USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 13
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Mr. Overton, who purchased it in 1878 and who gave it its present name, conducted it for but a week and then leased it to Miller & Gamble and others until December, 1884, when Casey & Steunenberg leased it and published it until New Year's day, 1887. Mr. Steunen- berg then severed his connection with it and Mr. Casey conducted it until April, 1888. W. P. Gibson then became associated with Mr. Casey in its publication until New Year's day, 1891, when J. O.
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Reaver bought out M.r. Gibson and was connected with Mr. Casey until January 1, 1900. At that time he sold out to C. W. Belville, who was Mr. Casey's partner until the ist of March, 1914, when A. L. Sherman bought an interest in the publication. Mr. Sherman and Mr. Casey are the present owners of the paper. For more than thirty years the latter has been associated with the Express and its con- tinued prosperity and consistent policy is due in great measure to his long connection with the paper and his ability and experience. Upon leaving Knoxville Mr. Steunenberg went to Idaho and there published the Caldwell Tribune. He was later a member of the constitutional convention, a member of the state legislature and gov- ernor of Idaho. His life came to an abrupt close as he was assassinated on the 30th of December, 1905.
J. B. LYMAN.
J. B. Lyman, vice president of the Iowa Savings Bank and thus prominently associated with financial interests in Marion county, was born in Liberty township, near Bussey, November 21, 1865, his parents being John Brown and Elizabeth A. (Munsell) Lyman, in whose family were seven children. The father came to this county in 1853 and laid out a part of the town of Hamilton, where he after- ward conducted business as proprietor of a hotel. In the early '6os he turned his attention to farming, in which he continued until his death in 1883. His wife survived him for about sixteen years, passing away in 1899, and both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Marys- ville. Mr. Lyman was active in local politics and was greatly inter- ested in public affairs. He was a delegate to various county conven- tions of the republican party and held a number of local offices, in which he discharged his duties with credit to himself and satisfac- tion to his constituents. He made a most creditable record as an official, was a helpful pioneer settler and a progressive and valuable citizen.
J. B. Lyman, reared in this county, attended the public schools and in the year 1883, when eighteen years of age, went to Tracy. He worked in a general store and in 1887 he formed a partnership with Henry Munsell for the establishment of a general mercantile busi- ness, his mother also becoming a partner therein. The business was continued by them until L. T. Marsh succeeded Mr. Munsell. He was then a partner of Mr. Lyman for twelve years, at the end of
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which time the firm became Lyman & Rouze, so continuing until 1906, when Mr. Lyman sold out. The Iowa Savings Bank was organized in 1903 with a capital of twelve thousand dollars, Mr. Lyman being cashier until 1912, when he became vice president. The original directors were O. L. Wright; W. T. Smith and Samuel H. Doughman, both now deceased; J. B. Lyman; S. S. Hogate, now deceased ; E. E. Rouze; and R. I. Garden. The first officers were : W. T. Smith, president; O. L. Wright, vice president; J. B. Lyman, cashier; and F. W. Lyman, assistant cashier. Owing to the death of the president in December, 1905, Samuel H. Doughman became the head of the institution and so continued until his death in Octo- ber, 1911. Soon thereafter O. L. Wright became president and Mr. Lyman succeeded him in the vice presidency, while F. W. Lyman has become the cashier. The bank occupied a small building until 1912 and then removed to its present commodious quarters. The business has grown and prospered under safe management and as cashier and vice president Mr. Lyman has contributed in no small measure to its success. Mr. Lyman is a member of the firm of Ho- gate & Lyman, real-estate and grain dealers, owning and operating elevators and scales at Tracy and several other nearby points. J. B. and son, F. W. Lyman, also conduct a general insurance business, handling a large volume of business in that line. Associated with two other gentlemen, E. C. Hogate and E. E. Rouze, Mr. Lyman is owner of some twelve hundred acres of improved land, mainly in Iowa.
