USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 11
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In October, 1884, Mr. Segar was united in marriage to Miss Belle Black, whose birth occurred in Jackson county, Iowa, on the 20th of April, 1863. She is a daughter of Jesse and Mary Ellen Black, who were early settlers of Hamilton county, where they both passed away and were laid to rest in the cemetery in Cass township. The father, who was a native of England, died in Webster City, while the mother, who was born in Pennsylvania, was residing in Jewell Junction at the time of her demise. Their family numbered five, as follows: Mrs. Jesse Segar, who is residing a mile north of
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Webster City; Mrs. Emmert Segar; Bert, whose home is in Bemis, South Dakota; Jesse, a resident of Burt, Iowa; and Nora, who passed away at the age of thirteen years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Segar have been born four children: Mrs. Maude Hunt, who is living in Williams township; Mrs. Hazel Stre- veler, of Blairsburg; Guy, who is living on the home farm; and Joseph, who is still at home. The three eldest children were born in Cass township and the youngest in Blairsburg township.
His political support Mr. Segar gives to the republican party, and he served for nine years as road supervisor. He takes an active interest in local affairs and represents that type of citizen who co- operates in forwarding the welfare of the community by assisting in promoting its various public utilities and such movements as will tend to advance its moral, social or intellectual standards. The fam- ily first located in this county in 1855 and during the fifty-seven years intervening its various members have proven to be most worthy and highly desirable citizens.
JOHN SCOTT.
Among the estimable citizens and capable agriculturists of Blairsburg township must be numbered John Scott, who holds the title to a hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, which he devotes to diversified farming in connection with stock- raising. He was born in Broadhead, Wisconsin, on the Ist of December, 1867, and is of Irish and American extraction, his father, James Scott, having been a native of the Emerald isle, while the mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Welch, was born in Wisconsin. Eight children were born to this worthy couple, of whom our subject is the eldest. In order of birth the others are as follows: Edward; Mrs. Nellie Wille, who is a resi- dent of Webster City, Iowa; Mrs. Nora McFarland, who makes her home in Los Angeles, California; George, who resides in Williams township; Charlie, who is a resident of Vernon town- ship, Wright county; Maze, a resident of South Dakota; and Mrs. Susan Carpenter, of Lake township, Wright county. The four last named are natives of Hamilton county, while the two eldest sons were born in Wisconsin and the two eldest daughters in Wright county, Iowa. The father passed away in Vernon town-
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ship, Wright county, on the 4th of March, 1893, but the mother is still living and continues to make her home in Vernon township. The family came to Iowa in 1869, locating in Wright county, and have ever since made their home in this state.
As he was a child of only two years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, John Scott has passed prac- tically his entire life in the vicinity where he now resides. His boyhood was not unlike that of other youths who were reared in this section at that period. In the acquirement of his education he attended the district schools, and at the same time he was qualifying himself for an agricultural career by assisting his father about the work of the fields and care of the stock. He resided in Wright county until after his marriage in 1899, when he pur- chased the farm, where he is now living. He has been entirely dependent upon his own resources since he became old enough to earn his living and everything he possesses has been acquired through his individual efforts. He has worked early and late, earnestly and diligently applying himself to the achievement of success, and has prospered correspondingly. The appearance of his fields and condition of his stock are evidence of his capable management and intelligent supervision. His place is well kept up and provided with an equipment fully adequate to his needs, while as his circumstances have warranted he has installed about his premises various modern conveniences, which have minimized the labor connected with its operation. He has a comfortable resi- dence, which is well furnished and provided with a piano and good books for the benefit of the children, who are being afforded bet- ter advantages than their parents received. In connection with his diversified farming, Mr. Scott is raising a high grade of stock and is meeting with good financial returns from both lines of his business.
