Catherine ( Russell) Collins. Their son, Michael H. Col- lins, is at the present time, cashier of the State Bank of Clare, which
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is one of the firmly established and conservative financial institutions of Webster county, with a paid up capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. Its officials all, are men of recognized business ability and well tried integrity whose honorable dealings and sound principles have won them the confidence of the community.
JOHN F. FORD.
John F. Ford is well known in business circles of Fort Dodge as proprietor of the Berryhill Book and Stationery Store and promi- nently identified with the public life of the city as the mayor of Fort Dodge. He was born in this city, on the 25th of November, 1864, his parents being Walter and Mary (Garvey) Ford, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father came to America in 1855, locat- ing immediately in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He spent a number of years as a teamster before he took up a claim in Pocahontas county, just across the line from Webster. For twenty years he was occupied in clearing and improving this property and during that time proved himself to be a most capable agriculturist. Disposing of his prop- erty, he removed to Clare, Webster county, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred in June, 1908. The mother passed away in 1883.
John F. Ford pursued his education in the public schools of Iowa and remained at home until he reached his majority. At that time he engaged in farming independently, purchasing property in Webster county. Until 1893 he gave his entire time and attention to cultivat- ing his farm and making it one of the most highly productive tracts in his section. In that year, however, he came to Fort Dodge and entered the county auditor's office as deputy. He served in that ca- pacity for six years. By the end of that time he had shown his abil- ity and he was elected auditor, an office which he held for six years. Prior to that time he had purchased an interest in the Berryhill Com- pany, dealers in stationery and office supplies. Consequently, upon leaving the auditor's office he entered the Berryhill Company and was made its manager. At a later date he purchased the entire stock and he is now conducting the store at Nos. 919-921 Central avenue. He deals exclusively in books and stationery and his accurate knowl- edge of his stock, combined with good business ability, has made his venture a success from the beginning and his investment a profitable one.
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On the 27th of September, 1893. Mr. Ford was married to Miss Nellie Howard, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Butler ) Howard, natives of Ireland, who came to America at an early day and located in Canada. The father's death occurred in that country and the mother removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where she was later married to Thomas Brennan, an agriculturist of Webster county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ford five children have been born, Howard, Ellen, Charlotte, Mary and Alice. .
Mr. Ford gives his support to the republican party and in March, 1911, was elected mayor of Fort Dodge under the commission plan of government. In religious faith he is a Catholic. He holds mem- bership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Wood- men of America, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. The Knights of Columbus and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a congenial, affable man, who by reason of his enterprise, persever- ance and business capacity has taken a prominent place among Fort Dodge's successful citizens.
THEULIOU'S MCNEELY.
Thenlions McNeely was born in Illinois, April 16, 1838, and died in Duncombe, Iowa, on January 9, 1910, in his seventy-second year. During his long life he had many claims to the respect and es- teem of his fellow citizens. He was an early settler in Webster coun- ty, a prominent and successful farmer and an honored veteran of the Civil war. His death was widely and deeply regretted, for his upright life and his high standards of conduct had gained him many friends. He was a resident of Webster county for over half a cen- tury, coming to Washington township in 1855 with his parents from Illinois. He was a son of James and Martha ( Broomhall ) McNeely, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. both of Irish ancestry. The father was a tailor by trade and worked at that occupation in Illinois for some years. Upon coming to Web- ster county he purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land in Washington township, which he improved and operated until his death in 1884. He was survived by his wife until the fall of 1893.
Theulious McNeely was reared and educated in Illinois and was sixteen years of age when he came to Iowa, and remained at home until January, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred
Julius 16 in Acity
THE NEW ! PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TI. D' N FOUNDATIONS.
