USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 8
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In the same year that Mr. Henderson came to Kamrar he was appointed postmaster and has been serving since that time ably and conscientiously and to the complete satisfaction of the gen- eral public. He owns besides his furniture business his attrac- tive home in Kamrar, which is supplied with all the appointments and comforts found in a modern dwelling.
In Homer, Hamilton county, in 1880, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Emma Dale, born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1858. With her parents, Joseph and Mary (Beightol) Dale, she came to Hamilton county in the fall of 1863 and has made this section her home since that time. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and died in Bancroft, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-three. Her mother, also a native of Pennsylvania, died near Homer, when she was fifty-one years of age. Five of the children born to their union
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grew to maturity, namely : William Bigler and James Buchanan, both of whom have passed away; Mary Emma, the wife of the subject of this review; Mrs. Julia Ann Graham, deceased; ard Mrs. Lucretia Adella Graham, who lives in Burt, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have been born seven children, of whom four daughters and one son are living. They are: Mrs. Maude Bau- man, who resides at Primghar, O'Brien county, Iowa; Mrs. Nellie Pearson, who resides near Ellsworth ; Mrs. Evelyn Wille, of Buck- eye, Iowa; Mrs. Adella Woodward, who makes her home at Maurice ; and Harold A., who resides with his parents in Kamrar. The other children born to Mr. and Mrs. Henderson died in infancy.
Mr. Henderson gives his allegiance to the republican party and has held several important local offices, including that of township assessor of Kamrar. In this position he did successful work for six years and is serving at the present time as post- master. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife are exemplary people, of broad and liberal inter- ests, and constant readers of the best literature. The thirty-two years of their married life have been passed quietly and serenely in earnest work so that their fortune today is amply sufficient to give them many of the pleasures, comforts and luxuries of life.
EDWARD J. KEEGAN.
Edward J. Keegan, who engages in the livery business in Will- iams, is one of Hamilton county's self-made men, such success as has come to him being the direct result of his own diligence and enterprise. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the 28th of No- vember, 1881, and is a son of John and Mary (Comiskey) Keegan. The parents were born, reared and married in Illinois, the father's birth having occurred in Putnam county, on the 27th of August, 1853, and that of the mother in La Salle county, that state. In 1883, they located on a farm in the vicinity of Streator, Illinois, re- maining there until 1887, when they came to the city of Streator. Here the mother passed away, but the father is still living and now makes his home with the subject of this sketch at Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Keegan had five children, the son Edward J. being the young- est. In order of birth the others are as follows: Frank, whose
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birth occurred on February 26, 1876, a resident of Louisville, Ken- tucky; John M., whose natal day was the 13th of August, of Cov- ington, Kentucky; Maggie, who was born on the 18th of January, 1879, the wife of a Mr. Greenley, of Dubuque, Iowa; and Lydia, who was born in 1879, and died in that year.
Edward J. Keegan was a child of two years when his parents removed to Streator and a youth of sixteen when he came to Iowa. Having been reared on a farm, he was early trained to agricultural pursuits and worked out as a farm hand in the vicinity of Williams, when he first came to Hamilton county. He subsequently purchased a dray line which he operated until 1911, when he and his brother- in-law, John Ricke, engaged in the livery business. They have one of the best equipped barns in the county, having not only a fine line of teams and vehicles of various kinds, but automobiles. They are both energetic, capable men, and are meeting with success in the development of their business. Mr. Keegan owns his residence and has other property interests in Williams.
