USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 42
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In 1857 Henry H. Hakes started with horses and wagon for Iowa and was thus one month in completing the journey, reaching his destination with a cash capital of but eighty-five cents. He settled on a ten acre tract of land, where he built a box house and five years later he purchased sixty acres of James Reed, thereon making his home for two years. After selling that property he bought an improved farm of thirty acres, which he sold four years later, and took up his abode on section 28, Nodaway township. There he first bought forty acres of wild land, upon which he built a box house, but as the years passed he added modern and substantial improvements and also extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised four hundred acres of rich and productive land. The place is well adapted to stock raising and in that branch of business Mr. Hakes was very successful. In 1870, at the cost of twenty-two hundred dollars, he erected a fine residence on an
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excellent building site, commanding a wide view of the surrounding coun- try. His barns and sheds also furnish ample shelter for stock and grain, and altogether the Hakes farm presented the appearance which results from careful management and progressive ideas. For a long period Mr. Hakes continued to successfully engage in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising and then retired from business life, taking up his abode in Clar- inda, where he now resides. His wife, who was born October 4, 1836, died in 1895. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hakes were born five children : Alice, the wife of J. M. Peterman, of Taylor county; William, who is living in Shambaugh, Iowa; Ed, of this review; Charles, a resident of Clarinda : and lda, the wife of F. E. Fox, of Clarinda. The father gave to his chil- dren liberal educational advantages for he realized from his own lack what is the value of educational training. He cast his first vote for Salmon P. Chase, the free soil candidate for governor of Ohio, voted for Lincoln twice and for Grant in 1868 and afterward supported Peter Cooper for the presidency. In local matters he has been quite active, serving as township trustee for several years in a creditable manner. He belonged to Clar- inda Lodge, No. 109, I. O. O. F., and also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is now one of the venerable citizens of the county, honored and respected for the upright life which he has ever lived.
Ed Hakes, whose name introduces this review, has always resided in the county and in his youthful days he acquired his education in the public schools. Through the periods of vacation he assisted in the work of the fields and continued to carry on farming with his father until 1892, when he married and with his bride went to a farm of his own. He took up his abode in Nebraska township, where he has since lived, and he is now cul- tivating nine hundred and sixty acres, of which one hundred and sixty acres belongs to his wife, while the remainder of the property is in his own name. Two hundred and forty acres of this lies in Dallas township, Taylor county, while the other is all in Nebraska township. This tract is divided into six separate farms though all adjoin with the exception of one, which is a half mile away. This land borders the village of Hawleyville, where Mr. Hakes resides. He carries on general farming and stock raising, the feeding of hogs and cattle being the main feature in his business. However, he also raises Percheron and road horses and is the owner of the fine Percheron stallion Rhodus. As a live-stock dealer he as won success for he is an ex- cellent judge of farm animals and is, therefore, able to make judicious in- vestments and profitable sales. He likewise owns a store building in Haw- leyville and his property has been gained entirely through his own efforts. He carefully considers a situation before he passes judgment upon it, is watchful of all the details pointing to success, and in the years which have come and gone he has won a creditable measure of prosperity.
In March, 1892, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hakes and Miss Mary Spaulding, who was born in Page county, September 19, 1870, and is a daughter of E. J. and Mary E. ( Jackson) Spaulding, natives of New York and Indiana, respectively. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hakes have now been blessed with two children, Harry and Harold, aged respectively sixteen and
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four years. The family home is a hospitable one and is a favorite resort with their many friends. Mr. Hakes votes with the democracy at the present time although he cast his first vote for Benjamin Harrison. He has served on the township board for two terms and as a public-spirited citizen is in- terested in all measures and movements relating to the general good.
J. A. EKEROTH.
The success which is the result of earnest, persistent effort, intelligently directed, has come to J. A. Ekeroth, who is now the cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank of Essex. Thrown upon his own resources at the age of sev- enteen years and having the added responsibility of aiding in the support of the family, he resolutely set to work to meet the obligations that devolved upon him and has come off victor in the strife. He was born in Sweden on the 2d of April, 1856, his parents being C. J. and Anna M. Ekeroth, who came to the United States in 1868 and for two years resided at Andover, Illinois. During that time the father worked on the construction of the Burlington Railroad in Iowa and in 1870 removed to Page county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fremont township. On this he took up his abode and made it his home until his death, which occurred in December, 1874. He had been on the farm but four years at the time of his demise and had made but one payment on the land. The year of his death the first crop of any consequence was harvested, forty acres of wheat yielding over one thousand bushels, but all that could be spared beyond that which was needed above the actual necessities of the family was sold to pay doctor bills.
