USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 24
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
JAMES CRAMER.
James Cramer, who for the past thirty-seven years has been success- fully identified with the jewelry trade in Clarinda, is now conducting an establishment of that character in partnership with his son, under the firm style of James Cramer & Son. His birth occurred in Bloomfield, Iowa, on the 28th of November, 1850, his parents being Henry Hartman and Mary (McNeal) Cramer, the former a farmer by occupation. Mr. Cramer of this review obtained his education in the country schools and after putting aside his text-books became acquainted with the jewelry business, with
240
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
which line of activity he has since been connected. The year 1872 witnessed his arrival in Clarinda, where he established the jewelry store which he has conducted to the present time, being now recognized as one of the most prosperous, progressive and enterprising merchants of the county. In 1903 he admitted his son, H. Bruce, to a partnership in the business, at which time the name of the concern was changed from James Cramer to James Cramer & Son. The dimensions of their store are twenty-four by one hun- dred feet and, as they have ever maintained an unsullied reputation for busi- ness integrity and reliability, their trade is of a most extensive and profitable character.
In June, 1876, Mr. Cramer was united in marriage to Miss Maria V. Rogers, a resident of Clarinda and a daughter of Philip C. and Matilda V. Rogers, the former a merchant. Unto them have been born four children. Netha R., is the wife of Charles H. Dack, a druggist of Columbus, Ne- braska. IT. Bruce married Miss Clarice M. Hunt, a daughter of Albert V. Hunt, a merchant of Clarinda, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. By this union there is one son, Hunt. Minnie is the wife of Thomas N. Randall, who is with the Chicago Daily News. James Vernon Cramer is still under the parental roof.
Fraternally Mr. Cramer is a Royal Arch Mason, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. His ster- ling characteristics are recognized by all with whom he comes in contact, and he is therefore justly numbered among the representative business men and citizens of Page county.
JOHN MeCOWEN.
John MeCowen is numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of Page county, dating his residence here from 1854. In the years which have since come and gone he has shared in the hardships and privations of life on the frontier, has borne his share in the work of general progress and improvement as wild prairie land has been converted into productive fields and frontier dwellings have been replaced by modern, substantial and com- modious residences. He was but ten years of age at the time of his arrival, his birth having occurred in Darke county, Ohio, December 12, 1843. His parents were James and Hulda ( Neely) MeCowen, who in the year 1854 disposed of their interests in Ohio and made their way westward to lowa. The father arrived with something over two thousand dollars in cash and this he invested in land, which he purchased at a dollar and a quarter per acre. He gave one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land to each of his four children, besides fifty acres of timber land, and he retained three hun- dred and seventy-five acres for his own use until his death. His widow is now in possession of a valuable farm of two hundred acres. The chil- dren were: John : Sylvester, living in Cleveland; Noah, who is mentioned
JOHN MeCOWEN AND CHILDREN
UNDALIVAD
243
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
elsewhere in this work ; and Mary, the wife of Alexander Shum, who is also represented elsewhere in this volume.
John McCowen has resided continuously in Nodaway township since 1854. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood and youth. He assisted in the arduous task of developing new land and remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age. He was then married and started out in life on his own account. He has never sought to change his mode of living but has continued to en- gage in farming, in which work he became thoroughly familiar in his boy- hood. He now has a place of one hundred and four acres on sections 8 and 18, Nodaway township, his home being situated on the latter section. He has made substantial improvements upon his farm and used modern ma- chinery to facilitate the work of the fields.
Mr. McCowen has been married twice. He first wedded Debbie Epper- son, a native of Monroe county, Iowa, who died in the year 1888, leaving five children : William, who resides at Shoshoni, Wyoming; Jefferson, who is living in East River township, this county; Estella May, the wife of George Buffican, of Villisca, Iowa; Nora, the wife of James Hall, living in Nodaway township; and Myrtle, the wife of William George, of Fre- mont county, Jowa.