The 7th of February, 1906, was the wedding day of Mr. Keegan and Miss Rose Ricke, who was born near East Dubuque, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, on the 18th of March, 1883, and is a daughter of Bernard and Theresa (Fleege) Ricke. The father was born in Freren, Hanover, Germany, on April 25, 1837, and emigrated to the United States in 1854. Here he subsequently met and married Miss Fleege, who was born in Lengerich, Hanover, on the 7th of October, 1842, and came to America with her family in 1846. They resided for some years in Illinois, coming from there to Hamilton county in 1884. Upon their arrival here they settled on a farm in this township, located four and a half miles north of Williams, which the father successfully cultivated until the spring of 1906, when he retired from active work and removed to Williams. Here he passed away on March 19, 1909, but the mother is still living and continues to make her home in Williams in the residence which they purchased when they first left the farm. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ricke numbered twelve: Bernard, who was born on the IIth of August, 1860, and died at the age of four years; Henry, born on May 18, 1862, a resident of Kossuth county, Iowa; Mary, who was born on March 30, 1864, the wife of Henry Hendricks, of Jo Daviess county, Illinois; Christina, who was born May 15, 1866, now Mrs. Fred Engelking of Lyon county, Iowa; August, whose natal day was Feb- ruary 13, 1868, a resident of Lyon county; Frank, who was born on the 18th of February, 1870, a resident of Redwood county, Minne-
99252B
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sota ; William, who was born April 10, 1872, and died on the 8th of December, 1907; Clemmons, whose natal day was January 30, 1874, residing in Williams township; a son born on the Ist of May, 1876, who died in infancy; John, whose birth occurred January 18, 1878, engaged in business with Mr. Keegan; Theresa, who was born on July 20, 1880, now Mrs. Lutzke of Clarksville, Iowa; and Mrs. Kee- gan. The latter is the mother of one son, Everett William, who was born on March 25, 1908; and a daughter, Velora Agnes, whose natal day was May 5, 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Keegan are communicants of the Roman Catholic church and in politics he is a republican. He is a young man of more than average capability, and is making rapid and orderly prog- ress in his business career, which gives every assurance of being a successful and highly creditable one.
J. PARKER TALCOTT.
J. Parker Talcott, who for more than twenty years has been en- gaged in the hardware business in Williams, is a worthy representa- tive of the commercial interests of Hamilton county, where he has achieved the success that invariably rewards earnest and intelligent effort in the honorable pursuit of a definite purpose. He was born in Williston, Vermont, on the 8th of January, 1860, and is a son of Grove G. and Sylvia A. (Skinner) Talcott, also natives of the Green Mountain state. They removed to Illinois in 1869, settling in Cook county, whence they later removed to Hamilton county, Iowa. The father passed away in Rose Grove township in 1892, at the age of fifty-eight years. He is survived by the mother, who is now seventy-four and makes her home in Cook county, Illlinois. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Talcott, three of whom died in infancy. Of the six who are living our subject is the second in order of birth, the others being as follows: Fred M., who is re- siding in Rose Grove township, Hamilton county; Frances S., who is librarian in the Lewis Institute of Chicago; Mary B., who was a nurse at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, during the Spanish-Ameri- can war, going from there to the Philippines, where she remained for two years, and was subsequently appointed head nurse of the Illi- nois State Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary, in which capacity she is still serving; Z. S., who resides in Rose Grove township, Hamil-
J. PARKER TALCOTT
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ton county ; and Harry H., who was graduated from the University of Michigan, and later took a four-year course in the Chicago Law School, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession in the latter city. All of the family were born in Vermont with the ex- ception of the last named, who is a native of Cook county, Illinois.
J. Parker Talcott was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, where he completed his edu- cation in the public schools and was reared to manhood. His boy- hood and youth were passed on the home farm, in the cultivation of which he early began to assist his father, thus becoming familiar with the work and duties of the agriculturist. After leaving home he be- gan farming on his own account and in 1884 came to Hamilton county, locating in the vicinity of Williams, where he continued his agricultural pursuits for about eight years. In 1892, he gave up farming and coming to Williams engaged in the hardware business, and has ever since devoted his energies to commercial activities. His store is not only one of the largest and most thriving enterprises of Williams but of the entire county. He carries an extensive stock of shelf and heavy hardware, cutlery, sewing machines, harness, farm- ing implements, pianos, phonographs and automobiles, the quality of which is fully commensurate in every respect with the price. With the increase of his business Mr. Talcott has extended the scope of his activities and he now maintains a branch store at Blairsburg and owns a third interest in the Webster City Implement Company. He also owns the business block where his store is located and his resi- dence in Williams.
