USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 36
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Alexander Henderson received his early education in the district schools and later attended the Story City Business College and the Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa. He was early taught the importance and value of labor and received upon the home farm a good training in agri- culture and stock-raising, becoming thoroughly acquainted with all the details along those lines. In the fall of 1895 he came to Story City and for two years served as bookkeeper. In 1897 he entered the furniture and embalming business, the name of the firm for the last twelve years being Jondall & Henderson. It is the only concern of the kind in Story City and has a floor space of four thousand eight hundred square feet, two floors being well packed with a carefully selected stock. Mr. Henderson is thor- oughly qualified as an embalmer, receiving a diploma in 1899, and was the first person in Story City who was thoroughly prepared to apply strictly modern methods of embalming. He is also president of the Northwestern Land Company, which controls large interests in Minnesota, town property in Story City, etc. He is a stockholder of the First National bank, has also been a director of the Story City Telephone Company and for twelve years secretary of the Story City Farmers Creamery company.
On the 28th of September, 1897, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Tendeland, who was born at Marshalltown, Iowa, and reared in Story City. Three children came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, Lester, Grace and Beatrice.
Mr. Henderson is an active worker in the republican party and has twice been a delegate to the republican county convention. He served for six years as alderman, being chairman of the water-works committee and also active in other important capacities. In 1908 he was elected mayor of Story City and has since occupied that office. He has paid special attention to the promotion of good government, being a firm advocate of a business administration in municipal affairs, and as overseer of the poor has done much to relieve the unfortunate. He has been prominent in the promotion of good roads and the excellent condition of the roads in the vicinity of
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Story City is largely due to his efforts. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, was for six years keeper of the records and seal and has passed through all the chairs of the lodge, being now past chancelor commander. Ile is also a valued member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his family affiliate with St. Peter's Norwegian Lutheran church. Ile is a man of many genial characteristics and at the same time is a thorough business man of systematic and methodical habits, who has the ability to advance his own interests and also to add largely to the com- fort and happiness of others. He is an uncompromising advocate of tem- perance and has successfully led in many a conflict with the forces of the opposition. Much of his success is due to his knowledge of human nature and the ability he possesses of reading aright the motives of those with whom he has come into contact. Today he clearly occupies a position as a leader in this section.
THOMAS HEMSTOCK.
Among the well known and enterprising agriculturists of Story county is Thomas Hemstock, who owns one of the finest and best equipped farms in Union township. He is of English parentage and was born on the Isle of Man on the ist of June. 1832, being a son of Thomas Hemstock. He was but six weeks old when the family sailed for America. Landing at New York, they soon removed to the interior of the Empire state, where they lived for one year, and then went to Lorain county, Ohio, but at the end of a year again moved, locating this time in Winnebago county, Illinois. Three years later Mrs. Hemstock died, when her son was only five years of age, too young to have any recollection of his mother whatever. Later the father married Miss Martha Taylor and continued to make Illinois his home until 1870, when he migrated to Iowa, settling in Union township. Story county, where he lived until his death at the age of sixty-five years.
Mr. Hemstock made his home on the farm with his father and step- mother and, being the eklest of the family, he obtained but meager educa- tion. The work of the farm was heavy and only at such times as he could be spared was he permitted to attend the brief sessions of the district school. On the 23d of March, 1852. he left home and with an ox team took the over- land route to California. It was a long, hard trip but life on the frontier had inured him to hardships and privations and, nothing daunted, with light heart and bright dreams of what the west held in store for him he started. On the 3d day of the following August he drove into Placertown, Eldorado county. California, and for fourteen years he followed mining in California. Montana and Idaho, ever hoping, despite discouragements and misfortunes. to make a "find." In September, 1800, he returned to the old home in Illi- nois and after remaining there for a time came to Story county, Iowa, to
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visit a brother. While here he bought his present home farm of one hun- dred and sixty-six acres, for which he paid ten dollars per acre, all of which was unbroken prairie with the exception of fifty acres.
