USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 89
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Thomas Rogers, the third in order of birth in his father's family, remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-three years and from the period of his early boyhood was trained in the work of the home farm. At that age he started out to make his own way in the world and for one year was employed at farm labor by the month. He then purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land in Clinton county, operating the same until 1897. He then disposed of that property to advantage and invested his money in two hundred and forty acres in Louisa county, this state. He made his home thereon for five years, or until 1901, when he made another change in location and, disposing of that farm, came to Linn county, purchasing one hundred and seventy acres. whereon he made his home until the fall of 1910. In the meantime, in 1909, he purchased a second tract, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, and it was upon the latter place that he took up his abode in October. 1910. His possessions in Linn county now embraee two hundred and ninety acres. all lying in Linn township, and thus his time is fully oceupied in the work of general farming and stock-raising. He is meeting with very desirable success in his undertakings
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and his capable management and keen foresight have enabled him to add not a little to his ineome in the buying and selling of various farm properties. He has made many improvements upon his land and he and his family now oceupy a niee modern residence, in the rear of which are seen substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Every change he has made in his business life has given him broader scope for the exercise of his energy, ambition and indus- try - his dominant powers, and thus he stands today among the men of affluence in Linn county.
On the 19th of December, 1888, Mr. Rogers was married to Miss Nettie L. Dunham, who has proved to him a most faithful and helpful companion. She is the only living daughter of Wesley II. and Celia (Clapp) Dunham, both of whom were natives of New York. In 1868 they removed to the middle west and located on a farm in Clinton county. For many years they were numbered among the worthy farming people of that section of the state but spent their last years in honorable retirement, the father passing away in 1905. The mother survived for only a brief period, her demise oceurring the following year, in 1906.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have been born two sons and three daughters, namely : Wesley W., who was born December 2, 1889, and is a high-school student at Mount Vernon, being a member of the graduating elass of 1911; Glenn H., who was born May 29, 1891, and is a member of the same elass; Celia, who was born December 13, 1893, and who will likewise graduate from high school in 1911; Dorothy D., who was born February 25, 1896, and is a high-school student ; and Mary, who was born July 31, 1901, and is in school at Mount Vernno.
Politieally Mr. Rogers is a republican, while his fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows, his membership being in Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 551. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He owes his sneeess to his own thrift, energy and economy. In his earlier years he had many difficulties and obstacles to overcome but despite that faet he has made steady progress along well defined lines of labor and in accordance with honorable methods and is today one of the most prominent and representative agriculturists of Linn county.
FREDERICK G. SHURTLEFF
Although agricultural pursuits elaim the greater part of the time and attention of Frederiek G. Shurtleff, he is also interested in other enterprises and is today actively identified with banking institutions of this county. He has made his home in Fayette township throughout life, his birth occurring there on the 15th of May, 1855, and he is a son of Jerome and Mary (Dumbauld) Shurtleff, of whom more extended mention is made in the sketeh of L. J. Shurtleff on another page of this volume. Frederick G. Shurtleff remained with his parents until reaching man's estate and in the meantime pursued his studies in the common and graded schools of his native township. In his twenty-second year he began farm- ing on his father's land, which he operated on shares. It was in the spring of 1881 that he made his first purchase, consisting of ten aeres of his present farm in Fayette township. As time passed and he prospered in his farming operations he extended the boundaries of his place by additional purchase until he now owns two hundred and ten acres. A progressive and energetic agriculturist, sneeess has crowned his efforts and his farm is now one of the best improved and most highly cultivated places of the locality.