On the 7th of November, 1887, Mr. Talcott was married to Miss Laura A. Laude, who was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, on the 6th of October, 1864, and came to Hamilton county with her brothers in 1883. She is a daughter of Peter and Mary Laude, natives of France, who came to America in early life and subsequently settled in Du- buque county, where the mother passed away in 1873. The father was living in Woodbury county, this state, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, at the age of seventy-five years. The fam- ily of Mr. and Mrs. Laude numbered fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls.
To Mr. and Mrs. Talcott have been born five children, the two eldest of whom are natives of Rose Grove township, while the other three were born in Williams. In order of birth they are as follows : Sylvia S., who was born on the 4th of September, 1889, and after graduating from the 'Williams high school continued her education
Vol. II-6
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in the Sisters School at Madison, Wisconsin, and is now studying music in Chicago; George G., who was born January 31, 1892, and following his graduation from high school studied at Ames for a year and then began his business career in his father's store, where he is in charge of the automobile department; J. P., Jr., who was born August 26, 1894, a graduate of the Williams high school and a senior in the high school of Webster City; Mary B., a student of the Williams high school, who was born September 3, 1896; and Frances A., who was born on the Ist of February, 1898, and died at the age of one year.
The religious faith of the family is manifested through their membership in the Presbyterian church. Fraternally Mr. Talcott. is affiliated with Alamo Lodge, No. 547, A. F. & A. M .; and he is a charter member of Williams Camp, No. 1844, M. W. A. In poli- tics he is a republican and has been a member of the board of educa- tion and of the town council. In matters of citizenship Mr. Talcott is public-spirited and enterprising and in the discharge of his public duties manifests the same promptitude, exactness and general effi- ciency that characterize his business transactions.
EUGENE S. BOUDINOT.
Gradually working his way upward, Eugene S. Boudinot is now well established in the profession of civil engineering. He makes his home in Webster City, where he has lived since the spring of 1909. Although one of the more recent arrivals here, he has demonstrated his power and ability to perform difficult and complex engineering feats and has today a large professional clientage. He was born in Danville, Illinois, January 18, 1877, and is a direct descendant of Elias Boudinot, who was the first president of the continental con- gress, then sitting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, E. E. Boudinot, was a graduate pharmacist, being one of the first to com- plete a course in pharmacy in the University of Pennsylvania. He also won the degree of D. D. S., but never engaged in the practice of dentistry. He was likewise a graduate of Wabash College at Craw- fordsville, Indiana, completing the course in the same class with General Lew Wallace, Governor Morton and several other men who rose to distinction in public life. For many years Mr. Boudinot was a successful druggist of Danville. He became prominent in political
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circles of the state and was a member of the one hundred and third Illinois general assembly, which elected John A. Logan to the office of United States senator. He died in 1902 at the age of fifty-three years, while his wife passed away in 1898 at the age of forty-seven years. Mrs. Boudinot bore the maiden name of Sarah Stimson and was a direct descendant in the maternal line of Governor Braddock of Philadelphia.
Eugene S. Boudinot was educated in the public schools of Dan- ville, the Rose Polytechnic Institute at Terre Haute, Indiana, and in the University of Illinois at Champaign, where he pursued the engi- neering course. He began working for the Illinois Central Railroad Company on their extension from Fort Dodge to Omaha, Nebraska, being thus employed until 1900, when he was elected county surveyor of Vermilion county, Illinois. He occupied that position creditably and continuously until 1907, after which he went to Red Oak, Iowa, and was city engineer there until the spring of 1909. In that year he came to Webster City, where he has since followed his profes- sion and, while he does all kinds of civil engineering work, he spe- cializes as a drainage engineer.
In 1903, Mr. Boudinot was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Fisher, her father being M. E. Fisher, a wholesale grocer of Red Oak, Iowa. Mr. Boudinot has an interesting military chapter in his life history, having been a member of Battery A of the Illinois Na- tional Guard of Danville during the strike period from 1892 until 1894. He acted as corporal of his battery and was on active duty in connection with the strikes. His fraternal relations are with the Masons of Danville and the Elks of Webster City and his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the First Presbyterian church. His has been a well spent life, devoted to his chosen profession, the duties of which he capably and conscientiously discharges.
GUY THOMAS McCAULIFF, M. D.
