USA > Iowa > Sac County > History of Sac County, Iowa > Part 72
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WV. C. Lookinghill was born in the year 1873 on a farm in Guthrie county. He had the advantages of a fair public school education and graduated from the high school when still a youth, following up his educational advantages
COL. WILLIAM C. LOOKINGBILL
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SAC COUNTY, IOWA.
by graduating from Guthrie College in June. 1890. He followed farming in his home county until 1893 when he located in Calhoun county. In 1895 he came to Sac county and purchased a small farm in Cedar township on time, investing his savings in an initial payment. He met with serious misfortune during his first year and found himself reduced to penury, with no means of going on with his farining operations. He rented out his land for the season and went in search of employment. Jobs were scarce, but he eventually suc- ceeded in obtaining a job with Mr. Robbins, who was then engaged in the erection of an addition to his mill. During the first week he received the munificent sum of fifty cents per day : the second week he demanded one dollar per day and received it; in the third week his wages were advanced to one dollar and fifty cents per day. So well did he satisfy his employer, who had at first scoffed at his inability to carn living wages, that he was placed on a salary of one dollar and seventy-five cents per day for the remainder of his term of employment under Mr. Robbins. This labor eventually enabled him to regain his feet financially, and his aggressiveness and tireless dynamic in- dustry have pushed him to the front. In May of 1900 he purchased a small farm in the south part of Sac City for two thousand dollars, which proved to be an excellent investment. In 1909 he removed to his prosent location after he had erected his handsome home.
Mr. Lookingbill's birth occurred February 13, 1873, as aforesaid, in Guthrie county. He is the son of Henry Lookingbill, a native of the state of Maryland and who was born in March, 1836. His mother is Elizabeth Holt Lookingbill, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1837. The Lookingbill family first migrated to Illinois, and later became very early settlers in Guthrie county. Iowa. The family is highly regarded in the community in which they reside. Henry is a strong, virile personage, noted in his younger days for his great strength and wonderful powers of endurance. His greatest heritage be- queathed to his son has been an excellent physique and like powers of endur- ance.
It is as a professional auctioneer that he of whom this is recorded has best excelled. In December of 1905 he graduated from the famous school of auctioneering in the city of Davenport, lowa, which school is now located in Chicago. Colonel Lookingbill's success in his chosen profession has been phenomenal, when one considers the short period of time which he has devoted to the exercise of his attainments in a profession which calls for accurate judg- ment, a wide knowledge of agriculture, and a keen discernment of the values of live stock such as is necessary for a successful sale crier to possess. His
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field is practically unlimited and his services are in demand in Iowa. Nebraska, the Dakotas and Minnesota. His specialty when called away from his home county is in conducting pure bred horse sales, in which difficult vocation he is widely known as an expert. In politics he is a Republican : religiously, he is a Presbyterian, and is, fraternally, allied with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Mystic Workers.
Colonel Lookingbill was united in marriage with Luella McDermott, of Buena Vista county, Iowa, December 1, 1898, and is the father of two chil- dren, Lillian Ellen and Llewelyn McHenry Lookingbill. His farm is appro- priately named "Oakland Stock Farm."
Mr. Lookingbill is a strong man, physically, mentally and morally, who has never known the taste of tobacco or strong drink in any form. His standing in the community is of the highest and he is known widely and favor- ably for his enterprise and public spirit. It is the records of such men as he that add value to these memoirs of Sac county.
DUNCAN B. KEIR.
All callings, whether humble or exalted, may be productive of some measure of success, if enterprise and industry, coupled with a well-directed purpose, form the motive force of the person directing the same, and in no case is this fact more apparent than in agricultural pursuits. It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance as well as the above enumerated qualities. When a course of action is once decided upon these attributes are essential. Success is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer, only those who have dili- gently sought her favor being crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of the prosperous and influential agriculturist whose name forms the caption of this biographical review. we find that the above named elements have entered largely into his make-up and therefore we are not surprised at the large and ever-growing success which he has attained.
