USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa : together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 72
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
COUNTY AUDITOR
by the law that created the official, but before the time came for the change Judge Snyder resigned and the people, at the fall election of 1869,elected A. W. Mc- Farland as the first auditor. He was re- elected his own successor in 1871 and again in 1873, serving in all six years in the truly onerous as well as honorable office.
Harlow Miner was next elected to fill this position in the fall of 1875 and en- tered upon the duties of the office with the first of the centennial year. One of the earliest settlers and a prominent figure in the foreground of the picture of Hum- boldt county, lie yet remains a monument of the pioneer days.
Harlow Miner was truly a pioneer and the first settler in Humboldt county. Most of the settlers of that day have dis- appeared from the scene of action, and Mr. Miner alone is left among those who can tell of the privations, hardships and discouragements of those days. He is the
Digized by Google
593
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
oldest settler now living in the county, and is mentioned in the chapter under the head of"Early Settlement"in this volume. He was born in Grafton Co., N. H., April 16, 1827, and is the youngest child of Elisha and Elizabeth (Tyler) Miner. He attained his majority in his native county, receiving his education in the public schools. His father was a farmer and Harlow was reared to agricultural pur- suits, which occupation has been his prin- cipal business through life. In 1849 he removed to Lowell, Mass., and worked in the cotton mills about three years, then returned to his native State and remained until the fall of 1854, when he emigrated to this county, locating on a farm on sec- tion 16, Humboldt township. He remained on that place three and one half years, then changed his residence to section 9, and after two years changed again to sec- tion 32, where he remained until 1879, then on account of his health he aban- doned farming and located in Dakota City. In the fall of 1875 he was elected county auditor, serving two years. He was jus- tice of the peace in Humboldt township about six years, besides having held other offices. He was married Oct. 10, 1852, to Susan Brown, a native of Canada. They have nine children-Albert B., Shueburn, Warren, Eva, Ada, Lncy, Matilda, Edwin and Asa.
In 1877 Alexander McLaughlin was chosen auditor and being re-elected in 1879, served four ycars. He is yet a resi- dent of the county.
Alexander Mclaughlin was born in Washington Co., N. Y.,June 20, 1843. He is a son of James and Isabella (Anderson) Mclaughlin. His parents are still living
in his native county on a large dairy farm. When he was twenty-eight years old he came to Humboldt county, and settled on a farm in the northern part of Humboldt township, where he remained six years, or until 1878, when he was elected county auditor, and purchasing lots one and two, on block 40, he built a house and removed to the village, where he has since lived. He served as auditor four years. Hc now owns 400 acres of choice land which he rents, and is engaged in the real estate business. He enlisted in the army in Au- gust, 1863, company K, 54th New York Infantry, and served two years and four months; was in Gilmore's command and participated in the battle at Charlestown. He was mustered out at Port Royal. Mr. Mclaughlin was married in Algona, Kos- suth Co., Iowa, in 1872, to Nancy Eells, of Humboldt township, daughter of Nelson and Louisa (McCracken) Eells. They have two children-James N. and Helena. He is a republican and a member of the United Workmen.
William Thompson was elected to the duties of the office of auditor, and filled that position, for which he is so well cal- culated by nature and education. In the fall of 1883, having an aspiration for a higher office, he declined to run for this office, and was succeeded by the present auditor.
William Thompson, farmer, and ex- county auditor, is a native of Portage Co., Ohio, born June 22, 1835. His parents, Jolın and Elizabeth (Cockburn) Thomp- son, natives of Scotland, came to America in 1833, and settled in Ohio, where the father still lives. His mother's death oc- curred in 1855. William is the fourth of
Digitized by Google
594
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
a family of nine children. He was brought up in his native county on a farm where he remained until 1856, then removed to Livingston Co., Ill., and remained one year, thence he went to Champaign county in the same State, living there one year. In 1859 he went to Pine Bluffs, Ark., where he acted as steamboat agent, and engaged in the forwarding commission business until 1861, then in consequence of difficulties resulting from the war, he was compelled to return east, reaching his old home in Ohio, in June of that year. Remaining a short time, he went again to Champaign Co., Ill., where he was ac- tively engaged in farming until the spring of 1869, when he came to Humboldt county and followed civil engineering on the railroad three years, then resumed his occupation of farming, locating in Rutland township, where he now has a splendid farm, situated in the geographical center of the county. In the fall of 1869 he was elected county surveyor, which office he held two years. In 1873 he was elected circuit clerk and served in that capacity two terms. In the fall of. 1881 he became county auditor. In 1882 he was nominated on the democratic ticket for State auditor, and in 1883 received the democratic nomination for representa- tive, polling the largest vote ever cast in the county for a democrat. He was married Feb. 18, 1863, to Emma A. Wood, a native of Lake Co., Ohio. They have five children -Charles W., Bertha E., Lydia A., Wiley and Lama. He is a Mason, and connected with Eastern Star Lodge, No. 195, Delta Chapter and Calvary Commandery at Fort Dodge.