Mr. McCowen was married again in 1889, his second union being with Miss Ella McMullen, a native of Page county. The children of this mar- riage are Elmer, Dessa May, Ira, James, Nora and Pearl.
Mr. McCowen votes with the democracy and keeps in touch with the questions and issues of the day but is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. His life has been one of diligence and his labors have been care- fully directed by keen business judgment. His record shows what may be accomplished by determined and earnest purpose and at all times his business methods liave been above question.
CHARLES ALDRICH.
When one reviews the history of Page county and notes the factors which have been valuable elements in its upbuilding and progress, it will be seen that Mr. Aldrich has been closely associated with the work of general im- provement because of his connection with agricultural interests and his active cooperation with the Fair Association. He is also serving at the present time as a member of the city council and exercises his official pre- rogatives to introduce needed reforms and progressive measures.
He entered upon the journey of life on the 10th of November, 1848, a native of Canada and a son of Chester W. and Sarah A. ( Bailey) Aldrich, both of whom were natives of Canada. The mother died when her son Charles was but seven years of age and the father, who afterward married again, came to the United States in 1857, settling at Neponset, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. Prior to this time he had worked at the car-
244
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
penter's trade and later he devoted many years to general agricultural pur- suits but is now living retired in Neponset in the eighty-sixth year of his age.
Charles Aldrich was reared at home, acquiring his education in the common schools and dividing his time between the mastery of the branches therein taught and the work of the farm. His father was a soldier of the Civil war and while he was at the front, defending the Union, Charles Aldrich remained at home carrying on the work of the fields. In 1865, 110 longer able to subdue his rising patriotism, he, too, enlisted as a soldier of the Civil war but when the authorities found that he was not yet eighteen years of age he was sent back honte. After the cessation of hostilities and his father's return to the north Charles Aldrich was employed as a farm hand for four years and then engaged in farming on his own account for a year.
He continued his residence in Illinois until 1871, when he removed to Iowa and, taking up his abode near Creston, he there engaged in the cul- tivation and improvement of a farm, the owner of which resided in Nepon- set, Illinois. Ile had the management of a tract of more than two hundred acres, being in charge of this property for four years. In 1873 he invested the capital which he had saved from his earnings in eighty acres of land in Fisher township, Fremont county, four miles south of Shenandoah, and in 18,5 he removed to this farm, whereon he has since made liis home. By additional purchase he has extended its boundaries until the place now com- prises three hundred and twenty acres and is one of the valuable and highly productive farms of Fremont county. In 1896 Mr. Aldrich lost his wife and, while he still operates the farm, for the past five years he has made his home in Shenandoah. He is a most progressive agriculturist, quickly adopting new and practical methods for the advancement of farming in- terests, and by reason of his sound judgment and keen discrimination his labors are always attended with success. He has done much to promote progress in agricultural lines in this county. For the past eight years he has been the president of the Shenandoah Fair Association and has been a member of the board for the past twenty years. In this connection he has done much to stimulate pride and interest in progressive agriculture and the fairs held by the association continually draw large crowds by reason of the splendid display of products offered by the county.
In other connections, too, Mr. Aldrich has proven his worth of a man and citizen. He is now serving on the board of city councilmen, being chosen member at large. He is independent in politics, voting for the candidate whom he regards as best qualified for office rather than for party. His fraternal relations are with Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122, B. P. O. E., while his religious faith is evidenced by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Aldrich was married in 1872 to Miss Roxa Caldwell, of Batavia, Iowa. Unto them were born six children : Dr. Frank F. Aldrich, a physician and surgeon of Shenandoah ; Maurice, living in California; Blanche, the wife of Albert Smith, of Oklahoma ; Ida, the wife of Beecher Smith, also of Oklahoma; Bertha, living in California; and Alice, at home. Such in
245
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
brief is the life history of Charles Aldrich, a man whose worth of character, whose successful accomplishment and public-spirited citizenship have won him classification with the respected and representative men of Page county.
