USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 10
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as a member of the city council and in 1906 was elected mayor of Anamosa, fill- ing the office for three years. He has also acted as a substitute for other mayors during their absence from the city and at all times has exercised his official pre- rogative in support of measures that have been instituted for the benefit and up- building of the city. He has been a member of the school board for many years and is active in public matters, having been a source of value in promoting the municipal welfare. He possesses in his nature those qualities of sociability and geniality which everywhere win warm friendships and high regard.
ANDREW DAVIDSON.
One of the well known and substantial men of Lovell township is Andrew Davidson, who was for some years one of the most extensive breeders of pure bred shorthorn cattle and Clydesdale horses in this county. He was born in South Ontario, Canada, June 29, 1845, his parents being James I. and Barbara (Hendrie) Davidson, both natives of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. In 1841, shortly after their marriage, they crossed the Atlantic settling in South Ontario county, Ontario, Canada, which remained their home throughout the remainder of their lives. There James I. Davidson engaged in agricultural pursuits but he soon be- came interested in breeding shorthorn cattle, looking to the land of his birth for the foundations of his stock. His first animals were brought from the herd of Amos Cruikshank, of Sittyton, who has since won a world-wide fame for his breed of animals, and arrived about 1871. Speaking of this consignment, one who knew of his work said: "(It) transferred to America some of the most valuable blood of the Cruikshank herd, from which have descended a large number of the best cattle in the breeding herds of Canada and the United States, and predomi- nates largely in the most successful show cattle of the present day." In the course of years, although he remained loyal to his first choice, he never let slip an opportunity to better the quality of his animals or bring them to a grade that met with his ideals. A friend, John Dryden, the Ontario minister of agriculture, in speaking of his work after his death said in part: "He was always a liberal feeder and was able to bring out the best in any of his animals. He had the canny ways of a well-bred Scotchman in dealing with his customers, and was al- ways considered among those of us who knew him best to be a good salesman ; but when a bargain was made, his word as always as good as his bond. His judg- ment of a beast was always sound, and even in his latter years, when his eyesight had partially failed, if his hands could be allowed to run over a few animals on which his judgment was desired, he seldom failed to select the best. His name will always be connected with the history of shorthorns in America."
Such a man was it who had the distinction of having polled a majority in his home town when he was the reform candidate to represent the riding in the Canadian parliament. It was only through constant urging that he accepted the nomination, for he was a man of modest and retiring disposition, but he had many friends and few if any enemies, as the result of the election demonstrated. Four sons and one daughter were born to him and his wife: John, of Ashburn, On-
ANDREW DAVIDSON
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tario; James I. and Mrs. Miller, who live with their father; George, of Mon- ticello, Iowa; and Andrew. who is the subject of this sketch. The father's death occurred February 15, 1902, when he was in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His life was noble and the remembrance of it makes for better citizenship and will always exercise an inspiring influence both in the immediate fields in which he was active and beyond in the world of men and affairs.
Andrew Davidson, who has proved himself a worthy successor of his father and has engaged in similar lines of work, was reared at home, while he received his education in the common schools. Even after he reached man's estate he re- mained with his father until he was past the age of thirty. In 1877 he and his brother George came to the United States, locating in Castle Grove township, this county, where they purchased the White farm of three hundred and twenty acres. In the following years they added to it until it embraced five hundred and thirteen acres, which was for many years the scene of their joint labors. In partnership they engaged in the breeding and importing of registered horses and of shorthorn cattle, becoming widely known throughout the country as having some of the finest stock in the middle west. In 1902 the brothers severed their connection and Andrew Davidson removed to his present handsome home, with a plot of forty acres in the suburbs of Monticello. Here he has in a small way continued the breeding of shorthorn cattle, but has practically given up his interests in horse breeding. His name is still potent among those engaged in like pursuits and his judgment of animals is regarded as valuable, being frequently sought by others.
On the 25th of December, 1874, Mr. Davidson wedded Miss Janet Burns, of South Ontario. Three daughters have been born to them: Margaret B., who is now the wife of Samuel P. Eberhart, of Laredo, Missouri ; Mary, who is at home; and Jessie G., who is the wife of Lawrence T. Gaylord, a civil engineer in the employ of the government at Port Arthur, Texas. All three daughters graduated from the Monticello high school, and the two younger ones received degrees from the State Agricultural College at Ames. The family are members of the Con- gregational church, in which Mr. Davidson is a deacon.
