USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 17
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J. R. RUNTON.
J. R. Runton, one of the successful agriculturists and early set- tlers of Ross township, where he has resided continuously for the past thirty-seven years, is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land on section 21. His birth occurred in England on the 6th of August, 1849, his parents being David and Elizabeth (Suggitt) Runton, who were likewise natives of that country. In 1856 they emigrated to the United States and after spending one winter in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, took up their abode at Apple River, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where they resided throughout the remainder of their lives. The father was a carpenter
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by trade. His demise occurred when he had attained the age of fifty-eight years, while the mother was sixty-seven years old when called to her final rest. Both were faithful members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Their children were three in number, as follows: Dora, who passed away at Dixon, Illinois, and who was the wife of Robert Suggitt; J. R., of this review; and Mary, who died in 1866, at the age of fifteen years.
J. R. Runton, who was a lad of seven years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, spent the period of his youth in Illinois and after acquiring his education worked at the carpenter's trade with his father until 1876. In that year he came to Franklin county, lowa, and located on a tract of unimproved land comprising one hundred sixty acres 'in section 21, Ross town- ship. This has remained in his possession to the present time, and as the years have gone by he has brought the place to a high state of culti- vation and improvement, erecting substantial buildings and enhanc- ing the value of the property in many ways. He is engaged in general farming, and his efforts in this connection have been attended with well merited and gratifying success.
In Illinois, Mr. Runton wedded Miss Lucinda Emry, a native of Ohio, by whom he had three children. David E. Runton, who is married and has two children, is a photographer of Sheffield, Iowa. Lessie May gave her hand in marriage to G. W. Van Nest, who resides on the farm of his father-in-law. Joel E., born July 19, 1878, died at the age of thirteen months.
In politics Mr. Runton is a stanch republican, and for nine years he has ably served in the capacity of township trustee. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Chapin, to which his wife also belongs. He is widely known in the community where he has so long resided, and his sub- stantial characteristics have gained him the warm regard and unqualified trust of his fellow townsmen.
STATE SAVINGS BANK OF HAMPTON.
The State Savings Bank of Hampton was organized in 1905 by about fifty stockholders living in Franklin county. For seven years it has occupied the main corner in Hampton, and the position which it occupies in the community is indicated by its constant and sub- stantial growth. It has ever acted upon the policy that a satisfied
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
customer is the best advertisement, knowing also that the bank which most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors is the one most worthy of public support. The following statement given at the dates mentioned to the auditor of state indicates the substantial and continuous growth of the bank:
August 4, 1904
$ 48,827.32
August 25, 1905
87,546.58
May 17, 1906 131,707.96
December 3, 1907
145,610.45
December 3, 1908
147,728.82
May 18, 1909 176,627.78
September 14, 1910 1 87,004.64
February 8, 191 I
206,438.32
June 21, 1912
216,105.09
April 17, 1913
292, 105.19
The bank is capitalized for forty thousand dollars and its present officers are: Adam Messelheiser, president; S. T. Blain, vice presi- dent; O. W. Maxwell, cashier; D. C. Wolf, assistant cashier; and Robert M. Harrison, teller and second vice president.
JOHN M. FAHEY.
John M. Fahey, a native of Franklin county, is closely connected with agricultural interests of Osceola township, operating a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 33. He was born upon this property December 19, 1884, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Holloran) Fahey, who are now living retired in Ackley. In this family were nine children: Ligouri, the wife of Samuel Martin, of George, Iowa; John M., of this review; Mary Ellen, who mar- ried James Parden, of George, Iowa; Thomas, deceased; Irene, at home; Viola, who has passed away; Robert, Laura and Floyd, of Ackley.
John M. Fahey was reared at home and from his early child- hood assisted with the operation of the farm, learning in this way the best and most practical methods of farm operation. In 1911 he rented the homestead, comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 33, Osceola township, and here he has since engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He has followed always the most
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
practical and progressive methods and has met with excellent suc- cess in the conduct of his interests.