ELLIS L. BENEDICT.
In presenting to the readers of this volume a history of Ellis L. Bene- dict we give the record of one who is widely and favorably known. Now residing in Clarinda, he dates his residence in Page county from 1868, at which time he took up his abode in Washington township. He is far sep- arated from the place of his birth for he is a native son of Pennsylvania, having started upon life's journey in Pleasantville, Venango county, that state, on the 11th of September, 1855. His parents were Thomas and Eliza- beth Benedict who during the early youth of their son Ellis removed west- ward to Missouri and eventually came to Page county. The father ar- rived in 1870 and here followed the occupation which he had made his life work-that of farming. Year by year he carefully tilled the soil and the rich prairie land of Iowa made quick response to the care and labor he be- stowed upon it. At length when he had acquired a substantial competence he retired from active business and established his home in Shenandoah, where he lived until his death in 1892.
In his early youth Ellis L. Benedict accompanied his parents to Mis- souri and in the public schools of that state he acquired his early education. He was a youth of thirteen when he came to Page county and in Amity College at College Springs, Iowa, he continued his studies until he was well qualified for the profession of teaching, which he took up when nineteen years of age. His first school was in Blanchard, where he remained for two terms, and he was also a teacher at Northboro. In fact he engaged in teaching in the country schools of this part of Iowa for eight years, im- parting clearly, cogently and concisely to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He proved a capable educator, the value of his services being rec- ognized in the various school districts where he was employed. At the age of twenty-seven years he turned his attention to commercial pursuits, es- tablishing a pioneer organ business, which he has since been constantly con- ducting. He opened his first store in Shenandoah and in 1893 came to Clar- inda, where he also started a business. The store in Clarinda is twenty- four by one hundred and twenty feet and that in Shenandoah of equal dimensions. In both places he confines his attention exclusively to pianos and organs, and has secured an extensive and gratifying patronage He carries the finest manufactured musical instruments of this character and his sales now reach a large figure annually.
Mr. Benedict was married on Christmas Day of 1878 to Miss Laura A. Winrott, of Washington township, this county, a daughter of James and Celina Winrott, the former a farmer by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Bene- dict have become the parents of four sons : Worley W., twenty-nine years
246
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
of age, who is now connected with his father in business and who married Miss Maud A. Delk, of Coin, Iowa; Otho C., who is with his father in busi- ness ; Ivan G., also with his father ; and Ermal H., who is likewise his fath- er's associate. The four sons are now able assistants in carrying on the ex- tensive and growing enterprises which the father established. The business in both cities is conducted under the firm style of E. L. Benedict & Sons.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Benedict is an Odd Fellow and politically is a republican. Ile served as township clerk and councilman at Coin, where he resided for fourteen years, removing his residence to Clarinda in 1908. In the discharge of his official duties he has always been prompt and reliable and his loyal service has won him high encomiums. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is faithful to its interests and active in its work. His wife is a lady of more than average ability and intelli- gence and for some time was numbered among the successful teachers of Page county.
Such in brief is the life history of Ellis L. Benedict who, by close at- tention and ability, has established and now conducts the largest pioneer piano house in southwestern Iowa or in northern Missouri. One of the features of the success which the firm now enjoys is that the father and sons are all piano tuners and repairers, each one being an expert in that line. To the father's broad experience and keen business discernment has been added the enterprise and modern progressiveness of the young men, constituting a firm of rare strength and ability. They occupy a most prom- inent position in the business circles of the southwestern portion of the state and their record proves that success and an honorable name may be won simultaneously.
RICHARD W. MORRIS.
Richard W. Morris is classed among the substantial farmers and stock raisers of Page county, his home being on eighty acres of land in Valley township which he owns. Mr. Morris was born in Henry county, Illinois, August 3, 1858, a son of David and Annie (Daniels) Morris, the former born in Wales and the latter near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The father came as a young man to the new world, making a location in Henry county, Illinois. At the inauguration of the Civil war he enlisted for service in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Regiment. He became ill in Vicksburg and died there while serving his country and it is supposed that he was buried in that city. The mother is still living in Henry county at the age of seventy-one years.