In this county, in the year 1899, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Scott and Miss Annie Venner, who is likewise a native of Wisconsin. She is a daughter of Henry and Frederika (Lentz) Venner, natives of Germany. They came to America in early life and were married in Wisconsin, whence they subsequently re- moved to Iowa. Here they both passed away, the father's death occurring in Hamilton county in 1906, and that of the mother in Hardin county in 1904. Mrs. Scott is the youngest in a family of six, five of whom are living. In order of birth the others are as follows: Albert, who is residing in Williams township; Mrs. Ber-
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tha Tilke, who makes her home in Vernon township, Wright county ; Mrs. Emma Butler; William, who was born on March 13, 1876, and resides in Blairsburg township; and Mrs. Ida Miers, who is deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Scott have become the parents of four children, Irene, May, Margaret and James. They are all attending school in their home district and are being given every advantage in the way of self-improvement at the command of the parents.
The family attend the German Reformed church of Vernon township, Wright county. Politically Mr. Scott is a republican and he has for twelve years been a member of the school board of Blairsburg township, and is now president of that body. He is a man who takes an active interest in all movements affecting the welfare of the community, and assists in promoting the de- velopment of the various public utilities. He is highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen, who have found him to be honorable and upright in his business dealings and trustworthy and honest in the discharge of his official duties.
HENRY WILLIAM LUNDELL, D. D. S.
Dentistry may be said to be almost unique among other occu- pations, as it is at once a profession, a trade and a business. Such being the case, it follows that in order to attain the highest suc- cess in it one must be thoroughly conversant with the theory of the art, must be expert with the many instruments and appliances incidental to the practice of modern dentistry and must possess business qualifications adequate to dealing with the financial side of the profession. In all of these particulars Dr. Lundell is well qualified and therefore has attained prestige among the able rep- resentatives of dentistry in Webster City. It was here that he was born July II, 1878. He comes, however, of Swedish ancestry, his parents, August and Christina Lundell, having been natives of Sweden. On coming to the new world they settled at Stratford. Hamilton county, in 1872, and the father followed the occupation of farming to the time of his death, which occurred in 1890. The mother still survives and is now living in Webster City.
Dr. Lundell was a pupil in the public schools here but was resolved to obtain a higher education and utilized every means
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possible toward the attainment of that end. Going to St. Paul, Minnesota, he there worked in connection with the shoe busi- ness and later was employed as a railway mail clerk. At the same time he pursued a literary course in the University of Minnesota preparatory to taking a course in dentistry at the dental department of the Central University of Kentucky in Louisville. His studies in the latter institution were completed by his graduation in 1907, at which time the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery was conferred upon him and he received the highest honors in both theory and practice. Between his junior and senior years at the University of Kentucky he practiced his profession in Ceylon, Minnesota, and after receiving his degree in 1907 he came to Webster City and purchased the office of Dr. G. W. Clark. Here he has been practicing continuously since and is now accorded a liberal patronage. He does excellent work according to the most modern scientific methods and his labors have brought him a measure of success that is very gratifying.
On the 8th of June, 1910, Dr. Lundell was married in Webster City to Miss Kathryn Arthur, a daughter of A. D. Arthur, who was a prominent stock buyer of Hamilton county and formerly of Dickinson county, Iowa. Dr. and Mrs. Lundell have a son, Henry Arthur, born May 2, 19II.
Dr. Lundell holds membership in the Catholic church and is very prominently identified with the fraternal organization formed among the Catholics known as the Knights of Columbus. He is now grand knight of Bishop Clement Smith Council, No. 838, of Webster City, to which he was elected in 1911. He is likewise a member of the Elks lodge, No. 302. He possesses a genial, cordial manner which has won him popularity, and throughout the community Dr. Lundell is spoken of in terms of high regard.
F. N. TAYLOR.
F. N. Taylor, who has been postmaster at Jewell since the 8th of May, 1908, has been a resident of Hamilton county for thirty years. He is a native of the state of New York, his birth having oc- curred in Wyoming county on the Ist of January, 1842, and a son of Alonzo and Diana (Barber) Taylor. The father was from New Hampshire and the mother from Massachusetts, but they passed the
MR. AND MRS. F. N. TAYLOR
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early years of their domestic life in New York, whence they re- moved in 1850 to Illinois. They first settled in Cook county, but three years later they removed to Carroll county, that state, and there the mother passed away on February 25, 1870. She was long sur- vived by the father, whose death occurred on the 9th of March, 1896.