On the 13th of March, 1890, Mr. Lyman was united in marriage to Mrs. Anna (Hogate) Moore, and to them have been born two sons, while there is one son by a former marriage. The three sons are: Mark Moore, living at Moberly, Missouri ; F. W., in the bank ; and Harold, who is in the Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri. Mrs. Lyman was born in Clay township, this county, November 16, 1864, a daughter of S. S. and Melissa (Rouze) Ho- gate, who came to Iowa in 1863 from Decatur county, Indiana. Mr. Hogate was a prominent farmer, buyer, shipper and raiser of stock. His wife having died April 29, 1898, at the age of sixty-three years, he removed from the farm to Tracy in 1903 and there passed away on the 27th of December, 1910, at the age of seventy-seven years. Both were prominent Methodists and took a very active part in church work. For some years he was interested in the grain busi- ness in Tracy, being associated with his son-in-law, Mr. Lyman. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hogate were nine children, namely : Powers K., born July 25, 1855, is now successfully engaged in the
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livery business in Tracy and also owns a farm in this county. Wil- liam W., born September 17, 1857, died June 12, 1878. Lewis K., born April 23, 1859, makes his home in Monte Vista, Colorado, be- ing a grain dealer in the San Luis Valley. Ella, born June 3, 1861, is the wife of W. E. Sherwood, a stock dealer of Knoxville, Iowa. Anna, now Mrs. Lyman, is the next in order of birth. Mary, born February 5, 1867, died February 18, 1887. Edward Clark is men- tioned on another page of this volume. Myrtle, born July 21, 1870, died July 22, 1871. Eva, born October 8, 1872, is the wife of James M. Brubaker, of Blue Springs, Nebraska. Mrs. Lyman was first married May 7, 1885, becoming the wife of Dr. Mark Brock Moore, who died September 30, 1887. By that union there was one son, Mark Hogate, who was born December 20, 1887. Dr. Moore was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, August 19, 1859, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Marion county, Iowa, in 1864. He was educated at Central University in Pella and attended medical lectures at Drake University, Des Moines, being graduated from the latter institution February 25, 1885. He practiced for a short time at Gosport, Iowa, and then removed to Greeley county, Kan- sas, where his death occurred. Mrs. Lyman is a very prominent and active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and Sabbath school and also in the Eastern Star and temperance organizations, being a leader in whatever she becomes interested.
Mr. Lyman is a prominent Mason in Iowa, serving as an officer of the grand lodge in 1913. He is also connected with the Eastern Star, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors and his religious faith is evidenced by his membership in the Metho- dist Episcopal church. His well spent life has ever commended him to the confidence and good-will of his fellow citizens and all with whom he has come in contact. He possesses many sterling traits of character and his career measures up to high standards of manhood and citizenship.
JACOB HAMMOND.
Jacob Hammond came to Marion county with his parents when a lad of nine years and throughout the intervening period of six decades he has resided continuously within its borders. General agricultural pursuits claimed his attention throughout his active
JACOB HAMMOND
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business career, but he is now living retired on his farm, still owning one hundred and fifty-three acres of land in Knoxville and Clay townships.
His birth occurred in Morrow county, Ohio, on the 11th of May, 1844, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth (Reesner) Hammond, the former a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They removed to Ohio in an early day, settling on a farm which the father hewed out of the timber and erecting a log cabin which was the family home for several years. In 1854 they came to Iowa, making the journey overland in a covered wagon and arriving in Marion county on the 18th of July. Jacob Hammond, Sr., purchased and entered more than four hundred acres of land, and during the first two years of their residence here the family lived in an old cabin fourteen by sixteen feet. They underwent all of the hardships and privations of pioneer life and experienced much discomfort in their rude cabin home, their beds being sometimes covered with six inches of snow in the winter. However, they lived to witness and enjoy a marvelous transformation as the country became more thickly settled and was developed, and Mr. and Mrs. Hammond remained in Marion county until called to their final rest, when the community lost two of its earliest and most esteemed residents. To them were born eleven children, four of whom still survive.
Jacob Hammond of this review pursued his education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until twenty- two years of age, when he was married and established a home of his own. Subsequently he cultivated a rented farm for four years and then purchased property, carrying on agricultural pursuits continu- ously and successfully throughout the remainder of his active busi- ness career. He owned considerable land at one time but has sold all except one hundred and fifty-three acres, part in Knoxville and part in Clay townships, where he is now enjoying honorable retire- ment. Prosperity attended his efforts and has enabled him to do well by his children, two of his sons receiving ten thousand dollars each with which to buy property.