Richard W. Morris of this review is one of a family of three children and the only one now living. He remained with his widowed mother in Henry county until he reached the age of seventeen years and during this time pursued his studies in the common schools. Ambitious to make for himself a place in the business world, at the age stated he came to Iowa, the
247
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
year of his arrival being 1876. He located in Montgomery county, where for a time lie was employed by the month at farm labor. It was in 1881 that, feeling justified in establishing a home of his own, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Heppa A. Bolt who was born in Montgomery county, Iowa, in 1860, a daughter of John M. and Lucinda (Sager) Bolt. The father was born in Kentucky, while the mother claimed the Buckeye state as the place of her nativity. Removing westward to Montgomery county, Iowa, Mr. Bolt there purchased land, on which he erected a log cabin, which was later replaced by a frame structure. The mother passed away many years ago, her death occurring in November, 1868, while the father, surviving for a long period, departed this life in November, 1907, at a very advanced age. They had a family of six children.
Following his marriage Mr. Morris located on a tract of land which he rented, continuing to operate the same until 1896, when he purchased his present farm of eighty acres on section 12, Valley township. This place was partially improved when it came into his possession but he has since added many improvements in the way of buildings and other accessories necessary to the successful conduct of a farm. He does general farming and raises stock and his efforts are being rewarded with success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morris have been born two sons. The elder, Park A., is married and has one son, Elvin L. He is assisting his father in the opera- tion of the home place. Frank, the younger, is still under the parental roof. Mr. Morris gives his political support to the democratic party and through reelection has served eight years as township assessor, while for several years he has also acted as school director. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Villisca. He has held to high ideals in citizenship and in business relations, thus commanding the warm esteem and genuine admiration of all who know him.
D. M. KETCHAM.
Since starting out in life on his own account D. M. Ketcham has made for himself a substantial place in the world, and through investment in farm lands has accumulated a competence that now enables him to practically live retired, although he retains his home on a small farm of twenty acres, lo- cated just outside the corporation limits of Shenandoah in Grant town- ship. He still owns other farm land in Page county-one tract of one hun- dred and forty acres, also in this township, and another of one hundred and twenty acres in Morton township.
Mr. Ketcham was born in Hancock county, Illinois, October 12, 1854, a son of James and Louisa (Fairbanks) Ketcham, both of whom were na- tives of the state of Indiana, where they were reared and married. The year following their marriage they took up their abode in Hancock county, where the father engaged in farming. He is still living at the age of eighty-
248
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
five years and now makes his home with his children, his wife having been called to her final rest in the fall of 1907, when she was seventy-two years old.
D. M. Ketcham was reared on the home farm in Hancock county and acquired his education through the medium of the public schools of that state. His education, however, was somewhat limited. As he was the eldest in a family of eleven children. and the father owned only a small farm of sixty-two acres, he had to not only provide for his own support from an early age but much responsibility rested upon his young shoulders in caring for the younger members of the household. He remained with his father until after he had attained his majority, giving him the benefit of his services, but in the meantime, in order that he might make something for himself, he operated rented land as well. Through this means he accumulated a sum of money whereby he felt justified in establishing a home of his own and starting out in life upon an independent business venture.