Duncan B. Keir, one of the most prosperous farmers of Douglas town- ship. Sac county, lowa, was born October 22, 1849, in Dalesville, Canada, about sixty miles northwest of Montreal. His parents were John and Helen ( McGregor) Keir, both of whom were of Scotch descent. John Keir was born in Canada in 1813. the son of John Keir, who came from
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Scotland to that country. Helen McGregor was the daughter of John McGregor. a native of Scotland and a member of the McGregor clan of the Highland region. Mrs. Keir traces her ancestry back to Rob Roy, of his- toric fame. Mr. and Mrs. John Keir were the parents of twelve children and also reared one adopted child, and six of these children are living : Robert, of Aspen, Colorado: Duncan B .; Wilham. of Okemah, Oklahoma ; Charles, of Madison, Colorado; Mrs. Elizabeth Dashler, of Wellington, Kansas, and Thomas G., of Sac City, this state. The adopted daughter is Mrs. Margaret Morton, of Oxford, Kansas. The deceased children are Peter. James, Helen. John and Roy.
Duncan B. Keir came to Illinois when he was eighteen years of age and settled in Livingston county in 1867, and there he lived until 1883. then went to Wellington, Kansas, where he resided until 1889. He was a black- smith by trade and followed his profession in these different places, meeting with a large measure of success. He saved his money with the idea of in- vesting it in western land. and came to Sac county, Iowa, on October I. 1889, where he bought three hundred and twenty acres in Douglas town- ship, the old Lee homestead, at thirty-five dollars an acre. He improved this and later added one hundred and sixty acres in Delaware township in 1896 at twenty-four dollars an acre, and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres, three hundred and twenty acres in Douglas township and one hundred and sixty acres in Delaware township. His farms are well improved with a good dwelling, large and commodious barns, good fences and extensive drainage. In 1913 he raised on his farm twenty-eight head of horses, fifty head of cattle and eighty head of hogs, besides fine crops of grain.
Mr. Keir was married in 1877 to Lizzie Sackett, of Fairburg, Illinois, who died in 1883, leaving one son, Roy, who is now living at Spencer, Towa. He is married and has two children, Robert MacArthur and Hazel. Mr. Keir was married the second time on November 20, 1887. to Chloe Lanora Lee, who was born in the home where she now lives on August 3. 1863. the daughter of Melitus S. and Caroline ( Travis) Lee. To his second marriage have been born two children, Lamont, of Ida Grove, Iowa, and Mrs. Hazel Abernathy. of Nemaha. Iowa, who has one child. Maxine. Mrs. Keir has resided all of her life in this county, her parents being among the others Republicans, voted for Woodrow Wilson in 1912, because he thought Mr. Wilson was the best man for the presidency. It takes courage for a
Mr. Keir is a Republican in politics nominally, but, like thousands of early settlers of the county.
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man to break away from his old party and vote his convictions, and the men who do are to be congratulated upon their good judgment and high ideals of what citizenship really means. The Keir family adhere to the Baptist church and render it their earnest support. Mr. Keir is a man who has been a hard worker all of his life and now, in his declining years, can look back over a life which has been spent in the service of his fellow man. He can feel that he has never wronged any one of his fellow citizens, but has tried to live up to the Golden Rule in all of his dealings. During his career in this county he has lived an upright and wholesome life, which has won for him the esteem and commendation of all those with whom he comes into contact.
ELMER CON.
The history of him whose name heads this biographical sketch is closely identified with the history of Sac county, Iowa, which has long been his home. He began his career in this locality and throughout the subsequent years he has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a degree of success commensurate with his efforts. He is of the highest type of pro- gressive citizens and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among those whose enterprises and ability have achieved results that have awakened the admiration of those who knew them. The cause of humanity never had a truer friend than Elmer Cox, and in all the relations of life-family, church, state and society-he has displayed that consistent Christian spirit that natural worth, that has endeared him to all classes. His integrity and fidelity have been manifested in every relation of life, an example which has been an inspiration to others, and his influence has been felt in the community honored by his citizenship.
