USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 25
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Archie, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Caddie, who is the wife of Arthur Maxon of Webster City and the mother of four chil- dren; Bessie, who upon completing the public schools attended a young ladies' seminary in Kentucky for a year and then took a course in the State University at Iowa City, and is now instructor in history in the Webster City high school; Benton, who was a student in the Washington School of Electrical Engineering, Washington, D. C., where he passed away on the 10th of February, 1907, at the age of twenty-seven years; Grace, who married Homer Butler, a farmer of this county, by whom she has had a daughter, Mariam; and Wyatt E., who married Alda McFarland of Webster City, by whom he has a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, born in 1912, and is living on the old homestead with his mother and sister.
Fraternally Mr. Lyon was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and gave his political allegiance to the republican party. He was held in high esteem by the citizens of his community, toward the development and advancement of which he had contrib- uted his full quota. He was progressive and public-spirited in mat- ters of citizenship, and could always be relied upon to support every movement which would promote the welfare of the community. He hewed the logs for the first schoolhouse in his district, and in later years rendered most efficient service to the township while serving in the capacity of trustee. Mr. Lyon was in every way well adapted to meet the varied requirements of pioneering, both as a private citizen and a public official, as he was not only diligent and persevering, but was resourceful and adaptable, and in matters of business manifested discretion and foresight.
JACOB WILLIAMS.
Jacob Williams is a popular and well known citizen of Randall, Iowa, in which place he has filled the important position of post- · master since 1901. He was born in Norway in July, 1864, and is a son of Frederick and Isabelle Williams, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was a lawyer by profession and was a mem- ber of the judicial bench in Norway, where he died in 1893. The mother is living in her native land at the age of seventy-six.
Jacob Williams was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in Norway. He remained under the parental roof
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until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1889 he emigrated to America and located in Hamilton county, Iowa, where he was en- gaged at work as a farm hand for one and a half years. He then came to Randall and found employment with the Seymore & Hen- derson Company, who were proprietors of a hardware and imple- ment business. As an employe of that firm he continued for five years, after which time he purchased the business, which he success- fully conducted until 1911, when he sold out. In 1901 he received the appointment of postmaster for Randall, which position he has since continued to hold and now devotes his entire time to that office.
On April 1, 1897, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Anna Henderson, a daughter of Lars and Sarah Henderson, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father, with his wife and family emigrated to America in 1857, locating in Hamilton county, Iowa. The father later bought and improved land in Scott township in this county and continued to add to his original purchase until he was the owner of twenty-two hundred acres of land, all of which he suc- cessfully operated until the time of his death, which occurred in Oc- tober, 1896. The mother is still living at the age of seventy-five, and maintains her home with the subject of this review. To Mr. and Mrs. Lars Henderson twelve children were born.
Mr. Williams belongs to the republican party and has served as clerk of Ellsworth township for a number of years. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church of Randall. Mr. Williams is one of the highly respected citizens of Hamilton county and num- bered among the enterprising and influential men in his part of the state.
ALEXANDER B. McNAB.
Alexander B. McNab, who is spending his latter years in well earned ease and retirement in Blairsburg, where he owns an attrac- tive and comfortable residence, belongs to the rapidly thinning ranks of the boys who donned the blue and went to the front in defense of the Union in the '6os. He is a native of New York, his birth hav- ing occurred in Livingston county, that state, on the 17th of Decem- ber, 1837. His parents, John and Anna (McIntyre) McNab, were born and reared in Scotland, but in early life they settled in New York and there they both passed away at the age of seventy years.
