USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 31
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In his fraternal relations Mr. Batman is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Modern Woodmen camp. He has been a lifelong repub- lican, having been reared in the party to which he has given his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has a wide ac- quaintance, and his genial manner, cordial disposition and genuine worth have gained for him an extensive circle of warm friends.
REV. FRANCIS C. RENIER.
Rev. Francis C. Renier, pastor of St. Cecelia's Catholic church of Ames, was born in Dubuque, Iowa, December 9, 1877, a son of Philip J. and Mary E. (Strueber) Renier. The father was born in Belgium in 1858 and the mother in Dubuque in 1854. When a lad of five years Philip Renier accompanied his parents to the new world, and one year later the family home was established in Dubuque where he has resided continuously since, being now superintendent of the Milwaukee shops of that place, He has devoted his entire life to car-building, in which line of work he has made steady advancement through his ability and close application. His wife was a daughter of Christ and Pauline (Yunge) Strueber, both of whom were natives of Germany and on coming to America settled in Dubuque where Mr. Strueber passed away but his widow still makes her home there.
The Rev. Francis C. Renier is the eldest of seven children. He at- tended the parochial schools of Dubuque and later entered St. Joseph's College of that city, completing a six years' course in 1895. He devoted three years to the study of theology in Grand Seminary in Montreal, after which he was ordained to the priesthood. Later he spent two years in study in the Catholic University at Washington, D. C., and received his
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present appointment in 1902. In addition to the regular work of the church he has organized the Newman Club for young men, mostly college boys, and in this connection an excellent work is being done. He also has charge of Sts. Peter and Paul's church five and a half miles northwest of Gilbert in this county, doing mission work there throughout the eight years of his pastorate at St. Cecelia's church in Ames. Under his guidance the present church was erected as was also the parish house. and the work of the church has been fully organized in all of its departments, proving a strong force for Catholic conversion and church work in this locality.
ALFRED P. EDDY.
Alfred P. Eddy. a prosperous and well known agriculturist of Story county, has lived on his present farm in Sherman township for the past thirty-six years but for forty-six years he has been a resident of this county. His birth occurred in Ohio in August, 1839, his parents being Allen and Sophia ( Beardsley ) Eddy, who were natives of New York and New Hampshire respectively. The maternal grandfather of our subject partici- pated in the Revolutionary war, serving throughout the entire conflict. Allen Eddy, the father of Alfred P. Eddy, removed to Ilinois in 1855, set- tling on a farm in Kane county, where he made his home until called to his final rest in 1875. The demise of his wife occurred in Ohio.
Alfred P. Eddy accompanied his father to Illinois, where he obtained his education in the district schools. He remained a resident of the Prairie state until 1865, which year witnessed his arrival in Story county, lowa. He spent ten years in Richland township but for thirty-six years has re- sided in Sherman township, his farm being located on section 6. For his first tract of land, comprising eighty acres, he paid but twelve dollars an acre. Later he extended the boundaries of the place by an additional pur- chase of eighty acres, so that his farm now embraces a quarter section of rich and productive land. In connection with the tilling of the soil he has also devoted considerable attention to the raising of cattle and hogs for the market, meeting with success in both branches of his business. He has long been numbered among the representative and leading citizens of the community and acts as president of the Zearing & Johnson Grove Tele- phone Company. lie can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer days when the district was but sparsely settled and largely undeveloped. During the period of his early residence here the railroad went only as far as Ne- vada and between his abode and State Center, a distance of fourteen miles, there was but one house. On the road to Zearing there was also only one house-that belonging to Thomas Thatcher. Mr. Eddy recalls the fact that on the 5th of July, 1872. he washed with snow and can remember the time when the snow was six feet deep. Hle herded cattle throughout lowa for a
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السرعة
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MR. AND MRS. A. P. EDDY
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great many years and at one time drove twenty-three hundred head through the northern part of the state.
