USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 36
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At Mendota, Illinois, occurred Mr. Howes' marriage, on Febru- ary 12, 1869, to Miss Delia Rose Hill, who, like Mr. Howes, was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, her birth occurring on the 18th of December, 1843, the union being broken by her death on August 16, 1912. She was educated in the common schools and was a daughter of Austin and Lydia (Shaw) Hill, both descended from old Bay state families. The father was born in Ashfield on November 3, 1802, and the mother in Plainfield, on the 25th of October, 1804. They long outlived the Psalmist's alloted span, Mr. Hill's death oc- curring on June 24, 1887, and that of the mother three days later. Mrs. Howes was the youngest of the four children born to her par- ents, the others being as follows: Clarissa, who was born on Au- gust 22, 1833, the wife of Charles Barrus and a resident of Goshen, Massachusetts; Mary Augusta, whose birth occurred on the 24th of October, 1835, the wife of David Thayer, of Plainfield, Massachu- setts; and Leander V., a Civil war veteran, who was born on March 4, 1839, and died in October, 1909. Both Mr. and Mrs. Howes were descendants of Revolutionary soldiers, the maternal grandfathers of each having been veterans of that war.
To Mr. and Mrs. Howes was born one son, Archie Ernest, whose birth occurred at Lamoille, Bureau county, Illinois, on the 3Ist of December, 1870. He was reared in Hamilton county and obtained his education in the Williams public schools and the high school of Iowa Falls, having graduated from the latter institution with the class of 1893. He has ever since been associated with his father in the cultivation of the farm and continues to reside on the old home- stead. On the Ist of September, 1909, at Iowa Falls, Iowa, he was married to Miss Ina Faith Caruth, who was born at Mendota, La Salle county, Illinois, on March 14, 1889, and they have become the parents of a daughter, Edith Rosetta, whose natal day was the 23d of July, 1910.
Both father and son vote the republican ticket and take an active interest in local politics. The former served for four years as con- stable, having been the incumbent of this office when the township was yet known as Blairsburg and having continued in the same capacity after the name was changed to Williams. He also served as town- ship trustee and as a member of the school board for four years, while he discharged the duties of justice of the peace for eight. The son, A. E. Howes, was assessor for six years, while he served as trustee and also a member of the school board for two years. He and his wife are members of the Presbytrian church at Williams as
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was also the mother and both father and son belong to the Iowa Legion of Honor. Mr. E. G. Howes is one of the widely known citizens of Williams township, where both he and his son are held in high regard, being known as men of honor and integrity, whose business transactions are above question.
J. A. NELSON.
J A. Nelson, who has been conducting a piano and music store in Ellsworth since 1910, is one of the capable and highly regarded younger men of the commercial circles of the town. He is a native of La Salle county, Illinois, his birth having occurred on April 5. 1879, and a son of Nels G. and Emma ( Jacobs) Nelson. The father was born in Nor- way, but when a child of five years he came to America with his par- ents, who located on a farm in Wisconsin. There he was reared to manhood and educated and when old enough to become self-support- ing, left home and went out to work by the month as a farm hand. He subsequently went to Illinois and engaged in farming for himself. In 1855 he came to Iowa but shortly afterward returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1880, when he came to Hamilton county, lo- cating on a farm which he had previously purchased. He is thrifty and energetic and so intelligently directed his undertakings that he has met with more than average success. As his circumstances war- ranted he extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised two hundred and eighty acres. He also has extensive realty inter- ests in Minnesota and South Dakota, and is numbered among the substantial citizens of Hamilton county. The mother, who was also a native of Norway, passed away in 1896.
J. A. Nelson was still in his infancy when his parents located in Iowa, where he has ever since made his home. He was reared on the farm and began his education in the district school, continuing it in the college at Jewell, this state, being graduated from that institution with the class of 1897. For two years thereafter he engaged in teaching, but at the expiration of that time he resolved to identify himself with commercial activities, so he came to Ellsworth and became associated in the general mercantile business with Mr. Eittreim under the firmn name of Nelson-Eittreim Company. They carried a large and varied stock, which they offered at reasonable prices, and as they were gra- cious and accommodating to those who accorded them their patronage.
