USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 13
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HARRY DALLAS RICHARDS.
Harry Dallas Richards successfully engages in general agricul- tural pursuits and stock-raising in Independence township, where he owns a valuable farm of one hundred and eighty-four acres, located on sections 31 and 32. He was born in Mattoon, Illinois, on the 5th of February, 1872, and is a son of William and Almira (Campbell) Richards. The parents were born, reared and married in Ohio, but subsequently removed to Illinois. Two years later, in 1873, they returned to the Buckeye state, and there the mother passed away in the spring of 1904, at the age of fifty-six years. The father con- tinued to make his home in Ohio until 1909, when he came to Iowa and is now residing in Hamilton county. He is sixty-two years of age.
The eldest in a family of nine, Harry Dallas Richards remained at home until he had attained his majority. He was educated in the common schools of Ohio, and while engaged in mastering the funda- mental principles of English learning, was qualifying for his pres- ent vocation by assisting his father with the work of the fields and care of the stock. When he was twenty-one, he left the parental roof and started out to make his own way in the world. He spent the first year he was away from home in Indian Territory, coming from there to Boone county, Iowa, where he worked out as a farm hand for four years. At the expiration of that time he began farm- ing on his own account as a renter in Clear Lake township, this county. He continued to cultivate leased land during the succeed-
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ing ten years, and then bought his present place on which he located in the spring of 1908. His entire tract is fenced, one hundred acres of it hog tight, and his fields are tiled. One hundred and thirty-five acres of his land is under high cultivation and the greater portion of it planted to corn and oats, his principal crops. He owns a full blooded Aberdeen Angus bull and makes a specialty of this breed of cattle and he is also raising Duroc Jersey hogs. In addition to feeding his own stock he annually buys cattle which he also prepares for the market.
On the 9th of March, 1898, Mr. Richards was married to Miss Emma Goodman, a daughter of Jacob and Miranda Goodman of Ohio. They were reared in their native state but married in Iowa and subsequently settled on a hundred and fifty-six acres of govern- ment land in Boone county, which the father cultivated during the remainder of his active life. He passed away on his homestead on December 4, 1898, at the age of seventy years, but was survived by the mother, who died April 5, 1900. Mrs. Richards, who was born on the 30th of December, 1873, is the fifth in order of birth in a family of eight, and the mother of three children: Leroy, Margaret Wave and Gertrude.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church of which Mrs. Richards is a member. He accords his political support to the repub- lican party and is now secretary of the school board. Diligent and enterprising in his methods, Mr. Richards is meeting with success in the development of his interests and is numbered among the pros- perous and efficient agriculturists of his community.
JAMES N. OMSTEAD.
James N. Omstead, vice president of the state bank of Wool- stock, Iowa, holds a high place in the financial circles of the city and has achieved success by reason of his upright methods, his conservative but thoroughly liberal views and his policy of grad- ual expansion. He is a native of Iowa, having been born in Webster City, in October, 1858. His father, Nelson G. Omstead was one of the earliest settlers of Hamilton county, coming to that section in 1854. A more extended mention of his life appears on another page in this book. Mr. Omstead's mother was Sarah
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(Evans) Omstead, who settled in Iowa with her husband in the early times.
James N. Omstead acquired his education in the public schools of his native city and followed the usual course of studies until he laid aside his books. In 1876 he engaged in farming in the northern part of Hamilton county and was active in this occupa- tion until 1881. He joined his father in that year in the opera- tion of a grain and live stock shipping business at Woolstock, afterward running the concern independently. He was success- ful in the conduct of this enterprise until 1892 and his identifica- tion with it was continuous with the exception of two years which he spent upon his farm. Mr. Omstead early in his career felt that agricultural and purely commercial walks of life did not offer him a sufficient scope for his activities. He had a constructive and original mind and possessed a power of initiative and control which would have made him successful in any line of commercial or professional activity. His organizing talents found vent in the foundation in August, 1892, of the state bank of Woolstock and he has been a dominating and influential force in its develop- ment since that time. The first office which he held in the new institution was that of cashier and he retained that position until January 1, 1912, when he was elected vice president, his son, Nelson C. Omstead, succeeding to his former position of cashier. Mr. Omstead is well known as a conservative, sagacious finan- cier, who is always eager to further the interests of his patrons and who keeps his mind always open to every new development in banking methods. He has brought the institution of which he is at the head to an influential and prominent place in the business world of Woolstock and the policy of broad minded and intel- ligent activity upon which he founded it he has followed con- tinuously since that time.
