USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 72
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ORGANIC.
When Hardin county was organized, in the spring of 1853, there were but two townships-Morgan comprising the north-
ern half, and Latham the southern half. Eldora was then a part of the township of Latham. The first business transacted by the County Judge, Alexander Smith, was to divide the county into townships. Township 87, range 19, and the east half of township 87, range 20, was set apart as a township, and the name Eldora given to it. Subsequently, Pleasant township was organized as it now stands, comprising township 87, range 20, and Eldora was reduced to its present size. Unfortunately for the historian, the early records of the township are lost, supposed to have been burned in 1862, therefore only a record of officers from 1863 to the present time can be given. The following comprises the trustees and clerks from that date:
1863-H. C. Webster, E. Richards, J. C. McClure, Trustees; J. Reynolds, Clerk.
1864-James Reynolds, E. Richards, Trustees; J. Q. Patterson. Clerk.
1865-Simeon Furman, J. C. Hartman, Benjamin Price, Trustees; Geo. W. Thomp- son, Clerk; H. G. Hammond, Assessor.
1866-G. Spencer, T. Y. McClure, W. H. Pool, Trustees; John M. Furman, Clerk. 1867-Joseplı Edgington, T. Y. McClure, John Peters, Trustees; Ezra Nuckolls, Clerk.
1868-George McElroy, William J. Moir, Ransom Wright, Trustees; J. Q. Patterson, Clerk.
1869-DeRoy- Ellsworth, J. C. Moor- man, Ezra Nuckolls, Trustees; R. F. Rip- ley, Clerk.
1870-Joseph Edgington, B. H. Wilmot, R. H. Whitenack, Trustees; M. D. Mor- ris, Clerk; B. H. Wilmot was appointed Assessor.
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1872-B. H. Wilmot, R. H. Whitenack, Otis Hall, Trustees; J. H. King, Clerk.
1873-A. B. Harris, Otis Hall, E. Gil- christ, Trustees; A. M. Boudle, Clerk.
1874-N. M. Fouts, J. Q. Patterson, Otis Hall, Trustees; A. M. Boudle, Clerk. 1875-N. M. Fouts, Amos Tucker, M. E. Wood, Trustees; A. M. Boudle, Clerk.
1876-N. M. Fouts, M. Hulbert, Edward Estabrook, Trustees; A. M. Boudle, Clerk. 1877-M. Hulbert, Ed. Estabrook, Sam'l. Martin, Trustees; J. D. Newcomer, Clerk. 1878-M. Hulbert, H. C. Webster, John Peters, Trustees; A. M. Boudle, Clerk. 1879-W. J. Moir, Ezra Nuckols, Otis Hall, Trustees; R. F. Ripley, Clerk.
1880-Allen E. Webb, Allen Meader, Otis Hall, Trustees; R. F. Ripley, Clerk.
1881-J. C. Moorman, Allen Meader, Aaron Porter, Trustees; C. B. Davis, Clerk.
1882-Allen Meader, J. C. Moorman, Aaron Porter, Trustees; C. B. Davis, Clerk.
EDUCATIONAL.
Eldora township has the honor of having had erected within its borders the first school house in Hardin county, and also of having the first school held therein. In the summer of 1853, a small log school house was erected about two and a half miles southeast of the present town of Eldora, on the farm long known as the Conger farm. The house was built by sub- scription of the citizens, W. Baily being employed to do the work. It was built ready for occupancy that fall, and Thomas Y. McClure, who yet resides in the county, was employed as the first teacher. He began the school, but for some cause
resigned the position of teacher before the expiration of the term. Samuel Smith was then called upon to fill out the un- expired term, and did so. Cold weather coming on, Mr. Smith was compelled to vacate the house and retire to the dwelling of Mr. Conger, when the term was com- pleted.