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succeeded in building up a good trade. Mr. Nelson sold his interest in the enterprise to Henry L. Hanson in 1910, and opened a piano and music store.
On the 14th of June, 1905. Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Helen E. Hanson, a daughter of Alex and Carrie (Johnson) Hanson, na- tives of Norway. They were among the early settlers of Hamilton county, where for many years the father engaged in farming, but he is now living retired in Ellsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have one child, Vernon C., who is five years of age. They have a very pleas- ant residence, which has only recently been completed and is thor- oughly modern.
In matters of religious faith, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are Luther- ans, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belong- ing to the lodge at Jewell, and he also holds memebrship in the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks of Webster City. He votes the re- publican ticket, and has for some time served on the county central committee, while for two years he was clerk of the town council. Mr. Nelson is a man of laudable ambition, progressive spirit and enter- prising methods. His undertakings are directed with intelligence and foresight and he is meeting with success in the development of his in- terests.
OSCAR F. DONALDSON.
Oscar F. Donaldson has for the past eight years been successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business at Webster City, his office being at No. 5011/2 Second street. He has also devoted consid- erable attention to literary work and in this connection has won fav- orable recognition. His birth occurred at Iowa City. Iowa, in 1872, his parents being Oscar C. and Mary ( Sinnett) Donaldson. The father, who was born near Baltimore, Maryland, in 1830, came to Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1858 and preempted four hundred acres of land on section 22, Independence township, Hamilton county. Subsequently he took up his abode in Iowa City, there residing until 1878, when he came to Webster City. Here he opened a store for the sale of boots and shoes exclusively, this being the first establishment of its kind in the city. He successfully conducted the same throughout the re- mainder of his life, passing away on the 3d of April. 1892, when sixty-
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two years of age. His wife was called to her final rest in 1902, being at that time also sixty-two years of age.
Oscar F. Donaldson acquired his education in the graded and high schools of Webster City, the year of his graduation being 1892. He then pursued a commercial course in the Ottawa Business College at Ottawa, Illinois, and after his father's death managed the latter's es- tate. From 1895 until 1904 he likewise acted as office manager for the Litchfield Manufacturing Company of Webster City, resigning that position when the concern moved to another town. During this period he spent a year in travel throughout the west by wagon and team in order to regain his health and strength. Since 1904 he has devoted his time and energies to the real-estate and insurance business and has enjoyed a gratifying clientage. In 1905 he began the publication of The Christian Socialist, which is now being published in Chicago and has a circulation of about fifty thousand copies per issue. He is still interested financially in this publication and also contributes articles on socialism and kindred subjects. He is likewise the author of a book entitled "Workingman's View of the Bible" and is well known as a forceful and virile writer.
In 1899 Mr. Donaldson was united in marriage to Miss Ella C. Cameron, her father being John C. Cameron, now of Hamilton county and formerly of Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson have four chil- dren, namely: Ralph F., Ruth Mary, Frances and Helen. The fam- ily residence is at No. 1204 Superior street in Webster City.
For five years Mr. Donaldson served as councilman of the second ward in Webster City. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fra- ternity, belonging to Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., and he is also a valued member of the Congregational church. In all life's relations he has been true to his obligations and duties and is greatly esteemed in Webster City, where he has lived from early boyhood.
THOMAS FRANKLIN.