M. Hoover, the present anditor, was elected in the fall of 1883.
Moses Hoover, county auditor, is a resi- dent of Norway township, and was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1848, where he remained until fourteen years old, when, with the family, he removed to Black Hawk Co., Iowa, where he was en- gaged in farming until 1874. when he came to Humboldt county and lived with his brother, A. Hoover, while improving his farm on section 1, where he now has a good farm of 240 acres. He located on this place in 1876, and has since made it his home. He was married Oct. 26, 1878, to Carrie England, a native of Penn- sylvania. They have two children-Mary L. and John M. Mr. Hoover was elected a member of the board of supervisors in the fall of . 1880, and in the fall of 1883 was elected to his present office.
TREASURER AND RECORDER.
When Humboldt county was organized these two offices were attended to by one party. This continued for several years, when the law on the subject was changed.
The first to act in this capacity was Alexander McLean, who was elected in August, 1857, entered upon the duties of the office at once and served until the Ist of January, 1860, when he gave way to a successor. He was one of the old set- tlers, having made a settlement in 1856, Mr. McLean was a lively, genial man, rather gay and inclined to display. A lo- cal writer thus speaks of him, in an arti- cle penned some time since: "When he had been here long enough to have worn out his fine calf boots, trudging through the prairie grass in search of flowers to adorn his button holes, it became neces- sary for him to go to Church bare-footed, or stay at home. He chose the better
Digitized by Google
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
595
part, and, arraying himself in a plug hat white shirt, bare feet, shirt sleeves and buckskin breeches, and adorning his shirt front with a large bachelor button of deep crimson color, attended Sunday-school. The new arrivals looked on him in utter amazement, but it was not long before he had plenty of company attending re- ligious and other meetings bare-footed." He removed from this . place to Fort Dodge, where he died some few years since.
Charles Bergk, one of the earliest set- tlers and most prominent men of Hum- boldt county of those days, was the sec- ond to fill this dual office. He had filled the position of deputy to the retiring offi- cer throughout the whole of his term of office, and the people, appreciating his la- bors, elected him at the election held in the fall of 1859. He entered upon the duties of the office with the beginning of the year 1860, and was re-elected to both these offices in 1861, 1863 and 1865, and to that of treasurer in 1867, 1869 and 1871, filling the latter office fourteen years. Mr. Bergk was a native of Sax- ony, Germany, where he was born about the year 1825. He was a student in the city of Berlin in 1848, when the people made their ineffectual outbreak for free. dom, and took part with the other stu- dents in the demonstrations that shook the throne of Prussia and caused the monarch to flee the capital. On the re- action taking place, and the revolutionists being put down, he left the country, and we next find him a volunteer in the Schleswig-Holstein army in their trouble with the Danes. Here he remained two and a half years, doing good service,
when he emigrated to this country, com ing straight to Iowa and locating at Pella, in Marion county, in 1851. At this place he stayed until, in 1854, he came to Hum- boldt county. On the 4th of July, 1864, he married Miss M. A. Cruikshank, the ceremony being performed by Rev. S. H. Taft, the founder of Humboldt. They have had three children-Carl, born Dec. 26, 1865; Kittie, born in April, 1868; and Millie, born in April, 1870. Mr. Bergk was one of the representative men of the county, generous, whole-souled and genial, but a poor financier. In his official posi- tion, having a fair competency of his own, he could not refuse to help the needy wretch who applied to him, a trait that wrought his financial ruin. When, after holding the office of treasurer, he was finally requested to make room for a suc- cessor, his accounts were found to be short many thousands of dollars, and the friends whom he had obliged having themselves all they could do to get through the tight times, could not help him. After doing all that he could, he went before the board of supervisors and turned over to that body, for the benefit of the county, all his real estate and other property, though by so doing he reduced himself and his family to poverty. A no- ble, quick and sensitive man, he could not stay, a poor man, where once he enjoyed a competency, and in 1876 he and his family removed to California, where he is now living, at Santa Monica, Los Angeles county, in poverty, in hopes that the tide will again turn and land him on the shores of wealth and honor.