There are now in the township 4 sub- districts and two independent districts- Eldora and Xenia. The sub-districts have each a good frame school building, the total value of which is estimated at $2,000. Xenia has two frame and one stone build- ing valued at $2,000. Eldora town has one brick valued at $16,600, or a total in the township of $20,600. In the four sub- districts in 1881, there were 140 persons of school age. In Xenia there were 79. In Eldora there were 654.
RELIGIOUS.
The first religious services held in the township, were in the school house erected on the Conger farm, about two and a half miles southeast of the present town of Eldora, in the fall of 1853. Rev. J. R. Lowrance, a Cumberland Presbyterian, who had lately settled in the township, con- ducted the exercises and preached the dis- course. There are now in the township nine religious organizations, of which all but two are in the town of Eldora. In connection with the history of the town, sketches of each of the organizations will be found.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized on the fourth Sabbath in January, 1853, by Rev. J. R. Lowrance with J. M. Buckner, Jane Hensley, C. J. McClure, Sarepta McClure and E. Jane
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Lowrance. The society have now a good church edifice, and hold services regular, Rev. S. McCall being the regular pastor.
Rev. Smith McCall, pastor of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church of Eldora town- ship, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 1, 1839. He resided in Pennsylvania until he removed to Illi- nois in 1854, and then to Iowa, in 1872. His first charge was in Appanoose county in this State. He came to Hardin county in the fall of 1875, and has since had charge of his present church. His wife . was Elvira E. Hunt, born in Marshall county, Illinois. They have three children-Bertie B., William and Alice.
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Junius A. Furman resides on section 1. He purchased his farm in 1881, of Oscar Callkins. The farm was first- settled by C. McClure. Mr. Furman was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1850. He came to Hardin county with his father, in 1862. He has a fine farm, with good im- provements, which contains over 200 acres. · Mr. Furman married Annie M. Walker, daughter of James F. Walker, an early set- tler of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Fur- man have two children-James and George Irvin.
S. W. Tash, of Xenia, is a native of Rockingham county, New Hampshire, where he was born in 1827. He removed when a boy, to Genesee county, New York, where he lived eight or nine years. He then returned to New Hampshire. He came to Iowa in January, 1864. Mr. Tash owns the Hlouring mill, and most of what pertains to the village of Xenia. He has about seven hundred acres of land, includ-
ing most of the village. The mill was built by Mr. G. M. Woodbury in 1856; it originally had two run of burrs; has now three. The mill cost about $10,000. It was remodeled by Mr. Tash in 1880, at a cost of about $2,000. Mr. Tash has always been engaged in farming, and is one of the prominent farmers and stock raisers of the county.
Henry Tolman came to Eldora in 1864, and with Mr. John Hall built the stone pottery now owned by Mr Sweet. He owned an interest in that pottery for about twelve years. He was born in London- dery, Vt., August 13, 1809, but his parents removed to the State of New Hampshire when he was an infant, where he was brought up. He removed to Massachusetts when a young man. Mr. Tolman learned the trade of a potter in his youth. In Massachusetts he established and carried on extensive terra cotta works. His works were probably the first of the kind in the United States. They were located at Worcester, and were established about 1845. In 1855 Mr. Tolman removed to Wisconsin, and after a few months he re- moved to Wautoma, and thence to Berlin, where he built a pottery, and lived for several years. As before stated, he came to Eldora in 1864. Mrs. Tolman was for- merly Miss Harriet M. Rhoades, born in Amherst, N. J., in 1813. Mr. and Mrs. Tolman have five children: Charles W., Alfred R., Sarah, now Mrs. Ira Goodwin; Josephine, wife of William Sherwood, of Cedar Falls; and George H. Their second son, James M., was an Orderly Sergeant of a company in the 18th Regiment, Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Jackson, Miss.,
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May 14, 1864, and died on the 17th, fol- lowing. He was a gallant soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Tolman are members of the Baptist Church, and have been promi- nently identified with that denomination for many years.