Thomas Franklin is engaged in the contracting and building busi- ness in Williams, where he is meeting with very good success. He was born in Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, on the 23d of October, 1876, and is a son of John and Bridget Franklin. The parents are natives of Ireland, whence they emigrated to the United States in early life, and for some years resided in Dixon, Lee county, Illinois, where all of
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their children were born with the exception of the youngest daughter. They came to Iowa in 1878, and located on a farm in the vicinity of Williams, in the cultivation of which the father engaged during the remainder of his active life. He subsequently removed to Williams, where he is now living retired at the age of seventy-six years, while the mother is seventy-five. Their family numbers six, and all are resi- dents of Williams with the exception of the youngest. In order ot birth they are as follows: Margaret, who was born on the 9th of June, 1866, the wife of George D. Doyle, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work; William, whose natal day was the 22d of February, 1868; Mrs. Mary Doyle, who was born in October, 1870; John, whose birth occurred on the 2d of June, 1872; Thomas, our subject ; and Nellie, whose birth occurred on the 2d of June, 1879, in Hamilton county, now a resident of Sioux City, Iowa.
Thomas Franklin was a child of only two years when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Hamilton county. Here he was reared to manhood on his father's farm, obtaining his education in the common schools. He was early trained to agricultural pursuits, but later turned his attention to other activities and subsequently learned the carpenter's trade. He is now engaging in contracting and building, and as he is efficient and reliable is meeting with very good success in his undertakings.
Mr. Franklin resides with his parents. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, and his political support he accords to the democratic party. He is widely known in this vicinity, where he has passed the greater part of his life and has many friends, the major- ity of whom are comrades of his boyhood days.
FRANCIS EDMUND WHITLEY.
In a profession in which success depends entirely upon individual merit and in which failure has such dire results Dr. Francis E. Whitley has attained in more than twenty-five years of earnest and able work a place of prominence and importance. For over a quarter of a cen- tury he has been located in Webster City and is recognized as one of the most deservedly successful physicians and surgeons in the com- munity. He was born in Chautauqua county, New York, February 23, 1857. a son of J. and Sarah Whitley, who came from England nearly seventy years ago and settled in that section of the Empire state.
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Dr. Whitley received his primary education in the Jamestown (New York) Collegiate Institute, from which he was graduated in 1875, and then supplemented this by a two years' course in the Cedar Valley Seminary. Determining to study medicine, he set about the acquirement of the first and most important requisite for success, a thorough special education. Entering Rush Medical College of Chi- cago, he received his degree of M. D. from that institution in 1881 and immediately afterward enrolled in the Chicago Polyclinic. Besides this he did other important post-graduate work and when he finally began practicing had a splendid equipment and training. He first went to Traer, Tama county, Iowa, and there spent six years before settling in Webster City, where he has been active for over twenty-five years, during which time his practice has reached gratifying proportions. Medical ability soon gains recognition and it is the simple foundation of Dr. Whitley's success. Always a close and earnest student of the underlying principles of medicine, he keeps in touch with the most ad- vanced thought of the profession and has personal contact with many of its most able representatives through his membership in the Central District Medical Association, of which he is an ex-president and vice president, in the Hamilton County Medical Association, of which he is also an ex-president, in the Iowa State Medical Society and the Amer- ican Medical Association. He was also brought into close connection with a special phase of his work in Tama county, where he was trustee for the Hospital for the Insane, at Independence, for seven years and this interest he has carried forward into his later career, being now a member of the board of commissioners of insanity for Hamil- ton county.
Besides his private work Dr. Whitley gives a great deal of his time to the practice of medicine in connection with railroads. He is local surgeon for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and his special in- terest in this line of work has led to his membership in the American Association of Railroad Surgeons and in the Surgical Association of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He is also examining surgeon for Company C, Iowa National Guard, and examiner for numerous life insurance companies of this district.
On January 2, 1883, in Webster City. Dr. Whitley was united in marriage to Miss Cora Call, a daughter of Rev. L. N. Call, and they have three children : Gladys, a graduate of Iowa State University and the wife of Varrick C. Crosby; Grace, also a graduate of the State Uni- versity ; and Guyon.
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Dr. Whitley gives his allegiance to the republican party and al- though never active as an office seeker, he has done able and effective work along the lines of his interests. In Tama county he was for sev- eral years school director and was for some time health officer of Web- ster City. In this capacity his work was an important factor in the spread of knowledge of the value of health, the effect upon it of sanita- tion, exercise and general cleanliness. During the many years of his residence in the city he has attained a success which in itself is a proof of his ability and his practice, although definitely established, is con- tinually increasing as the quality of his work becomes more widely known.