On the 28th of December, 1910, Mr. Fahey was united in mar- riage to Miss Clara Breithaupt, a daughter of George F. and Nellie (Jenkins) Breithaupt, the former a native of Germany and the latter of St. John, New Brunswick. The parents came to Iowa in 1871 and the father conducted a hotel in Ackley until his death June 28, 1913. His wife survives him and makes her home in Ack- ley. Twelve children were born to their union: Annie, deceased ; Helena, the wife of Alex Thompson of Marshalltown, Iowa; Matilda, who married Henry Smith, of Wichita, Kansas; Ada, who has passed away; Catherine, the wife of William Neary, of Butte, Montana; George L., also of Butte; Frank, deceased; Lillian, of Charles City, Iowa; Leo, of Columbus, Ohio; Lulu, who has passed away; Clara, the wife of the subject of this review; and Harry, of Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. Fahey is a member of the Catholic church and connected fraternally with the Knights of Columbus. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and although he is not active as an office seeker, he served with credit and ability as school director. He is a young man of energy, enterprise and ambition, and he has become widely and favorably known in his native township for his many sterling traits of character.
BENJAMIN WRIGHT WHITE.
For a long period Benjamin Wright White was closely connected with the agricultural and stock-raising interests of Franklin county, but in his later years he lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his for- mer toil. He passed away March 27, 1907, and was then but fifty- three years of age. Within the period of his active life he acquired success that many an older man might well envy. He was born near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 3, 1853, a son of Mathew and Alta (Taylor) White. The father was a native of England and when a lad of fifteen crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in New York. There he married Alta Taylor, a native of that state. On removing westward to Wisconsin they took up their abode near Milwaukee, where Mr. White followed the occupation of farm- ing. In 1870 he came to Franklin county, Iowa, where he remained for several years with his family. He afterward returned to Wis-
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
consin, but again came to Franklin county in 1876, settling in Marion township, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1887. His wife passed away in December of the same year. In their family were seven children: Joseph, who followed farming in Franklin county but is now deceased; Mary, the widow of Joseph Taylor, of Hampton; Eugene; Sarah Green, who has passed away ; Harriett, the widow of W. M. Place, formerly of Wisconsin but now a resident of Hampton; Benjamin Wright; and Viola, the wife of M. E. Ferris, of Bismarck, North Dakota.
Mr. White pursued his education in the rural schools of Wis- consin and spent his youthful days upon the farm, remaining under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age. In 1876 he married and came to Franklin county, reaching Hampton on the 15th of March of that year. Mr. White had rented some land four miles north of Hampton, and for three years he continued to cultivate a farm which he leased. During that period he carefully saved his earnings, practicing close economy, and at the end of that time was enabled to purchase forty acres in Marion township. He also farmed the Clemmer place for five years and then purchased two hundred acres in the same township, upon which he continued to make his home until he retired from active business life in 1900 and removed to Hampton. He was a very energetic and progressive farmer and an extensive stock-raiser. In later years he specialized in the rais- ing of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and did much to improve the grade of stock raised in his part of the county. Both branches of his business proved profitable, because of his capable management and unfaltering energy. In the mean- time he acquired additional land, owning about five hundred acres at the time of his death. When he retired in 1900 he rented his place and thereafter lived in the enjoyment of an income which resulted from his wise and judicious investment in property.
On the 14th of March, 1876, Mr. White was married in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Miss Lena Eitle, who was born near that place, a daughter of John G. and Magdelena (Fishes) Eitle. The father, a native of Germany, came to America in 1848 or 1849, settling in the state of New York. After a few years he removed westward, taking up his abode near Monroe, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war, joining the twenty-first Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry in 1863 and serving until the close of hos- tilities. He died in August, 1898, having for about twelve years survived his wife, who passed away in 1886. She, too, was a native of Germany. In their family were seven children: Louis, a res-
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
ident of Texas; Mary, who was the widow of Adam Schindler and who died in Wisconsin in 1906; Robert, a resident of Marshall, Minnesota; Paulina, the wife of S. T. Blain, of Hampton, lowa; Mrs. White; John, living in Hampton; and Edward, a resident farmer of Hawkeye, Fayette county, lowa.
