USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 6
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When only a year old G. F. Mitchell was brought by his parents from Weldon to this county and his early education was acquired in the district schools, while later he attended Simpson College at Indianola. Iowa, pur- suing a commercial course there. Subsequently he became a pupil in Amity College at College Springs, Iowa, and before his graduation he was offered the position of bookkeeper in the Farmers & Merchants State Bank. He accepted this and since the spring of 1905 has been continuously connected with the institution. His capability and reliability led to his promotion in 1908 to the position of cashier, in which he is now serving. He is also one of the stockholders in the bank, which was organized July 16, 1904, and is conducting a general banking business under the state laws of Iowa. The original officers were William Wilson, president; J. F. Whitmore, vice president : T. E. Fordice, cashier : and R. O. Gamble. assistant cashier. In addition to the above named Samnel Hill, Charles Ilart, Samuel Farquher. F. M. Manifold. Hermann Siefering. and W. A. Guthrie were directors. There were about twenty-four stockholders and the bank was incorporated for twenty-five thousand dollars. The present officials are: Charles Hart, president : J. F. Whitmore, vice president ; G. F. Mitchell, cashier ; and R. O. Gamble, assistant cashier ; and in addition to the officers there are on the board of directors: Ed. Irvin, F. M. Manifold. W. A. Guthrie, Hermann Siefering, H. H. Eggers, C. H. Henderson. W. L. Annan, Charles Hart and J. F. Whitmore. There are now forty-five stockholders.
On the ist of May, 1907, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Shaw, a daughter of T. R. Shaw, postmaster of Coin, who is men- tioned elsewhere in this volume. They are prominent socially, the hospi- tality of the best homes being freely accorded them. Mr. Mitchell be- longs to the Woodman Camp. No. 2410, of which he is clerk and also holds
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membership with lodge No. 455, I. O. O. F. He is active in community af- fairs and his fellow-townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, elected him treasurer of Coin in March, 1908, so that he is filling the position at the present writing. He is recognized as a young man of ability and forceful in- dividuality and is making steady progress in business lines, while his activ- ity in public affairs makes him a valued factor in the citizenship of Coin.
ELMER GRANT DAY.
Many business interests have felt the stimulus of the aid, cooperation and wise counsel of Elmer Grant Day, whose resolute spirit prompts him to accomplish what he undertakes and to fully qualify himself for the work at hand. As cashier of the Clarinda National Bank, his position in financial circles is an enviable one, while his investments in farm property also place him prominently in agricultural ranks.
Mr. Day was born in Monroe county, Ohio, March 10. 1864, and is a son of Edward and Martha J. (Dunn) Day, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye state. The father was both farmer and school teacher and lived in Ohio until 1874, when he came to Page county, Iowa, where he purchased a tract of land upon which he made his home until called to his final rest, his time and energies being devoted to the cultivation of the fields He died in 1876 and the community mourned the loss of a respected and valued citizen.
Elmer Grant Day was ten years of age when he came to Iowa with his parents. He was but twelve years old when his father died and, assuming the management of the farm, he conducted it until nineteen years of age. He then again took up educational work. He had previously pursued his studies in the public and high schools of Clarinda and later took a course in a business college at Shenandoah. In 1883 he left l'age county and located at Villisca, Montgomery county, Iowa, where he became a clerk in a hardware and implement store, while afterward he secured a situation in a shoe store, his entire service as salesman in both places cover- ing a period of nine years. Ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he then opened a furniture store and undertaking establishment, which he carried on for five years under the firm name of E. G. Day & Com- pany. On the expiration of that period he was elected county recorder and took up his residence at Red Oak, Iowa, where he remained for four years. for in the meantime he had been reelected recorder. His service in that position was highly satisfactory to the general public and the record which he made was one which reflected credit upon himself and his constituents. In 1901, being tired of county office, he came to Clarinda, where he established a real-estate and insurance business, which he conducted under the firm style of Day & Day, having admitted his brother. A. Emmett Day, to a partnership. They were very successful in this undertaking and continued the business until 1905, when they disposed of it. Elmer G. Day turning his attention to
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the banking business at Essex, Iowa. Later he became connected with the Clarinda National Bank as cashier and has filled the same position to the present time. He is now thoroughly conversant with the banking business in principle and detail, closely studies the financial situation and the uniform courtesy which he displays to the patrons of the bank. his obliging spirit and above all his loyalty to the best interests of the depositors and stockholders. have been features in his popularity and his success as a bank official. He also takes great interest in farming and stock-raising and has a farm near his boyhood's home, which he is now improving in accordance with all of the modern and progressive methods of farming. He plans to make this a model property and already its equipments are much superior to those found upon the average farm.