Accordingly on August 7, 1879, Mr. Ketcham was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Peck. of Hancock county, Illinois, and the following spring removed with his young wife to Iowa, locating on a farm in Morton town- ship, Page county. He operated rented land there for four years and at the end of that period purchased forty acres in the same township. For one year he rented his land while he continued to operate leased land. Taking up his abode on his own farm at the end of a year, he cultivated the same for two or three years, and in the meantime, having made improvements upon the place, he sold the property to good advantage and invested his capital in a tract of eighty acres in Morton township. Taking up his abode upon the latter tract he improved and cultivated it four years and then disposed of that and purchased one hundred and forty acres in Lincoln town- ship, on which he made his home for seven years. He then returned once more to Morton township and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, which he continued to operate for two years. He then disposed of that farm and bought one hundred and twenty acres in Grant township but he has sold one hundred acres of this and now owns but twenty acres. This farm is located on section 28, Grant township, just outside the corporation limits of Shenandoah. It is therefore valuable because of its close prox- imity to the city as well as for the modern improvements which are found upon the place. Since taking up his abode here Mr. Ketcham has spent few idle moments, for he has bought and sold many tracts of land and in this manner has accumulated a competency that now enables him to live prac- tically retired, although he still looks after his invested interests. His two farms, one in Morton township and the other in Grant township, are operated by his sons. While Mr. Ketcham has made many changes in his place of residence since coming to the state, it will be noted that he has confined his investments to Page county land, which is an indication of his firm faith in the value of lands in southwestern Iowa.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ketcham has been blessed with six children, of whom five survive, namely: Clyde, a resident of Providence, Rhode Island; Mark, who is on his father's farm in Morton township:
249
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Earl, who operates his father's farm in Grant township; and Lena, and Beulah, both at home.
While Mr. Ketcham endorses the principles of the democratic party at the polls, he has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to give his time to private business interests. He belongs to the Modern Wood- men camp, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an active interest in the work of the various organizations, es- pecially in the Ladies Aid Society. From an early age Mr. Ketcham dis- played marked business ability. Deprived of many of the comforts of life in his youth and early manhood his strong ambition and desire was to ac- quire a competence that would provide himself and family with a good liv- ing, and his ambition has been rewarded, for today he is numbered among the well-to-do citizens of Grant township, and yet he stands in the same re- lation to his fellowmen today as he did in former years when struggling for a livelihood.
SAMUEL E. SPERRY.
The place which Samuel E. Sperry occupies in commercial circles in Clarinda is an enviable one, both by reason of the reputation which he sustains as a reliable and enterprising business man and also from the fact that he is proprietor of one of the leading mercantile enterprises of the city. He arrived here in 1881 from Rochester, Indiana, his native city, where he was born on the 30th of May, 1862. He is a son of Jacob P. and Clamenza (Dunlap) Sperry, the former a farmer by occupation.
Samuel E. Sperry was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, his time being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the task assigned him by parental authority. In the periods of vacation he worked in the fields and was identified with farm life during the period of his residence in Indiana. As stated, he came to Clarinda in 1881, being then a young man of nineteen years. Here he entered the hardware store of J. H. Dunlap and in 1883 as a partner of Mr. Dunlap and C. W. Foster he established a hardware store at New- market, Taylor county, under the name of Dunlap & Company, of which he was made the manager. He continued in active control there until 1888, when his partners sold out and the firm of Sperry & Clark was organized and existed for two years. On the expiration of that period Mr. Sperry disposed of his interest at Newmarket and returned to Clarinda, where in 1890 he purchased an interest in the Dunlap store, continuing as a partner in that enterprise until March, 1907, when he purchased Mr. Dunlap's in- terest and is now sole proprietor, conducting the store under his own name. He carries a large and carefully selected line of shelf and heavy hardware and the arrangement of his store and the quality of goods which he handles, together with his reasonable prices and fair dealing constitute the salient features in the success which he has won.
250
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Mr. Sperry was married in 1885 to Miss Emma Freeman, of Clar- inda, a daughter of Avery Freeman, who is proprietor of a hotel at Val- paraiso, Indiana. They have become the parents of five children : Frederick H., who is a traveling salesman and resides at Champaign, Illinois ; Ralph S., who is a student in the University of Illinois at Champaign ; Howard F., who is connected with his father in the hardware business ; and Helen and Mary, both at home.
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.