USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 23
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In his political affiliations Mr. Ashpole is a member of the re- publican party and has been school director and road supervisor. He is a prominent Mason holding membership in the lodge. He has seen the development of his section of Iowa which in his boyhood had not entirely passed beyond the conditions of a frontier territory. He has not only witnessed the gradual evolution into its present flourishing state but as a progressive and public-spirited citizen has borne his part in the general upbuilding.
WILLIAM H. RICK.
One of the rapidly developing and thriving business enterprises of Williams is the furniture establishment of William H. Rick, which he has been conducting with unusual success for the past eleven years, running in connection therewith an undertaking department. He is a native of Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, his birth having oc- curred there on February 20, 1868, and a son of John G. and Mag- dalena (Saunders) Rick. The parents were both born and reared in Germany, but in early life they emigrated to the United States and for a time resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later they removed to Illinois, locating in Princeton, where they resided until 1869, when they settled in Buda, Illinois. Nine years later, in 1878, they came to Hamilton county, Iowa, locating on a farm two miles east of Williams, which was their home for many years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Rick numbers four, our subject being the third in order of birth. The others are as follows: Theodore J., a resident of Rutland, Iowa, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on
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May 15, 1861; George C., who was born in Princeton, Illinois, on the 13th of March, 1867; and Nellie C., born March 2, 1870, the wife of Robert P. Orris, a native of Buda, Illinois, but now a resi- dent of Lehigh, Webster county, Iowa. The father, who was a vet- eran of the Civil war passed away in Williams on the 2d of April, 19II, but the mother is still living and continues to make her home in this city.
William H. Rick was a child of eighteen months when his par- ents removed to Buda, Illinois, and a lad of nine years when they settled in Hamilton county. He obtained his education in the com- mon schools and was early trained to habits of thrift and industry, which qualities have been dominant factors in promoting his suc- cess. In 1885, at the age of seventeen years, he left the farm and came to Williams to take a position in the store of Crabtree & Mor- rison, having decided upon a commercial career in preference to agricultural labors. He was identified with this enterprise for six- teen years, although during that period the store passed under a different management, and the fact that he was retained by the different proprietors is substantial evidence of his efficiency and trust- worthiness. In 1901, Mr. Rick resigned his position and on March I, of that year, opened the doors of his own business establishment, in the upbuilding of which he has met with more than an average de- gree of success. He had become widely known to the retail trade of Williams and the surrounding country during the long period of his clerkship and had built up a large personal following. He had al- ready established a reputation for trustworthiness and reliability which commended him to the confidence of the community, while his accommodating manner made it a pleasure to deal with him, so that he was accorded a large patronage from the first. Mr. Rick is a judicious buyer, and carefully selects his stock to meet the varied tastes and requirements of his patrons. He keeps a large assortment of household furniture, carpets, rugs and curtains and in connection with this he maintains an undertaking department, that is complete in every respect.
On Christmas day, 1891, Mr. Rick was married to Miss Eva L. Johnson, who was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, on February 9, 1872. She came to Hamilton county in 1881 with her parents, Tru- man G. and Margaret (Carey) Johnson, both of whom are now de- ceased, the mother having died in Rose Grove township in Decem- ber, 1890, while the father passed away in Williams in September, 1910. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson numbered five, Mrs.
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Rick being the second in order of birth. The others are as follows: Walter, who is a resident of Dows, Iowa; Truman J., who lives in Webster City, this state; Edward N., who is a resident of Williams township; and Anna, the wife of John McCarley, of Williams. They are all natives of Grant county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Rick have two sons: Harry A., who was born on the 10th of July, 1894, and was graduated from the Williams high school in 1909, and is now a sophomore at Grinnell College; and Carroll G., whose birth occurred on the 14th of August, 1899.
The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, and fra- ternally Mr. Rick is affiliated with Alamo Lodge, No. 547, A. F. & A. M .; and Williams Camp, No. 1844, M. W. A. His political al- legiance he accords the republican party, and although he is not re- miss in matters of citizenship he has never sought political honors. He is one of the substantial, diligent, enterprising and progressive citizens of the community, where he is accorded the esteem which justly belongs to every man who utilizes his opportunities to the best advantage. He is meeting with success in the development of his business, owns an attractive and comfortable home and is rearing his children to be useful members of society,-in fact, he is a de- sirable citizen and a credit to his community.