Mr. Day was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Copeland, of Page county, a daughter of William and Susannah ( Baker ) Copeland. Her father came to this county from Illinois in 1853 and. turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits, he became closely identified with the development of Southwestern Iowa along that line. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Day has been born a daughter, Lucile Lenore, who is now a student in the Clarinda high school. Mr. Day is a man of domestic tastes, finding his greatest happiness at his own fireside and counting no personal effort or sacrifice on his part too great if it will promote the welfare and happiness of his wife and daughter. He finds his chief recreation in country life, being much interested in stock raising and in the improvements which he places upon his property. Moreover, he is a lover of good literature and his reading has covered a wide range.
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In all matters of citizenship Mr. Day is progressive, withholding his sup- port from no movement which he deems of value to the community. He belongs to the Commercial Club and is now serving as chairman of its good roads committee. At one time he studied law and was admitted to the bar but has never practiced. His knowledge of law, however, enables him to more capably control his business affairs. He is a fluent speaker, apt and tactful, and these qualities make him a favorite as a speaker on the occasion of many social functions. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason and a Modern Woodman, while his religious views are indicated in his active mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he is deeply interested, serving for many years in an official capacity. He has never been neglectful of the higher, holier duties of life, but gives first things the first place in his thoughts and is actuated in every relation by the most honorable principles and purposes.
ALLISON F. GALLOWAY.
Allison F. Galloway has been a resident of Page county since 1891, com- ing to southwestern Iowa from Burlington. The years which have known him have found in him a representative, progressive and valued citizen. He was born June 22, 1859, in Wabasha. Minnesota, his parents being Elias and
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Irene (Drake) Galloway. The father was a farmer in early life but at the age of twenty-five years turned his attention to other pursuits and became well known as a lumberman. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and a repre- sentative of an old Virginia family. The grandfather removed from the south to Pike county, Missouri, and Elias Galloway spent his boyhood in the latter state and in Texas. At the age of twenty-one years he went to northern Wisconsin, where he entered the lumber business and in connection with others he organized and conducted the first sawmill at Chippewa Falls. During the Civil war he was aroused by an intensely patriotic spirit and be- came a member of Company K of the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, which he represented as first lieutenant but three months later he was killed at the siege of Petersburg, being then forty years of age. His widow still survives and is now living at Lake Helen, Florida.
Allison F. Galloway is indebted to the Wisconsin and Iowa system of public instruction for the educational privileges he enjoyed in his youthful days. When about twenty-five years of age he entered a railway office in a clerical capacity, being thus employed for five years at Eau Clair, Wis- consin. He then entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as clerk in the superintendent's office, where he con- tinned for four years. On the expiration of that period he came to Clar- inda as freight and station agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company and in 1900 he went to Gentry, Missouri, there realizing the hope that had hitherto actuated him of one day engaging in business on his own account. It was there that he organized the Bank of Gentry,-a state bank-becoming its cashier. He also engaged in farming and stock raising and is still interested therein. Later he returned to Clarinda, becoming one of the organizers of the Clarinda Trust & Savings Bank, of which he was elected cashier, continuing in this position to the present time. The bank was capitalized for seventy-five thousand dollars and has a surplus of five thousand dollars. It is recognized as one of the strong and reliable moneyed institutions of the county and its business interests are capably conducted along the lines of modern business methods. Mr. Galloway likewise figures in business circles as the treasurer of the A. A. Berry Seed Company ; is a director of the Lee Electric Light Company ; and a director of the Farmers Savings Bank of Hepburn, Iowa. In addition to his other business in- terests he has built a large and modern garage, forty by one hundred and forty feet. It is a two-story brick structure with basement.