F. N. Taylor was a child of eight years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, which state remained his home until 1882, when he came to Hamilton county. He subsequently pur- chased a hundred and sixty acres of land in Hamilton township, which he improved and cultivated until 1905, when he withdrew from agr- cultural pursuits and came to Jewell to live, selling his farm to his eldest son. After removing to town he went to work at the carpen- ter's trade, continuing to follow this occupation until he was ap- pointed postmaster in 1908.
On the 24th of October, 1868, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Alice A. Hinds, whose birth occurred on the 17th of November, 1848. She is the eldest of the seven children born of the marriage of Alonzo and Laura (Greeley) Hinds, natives of Vermont. The family re- moved to Illinois in 1866, and there the father passed away two years later. The mother is still living, however, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years, and makes her home with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had eight children. Laura D., the eldest, mar- ried George W. Davis by whom she had two children. He passed away on the 16th of February, 1899, and on November 29, 1905, she became the wife of W. G. Seamonds, of Webster City, and they have become the parents of two children. Hattie, the second member of the family, died at the age of two and a half years. Frank F., who now owns and operates the old homestead, was married in De- cember, 1905, to Alexis Neely of Webster City, and they have two children. Myrtle M., the widow of J. S. Riley, who died on April 19, 1898, is the mother of four children and makes her home in Jew- ell. Iva was married on the 28th of May, 1902, to L. G. Burr, by whom she has had five children and is residing in Illinois. Fred G. died March 15, 1887, aged two years and eight months. Ralph C. is acting as his father's assistant in the postoffice. Vernon M., the youngest member of the family, resides at home.
Mr. Taylor is one of those who responded to the nation's call during the Civil war, and went to the front as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was in the Army of the Cumberland, but was on provost and detached Vol. II-8
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duty during the greater period of his service, which comprised a year, having enlisted on the 9th of February, 1865, and received his dis- charge at Savannah, Georgia, on February 9, 1866. He is a member of Winfield Scott Post, No. 66, G. A. R. of Webster City, and he also belongs to Jewell Lodge, No. 277, A. O. U. W. His political allegiance he gives to the republican party, and while residing in Ham- ilton township served for five years as assessor and for six as a mem- ber of the board of supervisors, having begun his duties in the latter connection in 1889. Mrs. Taylor manifests her religious faith through her affiliation with the Christian church, and numbers many stanch friends among the members of its congregation.
WARREN C. PYLE.
Gradually working his way upward through the utilization of his opportunities, Warren C. Pyle has become cashier of the First National Bank of Webster City, remaining in this connection since the 29th of April, 1909. He early realized that there is no royal road to wealth and also that there is no excellence without labor, and industry and perseverance have constituted the elements of his ad- vancement. He was born in Hardin county, Iowa, May 22, 1873, a son of A. H. and Lucretia L. (Percival) Pyle. The father went to Hardin county when a young man, removing with his father from Ohio to this state. He followed farming while living in Hardin county but he and his wife now make their home in Webster City.
Warren C. Pyle was a pupil in the public schools at Iowa Falls and at fifteen years of age began work in a book store there. While thus employed he also pursued a commercial course in the business college of that place. He occupied his first position for three and a half years and then went to Dubuque, where he finished his business education. In 1891 he returned to Iowa Falls and for a year there- after was a clerk in the State Bank of that city. This was his ini- tial connection with the banking business and upon that foundation he lias builded his subsequent success in that field. In 1892 he went to Blairsburg, where he assisted in organizing the Exchange Bank and remained as assistant cashier until the bank was sold in 1895. He then came to Webster City and for a year thereafter was em- ployed in the grocery store of H. A. Eames. He was next asso- ciated with E. G. Popejoy in the furnishing goods business for about
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a year and later held various positions in business circles here until 1898, when he became assistant postmaster of Webster City under Charles D. Helen, serving in that capacity until January 1, 1903, when he became bookkeeper of the First National Bank. His loy- alty and capability in that connection won him promotion to the po- sition of assistant cashier and on the 29th of April, 1909, he was made cashier. He is a popular official of the bank, always courteous and considerate of the interests of his patrons and at the same time carefully safeguarding the welfare of the institution with which he is connected.