When he was made a citizen of this republic Mr. Davidson espoused the prin- ciples of the republican party, but he has never been an aspirant for public office. He holds active membership, however, in various societies connected with his particular field of activity, including the Shortorn Breeders Association and the Clydesdale Breeders Association. Looking back over his life's record, open and patent as it has been to all, it may well be said not only that he is one of the leaders of his line of work, but that he richly deserves the high esteem in which those who have known him intimately, socially and in a business way hold him.
PIATT STRIEBY.
Piatt Strieby, a farmer of Rome township, was born in Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 7, 1871, his parents being A. L. and Joan (Sedam) Strieby, also natives of the Keystone state, and the father never left that part of the country but died. and was buried in the place of his birth. The mother, on the other hand, came
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west to Iowa when several of her children had found that the opportunities for life here were better than in the east. She is now living in Cedar county and is in the sixtieth year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Strieby were born six children : Piatt, of this review; W. J., of Olathe, Colorado; Maggie, who is the wife of A. A. Schick, of Cedar county, Iowa; S. S., who lives in Texas; B. B., who lives in Michigan ; and Helen, who makes her home in Cedar county.
Piatt Strieby received a fair education in the common schools and remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he began life for himself. He came to Iowa to obtain his start and for a year worked in Cedar county as a farm hand. He then found employment in a tile factory and after two years' experience was made foreman of a party of workmen, a position he held for six years. In 1904 he rented a farm for three years and on the expiration of his lease bought the eighty acres in Rome township on which he is living today. It is a tract of good land lying on section 36, where Mr. Strieby pursues gen- eral farming with much profit to himself.
In 1894 Mr. Strieby was united in marriage to Miss Estella Rummel, who was born in 1874 in Cedar county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Josiah and Isabel (Stew- ard) Rummel. Her parents were both natives of Ohio, the father born in Rich- land county, the mother in Delaware county, but came to Iowa with their respec- tive parents in 1850 and were married in 1863. They lived together in Jones county until the mother passed away December 3, 1900. Mr. Rummel is still liv- ing and makes his home in Olin. Six children were born to him and his wife: Nancy J., who is the wife of William Oberton, of Cedar county, Iowa; one who died in infancy ; Sarah J., deceased ; Charles P., of Brazoria, Texas; Estella B., who married Mr. Strieby ; and David H., who lives at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Strieby have five children : Alfred L., Inez M., Howard R., Ilah F. and William J. They are members of the United Presbyterian church and are rearing their children in conformance to its doctrines. Fraternally Mr. Strieby enjoys congenial relations with the Modern Woodmen of America at Stanwood, Iowa, while in politics he gives his support to the democratic party and is a stanch supporter of its principles.
HARVEY W. FLENNIKEN.
Harvey W. Flenniken, the cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank of Olin, which he established in 1899, was born in Millsville, Clayton county, Iowa, on the 7th of February, 1859, his parents being Wallace W. and Gertrude (Harvey) Flen- niken. The paternal grandfather, John Calvin Flenniken, was a brother of the mother of United States Senator Cummins. Wallace W. Flenniken, the father of our subject, was a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and a millwright by trade. He was a man of much mechanical skill and ingenuity and was the in- ventor of the Flenniken water wheel. His demise occurred at Colesburg, Iowa, in 1863, when he was only about thirty years of age. His widow still survives and makes her home with her son, Harvey W. She also has another son, John Calvin, who is a resident of Strawberry Point, Iowa.