Elmer Cox, a prosperous farmer near Sac City, Cedar township, Iowa, was born July 22, 1867, in Missouri. His parents are Clark and Mary (Howard) Cox, both of whom are now living in Sac City.
Mr. Cox was educated in the country schools of Polk county, Iowa, to which county his parents moved the year after his birth. After receiving a good common school education, he continued to work on his father's farm in Polk county until 1885, when he came to Sac county and began farming for himself. Hle first rented land in Coon Valley township and later bought one hundred and sixty-four acres in Calhoun county, giving his first pay-
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ment of four hundred dollars and giving a mortgage for the rest of it. An indication of his success as a farmer is shown by the fact that in nine years he had earned enough off his farm to entirely liquidate the debt which was accrued in the purchase of the farm. He continued to live on this farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres until 1898, when he rented it until March, 1910. Then he sold it for ninety-five dollars an acre. In 1898 he rented his farm near Sac City until 1910, in which year, immediately after selling his Calhoun county farm, he bought his present farin of ninety acres, near Sac City, for which he paid one hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-three cents an acre. His farm is well improved in every way, with fine buildings, excellent woven wire fencing and a fine system of underground drainage. llere Mr. Cox raises all of the crops peculiar to this latitude and also raises a considerable amount of small fruit.
Mr. Cox was married in 1906 to Minnie Young, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Young. Politically, Mr. Cox is a Democrat and is a firm believer in the principles enunciated hy President Wilson. Although he takes an active interest in politics. he has never been a candidate for any public office. He has always felt that his agricultural duties were such as to demand his entire attention. He has always tried to measure up to the standard of correct manhood, and this locality is proud to number him among its progressive and representative residents.
ROBERT D. BECHLER.
There are individuals in nearly every community who, by reason of pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the mass and command the unbounded esteem of their fellow men. Characterized by perseverance and a directing spirit, two virtues that never fail, such men always make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personality serves as a stimulus and incentive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterprising class the subject of this brief review very properly belongs. Having never been seized with the roaming desires that have led many of Sac county's young men to other fields of endeavor and other states, where they have sought their fortunes, Mr. Bechler has de- voted his life to industries at home and has succeeded remarkably well, as may be seen by a study of his life history.
Robert D. Bechler, one of the most successful farmers of Douglas
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township. Sac county, was born on June 15, 1856, in Union county. Penn- sylvania. His parents, George and Hannah (Yohn) Bechler, were both natives of that state and moved to Illinois in an early day, settling in Jo Daviess county in 1866. Wishing to take advantage of cheaper as well as better land, they went to Iowa and settled in Douglas township, Sac county, where the parents both died. George Bechler died in 1905 and his wife in 1913.
Robert D. Bechler was twenty-four years of age when he began to farm for himself. First he rented land for four years, and by thrift and frugality he saved his money. so that he was able to invest in land of his own. He first purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his present farm, in the spring of 1882, for which he paid twelve dollars an acre. In 1885 he bought an additional one hundred and sixty acres, which cost him thirty dollars an acre. This land he has improved in such a way as to enhance its value many fold, as well as to increase its productivity in every way. Mr. Bechler is recognized as one of the most successful farmers in Sac county, for the reason that he is fully abreast of the times in all agri- cultural lines. He is quick to make use of the latest machinery to assist in his farming operations and never fails to take advantage of the most im- proved methods for increasing his crop production. He also raises a large amount of cattle and hogs annually, which makes a substantial part of his yearly income. He has invested in a handsome residence in Sac City, near the center of the town, in addition to his farm property.
Mr. Bechler was married April 22. 1883, to Emma Heller, the daughter of S. S. and Catherine ( Miller ) Heller, who was born in the state of Penn- sylvania, as were her parents, and came to Iowa in 1873. when she was seven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bechler are the parents of eight sons and one daughter: Guy W., born in 1883; Omer R., born February 16, 1884, deceased : Wallace R., born January 23, 1887, who lives in Sac City; Roy D., born June 4, 1889: Catherine R., born September 11, 1892; Lloyd M., born January 14, 1899: George S., born February 23, 1902: Julian, born December 26, 1905. and Marvin M., born December 19. 1907.