J. A. Ekeroth was then a youth of seventeen years and, being the eldest of the family, on him fell the burden of taking care of the family and operating the farm. On the settlement of the estate four or five years later, J. A. Ekeroth and his brother, C. G. Ekeroth, purchased the farm, each tak- ing eighty acres, and upon that tract of land the subject of this review continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits until 1888. In the meantime he had become interested and active in politics and in that year he was elected to the office of county recorder, in which position he discharged his duties so promptly and capably that he was reelected and filled the posi- tion for three successive terms. During this period he purchased his broth- er's half of the home farm and added to his holdings until he now owns three hundred and sixty acres of land in one body and also two hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota. He was prompt and efficient in discharging the duties of his position and retired from the office in January, 1895, as he had entered it-with the confidence and good will of all concerned.
Mr. Ekeroth then formed a partnership with William Orr in the insur- ance, real estate and loan business, having charge of that department of their business, while Mr. Orr looked after their legal interests. Three months later, however, Mr. Ekeroth was offered a position in the Commercial Bank
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of Essex, which he accepted, and withdrew from the partnership with Mr. Orr. He remained with the Commercial Bank for nine years but in 1904 he resigned his position and took a trip to his native country, spending three months in Europe. On the expiration of that period he returned to Essex and for two years was engaged in the real estate and insurance business. In the fall of 1906 the subject of establishing a new bank in Essex was agitated and he became one of the active spirits in the organization of the new financial institution, which on the 5th of January, 1907, opened its doors for business with Mr. Ekeroth in the position of cashier, in which capacity he has since served. The success of the institution is largely due to him for his previous banking experience well qualified him in this connection. He is a popular official, always courteous and obliging, looking carefully after the interests of the bank and of its patrons as well.
In 1878 Mr. Ekeroth was united in marriage to Miss Tillie E. Ander- son, of Fremont township but a native of Sweden, and unto them have been born three children : Ellen E., the wife of Alfred Sar, a clothing merchant of Essex : Martin F., a lumber merchant of Wakefield, Nebraska ; and Mabel C., at home. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they are actively and helpfully interested. Mr. Ekeroth having served as one of the church trustees for the past twelve years. In politics he is a republican, recognized as a local leader in the ranks of the party, for at all times he is a stalwart champion of whatever he believes to be right, whether in political connections or in other relations of life. He is a man of marked enterprise and forceful character, who has made for himself a creditable name during the long years of his residence in Page county.
ALLEN DAVISON.
Allen Davison, who devotes his time and energies to the pursuits of farm- ing and stock-raising on an extensive scale, was born in Taylor county, Iowa, February 2, 1866, his parents being Pleasant and Margaret Jane (Ferguson) Davison, both of whom were natives of Missouri. The pa- ternal grandfather, Samuel Davison, was born in Kentucky, while William Henry Ferguson, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia. Pleasant Davison, the father of Allen Davison, was an agricul- turist by occupation and throughout his entire business career was success- fully engaged in the work of general farming and the raising and feeding of stock. In politics he was a stanch republican, always casting his ballot in support of the men and measures of that party. He was called to his final rest in 1880, his demise occurring on his farm in Page county, but is still survived by his widow, who resides at the corner of East Main and Twelfth streets in Clarinda. Unto this worthy couple were born seven sons and two daughters, as follows: Charles and Edward, who follow farming in Page county ; Allen, of this review; Clark, who is also engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in this county ; Henry, who is deceased ; Lawrence, likewise
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a farmer of Page county ; Harry, a resident of Clarinda : Mrs. Clara Nelson, whose husband is engaged in the butchering business at Clarinda; and Mrs. Jennie Dow, whose husband is a farmer of this county.
In his childhood days Allen Davison accompanied his parents on their removal to Page county and here obtained his education as a pupil in the Thompson school. When not busy with his text-books he assisted in the work of the home farm and on leaving school at the age of eighteen years he gave his entire attention to the cultivation of his father's property, which was located five miles southeast of Clarinda, on sections 16 and 21. When twenty-one years of age he bought a tract of eighty acres adjoining the old home farm and there carried on agricultural pursuits for eight years, during which period he added to his landed holdings by an additional purchase of one hundred and twenty acres. Subsequently he traded his eighty-acre farm for a tract of similar size in Taylor county, where he made his home for a year and then spent two years on a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Buchanan townsship, which he had purchased. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres near Clarinda, where he remained for three years, in the meantime disposing of both his eighty-acre farm and his place of one hundred and twenty acres. He also sold his farm of one hundred and forty acres and afterward bought two hundred and forty acres of land east of Clarinda, extending the boun- daries of this place by additional purchase until it comprised two hundred and ninety-five acres. He afterward disposed of his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, then bought another tract of one hundred and sixty acres one mile south of Clarinda and subsequently purchased more land adjoining. He then traded his farm of two hundred and forty acres for one of one hundred and sixty acres three miles south of Clarinda, which he later sold. He now owns all of section 12, with the exception of eighty acres, and also has six hundred acres in Oklahoma. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is extensively engaged in buying, feeding and shipping horses and cattle and both branches of his business return to him a most gratifying annual income. His substantial and commodious barn has a capacity of two hundred tons of hay, two thousand bushels of shelled corn and two thousand bushels of oats and there are stalls for sixty-two horses. In 1907 he sold sixty head of horses for two hundred and fifty dollars a head, that being the world's record for that number of horses sold at one time. In 1908 he sold sixty head for two hundred and twenty-five dollars each, and 1909 the same number for the same amount. A man of keen discrimina- tion, unremitting energy and sound judgment, he has won a large degree of prosperity in his undertakings and has long been numbered among the substantial, enterprising and leading agriculturists and stock raisers of the county.