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Harvey W. Flenniken spent the first nineteen or twenty years of his life on a farm in his native county, obtaining his preliminary education in the district schools, while subsequently he attended a graded school at Elkader. On leaving Clayton county he went to Rockford, Illinois, where he learned the machinist's trade, with which he was actively identified for twelve years. He remained in Rockford for but two years, however, and then removed to Springfield, where he secured employment in a watch factory as a builder of machinery. Later he made his way to Aurora, Illinois, and assisted in the installation of machinery ir. the watch factory there. Afterward he worked at his trade in Chicago for two years and then went to Delmar, Clinton county, Iowa, there establishing the Bank of Delmar. After conducting the same for seven years he sold out to his partner and came to Olin, Jones county, in 1899, here establishing the Citizens Savings Bank, a state institution, to which he has since devoted his entire attention. He is thoroughly informed concerning the banking business and while he promotes a progressive policy he also holds to such conservative methods as merit the trust of the general public.
In 1898 Mr. Flenniken was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Donley, a na- tive of Jackson county, lowa, and a daughter of J. C. Donley. They are now the parents of two children, John Calvin and Donald Arthur.
In his political views Mr. Flenniken is a stanch republican and while living in Delmar served as mayor for five years and also as justice of the peace for one term. He is a member of Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 200, A. F. & A. M., at Olin, likewise of the chapter at Aurora and of Olive Lodge of the Eastern Star. He is interested in all that pertains to de general welfare, and his cooperation is given to many measures calculated to promote the material, political and moral in- terests of the community.
REV. P. H. McNAMARA.
Rev. P. H. McNamara, who is ministering to the spiritual needs of the Cath- olic parish at Oxford, was born in County Clare, Ireland, February 27, 1874, a son of Andrew and Ann (Hayes) McNamara, who have spent their entire lives on the Emerald Isle, where they still maintain their home. Their family num- bered nine children, seven of whom have reached years of maturity, namely : Rev. Andrew McNamara, of County Tipperary, Ireland ; Father P. H. McNamara, of this review : James and Michael, who are upon the home farm in Ireland; Sister Mechtildes, a Sister of Mercy at Kilrush, Ireland ; Theresa, at home with her par- ents ; and Elizabeth, who died in Ireland at the age of twenty-one years. Two cousins of Father McNamara are residing at Oxford Junction : Miss Nell Lalor who is a teacher of music, and Miss Agnes Lalor, who is clerk in the creamery office at Oxford. the former having been in America for two years and the latter for five years.
Father McNamara, of this review, was reared in his native county and for four years was a student in the diocese college. He afterward entered All Hal- lows College, a foreign mission school at Dublin, Ireland, there completing a
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course in June, 1898. In September of the same year he came to the United States, settling at Dubuque, Iowa, where he was appointed chaplain of the Sis- ters of Mercy. After four months he was sent by the archbishop to Charles City, Iowa, where he labored as assistant priest for eight months, when he was trans- ferred to South Sheldon, Iowa, and had charge of the parish there for eight months, during the absence of the regular priest in Europe. He was also for three months at Ryan, Iowa, and in November, 1900, came to Oxford Junction. There are also two missions in connection with this parish-at Baldwin and at Hughes settlement. The Baldwin church was destroyed by fire in June, 1909, and is now being rebuilt. Father McNamara has done excellent work in behalf of the church during the nine years of his residence here, carefully. ministering to the spiritual needs of his congregation and at the same time proving of assistance to them in material things by his kindly advice and counsel.
D. S. COOLEY.
For the past ten years the village of Onslow has claimed D. S. Cooley as one of its most honored and respected retired citizens. The rest which he now en- joys is well merited for throughout a long period he was busily engaged in farm- ing and still owns a valuable property of two hundred and thirty-two acres in Wyoming township. Jones county. Mr. Cooley was born in Licking county, Ohio, October 28, 1827. a son of Clark and Mary (Sinkey) Cooley. The father was born in the state of New York, while the mother claimed Pennsylvania as the place of her birth. They removed to Licking county at a very early day and the father there purchased a tract of timber land. He at once made a small clearing sufficient to erect a log cabin and after getting his family settled in this crude dwelling he gave his time to clearing the remainder of the land, which in due time he placed under cultivation and reaped good harvests. He made his home in Lick- ing county until the fall of 1841, when attracted by the opportunities offered farther west, he made his way to Jackson county, Iowa, and there entered a claim, which he improved and cultivated until his death. His family numbered twelve children but only two are now living-our subject and one daughter.
