USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
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In 1874 Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Rulon, who was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, May 9. 1855, a daughter of Caleb Rulon. Unto them have been born five children: Frank, who is living at Zeering, Warren township; Sadie, the wife of M. L. Sower, of Milford township; Iva, who became the wife of llenry Hopper and died August 3. 1910, leaving twin sons. Harold Allen and Harlan Eugene, who were born July 27, 1910; George, a law student of the Chicago Law University, who was graduated from the Liberal Arts College of the University of Illinois before entering upon his law course; and May, the wife of C. A. Chitty, a farmer of Milford township.
Mr. Allen holds membership with the Presbyterian church of Nevada and is most loyal to its teachings and principles. There were many hard and trying experiences in his youth, but he learned the difficult lesson that integrity and character are worth more in the world than advancement and success. He therefore guided his life along the lines of straightforward. honorable manhood and has not only won a creditable name but also a goodly measure of prosperity, for his industry, reliability and perseverance brought to him the substantial rewards of labor, and he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of his community.
WILLIAM ROBERT HEATH.
Thirty-three years ago William Robert Heath, a descendant of good pioneer American stock, came to Story county, and as he and his wife now own a beautiful farm of two hundred and forty acres in Collins township. he sees no cause to regret taking up his home in lowa. He was born in Hamilton county, Indiana. April 10, 1835. a son of John A. and Sarah (Glass) Heath, the former of whom was a native of South Carolina and the latter of Clark county, Indiana, where they were married. After their marriage the young couple were conveyed by the father-in-law to a portion of Hamilton county, Indiana, which up to that time had not been settled.
MR. AND MRS. W. R. HEATH
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Their household goods were unloaded in the midst of the virgin forest and there Mr. Heath built a log cabin in which he and his bride took up their residence. He cleared away the timber and as the years passed be- came the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres in Hamilton county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father was born June 16, 1803, and departed this life September 20. 1888. at the age of eighty-five years. The mother was born July 5. 1806. and passed away January 8. 1864, being about fifty-eight years of age. Mr. Heath was originally a whig and upon the organization of the republi- can party became one of its stanch supporters. Through his high character and unselfish interest in the welfare of others he made a lasting impression upon all who knew him. He and his wife were devout Christians and were active workers in the United Brethren church.
William Robert Heath was educated in the little log schoolhouse of the neighborhood in which he was reared and after he had advanced as far as possible in his studies in the district school his father purchased a scholar- ship in the United Brethren College at Hartsville, which he urged his son to make use of. The latter, however, was determined to learn a trade and instead of securing a college education he was at eighteen years of age ap- prenticed to a cabinet-maker. He applied himself assiduously to the trade for fourteen years, also becoming an undertaker and making all the coffins himself which he disposed of during that time. In 1866 he turned his at- tention to farming and rented the old homestead which he cultivated for twelve years. The west presented inducements, which Mr. Heath could not well resist and accordingly in 1878 he came to Collins township, Story county, and for three years engaged in farming on rented land. Having prospered in his work, he bought the old Benjamin Shenkle homestead, to which he removed in 1881, making it his permanent place of residence. He has carried on general farming, sparing no pains to secure the best results from his work. Being very thorough in everything he undertakes, he has brought the farm to a high state of cultivation and has one of the model places of the township.
On the 9th of December. 1855. Mr. Heath was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Shenkle. a daughter of Benjamin Shenkle, of Story county. a record of whom is found in the sketch of his son, W. T. B. Shenkle. which appears elsewhere in this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heath six children have been born, four of whom are now living, namely: Etta, the wife of Loren Fowler, of Baxter, Iowa; Belle, at home; John M., of Meri- dian, Oklahoma; and Halleck F., also at home.