Mr. Bechler is a Republican in politics, but confines his political activity to the casting of his ballot for his party's candidates on election day. as his interests have been so many and varied that he has not had time to take an active part in the political game. The Bechler family are Presbyterians in faith. and contribute liberally of their substance to the support of that de- nomination. Mr. Bechler has attained to a prominent place as a farmer and public-spirited citizen of the county, because he has never neglected an op-
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portunity to identify himself with all those influences which make for a better community. His interest in public affairs and the honest methods which he has pursued since he has become a resident of this county have naturally won for him the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances.
HENRY W. ROGERS.
The methods followed by Henry W. Rogers, farmer and stock raiser of Douglas township, Sac county, Iowa, are those which ever insure ultimate success : they are the methods of an up-to-date tiller of the soil and a man who believes in relentlessly pursuing those ideals and principles which bring not only material success, but which are calculated to redound in various blessings. He seems to be most loyal to this, his adopted state, and has never been known to refuse to support all worthy movements looking to the general good of the community in which he has cast his lot. He has there- fore made many lasting friends here.
Henry W. Rogers, one of the prosperous farmers of Douglas town- ship. this county, was born July 24, 1859, in Jefferson county, Wisconsin. His parents were Nathaniel and Mary ( Rief) Rogers. Nathaniel was a native of Ohio and of New England descent. Mary Rief was a native of Switzerland, and came to the United States in the early fifties, the mother settling in Douglas township, Sac county, Iowa, in 1872. They were the parents of three children: Harrison, of Newell, Iowa; Mrs. Orville Lee, of Sac City, lowa, and Henry W., of whom this chronicle speaks. Nathaniel Rogers died in Wisconsin in 1865, and the mother later married E. A. Knapp, and she died in 1910 in Sac county.
Henry W. Rogers received his common school education in Wisconsin and when he was thirteen years of age he accompanied his parents to this county. At the age of twenty-two he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Delaware township. this county, for which he paid five dollars an acre. In 1883 he bought eighty acres in Douglas township for sixteen dollars an acre and one hundred and sixty acres in 1890 at twenty dollars an acre. and he now has a total of four hundred acres of fine land in Douglas and Delaware townships, in this county, which he manages. Since 1890 he has lived in Sac City, but still takes an active interest in his farming operations and superintends its management. He raises all of the crops peculiar to this locality and no farmer in the county gets better results from the soil than
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Mr. Rogers. He has improved his farm in every way by erecting buildings, putting up fences and installing an extensive system of drainage.
Mr. Rogers was married on September 7, 1884. to May N. Pierce, who is a native of Nevada, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard A. Pierce. The Pierce family settled in Sac county. Iowa, in 1865, and Mr. Pierce died in Louisiana in 1900. To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers has been born one child, Howard, an attorney, born in 1885, a graduate of the Sac City high school, and Coe College of Cedar Rapids, and a graduate in the law department of Yale University ; he is now a resident of Omaha, Nebraska. Howard mar- ried, in IQ11, Catherine Fantz, of Nevada, Iowa, a graduate of Coe College. Cedar Rapids.
Mr. Rogers is a Republican in politics, but his extensive farming inter- ests have claimed his attention to such an extent that he has not felt it con- venient to indulge in the game of politics. He and his wife are loyal and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church and render it substan- tial assistance. Mr. Rogers has taken an active part in the community life of Sac City and has impressed his individuality upon his fellow citizens in such a way as to gain their confidence and esteem.
MARTIN SHELEY.