MR. AND MRS. A. B. MeNAB
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Their family numbered thirteen children, all of whom were born and reared on a farm in Livingston county, New York, which the father secured from the government and cleared and placed under cultiva- tion. Our subject was the twelfth child born to his parents, the others in order of birth being as follows: Christina, who passed away at the age of eighty years ; Mrs. Helen Stewart, who was thirty at the time of her death; Peter, who was a resident of Colorado at the time of his demise; John, who died in Livingston county, New York, when he was sixty-five; Daniel, a resident of the same place, whose death also occurred at the age of sixty-five years; Mrs. Mary Milroy, who was living in Canada when she passed away; James and Malton, twins, the former a resident of Cassopolis, Michigan, where the latter was also residing at the time of his death, which occurred at the age of eighty years; Margaret, who makes her home in York, Livingston county, New York; Allen and Isabella, twins, both of whom are now deceased, the former having passed away in York at the age of fifty, while the latter was fifty-five at the time of her death; and Joseph A., a Presbyterian minister in Linn county, this state, who is now seventy-two years of age.
The early years in the life of Alexander B. McNab were passed on the old homestead in New York, where he became familiar with the practical methods of tilling the fields and caring for the crops, thus qualifying himself for the duties of an agriculturist. He sub- sequently removed to Illinois, first locating in McLean county, that state, whence he later removed to Livingston county, where he en- gaged in farming. In May, 1862, he enlisted in Livingston county in Company G, Sixty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front, where he remained for ninety days. At the expiration of his period of service he resumed his agricultural pursuits. In 1891, Mr. McNab removed with his family to Hamilton county, lo- cating in Webster City. The next year he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land, ninety acres of which were in Williams town- ship and the remainder in Blairsburg township, which he cultivated until his retirement. He has since disposed of all of his land with the exception of ninety acres in Williams township.
At Bloomington, Illinois, on the 4th of June, 1864, Mr. McNab was married to Mariah Warrick, whose birth occurred in Ohio, No- vember 17, 1839. She is a daughter of George and Eliza Warrick, who removed from Ohio to Illinois in 1855, first settling in Wood- ford county. Later they went to Livingston county, where they both passed away at the age of eighty years. They were the parents of
Vol. II-17
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seven children: Mrs. Mary Johnson, who died when she was forty years of age; John, who was thirty at the time of his death; Mrs. McNab; Henry, who is residing at Fairbury, Illinois; Mrs. Harriet Skein who died at Pontiac, Illinois; Charles, who resides in the vi- cinity of Harris, Osceola county, Iowa; and Jacob, whose home is in Fairbury, Illinois. They were all born in Ohio, but were reared in Illinois. It is interesting to note that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McNab was performed by Judge David Davis, who came into promi- nence about that time through a controversy arising regarding his right to be retained as a member of the body of presidential electors, it being maintained that he became disqualified through subsequently accepting an appointment to the senate. His is the only case on rec- ord of a man having resigned from the bench of the supreme court to become a United States senator. Mr. and Mrs. McNab had two children: Mrs. Mariah Belle Pollock, who was born in McLean county, Illinois, in July. 1865, and passed away in Mercer county, that state, in 1905; and James Alexander, also a native of McLean county, who owns a farm in this vicinity, but is a resident of Osceola county, this state.
Mr. McNab cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has ever since given his support to the republican party. He maintains re- lations with his old comrades through the medium of his connection with the Grand Army of the Republic, being affiliated with the post at Webster City. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian de- nomination but he and Mrs. McNab belong to the Congregational church of Blairsburg and number among its members many stanch friends. Mr. McNab is of the rugged Scotch type of character, honest and upright in his principles, absolutely loyal to every trust reposed in him and fearless in his defense of what he deems to be right.
EMMETT A. ROTHROCK.
Emmett A. Rothrock has given his energies and activities for many years to scientific agriculture. He is now cultivating one hun- dred and twenty acres of choice land on sections 10 and II, Liberty township, Hamilton county, Iowa, and his success is the evidence of his well directed and intelligent labors. Mr. Rothrock was born in Butler county, in this state, on December 25, 1865, and his early life was spent upon a farm. His parents were Isaac and Mary (Snee)
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Rothrock, natives of Pennsylvania, where his father was born in Mifflin county, and his mother in Union county on September 10, 1833. She was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Fisher) Snee, both of whom were natives of Union county, Pennsylvania, where they made their home and passed away. The elder Mr. Rothrock fol- lowed farming all during his active life, first in his native state and later in Butler county, Iowa. He and a brother participated in the Civil war. He spent his last years upon his property in Liberty township, Hamilton county, and died there in 1897. His wife sur- vives him and makes her home upon her husband's farm. In their family were eight children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Mrs. Mary Lenhart, a resident of California; Sarah, living in Web- ster City, Iowa; Willis, whose home is in Minnesota; Emmett A., of this review ; Mrs. Emma Almira Stanton, a twin sister of Emmett A., who lives in Minnesota; Ellen, residing with her mother in Liberty township; and Mrs. Ada Welch, of Webster City.