In 1866 Mr. Hammond was united in marriage to Miss Nancy P. Beard, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Ray) Beard, who were also born in that state. They came to Marion county, Iowa, in 1853, and here spent the remainder of their lives. To Mr and Mrs. Hammond were born nine children, five of whom are yet living, as follows: John A., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; Mary J., the wife of George Rose ; Ella U., who gave her hand in marriage to Samuel Cooley; O. B .; and Vol. II-9
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Herman. The wife and mother died on the 21st of November, 1909, and was laid to rest in the Zion cemetery.
In his political views Mr. Hammond is a stanch republican and for twenty-two years he held the office of school treasurer, making a most creditable and commendable record in that connection. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he has always taken an active and helpful part and to which his wife also belonged. He has done his share and more than his share in promoting agricultural develop- ment in Marion county and has attained individual success through his own efforts, always following the principle to do well whatever he found to do. He has been interested in the general growth of his district and county and has led a busy and useful life, having done as much toward promoting the common interests as he has in furthering his own fortunes.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN ANDREWS.
William Franklin Andrews, of Knoxville township, has con- tributed to the development of the live-stock industry in this county as a breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land six miles southwest of Knoxville and his property is one of the well improved places of his township. He was born near Newbern, this county, on the 23d of December, 1861, a son of the late Hiram Andrews, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Andrews of this review has one sister, Eva, the wife of James Pugh, of Omaha, Nebraska.
In the schools of Spring Hill William Franklin Andrews acquired his scholastic education and supplemented this with prac- tical training in agriculture, as he assisted his father with the work of the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until 1884, when he was married and began farming upon his own account. Suc- cess has rewarded his efforts and since 1901 he has resided upon his present quarter section of land, which is situated on section 34 Knox- ville township, and is finely improved. In 1910 he built a resi- dence which has all of the modern conveniences and is one of the best farm houses of the county. He devotes his entire attention to his agricultural pursuits and makes a specialty of raising thorough- bred Duroc-Jersey hogs, his stock bringing high prices on the market.
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Mr. Andrews was married in 1884 to Miss Amanda Fortner, a daughter of the late Samuel Fortner, a pioneer resident of this county. She was born on the 30th of November, 1859, in Indiana, but was brought here in early childhood. In this county she grew to woman- hood and here her marriage occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have one daughter living, Amy, the wife of Albert Dykstra, who is a resi- dent of Osage, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is engaged in wheat rais- ing upon an extensive scale, his annual yield being many thousand bushels. In connection with his brother he owns three hundred acres, but they operate altogether more than two sections of land. Mr. and Mrs. Dykstra have a son, Frank A., who was born on the 31st of December, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews lost two daughters, who died in infancy. He is a republican and his fraternal connec- tions are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife and daughter are both affili- ated with the Rebekahs. Mr. Andrews and his wife are members of the Concord Methodist Episcopal church and all who know them bear testimony to the sincerity of their religious belief, as their lives are guided by the principles of Christianity.
FRED G. JONES.
Fred G. Jones, a successful and progressive representative of mercantile interests in Marion county, is the proprietor of a general store at Bussey, conducting one of the best and most extensive estab- lishments of the kind in the town. His birth occurred in Mahaska county, lowa, on the 23d of September, 1875, his parents being Walter N. and Anna (Wycoff) Jones, who were born, reared and married in Illinois. In 1868 they took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Mahaska county, Iowa, and for many years were identified with its progress and development. The father passed away on the 22d of June, 1899, but the mother survives and now makes her home with our subject. Their children were nine in number.
Fred G. Jones acquired his education in the common schools and when still young in years began providing for his own support. In 1896 he embarked in business as a merchant of Bussey, where he has since built up an extensive and gratifying patronage as proprietor of a general store and meat market. He carries a stock valued at about eight thousand dollars and in all his dealings is strictly honorable,
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enjoying a well merited reputation as one of the reliable, progressive and substantial business men of the community.