The republican party has always found in Mr. Shurtleff a stalwart supporter of its principles and he was called upon to serve for three terms as assessor of his township, in which capacity he was active in upholding the mulet law and was
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the first man in Linn county to take an active part in the suppression of the illieit sale of whisky under this law. His attention, however, is mainly given to his business interests and he was one of the organizers of the Peoples Savings Bank of Shellsburg and is today one of its heaviest stockholders. He was also one of the prime factors in the organization of the Palo Savings Bank and is a member of its board of directors. His business interests have always been wisely managed and he is a man of sound judgment and good executive ability, who usually carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
GILES FONDA VAN VECIITEN
Not only Cedar Rapids but Iowa mourn the death of Giles Fonda Van Veeliten, whose life was an honor to the community which claimed him as a citizen. While he attained notable success, his prosperity was never won at the cost of another's failure; on the contrary he always utilized constructive methods and his labors proved a source of benefit to the city as well as of profit to himself. IIe held to high standards of manhood and citizenship and for thirty-three years Cedar Rap- ids had the good fortune to number him with her residents, for his efforts and influenee were an effective force in her upbuilding.
Giles Fonda Van Vechten was born in Denmark, Lewis county, New York. Angust 5, 1827, and was descended from Holland settlers who early chose the Empire state as a place of residence, while their descendants have remained factors in its development up to the present time. The name of Van Vechten, however, originated during the days of the Caesars and is traceable to the name of an old Roman camping place called Veetum, now Vechten, near Utrecht, Holland. The name signifies "from the fighting place." The first representative of the family in America was Teunis Dircksen Van Vechten, who took passage with his wife and one child and two servants on the ship Amos of Norway, bound for the New Nether- lands. He established his home on a farm at Greenbush, opposite Albany, New York, in 1638. and his descendants are still to be found in that distriet. Gilbert Van Vechten, father of Giles Fonda Van Veehten, was a farmer of Lewis county. New York, and there married Hona Bent, who came from New England ances- try, her father having been born in Templeton, Massachusetts.
In the district schools near his father's home Giles Fonda Van Vechten pur- sued his early education and later attended the Denmark Academy. He was twenty-five years of age when he became identified with the middle west, removing to Milledgeville, Carroll county, Illinois, in 1854. He was there engaged in farming and stoek-raising with good sneeess until 1865, when he joined Henry G. Page of Lanark, Illinois, in establishing the private bank of Van Vechten and Page in the town of Lanark. This new financial enterprise proved a profitable undertaking and was later converted into the First National Bank, Mr. Van Vech- ten continuing his connection therewith for about a deeade, when in 1875 he disposed of his interest in the bank and other property at Lanark and removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The following year, however he came to Cedar Rapids and from November, 1876, until his death was an active. valned and honored resident of this eity. Here he established a private bank under his own name and in 1886 reorganized the business under the style of the Cedar Rapids National Bank, of which he was vice president to the time of his death. In 1889 he became one of the founders of the Security Savings Bank and continuously filled the office of president until his demise. Progressive management of the bank's affairs was always tempered by a safe conservatism that won the confidence of the public and secured a liberal patronage. The bank under his direction success- fully weathered several financial panies, and the interests of depositors and
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patrons were always conserved by the thoroughly reliable methods and the keen sagaeity of Mr. Van Veehten and his associate offieers. He gave much of his time to the supervision of the investment of funds entrusted to him and no one ever lost a dollar through him. In all of his business eareer he was actuated by the desire to assist and help others as well as himself. He wished that he were able to give all men and women an opportunity in the world and to guard them against failure, and many a man has reason to bless his memory for kindly counsel and adviee.
On the 14th of April, 1858, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Van Vechten and Miss Emma Melissa Humphrey. They had no children of their own but reared an adopted daughter, Mary, who is now the wife of Judge Merrit W. Pinekney, of Chicago. Mrs. Van Vechten has always taken a deep and helpful interest in philanthropic and charitable work and in this had the cooperation of her husband. Ile was interested in all that tended to prove helpful to the indi- vidual and the city, and his labors for the publie good were of the most practical character. He was ever courteous and kindly, enjoying the highest respect and esteem of all, while the circle of his friends was coextensive with that of his acquaintances. His activities were manifold.