On the 18th of February, 1886, in Clarinda, Mr. Davison was united in marriage to Miss Minie Rose Brooks, who was born in Page county, her parents being J. C. and Phoebe (Arnold) Brooks, the former a native of England and the latter of Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were born
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six sons and four daughters, namely Tom, who is now deceased; Mrs. Clara Davison, whose husband follows farming in this county; Nora, who has also passed away ; Mrs. Minie Rose Davison ; Willis, an agriculturist of Taylor county; Smith and Rome, who are engaged in farming in Page county ; Arthur, who is deceased; Albert, an agriculturist of this county ; and Mrs. Nellie Carmichael, whose husband is likewise a farmer of Page county. Mr. and Mrs. Davison have a daughter, Essie Pearl, who is now pursuing the classical course in Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois.
Mr. Davison gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has no desire for the honors and emoluments of office. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known throughout the community, having won the unqualified confidence and regard of all with whom they have come in contact.
HARRY E. EATON.
Harry E. Eaton is a western man by birth, training and preference and the spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the middle west is strong within him. He is today the secretary and treasurer of the Henry Field Seed Company of Shen- andoah, Iowa, and is also a member of the lowa State Board of Phar- macy.
His birth occurred in Newton, Jasper county, this state, on the 25th of July, 1867. his parents being Fred A. and Carrie ( Ilodges) Eaton. who were natives of Vermont and Ohio, respectively. The father came into Ohio as a young man and there met and married Miss Hodges. He remained in that state until 1856, when he removed westward to Jasper county, Iowa, with his wife and one child. There he resided on a farm for a half century and was one of the well known and successful stock buy- ers of that section of the state. He was also active and prominent in com- munity affairs and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, elected him to the office of county recorder, in which he served for two consecutive terms. On the expiration of the last term, having then reached the age of seventy-six years, he retired from active life but is still living in Newton, a most honored and respected citizen of eighty years. His wife has reached the age of seventy-six years. They are consistent and de- voted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and they shape their lives according to its teachings. Mr. Eaton is also prominent in Masonry. having attained the Knight Templar degree.
Harry E. Eaton was reared at home, acquiring his education in the Newton public schools and in the Iowa State University at Iowa City. He was graduated from the pharmaceutical department with the degree of Ph. G., with the class of 1892 and then accepted a position as pharmacist in Essex, Iowa, where he remained for six years. He had been in Essex for two years prior to entering college and after remaining there for four
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years following his graduation he went to Denver, where he purchased a drug store. As the city was then in the throes of a financial panic he sold out after six months and returned to Essex, Iowa, where he purchased the drug store in which he had formerly served as pharmacist. He then con- ducted the business for eleven years and at length severed his connection with the enterprise because of ill health. In 1907 he came to Shenandoah to give his attention to the seed business, having formerly acquired an interest in the Henry Field Seed Company and before he sold his drug store he had been clected secretary and treasurer of the company. To this company he is now giving his energies with good results, his enterprise and progressive spirit proving effective forces in the growth of the com- pany's business. In November, 1908, his duties were further augmented through an appointment to fill a vacancy as a member of the state board of pharmacy, in which official capacity he is now serving.
On the 5th of October, 1898, Mr. Eaton was married to Miss Martha Field, of Shenandoah, and they have one son, Robert Bruce. Mr. Eaton belongs to Tricentum Lodge, No. 300, F. & A. M. ; to Sheshbazzar Chapter, No. 82, R. A. M., Bruce Commandery, No. 34, K. T., of Red Oak, Iowa; Des Moines Consistory, No. 3, A. & A. S. R. ; and Za-Ga-Zig Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Des Moines. He likewise belongs to Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122, B. P. O. E .; to Juanita Lodge, No. 295, K. P .; and Page Camp, No. 1049, M. W. A. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church and while in Essex he was for years a member of the official board and treasurer of the church. He is now widely known in Page county as a representative and progressive citizen who in all bus- iness relations has enjoyed the confidence and trust of his fellowmen and in all social relations their high regard and warm esteem.
DANIEL B. GOODMAN.