Mr. and Mrs. White became the parents of a son, Earl Stanley, who died in infancy. Mr. White was essentially a home man and spent all of his leisure hours at his own fireside. His political sup- port was given to the republican party, but he never sought nor desired office. He was always faithful in friendship, loyal in citizen- ship and devoted to the welfare of his wife and his relatives. That he possessed excellent business ability is indicated in the results which he achieved, bringing him from, a most humble financial position to a place among the prosperous residents of his state. In 1913 Nrs. White built a beautiful and modern residence on Fifth street in Hampton, where she spends her time amid most pleasant surroundings, having the warm friendship of Hampton's best people.
ROBERT FRANCIS SULLIVAN.
Robert Francis Sullivan, who passed away at Phoenix, Arizona, on the 9th of December, 1905, where he had gone in search of health, took up his abode in Franklin county in 1870 and during the long period of his residence here was variously engaged, following school teaching and farming and later being identified with the implement business and also the dry-goods trade.
Mr. Sullivan was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, on the- Ist of February, 1845, his parents being John and Margaret Sullivan, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Georgia. The period of his boyhood was spent in his native county and in the acquirement of his early education he attended the common schools, later continu- ing his studies at Iowa City. Subsequently he spent a few years in the west and after returning to this state taught school in Jones county. During the summers of 1868 and 1869 he resided in Franklin county, having purchased one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land in Ross township. In the winter seasons of those two years he taught school near Monticello, Jones county. One of his pupils there was Miss Emogene McCarty, whom he wedded in 1870. She was born in Watertown, New York, on the 17th of June, 1851, her parents
ROBERT F. SULLIVAN
MRS. ROBERT F. SULLIVAN
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
being Hayes and Emeline (Angel) McCarty, natives of Canada and Vermont respectively. In the year of their marriage, in March, Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Sullivan drove overland to Hampton, Frank- lin county, the trip consuming an entire week. Then they spent another week in Hampton while Mr. Sullivan prepared their home. It was a frame structure and was not yet completed when they took up their abode therein, the floor being not entirely laid and no doors or windows having yet been put in. Their household possessions consisted of six plates, six cups, six saucers, six chairs, a table, a bed- stead and a little cook stove. During the first year they planted corn with a hand dropper, and the Marsh harvester was used to cut grain. When household duties did not require her attention, Mrs. Sullivan was often out in the fields and helped shock the grain. During several winter seasons her husband was engaged in teaching in Franklin county, the schoolhouse being situated a mile from their home. She accompanied Mr. Sullivan to his school every day and remembers a visit of the old county superintendent, L. B. Raymond. There were no newspapers and no magazines in circulation here, and in her hunger for reading matter she perused her schoolbooks many times. Robert F. Sullivan had operated a threshing machine and the funds obtained from this source, added to his salary as a teacher, were such that he was enabled to begin saving a little money. He owned three horses and a wagon and had paid six dollars an acre for the quarter section of raw prairie land which first came into his possession. As time passed and his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he acquired a half section of land in Ross township and also pur- chased property elsewhere, in Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota. Success attended his various undertakings, for he was a man'of excellent business ability and sound judgment. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits for ten years and then came to Shef- field, embarking in the implement business and building up a grati- fying trade in this connection. He was likewise engaged in the dry-goods business in association with his son. Impaired health at length necessitated his retirement and he went west, hoping that a change of climate would prove beneficial. While in Phoenix, Arizona, he passed away on the 9th of December, 1905.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan were born eight children, as follows: Chester, who has charge of the affairs of the Rumley Manufactur- ing Company at Buenos Aires, South America; Leon S., who is a resident of Sheffield, Iowa; Hallie, the wife of Van R. Chase, of Alberta, Canada; Clarence F., living in Park River, North Dakota;
Vol. II-12
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
Olive, who gave her hand in marriage to Walter D. Bigg, of Shef- field; Eva and Lillian, who died in infancy; and Ida Pearl, who died in 1899, when twenty-five years of age. Mrs. Sullivan resides in a beautiful stucco dwelling in Sheffield. She has lived in Frank- lin county for a period of forty-three years and is well known and highly esteemed within its borders. In her daily life she exempli- fies the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which her deceased husband was also a devoted member. Mr. Sullivan was a popular member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and his memory will long be cherished by the many who were his friends.
