USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 27
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Sanford Johnson was born February 29, 1876, and was the fifth child in the order of birth in his father's family. He came to Strat- ford in 1901 and was employed in the drug store of his brother, until 1908, at which time he purchased an interest in the business and has since continued as joint partner in the firm of Johnson Brothers. He is also a stockholder in the State Bank of Stratford and is now building for his own use a suitable residence.
Sanford Johnson was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Tillie Bloomberg, of Boone county. They are the parents of four children, Irene, Melvin, Mildred and Helen, but the first born passed away at
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the age of seven years. Mr. Johnson is affiliated with the republican party and has been a member of the board of councilmen of Strat- ford for the past six years. He is a member of the Acorn Lodge, M. W. A .; Stratford Lodge, No. 601, A. F. & A. M., of which he has served as junior warden and is at present filling the chair of the senior warden, and also belongs to Hope Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M. of Webster City. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 673, of Stratford, and Re- bekah lodge, No. 538. He and his family are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
F. A. and Sanford Johnson are numbered among the progressive, substantial business men of Hamilton county and both are always interested in every public enterprise which gives promise of im- proving the business or educational conditions of the community in which they live.
JOHN H. MURPHY.
John H. Murphy is one of the respected citizens of Williams town- ship, Hamilton county, Iowa, where he is successfully engaged in the cultivation of a farm of three hundred and twenty acres which he owns, located on section 2, Williams township. He was born in Lee county, Illinois, November 17, 1870, and is a son of Dennis Murphy, of whom a sketch appears on another page of this work.
John H. Murphy came with his parents to Hamilton county in 1884 and as a young man spent his early days under the parental roof, where he was engaged in work with his father. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of highly developed land located on section 2, Williams township, on which he resides with his family. In his farming operations he is making a specialty of stock-raising and enjoys the reputation of having a herd of the very best graded live stock in Hamilton county. His farm is highly im- proved, with an excellent drainage system and modern, up-to-date, commodious buildings of all kinds, belonging to a perfectly equipped farm.
Mr. Murphy was united in marriage on October 7, 1896, to Miss Annie Chaplinski, a native of Poland, and a daughter of Simon and Paulina (Yonovska) Chaplinski, both of whom were natives of Po- land, the father's birth having occurred in 1837 and that of the
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mother in 1844. The father emigrated to America in 1873 and his family followed him to the new world one year later. They settled first in Pennsylvania, and later moved to Blackhawk county, Iowa, where the father was for some time employed on the railroad. In 1880 the family moved to Wright county, Iowa, and for a number of years were numbered among the most prosperous farmers of the community in which they lived. The father died in Williams, Iowa, in March, 1911, and the mother still maintains her residence at their old home in Williams. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Gust, who is a resident of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Emma Schroeder, living in Dows, Iowa; Mrs. Annie Murphy; Fred, who was born on the 15th of December, 1870, and who is the owner of a dray line in Williams; Mary, who resides in Williams; Mrs. Susie Murphy, who makes her home in Williams township; and John V., of Chicago. All the above named are natives of Poland.
To Mr. and Mrs. John H. Murphy three children have been born, namely: Lawrence Matthew, whose birth occurred on the 3d of August, 1897, and who assists his father in the operation of the home farm; Edward Henry, who was born on the 8th of December, 1900, and is attending school; and Philip Francis, whose natal day was September 4, 1908. All three sons were born in Williams township. Mr. Murphy is affiliated with the democratic party. He and his fam- ily are members of the Catholic church of Williams. Mr. Murphy, by a life of well directed industry and frugality, has succeeded in his chosen vocation as an agriculturist and is numbered among the very influential and most useful citizens of the community in which he lives.
P. A. SWANSON.
P. A. Swanson is the pioneer merchant of Stratford, being the first man to open a general mercantile house in that place. He has been identified with nearly all of the leading business enterprises of the city since its organization and is at present the president of the State Bank of Stratford. He was born October 28, 1839, in Sweden, and is a son of S. P. and Anna Maria (Clementson) Swanson, who emigrated to America in 1849, and settled in Jefferson county, near Fairfield, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming for seventeen years. He then removed with his family to Hamilton county, and
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here maintained his residence until his death, which occurred in 1869. The mother died in 1892.