On March 5, 1884, Mr. Omstead was united in marriage to Miss Mary B. Tatham, the daughter of William and Mary Tat- ham of Webster City, and they became the parents of four chil- dren: William H., of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work; Nelson C., of Woolstock, Iowa, who married Miss Velva Neese and has one son, Lamont Elston ; Mary Bell; and Edna E., both of whom are living with their parents.
Although James Omstead carries on his business activities in Woolstock, Iowa, he maintains his residence in Webster City
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where he has a comfortable and commodious home at No. 608 Bank street. In banking circles he is looked upon as a sagacious, honorable and high minded man whose constructive work along lines of organization and progress has been one of the great indi- vidual forces in financial upbuilding.
JOSHUA W. YOUNG.
Joshua W. Young is living retired in Webster City but for many years was an active factor in its business circles, and the record which he made in commercial connections is one that reflects credit and honor upon the city as well as upon himself. He has never de- viated from the course which he believed to be right between himself and his fellowmen and, basing his principles and actions upon the relations which govern strict and unswerving integrity and industry, he gradually advanced until he gained a position of prominence and prosperity in the business world. He was born November 30, 1843, in Lamoine, Hancock county, Maine, the son of Stephen and Betsey (McFarland) Young. The father was throughout his life a ship carpenter of Maine, and died in 1890, when he was eighty-five years of age. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1874, when sixty-four years of age.
Joshua W. Young pursued his education in the public schools of the Pine Tree state during the winter seasons and at the age of fif- teen years started out in life on his own account by following the sea. He engaged in fishing along the Maine coast and off Newfoundland, for several years but in, 1873 became a house carpenter and ship- joiner, which trades he followed until 1880. That year witnessed his arrival in Webster City, where he entered the lumber yard of F. D. Young, who though of the same name was not a relative. The following year he returned to New England and after two months brought his wife and children to Hamilton county. He then again entered the employ of Mr. Young, with whom he continued for a year, when he engaged in the contracting business on his own account. In 1884, however, the lumberyard of F. D. Young was destroyed by fire and at that time Joshua W. Young entered into partnership with his former employer for the conduct of the lumber business under the firm style of F. D. & J. W. Young. This relation was maintained pleasantly and profitably until 1895, when Joshua W. Young pur-
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chased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone until 1908, when he sold out to his son Calvin and C. H. Clifton, who are now conducting the business under the firm name of Young & Clif- ton. The father then retired from active business connections save for the management which he gives to his invested interests. He is a director of the First National Bank of Webster City. His life has in- deed been well spent, bringing to him success as the reward of earnest and intelligently directed effort.
Mr. Young has been married twice. At Ellsworth, Maine, on the 16th of January, 1866, he wedded Miss Margaret A. Millikin, a daughter of John and Rosilla (Coats) Millikin, of Hancock county, Maine. Her father was a prominent farmer there and a very in- fluential citizen. He represented his district in both the house and state senate of the general assembly and was active in shaping useful legislation for the commonwealth. He died in 1890, while his wife survived until 1892. The death of Mrs. Young occurred February 2, 1899, and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret to her many friends as well as her immediate family. There were four chil- dren of that marriage: Calvin, who wedded Grace Clagg and is well known in business circles as senior partner of the lumber firm of Young & Clifton of Webster City; Ethel, the wife of Seth W. Crab- tree, of Newport, Washington; Martha, who is the wife of Lewis Lenhard, of the firm of Cash and Lenhard, of Webster City, and Earl R., also living in Newport, Washington. In 1903 Mr. Young was again married, his second union being with Mrs. R. T. Holt, a daugh- ter of F. D. Hodgkin, of Hancock county, Maine. By her first mar- riage she had one son, Frank D. Holt, now a student in the Iowa State College at Ames.