All values are based upon land. It is the inevitable beginning of all wealth and its productiveness is the source of all income and in the inherent capabilities of the land to provide the necessities of life lies the prosperity of the nation. Land investment is attracting more people today than ever before. Real estate is the best security of all. It shows the largest profit when selected carefully. More men have acquired a competence through wise land invest- ments than in any other manner. Land values have grown rapidly within the last decade in this section of this great country. He who has possessed the foresight and acumen to continually invest his profits in more and more land is today counted among the wealthy and prosperous citizens of this vicinity. This chronicle abounds with tales of men who came from the Eastern sections, with no means at hand but their willing hands and brains and have accom- plished results which are well nigh astounding, when one considers the brief span of years in which they have been actively engaged in developing the country. A striking example of what determined energy and grit, combined with good business acumen can accomplish, is the career of Martin Sheley. whose name heads this review.
MRS. MARY VIRGINIA SHELEY
MARTIN SHELEY
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Martin Sheley is a native of the old Buckeye state, and was born on a farm in Fayette county, Olio. September 1, 1843. His father was Samuel Sheley, a native of Ohio. His mother was Margaret Sesler, a native of Pennsylvania and the daughter of German parents. In 1856 the family migrated from Ohio to a farm in Poweshiek county, Iowa, and near the town of Montezuma. Here they made their home and the family was reared to young manhood and womanhood. The father died April 6, 1860. Some years afterward, while Martin was in the far West, the mother departed to the great beyond.
Martin Sheley responded to the need of his country for defenders of the Union and enlisted in the Union army, February 16, 1864, and served fifteen months. He was a member of Company C, Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry Regiment, and took an active part in sixteen engagements during the brief period of his service. He fought in three great battles, Winchester, Cedar Creek and Snicker's Gap. He was a member of the famous Red River expedi- tion. He was wounded in the right foot during the battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia. The right foot was struck by a portion of a bursting shell and he was permanently disabled for the remainder of his life by the loss of a portion of the foot. After his return from the war, he resided in Poweshiek county and was there engaged in farming until the year 1877. He then came to Sac county and purchased one hundred acres of good land in Cook township. paying therefor the sum of five dollars and fifty cents per acre. This was raw, unbroken prairie land at the time of his purchase. He at once erected a small house and set about improving his land, on which he resided until 1900. In that year he removed to another farm of three hundred and twenty acres located north of the town of Schaller, of which he was the owner and which he bought with his savings in 1881. Here he made his residence until 1905. when he removed permanently to Schaller, where he has a fine modern resi- dence fitted with every comfort and convenience.
Mr. Sheley is the owner of one thousand three hundred and eighty- five acres of land in Sac county, all of which is good, tillable land of the best and richest quality, and noted for its high productive capacity. He began practically with nothing thirty-six years ago, and it is truly remarkable what he has accomplished when one considers that since the Civil War he has been seriously handicapped by physical misfortune which would have caused many men to retire earlier and attempt to live upon the bounty of the government. He purchased his first tract of land in May, 1877, on the payment plan. During his first season he made his first payment and stocked up the place. erected a small house which was later succeeded by a more pretentious resi-
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dence. He has practically specialized in the production of live stock and his fortune has been earned by the exercise of good judgment in this important occupation and the power of discernment in buying and selling at the proper times. He is rated as one of the wealthiest citizens of Sac county. At the present time he is doing his part in relieving the congestion of population in Schaller and building a number of houses to serve as places of residence for new comers desiring to locate here. . He could choose no better way to invest his surplus capital. While Mr. Sheley has attained the age of three score years and ten, he is really seventy years young, being as active and spry as most men at fifty.
Mr. Sheley is a Republican in politics, has never sought nor held office and has confined his activities solely to his farming and stock-raising industry. He is a member of the Methodist church, and is affiliated fraternally with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Mr. Sheley was joined in holy wedlock with Mary Virginia Meniffee, of Ohio, county of Fayette, and who came to Iowa with her mother. This marriage occurred in 1872 and has been blessed with six children: E. A .. of Schaller ; Mrs. Dora Howard, of Schaller: Homer, located on the old home- stead ; Arthur, residing on one of his father's farms near Estherville, Iowa ; Earl. an agriculturist living north of Schaller: Vernon, at home.
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