Mr. Heath cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for president of the United States and he has never departed from his allegiance to the republi- can party, having firm faith that its principles are better adapted than those of any other political organization to advance the prosperity of the entire country. He has never aspired to public office, preferring the quiet chan- nels of private life to the turmoil of political affairs, and each day he has Vol. 11-12
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attempted to perform his duties as they arose according to the best of his ability. Mrs. Heath has been a valued assistant to her husband and is prominently identified with the social interests of the community, being also an active member of the United Brethren church. Mr. and Mrs. Heath have many friends in Story county who greatly esteem them for their genial qualities.
WILLARD MORRIS.
Willard Morris is a remarkably well preserved man of eighty-five years, still active both in mind and body, giving his time and attention to the cultivation of a farm of fifty acres which is situated on section 27, Frank- lin township. He previously owned a much larger amount but has sold a portion of his land. He was born in Lebanon, Madison county. New York. June 21, 1825. his parents being William and Emma ( Rice) Morris, who spent the greater part of their lives in the Empire state. They were probably natives of Massachusetts but both died in New York where the father had followed the shoemaker's trade for many years and also en- gaged to some extent in farming. Their children were William, Catharine, Mary Ann. John, Willard, Jonathan, Abigail, Cornelia and two who died in infancy.
Willard Morris is the only one of the family now living. His boyhood and youth were spent in the east and he resided in Madison county, New York, until 1854. when he sought the opportunities of the growing west. making his way to Chatham, Sangamon county, Illinois. In that locality he worked on a farm by the month. He had made the journey across the country with a horse team from New York to Illinois and although he had no capital at the time he hoped, by earnest labor and unfaltering dili- gence, to become the possessor of a comfortable competence. He con- tinued to work at farm labor for three years in Sangamon county and in February, 1857. went to McLean county, Illinois, where he spent a year devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits, but the following year he became a resident of Whiteside county, Illinois, where he cultivated a rented farm. In 1875 he took up his abode in Story county, Iowa, where he has since resided, his time and energies being given to the cultivation and improvement of his present farm which now comprises fifty acres of rich and arable land. In former years he was much more extensively en- gaged in general agricultural pursuits but because of advanced age has sold one hundred and sixty acres of his property. His remarkable preser- vation of his powers, however, enables him to continue the work on the homestead although he is now eighty-five years of age.
In 1856 in Lebanon, New York, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Adaline Leonard, who was born April 13. 1831. in New York, and
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died in Story county, January 20, 1907. In their family were seven chil- dren: Addie, the wife of Chester Davis, of Franklin township: Ella, the wife of L. G. Rosenfeld, who is living in Washington township; Josephine, who is the widow of William Kinnan and resides with her father; Walter L. and Frank E., who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Gertrude, a school teacher residing with her father; and L. R. Morris, who is pro- prietor of a livery stable at Ames. Mr. Morris is also rearing a boy, John Cocklin, who was born February 8, 1906. His father was killed by the cars when the child was but two weeks old, at which time he became a member of the Morris household. He is the pet of Mrs. Kinnan, who resides with her father.
During the period of his residence here Mr. Morris has ever enjoyed and merited the confidence and high regard of his fellow citizens and today is one of the most honored as well as one of the venerable residents of the county. Few would realize, however, from his appearance that he has passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey, for he possesses the vigor of many a man of younger years and in spirit and interests seems yet in his prime.
CURTIS R. WICK.
Having had extensive experience in various lines of business, Curtis R. Wick, cashier of the Exchange State Bank of Collins, was thoroughly prepared for the responsibility he assumed when in August, 1909, he en- tered upon his present duties. He is well acquainted with human nature and few men of his age have had a better opportunity of observing busi- ness methods or becoming familiar with the resources of the country, hence he has been highly successful in the conduct of financial affairs.
Born in Monmouth, Illinois, February 27, 1861, he is a son of Cham- bers and Catherine (Foster) Wick, both of whom were natives of Arm- strong county, Pennsylvania. They were married in their native county and about 1858 removed to Warren county, Illinois, where the father en- gaged in farming. He departed this life about a year after his son was born, and the mother subsequently returned to her native state but five years later once more resumed her residence in Warren county, where she continued until her death in 1888.