Returning to his old home in Illinois for a time Mr. Hemstock was united in marriage on the 7th of January, 1867, to Miss Louise C. Randall who was a daughter of Ira Randall, a veteran of the Civil war, living in Wisconsin. Later Mr. Randall removed to Nebraska, where he died. Im- mediately after marriage the young couple returned to Iowa and located on the farm which Mr. Hemstock had purchased in the fall. They arrived in Story county on the 10th of January, 1867, and have lived here continuously ever since. Mr. Hemstock has been most successful, despite the many hard- ships and discouragements endured during the early days, and now owns three hundred and fifty acres of as valuable farm land as can be found in this section of the country. Thrift, tireless energy and absolute confidence in the ultimate victory has placed him among the substantial and affluent farmers in this community.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hemstock, three of whom sur- vive : Willard P., who is a farmer of Union township, this county; Arthur V., a farmer of Grant township; and Bernie B., who at present is managing the home farm. The family always attend the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mrs. Hemstock holds membership. She is very active in all church work, particularly that of the Jefferson Aid Society. Mr. Hemstock always votes for the candidates of the democratic party and that he is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens is demonstrated by the fact that for many years he served as supervisor, township trustee, director of the school board and in other township offices. That he proved to be efficient in all instances is borne out by his repeated reelection. He is and has been during his forty-four years residence here one of the well known men of the com- munity. His influence and support could always be counted upon in any measure that bid fair to benefit or improve conditions in his community.
When a very young man in Idaho territory Mr. Hemstock joined the Masonic fraternity and has ever continued a loyal member of that body, letting its basic principles mold and direct his life. At present he is iden- tified with Nevada Lodge, No. 99, A. F. & A. M1.
ANDREW MALAND.
As an educator and molder of public opinion, Andrew Maland, pro- prietor and editor of the Slater News, is accorded general recognition in Story county. His personal worth and his valuable services as a leader in politics received recognition by President Roosevelt, who appointed him postmaster of Slater, a position he still occupies. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, he overcame every obstacle and through un-
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daunted perseverance won his way to the responsible position he now occupies.
Ile was born in Palestine township, January 19, 1874. a son of John and Engebor Maland. The parents were both born in Norway and were married in their native country, coming to the United States in 1860. They spent one year at Morris, Illinois, and then located in Story county, Iowa. The father purchased eighty acres of land on section 36, Palestine township. on which he resided until his death in 1895. The mother is still living, having arrived at the age of seventy-five years, and makes her home in Slater.
Andrew Maland was reared under conditions that early acquainted him with hard work. He possessed limited advantages of education in the dis- trict schools but was ambitious to study the higher branches, believing that if he had a good mental training, he could better perform his part in the world. When sixteen years of age he was in attendance at the State Nor- mad School at Cedar Falls, working for his board and in various ways earning money to pay his expenses. That he succeeded is shown by the fact of his coming home after the first term with fifteen dollars in his pocket. He also attended Highland Park College and at nineteen years of age began teaching at Renwick, where he continued for two years, then going to Hum- lu llt. where he taught for one year and from that place to Huxley. teach- ing for three years in that vicinity. He completed his training at the State Normal School in 1899, but, having come to the conclusion that the remu- neration for educational work was too small, he gave up teaching. Going to Slater, he formed a partnership with O. J. Viland and purchased the furniture business of Halverson Brothers, the new firm being known as Maland & Viland. In 1902 they purchased the Slater News, a weekly newspaper, and Mr. Maland continued its publication under the same title, also remaining in the furniture business. In 1906 he was appointed post- master of Slater, and the printing plant and postoffice demanding his en- tire time, he and Mr. Viland mutually agreed to sever their business rela- tions. Mr. Viland taking the furniture store and Mr. Maland the printing plant, of which he has since had entire charge. He has also been success -. fully identified with other business enterprises, being secretary and manager of the Farmers' Cooperative Creamery Company for five years, carrying the concern through its early struggles and placing it on a substantial basis.
On the 10th of October. 1900, Mr. Maland was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Wald, a sister of S. O. Wald, an attorney of Slater, and previ- ous to her marriage a popular teacher of that vicinity. Two children blessed this union, Ella B. and Obert J. Mrs. Maland was called from earthly scenes on the 10th of January, 1900. She was a woman of many estimable qualities and her death was the severest loss Mr. Maland has ever known.