Mr. Galloway was married to Miss Hattie Hewett, of Lime Springs, Iowa, a daughter of Clark C. Hewett, who went to Howard county in 1855. There he preempted land and later figured extensively in the business circles of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Galloway have two sons: William Clifford, nincteen years of age, who is now attending the Denver University at Den- ver, Colorado; and Clark Hewett, a lad of ten years, now attending the pub- lic schools. They also lost three children: Frederick Allison, who died at the age of five years; Frank Hewett, who died when one year old ; and Howard Park, who passed away in Clarinda when three years of age. Mr. Galloway is interested in public affairs and is now a member of the Methodist
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Episcopal church and secretary of its official board. In any question which involves the welfare and interest of the town or county he is always found on the side of progress and improvement and Clarinda owes not a little of her financial upbuilding to his efforts. In all of his undertaking's he has been eminently practical and, moreover, sustains an unassailable reputation as one whose probity is ever above question.
WILLIAM MAXWELL.
Upon the memory of William Maxwell are impressed many pictures of early days in Page county when deer roamed over the prairie and when wolves howled around the cabin at night. lle arrived here as a frontier set- tler, his cash capital at the time being but a single dollar. Ile possessed, however, a stout heart and willing hands and in the struggle to attain suc- cess he has come off as victor, being now a prominent representative of live stock and financial interests in this part of the state. Moreover, his wealth has been acquired by honorable means in the field of legitimate business and his achievements may well serve as an inspiration to others. His home is on section 23. Tarkio township. His birth occurred in County Donegal, Ireland, July 12, 1843, his parents being George and Martha ( Shaw) Max- well, both of whom spent their entire lives in the green isle of Erin.
In his boyhood days William Maxwell was familiar with that land which has figured so much in song and story, and he received careful home training from his parents, whose lessons concerning industry, integrity and perseverance have never been forgotten. His education was acquired in the common schools and he continued under the parental roof until his twenty- fourth year. Early in the spring of 1867 he sailed for the United States, landing in New York city on the Ist of May, but the metropolis had little attraction for him as he sought the opportunities of the great middle west, making his way direct to Newton, Jasper county, Iowa, where for six weeks he worked for his board. After ten weeks spent in Newton he continued his journey to Page county, arriving here about the 20th of July. Ile remained through the summer and following winter and with the opening of spring in the year 1868 he went to the Rocky mountains in Wyoming, securing em- ployment on the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. His time was thus fully occupied for a year, one half of the day being given to con- struction work, while the remainder of the time was devoted to herding the cattle and horses belonging to the camp at night. When a year had elapsed he returned to Page county in the spring of 1869 with seven hundred dol- lars which he had saved from his earnings, for in that period he had lived very economically, never incurring an expense that was not an absolute necessity.
With the capital he had thus won Mr. Maxwell purchased forty acres of his present farm constituting the tract on which his dwelling now stands. He also bought some young stock and thus started upon a business career
CATHERINE MAXWELL
WILLIAM MAXWELL
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which has proven eminently successful. Through his industry and good business management he has developed his interests until he has become one of the extensive landowners of Page county, his possessions aggregating something over one thousand acres of soil which is arable and rich. The land responds readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it, yielding large crops in reward for cultivation. Moreover, Mr. Maxwell has met gener- ous success in cattle raising, in which he has largely engaged. From the days when he was a boy in pinafores he had always been more or less con- nected with the cattle business and since establishing his home in Page coun- ty has made a specialty of stock raising, owning the best shorthorn bulls for breeding purposes. He has also been a heavy feeder of live stock and his judgment is seldom if ever at fault concerning the value of cattle, so that he has been able to make judicious investments and profitable sales.