GUY SOWERS.
Hamilton county numbers among its citizens many progressive and enterprising farmers, who were born and reared upon the acres which they are cultivating and who are carrying on farming along lines of development inaugurated by their fathers and grandfathers. Guy Sowers, who is operating a homestead of forty acres of fine land in Ellsworth township, is an agriculturist of this type. He was born August 1, 1873, a son of Lindsey and Rebecca E. (Ward) Sowers, who were among the earliest settlers in Hamilton county. The father was born in Fountain county, Indiana, December 25, 1833, and died in Ellsworth township upon his farm March 4. 1911. The mother of our subject was born in Crawford county, Ohio, December 12, 1839. and came to Ellsworth township with her husband in the fall of 1856. Here her death occurred February 12. 1898. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Sowers were eight children: Laura, born June 4, 1863. who died March 26, 1865: Albert, who was born March 25, 1865 ; Henry, born October 21, 1866, who died May 26, 1867: Pearly, whose birth occurred May 18, 1868; Mrs. Mary Hughes, who was born Feb- ruary 7, 1871; Guy, of this review ; Planey, born January 29, 1876: and Charles, whose natal day was May 16, 1878. All of the chil- dren were born and raised in Ellsworth township and are still residing there.
Guy Sowers attended the public schools of his native section and since laying aside his books has given his entire attention to general farming and well drilling. He owns forty acres of land on section 33, Ellsworth township, and to their cultivation brings long experience
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in the details of farming. His soil is fertile and productive and he gathers rich harvests every year as the reward for the intelligent care and labor which he bestows upon his place. His methods are modern and his farm is equipped with the most approved machinery. He lives in a comfortable and well furnished home upon his property and has many friends in this district where he is well known and prominent.
Mr. Sowers married Miss Maggie Henderson, who was born in Scott township, January 9. 1880. She attended the public schools of her native section and remained at home until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Sowers have three children, all natives of Ellsworth township; Bessie, born August 30, 1899; Irma, who was born May 30, 1902; and Sarah, whose birth occurred December 24, 1909. The two eldest daughters are attending school in the community. The wife of our subject is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, of Randall.
Mr. Sowers gives his allegiance to the democratic party but never seeks public office, preferring to devote his entire time to his agricul- tural pursuits. His farm is intelligently operated and responds to the careful supervision and practical methods of its owner in increased productiveness, so that Mr. Sowers is classed among the enterprising and successful farmers of Hamilton county.
REV. MICHAEL K. NORTON.
Rev. Michael K. Norton, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church of Webster City, was born in Painesville, Ohio, May 12, 1856. His parents were John and Mary (Codde) Norton, both of whom came to the United States when quite young. They resided in Ohio until after their marriage and then removed to Wisconsin, where they still make their home.
Father Michael K. Norton was quite young at the time of the re- moval to the Badger state, in the public schools of which he acquired his early education. He afterward attended St. Francis Seminary of Milwaukee and pursued his philosophical studies in St. Joseph College at Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained for the priesthood on the 28th of May, 1882, by Bishop Hennessey and was assigned to duty for three months in Clinton, Iowa. He then took charge of the mission and remained in that capacity for five years. His field of labor in- cluded the towns of Spencer, Spirit Lake and Estherville, Iowa, in each of which he succeeded in organizing a good congregation and in
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erecting houses of worship. He was next sent to Allamakee county, Iowa in 1887 and for eighteen years thereafter was pastor in that county. In 1905 he came to Webster City as pastor of the church of St. Thomas Aquinas. His labors here have been marked by con- tinuous progress. He has cleared off the church debt, has built the present parish house and has made other improvements in the church property, while the congregation has advanced steadily in spiritual growth. He has the good-will and high regard of his parishioners, who often come to him for temporal as well as spiritual advice. He is chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and those who meet him find that he possesses pleasing social qualities. His wide study has made him a broad-minded man and he keeps informed on many questions that affect the general interests of society.