In the history of the medical profession in Hamilton county it is imperative that mention be made of Dr. G. T. McCauliff, today recognized as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Webster City, his prominence and success being the legitimate outcome of careful and thorough preparatory training and of un- faltering devotion to duty since entering upon active practice.
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He was born October 26, 1874, near Bristow, Butler county, Iowa, and is a son of John and Susan Frances (Biggs) McCauliff. His ancestry can be traced back to the Rev. John Robinson, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1575, and who entered Corpus Christi College at Cambridge in 1592, winning a fellow- ship in 1598. He resigned in 1604 and entered upon his minis- terial duties in and near Norfolk, England. In 1606 the church at Scrooby, in Nottinghamshire, was formed by "divers goodly Christians who entered into covenant to walk with God, accord- ing to the primitive pattern in the word of God." Of this church John Robinson became the preacher, together with Richard Clif- ton. After about a year they resolved to go over into Holland, in 1607, but it does not appear that Clifton went. The Rev. John Robinson proceeded first to Amsterdam and in 1609 removed to Leyden. In 1611 his house was the place of worship for the con- gregation. About 1617 they resolved to emigrate to the new world, their plans being carried out in 1620. They were the pas- sengers who made the historic voyage on the Mayflower. John Robinson intended to follow at no distant date but died of the plague at Leyden, February 19, 1625, o. s., or March 1, 1625, n. s. History says: "More than any other man of modern times, John Robinson is regarded as the father of Congregationalism." He married Bridget White and had seven children, his third child be- ing Isaac Robinson, who was born in 1610 and who in 1631 sailed for New England. He settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and was married June 27, 1636, to Margaret Hanford, who died in 1649. In 1650 he married again and his death occurred in 1704, when he was ninety-four years of age. He had six children by his first wife and four by his second wife. One of these, Peter Robin- son, born between 1653 and 1666, in Barnstable, Massachusetts, married Experience Manton and in 1723 moved to Scotland, Con- necticut. His death occurred ten years later.
Peter Robinson, son of Peter and Experience Robinson, was born about 1697 and married Ruth Fuller in 1725. He resided in Scotland, Connecticut, to the time of his death. One of his twelve children was Abner Robinson, an officer of the Revolution- ary war, who served as an ensign at the battle of Bunker Hill and later became a lieutenant and afterward a captain. His son, Ex- perience Robinson, born in 1728, had three sons, including Elias Robinson, who was born in Norwich, Connecticut, April 14, 1757, and was married August 26, 1779, to Sybil Lillie. He was a sol-
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dier of the Revolutionary war and old documents give the follow- ing record: "Elias Robinson, Windham, Connecticut : sergeant, March 12, 1777; ensign, December 27, 1777; lieutenant, October 26, 1780; retired as lieutenant in June, 1782." He was also a member of the Society of Cincinnati, and he died February 28, 1805. His son, Elias Robinson, born November 13, 1780, was married in 1808 to Fanny Francis and they had a daughter, An- geline, who was born March 2, 1812, and was married December 8, 1838, to James Biggs, of Milford Center, Ohio. A daughter of this marriage was Susan Frances Biggs, who was born Septem- ber 5, 1841, in Wiota, Wisconsin, and became the mother of Dr. McCauliff. His grandfather, James Biggs, was a general in the Black Hawk war, also represented his district in the state legis- lature of Wisconsin and aided in framing the Wisconsin state constitution, which was signed February 1, 1848.
As previously stated, Susan Frances Biggs became the wife of John McCauliff, who was a farmer by occupation and a veteran of the Civil war, serving for three years with the Thirty-first Wisconsin Regiment. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea and participated in various hotly contested engagements. In 1870 he removed to Iowa and from 1895 until 1910 was post- master at Aredale, Iowa, where he died in August, 1910, when sixty-eight years of age. His widow still survives and is living in Aredale.
