USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 10
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Mrs. Johnson and three of the children belong to the Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Johnson was formerly affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, was local representative to the Grand Lodge, and for a time he was also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He supports the republican party and has been chairman of the county central committee. He has always taken an active and helpful interest in all municipal affairs and has served with efficiency as mayor and councilman and also as a member of the school board. Mr. Johnson is numbered among the progressive, public-spirited men of Williams, in the advancement and development of which town he cooperates by assisting in promoting every movement that he feels will prove beneficial to the welfare of the community.
IRVIN J. SAYRS.
Irvin J. Sayrs has been a resident of Webster City for only five years but, although one of the more recent arrivals here, he has succeeded in establishing himself in a creditable position as a member of the bar and also as the secretary of the Hamilton County Abstract Company. He was born in the neighboring state of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Schuyler county, August 10, 1876. His parents were Francis M. and Hulda C. (Derry) Sayrs. His grandfather, Jonathan Sayrs, was a resident of Harrison county, Ohio, remaining there until after his marriage and the birth of two of his children. At an early day, however, he became a resident of Illinois, being one of the first settlers of Fulton county, where another child was added to the family circle -Francis M. Sayrs, who remained a lifelong resident of Fulton
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and Schuyler counties. At the time of the Civil war he entered his country's service, becoming a member of the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry in response for troops to serve for ninety days. Later he reenlisted in the Eighty-fourth Illinois and continued with that regiment until the close of the war. In 1855 the Derry family, to which Mrs. F. M. Sayrs belonged, re- moved from Mason county, Illinois, to Kansas, settling on a homestead about forty miles south of Leavenworth. It was their intention to remain in that state, but on account of the border war- fare that there prevailed and because of their strong advocacy of republican principles, they left that locality at the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south, selling their home- stead, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and forty acres of timber land, for three hundred dollars. They then returned to Illinois by way of Iowa, being afraid to go through Missouri on account of the war and conditions thereby imposed. It was immediately after the war that Francis M. Sayrs and Hulda C. Derry were married.
The family home was maintained in Schuyler county, and Irvin J. Sayrs was a pupil in the public schools there and in the Rushville Normal College at Rushville, Illinois. He pursued his law course in Highland Park College at Des Moines and was graduated in 1901 with the degree of LL. B. After being ad- mitted to the bar by the supreme court of Iowa he began practice in 1903 in Jewell, Hamilton county, and on the Ist of March, 1907, sought the broader field of labor offered by the county seat, removing to Webster City, where he has since continued in the practice of his chosen profession. His professional labors have been entirely satisfactory to his clients, who have found him pains- taking and careful in the preparation of his cases and clear and logical in their presentation. He has been accorded a large practice and has also been the secretary of the Hamilton County Abstract Company since its organization.
At New London, Iowa, Mr. Sayrs was united in marriage to Miss Isabel M. Parrott, her father being J. E. Parrott, of Henry county, Iowa, who is now living at Lamar, Colorado. Polly Par- rott, the grandmother of Mrs. Sayrs, came to Burlington, Iowa. when there were only four huts at that place. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Bonita Maurine Sayrs, whose birth occurred on the 6th of July, 1905. Mr. Sayrs and his little family
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have a pleasant home at No. 521 Walnut street and during the period of their residence here they have gained many friends.
Mr. Sayrs belongs to Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M .; Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M .; and Webster City Camp, No. 416, M. W. A. He also holds membership in the Congrega- tional church and these associations indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules that govern his conduct. Enter- ing a profession where advancement depends entirely upon in- dividual merit and not upon influence or any favorable external circumstances, he is working his way steadily upward and is gain- ing that success which is the merited reward of capability and persistency of purpose.
ELMER E. CHEEVER.