Curtis R. Wick received his preliminary education in the common schools and later attended the Northern Illinois Normal School and the Dixon Business College. At the age of twenty-two years he became clerk in a store at Lafayette, Indiana, a position which he held for five years, when he went to Bartley, Nebraska, and engaged in general mercantile business for one year. His next employment was in the fresh meat ship- ping department of the Lincoln Packing & Provision Company at Lincoln,
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Nebraska. He was in charge of this department for four years and then came to Manilla, lowa, as bill clerk for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and assistant agent of the United States Express Company. About three years later he removed to Collins as local manager of the Neola Elevator Company, and having become thoroughly acquainted with this line of business was made traveling auditor of the company, which position he held for five and one-half years. In August, 1909, he resigne:] to accept the position of cashier of the Exchange State Bank and has dis- charged his duties in such a way as to meet the hearty approval of officers and patrons of the institution.
In 1884 Mr. Wick was united in marriage to Miss Ilelen Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, and three children were born to this union, two of whom are now living: Beulah, the wife of O. H. Gearhart, of Collins township ; and Wallace, who is now a student of Highland Park College at Des Moines. The mother of these children dying in October, 1898, Mr. Wick was married in June, 1910, to Mrs. Hattie Campbell, the widow of Charles E. Campbell and formerly Miss Hattie Carver.
Mr. Wick ever since arriving at voting age has cast his ballot for the republican party. He is a member of Fervent Lodge, No. 513. A. F. & A. M .; Green Lodge, No. 315, I. O. O. F., of Jefferson, Iowa: Jefferson Encampment, No. 103; and Crescent Camp, No. 2358. M. W. A. He and his estimable wife are also connected with the Order of the Eastern Star and the Royal Neighbors. Ile is an active worker in the Methodist church. of which he is a trustee, while Mrs. Wick holds membership in the Chris- tian church. He is a busy man but he always has time to extend a helping hand to one less fortunate than himself and is justly held in high regard wherever he is known, his success being the merited result of a wisely directed energy.
THOMAS S. ERICKSON.
Although the home of Thomas S. Erickson stands within the corpora- tion limits of Roland, it is situated upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of which all but forty acres lies within the boundaries of the city. Ilis holdings elsewhere make him one of the extensive landowners of this part of the county, and from his property he derives a substantial annual income, resulting largely from the care and labor which he bestows upon his place in keeping with the progressive spirit of the age. He is practical in all that he does and his plans are well formulated. System characterizes all of his undertakings, and his methods will at all times bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
Mr. Erickson was born in the neighboring state of Illinois, his birth having there occurred in La Salle county on the Ist of November, 1862.
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His parents were Solomon and Anna (Hougeland) Erickson, who were natives of Imsland, Norway, where they were reared and married. In the spring of 1857 they arrived in Illinois, bringing with them their little daughter Anna. Establishing their home in La Salle county, they were residents of that locality until they came to Story county, Iowa, in the spring of 1868. Settling in Milford township the father devoted his en- ergies to general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred January 12, 1889, when he was fifty-three years of age. His widow re- mained upon the farm until 1900, when she removed to Roland where she now resides. Mr. Erickson was the owner of two hundred and fifty-three acres of land, all of which was cultivated and improved by him, his labors converting it into one of the fine farms of the district. Ile was an active and devoted member of the Lutheran church, and his upright, honorable life won him kindly regard. The family numbered six children: Anna, now the wife of O. C. Hoagland, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Elizabeth, the wife of H. J. Amondson, of Howard township; Thomas S .; Ole J., who is living in Roland; Ira, a resident of Howard township; and Sarah, the wife of L. M. Olson, of Roland.