P. A. Swanson was reared at home and received his early educa- tion in his native country. He emigrated with his parents to Amer- ica in 1849 and in early manhood he went to Ridgeport, Boone county, Iowa, where he clerked in a store for seven years. He then, in part- nership with his brother, bought the store in which he had been em- ployed and successfully conducted it until 1881, at which time he sold out. Previously to this, however, in 1880, he had come to Stratford and opened a store, leaving the one at Ridgeport in charge of his brother. Here he built the first store building in that city and en- gaged in general merchandising for two years and then sold out. He has since been engaged in various business enterprises and is at pres- ent the president of the State Bank of Stratford, of which he is one of the principal stockholders. He has also been a heavy dealer in real estate but has sold most of his land in recent years, being still the owner, however, of forty acres of farm land in Hamilton county. He is also a stockholder in the creamery at Stratford.
Mr. Swanson has been a lifelong republican. He was employed in the provost marshal's office of Burlington, Iowa, for two years during the war. He was treasurer of Dodge township, Boone county, for several years and for ten years was postmaster at Mineral Ridge, Boone county. He is at present treasurer of the town of Stratford. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is one of its board of trustees. Mr. Swanson is one of the widely known men of Hamilton county and one who has been intimately connected with the business, political and religious development of his part of the state. His well known reputation for integrity in all business matters and his high ideals of life have placed him among the very desirable and useful citizens of the community.
ELMER J. HARMON.
Elmer J. Harmon is a prosperous farmer located on section 31, Lincoln township, Hamilton county. He was born February 10, 1888, on the place where he now lives and is a son of Mons and Martha (Nelson) Harmon. The father was born on the water a day's journey from New York, while his parents were on their way from their native country-Norway-to America. The mother of
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our subject was born in Norway and in early life emigrated to this country. The parents were married in La Salle county, Illinois, but shortly afterward settled on a farm in Iowa, which place is now the home of the subject of this review. They improved the property and there continued to live during their remaining years. In addition to the original home farm the father also owned eighty acres on section 32, Lincoln township. He died February 17, 1891, and the mother passed away February 19, 1893, both being buried in a cemetery lo- cated three miles east and one mile south of Ellsworth. They were the parents of two children: Elmer J., of this review; and Monsie May. After their parents' death the children were brought up in the family of their uncle, Isaac Harmon.
Elmer J. Harmon was educated in the public schools of Leland. Illinois, and after completing his elementary education he pursued a two years' course in the university at Urbana, Illinois. He was then appointed a clerk of committees in the general assembly at Spring- field, Illinois, where he served until the close of the session. He then obtained work with the Buckbee Seed Company at Rockford, Illinois, and continued in the employ of that house for six months, after which he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his sister, who wished to finish her education there. In that city he remained for one year, during which time he was city collector for the hardware house of Hamilton Fosseen Company. He then went to Leland, Illinois, but in the spring of 1911 returned to Hamilton county and settled on his father's old homestead, which he inherited. After the death of his parents and during the period of guardianship the ad- ministrator of his father's estate purchased eighty acres of land ad- joining the eighty acres on section 32, which belonged to the estate, and that one hundred and sixty acres was inherited by Monsie, the sister of Mr. Harmon. He is engaged in general farming and stock- raising and also buys and feeds cattle, which he sells in the open market. His land is all under the plow and the entire farm is tiled and ten acres of the property is surrounded by a hog-tight fence. The water for all purposes is secured from a drilled well and is abun- dant for all domestic and stock uses. In 1911 Mr. Harmon built a modern seven-room residence, finished in hardwood throughout; is supplied with bath, electric light and running water, and is heated with a modern hot water system.
On August 9, 1911, Mr. Harmon was united in marriage to Miss Bessie L. Miller, a daughter of Fred J. and Ella (Jacobs) Miller, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Norway. The parents
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were married in Nebraska and later removed to Aurora, Illinois, where they now reside. In their family were three children, of whom the eldest, Bessie L., was born April 26, 1893.