On the 23d of December, 1896, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Mamie Mehanna, her parents being A. R. and Jessie (Clancy) Mehanna, who in the spring of 1857 took up their abode among the pioneer residents of Marion county. The father has since taken a prominent and active part in local affairs of importance and is widely recognized as a valued and influential citizen. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born four children, namely : Walter Nelson, Dorothy, Helen and Clifford, all yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Jones is a stanch republican in his political views and deeply interested in public affairs, yet has never sought nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, the Red Men, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Yeomen, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. The success which has attended his undertakings well entitles him to recognition among the representative citizens of this county, and his many sterling traits of character have won him the warm friendship and kindly regard of those with whom he has come in contact.
J. A. HAMMOND.
J. A. Hammond is a well known farmer and stockman of Marion county, engaged extensively in the breeding of shorthorn cattle and standard Poland China hogs. He is the owner of a valuable prop- erty of two hundred and seventy-three acres on sections 14, 23 and 24, Knoxville township, and the excellent appearance of his place indicates his careful supervision and practical and progressive methods.
He is numbered among the native sons of the county. his birth having occurred in Clay township, March 10, 1873, his father being Jacob Hammond, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. His youthful days were spent in his native township and his entire life has been passed in Clay and Knoxville townships. He attended the district schools and was reared to the occupation of farming and stock-raising, becoming familiar with those pursuits when a youth. As the years have passed on experience has broadened his knowl- edge and promoted his capability, and his success is the merited re-
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ward of persistent, earnest purpose and honorable effort. He has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and annually harvests large crops of corn and other cereals for which the soil is specially adapted. He makes the breeding and raising of stock an important feature of his business and in his pastures and feed lots may be found excellent specimens of high grade shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, the sale of which adds materially to his income.
On the 10th of February, 1897, Mr. Hammond was united in marriage to Miss Oda May Loynachan, a daughter of the late Ed- ward Loynachan, who died September 3, 1906, and who is men- tioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Hammond was born and reared in Clay township and completed her education by study in Highland Park College at Des Moines. Three children have been born of this marriage, namely: Clarence Elmer, whose birth occurred August 22, 1899; Arthur Lee, born April 1, 1902; and Forest Dale, whose natal day was March 10, 1906. All are still under the parental roof and are attending school.
Politically Mr. Hammond is an earnest republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party as factors in good government. He has never sought nor desired political office, however, and the only public position he has held has been that of member of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart cham- pion. He has always preferred to give his attention to his business affairs, and in addition to his farming interests he is acting as presi- dent of the Victory Mutual Telephone Company. Fraternally he is connected with both the subordinate lodge and the encampment of the Odd Fellows at Durham, and in religious faith both he and his wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church. Theirs is an attractive home situated in the midst of a finely improved farm, and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by a large circle of warm friends.
THE KNOXVILLE NATIONAL BANK.
The Knoxville National Bank was organized in 1871 by A. W. and S. L. Collins, Larkin Wright, E. B. Woodruff, A. J. Briggs and others, Mr. Wright becoming the president. This was the first national bank of Knoxville and was capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Wright was succeeded in the presidency by A. W. Collins in 1872 and he was followed by E. H. Amos. The next president was J. S. Cunningham, who remained as the head of
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the institution until his death, which occurred in March, 1911, when J. B. Elliott, the former cashier, succeeded to the presidency and so continues. The first cashier was A. J. Briggs, who remained in that position until 1882. H. L. Bousquet was cashier for part of a year, from April until the succeeding January, J. B. Elliott becoming the incumbent of the office in January, 1884, and continuing in that posi- tion until his election to the presidency in 1911. Mr. Cunningham was vice president from 1871 until elected to the presidency, when his son, C. C. Cunningham, succeeded him in the vice presidency. When Mr. Elliott became president of the bank in 1911 J. J. Rob- erts, who had been assistant cashier for about a quarter of a century, was made cashier and is the present incumbent in that office. The bank adopted a safe conservative yet progressive policy at the out- set that has always been maintained and thus the success of the insti- tution was assured. In 1872 the present bank building was erected at the northwest corner of the square and is one of the business land- marks of the city. Every year the bank's statement has shown a growth in business and the Knoxville National Bank is today one of the strongest financial concerns of this part of the state.