"He was not an onlooker," said the Cedar Rapids Daily Gazette, "but a worker and organizer in the great national life that was being developed all around him, soberness of thought, industry, thrift and faithful perseverance, all of these qualities came to him by birth and in him grew to an ultimate perfection such as is seldom found in any one man. Cedar Rapids was the scene of his life's best and most helpful work. Mr. Van Veehten never touched anything that failed. What he did he did well and all his undertakings thrived and grew greater with the years. Moreover, he was the guiding hand for many a young man struggling upward in life and he wisely counseled many who needed advice." As he pros- pered he gave generously for the benefit of others, placing liberal means in the hands of his wife, that she might carry on benevolent and philanthropic projeets. He asked no praise, he sought no recognition for his good deeds, but they were many and the world is better and brighter because of the life that he here lived. Ile reached the venerable age of eighty-two years and quietly passed from this life on the 29th of September, 1909. Of him it may be written :
Of no distemper, of no blast he died. But fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long. E'en wondered at because it fell not sooner,
Age seemed to wind him up for four score years. Yet slowly ran he on two winters more,
Till like a elock, worn out with beating time,
The wheels of weary life at last stood still.
WILLIAM O. GOUDY .
A well improved farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres located in Linn township, has been the home of William O. Goudy since 1877, though it has been in possession of the family since the early development of Linn county. He was born on his father's farm on section 23, Linn township, November 15, 1853, his parents being John C. and Amelia C. (Jordan) Goudy, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Germany. The mother emigrated from her native land to Iowa in 1842 and that year also witnessed the arrival of the father in this state. They were married here five years later, on the 18th of November, 1847, and began their domestic life upon a farm on section 23. Linn township. Unto them were born seven children. Ellen A., Rachel E., William O., Alice A .. Mary E., Fred-
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erick A. and John M. All are living with the exception of Frederick, who died on the 8th of July, 1905. After a happy married life covering sixteen years, Mr. Goudy was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose death occurred in March, 1863. He was married a year later, his second union being with Lydia A. Moffitt. He continued to reside on the farm which he owned until 1890, when he removed to Mount Vernon and lived retired until his death, which oeeur- red September 18, 1905, while his wife passed away in 1903. They were men- bers of the Presbyterian church.
William O. Goudy, the subject of this sketch, remained on the home farm to the age of twenty-four years, during which time he assisted his father in the work of the fields in the summer season, while in the winter months he pursued his studies in the common schools. At that age he began farming on his own account, by renting land of his grandfather. He operated the place as a renter until 1891, when he purchased the land, comprising one hundred and thirty-five acres, and this has been his home to the present time. He has made modern im- provements on the place since it came into his possession and now has one of the valuable farm properties of that seetion of the county. His fields produce abun- dantly and in his pastures are found good grades of stock. He is careful as to details and his capable management is bringing him gratifying success.
On the 21st of March, 1878, ocenrred the marriage of Mr. Goudy and Miss Aliee Armentrout, who was born September 11, 1855, a daughter of Abden and Ann (Shoop) Armentrout, natives of Virginia and Maryland, respectively. The father was a carpenter by trade and coming to Linn county in 1869 settled in Franklin township, where he worked at his trade until his death, which occurred in 1875. The mother afterward lived with her children and she passed away in September, 1909. They were the parents of five children, all of whom survive, namely: Cordelia C .. Frank, Alice, Harry and Lizzie.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Goudy has been blessed with three daughters and one son. Edna A., who was born January 17, 1879, is the wife of Jesse Miller, their home being in Cedar county, this state, and they have a family of five children, Erhmel C., Glenn V., Lucile E., Genevieve A. and Isabel. Edith C., who was born December 16, 1884, is the wife of William Stewart. Carleton A., whose birth occurred November 9, 1889, and Laura H., who was born July 21, 1895, are both at home. All were edneated in the common schools.