On the 15th of November, 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Maxwell and Miss Catherine Canterbury, a native of Ireland. Unto them have been born three children: William George and Mary, both at home ; and Samuel J., who died in infancy. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and contribute generously to its support.
Mr. Maxwell is a republican in politics but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. Business to him is a more ex- citing and interesting pastime than the manipulation of political interests and his record indicates the possibilities for accomplishment to the young man who has determination, physical strength and the intelligence to wisely direct his labors. Although he arrived in Page county practically penni- less, during the recent financial flurry of 1907 it was said that he could bor- row more money than any man in the county. With all of his extensive pos- sessions there is no financial obligation against any of his property and, moreover, he has a splendid reserve on deposit in various banks. The years that have come and gone have chronicled his increasing success, his own powers seeming to have developed with the growth and progress of the county and in the honorable utilization of his opportunities he has be- come one of southwestern Jowa's leading stock raisers and feeders.
P. D. SULLIVAN.
P. D. Sullivan, owning and operating a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres on section 32, Valley township, is a native of Page county, his entire life having been spent within its borders. He was born on the 4th of March, 1877, on the farm which is now his home, in a log house which is still standing on the place. He is a son of J. D. and Sarah (Orphan) Sullivan, both natives of Ireland, who came to this country in 1854, set- tling first in Massachusetts. There the father was employed for three years, at the expiration of which time he came west to Illinois and later to Page county, making the entire journey with an oxteam. He purchased the farm
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which is now the property of his son and continued to reside thereupon until his demise.
P. D. Sullivan is one of thirteen children born unto Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Sullivan, and his entire life has been spent upon the old homestead farm. The period of his boyhood and youth was spent in the manner common to the country lad, his time being divided between the acquirement of a com- mon-school education and the work which was assigned to him by parental authority. He assisted his father in the cultivation of the fields until twen- ty-four years of age, when he rented the home farm and continued to operate it as a renter until 1907, in which year he purchased it and has since directed his time and energies to its further development and improvement. He is a progressive farmer, practices rotation of crops and has made a close study concerning the best methods of raising the various cereals adapted to soil and climate, so that his fields annually yield rich harvests that prove a source of most gratifying income.
Mr. Sullivan was married in 1901 to Miss Pearl Elrick, a native of Page county and a daughter of S. M. and Margaret Elrick, mention of whom is made is on another page of this volume. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan has been blessed with three children, the eldest of whom passed away in infancy. The two surviving daughters are Nellie M. and Hazel I.
The parents are members of the United Brethren church and are pco- ple of genuine personal worth, enjoying the respect and good will of those with whom they have come in contact. Having passed his entire life in this locality, Mr. Sullivan has won for himself an extensive circle of friends, and that he is most liked where best known is indicative of the fact that his salient characteristics are such as to gain him a high place in the esteem of his fellowmen.
PLEASANT DAVISON.
Pleasant Davison was known as an honorable and reliable business man of Page county, closely associated for many years with the agricultural and live stock interests of this part of the state. He was born in Andrew county, Missouri, October 16, 1842, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Wilson) Davison, natives of Virginia and Tennessee respectively. They lived for some time in Kentucky, where Samuel Davison followed the occupation of farming. On coming westward to Missouri he took up his abode in Andrew county, where he again engaged in general agricultural pursuits and later he bought a farm in Page county, Iowa, near the Missouri line. He then carried on the work of tilling the soil. farming there for several years on two hundred acres of land. He was diligent, energetic and persistent in his business affairs and he continued to engage in general agricultural pur- suits until his life's labors were ended in death in 1865. He was twice mar- ried and by his first union had ten children : Wayne. Polly, Pike. Ned, Ann, John, Dan, and three whose names are not remembered. For his second
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wife he chose Mary Wilson and they, too, had a family of ten children : Sallie, Maria, Matilda. Elizabeth, Armina, Margaret, Lemm, Henry, Pleasant and Gould. All are now deceased with the exception of Margaret and Eliza- beth. The former is the widow of Jim Crow and resides in Kansas, while the latter is the wife of David Farnes and lives near Decatur, Nebraska. The mother survived her husband for about thirty years and died in 1895, after passing the eightieth milestone on life's journey.