Mr. Young has ever been recognized as a man worthy of high trust and this fact is further indicated in that Kendall Young, not a relative, named him executor in his will. As stated, he had full charge of all of the affairs of the Kendall Young estate and super- vision of his bequest to the Webster City Library and its endowment, and is still a member of the board of library trustees. He belongs to the Christian Science church and to several other organizations, in- cluding Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M., of which he is a past high priest ; Triune Commandery, No. 41, K. T., of which he is a past eminent commander ; Sharon Chapter, No. 148, O. E. S., of which he became a charter member and its first worthy patron; and Iowa Con- sistory, No. 3, A. A. S. R., of Des Moines, in which he attained the
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thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite, and Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine, also at Des Moines. His political allegiance has ever been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and his opinions are the result of careful study and investigation into the vital questions and issues of the day. For six years he was a member of the Webster City school board and for two terms he was the chief executive officer of the city. His record as mayor is highly commendable, indicating his loyalty to and deep in- terest in everything pertaining to municipal advancement.
In his business career Mr. Young always employed constructive methods, building his interests upon a safe, substantial basis of energy, close application and careful management .. He was never known to take advantage of the interests of another and his upright dealing, reasonable prices and earnest efforts to please his patrons brought to him a continuous and growing patronage. From this hie derived a substantial income year by year until he was in a financial position to retire and is now enjoying a well earned rest with leisure for those activities which are of greatest interest to him.
FRANK REINHARDT.
Frank Reinhardt, who resides on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 4, Independence township, is one of the repre- sentative agriculturists of Hamilton county. He was born in Illi- nois on the Ioth of November, 1872, and is a son of Fred and The- resa Reinhardt. The parents were born, reared and married in Ger- many, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1866, locating in Illinois. In 1874, they came to Hamilton county and the father purchased a quarter section of partially improved land in Cass town- ship. There he and the mother passed the remainder of their lives, her death occurring in 1894 and his in 1900, and both are buried in Graceland cemetery at Webster City. Our subject is the third in or- der of birth in a family of eight children, the eldest of whom were born in Illinois.
Frank Reinhardt, who was only a lad of two years when his par- ents came to Hamilton county, received his education in the district schools of Cass township. While still in his early boyhood he began to assist his father with the work of the farm and was taught the value of thrift and diligence in the acquirement of a successful career. He
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remained at home until he had attained his majority, and then started out to make his own way in the world. For five years thereafter he worked out as a farm hand and during that time he accumulated suffi- cient money to enable him to begin farming on his own account as a renter. Twelve years ago he removed to the place where he is now living and after the death of his father he bought the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead, comprised of two hundred acres lo- cated on sections 35 and 13 of Cass and Boone townships. All of the improvements on the latter place were made by our subject and his father and under their capable management it has been converted into one of the valuable properties of the township. Mr. Reinhardt is cul- tivating both places, consisting of three hundred and sixty acres, in connection with which he is also breeding and raising a high grade of stock. His cattle are all shorthorns and Herefords and he is rais- ing Chester White hogs and Clyde horses.
In 1896, Mr. Reinhardt was married to Miss Minnie Jones, a daughter of Christ and Caroline Jones. Mrs. Reinhardt was born in Germany on the 27th of February, 1876, and is the eldest of five chil- dren born of her mother's second marriage. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1885 and located in Webster City, where the father is still residing, but the mother passed away in 1895. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt, as follows: The- resa, Arthur, Clarine and George.
The parents are members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Reinhardt votes the democratic ticket and has served as school direc- tor for three years and treasurer of the school board for one. He is a diligent man, of persistent effort and determination of purpose and to these qualities must be attributed the success which has come to him.
FRANK A. HUDDLESTUN.
Frank A. Huddlestun is proprietor of the Edgewood farm at the south end of Superior street, Webster City, Iowa, and is specializing in the breeding of pure-bred Shire horses. He was born in DeWitt county, Illinois, and is a son of Charles H. and Catherine (Campbell) Huddlestun, both natives of Illinois. The father farmed in that state for many years and was numbered among its scientific and progress- ive agriculturists.