MARSHALL HOMER BRINTON.
In all Hamilton county there was never a man more greatly loved than Marshall Homer Brinton. His memory is enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him. He was a most capable business man and won a substantial measure of success, but it was not success gained at the cost of another's failure. He ever followed constructive meth- ods and as he builded for himself contributed also to the welfare and prosperity of the community. It was not his material advancement. however, that made Mr. Brinton so popular and so well liked. It was because he was a manly man, true to the highest principles, loyal to his friends, devoted to his family and unpretentiously but un- hesitatingly faithful to his religious professions. The character which he builded is his best monument. for it left an indelible impress upon all with whom he came in contact. inspiring others to good deeds and to higher ideals.
Mr. Brinton was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of September, 1856, his parents being Stephen Marshall and Mary (McGrew) Brinton. His early educational opportunities were supplemented by study in the Washington and Jefferson College of Washington, Pennsylvania. He lived the life of a farmer and financier and in all of his business connections displayed notable business ability, sagacity, enterprise and determination. He became a resident of Hamilton county in 1884 and in the interval to the time of his death, which occurred on the 6th of June, 1912, he man-
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aged and controlled important business activities which resulted beneficially to the district at large as well as to himself. His invest- ments in real estate were judiciously made and he became the owner of more than a thousand acres of fine farm land in Hamilton county in addition to farming properties in North and South Dakota and Minnesota. He was also the founder and president of the Ellsworth State Bank, making this a substantial financial institution which grew along healthful lines because of the safe, conservative business policy followed. Extending his financial connections still farther, he be- came one of the heavy stockholders and the president of the Amer- ican Life Insurance Company of Des Moines and largely guided its policy, making it one of the most reliable and trustworthy enterprises of this character in the middle west. In all of his business career there was not a single esoteric phase. He was fair and honorable and straightforward in every relation. The splendid success that came to him was the merited and well earned reward of persistent labor, of sound judgment and unfaltering perseverance. Moreover. as he prospered he generously extended a helping hand to many a traveler on life's journey. A well known banker of the county said that probably no banker in all Iowa ever took more or greater chances loaning money to young men to start their business careers than Mr. Brinton, and many a business man now prosperous owes his present position in large measure to the aid which he received from Mr. Brinton at the outset of his career.
On the 13th of June, 1888, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Brinton was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Scott and unto them were born four children, Mary Inez, Scott Marshall, Edward Donald and May Esther. Mr. Brinton was a member of the Congregational church and for many years served as superintendent of the Sunday school at Ellsworth. He took active part in all lines of church work and contributed most generously to its support. But this was not all : this man of wealth and large business interests did not hold him- self above doing the janitor work in the church when the congrega- tion was struggling for an existence. He did not regard it as menial but rather as an honor to thus serve in promoting the cause of Christianity. He was a valued member of various fraternal organi- zations, having attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry, while also holding membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Mutual Brother- hood of America. Nor were duties of citizenship in any wise neg- lected. He realized the obligations as well as the privileges that de-
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volved upon him as an American citizen and loyally supported the principles which he deemed of most benefit to the public, voting ever with the republican party, which in 1893 elected him to represent Hamilton county in the state legislature and indorsed his first term's service in a reelection in 1895. His political honesty equalled his business integrity, neither fear nor favor swerving him from a course which he believed to be right and just. Nor did he neglect local interests, for one of the home papers said: "All that Ellsworth is today it owes to M. H. Brinton, and every man, woman and child in that town and for many miles around loved and honored him as though he were a close relative." Young and old, rich and poor, called him Homer. This was indicative of the character of the man, his brotherly spirit, his unfaltering kindness, his helpful attitude toward all and his unfeigned cordiality and geniality. No funeral service in the county was ever more largely attended and no ex- pression of grief was more extended and heartfelt than that mani- fested when M. H. Brinton passed away. All who knew him feel that he has passed on to a higher life with broader opportunities, joining "the choir invisible who live. again in lives made better by their presence."
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