BENJAMIN F. VORHES.
Benjamin F. Vorhes, junior member of the firm of Vorhes Broth- ers and manager of the Williams elevator and business of the com- pany, was born in Athens county, Ohio, on the 5th of October, 1863. He is a son of Peter and Sarah Jane (Jolley) Vorhes, both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, the father's natal day being the 23d of February, 1830, and that of the mother December 23, 1831. They removed to Ohio in the early pioneer days and there for many years the father engaged in agricultural pursuits. He now resides in Albany, Athens county, that state, with a daughter, Mrs. Vorhes having passed away on the 4th of February, 1908. In the paternal line the family is of Dutch extraction and trace their de- scent in an unbroken line from one of the first settlers of New Am- sterdam. A portion of the original land grant is still in possession of some of the descendants, who have now held the title for nearly three hundred years. The Jolleys are an old Pennsylvania family,
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the parents of Mrs. Vorhes having been pioneers of Washington county. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Vorhes, as fol- lows: Ernest D., who was born August 21, 1854, a member of the firm of Vorhes Brothers and a resident of Webster City, Iowa; Edith, whose birth occurred Christmas day, 1856, now residing in Ohio with the father; Hattie, who died at the age of sixteen years ; Benjamin F., our subject; and Luther, who died when he was seven years of age. After completing the common-school course, those who attained maturity, with the exception of Benjamin F., continued their educations in the Ohio University.
Benjamin F. Vorhes was reared amid the refining influences of a good home, and at the usual age became a student in the common schools, and after completing the course there he attended the acad- emy of Albany. He remained in his native state until 1886, when he came to Iowa, first locating in Woodbury county, which continued to be his place of residence for five years. In 1891, he came to Wil- liams and became associated in business with his brother under the firm name of Vorhes Brothers. They have an elevator in Williams and another in Brushy, Webster county, and engage in buying and selling grain, in connection with which they also deal in coal. They have a well organized business and are meeting with financial suc- cess in the promotion of its development.
In Athens county, Ohio, on the 30th of June, 1888, Mr. Vorhes was married to Miss Sadie Dent, who was born on the 23d of Janu- ary, 1869. She is also a native of Athens county and there she was reared to womanhood, acquiring her education in the common schools and the Ohio State University. Mrs. Vorhes is a member of the same family as Mrs. Grant, the wife of General U. S. Grant, and is a daughter of Shiveley and Malvina (Evans) Dent, natives of Ohio, the father having been born in Belmont county. Mr. and Mrs. Dent are both living and reside in Athens county, Ohio. They are the parents of the following children: Elmira; A. E .; Octa, deceased; Sadie, the wife of our subject; Evans; Royal; and Bessie. All of the children living are married. Mr. and Mrs. Vorhes have two children: Arthur Dent, who was born in Woodbury county, Iowa, on the 22d of December, 1890, and after completing his course in the Williams high school, entered Highland Park College, at Des Moines; and Nona Bess, whose birth occurred in Williams, August 30, 1898. She is a high-school student and will be graduated with the class of 1913. Mr. Vorhes owns his residence, which is one of
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the attractive properties of the town and is thoroughly modern in its appointments.
The family are members of the Presbyterian church, and frater- nally Mr. Vorhes is affiliated with Alamo Lodge, No. 547, A. F. & A. M. He gives his political support to the republican party and has served as a member of the board of education and has also repre- particularly on historical subjects, on which he has read widely, and sented his ward in the town council. He is a well informed man, has a well chosen library containing representative works of the best historians.
CLAUDE V. CAMPBELL.
Claude V. Campbell, proprietor and editor of the Jewell Record, was born in Story county, this state, on the 13th of December, 1882. He is the second in order of birth in a family of six, his parents being J. A. and Ada (Hall) Campbell, also natives of Story county. The father, who was born on the same farm as his son, devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until 1896, when he withdrew from the work of the fields and went to Ames. There for a time he dealt in real estate but he subsequently engaged in the grain and coal business, which he is still following. The grandparents in both lines were homesteaders in Story county, with the progress and development of which the fam- ilies have been actively identified for three generations.