D. S. Cooley early became familiar with pioneer life. He was reared in Lick- ing county to the age of fourteen years and while there assisted his father in the arduous task of developing and improving his farm. The family then removed to Jackson county, Iowa, and there, too, the son shared in the hardships incident to making a home in a new country. The advantages he enjoyed were few. In the summer months he had to assist in the farm work and in the winter seasons pur- sued his studies in one of the old-time log schoolhouses, in which the methods of instruction were quite as primitive as the structure. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, when he entered a tract of land in Jackson county, which he developed and improved, making his home thereon for a decade. In the spring of 1860 he traded that land for a farm of two hundred and thirty-two acres in Wyoming township. Jones county. Removing to that place he there made his home for thirty-nine years and during this period saw much
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arduous labor. At that time the farm machinery was crude as compared to that used at the present time and to cultivate a farm of that acreage meant much hard labor. However, Mr. Cooley was equal to the task and as the years passed he prospered, each year gathering rich crops as a reward for his work. In 1899, be- lieving that he was comfortably situated in life and that he might spend the re- mainder of his days in rest, he took up his abode in Onslow, where he has since made his home. He occupies here a comfortable residence and is surrounded by a host of warm friends. He still retains possession of his farm property and this supplies him with all the comforts of life.
On the 22d of September, 1850, Mr. Cooley was married to Miss Katherine Hogle, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, January II, 1832, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Baker) Hogle, the former born in New York and the latter in Maryland. They reared a family of four children. Both the parents are now deceased, the father passing away in Licking county, while the mother died at the home of her daughter in Jones county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cooley have been born seven children, three sons and four daughters, as follows: Smith, now a resi- dent of Lyon county, Kansas; Geneva, the wife of Samuel Paul, a resident of On- slow; Oscar, of Oakland, California; Elizabeth, the wife of J. F. Cohoon, of Ce- dar Falls, Iowa; Louie Bell, the wife of O. E. Tabor, of Jackson county, this state; Josephine, deceased ; and R. D., a resident of Wyoming township, Jones county.
Mr. Cooley has always given his political support to the men and measures of democracy but has never been active in the work of the party or in public affairs, the only public office he ever filled being that of school treasurer. Both he and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Cooley is regarded as one of the worthy pioneers of Jones county, who, though in a quiet way, has exerted immeasurable influence upon the community in which he has so long made his home, and now in the evening of his days he is enabled to enjoy, with his wife, the accumulations of the passing years.
JOHN H. EDEN.
John H. Eden, one of the substantial farmers and dairymen of Lovell town- ship, was born in Hanover, Germany, February 7, 1853, and is a son of John H. and Margaret (Bachenhauser) Eden. The parents were also natives of Germany and never left the fatherland in which all their life was spent. They have now passed away as have six of the eight children born to them, Margaret, now Mrs. Dix, of Monticello, Iowa, and John H. being the only ones surviving.
John H. Eden was a man grown, who had already had some experience in life, when in 1877 he came to the United States. Almost immediately after his arrival in this land he located in Jones county, where he secured work as a farm hand. For four years he toiled in that capacity and then, having acquired some famil- iarity with the language and customs of the country of his adoption, he rented a tract of land, which he tilled for two years. Then he went to Le Mars, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and lived for four years. At the end of that period .
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he returned to Jones county, married and rented the place which belonged to his father-in-law, it being his home at present. It is a tract of two hun- dred and thirty-three acres, situated on sections 35 and 36, Lovell township, and is now in the possession of Mr. Eden. In addition to this he owns ten acres near Monticello, twenty acres in Richland township, one hundred and eighty acres in Castle Grove township and eighty acres in Wayne township, all of which indicate the success with which he has followed his chosen vocation. In connec- tion with the cultivation of cereals he has engaged in the dairy business, obtain- ing a profit from this field of operations that is equally as gratifying as that de- rived from his purely agricultural interests. His industry has ever been one of the important elements in his character, and this united with his economy has been the source of the good fortune that places him in the foremost rank of the farmers of Lovell township.