Amid the usual conditions and environment of farm life Thomas S. Erickson spent his youthful days. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges and he worked in the fields with his father up to the time of his marriage, when he removed to a farm adjoining the old home place, having in 1887 purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. A laudable ambition to attain success prompted him to bend every energy toward the development and improvement of his place which he continued to cultivate until 1894, when he sold that property and invested in two hundred and forty acres in Warren township. There he resided until the spring of 1903, when he removed to his present place within the corpora- tion limits of Roland. He has in this farm a quarter section of which one hundred and twenty acres lies within the corporation limits of the town. He also retains the two hundred and forty-acre tract in Warren township and is the owner of eighty acres of timber within the corporation limits of Story City, so that his possessions aggregate four hundred and eight acres. Both farms are well improved and indicate his careful supervision and progressive, practical methods. Moreover, he is a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank of Roland and his energy and determination have classed him with the representative business men of his part of the county.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Erickson was married May 25, 1893, to Maggie Hegland, who was born in. Roland, March 19, 1875, a daughter of Michael and Carolina (Larson ) Ilegland, both of whom were natives of Norway but are now residents of Roland. The children of this marriage are: Stella, who was born August 1, 1894; Maurice, born Oc- tober 12, 1896; Lester, who was born October 7, 1898, and died at the age of six months; Gladys, born December 12, 1900; Laurence, born Sep-
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tember 19. 1906; and Fern and Flora, twins, who were born July 3. 1909. The latter died when but a month old.
The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church and are people of genuine personal worth, highly esteemed throughout the community. Both belong to old and honored pioneer families of which they are worthy representatives. Mr. Erickson votes with the republican party, and in matters of citizenship his influence is always found on the side of reform and improvement, while in every relation of life he stands for justice, truth and right.
FRED C. McCALL.
Prominent among the enterprising business men of Nevada is Fred C. McCall, now filling the position of postmaster and long a well known and popular resident of this city. He was born on October 7. 1868, a son of Captain Thomas Clifton and Mary A. (Boynton) McCall, and the grand- son of Samuel W. and Ann (Clifton) McCall. The great-grandfather, Thomas Clifton, served in the Revolutionary war for seven years, doing duty under General Green most of the time. He participated in the battle of Cowpens and in other important engagements. Samuel W. McCall was soldier of the war of 1812 and was wounded in battle. a ball striking him in the arm. He was a son of another Samuel McCall who was a soldier in the American army in the war for independence. The family is of Scotch-Irish lineage and was founded in America by three brothers who were Scotchmen but came from the North of Ireland to the new world.
Captain Thomas Clifton McCall, the father of Fred MeCall, was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 4, 1827, and in 1836, when a small boy. came to lowa with his parents. The summer was passed at Burlington. after which they removed to Canton, Illinois, where they remained for ten years. In the fall of 1846 they became residents of Polk county, Iowa, where they spent about a decade. Thomas C. McCall accompanied his parents on their various removals and while living in Polk county was married, his first union being with Miss Garret. He then located at Des Moines and afterward at Sioux City and Council Bluffs, where he was en- gaged in the land business. In 1858 he came to Nevada, where he resided until his death. and through much of the period of his residence here he carried on a real-estate business. lte was reared in the faith of the whig party and upon the organization of the republican party joined its ranks, giving to it earnest and stalwart support. He became a recognized leader in political circles in Story county and was a member of the ninth general assembly, also of the nineteenth and twentieth assemblies and was a men- ber of the state senate, representing Boone and Story counties at the time
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of his death. The portrait of Captain Thomas Clifton McCall hangs in the gallery of Iowa's distinguished citizens in the state Historical building at Des Moines, Iowa. At one time he was a member of the state central committee and did everything in his power to further the interests of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles as factors in good gov- ernment. He was for many years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for a long period was an elder in the Presbyterian church. His business affairs were most carefully conducted and by judi- cious investment he became an extensive landowner, having over three thousand acres at one time. By his first marriage he had one son, John A., now a practicing attorney at Des Moines. After losing his first wife he wedded Mary A. Boynton and unto them were born three children : Minnie Ellen, now the wife of A. E. Cronenwett, of Monrovia, Califor- nia ; Fred C., of this review ; and Edward M., an attorney of Nevada. For his third wife the father chose Clara Kennedy, of Carrollton, Ohio, and she is now a resident of Nevada. There was one son of this marriage who died at the age of five years.