Mr. Harmon is a member of the Masonic blue lodge of Leland, Illinois, and is affiliated with the democratic party. He is one of the enterprising, up-to-date farmers of Hamilton county, and a man whose habits of industry and consistent living place him among the influential and useful people of the community in which he lives.
WILLIAM A. JOHNSON.
Among the residents of Hamilton county who were at one time actively associated with agricultural interests but are now living re- tired is William A. Johnson, who maintains his residence at No. 1627 Wilson avenue, Webster City. He is still in the prime of life, having reached the age of fifty-seven years and has given up his farming in order to devote his attention to the general supervision of his exten- sive real-estate interests and to the many details incident to his con- nection with various phases of municipal activity.
He is a native of Massachusetts, born in Northampton, in 1855. His parents were William S. and Julia (Leonard) Johnson, who re- sided in Massachusetts for a number of years. His father was a carpenter by trade and with his family came to Webster City in 1858. His death occurred in 1902 when he was eighty-four years of age and his wife died in 1892 when she was sixty-two years old.
William A. Johnson pursued the usual course of study in the public schools of Webster City, at the same time working on a farm during his leisure hours. He early became acquainted with the best methods of agriculture and his boyish activities gave a definite bent to his more mature ambitions. In 1871, when he was sixteen years of age, his natural energy and resourcefulness had enabled him to acquire enough money to rent a farm in Hamilton county. He later bought one hundred and sixty acres but lived on rented land until he was able to pay for his farm, which he continued to improve and operate until his retirement from agricultural life in 1905. For many years Mr. Johnson was successful and prominent as a farmer and brought his land to a high state of cultivation by his practical efforts along scientific lines. He made his place productive and lucra- tive and was recognized among his fellow agriculturists as a worthy
MR. AND MRS. W. A. JOHNSON
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representative of this line of activity. In 1905 he abandoned farm- ing altogether and removed to Webster City. He has since devoted his time and attention to the management of his extensive real-estate interests and to his public duties. He is a director in the Hamilton County State Bank and is well known as a careful and conservative financier. His fellow citizens regard him as a man whose life and energies are a valuable addition to the civic welfare and whose co- operation in the promotion of municipal advancement is always ready and eager.
In 1880 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Elmira T. Entriken, a daughter of William and Margaret (Funk) Entriken, who came from Pennsylvania to Hamilton county in 1872. The father was a representative and substantial farmer in this section where he cultivated the soil until his death in 1887. His wife survived him until 1891 and died when she was seventy-three years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born two children: Leah, who became the wife of T. H. Russell and who now resides in Canada; and Maris, who was born on the IIth of December, 1897, and is now a resident of Webster City.
Fraternally Mr. Johnson is prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in Elmo Lodge, No. 62, and Ridgeley Encampment, No. 9, of that organization. His position among his fellow citizens is prominent and assured. He is recognized as a man shrewd, competent and strictly honest in business transac- tions and is highly esteemed wherever known.
F. R. MASON & SONS.
The hardware firm of F. R. Mason & Sons is one of the oldest concerns in this line in Webster City and stands for conservative ideas of honor and integrity, combined with a progressive policy of busi- ness expansion. The firm was founded by Franklin R. Mason in 1896 in conjunction with his nephew, B. C. Mason, whose interests were subsequently purchased by Franklin Mason and his son Harold, and the business reorganized under the firm name of F. R. Mason & Son. The founder of the concern is deceased, but his energetic busi- ness spirit lives in his sons, who have added to it the progressive and strenuous principles of a later generation and are carrying on a repre- sentatively modern enterprise.