John N. Gearhart resides on section 34. Mr. Gearhart was an early settler of Iowa. He came to the territory in 1840, and settled near Burlington. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1814. He served an apprenticeship to the trade of a tailor, which he followed for many years. He went to Ohio when a young man, where he lived for a time, and thence to Clinton county, Ind. He was married in Indiana to Miss Mary Douglass, born in Butler county, Ohio, December 20, 1820. As before mentioned, they came to Iowa in 1840. In 1843, Mr. Gearhart, with his family, removed to Jefferson county and settled on a farm, where they lived four years. They then removed to Illinois, and located at Rock Island, where Mr. Gearhart worked at his trade for four years. They then removed to Mercer county and purchased a farm, where they lived for many years. Mr. Gearhart came to Hardin county from Illinois in 1865, and bought the farm, where he now lives, of Mr. Henry Sloan. He resides on sec- tion 34. Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart have had eleven children, nine of whom are living, seven sons and four daughters, viz: Mrs. Janet A. Barnard, Mrs. Martha T. Gordon, Mrs. Rebecca Haas, Stephen J., Pennington L., Thomas E., James D., Wellington and Edgar T. Their oldest son, George W., died at the age of eighteen. The other deceased died in early child- hood. Mr. Gearhart's farm has 140 acres.
. Isaac N. Hunter resides on section 33. His father was Joseph Hunter, and his mother is Jane (Sloan) Hunter. Joseph Hunter was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he was brought up. He learned the trade of a watchmaker, and followed that business for forty years. He came to Hardin county in September, 1865, and purchased a farm on section 4, in Union township, of W. A. Sloan, where he re- sided till his death, which occurred Feb- ruary 17, 1879. His wife survived her husband, and lives at the homestead. She is a sister of W. A. Sloan, who died Sep- tember 22, 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Hunter has three sons-J. S., J. L. and Isaac N. The latter was born in Butler county, Pa., in 1840. His farm was formerly that of his uncle, Mr. W. A. Sloan, who purchased it of Joshua Drury. His wife was formerly Miss Paulina F. Winter, daughter of the Rev. Ernest Winter, of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have two children- Hannah C. and Ernest G. Mr. Hunter's farm contains 100 acres.
John Hall, of Eldora, is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1827, and removed with his parents to Vermont when eight years of age. He removed to Wisconsin with his father's family when nineteen years of age. His father, John Hall, settled in Fon du Lac county, where he lived till his death. Mr. Hall lived in Wisconsin about twenty years. He came to Hardin county in 1866, and soon after built a pottery here, which he run for one year, and then engaged in the lumber busi- ness, which he followed till 1882, when he sold bis interest in the same to E. J. Hau- ser & Co., Mr. Hauser having been asso-
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
605
ciated with him for several years. Mr. HIall owns a fine farm adjoining the corpo- rate limits of Eldora, and is devoting much attention to the rearing of horses. He makes a specialty of the Clydesdale and Norman breeds of horses. He has attained marked success in this branch of business. Mrs Hall was formerly Miss Mary E. Max- son, a native of Pennsylvania. Their chil- dren are, Leoti, wife of Frank M. Thaxter; Charles S, Frank S., John B. and Eddie M.
Watson B. Ackles resides on section 2, where he located in 1867, purchasing his farm of J. M. Scott. This farm was originally settled by Charles McClure, and contains 280 acres. Mr. Ackles was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1835, where he lived till nine years of age, when his parents removed to Ontario county. The family afterward moved to Michigan, where w here parents, Frederick and Susan Ackles, resided till their death. Mr. Ackles drove a flock of sheep, in 1865, from Michigan to Grundy Center, Iowa. He soon after engaged in railroading on the west division of the Rock Island Railroad. He after- ward went to New York City. Returning to Michigan, he engaged in another sheep speculation, driving a large flock to Mis- souri in 1866. He then went to Marshall- town, in the fall of that year, coming to Hardin county in June, 1867. His wife is Delilah, only child of Mr. J. R. Thorn- ton, who also resides on section 2 in this township.