Mr. Eden was married March 8, 1887 to Miss T. Margaret Haken, a native of this county and a daughter of Wesley B. Hanken, a sketch of whose life ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Five children have been born to them: John H., Jr., Wesley B., Nannie, Eddie G. and Anna M. Nannie has passed away, but the others are living at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Eden are members of the German Lutheran church at Sand- hill and are rearing their family in accordance with its teachings. Politically Mr. Eden is a republican, that being the party to which he looked for guidance when he was admitted to citizenship in this republic. Having received a good education in the land of his birth, where educational institutions are of the very highest kind, he has always evinced a keen interest in the welfare of the school here and now enjoys the satisfaction of seeing his public spirit in this matter recognized by his fellow citizens who elected him president of the school board. In this ca- pacity he has been able to exercise considerable influence for the improvement of popular instruction.
GEORGE W. JOHNSON.
George W. Johnson. who owns one of the best farms in Jackson township, is not only a good farmer but also a prominent democrat and party organizer whose influence in local matters is strong although the republicans are in the majority in this locality. Mr. Johnson is a native of Jones county, having been born in Jackson township. April 13, 1868, and he has put forth his best efforts here. He is a son of the Rev. Joseph H. and Katherine E. (Bowlby) Jolinson, the former of whom was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1827, and the latter in the same place in 1829. In 1860 they came to Jones county, Iowa, where both died, the father Feb- ruary 26, 1886, while his wife passed away February 3, 1882. Mr. Johnson was a clergyman of the Christian church, as well as a farmer, and was a most worthy and excellent man who made many friends wherever he went. He and his wife had nine children as follows: Owen, who lives in Farnam, Nebraska; Naomi, who married John Landis; Margaret, who married John McMurrin; Homer B., who lives in Jackson township : Maria, who married Milton Byerly; George W .;
G. W. JOHNSON
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Mary J., who married James McMurrin of Greenfield township, brother of Jolin McMurrin; Ollie A., who married A. W. Hopkins of Fairview township; and Walter, who lives in Denver, Colorado. Owen and Naomi were twins, and the latter and Margaret are deceased.
After the death of his father George W. Johnson lived with his sister Mrs. By- erly until his marriage. He now owns eighty acres on section 4, Jackson town- ship, and has converted it into one of the finest pieces of farming property in his part of the county. In addition to this farm, Mr. Johnson has owned Colorado lands and is now interested in some silver ore mines in that state. Ever since at- taining to man's estate he has been an important factor in the democratic party in Jones county and was defeated in 1896 and 1908 for county clerk. In 1896 he ran ahead of his ticket and in 1908 was only beaten by one hundred and seventy votes. In spite of the fact that his party is in the minority, Mr. Johnson has served as township clerk for six years, owing to his personal popularity. His re- ligious connections are with the United Brethren church and he belongs to that denomination. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America and takes an interest in that order.
In 1891, Mr. Johnson was married to Rose V. Hay, who was born in Jackson township. January 12, 1873, a daughter of Orlando W. and Della L. (Dunlap) Hay, the former of whom is deceased and the latter resides at Anamosa. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one daughter, Belle, who is a student at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa.
The Johnson family is of English descent although unfortunately the date of settlement in the new world has not been preserved, but Mr. Johnson has inherited many of the English sterling traits of character and has made his own way in life, never shirking a duty or refusing to support a principle he believed was right, and it is such men as he who make up the reliable portion of any community.
E. M. BABCOCK.
The mercantile interests of Wyoming find a worthy representative in E. M. Babcock, proprietor of a drug and jewelry store of that city. His birth occurred in New York on the 6th of March, 1852, his parents being Cottrell and Martha L. (Armstrong) Babcock, who were likewise natives of the Empire state. The first representatives of the Babcock family in this country came from England in 1640 and took up their abode in Massachusetts but subsequently removed to New York. Cottrell Babcock, the father of our subject, was an agriculturist by occupation and in 1858 came west to Jones county, Iowa, purchasing a farm in the eastern part of Wyoming township. There he successfully carried on his agricultural interests until 1884, when he put aside the active work of the fields and lived retired in Wyoming until called to his final rest in 1889 at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a well known and highly respected citizen of the community and an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he was deeply and helpfully interested. His wife had passed away in the year 1863. Their union was blessed with five sons and two daughters, as
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