On the 23d of September, 1903, Mr. Pyle was united in marriage to Miss Claire C. Carpenter, whose parents have both passed away. Her father, George W. Carpenter, was engaged in the real-estate business in Webster City. Our subject and his wife have three children, namely: Kempster, who was born on the 28th of October, 1904; George Howard, whose birth occurred on the 9th of July, 1907; and Frances Marjorie, whose natal day was February 15, 1910.
Mr. Pyle belongs to Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M .; the Elks lodge, No. 302, of Webster City; and Webster City Lodge, No. 342, I. O. O. F. In more strictly social connections he is a member of the Country Club. He also belongs to the Commercial League, of which he is a director, and since 1908 he has served on the school board. He is deeply interested in all that pertains to the progress and upbuilding of Webster City and his cooperation can ever be counted upon to further movements for the general good. His has been a well spent life, winning for him business advancement and the high esteem of his fellowmen.
FRANK H. BURCHAM.
Frank H. Burcham is one of the well known residents of Blairsburg township, where he successfully engages in general farming and stock-raising. His boyhood was passed in La Salle county, Illinois, where his birth occurred on the 18th of Novem- ber, 1862. His father, the late A. V. Burcham, was born in New York, while the mother, whose maiden name was Cornelia Schen- merhorn, was a native of Pennsylvania. The family removed to Iowa in 1878, first locating in the vicinity of Alden, Hardin county. Three years later they came to Blairsburg township, locating on
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the farm where our subject now resides. Here the parents passed the remainder of their lives, the mother's death occurring on October 16, 1901, and that of the father on October 29, 1908. To them were born six children, five of whom are living. Those beside our subject are as follows: D. B. and W. T., who are re- siding in the state of Washington; Stella, who is living in Seattle, Washington; Grant G., of Blairsburg township; and Walter James, who died twenty-seven years ago. They were all born in Illinois.
The education of Frank H. Burcham was largely acquired in the common schools of his native state, where he passed the first seventeen years of his life. He came to Hamilton county with his parents, and has ever since made his home in Blairsburg town- ship. In common with the majority of youths who are reared in the country, his energies were early directed along agricultural lines, and by the time he had attained his majority he was thor- oughly familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a farmer. As his father's powers of activity began decreasing with the pass- ing years he assumed more and more of the duties connected with the operation of the home place, which he has ever since success- fully cultivated. He is a man of earnest purpose and definite ideas, and pursues his undertakings in a well organized systematic manner, meeting with a corresponding degree of success. In addition to his interest in the old homestead he holds the title to another tract of a hundred and sixty acres of choice and well improved land in this township.
On the 17th of February, 1904, Mr. Burcham was married to Miss Elizabeth McNee, who was born in Blairsburg township, her natal day being the IIth of October, 1878. She was reared and educated here, and with the exception of eight years spent in Colorado has always made Hamilton county her home. She is a daughter of J. C. and Agnes J. (Aitkin) McNee, natives of Delaware county, New York, the father's birth having occurred on May 9, 1853, and that of the mother on the Ist of May, 1855. Mrs. Burcham is their eldest child, the other members of the family being as follows : Mrs. Jessie Brown, who was born on the 2d of August, 1880, and died on June 16, 1910; James W., whose birth occurred on the 3Ist of May, 1882, now a resident of Blairs- burg; Mrs. Mary Stafford, who was born on August 3, 1884, also a resident of Blairsburg township; Harvey, whose natal day was the 26th of September, 1886, of Blairsburg; Ralph, who was
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born on December 23, 1890, of Blairsburg; Thomas, who was born on March 2, 1893, and died in 1894; and Lela, who was born on the 12th of June, 1896, and is living at home with her parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Burcham have become the parents of three sons : Burdette Vincent, who was born on the 16th of November, 1904; Franklin Homer, whose birth occurred on the 4th of May, 1906; and Kenneth Harold, whose natal day was February 25, 1912. They were all born in the old Burcham family home in Blairs- burg township.