Reared at home in the acquirement of his education, Claude V. Campbell attended the public schools of Ames. He was graduated from the high school with the class of 1900, and subsequently enrolled in the Iowa State College, from which institution he was awarded his degree in 1904. After leaving college he obtained a position as re- porter on the Webster City Journal, where he acquired a general knowl- edge of the newspaper business. From there he came to Jewell Junc- tion and bought a half interest in the Record and two years later he bought out his partner, thus becoming sole proprietor of the paper. He subsequently extended the scope of his activities by the purchase of the Stanhope Mail and the Randall Roundabout, which he consolidated with the Record, maintaining a separate department for each. In 19II he added Kamrar to his circuit. Mr. Campbell is an active, enterprising man, as is evidenced by his paper, the columns of which heartily in- dorse every progressive movement and enthusiastically cooperate in
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promoting the welfare of the community. He possesses high standards of citizenship and, fully appreciating the power of the press in in- fluencing public opinion, is absolutely fearless in his denunciation of wrong, but equally ready to commend good. His circulation list car- ries the names of fourteen hundred and fifty subscribers, and in con- nection with the publication of his paper he engages in job printing for which he is well equipped, his plant, valued at six thousand dollars, being more modern and complete than is usually found in a town of this size.
Mr. Campbell is a member of the republican county committee and the columns of his paper stanchly support the men and measures of this party. He was formerly identified with the Iowa National Guard and for three years held the office of second sergeant in Company C, Fifty- fifth Regiment. In his religious views he is a Lutheran and is affiliated with the Norwegian church of that denomination. Mr. Campbell pos- sesses many admirable traits of character and is popular in local busi- ness and social circles, being numbered among the representative citi- zens of the town.
OLIVER G. NELSON.
Oliver G. Nelson has for five years been postmaster of Ellsworth and here he also engages in the real-estate business. He is a native of Lincoln township, Hamilton county, his birth having occurred on the Ioth of June, 1881. His parents are Nels J. and Emma (Jacobs) Nelson, who are mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work.
Oliver G. Nelson was reared at home and at the usual age began his education in the common schools of this county, completing his course of study at Jewell College. His health failed about the time he was ready to begin his business career and for several years there- after he was unable to do anything. Later he went to Des Moines to receive medical attention and while there worked in a real-estate office. He subsequently purchased a half interest in the Empire Land Agency, being identified with this enterprise for three years. At the expiration of that time he came to Ellsworth, and has ever since been engaged in the real-estate business here, making a specialty of Texas lands. On the Ist of November, 1907, he was appointed postmaster, the duties of which office he has filled with general sat- isfaction to the community.
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On the 15th of April, 1908, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Lena Reisetter, a daughter of Osmund and Adolphina (Jaas- tad) Reisetter, natives of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have become the parents of two children : Elmer Arnold, who is three years of age; and Orvill Noel, who is a babe of fifteen months.
The family attend the Lutheran church, in which the parents hold membership. The political support of Mr. Nelson is accorded to the republican party, and for three years he held the office of township assessor.
EDWARD PAYSON LYON.
Edward Payson Lyon has for forty-two years been identified with the agricultural development of Williams township, where he owns a valuable farm of one hundred and fifty-nine acres. He was born in Salisbury, Herkimer county, New York, on the 22d of October, 1838, and is a son of David N. and Deborah (Peek) Lyon, also natives of the Empire state, the father's natal day being in 1809, and that of the mother in 1813. They passed the early years of their domestic life in the state of New York, but in 1844 they removed to Ohio, locating in Doylestown, Wayne county, where the father passed away the same year. He was long survived by the mother, whose death occurred in 1879. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Lyon numbered six: Cornelia, who is a resident of Wooster, Ohio; William, who makes his home in Doylestown, Ohio; Edward P., our subject ; Rachel, the deceased wife of James Frank; David, a Presbyterian minister, formerly a missionary in China, but now the pastor of a church in Seneca Falls, New York; and Sarah, the wife of A. B. Chidester, of Wooster, Ohio. After the death of the father the mother married a Mr. Chidester, and to them was born one son, Samuel Willis, a Presbyterian minister, who has for many years been in charge of the church of that denomination at Waukegan, Illinois.