BENJAMIN A. HOLMES.
For many years Benjamin A. Holmes was engaged as a con- tractor in Hampton, Iowa, but of late has turned his attention to the optical business. He was born in DeKalb county, Illinois, December 15, 1852, and is a son of Samuel A. and Sarah Jane ( Har- ris) Holmes, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Illinois. The father was a carpenter by trade. They were the parents of fourteen children : Benjamin A., of this review; Phoebe, the widow of J. P. Webber, of Hampton; Caroline, deceased; Lady, who married W. E. Jewell, of Hampton; John, a resident of Minne- sota ; Etta, the wife of Robert Bruce, of Mason City; James M., of Hampton; Charles, of Minnesota; Almond, of Franklin county ; Chauncy, deceased; May, who is married and resides in Washing- ton ; and three who died in infancy. Mrs. Samuel A. Holmes could put forth the claim of being the first white child of her sex born in Chicago. Her father, Benjamin Harris, moved with his family to Chicago, or Fort Dearborn as it was then called, in 1831 Mrs. Holmes relates in her memoirs that not more than half a dozen white people had preceded them to Fort Dearborn and that all of them were Indian traders. She goes on to tell that in the fall the Indians drove the whites into the fort, where they remained during the winter. During this period she was born at Fort Dearborn on Janu- ary 11, 1832. The Chicago Tribune some time ago published an interesting chapter in relation to her and the Harris family of that time. In 1883 Benjamin Harris moved to another part of the state of Illinois and later settled in Iowa. Sarah Jane Harris married Samuel A. Holmes in January, 1852. He came to Iowa in 1864, locating at Waterloo, and there he remained until 1874, when he
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
came to Hampton. Here he was for many years engaged in the express business and was widely and popularly known as Major Holmes. His death occurred in January, 1912.
Benjamin A. Holmes was but fourteen years of age when he applied himself to the mason's trade and for over twenty-five years was successful as a builder and contractor in Hampton. In 1900 he entered the Johnson Optical College of Chicago, from which he received a diploma and also secured a permit from the state of Iowa as an examiner of the eyes. He has since been engaged in the optical business.
On May 30, 1876, Mr. Holmes married Miss Lucy May Bailey, a native of Illinois, who bore her husband four children, all of whom passed away in Illinois in infancy. Mrs. Lucy M. Holmes died August 23, 1882. Mr. Holmes later married Miss Anna Moist, a native of Hampton, this marriage occurring July 14, 1884. To them were born three children : Fay B., the wife of Albert Latham, of Kansas; Guy B., of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Ray S., of Texline, Texas. The mother of these children passed away and Mr. Holmes later married Mrs. Ida (Howes) Minnier, widow of Truman Min- nier. She is a native of Missouri but has lived in Franklin county ever since she was two weeks old. By her marriage to Mr. Minnier she has two children: Myrtle, the wife of C. L. Wright, of Clear Lake, Iowa; and Howard, at home.
Mr. Holmes is a republican and member of the Christian church. He is highly esteemed by all who know him and has many friends in Hampton and the vicinity.
JAMES REDDING.
Since 1876 James Redding has been connected with farming interests of Franklin county, and he is now the owner of two hundred acres of land whereon he engages successfully in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Ireland, December 29, 1835, and is a son of John and Bridget (Ryan) Redding, also natives of the Emerald isle, who came to America, locating in Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1836. Forty years later they moved to Franklin county and there passed away in 1893. To their union were born eight children : James, of this review ; Mary, the wife of John Flanagan, of Dubuque county; Ann and Michael, who reside in Ackley; John, Josephine
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
and Frank, deceased; and Katherine, who married Thomas King, of Osceola township.