Dr. McCauliff was a pupil in the public schools of Aredale and in the Nora Springs Seminary at Nora Springs, Iowa, after which he spent four years as a student in the Iowa State Uni- versity. The following year was devoted to teaching and during the succeeding two years he pursued a partial medical course in the Iowa State University, while two more years were devoted to the completion of his professional education in the Northwestern University Medical School of Chicago. He was there graduated in 1902 with the degree of M. D. He put his theoretical training to the practical test in two years' experience as interne in St. Luke's Hospital of Chicago and in 1904 he came to Webster City, where he entered upon and has since continued in the prac- tice of medicine. He has been a member of the United States pension examining board since 1907, and he belongs to the Hamil- ton County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Cedar Valley Austin Flint Medical Society and the Iowa Clinical Surgical Society.
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In strictly fraternal lines Dr. McCauliff is connected with Acacia Lodge, No. 176, A. F. & A. M .; Hope Chapter, No. 88, R. A. M .; Triune Commandery, No. 41, K. T .; Sharon Chapter, No. 148, O. E. S .; Webster City Lodge, No. 342, I. O. O. F .; Webster City Lodge, No. 302, B. P. O. E .; Brotherhood of Amer- ican Yeomen, No. 517; and Webster City Camp, No. 416, M. W. A. He also belongs to the Commercial League of Webster City and to the Nu Sigma Nu fraternity of Northwestern Uni- versity.
In June, 1907, at Milford, Iowa, Dr. McCauliff was united in marriage to Miss Edna L. Lucas, a daughter of Mrs. C. M. Coldren of that place. Her stepfather, two uncles and her grand- father were all physicians. Dr. and Mrs. McCauliff have a very wide and favorable acquaintance in Webster City and this part of the state. His social prominence is indicated in the fact that he is a director of the Country Club and his interest in the public welfare finds tangible expression in his work as a member of the school board, on which he has served since 1909. He takes a deep and helpful interest in everything pertaining to public prog- ress and his labors have been a vital and forceful element in the upbuilding and development of Webster City. In his profession he holds to the highest standards and his labors are bringing to him gratifying success.
WILLIAM J. STREVELER.
Among the recent acquisitions to the commercial fraternity of Blairsburg appears the name of William J. Streveler, who since January first, of this year, has been here engaged in the imple- ment business. He represents one of Hamilton county's pioneer families and was born in Liberty township on the 10th of July, 1879. His father, John H. Streveler, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, on the Ist of July, 1847. In his early manhood he emigrated to the United States, locating in this county in 1869. Here he was subsequently married to Miss Margaret Behrens, whose birth occurred in Washington county, Wisconsin, on the 16th of August, 1857. She passed the first thirteen years of her life in her native state, coming from there to Hamilton county in 1870. Mr. Streveler was for many years actively and success-
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fully identified with the farming interests of Liberty township, but in 1905 he withdrew from agricultural pursuits and purchased the implement business now owned by his son, of which he held possession for a year. He and the mother have removed to Waterloo, this state, and expect to pass the remainder of their lives in the pleasant home they own at that place. They are the parents of six children : Mrs. Rosa Chaplinski, of Williams; Wil- liam J., our subject ; Mrs. H. A. Dodge, of Iowa Falls; Tice S., of Alden; John, who is a resident of Waterloo; and Clara, who is living at home. The three eldest were born in Liberty township and the three last named in Blairsburg township, all being reared in this county.
Hamilton county has always been the home of William J. Streveler, who obtained his early education in the country schools, supplementing the course there pursued by three month's study in Highland Park College, Des Moines. In common with the majority of lads who are reared on a farm, his youthful energies were early directed along agricultural lines. He remained at home and assisted his father until qualified to begin his indepen- dent career and then engaged in farming on his own account. As he is a young man of diligent methods and practical ideas, which he intelligently executed, he prospered in his undertakings, and became recognized as one of the foremost agriculturists of his community. He continued to engage in diversified farming and stock-raising until the Ist of January, 1912, when he pur- chased the business he is now conducting in Blairsburg. He carries a full line of farming implements, and he also sells wagons, buggies and automobiles. Mr. Streveler is well adapted to his present business, his years of practical experience as a farmer well qualifying him to judge of the merits of the various imple- ments and machines essential to the agriculturist. As he has a wide acquaintance in the county and is known to be a man of high principles and reliable methods, he is building up a good trade and has every reason to feel gratified with, the patronage he is enjoying.
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