Although Mr. Gondy is not active in publie affairs, he keeps well informed on the politieal issues and questions of the day and never hesitates in giving his allegiance to the republican party for he believes its principles contain the best elements of good government. Ile and his wife belong to the Presbyterian chureh. Spending his entire life in this eounty, he has materially aided in its progress, especially along agricultural lines and is now classed among the men of affluence in his loeality.
NATHAN ALBERT YORK, M. D.
Dr. Nathan Albert York, who since April, 1900, has enjoyed a lucrative and constantly growing patronage as a medical practitioner of Lisbon, was born on the 11th of March. 1866, near the town of Meaford on the Georgian Bay in Grey county, Ontario, Canada. He is the youngest son of Henry York, who was born in the town of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, England, early in the nineteenth century and assisted in celebrating the victory of Wellington at Waterloo, where two of his uneles, George and Sammel Diekens, gave up their lives in that great and decisive battle against Napoleon. Frederick York, the paternal grandfather of our subject, owned and operated a cord and rope factory at Northampton,
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England. The paternal grandmother, Sarah Diekens, was a graduate of Oxford University in England and a relative of the illustrious author of that name. Jacob and Hannah (Devons) Prentiee, the maternal grandparents of Dr. York, were of German stock and settled in the state of New York abont 1815. Later they lo- cated on a farm which has since become a part of the city of Toronto, Canada, and which was the birthplace of the mother of Dr. York, who there grew to woman- hood in a family of six sisters and seven brothers. Two of her brothers, Oliver and Hiram Prentice, enlisted in the United States army and were killed in the Civil war.
Henry York, the father of the gentleman whose name introduees this review, had a family of four sons and four daughters, all of whom still survive with the exception of two daughters. The record of the living children is as follows: Dr. Nathan A .; Thomas II., of Chicago; Waldo M., who is a resident of Cobalt, Ontario; Levi Charles, who makes his home in Vancouver, British Columbia; Mrs. Samuel Stevenson, who resides in Miami, Manitoba, Canada ; and Mrs. George Wilton, of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.
Dr. N. A. York spent the early years of his life in the town of his nativity, his parents there owning a fruit farm. Abont the year 1884 his father sold the farm, purchasing and loeating upon an extensive tract of land west of Winni- peg. After leaving school Dr. York succeeded in obtaining a practical business course and became identified with commercial and real-estate interests in his community. Ile remained an active factor in the business life of Morden, Can- ada, until October, 1894, when he eame to Iowa City, Iowa, and after two years of special study entered the medical department of the State University of Iowa in September, 1896. At the end of two years' study he was advised by the late Dr. W. D. Middleton, then chief surgeon and dean of the faenlty, to take an examination before the state board of medieal examiners. This he did in Dec- ember, 1898, and succeeded in securing a certificate to practice medicine. During the vacation periods of the following two years he was associated in practice with Dr. John Clinton Shrader, president of the state board of health and a professor and surgeon of the university for twenty years. In March, 1900, he completed the first four-year course required by the university and was graduated with the degree of M. D. The following April he loeated for practice in Lisbon. Linn county, Iowa, which place has since remained the seene of his professional labors. He is continually broadening his knowledge and thus direetly promoting his effi- ciency through the interchange of thought and principles that come to him as a member of the Southeastern Linn Medieal Society, the Linn County Medical So- eiety, the Iowa Union Medieal Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
On the 2d of January, 1890, Dr. York was united in marriage to Miss Tacie Elizabeth Markel, of Springdale, Cedar county, Iowa, who was at that time living with her sister in Canada. She is of German extraetion and her paternal great- grandparents were the founders of Markelsville, Pennsylvania, whenee her grandparents removed to Toronto, Canada, and for many years were engaged in the milling business. In the year 1860 they took up their abode in Cedar county, Iowa, and purchased the farm which is still occupied by the father of Mrs. Tacie E. York, who there reared his family of two sons and seven daughters, all of whom are now well situated in homes of their own. Dr. Isaac MeCormack, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. York, was a graduate of the medical department of the University of Edinburg, Scotland, and spent his life in medical practice in his native land. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Tanner, was a native of County Armagh, Ireland, and was likewise educated at Edinburg. Unto Dr. and Mrs. York have been born three children, namely : Ethel Harriet, Alton Melvin and Everett Lorren.