James Redding was reared in Dubuque county, lowa, and acquired his education in the public schools. After beginning his active career he farmed upon rented land there until 1876. In that year he came to Franklin county with his parents and purchased eighty acres of land, which he developed and improved for ten years thereafter. At the end of that time he sold this and bought a farm of one hundred acres, which he afterward disposed of, buying one hundred and sixty acres. When he sold this he purchased his present farm of two hundred acres on section 36, Reeve township. This he has improved with substantial barns and outbuildings and upon it has since engaged in general farming and stock-raising, meeting with gratifying and well deserved success.
On the 21st of January, 1873, Mr. Redding was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Markham, a native of Iowa, and they became the parents of nine children: twins, who died in infancy; John, a resident of Franklin county; Clem and Leo, at home; Maggie, deceased; Maggie, second of the name, who has also passed away; Irene, at home; and Agnes, deceased. Mr. Redding is a member of the Roman Catholic church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. No record of the agricultural development of Franklin county would be complete without the history of his honorable and useful career, for he is recognized throughout the community as one of its most valuable and estimable citizens.
I. L. STUART.
I. L. Stuart, owner and editor of the Franklin County Recorder, the oldest paper in the county, became foreman of that journal in 1881 and has been identified therewith continuously since or for a period covering more than three decades. His birth occurred in Chester, Vermont, on the 27th of August, 1855, his parents being J. Q. and Lucy J. (Burton) Stuart, who removed to Wisconsin in 1867. The father still survives and is now living retired in Wis- consin, but the mother passed away in that state.
I. L. Stuart attended the common schools of Wisconsin and when fourteen years of age entered a printing office, learning the trade. He was with the Milwaukee Sentinel for two years and in 1878 came to Iowa, locating at Charles City, where he was employed as
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
foreman by the Floyd County Advocate until 1881. In that year he came to Hampton and was made foreman of the Franklin County Recorder, which paper he now owns. He subsequently became assistant editor under L. B. Raymond, who was his partner for twenty-six years. In 1909 he purchased Mr. Raymond's interest and has since conducted the journal independently and in such à manner that its subscription and advertising patronage is steadily increasing.
Mr. Stuart married Miss Kitty Clemmer, a representative of a pioneer family of Wisconsin. They have two children, as follows : Ralph R., who is a graduate of the law department of George Wash- ington University; and May, a student in the University of Iowa. Mr. Stuart gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of Windsor Lodge, No. 71. He likewise belongs to Mason City Lodge No. 375, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
THOMAS CORWIN ELLIS.
Among the younger farmers of Morgan township, Franklin county, who have already achieved success, is Thomas Corwin Ellis, who was born in this county, October 10, 1873, a son of Jacob and Caroline (Root) Ellis, the father a native of Illinois, and the mother of Ohio. They made settlement in Franklin county in 1869, locating in Morgan township near Dows. Both father and mother have passed away. They were the parents of five children: Hattie, who married Julius Malnory, of Dows, Iowa; John, who makes his home with Mr. Ellis of this review; Clara, the wife of Warren Le Barron, of Morgan township; Ida, who has passed away; and Thomas Cor- win, our subject.
Thomas Corwin Ellis was reared under the parental roof and attended school in the neighborhood of his father's farm. He remained with the latter on the home place until the father passed away but in 1893 bought twenty-five acres of land on section 20, Morgan township. That he has met with good success is evident from the fact that he now owns two hundred and eighty acres, which he devotes to general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Ellis has made excellent improvements upon his land, and his buildings are in good repair. He follows the most up-to-date methods in farming
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY
and has already achieved a substantial position in Morgan town- ship.
The marriage of Thomas Corwin Ellis and Ada Loucks occurred on May 9, 1893, and to them were born four children: Clesson L .; Vae and John, both deceased ; and Caroline L., at home. Mr. Ellis is a republican. He has been township assessor and township clerk and has discharged the duties of these offices satisfactorily to all concerned. He is a Presbyterian and takes interest in church work. Both he and his wife are well and favorably known in Morgan township and have many friends in that neighborhood.
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