Elmer E. Cheever, who owns and operates a farm of eighty- five acres on section 4, Independence township, is a native of Hamilton county, his birth having occurred in Webster City on the 5th of October, 1870. He is a son of William M. and Cynthia A. (Avery) Cheever, natives of the state of New York, where they were also married. They came to Iowa in 1869, locating in Hamilton county, and for three years thereafter the father farmed as a renter, but at the expiration of that time he purchased forty acres of land on section 4, Independence township, that is now the property of his son, Elmer E. Mr. and Mrs. Cheever had but two children, the elder of whom, George A., is married and en- gages in farming in the vicinity of Carr, Colorado. The father passed away on the 23d of June, 1909, at the age of seventy-four years, and was buried in Graceland cemetery at Webster City. The mother is still living at the age of seventy and is now visiting her son in Colorado. William M. Cheever went to the front as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Tenth Volunteer In- fantry during the Civil war and served until the close of hostilities. The exposure and hardships incident to camp life undermined his health and he was sick for nearly a year, the greater part of that time being spent in a hospital in the south. He saw considerable active service, and was taken prisoner in battle and sent to An- dersonville, but was soon released.
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The entire life of Elmer E. Cheever has been passed in the vicinity of his present home. He was reared on a farm and early trained to the duties and responsibilities of an agriculturist, which vocation he has always followed. He owns one of the well im- proved and highly cultivated farms of the county and is meeting with success in its operation. His land is tiled and fenced, and all of it is hog tight, and equipped with everything essential to modern agriculture. Mr. Cheever raises a high grade of cattle and horses and makes a specialty of breeding and raising thor- oughbred Duroc Jersey hogs.
In 1908, Mr. Cheever was married to Miss Lora Stevens, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of John and Belle (Elwick) Stevens. The father was born in the state of New York fifty- eight years ago, and the mother, who is forty-eight years of age, is a native of Illinois. They were married in Iowa and subse- quently located in the vicinity of Webster City, where Mr. Stevens engages in general farming and gardening. Their family numbers four, Mrs. Cheever, who was born on November II, 1883, being the eldest.
Fraternally Mr. Cheever is a member of the Modern Brother- hood of America and gives his political support to the republican party. He was township trustee for five years and served as school director for twelve and is now secretary of the school board. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Cheever is manifested through their connection with the Congregational church of Webster City, in the work of which they take an active interest.
WESLEY MARTIN.
Wesley Martin is a veteran of the Civil war and his military ex- perience also included service with the regular army. In this con- nection his record is commendable but not more so than his record as a member of the bar. He entered upon the practice of law in Webster City in 1876, and has since been engaged in the work of the profession, his ability, his legal learning and his devotion to his clients' interests winning him high rank. He was born in Navarre, Ohio, December 19, 1848, his parents being Samuel and Mary Martin, who died when he was quite young, so that he was reared by his grandparents. Wesley Martin was educated in the
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public schools of New Philadelphia, Ohio, but was not yet sixteen years of age when on the 2d of May, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Infantry. He was with that regiment for one hundred and twenty-six days and in November of the same year he enlisted in the Second New York Heavy Artillery, with which he served until the close of hostilities between the north and the south. Mr. Martin joined General Grant's army on the 27th of November, 1864, in front of Petersburg, and was in the closing battles of the war under that great commander until the sur- render of Lee at Appomattox. Among Mr. Martin's valued papers is the "President's Thanks and Certificate of Honorable Service," signed by Abraham Lincoln and Edwin M. Stanton. After the war he joined the regular army, with which he was on duty in the south and west for three years. His military record is indeed a creditable one and few men of his years can claim the right to be numbered with the Civil war veterans. While but a boy in his teens at the time of his enlistment, he displayed bravery and loyalty equal to that of many a man of twice his years.
In 1873 Mr. Martin took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Colonel A. R. Mock of Cambridge, Illinois, and was admitted to the bar by the supreme court at Springfield, Illinois, on the 4th of January, 1876. On the 13th of May follow- ing he arrived in Webster City and began the practice of law, in which he has since continued. His progress in the profession has been continuous. Experience and further study have advanced his ability and he has proven his strength in connection with many liti- gated interests which have attracted widespread attention. Aside from his professional connections he is a director of the First Na- tional Bank and a stockholder in the Hamilton County State Bank.