Mr. Thornton was born in Courtland county, N. Y., in 1819, where he lived till he was sixteen years of age. He then removed to Onondaga county, and lived with an older brother till he was twenty- one years old. He then went to Trumbull
county, Ohio. He was married in Hardin county, in that State, to Harriet Hubbard, daughter of Phieldon Hubbard, who set- tled in Ohio, from the State of Virginia. Mr. Thornton removed from Ohio to Cham- paign county, Ill. They lived here two years, and then removed to Marshall county, Iowa, in 1854, and settled in Vi- enna township, where he lived about fifteen years, when he came to Hardin county, and settled on his present farm, which he bought of David Sellers. His farm con- tains 208 acres.
Myron Brownell resides on section 23, where he owns a farm of 200 acres. IIe bought his farm of various parties. That part on which the buildings are situated, he bought of Robert McDougal; bought 40 acres of H. L. Lathrop, of Iowa City; 40 of William Cline and 40 acres of Mr. John Way. Mr. Brownell was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1835, where he was brought up. He married Almira Young, who was, also, born in Montgomery county. He removed to Wisconsin in 1859, and settled in Fon du Lac county. He came here in 1867. He has three children: Francis M., Lucy A. and C. Fre- mont. Mr. Brownell has a desirable farm, with good improvements, all of which lie made
Edwin Gilchrist resides on section 17. Mr. Gilchrist was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 1828, where he was brought up. He came West in 1865, and lived in Minnesota one year, where he was engaged in merchandising and farming, which ocupations he had followed before coming West. He came to Hardin county in the spring of 1867, and bought his present farm, where he has since lived.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
Mrs. Gilchrist was formerly Miss M. Gourlay, born in Scotland. She emi- grated to the State of New York when a child. Mr. Gilchrist is engaged quite extensively in dairying.
Otis Hall resides on section 23, where lie has lived since the fall of 1868. Mr. Hall was born in Franklin county, Vt., in 1825, where he lived till twenty-one years of age, when he went to Wisconsin; he lived for a time in Fon du Lac county, thence to Waushara county, where he engaged in farming. He spent some of the early years of his residence in Wisconsin in farming. As before stated, he came to Hardin county in 1868. He purchased his farm of John Lynn. Mr. Hall has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Samantha S. Sykes, born in Vermont. She died here in November, 1872. His present wife was Josephine A. Watson, born in the State of New York. Mr. Hall has five children by his first wife, and three by his second wife.
Reuben Billings is a native of Stark county, Ohio, where he was born in 1824. When eighteen years of age, he removed to Indiana with his parents. He went to Wisconsin in 1847, while that State was still a territory. He voted on the adop- tion of the constitution in that State. His father was John Billings, a brick mason by trade, Reuben also learning that busi- ness of his father. Mr. John Billings removed to this county about 1855. Reu- ben Billings came to Iowa in 1868, and . settled in Grundy county. He was en- gaged for some time at the "Orphans' Home," at Cedar Falls, and afterwards at the State Reform School, at Eldora, where he had charge of the farm of that institu-
tion. For one and one half years of his stay here, the institution was under the superintendency of Superintendent Mc- Carty, and for six months under Superin- tendent Johnson, and for three years under Superintendent Wymans. His wife, during the time, had charge of the tailoring department of the institution. Mrs. Billings was formerly Miss Ellen M. Johnson, born in the State of New York. Her father was Filer Johnson, of Green Lake county, Wis. Mr. Billings bought his farm in March, 1881. It is situated on section 3, Eldora township. Mr. Billings enlisted, October 8, 1861, in Company A, 16th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Saxe. He was wounded April 6, 1862, at the battle of Shiloh. He was discharged in July, 1862, and, on account of his wounds, draws a pension from the Government.