JOHN CALVIN MITTEN, D. D. S.
Dr. John Calvin Mitten, of Pella, Iowa, is one of the successful dentists of that city and has a representative and lucrative practice. He was born in Newville, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of September, 1869, a son of David and Mary (Koch) Mitten, who were also natives of the Keystone state, the former born in Heggerstown in 1824, while the birth of the mother occurred in 1815. The father farmed in Pennsylvania for many years but eventually retired and passed his last years in ease at Carlisle. He died there in 1908, hav- . ing survived the mother twelve years, as her demise occurred in 1896. They were married in Pennsylvania and to their union were born the following children : Mrs. Mary Logan, Alfred, Mrs. Helen Hem- menger, William, Frank, James, Robert and John Calvin.
Dr. John C. Mitten was educated in Pennsylvania and after grad- uating from the Newville high school took a three years' course in the Shippensburg Academy. For one year he studied in the Dental College of the University of Pennsylvania and for two years was a student in the University of Iowa at lowa City. After complet- ing his dental course he practiced at Columbus Junction, Iowa, for
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five years and then took post-graduate work in Haskill's Post-Gradu- ate School of Chicago. He returned to Columbus Junction and re- mained there for twelve more years but in 1903 came to Pella and opened an office. In 1911 he took Dr. Lankelma into partnership and they are today one of the leading dental firms in the county. Dr. Mitten has erected a comfortable residence in Pella and stands high in the community.
On the 17th of December, 1902, the Doctor was united in mar- riage with Miss Gertrude Anderson, a daughter of Charles and Emma (Parkin) Anderson. Her father was born in Ohio in 1850 and her mother in Washington, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg, in January, 1853. She is still living and resides in Cedar Rapids, but Mr. Anderson passed away in 1897. They were married in Ains- worth, Iowa, both having come to this state at an carly age. To their union were born four children: Gertrude, now Mrs. Mitten, whose birth occurred on the 4th of September, 1879; Charles O .; Winifred V .; and Donald J. Mrs. Mitten was educated in Lenox, Iowa, and resided at home until her marriage. She and Dr. Mitten have two children, Harry and Charles, both attending school.
The Doctor is a republican and has been a delegate to county conventions of his party. For six years he served as a councilman in Columbus Junction and has always taken a keen interest in local government. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Rathbun Sisters, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons. Mrs. Mitten is a member of the local chapter of the P. E. O., and both belong to the Second Reformed church of Pella, being active in support of all good causes. Professionally Dr. Mit- ten holds the confidence of the public and the respect of his col- leagues and in the private relations of life has always shown himself to be a man of high standards of honor.
THE PELLA OVERALL COMPANY.
One of the most prosperous industrial concerns of Pella is the Pella Overall Company, which in the seven years of its existence has grown rapidly and steadily. It was organized in September, 1907, and now manufactures several thousand dozen garments per year and employs thirty-three people regularly. Its present officers are: H. J. Vanden Berg, Jr., president; Y. T. Van Niewaal, vice president; J. D. Gaass, secretary and treasurer; and J. W. Boyd,
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manager ; and its directorate is composed of the following men : Y. T. Van Niewaal, H. D. Wormhoudt, J. P. Klein, James G. Vander Pol, H. J. Vanden Berg, Jr., A. T. Klein, A. Waechter, G. G. Gaass and H. S. Keables. It manufactures the Dutch brand of overalls, coats and pants and sells its product over lowa, Missouri and South Dakota, although its brand is most widely known in this state. Two traveling salesmen are upon the road constantly and its goods are being intro- duced in new territory. As the garments are hygienically made, are of high quality and will stand an unusual amount of hard wear, when trade is once secured it is permanent. The factory building is twenty- five by seventy-five feet in dimensions and the Pella Overall Company occupies all three floors. Its equipment is modern and adequate and its present output is several thousand dozen garments annually. Its stock is a profitable investment, and the company is also of service to the entire community, as it contributes in no small degree to the prosperity of the city and as its goods advertise the city over a con- stantly increasing territory.
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