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and Sixtieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. On September 19, of the fol- lowing year, at the battle of Iuka, Mississippi, he received a severe gun-shot wound and was soon afterward again disabled. On account of this he was disqualified for further service and returned home settling upon his father's farm. He remained at home until the father's death when he inherited the three hundred and twenty acres which constituted the homestead. He made many improvements upon the property and operated it until 1893, when he retired from active life. During the years in which he followed general farm- ing he gained a gratifying degree of success by always following mod- ern and progressive methods and keeping abreast of agricultural advancement. When he abandoned farming he moved to Dun- combe, where he erected a fine home in which he resided until his death, which occurred on January 9, 1910, after a few months' illness.
On December 26, 1859, Mr. McNeely was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia Serrissa Clark, a daughter of Joel and Betsy (Hill) Clark, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Massa- chusetts. Her father came to Webster county, Iowa, in 1855 and purchased eighty acres of land in Webster township, which he cul- tivated and improved for a number of years, later buying forty ad- joining acres. He engaged in general farming until the outbreak of the Civil war when he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Sixtieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving as fifer. He was later transferred to Company F, and was discharged after one year of service on account of sickness. He returned home and operated his farm in Webster county until his death which occurred in 1887. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. McNeely had an adopted son, William, who passed away in 1878 and also undertook the education of Mrs. McNeely's younger sister, who is deceased, but whose daughter is now making her home with the wife of our subject. She was in her maidenhood Miss Genie Ford, and is now the widow of William Spike.
In his political affiliations Mr. McNeely was a consistent dem- ocrat. He was honored by his fellow citizens by election to the mayor's chair and served in that important office for four years to the general satisfaction of the public, making a record of which he had every reason to be proud. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, his only fraternal affiliation. He was a de- vout adherent of the Methodist church, to which religion his wife also gives her allegiance. His death was the occasion of widespread Vol. II-6
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regret, for his life had been in all its relations useful and upright. He attained success gradually, working his way forward until he occupied a foremost position among the leading agriculturists of this section of the state, his life proving conclusively that success is the result of determination and honorable methods.
EUGENE M. DUNNING.
For nearly forty years Eugene Dunning, a resident of Fort Dodge. has been in the livery business in this city. He was born in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, November 21, 1846, a son of C. P. and Rachel G. (Gordineer) Dunning. The father was a native of Scotland and was one of the first settlers in Ripon, Wisconsin. He engaged in the livery and elevator business in that town for several years before re- moving to Chicago, where he resided until his death which occurred in 1901. The mother was a native of New York state and her death occurred in 1903. They are buried at Fort Dodge.
In the public schools of Ripon, Wisconsin, Eugene M. Dunning acquired his education. He resided there continuously until he was twenty-five years of age with the exception of the time he served in the Civil war. He enlisted in Company B, Forty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry at the age of fifteen years. After his return home he completed his education. At the age of twenty-five years he came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and engaged in the livery business. He had conducted a small establishment for seven years in Ripon and re- moved his stock here from that city. Because of his long connection with the business he is one of the most thorough horsemen and livery- men in Fort Dodge.
Mr. Dunning has been twice married. In 1871 he wedded Miss Josephine Ellis, a daughter of (). R. and Mattie ( Benedict ) Ellis. natives of New York state. To this union one child was born, Claude. now deceased. Mrs. Dunning's death occurred in 1887. In 1889 Mr. Dunning was married to Miss Addie Keltz, a daughter of Adam and Eliza ( Wilson) Keltz, natives of Pennsylvania but of Scotch de- scent. The father came to Boone, Iowa, at an early date, and edited a newspaper in that city. Subsequently he removed to Webster county. took up a claim and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1898. In that year he retired and removed to Fort Dodge, where he resided until he went to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to spend the winter. There he
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contracted smallpox which caused his death in 1900. The mother is living in Fort Dodge at the age of seventy-seven years. To Mr. Dunning's second union one child was born, Jean E., who is twenty years of age and is an accomplished musician, having for six years played clarinet in the Y. M. C. A orchestra and being leader of three organizations of that kind.