In 1863, in Kane county, Illinois, Mr. Eddy was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Mark, her parents being Aaron and Eliza Mark, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. Mrs. Mark, whose birth occurred in January, 1828, came to this county with her daughter and son- in-law in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy are the parents of four children, the record of whom is as follows. Frank Sherman, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, on the 27th of April, 1864, wedded Miss Susan Hicks, of Sherman township, and is cultivating a tract of land just east of his fa- ther's farm. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge at Zearing. Orlando M., whose birth occurred on the 4th of March, 1869, married Miss Belle Fisher and lives on a farm northwest of the old home- stead. He intends to take up his abode in Howard county, Iowa, in the near future. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Dwight Wilson, whose natal day was Sep- tember 26. 1879, wedded Miss Viola Thomas and is now successfully en- gaged in farming. William Cooper, who was born on the 19th of Septem- ber, 1881, resides on his father's farm and also has land of his own in Sherman township.
Mr. Eddy gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is now serving as chairman of the township board. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend and as a school director he has done much to further its interests. He is a valued member of Pacific Lodge, No. 469. A. F. & A. M., of Zearing, and attends the services of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He has lived his life to good purpose, recogniz- ing and utilizing each opportunity as it has come to him, while the methods which he has ever pursued have been such as inspired the trust, confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.
CHARLES F. RUTH.
An excellent farm of one hundred and ninety acres on sections II and 14, Franklin township, is the property of Charles F. Ruth, and indicates in its well kept appearance the careful supervision which he gives to the place and the modern methods which he follows in its cultivation. He was born in Lake county, Illinois, October 7, 1856, and is a son of Irwin and Leah (Brown) Ruth, both of whom were natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania. When eighteen years of age the father made his way to Freeport, Illinois, and thence walked to Lake county, that state, a distance of one hundred miles. He secured sixty acres of land which is now included within the corporation limits of Chicago, after which he walked back to Freeport,
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completing the journey in two days. He was then married and took his bride to his sixty-acre farm, to which he afterward added by additional purchase. He became the owner of two farms, aggregating one hundred and ninety acres of land, and in the summer of 1870 he sold this property at sixty dollars per acre. In the spring of 1871 he arrived in Ames, ac- companied by his family, and soon after settled on a farm about a mile from the place, upon which Charles F. Ruth now resides. The father, how- ever, was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for he passed away in 1875 at the age of fifty-five years. The mother died in 1881 at the age of sixty-one years. Their family numbered seven children: Hannah, who is the widow of Michael Gretten and resides in Gilbert; Lavina, the wife of L. Oliver, also of Gilbert; Carrie, the wife of Floyd Sibley, of Los Angeles, California; William, who married Rachel Bingham and lives in Salem, Oregon ; Linus, who was a judge in one of the Chicago courts and died in 1908; Charles F., of this review; and Alma, the wife of Frank Palmer, of Arapahoe, Nebraska.
Charles F. Ruth spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native county and during that period became familiar with the duties and labors of the home farm. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Story county in 1871 and has since resided in Franklin township. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work and in 1880 he located upon his present farm which was then a tract of raw prairie land. The fact that it is today a well improved property is due to his energy, determination and unfaltering industry. The place comprises one hundred and ninety acres of rich and arable soil on sections it and 14. Franklin township, and in addition to the cultivation of the fields he is engaged extensively and successfully in the breeding of Chester White hogs and Jersey cattle. Besides his farming interests Mr. Ruth has other busi- ness connections. He had the management and was secretary of the Gilbert Creamery Company for five years and he was one of the organizers and the first secretary of the West Milford Telephone Company. He has been a hunter from the age of eight years and finds his chief recreation as a follower of Nimrod. He killed eight wild carrier pigeons in Plymouth county in 1878, these being the last seen in lowa. He has killed all the game native to this state and in New Brunswick, in September, 1908, he killed a moose weighing eleven hundred pounds, the head of which he had mounted, and it now adorns his home. On the same hunt he succeeded in getting two black bears, the hides of which he has in his home. He spent three weeks on that hunting trip and felt well repaid.