Mr. Martin has always given his political allegiance to the repub- lican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. In 1881 he was elected mayor. During his term he organized the city as a city of the second class and was the first mayor under the new organization. His administration brought about various needed reforms and improvements and at the same time was economically conducted, there being no useless expenditure of public funds. He brought to the discharge of his duties in con- nection with the business of the city, businesslike principles and habits and the work of the office was carefully systematized.
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On the 24th of December, 1874, Mr. Martin was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Wonders, a daughter of William Wonders, of Webster county, Iowa, who was a farmer by occupation and also engaged in coal mining in that county. Mr. and Mrs. Martin re- side at No. 402 First street. They are members of the First Baptist church and Mr. Martin belongs also to Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., of Webster City; Winfield Scott Post, No. 66, G. A. R .; the Commercial Law League of America and the American Bar As- sociation. He is a man of genial, social nature, possessing attractive qualities that have won him personal popularity, while his develop- ing powers as a lawyer have long maintained him in a creditable po- sition as a representative of the Webster City bar.
EARL FRANCIS McCOMB.
Earl Francis McComb, who holds a responsible position with the Blairsburg Hardware Company, is descended from one of the pioneer families of Hamilton county of which he is a native, his birth having occurred in Independence township on the 25th of No- vember, 1883. He is a son of Samuel and Kate (Gerber) McComb, the father a native of Belfast, Ireland, and the mother of Germany, the maternal grandparents being among the very first settlers of Ham- ilton county. Samuel McComb was for many years actively engaged in farming in this county and passed away on his homestead in In- dependence township. The mother subsequently removed to Web- ster City with her family and there she still resides. Our subject is the second in order of birth and the only son in a family of three. The elder daughter, Mrs. Rachel Kennedy, was born on Christmas day, 1879, and is now residing on the old home farm in Independence township, while the youngest member of the family, Hazel, who was born on March 12, 1890, is living in Webster City with the mother. They are both natives of Independence township. The father had one son by a previous marriage, W. F. McComb, of Waterloo, Iowa.
The education of Earl Francis McComb was begun in the dis- trict schools and continued in the graded and high schools of Web- ster City. Upon terminating his student days he obtained a certifi- cate and for four years thereafter engaged in teaching in the coun- try schools. At the expiration of that time he turned his attention to commercial activities and engaged in the hardware and implement
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business at Randall, where he was located for eight years. In Feb- ruary, 1911, he entered upon the duties of his present position with the Blairsburg Hardware Company, in which capacity he is giving most excellent service.
At Randall, this state, in 1905, Mr. McComb was married to Miss Mabel Seymour, whose birth there occurred on the 28th of October, 1888. She is a daughter of S. S. and Elizabeth (Jacobson) Seymour, whose family numbered four: Annie, who is residing at Roulette, North Dakota; Mrs. Stella Severs of Webster City; Mrs. McComb; and Lulu, who is living with her mother in Randall. The father is deceased, having passed away at Phoenix, Arizona. To Mr. and Mrs. McComb have been born a daughter and a son : Leona, who was born in Webster City, on March 20, 1907; and Earl Sey- mour, whose birth occurred in Randall, October 1, 1909.
Mr. McComb is a member of Blairsburg Camp, No. 7848, Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is also clerk, and Mrs. McComb is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Randall. His po- litical allegiance is given to the republican party, and although he is interested in the progress and development of the community he lias never figured in public affairs, giving his entire time and attention to his business interests.
LLOYD G. WALTERICK.