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As a citizen Dr. York has always stood for honesty in all dealings and is a persistent advocate of high moral standards in his community. He has taken an active part in educational matters and his energies have always been directed toward the improvement of school conditions and educational standards. For five years he has served as a member of the board of education and has acted as its president a part of the time. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and and the Modern Woodmen of America. In early life he became a member of the Christian church but there being no organization of that denomination in Lisbon, he joined the United Brethren church with his family. He has estab- lished for himself a comfortable home and a well equipped office and in the dis- charge of his professional duties is ably assisted by his wife, whose rare natural and acquired ability in this line of work is greatly apprecated by many of the doctor's patrons. By his labors, his high professional attainments and his sterl- ing characteristics Dr. York has justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by the medical fraternity and the local public.
JOSEPH N. DEWEES
From the pioneer period to the present Joseph N. Dewees has been almost con- tinuously a resident of Lin county, his birth having occurred in a log cabin in Brown township, on the 20th of December, 1858. His parents, William P. and Maria (Embree) Dewees, were natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married, and in 1853 came to this county, settling in Brown township about three miles east of Springville on the farm which is now owned by John Carbee. There the father built a log cabin and from time to time he added to his place until he became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land which he brought under a high state of cultivation. Later in life he rented this farm and made his home with his son Joseph up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 24th of September, 1901. He had long survived his wife, who died on the 27th of September, 1882. They were members of the Society of Friends and were consistent Christian people whose many excellent traits of character endeared them to all who knew them.
Joseph N. Dewees was reared at home, acquiring his education in the Friends select school. In the fall of 1878 he and his brother Isaac went to Kansas, pur- chasing eighty acres of land in Osage county, which they owned for a few months and then sold. They drove to the Sunflower state with a company, the wagon train being composed of several teams. When twenty-one years of age he secured a position as a butter maker in a creamery in Cherokee county, where he remained for a year. He was then married on the 12th of December, 1880, to Miss Lucetta Vernon, of Brown township, and after his marriage superintended the creamery at Williams Corners in Brown township for one summer. He then took up his abode upon the home farm and engaged in cultivating his father's place for four years. In 1885 he and his brother Isaae went to Turner county, South Dakota, and purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of land, which they farmed for two years. They then sold out and went to California, Joseph N. Dewees remaining in the southern part of that state for a year, after which he returned to Linu county. Ile then purchased forty aeres of land adjoining the old home place. took up his abode thereon and not only cultivated his own farm but also a portion of his father's land for several years. He lived upon that place for nine years and in 1898 purchased his present farm of one hundred and ninety-two acres on which he has since resided. He has one of the well improved and valuable prop- erties of Linn county. None of the accessories and conveniences of the modern
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farm are lacking and the equipment of the place indicates the practical methods and progressive spirit of the owner.
Mrs. Dewees' parents were Joseph S. and Rachel (Bingman) Vernon, natives of Morgan county, Ohio. She was about five years of age when her mother died and her father passed away in 1881. Her only brother is Clarence B. Vernon, who lives in Kuline, Wyoming, but her only sister, Floretta Vernon, died in 1877, at the age of eighteen years. Her father served for three years in the Civil war, being a member of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dewees have been born four children. Frank Leroy, now a student at Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, was married on the 21st of July, 1910, to Edna L. Embree, a daughter of Samnel and Mary Ann Embree, of Springville. Ernest J. is attending a Friends boarding school at Westtown, Pennsylvania, and after his graduation also intends to enter a medical college. Jessie M. and Mildred R. are both at home.
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