In 1864, these two offices became sepa- rated and, as mentioned above, Charles
Digitized by Google
-
596
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
Bergk was chosen to occupy the more responsible of the two, that of COUNTY TREASURER which he beld, as detailed, until the 1st of January, 1874, when he was succeeded by Dr. Ira L. Welch, who was re-elected in 1875 serving in all four years. As the doctor has been, and is yet one of the most prominent physicians in the county, a sketch of him may be found in the chap- ter devoted to the annals of the medical fraternity.
J. W. Foster was the next occupant of the office of treasurer, beginning his offi- cial career with the first of the year 1878. He was re-elected in 1879, and filled the position for four years.
Mr. Foster was succeeded by N. R. Jones, the present incumbent, who was re- elected, during the present year, to the same office, by a bare majority of five votes, over A. H. Knowles, a very pop- ular candidate for the office.
COUNTY RECORDER.
When the offices of treasurer and re- corder were separated by law, in 1865, the people of Humboldt county, elected Charles Bergk, the treasurer, to fill the position. In 1866 he was elected and held it for a term of two years when he was succeeded by W. H. Locke, yet a resi- dent of Humboldt county. Mr. Locke was first elected in 1868, and filled the duties of the office so much to the satis- faction of the people, that they re-elected him to the same place.
William H. Locke, son of Henry B. and Mary A. Locke, was born in South Kingston, R. I., Oct. 4, 1828, where he lived until 1856, when he removed to
Willimantic, Conn. Mr. Locke was by trade a carpenter, but worked in the cot- ton factory in Willimantic until 1862, when he enlisted in company H, 18th Connecticut Infantry, and served through the war. He was orderly sergeant from date of enlistment until Nov. 9, 1862, when he was promoted to 1st lieutenant of his company. He was taken prisoner at Jordan Springs, June 15, 1863, and was confined in several different prisons, among which were Libby, Danville, Ma- con, Charlestown, Columbia, Raleigh and Goldsboro, where he was paroled March 1, 1865. When taken prisoner he weighed 196 pounds and when set free 120. He was discharged from the service on ac- count of ill health contracted during his imprisonment. He then returned to his home in Connecticut, where he remained until July, 1865, then came west and located in the town of Humboldt, where he was pro- prietor of the Fremont House two years. He then took a claim of 160 acres on sec- tion 19, township 92, range 29, Rutland township, and lived on the farm until 1877, when he purchased two and one- half acres in Rutland village and moved there, where he worked at the trade of plasterer and carpenter. He was married in November, 1849, to Saralı F. Gaffet, daughter of William C. and Susan (Pet- tis) Gaffet, of Rhode Island. They have had nine children, four of whom are now living-William H., Walter E., Mary A. and Byron H. Mr. and Mrs. Locke are members of the Free Baptist Church. Politically Mr. Locke is a member of the republican party. In 1867 he was elected county recorder, serving two years, when he was re-elected for another term. He
Dlg zed by Google
597
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
has been justice of the peace for sixteen years. When living in Humboldt he was appointed by the board of supervisors to fill a vacancy in the office of county su- perintendent of schools. In 1870 he took the census of Kossuth and Humboldt counties .. Walter, William and Mary A. are married and live in Rutland township.
In 1872 S. K. Winne was elected re- corder, and held the office for two terms, or four years, having been re-elected in 1874. Mr. Winne is at present one of the prominent business men of Humboldt.
Edward Emerson was the next to oc- cupy the position, and was one of the best recorders that Humboldt county ever had. He was first elected in 1876, but re-elected in 1878 and 1880, serving in that capacity for six years. He is at present a resident of the town of Humboldt.