Pleasant Davison was a young lad when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Missouri to Page county and here he attended the dis- trict schools, devoting the winter months to the acquirement of an educa- tion. In the summer months he assisted his father in the fields and con- tinned to work on the farm until two years after his marriage, which im- portant event in his life occurred April 17, 1867. He then purchased eighty acres of land in East River township, Page county, and made his home thereon for two years, after which he traded that farm for eighty acres in Taylor county, to which he afterward added forty acres. He re- mained upon that place for about three years and then traded his farm for another six hundred acres in East River township. Of that property his widow still owns about four hundred and fifty acres. Mr. Davison died upon that farm on the 12th of September. 1880. He had placed it under a high state of cultivation and made many substantial improvements thereon and in addition to tilling the soil he became well known as a buyer, feeder and shipper of cattle and horses. He raised many fine race horses and his stock was well known.
As stated, Mr. Davison was married April 17, 1867, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Jane Ferguson, of Missouri, a daughter of William Henry and Nancy (Dyche) Ferguson, natives of Virginia and of Tennes- see respectively. Her parents were married, however, in Andrew county, Missouri, where her father engaged in farming for several years and then removed to Taylor county, Iowa, where he also tilled the soil. About the time of the Civil war he went across the plains with oxteams to Oregon, remaining for a year, after which he sold his oxteams, bought ponies and returned to Taylor county, where he invested in a farm. At length, how- ever, he sold his land in Taylor county and bought a farm in Missouri, where he lived for three years, after which he removed to East River township in Page county, where he bought forty acres. Later he sold that property and invested in eighty acres in Gentry county, Missouri. He had been on that land but three weeks when in 1878 his death occurred. His widow subsequently lived with her children and died near Clearmont, Missouri, in 1884. They were both consistent members of the Church of God and Mr. Ferguson was a democrat in his political faith and served as the first county attorney of Taylor county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davison were born nine children: Charles, now liv- ing in Buchanan township, married Miss Clara Brooks, and they have three living sons, Merrill, Wilbur and Roy, while two children, Bulah Fay and Verner Pleasant are deceased. Of these Merrill wedded Golda Hamm and is living in Buchanan township. Wilbur married Dora Baker and resides in
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Harlan township. Edward Davison, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Pleas- ant Davison, now lives in Nodaway township near Clarinda. He married Emma C. Nicholson and they have one daughter, Jennie, now the wife of George Mathis, of East River township. Allen, a resident of Clarinda, married Minie Rose Brooks and they have one daughter, Essie Pearl. who is a student in Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Clark, who follows farming in East River township. married Vadia Roush and they have three living children : Delbert, who is attending school at College Springs, Iowa; Darrell; and Nina Ellen. They also lost one child in infancy. Henry, the fifth member of the Davison family, is deceased. Lawrence, who lives in East River township, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, married Elizabeth Reiners, who died leaving a daughter, Letha Lorene, while a son of that marriage, Lowell Raymond, is deceased. After the death of his first wife Lawrence Davison married Estella White and they have one son, Donald. Another child, Lane, born of that marriage, is deceased. Clara, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant Davi- son, is now the wife of L. E. Nelson, who served in the Phillipines with Company MI of the Fifty-first Iowa Militia, doing active duty for nineteen months, after which he was discharged in San Francisco, November 6, 1899. He is engaged in the butchering business. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born two children: Charles Elmer and Edward Walker, who are with their parents in Clarinda. Jennie, the next member of the family, is the wife of Benjamin Dow, of East River township, and they have four chil- dren : Berla, Clyde, Farrel and Bulah Margaret. Harry, living in Clar- inda, completes the family.
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