Lloyd G. Walterick, proprietor of the "Williams Wasp," which paper he has been editing for the past three years, is highly regarded in local business circles, being recognized as one of the town's most capable and promising young men. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of December, 1890, and is a son of George B. and Emma C. (Grove) Walterick, also natives of Franklin county, the father's birth having occurred on April 26, 1867. In 1900 the parents removed to Hamilton county, settling in Webster City, whence they later came to Williams. Here the father, who is a carpenter by trade, is successfully engaged in the business of contracting and build- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Walterick have three sons, of whom our subject is the eldest. Jay W., who was born on the 21st of September, 1892, is associated with his brother in the publication of the "Williams Wasp," and Paul S., the youngest member of the family, his natal day having been October 16, 1894, is attending the Iowa State Busi-
LLOYD G. WALTERICK
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ness College at Des Moines. The two younger sons were also born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania.
Lloyd G. Walterick was only a child of ten years when brought to Hamilton county by his parents. He received most of his education in the public schools of Webster City, and upon the completion of the eighth grade he decided upon a journalistic career as his life work in 1905, and entered the service of the Hahne Printing Company of Web- ster City in the capacity of apprentice. He is ambitious and enterpris- ing, and, while there, not only fitted himself for the position of a com- positor, but became thoroughly familiar with job printing work gen- erally. On the Ist of August, 1909, he came to Williams and took pos- session of the paper he is now editing. He is a wide-awake, thoughtful and progressive young man and his paper is in every way a credit to him and the community. In matters of citizenship he is public-spirited and through the columns of his journal indorses every movement that he feels will promote the interests of the municipality. He is absolutely fearless in his denunciation of wrong, but is equally ready to commend good, fully appreciating that the press is the great medium of reform and a dominant factor in the molding of public opinion. That he is editing a clean, wholesome sheet and in the voicing of his views expresses the opinions of the community generally is substan- tially evidenced by his circulation list, which carries fourteen hundred names. The paper has been issued under the name of the "Williams Wasp" since 1906, and is popular in the community, particularly among the business people, who have found it to be a good advertis- ing medium. Mr. Walterick has a better plant than is to be found in the average printing office of a town of this size, and is particularly well equipped to do all kinds of job work, of which he makes a specialty.
The Walterick family are English Lutherans in religious faith, but as this denomination is not represented in Williams, they all affiliate with the Presbyterian church. Lloyd G. Walterick is identi- fied with the Masonic lodge, A. F. & A. M., the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yoemen, and in addition to the protection thus afforded he also carries insurance in the Equit- able of New York, the Aetna of New York, and the American & Bankers' Life of Des Moines. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and the columns of his paper strongly indorse the men and measures of the progressive faction of this body. He is meeting with success in the development of his business and has but recently purchased a residence property in Williams, which he antici-
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pates occupying very shortly. He is a most estimable young man, whose laudable ambition, upright standards and high principles of conduct commend him to the confidence of all with whom he has transactions and have been the means of his winning and retaining the regard of a large circle of friends, who prophesy for him a very promising future.
ELSTON FULLERTON KING.
Elston Fullerton King, who on the 29th of April, 1909, was elected to the vice presidency of the First National Bank, has been continuously connected with financial interests in Webster City since the fall of 1893. He is a well known man of reliability and enter- prise and his efforts have contributed largely to the success of the institution with which he is connected. He was born in Springfield, in the province of Ontario, January 30, 1873, his parents being Will- iam Dance and Lucy (Fullerton) King. The removal of the family to Iowa during his boyhood days led him to continue his education in this state. He was graduated from Iowa College at Grinnell in 1894, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy and he then pur- sued a two years' medical course in the University of Pennsylvania. In 1898 he went to Utah where he spent five years on a cattle ranch, but in the fall of 1903 he returned to this state and has since been a resident of Webster City. Here he was given the position of clerk in the First National Bank and successive promotions have followed, making him assistant cashier, cashier and vice president. He thus has voice in the management of the bank and the policy which he advocates is in keeping with the most progressive methods of bank- ing. He realizes the fact that the bank most worthy of patronage is that which most carefully safeguards the interests of its deposi- tors and he has ever advocated a conservative course that is not, however, detrimental to substantial growth and advancement. Aside from his active interests at Webster City he is a director of the First National Bank of Williams, Iowa, the Farmers Savings Bank of Alden, Iowa, and the Farmers Savings Bank, of Duncombe, Iowa.