A complete history of the county records not only the lives of those who are now managing the machinery of government or pushing forward the wheels of progress, but those who have at any time been active factors in the life of the community. In this connection specific mention should be made of Daniel B. Goodman, who for many years was a resident and leading farmer of Nebraska township, there residing to the time of his death, which occurred September 1, 1908. He was born in Andrew county, Missouri, April 1, 1844, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Klingelsmith) Goodman.
His youthful days were quietly passed and when ten years of age he accompanied his brothers on their removal to Hawleyville, Iowa. In his youthful days he assisted his brothers in a blacksmith shop at Savannah, Mis- souri, and later at Hawleyville, remaining with them until seventeen years of age. In the meantime he had secured a fair education in the common schools and in 1861 in response to an early call for troops to aid in crushing out rebellion in the south, he offered his services to the government and en-
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listed as a member of the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. He was as- signed to duty with company F and accompanied his regiment to Omaha. His war record is varied and extensive, for through the period of hostilities he remained at the front and was on active duty in many of the more impor- tant campaigns. While the regiment was quartered at Georgetown, Missouri, its members went out about twenty miles to the west and captured about a thousand rebels, who were on their way to join General Price. This oc- curred about the Ist of December, 1861. From Georgetown the troops pro- ceeded to Fort Henry and participated in the capture of that Confederate stronghold. Subsequently they participated in the battle of Fort Donelson and during the succeeding three weeks were stationed at Fort Henry, Mir. Goodman and his company taking part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing on the 7th of April, 1862. He was also in the battle of Shiloh under General Lew Wallace and participated in the engagement at Cape Girardeau, Mis- souri, with the opposing army under rebel General Marmaduke, who had come there to capture the place. This occurred on the 26th of April, 1863 The Confederate officer, however, did not succeed in carrying out his plans and as he retreated the Union troops followed him for one hundred miles to Chalk Bluff, fighting almost day and night. In addition to the battles already mentioned Mr. Goodman participated in various skirmishes and figured in not a few remarkable episodes. He enlisted June 18, 1861, only about a month after Fort Sumter was fired upon, and, having veteranized, remained at the front until honorably discharged December 28, 1865. He was never away from his command nor was he on the sick list until he suffered an attack of rheumatism at Julesburg, Colorado, in April. 1865. The time of his service altogether was four years, six months and ten days, while his regiment served for a few days over five years. During the skirmish at Batesville. Arkansas, April 7. 1864, Mr. Goodman was taken prisoner but was paroled three hours later. Previous to his release, however, Captain Relleford ordered him blind- folded and shot and took one hundred and twenty-three dollars in money from him. Before the time for the execution came, however, his parole was granted but this circumstance made liberty much sweeter to him than it had ever been before, and what the object of the order was he could never ascer- tain. Not long after this Mr. Goodman was given a furlough of thirty days during which time he returned to his home and on its expiration rejoined his regiment at Omaha, Nebraska. Thus he was sent to guard the western frontier and he witnessed the execution of the Sioux chief, Two Face, who was trying to sell a white woman, whose husband and child he had killed, the Indian wishing to exchange the woman for seventeen horses. After more than four and a half years of active military duty Mr. Goodman was honor- ably discharged December 28, 1865.
After the war he devoted three years to blacksmithing in connection with his brothers and then established a home of his own by his marriage and turned his attention to farming. It was on the 6th of February, 1860. that he wedded Miss Matilda Jane Collier, a daughter of A. M. and Nancy ( Asul) Collier. Mrs. Goodman was born in a log house on the bank of the river in Hawleyville, August 23, 1852, and so far as known, was the first white child
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whose birth occurred in the village. Here she has always resided and her clear memory makes her an authority upon events of importance connected with this part of the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Goodman were born four children : Clyde, deceased; two who died in infancy ; and Birdie Ina, who on the 20th of March, 1895, became the wife of Marshall Owen. They took up their abode with her parents and continue to reside with Mrs. Goodman. They have three children, Helene Ethel, Hobart, Goodman and Hildred Lillian.
After his marriage Mr. Goodman resided upon a farm which was a gift to his wife from her parents. As the years passed by and he prospered in his undertakings, he added to the original tract of forty acres and developed and improved one of the best farms in the community, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements thereto. He owned two hundred and fifty acres of land when he died and also had an interest in a store at Hawleyville, his widow yet owning the same interest.
In his political views Mr. Goodman was a stalwart republican, interested in the party and delighting in its success. He belonged to Warren Post, No. 11, G. A. R., also to the Orphans Hope Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O F. In the latter organization he filled all of the chairs and for over twenty years was treasurer of the lodge, filling that position at the time of his demise. While he did not seek to figure prominently in public affairs his life was one of signal usefulness and a benefit to the community, and his death was the occasion of wide spread regret because of the place which he had won for himself in the affectionate regard of the citizens of Hawleyville and his part of the county.
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