The family came to Hamilton county in 1882 and Emmett A. Rothrock has been a resident of this section since that time. His life has been identified with agriculture from an early period. He assisted his father upon the home farm when the family resided in Butler county and during the winter terms he attended school. When his parents moved to Liberty township Mr. Rothrock remained with his father, aiding in all of the farm work and becoming familiar with every detail of agriculture. His efforts in his independent career have been steadily successful and he is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of choice land on sections 10 and II, Liberty town- ship. The farm which he is cultivating is one of the valuable prop- erties in the district and is thoroughly equipped with all that is essen- tial to a successful conduct of a modern agricultural undertaking. Mr. Rothrock has given his time and attention to its details and has won that prosperity which is the natural result of system and pro- gressive methods.
In February, 1897, Mr. Rothrock was united in marriage to Miss Lillie Blackmore, a native of Woodford county, Illinois, where her birth occurred October 28, 1866. Her father, John Blackmore, was a native of England and came to America at an early day. He died in Illinois on June 16, 1884, when he was fifty-seven years of age. Mrs. Rothrock's mother, who was in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Runbelow, was also born in Great Britain and died in Illinois on June 28, 1885, when she had reached the age of fifty-three years. She and her husband were the parents of twelve children, nine sons and
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three daughters, namely: John, deceased; James, residing at Pax- ton, Illinois; William, whose home is in Minnesota; Mrs. Sarah Gard, living near El Paso, Illinois; Eli, of Panoli, Illinois; Emma, who died in early life; Albert, residing near Panoli, Illinois; Lincoln, whose home is near El Paso, Illinois; Mrs. Rothrock; Charles, living near Panoli; Mrs. Hattie Agnew, who also makes her home near El Paso; and Grant, who has passed away. All of these children were born in Illinois.
In his political beliefs Mr. Rothrock is consistently republican and while he has never sought public office he performs the duties of his citizenship conscientiously. He has done able and efficient work as township clerk in Liberty for eleven years and has made a good rec- ord as public official. He and his family affiliate with the Congrega- tional church at Blairsburg. In his systematic labors, in his straight- forward, honorable and reliable business policy and in the high stand- ards of attainment by which he directs his activities, Mr. Rothrock is worthy of the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens and in him modern agriculture finds a worthy and successful repre- sentative.
ELBERT LEROY UNDERWOOD.
Well known in the annals of pioneerdom in Hamilton county is the name of Elbert Leroy Underwood, who owns three hundred acres of well improved and highly cultivated land in Cass township, where he has been actively identified with the agricultural development for forty-five years. He is a native of New York, his birth having oc- curred in Madison county on August 9, 1846, and a son of Marcus L. and Lucretia (Lacy) Underwood, who passed their entire lives in the Empire state. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Underwood, three of whom are now deceased, our subject being the third in order of birth.
Elbert Leroy Underwood was reared at home and educated in the public schools of his native state. At the age of twenty-one years he left the parental roof and came to Hamilton county, Iowa. Upon his arrival here he purchased eighty acres of prairie land on section 22, Cass township, and has ever since made that his home. He was am- bitious and energetic, and diligently applied himself to the cultivation of his land and the establishment of a home. The county was but
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sparsely settled, money was scarce and pioneer conditions prevailed throughout this section of the state, and all of the hardships and pri- vations incident to life on the frontier devolved upon Mr. Underwood and his young wife. He was not discouraged, however, and perse- vered in his efforts with the determination of purpose that invariably brings success. As he was able he extended his holdings and later ac- quired two hundred acres of land on section 24 and twenty acres on section 22, of this township, that is now being cultivated by his son. Mr. Underwood is enterprising and progressive in anything he under- takes, and his homestead is one of the best improved and equipped farms in the community. The barns and outbuildings as well as the residence are substantially constructed and modern in their appoint- ments, while his fields are fenced and partially tiled. Everything about the place from the condition of his stock to the appearance of his fields manifests capable supervision and intelligent and competent direction.