On the 2d of November, 1880, Mr. Ruth was united in marriage to Miss Minerva B. Kooser, who was born in Milford township, Story county, September 19. 1861, and is a daughter of George B. and Margaret (Boucher) Kooser, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and were there married. On coming to Iowa in 1856, the father entered land from the government. He devoted many years to farming and passed away on
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the 26th of November, 1896. His widow still survives and is now a resi- dent of Ames. They were the parents of seven sons and four daughters. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ruth have been born two sons: Chelsea I., who man- ages the farm; and Clifton L., at home. The elder son is married and has one child, Constance Alene, who was born March 7, 1910.
Mr. Ruth is entitled to membership with the Sons of the American Revo- lution, for one of his great-grandfathers in the maternal line was John Clontz, a native of Germany, who was with Washington's army at Valley Forge. In his political views Mr. Ruth was formerly a republican but in later years has supported the prohibition party. He has served as township clerk and for sixteen years has been secretary of the school board of Franklin township. He holds membership in the Cumberland. Presbyterian church at Gilbert and also belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge there. In these associations are found the principles and rules which govern his con- duet and which have made him an upright, honorable man, respected by all who know him. In business, too, he has displayed such sterling quali- ties as have gained for him warm regard and the confidence of all with whom he has liad dealings.
EDWARD M. McCALL.
With the exception of six years spent away at school, Edward M. Mc- Call has resided continuously in Story county from the time of his birth, which occurred in Nevada, on the 30th of August, 1873, and in a profes- sion where advancement depends entirely upon broad learning and merit he has worked his way steadily upward, being recognized as one of the strong members of the Story county bar. His parents were the Hon. T. C. and Mary A. (Boynton) McCall, who to prepare their son for the practical and responsible duties of life gave him excellent educational advantages.
He pursued his studies through consecutive grades in the public schools of Nevada but left the high school before his graduation and went to Cornell College at Mount Vernon, where he spent a year in special work in the preparatory department. He afterward entered the Ames Agricultural College in the fall of 1891 and for three years was a student there, com- pleting one-half of the work of the junior year. He next took up the study of law, entering the law school at Iowa City, from which he was graduated in 1896. He at once located for practice in Nevada, where he has since followed his profession, and in 1900 he formed a partnership with J. A. Fitchpatrick under the firm style of Fitchpatrick & McCall. lle has never specialized in any particular branch of the profession but has con- tinued in the general practice of law and a large and distinctively repre- sentative clientage has been accorded him. For two years, from 1900 until 1902, he was city attorney and for four years, from 1905 until 1909, he was county attorney. His ability is manifest in his strong and logical argu-
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ments which follow the careful preparation of his cases and in the many verdicts which he has won favorable to his clients' interests.
In 1896 Mr. McCall was united in marriage to Miss Genevieve Louise Fitchpatrick, a native of Nevada and a daughter of the Ilon. J. A. Fitch- patrick, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. This marriage has been blessed with two interesting little daughters: Mary, five years of age; and Harriet Louise, three years of age.
The parents hold membership in the Presbyterian church and are promi- nent in the social circles of the city. Mr. McCall also belongs to the Twen- tieth Century Club of Nevada. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has stanchly advocated since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is interested in everything that pertains to the general welfare, and his cooperation can be counted upon to further every movement for the public good. For the past six years he has served as a member of the board of trustees of the public library. He has at- tained high rank in Masonry, belonging to Nevada Lodge, No. 99. A. F. & A. M .; Nevada Chapter, No. 92, R. A. M .; and Excalibur Commandery. No. 13. K. T., of Boone, Iowa. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In strictly profes- sional lines he is connected with the Story County Bar Association and he believes in upholding the highest standards of the profession. It is the theory of the law that the counsel is to aid the court in securing justice, and no member of the profession in Nevada is more careful to conform his practice to a high standard of professional ethics than Mr. McCall. He gives to the client the service of his legal talent and of unwearied industry and broad learning, yet he never forgets that there are certain things due to the court, to his own self-respect and, above all, to justice and a righteous administration of the law, which neither the zeal of an advocate nor the pleasure of success permits him to disregard.