In the public schools of Nevada, Iowa, Fred C. McCall pursued his education until he had completed the course, except the last term, leaving the high school to enter the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, in February, 1884. He afterward spent a summer in Colorado and about a year in California, and upon his return to Nevada engaged in the real estate business in connection with his father, the partnership continuing from 1889 until the father's death on the IIth of August, 1892. Fred C. McCall then continued in the real estate business under his own name. operating quite extensively in property here until appointed postmaster of Nevada on the Ist of February, 1902. He took charge of the office on the Ist of March, 1902, and has filled the position to the present time, having been twice reappointed. He is, moreover, well known in financial circles of this city as a director of the First National Bank, to which office he was elected six years ago. His business enterprise makes him a valued factor of the community, and he has brought to his official duties the same pro- gressive spirit and close application which characterizes the conduct of his private business.
On the 2d of September, 1890, Mr. McCall was married to Miss Alice Klove, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Edwin Klove, of Nevada, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Her death occurred in February, 1891, and on the 7th of May, 1895, Mr. McCall was joined in wedlock to Edith V. Ferner, who was born in this city and is a daughter of James D. Ferner, who was postmaster here prior to Mr. McCall's ap- pointment to the office and is now deceased. His widow survives him and still makes her home in Nevada. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. McCall has been blessed with two children, Thomas Clifton and Elva Hazel.
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Reared in the faith of the republican party, Mr. McCall has seen no cause to change his allegiance since arriving at adult age, for mature judg- ment sanctions that course, and he therefore gives to it stalwart support. In 1896 he served as chairman of the county central committee. When but twenty-one years of age he was elected township clerk and filled the posi- tion for a term-his first political office. He has also been a member of the Nevada school board. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, hokdl- ing membership in Excalibur Commandery, K. T., at Boone, and is a charter member of Za-ga-zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. His connections with the blue lodge and chapter are at Nevada and he also belongs to the Odd Fellow's lodge in Nevada. He has a very wide ac- quaintance in the state which has always been his home. and his substantial qualities have won for him the high and enduring regard of many friends. He is recognized as a man true to every trust reposed in him, and whether in office or out of it he displays the qualities of public-spirited citizenship in his loyalty to the general good.
O. M. JOIINSON. 1
No obstacles seem too great for some indomitable spirits to overcome and the life histories of many men in this work indicate that a young man may attain practically any position in the business world he may desire provided he thoroughly prepares himself and steadfastly perseveres. O. M. Johnson, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, came to America from a foreign land a poor boy ; today he has attained a handsome com- petence and is one of the honored men of Story county, who represent the best citizenship. He was born in Norway, February 25, 1850. son of John and Rachel (Halverson) Johnson, both of whom passed their entire lives in Norway.
O. M. Johnson acquired his early education in the schools of his native land and also had the advantage of one year's attendance at Augsburg School at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Being ambitious as a boy to attain an honorable place in life even though he should be obliged to take up his home among strangers, he came to America when sixteen years of age. After spending one year in La Salle county, Illinois, he was attracted to Story county, lowa, where he worked for two or three years as a farm laborer, at the same time becoming acquainted with the language and cus- toms of the country. In 1871 he secured a position with Baldwin & Max- well, merchants of Cambridge, and for about four years drove a team for that firm. However. he was on the lookout for a more promising position. which proved to be a clerkship in the store of J. D. Brizley, of Cambridge, in which position he continued for about five years, then going to Sheldahl as clerk in the store of Nelson & Ersland for two years. Returning to
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