The first six years in the life of Edward Payson Lyon were passed in his native state. His education was acquired in the com- mon and subscription schools of Ohio, in which state he resided until 1856. In 1862, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the service until the close of hostilities. His regiment was first assigned to the Fourteenth Corps under the command of Colonel A. B. Moore, who was suc-
MR. AND MRS. EDWARD P. LYON
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ceeded by Colonel Douglas Hatman. The company to which he be- longed was captured by Morgan at Hartsville, Tennessee, but they were paroled three days later and sent to Rosecrans camp at Nash- ville. They were subsequently assigned to Sherman's army and were with this general when he made his famous march. Mr. Lyon was in many of the notable engagements of the war, among them Mis- sionary Ridge, Chickamauga and Peachtree Creek, more than half of the right wing of the regiment having been killed in the latter bat- tle in less than half an hour. After the close of hostilities he par- ticipated in the grand review of the army at Washington, and was mustered out in Chicago in 1865. Following his discharge, Mr. Lyon resumed his agricultural pursuits in Illinois, where he con- tinued to reside until 1871, when he came to Iowa and purchased the farm where he is now living in Williams township. He has prospered in his undertakings and his is one of the best improved and most highly cultivated farms in the community, and annually yields him a goodly income.
On the 6th of March, 1866, Mr. Lyon was married to Miss Flora M. Marsh, who was born in La Porte county, Indiana, on June II, 1838, and is a daughter of Harry and Catharine W. (Smith) Marsh. The father was born in Connecticut in 1800, but in his early manhood settled in the west and died in Illinois on March 4, 1880. He was a member of an old New England colonial family and was a veteran of the War of 1812. The mother was born in Newburg, New York, in 1807, and was a daughter of Hezekiah Smith, who was a soldier in the Revolution. She passed away in Lee county, Illinois, shortly before the father, her death occurring in February, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh were the parents of ten children: Shel- don, a veteran of the Civil war, who resides in Missouri; Mrs. Lyon; DeWitt Clinton, also a veteran of the Civil war, of Tobias, Ne- braska; Adeline and Angeline, twins, the former the deceased wife of Lyman Messecar, and the latter Mrs. Ross Harmon, of Creston, Illinois; Catharin, the wife of Judge Farrand, of Dixon, Illinois; Miles, who lives at Greene, Iowa; Dorinda, who married Oskar Kuhn, and resides in the vicinity of Greene, this state; Henry G., who is also a resident of Greene; and Maria, who died in infancy. The eldest member of the family was born in New York state, but the others are natives of Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have had four children: Willie E., who was born in Lee county, Illinois, on the 6th of January, 1867, superin- tendent of the Gade Engine Works at Iowa Falls, this state; David, Vol. II-16
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who was born March 28, 1870, and died July 27, of the same year ; a daughter, who died in infancy; and Elbert Percy, who was born on the homestead in Williams township, October 10, 1878, and is residing with his parents.
The family have long been attendants of the Presbyterian church at Williams, of which Mr. and Mrs. Lyon are charter members. He is affiliated with C. Fairchild Post, No. 431, G. A. R., of Williams, and his political allegiance he accords to the republican party. He served for several years as assessor in his township. Mr. Lyon has always led a quiet, unobtrusive life, and has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs, but he has wielded a strong influence in his community by reason of his high standards, upright principles and incorruptible integrity as evidenced in his business transactions and daily conduct. Among his most highly prized possessions is a letter written the day after his birth and bearing the date of October 23, 1838, prior to the advent of the envelope and at a period when cor- respondence was the luxury of the few, as postage on all letters was then ten cents.
ISAAC SMITH.