Mr. Underwood has been married twice. His first union was with Miss Marion Earl, and to them were born two children: Lena L., deceased; and Earl, who is residing on his father's farm on sec- tion 24. He is married and has one child. In 1878, Mr. Underwood married Miss Mary Johnson, a daughter of William and Julia John- son of Webster City, and they became the parents of one daughter, Maud, who married John Bosworth, a farmer of this county, by whom she has had three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Underwood are members of the Christian church at Cass Center, and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance in the county, where he has achieved success and is numbered among the capable and substantial agriculturists.
WALLACE H. HILL.
Wallace H. Hill is one of the prosperous stockmen and general agriculturists of Cass township, where he owns a valuable farm of two hundred acres located on section 7. He was born in Pike county, Illinois, on the 22d of January, 1862, and is a son of Floyd W. and Elmira (Cohenhour) Hill, the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of Ohio. They were married in Illinois and subsequently settled on a farm in McLean county, that state, where the father
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passed away in August, 1894, at the age of fifty-six years. The mother who is now seventy-three, is still living on the old homestead. They were the parents of eight children, of whom our subject is the eldest.
The education of Wallace H. Hill was obtained in the district schools of his native state. In common with the majority of lads reared in the country he early began assisting his father about the farm, thus acquiring a practical knowledge of the duties and responsi- bilities of the agriculturist. He remained at home until he was married, at the age of twenty-nine, after which he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Illinois, which he cultivated for three years. At the end of that time he disposed of his place and came to Hamilton county, purchasing a hundred and sixty acres of land four miles east of Webster City. Six years later he sold his holdings and invested in a three hundred and ten acre tract near Wil- liams, this county, which he cultivated for a year. Selling this farm he next bought one hundred and eighty-five acres located on sections 18 and 19 of Cass township, where he continued his agricultural pur- suits for seven years. He likewise disposed of this property, invest- ing the proceeds in a half section of land in Freedom township, that he cultivated for two years, and then sold it. In the fall of 1910 he bought his present farm, one hundred and seventy acres of which is fenced hog tight, tiled and under high cultivation. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and as he is a diligent and enter- prising man, is meeting with fair success in his undertakings.
On the 26th of November, 1891, Mr. Hill was married to Miss Minnie Bige, who was born April 21, 1871. She is the second of the six children born to Alexander and Lurinda (Razor) Bige, the father a native of Italy, and the mother of Kentucky. The parents were married in Illinois and resided there until 1891 when they came to Iowa, settling in Hamilton county. The father formerly owned and operated the farm belonging to Mr. Hill, but he is now living retired in Webster City at the age of seventy-two years. The mother passed away in January, 1905, and was laid to rest in Graceland cemetery, Webster City. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have eight children, as follows: Alvin Glenn, George W., Earl A., Hazel M., Jacob Howard, Allie M., Jessie M. and James Garrett, all of whom are at home
The family are members of the Methodist church, and fraternally Mr. Hill is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is independent in his political views, giving his support to such candi- dates as he deems best qualified for the office, irrespective of party
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affiliation. He is a man of enterprising and progressive methods and is meeting with creditable success in the development of his interests, being numbered among the substantial and capable agriculturists of the community.
JAMES J. RAMSAY.
James J. Ramsay is owner of a farm of one hundred and fifty- four acres on section 36, Cass township, which he has been actively cultivating for the past two years. He is a native of Scotland, his birth having occurred on the 29th of September, 1870, and the eldest of three children born to Thomas and Sarah (Jamieson) Ramsay, who passed their entire lives in the old country.