1
Edward Emerson is one of the early settlers of Humboldt county, having come here in 1865, and settled on section 13, of Wacousta township. He was born July 26, 1839, in Norwich, Conn., and is the son of William and Adeline A.(White) Emerson. He remained there until about seventeen years old, attending school. In 1857 he went to Illinois and settled at Babcock's Grove, Du Page county, living there on a farm eight years and coming from there to Humboldt county. In 1876 he was elected county recorder, and on Jan. 1, 1877, removed to the town of Humboldt, where he still resides. He held the office of recorder six years, and since then has been engaged in the real estate business. He has also an in- terest in a skating rink at Shenandoah, Iowa. He was married Feb. 1, 1872,
to Melinda F. Zeutz, daughter of John and Maria (Otto) Zeutz. They have two children-Clara A. and Harry E. Mr. Emerson is a republican, a member of the A. O. U. W., and one of Humboldt's most respected citizens.
The present recorder, B. F. Simmons, was elected in 1882, and has given evi- dence of his fitness for the official posi- tion. A well kept set of records aud a nicely arranged office is always the result of the selection of the best men for office.
Benjamin F. Simmons, county recorder, was born in Kane Co., Ill., Dec. 22, 1842. His parents, Charles and Janet (Winton) Simmons, were natives of Penn- sylvania, and removed to Kane county about 1837, where the mother died in 1857. Our subject was there reared and educated. In 1864 he, with his father, came to Humboldt county, where he was engaged in farming until 1873. He then engaged in the milling business, which he followed for four years, after which, he engaged in carpentering. In the fall of 1881 he was elected recorder. He was married to Minnie Lord, a native of Ver- mont. They have two children-Frank and Henry. Mr. Simmons is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Eastern Star Lodge, No.195. His father's death occurred in 1883, while he was visiting at his old home in Illinois.
CLERK OF THE COURTS.
This office was already established when the county was organized, and has always been an important one. The first clerk was John F. Williams, who was elected in August, 1857, and served two years.
In 1859 John E. Cragg was elected and was re-elected in 1860, 1862 and 1864,
Dgiizedby Google
598
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
serving seven years, consecutively. Mr. Cragg, while in this office,acted as county judge, from the death of Judge A. W. Marsh in 1858, until the 1st of Jannary, 1861. Mr. Cragg was a genial, whole- souled gentleman from Philadelphia, Penn., whither he returned, in the latter part of the sixties, and where he died in the fall of 1880. He made a most excel- lent officer while in the discharge of his duties, and enjoyed the confidence of the people of this connty to an unlimited de- gree.
A. W. McFarland was elected in the fall of 1866, and re-elected in 1868, and again in 1870, enjoying the emoluments of the office for six years. He is one of the most prominent lawyers of Humboldt county, and as such, his sketch appears in the chapter on "The Bar."
William Thompson officiated in this onerous position for four years, being elected thereto in the fall of 1872, and re- elected in 1874.
In 1876 Carlos Combs was duly called on by his fellow citizens to assume the duties of this office which he did. Mak- ing a most excellent officer, he was re- elected in 1879, thus serving four years.
Carlos Combs, a prominent business man of the county, was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1838. His parents were Rockwell J. and Aun (Hill) Combs, who died when Carlos was quite young. His father married again and he lived with his step-mother until he was nine years old. He then went to live with an uncle. He obtained his education in the common schools, and spent one term at Whitestown Seminary, New York. In 1866 he embarked in the hard ware business
in Cortland county. He was married in 1862 to Jane R Raymond, daughter of William H. Raymond. In 1870 he came to Humboldt county and located on section 8, Grove township. In 1876 he was elected clerk of the courts, serving four years, in a manner creditable to him- self and his constituents. He is at pres- ent engaged in the furniture business, and has an extensive loan and insurance ageney. In 1881 he was elected mayor of Humboldt. Mr. and Mrs. Combs have three children-Emma J., Anna M. and Carlos R. They are members of the Con- gregational Church. Mr. Combs is one of the charter members of the A. O. U. W.
F. F. French, the present incumbent, was first elected to the office of clerk of the courts in 1880, and was re-elected after a sharp contest in 1882.