FRANK RAY.
The Ray family needs no introduction to the citizens of Story county, as for three generations it has been represented by men who have proven most worthy of the esteem in which they have at all times been held. Frank Ray, a son of Samuel and Martha ( Kurtz) Ray, was born in Indian Creek township on the 27th of March, 1881. Both of his parents are also natives of this county, being the children of early pioneers, and were reared and married in the county, where they have spent their lives.
Frank Ray's early years were spent as are those of the average boy in the rural districts. Ile attended the common schools, performed such duties about the farm as were assigned him by parental authority and spent his leisure hours in the manner of the majority of young people. At the usual age he laid aside his text-books, feeling he had acquired sufficient
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education to enable him to assume the responsibilities of manhood, and began his career. He decided to follow the vocation of his father and grandfather, which was that of farming, and at the age of eighteen years left the parental roof to work as a farm hand in the vicinity of his home.
He had not yet cast his first vote when he established a home for him- self by his marriage on the 25th of December, 1901, to Miss Ada May Barker, a daughter of Charles D. and Emma (Eastman) Barker, also pioneers of Story county. After marriage the young people began life on the farm of Mrs. Ray's father, located in Union township. They re- mained there for five years and then removed to the Monahan farm in Indian Creek township and after residing on the latter place for two years they located upon the farm of Mr. Ray's father, which is situated on sec- tion 16, Indian Creek township, where they have since continued to live. This farm contains one hundred and thirty-two and one-half acres of well improved land. Here Mr. Ray is engaged in the raising of shorthorn cattle and Poland China and Duroc Jersey hogs. He has been most suc- cessful in his specialty and is one of the best known young cattlemen in this section of the country.
Two children have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray : Hazel Pearl and Ethel Levon. Ever since he has acquired the right of suffrage Mr. Ray has cast his vote for the candidates of the republican party. He has never taken an active part in politics to the extent of aspiring to public office or seeking political honors, preferring to give his entire time and attention to the demands of his private interests. He has just reached the age when most men are acquiring a foothold in the business world but he is quite firmly established. While attaining this position he has ever won and retained the good-will and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He is regarded as one of the promising young citi- zens of the community where he lives, and both he and Mrs. Ray are highly esteemed.
OLE L. FROWICK.
It is doubtful whether any element of American citizenship has con- tributed in proportion to its numbers more valuable service to the up- building of the country than the Norwegian. Possessing the characteristics of energy, perseverance and thrift, the Norwegian-Americans have ac- quitted themselves with the highest credit and through their indomitable industry have established comfortable homes wherever they have settled. Ole L. Frowick, of Palestine township, comes of stanch Norwegian paren- tage on both sides of the house and, judging by what he lias accomplished. is a worthy representative of conscientious and hard-working ancestry.
He was born in Palestine township, Story county, December 11, 1869, a son of Lars E. and Sarah (Cleveland) Frowick, both natives of Norway. The parents were reared in the mother country and then came to America.
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Mr. Frowick purchasing a farm south of Huxley, in Palestine township, Story county, Iowa, upon which he resided until 1872. He then sold his place and bought land in another locality in the same township, which became the family homestead. Here he continued until his death, which occurred in 1901. The mother was called away in 1907. They were both faithful members of the Lutheran church and had many friends in Palestine township.
Ole L. Frowick was the only son of his parents and was reared under highly favorable conditions for a useful life. He attended the public schools and when not occupied with his books assisted in the work of the fields. After reaching manhood he still continued upon the home farm, which he purchased in 1898. It is situated on sections 21, 28 and 29, Pales- tine township, comprising originally two hundred and eighty acres, to which he has added by purchase, so that the farm now includes three hundred and fourteen acres and is a highly pleasing feature of the land- scape. It is under thorough cultivation and yields excellent harvests cach year.