The family attend the religious services of the Congregational church at Blairsburg, of which Mrs. Burcham is a member. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Burcham has always taken an active interest in local politics, supporting the republican party. He served for four years as assessor in his township, while for nine years he has held the office of trustee and has been renomi- nated for the same office. He manifests the same positive qual- ities in the discharge of his official duties as characterize him in business, meeting the responsibilities of his position promptly and efficiently.
JACOB J. PETERSON.
Jacob J. Peterson is conducting a general insurance, real-estate and loan office in Webster City. He has resided continuously in Hamilton county since coming to America when twenty-three years of age. He was born in Denmark, January 29, 1860, and is a son of Peter and Kjerstine (Nelson) Jacobson. The father always re- sided in Denmark but died when his son Jacob was quite young. The mother still lives in her native land.
Mr. Peterson, whose name introduces this record, was a pupil in the public schools of Denmark and remained a resident of that country until May, 1883, when he came to the United States, at- tracted by the broader business opportunities which he believed might be secured on this side the Atlantic. He did not tarry on the eastern coast but made his way at once into the interior of the country, set- tling at Jewell in Hamilton county. He engaged in farming for six years in the eastern part of the county and then, abandoning agri- cultural life for industrial pursuits, removed to Webster City in
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1889 and began work at the carpenter's trade. He was thus em- ployed for five years and in 1896 he organized the present real- estate, loan and insurance business which he is now conducting. Sixteen years have since passed, during which period he has nego- tiated many important realty transfers, and no man of the locality is better informed concerning realty values. He has also placed many loans, and the insurance policies which he writes represent a large figure each year. He is persistent, diligent and determined, and the success which has come to him is the merited reward and logical result of his labors.
Mr. Peterson makes his home at No. 50712 Second street. He is one of the charter members of Flaws Castle, No. 330, of the Royal Highlanders, of which he has been secretary since 1903. He is also a charter member of the Bankers Union and has been its secretary since 1898. He belongs to St. Paul's Universalist church and is in- terested in various projects which have for their object the welfare and improvement of the community along material, social and moral lines. He has never yet had occasion to regret his determination to come to America, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and which are always open to ambitious, energetic young men.
ORLANDO A. HALL, M. D.
Holding to high professional standards, Dr. Orlando A. Hall has throughout the period of his practice in Webster City, beginning in 1876, made continuous progress in his chosen life work. He was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1848, a son of Samuel Clark and Lucy A. (Daniels) Hall. The parents came to Iowa in 1856, settling in Webster county, where the father followed farming until 1864. He then left the fields to establish his home in the county seat of Hamilton county, where he remained for a year. In 1865, however, he purchased a farm a mile north of Webster City, upon which he and his wife resided until he retired from active business life, possessing a comfortable competency which enabled him to spend his remaining days without recourse to further labor. Here he passed away November 28, 1895, at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife died in 1901, at the age of seventy-four.
Dr. Hall supplemented his public-school education by a more
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specifically literary course in the Iowa State University at Iowa City. A review of the great field of business led him to the determination to make the practice of medicine his life work and with this end in view he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk. Later he became a student in the Medical College of Cincinnati and was graduated in 1876 with the M. D. degree. He has since taken post-graduate work in the New York Post Graduate Medical School of New York city, receiving therefrom a diploma in 1888. He also pursued post-graduate work at Edinburgh, Scotland. He opened an office in Webster City in 1876 and has here remained continuously since, save for a period of four years spent in the west on account of his wife's health. His practice has steadily grown with the pass- ing years as he has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems concerning the checking of the ravages of disease and the restoration of health. He is physician for the Illinois Central Rail- road and also was county physician for a considerable period. He belongs to the International Railway Surgical Society and to the State Railway Surgical Society and thus keeps in close touch with the advanced work that is being done by eminent members of the profession throughout the state and country. In addition to the practice of medicine Dr. Hall is known in financial circles as a di- rector of the Farmers National Bank of Webster City.
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