On the Ist of June, 1904, Mr. King was married to Miss Kate Miracle, a daughter of Judge Miracle, of Webster City, and they have three children : Robert Fullerton, born June 25, 1905; Donald Mir- acle, born January 14, 1907; and Eleanor Bell, born March 25, 1910.
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The family occupy a pleasant home at No. 1317 Willson avenue and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
Mr. King is prominent in fraternal and social organizations. He belongs to Sigma Chi, a national college fraternity and is a thirty- second degree Mason, holding membership in Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M .; Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M .; Triune Commandery, No. 41, K. T .; Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, S. P. R. S .; and Za- Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine, also of Des Moines. He like- wise belongs to Webster City Lodge, No. 302, B. P. O. E .; Web- ster City Camp No. 416, M. W. A .; and Elmo Lodge, No. 62, I. O. O. F. His name is on the membership rolls of the Webster City Country Club and of the Webster City Commercial League, and the latter indicates his interest in affairs relating to the welfare and progress of the community in which he lives. His political alle- giance is given to the republican party. His life has been one of con- tinuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of labor and he is today numbered among the substantial citizens of his coun- ty. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Webster City and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
EMMERT SEGAR.
Emmert Segar, who is connected with the Lane-Moore Lumber Company of Blairsburg, was formerly actively engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in this township, and is a representative of one of those families to whose efforts Hamilton county is largely indebted for its progress and development. With the exception of two years spent in an overland trip to Oregon, his entire life has been passed in this county, his birth having occurred in Cass township on the 20th of September, 1863. His parents, Horace and Ortense (Hager) Segar, were both natives of Pennsylvania, but they came to Iowa in their youth, the maternal grandparents being among the first set- tlers of Cedar county. They located in Cass township during the early period of their domestic life, and there they both passed away, the father's death occurring in 1892. This section of the state was but sparsely settled when they came here, and on every side of the Segar homestead stretched vast expanses of wild prairie land, the
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family living in true pioneer style. Here were reared the five sons and three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Segar, all but the eldest of whom were born in this county. In order of birth they are as fol- lows: Louis, who is a resident of Webster City; Mrs. Angelina Himebaugh and Mrs. Emma J. Porter, both of Webster City; Jesse, who resides a mile north of Webster City; Benjamin E., who died in Blairsburg township, February 22, 1912; Roland, who is residing at Meadow Grove, Nebraska; Emmert, our subject; and Mrs. Mabel Jewett, of Webster City.
The early years in the life of Emmert Segar were in no way unusual nor distinguished by any startling experiences. He spent his time very much in the same manner as the other youths in the community, acquiring his education in the district schools. When his people first located in the county Webster City was known as New- castle, and he can recall the time when there were but three houses between their farm in Cass township and Blairsburg. The priva- tions and hardships incident to pioneering tended to create a cohesive citizenship through whose united efforts the wild wastes of prairie land have been transformed into beautiful farms, the Hamilton coun- ty of today bearing little resemblance to that of fifty years ago. In all of this progress and development the Segar family have substan- tially assisted through their agricultural activities. Having been reared to the work of the fields, when qualified to begin his inde- pendent career, naturally Emmert Segar chose the vocation of farm- ing, which he successfully followed for many years. Although he has for some years been making his home in Blairsburg, where he owns a very pleasant residence and fourteen lots, he still holds the title to a well improved farm of a hundred and sixty acres in this township. He has accumulated a very comfortable competence, more than sufficient to supply the needs of himself and wife, but he has always been too active and enterprising to retire, so he is now as- sisting in the yard of the Lane-Moore Lumber Company.
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