F. A. HUDDLESTUN
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Frank A. Huddlestun received his education in the public schools of his native state and laid aside his books at the age of seventeen years. He then started to farm for himself and was successful in this field of activity in Illinois until 1892, when he came to Hamilton county, Iowa, where he purchased four hundred and seventy-six acres of land in Hamilton township, upon which he resided until 1906. He subsequently disposed of his holdings and moved to Webster City, where he bought two hundred and twenty-two acres in the south part of the city and proceeded to improve and develop his holdings along progressively scientific lines. His property is known as the Edge- wood farm and is the meeting place for horse lovers from all over the state of Iowa. Mr. Huddlestun devotes his entire attention to the breeding of pure-bred Shire horses and has at the head of the stud, "Goadby Duke," a pure-bred, imported by the Pioneer Stud Farm of Bushnell, Illinois, and from them purchased by Mr. Huddlestun. He is thoroughly acquainted with the details connected with the breeding and care of horses and has attained a gratifying degree of success in this field of activity. His farm is a model property in Webster City and Mr. Huddlestun is entirely responsible for his present degree of prosperity. He started in life at an early age with no assets beyond a clear and alert mind and an enterprising character. He is now one of the substantial agriculturists of Hamilton county and Edgewood farm is one of the most beautiful properties in this section of the country. It is located in the south end of Webster City on Superior street. Its many acres are under cultivation in the most suitable grains and vegetables and Mr. Huddlestun's home is located in their center, surrounded by beautiful lawns and shade trees. It is one of the most modern dwellings in Hamilton county and perhaps in the state of Iowa. It is built of native stone and is twenty-four feet long by thirty-four feet wide with two stories and a basement. It is equipped with running water on each floor and is lighted by electricity. It has a modern and sanitary equipment, and its plumbing and bath- ing facilities are models of their kind. Mr. Huddlestun has also re- built his barn. It is forty-six feet wide by eighty feet long, and gives ample room to his large stock of pure-bred horses. Mr. Huddlestun's silo, dairy house, corn crib, and other necessary buildings upon his property have all been erected during the period of his occupancy and are all modern and improved structures.
In 1888 Mr. Huddlestun was united in marriage to Miss Cora Campbell, a daughter of Elijah and Sarah Campbell, the former a prominent farmer in Illinois. Mr. Huddlestun gives his allegiance to
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the Methodist Episcopal church and has always been active in the re- ligious circles of Webster City. He was chairman of the church build- ing committee and is largely responsible for the imposing structure which this organization erected. As a member of the Shire Horse Breeders' Association of America he meets men who are interested and engaged in that line of occupation. He is noted among the most extensive and representative agriculturists in the county. He has added two hundred and twenty-two acres in a highly improved and developed condition to the resources of the state of Iowa and Hamil- ton county is the richer and the more progressive by reason of his well directed activities ..
CALVIN YOUNG.
Business success is not in itself a thing of unusual merit or value but as an end which can only be achieved through industry; concen- tration and skillful use of opportunity, it entitles a man to the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. The career of Calvin Young, senior partner in the firm of Young & Clifton, lumber dealers, of Webster City, is an exemplification of success gained by alertness and activity of mind and business ability of a high order. Mr. Young is a native of Maine, having been born in Lamoine, July 22, 1867. His parents were Joshua W. and Margaret (Milliken) Young, of whom more ex- tended mention is made on another page of this work. Mr. Young came to Webster City with his parents in 1881 and finished the educa- tion begun in Maine in the public schools of Hamilton county. He began his active career in 1893 when he established the grocery busi- ness of Calvin Young & Company. He met with success from the beginning. He founded his prosperity upon industry, integrity and a discriminating business sense which combined with his accurate grasp of the details of an intricate situation brought him rapid ad- vancement in the commercial world. Mr. Young was identified with the grocery business for three years and at the end of this period of time he accepted a position in his father's lumber yard and learned the details of this business from the beginning. His advancement was rapid, well deserved and based on merit. In 1906 his father offered him a partnership in the business and the firm operated under the name of J. W. Young & Son. The concern gradually developed along progressive lines until it became one of the largest and most repre-
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sentative industrial enterprises in Webster City. Much of its growth at this period was due to the energetic activity and resourcefulness of Calvin Young, who, besides being thoroughly versed in the details of the occupation with which he is connected, brought to the conduct of the enterprise modern and scientific ideas of commercial operation. In 1908 his father retired and Calvin Young formed a partnership with C. H. and V. L. Clifton, running the lumber business under the firm name of Young & Clifton. It is under this title that the enterprise is now managed and as such it is known throughout Hamilton county. The dominating factor in its success is the enterprising spirit of Cal- vin Young, who brings to his business operations a highly intelligent and progressive mind and a keen discrimination coupled with the strict honesty which influences every relation of his life.