Franklin F. French, clerk of the courts, was born in Fond du Lac Co., Wis., Oct. 27, 1845. Ilis father was Samuel II. French, a native of New York, and his mother, Phebe (Lilly) French, of Vermont. Mr. French was by trade a cooper, which business he followed a number of years, and afterward engaged in farming. In 1844 he emigrated to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., coming through with a team and camping out on the way. The first white child born in Metomen township, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., was the subject of this sketch. In abont 1853 his father sold out and moved to Junean Co., Wis. In 1875 he removed to Vernon township, Humboldt Co., Iowa, where he remained until the time of his death which occurred in June, 1880. The widow is still living. They were members of the Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch was reared in
Digized by Google
599
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
Wisconsin, receiving his education in the common schools. In January, 1864, he enlisted in the 29th Wisconsin Infantry, company I, and participated in the follow- ing engagements; Red River expedition, Fort Spanish and Fort Blakely, where he was in the charge, and other engage- ments of less importance. He was mus- tered out at Mobile, Ala., in October, 1865. At that time he was on detached ser- vice, clerking in the postoffice in Mobile. After the close of the war he went to Monroe Co., Wis., where he was married to Eliza R. Tyler, of Jefferson Co., Wis., a daughter of Royal Tyler, one of the first settlers of that county, building the first house at Lake Mills. Mr. and Mrs. French are the parents of four children, three of whom are now living-P. Almira, Ella W. and Royal F. In the spring of 1868 he came to Humboldt county where he engaged in farming, always taking a lively interest in public affairs, and holding from time to time local offices. In 1879 he was elected clerk of the courts and re- elected in 1881. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R., he being the instigator, and prime mover in the organ- ization of the G. A. R. and was by the comrades made its first commander. Mr. and Mrs. French are members of the Baptist Church, he also being instrumental in that organization; at the time they moved into Humboldt, they were the only Baptist family in the place.
SHERIFF.
The first to occupy this position was David H. Nivers, who was elected in August, 1857, on the organization of the county, and held it for two years, until his successor had qualified. He was a
native of New York State, and had settled in Dakota City as early as 1855. In 1860, he left the county, going to Philadelphia.
In 1859 the records seem incomplete, and no account is given of who occupied this position.
In 1861, George C. McCauley, now one of the most influential citizens of the north part of the county, was elected to the office of sheriff and served for two years.
George C. McCauley was born in Elk- ton, Cecil Co., Maryland, April 27, 1837. In 1849 his parents, Daniel and Rachel (Beard) McCanley, removed to New York city, where his father kept the Rose Hill stables, on 24th street. In 1857 Mr. Mo- Cauley came to Humboldt Co., Iowa, and located on section 33, Humboldt township, pre-empting 160 acres of land. At one time he owned 600 acres of land in this township. He lived on section 33 until 1865, when he moved on section 17, where he now has 250 acres of good land. He was married Feb. 2, 1859, to Rachel Tucker, daughter of William and Silvia Tucker. They were married in the old St. Charles House, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, by Edward Bagg, justice of the peace. They have had twelve children, eleven of whom are living-Daniel B., Rachel B., Hugh W., George C., Maggie, William T., Florence L., May H., Eugenia B., F. Silvia and Bowden. Fannie S. was born to them but died Oct. 14, 1881, aged four- teen years, four months and four days. Mrs. McCauley is a member of the M. E. Church. McCauley has been sheriff of Humboldt county two terms, from 1861 to 1865. He is now engaged in running a roller-skating rink in Livermore. In 1880
Dgizodby Google
600 HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
he laid out the McCauley addition to Liv ermore, about thirty acres on the west side of the village. His father died Sept. 24, 1877. His mother died May 21, 1883. Mrs. McCauley's father lives in Kansas. Her mother died Aug. 6, 1859. Mr. Mc- Cauley owns several dwelling houses and a warehouse in Livermore which he rents.
James C. Cusey was elected as Mr. Mc- Cauley's successor in 1863, and in 1865 re-elected. Mr. Casey came here from Illinois, and was a driving, enterprising citizen, but when the depreciations, in values, consequent upon the close of the war, stagnated business, he had so many "irons in the fire" that he became finan- cially embarrassed. Settling up as best he could, he removed to Kansas, where he has acquired a considerable competency. The famous "granger party" of that State, placed him in nomination for governor but a few years since, and he polled a very heavy vote, although not enough to elect him. Although re-elected, in 1865, to the office of sheriff of Humboldt county, he did not occupy the position long, but resigned it early in 1866 to at- tend to his private affairs, and H. C. Cusey was appointed in his stead.
At the fall election of 1867, H. C. Cusey was chosen by the qualified electors of the county, to fill the office, but he held it but a short time when he resigned.
At the fall election, of 1868, Miner Scofield was elected sheriff, to fill the vacancy, but being chosen a member of the board of supervisors, he declined the sheriffship, and the office seems to have been vacant, various parties performing the functions of the office.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.