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Franklin R. Mason was born near Cummington, Massachusetts, March 27, 1836, and was a son of Jesse and Sally (Thompson) Mason. The son received a limited education by attending the coun- try schools of his native district during the winter sessions. At the age of nineteen he laid aside his books and journeyed westward to Webster City, Iowa, where he arrived on the 29th of November, 1855. His history is prominently identified with the pioneer settlement and upbuilding of the state of Iowa. In 1857 he was appointed second lieutenant of a state regiment and participated with distinction in the campaign against the Indians, following the Spirit Lake massacre. Returning to Webster City he left Iowa in 1860, for Pike's Peak, Colorado, with his brother, B. S. Mason. The party searched there for gold but returned after an unsuccessful prospecting tour which lasted only a few months. In the following year, 1861, Franklin Mason went to Canada, where he had received the offer of a responsi- ble position in the tannery of F. Shaw & Brother, located at Roxton Fall, Quebec. At that time this enterprise was the largest tannery in the world and Mr. Mason gained a practical knowledge of the man- agement of a prosperous and flourishing factory. He remained there as foreman until June, 1869, in which year he returned to Webster City and engaged in different enterprises until 1879, and then selling implements for the firm of James Clagg, a connection which lasted eighteen years. His connection with the hardware and implement line dates back, therefore, to his early active career. Before he be- came connected with the house of James Clagg he was also in the employ of Cox & Worthington, implement dealers, in Webster City. In 1896 in company with his nephew, B. C. Mason, he began a com- mercial career for himself, establishing the Mason Hardware Com- pany. He founded his business upon the principles of high commer- cial integrity and honorable methods which dominate the policy of his sons at the present time. The original partnership continued un- til 1899, when Harold P. Mason bought out the interest of B. C. Mason and the enterprise became known as F. R. Mason & Son, under which title it is today operating. Franklin Mason retained his connection with the enterprise which he had founded until 1905, when his interests were purchased by his son, Jesse W. Mason. The busi- ness since that time has been conducted by Harold and Jesse Mason under its old title of F. R. Mason & Son. In 1905 Franklin Mason definitely retired from active life and lived in Webster City until his death, on July 31, 1909, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He was a fine example of the business man of a former generation, con-
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servative but liberal in his policy and never influenced by the question- able commercial methods of our modern age. His death was a dis- tinct loss to the commercial development of Webster City, in which his life had been an influencing and dominating factor. The policy of strict integrity and conscientious business morality which he in- augurated and which he followed during his active career is now be- ing carried on by his two sons, who are carrying on the hardware busi- ness of which he was the founder in a capable and systematically efficient manner.
In 1858 Mr. Mason wedded Miss Lucy A. Howes, a native of Cummington, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Henry Howes. Mrs. Mason passed away on August 11, 1873, leaving five children. Alli- son E., the eldest, was for many years a teacher in the Webster City schools and is now engaged in teaching in Des Moines, Iowa. Rosa- mond M. is the wife of D. G. Ross and they reside at Summerland, British Columbia. They have two sons : George M., who is married to Helen Bartholomew and also resides in Summerland; and Donald G. Ross. Lovina B. is the wife of Henry Bailey, of Colchester, Connecticut, and they have four children, Charles M., Harold, Jessie and Allison R. Abbott L. and Jennie L., both deceased, complete the family. On July II, 1876, Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Belle R. Wilson, a daughter of Stephen Wilson, of Clay county, Iowa. The father came to Iowa in 1854, taking up his residence in Hardin county, but in 1871 moved to Clay county, this state, where his death occurred in 1871, at the age of fifty-eight, his wife passing away when in her eighty-sixth year. By his second marriage Mr. Mason became the father of two children, Harold P. and Jesse W.
Harold P. Mason was the first of the present members of the firm to become connected with his father's enterprise. He was born on December 31, 1879, and is a native son of Webster City. He was reared at home and received his education in the public schools. His active career began in 1895, when he was employed as a clerk in the First National Bank of Webster City, in which connection he re- mained for seven years. In the meantime, in 1899, he had purchased the interests of B. C. Mason in his father's enterprise, then known as the Mason Hardware Company. He did not take an active part in the management of the concern until 1902, when he resigned his po- sition in the First National Bank in order to devote his entire energy and attention to the duties connected with his new line of business. His energy and shrewd business insight were from the very beginning a valuable addition to the assets of the F. R. Mason & Sons Hard-
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ware Company. He has always been an upright and honorable man, well versed in the details of the enterprise with which he is connected and thoroughly systematic and efficient.
Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Harriet H. Fenton, a daughter of Charles T. Fenton, of Webster City, who at one time was a well known stock buyer in that place and who in his later years was connected with the lumber business. He was a representative and able citizen and served his community for four years as its mayor. His death occurred in 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have two children : Franklin, who was born March 17, 1900; and Charles, born August 10, 1904. The family reside at No. 544 First street and have many friends in Webster City. Harold P. Mason is a public-spirited and liberal-minded man. He takes an active part in progressive politics and served from 1905 to 1911 as councilman of Webster City. Fra- ternally he belongs to Acacia Lodge, No. 176, A. F. & A. M., and is prominent in the local lodge, No. 302, B. P. O. E. His business hours are all devoted to expanding and developing the enterprise with which he is identified along scientific and progressive lines. In this he is aided by his brother, Jesse W. Mason, with whom he works in har- monious relations to promote the prosperity and success of the con- cern, which their father founded and which they are today repre- senting.
Jesse W. Mason was born April 10, 1884, and he also is a native son of Webster City. He was educated in the public schools and all during his life has been connected with the hardware business. He worked for his father on a salary for some years and did not enter into his present partnership until 1905, when he purchased his father's interest and became associated with his brother, Harold P. Mason. Under their united management and direction the firm is still oper- ating and each year sees a constantly increasing degree of prosperity.
Mr. Mason has been married twice. On June 14, 1905, he wedded Miss Beryl Bawden, a daughter of N. H. Bawden, of Webster City, who is at present serving as supervisor of Hamilton county. The first Mrs. Mason died on April 25, 1909, and on January 31, 1911, Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Grace Bueghley, a daughter of D. D. Bueghley, who is a prominent farmer of Liscomb, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Mason reside at No. 848 Second street, Webster City.
The prosperity and success of the enterprise which Jesse W. and Harold P. Mason are now operating is due in a large measure to their harmonious relations and to their agreement upon vital matters of business morality. It is one of the prosperous and substantial com-
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mercial enterprises in Webster City today. Its founder was a gentle- man of the old school, a believer in conservatism in business and in courtesy and consideration in every-day affairs. The sons have built up on their father's dignified foundation a modernly progressive in- stitution which in its essential business policy holds firmly to the hon- est and upright standards inaugurated in an earlier and more simple generation.
L. M. CROSLEY.
Probably no one citizen of Randall has contributed more largely toward the commercial development of the town than L. M. Crosley, who is here engaged in the drug business and is also a member of the firm of Crosley & Nelson, real-estate dealers. He is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred at Liscomb, Marshall county, on the 29th of September, 1875, and a son of Edgar and Cora E. (Best) Crosley. The father's natal day was the 16th of February, 1855, while that of the mother, whose birth occurred in the vicinity of Can- ton, Ohio, was October 21, of the same year. He is descended from one of Iowa's very early settlers, his paternal grandfather, John Crosley, who was born about 1816, having been one of the pioneers of Dubuque county. He subsequently removed to Nebraska, passing away at Rushville, that state, in 1892, at the age of seventy-six years. The grandmother, whose maiden name was Catharine Myers, died in Grundy county, this state, when she was fifty-six years of age. The Bests were among the pioneers of Ohio and are connected with the Moore family, which figured prominently in the early history of cen- tral Ohio. Edgar Crosley is still actively identified with the commer- cial interests of Jewell, where he is engaged in the poultry, egg and produce business. The mother, however, is deceased, having passed away in Jewell, on the 12th of July, 1903. To them were born six children, of whom our subject is the eldest. In order of birth the others are as follows: Mrs. Blanche Smith, deceased; Birdie, who is cashier for the Credential Life Insurance Company of Des Moines ; Sadie, the wife of Walter De Armand, a workman in the Des Moines Saddlery Company of Des Moines, Iowa, whom she met while at- tending the deaf and dumb institute at Council Bluffs, of which he was also a student; Leonard, who is a printer by trade and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Bessie, a milliner of Randall.
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