Henry Jackson, of Eldora, is a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1835. He came to the United States with his parents when about fourteen years of age. His father settled in Greene county, Wis. Previous to settling in this county, Mr. Jackson spent several years in the moun- tains of the far West. He came to this county in 1868 and bought a farm, which he still owns. Mr. Jackson devotes con- siderable attention to the breeding and raising of fine horses, of which he has quite a number. His wife was formerly Miss Mary E. Hedrick.
George Emerson resides on section 9. He is engaged in farming, gardening and fruit growing. He began making improve- ments here in 1869. He and his brother- in-law, James Finleyson, came together. They purchased 80 acres for the purpose
John Graham.
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
of engaging in the nursery business, Mr. Finleyson being a practical nurseryman. They started a nursery in 1871, which for a time was fairly successful. Mr. Finleyson died in 1875; his part of the 80 acres is now owned by Martin Schuyneman. Mr. Emerson has a fine orchard, of from 250 to 300 apple trees; and also cultivates vari- ous other fruits. He was born in St. Law- rence county, N. Y., in 1834, and removed to Illinois with his parents in 1846. He lived in Illinois till twenty-three years of age when he came to Iowa. His wife was Margaret Finleyson, who was born in Can- ada. They have seven children, two sons and five daughters.
Clifton Clark came to Eldora in 1869. In the fall of that year he engaged in the sale of farm machinery. Mr. Clark was born in Michigan, and came to Grundy Center, Grundy county, in 1864, where he was engaged in business till he came to Eldora. His wife was Miss Clara McClure, daughter of Charles J. McClure, one of the early settlers of Eldora township. Mr. McClure was born in Illinois. He settled in Eldora township in October, 1853. He settled on the farm now owned by James Horner. Mr. McClure was married in Illinois, to Serepta Vansickle, who was born in Illinois. They had four children- Clara B., Winfield, now an engineer on the Central Iowa Railroad; Robert Henry and John Thomas. Mr. McClure removed to Kansas in the fall of 1879, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had four children-Jennie Amelia, C. Herbert and Abigail; lost one son, John.
John Graham resides on section 27. He was born in Madison county, Ill., Septem- ber 15, 1832. His father was among the
earliest settlers of Iowa, having settled in Dubuque county, twelve miles west of the city of Dubuque, in 1834. His name was also John Graham. He resided in Du- buque county till his death, which occurred in 1862. He was a native of Ireland, and came to this country when a young man. He lived several years in St. Louis, Mo., thence to Galena and the city of Dubuque, in the early history of those cities, settling, as before stated, on a farm in Dubuque county. His wife, Sarah (Mason) Graham, was a native of the State of Kentucky. She still lives in Dubuque county. Mr. Graham married Martha Elizabeth Palmer, a daughter of John Palmer, who was a soldier of the Black Hawk War, and an early settler of Dubuque. Mrs. Graham was born in Dubuque, in July, 1838. Her father still lives in that city. Mr. Graham settled in Vinton, Benton county, in the spring of 1867. He came to Hardin county in the fall of 1870, and bought his farm of J. W. Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have seven children-Edmond E., Henry I., Clara B. Fannie A., John P., Charles and Diego G. Mr. Graham's farm contains 167 acres.
Garrett Van Voorhes has leased the interest of Mr. Copp in the Eldora Flour- ing Mills. He is a practical and experi- enced miller. He was born in Duchess county, New York, in 1826. He learned the trade of a miller in his youth. He came to Iowa in the spring of 1853, and located at Delhi, Delaware county, and engaged in milling. From Delhi he went to Davenport, where he remained about two years. He had charge of a mill at Oxford, Jones county, for a time, and thence to Cedar Rapids, thence to Indian-
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
town, Tama county, where he remained five years, thence to Union, Hardin county, October, 1870, where he took charge of the Union Mill, at that place; he came to El- dora in March, 1882, having leased the interest of Mr. Copp in the mill. His wife was Miss Charlotte Smart, born in St. Lawrence county New York. She died in the town of Union. Mr. Van Voorhes has two sons: Walter L., and William R.