Mr. Frowick gives his support to the republican party but official honors have never had any attraction for him as his interest is centered in his business, to which he devotes his best energies. His religious faith is ex- pressed by membership in the Lutheran church, to which he is a liberal contributor. A representative farmer of the county, he has attained a goodly measure of prosperity, and it requires no prophet to foretell for him a successful future.
FRANK NICKERSON FOWLER.
Frank Nickerson Fowler, county treasurer of Story county, is one of the best known men of central Iowa. He has been for twenty-five years a resident of the state and in business, political and social affairs has achieved a distinct success. He was born at Searsport, Maine, June 11, 1858, a son of Major James N. and Mary Ellen (Wentworth) Fowler. Ile comes of good Scotch and English ancestry. members of the family on both sides of the house having served most creditably in the patriot army during the Revolutionary war. The founders of the Fowler family in America crosse 1 the ocean with the Pilgrim Fathers and the mother of our subject claimed the Carvers among her ancestors and was also a descendant of the Curial family of Scotland.
James N. Fowler was educated in the common schools of the line Tree state and began his business career as an apprentice to a merchant tailor. also learning the haberdashery business. The male members of the family were largely sea captains and John Fowler, the father of James N .. after retiring from the sea, opened a haberdashery store at Searsport, with
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which his son became connected, the latter succeeding the father in busi- ness. About fourteen years ago he retired and although now quite ad- vanced in age is strong and hearty physically and mentally his powers are unimpaired, although he has now reached the age of seventy-six years. He was successful in his business and acquired a competence which he now enjoys. He attends the Congregational church, of which his father was a deacon. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order and is a Knight Templar in that organization. He has been allied with the democratic party ever since casting his first vote and has been an active worker in its support, although never an aspirant for political honors. In response to the first call of President Lincoln for troops he offered his services to the Union, enlisting for three months in a Maine regiment. Later he reenlisted, becoming a member of Company K, Twenty-sixth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and rose to the rank of major.
The mother of our subject was born in September, 1834, and passed away June 20, 1883. She was a daughter of James Wentworth, who was a ship carpenter and married Eliza Curial, whose family settled in Penn- sylvania at an early day. Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fowler: Frank N., the subject of this review; James N., Jr., who became a merchant tailor and died at Ames, Iowa, in 1907; and Ellen MI .. of Dorchester, Massachusetts, the wife of Albert Cleveland, a traveling salesman for a Boston house.
Frank N. Fowler received his preliminary education in the public schools of Camden, Maine, and worked his way through the academic course, being ambitious to take up the profession of law. After graduating from the academy, however, he and his companions were seized with the sea fever and shipped on board a merchantman, leaving friends and country far behind in a long voyage to foreign ports. The young seaman spent about ten years on the ocean, visiting the principal ports of the world and gaining a knowledge of human nature that has since proved of great value. In November, 1886, Mr. Fowler came west and after stopping for a few months in Des Moines, Iowa, settled at Ames, where he continued for twenty-two years as manager of the B. A. Lockwood Grain Company of Des Moines. In 1908 he was elected treasurer of Story county and re- moved to Nevada, being reelected to the same office in 1910. He has dis- charged his duties with rare fidelity and with special regard for the in- terests of the people, hence his administration has met the hearty approval of the citizens of the county irrespective of their party affiliation.
In 1883 Mr. Fowler was united in marriage to Miss Lottie L. Treat. who was born at Searsport, Maine, September 3, 1861. She was the daughter of James B. and Mary Ann ( Pendleton ) Treat and came of Revolutionary stock. Three children were born of this union: Albert, who is now chief of the final result division of the census department at Washington, D. C .; Mona L., now a student in the Nevada high school; and Donald Wentworth, also attending school. The mother of these chi !-
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