Mr. Dunning is a republican. He holds membership in the Ma- sonic lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Grand Army of the Republic and the Iowa Legion of Honor. Mrs. Dunning is affiliated with the Pres- byterian church and the daughter is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Dunning has a wide acquaintance in the city, where most of his life has been spent and where he has had such a long business career, and his strongly marked characteristics are such as commend him to the trust and friendship of his fellowmen.
DARWIN GREEN.
Darwin Green is successfully engaged in business as the junior mem- ber of the firm of Dawson & Green, conducting a mercantile establish- ment at Otho. His birth occurred in Joliet, Illinois, on the 13th of .Au- gust, 1863. his parents being Charles and Amanda (Gifford) Green, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father removed to Illinois at a very early date and there worked at the machinist and car- penter trades until 1869. In that year he drove across the country to Iowa, locating in Humboldt county, where he remained until the spring of 1870. At that time he took up his abode in Fort Dodge, Webster county, where he worked at his trade and was employed as pattern maker in a foundry. In 1885 he removed to Kalo and spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement, passing away in the home of our subject in April. 1898. For two decades he had sur- vived his wife, whose demise occurred on the 15th of April, 1878.
Darwin Green was reared and educated in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and after putting aside his text-books entered the service of the Rock Island Railroad. Subsequently he was employed as car checker by the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad for four years, on the expira- tion of which period that corporation sent him to Kalo as agent and operator. When the station at that point was closed he was sent to Otho in the same capacity and ably discharged the duties devolving
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upon him for about ten years. He then resigned his position and em- barked in the mercantile business in partnership with William Daw- son, with whom he has since remained as the junior member of the firm of Dawson & Green. They carry an extensive stock and enjoy a well merited patronage, winning and retaining customers by reason of their straightforward and honorable business dealings. Mr. Green and his partner own the store building and the former also has an attractive residence in Otho. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Otho and has long enjoyed an enviable reputa- tion as one of the prosperous and esteemed citizens of the community.
On the 22d of December, 1885, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Lottie E. Weaver, who was born at Morrison, Illinois, in August, 1864, her parents being Benjamin and Wealthy (Johnson) Weaver, natives of Pennsylvania and Vermont, respectively. The fa- ther was of German descent, while the mother is of Scotch lineage. At a period when the Indians still inhabited this part of the country Benjamin Weaver journeyed to Illinois, taking up his abode at Ful- ton. He there worked at the carpenter's trade for a number of years and subsequently removed to Morrison, Illinois, where he passed away in February, 1901. His widow, who has attained the age of seventy-eight years, makes her home with her children.
Darwin Green is a republican and loyally supports the men and measures of that party. From 1903 until 1911 he served as post- master of Otho in a satisfactory and commendable manner. His re- ligious faith is that of the Methodist church, while fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He is popular both in business and social life and gains the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes into contact.
J. AUGUST LINDQUIST.
J. August Lindquist is engaged in the men's clothing business in Gowrie, of which he is one of the enterprising and successful busi- ness men. He was born, March 6, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary (Ahlstrand) Lindquist, natives of Sweden, where the father died when the subject of this review was a child. The mother with the surviving members of her family emigrated to America in June, 1865, and settled in Henry county, Illinois. She was later united in
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marriage to an uncle of our subject. Her second husband is a veteran of the Civil war and now resides in Dayton, Iowa. The mother died in Henry county in 1873.
J. August Lindquist was reared in his mother's home and received his early education in the public schools in Illinois. After his school days he was engaged at work on a farm in Illinois until 1881. In September, of that year, he took up work with his uncle, who was engaged in the general mercantile business, and continued in that occupation until 1889. He then obtained the position as cashier in the Webster County State Bank and remained in that position for two and one-half years, after which time he returned to the general mer- chandising business of his uncle, with whom he remained for one year, when the business was sold to Hoff Brothers. He remained with the new firm for one year. In 1894 he established himself in the cloth- ing business in Gowrie, to which he has since continued to devote his attention. He operates his business under the firm name of Lind- quist Brothers.
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