Theophilus S. Hudson, resides on section 1. He was born in Erie county, New York in 1827. He removed with his parents to , Winnebago, county, Ill., in 1846. His father died soon after the family arrived in Illinois. His mother died in this town- ship, March 31, 1871. Mr. Hudson has always followed the occupation of a far- mer. He came to Hardin county in the fall of 1864, and bought his farm of John Carpenter. Mrs. Hudson was formerly Miss Lavinia Kellogg, a daughter of Volna and Betsey (Davis) Kellogg. Mrs. Hudson was born in Canada, and removed to the State of Illinois with her parents when nine years of age. Her parents now. live in Franklin county, in this State. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson have four children, viz .: Benoni, Florence E., Nellie F., and Wilbur S. They have lost one daughter. Mrs. Hudson experienced religion when thirteen years of age, and joined the M. E. Church, and is now a member of the church at Eldora.
S. W. Boyd is a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., where he was born in 1848. He was brought up in Pennsylvania, and spent seven years in the oil regions of that State. He came to Eldora December 4, 1874. Since his coming to Eldora, he has served as Deputy sheriff of Hardin county
for four years, making a valuable and efficient officer. He is a brother of Mr. J. M. Boyd, of Eldora. His wife was Mary Woodside, daughter of James Wood- side, an early,settler of Hardin county.
Mr. Woodside resides on section 29. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, in August, 1814, where he lived till twenty- two years of age, when he came to the United States. He spent one year in New York and vicinity, and then went to Philadelphia, where he lived twenty years. While living in that city, he had charge of a factory as weaver. He came to Hardin county in October, 1856. He settled where he now lives in 1866. His wife was Eliza McBride, born in County Tyrone, Ireland. She died October 14, 1879, in the sixty-seventh year of her age. Mr. Woodside had four children, three of whom are now living. William was a soldier in the war of the rebellion; now lives in Grundy county. Sarah J. died May 20, 1865, in her fifteenth year. Thomas is in Hermassillo, Old Mexico, where he is telegraph operator and short- hand reporter for the Chief Engineer of the Sonora R. R. Mary, wife of Mr. Boyd. The children were all born in Philadelphia. Mr. Woodside is a member of the Presby- terian Church.
Edward Estabrook, one of the prom- inent farmers and stock raisers of Hardin county, resides on section 6, adjoining the town of Eldora, where he settled in 1874. He is a native of Illinois, and was born in Madison county, that State, in 1822. His father, John Estabrook, was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and his mother, Nancy (White) Estabrook, a native of North Carolina. His parents came West
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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
in 1816, and located at St. Louis, Missouri, where they resided two years, removing from that city to Madison county, Illinois. In 1836, when Edward was but fourteen years of age, the family moved to Wis- consin and entered a large quantity of land. Here his parents resided for two years, and then returned to Illinois to their old homestead, in Madison county, where they lived until their death, in 1881; his father in his eighty-third, and his mother in her eighty-sixth year. Edward Esta- brook, of whom we write, did not accom- pany his parents on their return to Illinois, but remained in Wisconsin. In 1850, when the California gold excitement was at its height, Mr. Estabrook went to that New Eldorado, and remained one year, returning to Wisconsin and resuming farm- ing, an occupation in which he had pre- viously been engaged. In 1854 the Whig party of Grant county placed him in nom- ination for the Legislature, to which office he was elected and served one term. At this session of the General Assembly, a prohibitory liquor law was passed, Mr. Estabrook voting for the measure. In politics, Mr. Estabrook was originally a Whig, and being a strong Anti-Slavery man, when the Republican party was organized he became an advocate of the principles enunciated by it. In 1868, Mr. Estabrook came to Iowa, and for one year resided in Marshalltown, and then purchased and moved on to a large farm in Grundy county, where he remained until his removal to Eldora. This farm he yet retains, and is devoting considerable atten- tion to the raising of stock. Mr. Estabrook has been twice married, his first wife being Margaret Mitchell, born in the State of
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