James J. Ramsay, who was only a child of five years when his mother passed away, was reared by his maternal grandparents until he had attained the age of twelve. He then started out to earn his own living and for three years thereafter worked for a farmer in Scotland. It was the dream of his life to come to America, and at the age of fifteen he procured passage for Montreal, and for eighteen months after his arrival worked on a farm forty miles from Toronto. At the expiration of that time he crossed the border into the United States, locating at Joliet, Illinois, where he continued to work as a farm hand for four years. He next removed to Indiana and engaged in tiling for four years. He had been thrifty and diligent and at the end of that period was able to engage in farming for himself, renting land which he cultivated for two years. Disposing of his interests in that state, in February, 1899, lie came to Iowa, settling in Webster county, where he continued to farm as a renter for four years. His next re- moval was to Hamilton county, and during the first seven years of his residence here he cultivated leased land, but in 1909, he purchased his present farm in Cass township, on which he located the following year. His entire holding is fenced with barbed wire, a portion of it hog tight, and his fields are tiled and under high cultivation. Mr. Ramsay makes a specialty of stock-raising and he also feeds stock for the market. He is very enterprising and diligent in his methods and is meeting with success. During the brief period of his ownership he has made many improvements in his place, which is well kept up and evidences systematic supervision and a careful regard for details.
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In Indiana, on the Ist of February, 1899, Mr. Ramsay was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Debo, a daughter of Edward and Margaret Debo, natives of Canada and Ireland, respectively. They were mar- ried in Indiana and there the father passed away in March, 1910, but the mother is still living and makes her home in Lafayette, that state. Mrs. Ramsay, who is the third in a family of seven, was born on the Ioth of September, 1878, and was reared and educated in Indiana, continuing to reside in that state until after her marriage.
The political views of Mr. Ramsay accord with the principles of the republican party, to whose candidates he gives his support. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and Mrs. Ramsay are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and number many friends among its congregation.
CHARLES A. BRATNOBER.
Charles A. Bratnober, one of the proprietors and manager of the Williams Clothing Company, has been identified with the commer- cial interests of Williams for five years, and is recognized as one of the town's representative business men. He is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Fort Dodge, this state, on the 14th of June, 1878. His father Ralph H. Bratnober, was born in Brandenburg, Germany, on October 8, 1846. He emigrated to the United States in 1854 and was for some years a resident of Fort Dodge, whence he re- moved to Prince Albert, Canada, with his family in 1882. Eight years later he returned to Iowa, locating on a farm in the vicinity of Waterloo. From there he came to Williams, where he now makes his home with his son, Charles A. The mother, whose maiden name was Minnie Wagner, was a native of Schwabach, Germany, and passed away in Prince Albert, Canada, February 14, 1883. The fam- ily of Mr. and Mrs. Bratnober numbered seven: Louisa, who was born September 2, 1869, the wife of Charles Byrne, of Prince Albert, Canada; August C., who was born November 5, 1871, and was drowned at Gooseberry Falls, Minnesota, on the 7th of August, 1901 ; while engaged in superintending the floating of a raft over the falls; Molly P., who was born on January 30, 1872, the wife of J. R. Owen, of Dunkerton, Iowa; Henry, who was born in Calhoun county, this state, and died near Manson in 1879; Charles A., of this sketch; Pauline, whose birth occurred December 24, 1880, the wife of T. M.
CHARLES A. BRATNOBER
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O'Keefe, of Waterloo, Iowa; and Minnie, now Mrs. Lister, who was born in Prince Albert on the IIth of February, 1883, manager of a department of the Williams Clothing Company.
Charles A. Bratnober was reared at home and obtained his edu- cation in the common schools of Iowa and Canada and the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, this state, which he attended in the years 1898 and 1899. The year following was spent in travel- ing in the north and northwest, where he visited various points of interest. In August, 1907, together with his father he established the Williams Clothing Company, of which he is the manager. They carry a large and well assorted stock of clothing, furnishing goods and shoes, and in the conduct of their enterprise have adopted a policy that commends them to the confidence of all with whom they have dealings. Theirs is generally recognized as one of the best clothing stores in this section and they enjoy a large and constantly increasing patronage.
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