Perseverance and diligence have been the salient factors in the career of Isaac Smith, who is numbered among the highly successful and en- terprising agriculturists of Independence township, where he owns two hundred and forty acres of well improved and fertile land located on section 21 and 16. He was born in New York city on the 24th of May, 1848, and is a son of David and Sarah ( Richardson) Smith. The par- ents were natives of England, whence they emigrated to the United States in early life and were married in New York city in 1846. There the father, who was a shoemaker, followed his trade for nine years, but at the expiration of that time he removed with his family to Syracuse, where he engaged in the same occupation during the ensuing four years. Their next removal was to a little village in the vicinity of Cortland, and there he resumed his trade, which he followed at that point until 1863. In April of that year he joined a colony going to Yankton, South Dakota, leaving his family in New York state. On his way westward he stopped at Fort Dodge, this state, coming from there to Webster City, where he worked at his trade until August, 1863, when he returned to New York, and in
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November, of the same year, came back to Webster City with his entire family. He remained here until 1885, when he again started westward, leaving his wife and family in Webster City. For two years thereafter he worked at his trade in Barber county, Kansas, going from there to California, where he passed away on the 7th of September, 1893. The mother's death occurred three days later in Webster City, the father being seventy-six years of age at the time of his demise and the mother sixty-one. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith numbered four, of whom our subject is the eldest.
The education of Isaac Smith was obtained in the public schools of the state of New York, where he passed the first fifteen years of his life. After coming to Iowa he turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits and has ever since followed this vocation. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming for himself, having ac- quired one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land, which formed the nucleus of his present homestead. He subsequently extended the boundaries of his farm until he now holds the title to two hun- dred and forty acres, all of which is under high cultivation and an- nually yields abundant harvests which amply reward him for his hard labor. Mr. Smith has all of his land fenced hog tight and his fields are tiled. In connection with general farming he makes a specialty of breeding and raising Duroc Jersey hogs and he also buys and feeds cattle for the market. He is diligent and enterpris- ing as well as progressive in his methods and takes great pride in keeping up his place, the general appearance of which evidences the exercise of sound judgment and systematic supervision in its operation.
In 1871, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Maila Churchill, who is a native of Michigan, her birth occurring on the 26th of January, 1853, and the youngest of the three children born to James and Maila (Harwood) Churchill. The parents were born and reared in Michigan, and there they were also married. They subsequently came to Iowa, locating in Blackhawk county, which was their place of residence for many years. The father passed away in 1875, at the age of sixty-four years, while the mother was fifty-six at the time of her death, which occurred in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three daughters: Isabel, who married Charles Pierce and passed away at the age of twenty-six, leaving a child, which is being reared by her parents; Mamie, who married Frank Seamonds of Kamrar, and is the mother of one child; and Emma,
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who, with her husband, E. W. Brewer, and their child, is living at home.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and frater- nally Mr. Smith is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, being a member of Webster Lodge, No. 342. In his political views he is republican and has served for six years as member of the school board. From early youth Mr. Smith has been entirely de- pendent upon his own resources, and such success as has come to him through the intervening years is the result of earnest, persistent ef- fort and the determination of purpose that refuses to acknowledge defeat. He is held in high regard in his community, where he has resided for forty-three years and is known to be a man of sterling worth and integrity.
PETER LEWIS PETERSON.
Peter Lewis Peterson is a native son of Iowa, whose life record has been a credit to his community, being in all its phases upright, straightforward and honorable. He has by capably and scientifically cultivating one hundred and sixty acres of land on section II, Liberty township, Hamilton county, gained a comfortable fortune for him- self and has added to the resources of his section a model agricultural enterprise. Mr. Peterson was born in a log cabin near Randall, Hamilton county, on February 19, 1868. His parents were Nels and Larcina (Anderson) Peterson, both natives of Norway. The father spent his childhood and early manhood in his native country. He came to America in 1863 and in July, of that year, settled in Hamil- ton county, Iowa. He was among the pioneers in the settlement of the state. There were at that time no railroads and Mr. Peterson was obliged to come to Hamilton county overland from Nevada, Iowa, which was then the terminus of the Northwestern Railroad. Many of the houses were log cabins, there were no educational facili- ties and there were still many reminders of the frontier days. Mr. Peterson cultivated the soil and was steadily successful. He is now living at Randall, Iowa, and his wife is also surviving and makes her residence in the same city. To their union were born eight children, of whom Peter Lewis, of this review, is the eldest. The others are: Mrs. Swenson, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Mrs. Owenson, of Randall;
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