On June 21, 1893, Mr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Grace Clagg, a daughter of J. P. Clagg, who was a well known hard- ware merchant of Webster City before his death in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Young have three children : James, born in 1901; Thelma, born in 1907; and Julia, whose birth occurred in 1909. The family is very prominent in social circles and the residence at No. 822 Second street is a charming center of hospitality in Webster City. Mrs. Young is prominent in club affairs and her pleasing and generous personality make her widely popular among her many friends. She belongs to the Six O'clock Club of Webster City and is active and interested in the affairs of the leading organizations of that city.
Mr. Young is a member of Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., and was secretary of this organization for two years. He belongs to Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M., and Sharon Chapter, No. 148, O. E .. S. In fraternal relations Mr. Young is popular and prominent for he possesses an engaging personality and a genuinely honest character.
JAMES WALTER SAYRE.
James Walter Sayre, station agent for the Illinois Central Rail- road at Blairsburg, was born in the township of which he is now a resident, on the 8th of April, 1878. He is the eldest child of James Edward and Lucy Jane (Jaycox) Sayre, the former a native of Wis- consin, his birth having there occurred on Independence day, 1852, while the mother was born in the state of New York on the 23d of May, 1857. The parents came to Hamilton county in 1875, making
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their home in Blairsburg until the year following the birth of their son, when they removed to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, where the father engaged in farming for six years. At the expiration of that period he and his family located in the vicinity of Valentine, Cherry county, Nebraska. There he continued his agricultural pur- suits for eleven years, and then returned to Blairsburg, where he and the mother still reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Sayre were born seven children, those beside our subject being as follows: Mrs. Jennie C. Hawks, who was born on the 17th of June, 1880, a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Edward Howard, a foreman in the gypsum factory at Fort Dodge, whose natal day was the 3d of March, 1882; Mrs. Lucy Virginia Stouffer, who was born November 25, 1885, of Des Moines, Iowa; Herbert Jaycox, whose birth occurred on the 20th of November, 1894; Coe, whose natal day was March 10, 1896; and William Isaac, who was born in January, 1898. The three last named are living at home.
James Walter Sayre was reared at home and educated in the com- mon schools. He early became self-supporting, his first employment being that of a section hand on the Illinois Central Railroad at Blairs- burg. At the expiration of three weeks he withdrew from this work and became station helper, devoting his energies to this employment as well as that of towerman and fireman during the succeeding three years. During that period he was devoting his leisure time to a mas- tery of the telegraph code, and when qualified was appointed operator. He proved efficient and capable in this capacity but his general knowl- edge of station and railroad work well fitted him for a more responsi- ble position and six months later he received his first appointment as agent. During the intervening years he has been located at Alden, Ackley, Parkersburg, Sinclair, Mona Junction, Webster City, High- view, Gypsum, Fort Dodge, Knierim, Sherwood, Wall Lake, Ells, Deloit and Grable. On the 29th of April, 1910, he was given his present appointment at Blairsburg, where he has since been located. As he is genial, considerate and obliging, Mr. Sayre is not only popu- lar with his fellow employes but is well liked in the community, where he is familiarly addressed by both young and old as "Walter." He is a man of thrifty habits and owns his residence and an additional lot in Blairsburg and a house and four acres of land at Highview, this county.
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