Politically he has from the time of casting his first ballot been in thor- ough sympathy with the republican party. Since the age of fifteen years
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he has been connected with public office, having served as township com- mitteeman, member of the school board, member of the town council and in other capacities. He has been a prominent factor in local politics and in 1910 was campaign manager, succeeding in nominating M. S. Helland as a member of the legislature. He is a leader in every movement pertaining to the welfare of Slater and vicinity, going to the extent of guaranteeing payment for good public entertainments for the town. Fraternally he is identified with Slater Lodge, No. 384, I. O. O. F., and in religious affairs he gives his allegiance to the Lutheran church, for four years serving as superintendent of the Sunday school and leader in the choir. He was the organizer of the Central Luther League and its secretary for several years, from which was developed the Luther League of Iowa, one of the most important movements in the Lutheran church in this part of the coun- try during recent years.
CHARLES H. HALL.
Among the young men engaged in the active practice of law in Story county is Charles H. Hall, of Nevada, who is now fairly launched in the second year of his professional career. He was born in Peoria, Iowa, October 25, 1880, a son of James M. and Mary Jane (Bell) Hall. The father was born in Indiana and has been identified with the mercantile business ever since reaching manhood. He is now living at Collins, Iowa, and is fifty-six years of age. Aside from his business his attention for many years has been given to the church and Sunday school. He is a stanch worker in the Methodist denomination and has been superintendent of a Sunday school for twenty years past. Politically he is identified with the republican party and fraternally with the Masonic order. He is a man of good business qualifications, unsullied character and the possessor of those attributes which are most essential in progressive citizenship. The mother of our subject was born at Valparaiso, Indiana, and is also an active member of the Methodist church. There were five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hall, namely: Clara, who married H. C. Denniston, a farmer, now living near Collins; Charles H., our subject ; Grace, now Mrs. O. G. Smith, of Nevada; Milo, a shoe salesman of Des Moines, Iowa ; and Jennie, at home.
Charles H. Hall was reared in a peaceful home and even as a boy gave indications of a studious and thoughtful disposition which pointed to a pro- fessional career. He attended the public schools of Collins, graduating from the high school in the class of 1899, being then nineteen years of age. In 1902 he entered mercantile business at Colo, Story county, in which he con- tinued for four years, at the end of which time he matriculated in the law department of Drake University, graduating therefrom with the degree
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of LL.B. in June, 1909. In July following he began practice at Nevada. where he has since remained, meeting with a success that has been highly gratifying.
On January 1, 1902. Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Addie May Triplett, who was born in Elkins, West Virginia, in June, 1880, a daughter of Hickman and Martha (Chenoweth ) Triplett. Mr. Triplett is one of the prominent farmers of his state. One child, Oscar Leland, born July 31, 1910, has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
Mr. Hall has won the position of responsibility and respect which he holds in the community by earnest. conscientious and well directed effort and as he possesses the requisites of education and natural ability. there is no doubt in the minds of his friends that he will be able to meet their ex- pectations in the years to come. He has gained a fair share of patronage and as time progresses it is steadily increasing, his patrons being among the best class of citizens in the city and county. He and his wife are con- sistent members of the Methodist church and liberal contributors toward its support. IJe is a member of the Story County Bar Association and has many friends in that well established organization. Ile is also identified with Columbia Lodge. A. F. & \. M .. at Colo, and with the Modern Wood- men of America. Since arriving at voting age he has cast his ballot in be- half of the republican party and although he has not sought public office his efforts have been freely expended in support of candidates and principles that he believes to be essential to the permanent prosperity of the state and nation.
W. T. B. SIENKLE.
Some men have several talents and appear to be almost equally at home in whatever they undertake. To this class belongs W. T. B. Shenkle, who for ten years past has been engaged in the real-estate business at Collins. Reared as a farmer, he devoted a number of years to agriculture and then engaged in mercantile business, finally selectng his present occupation as the one that most appealed to his judgment. He deals largely in farm lands and has met with a goodly measure of success.
Hle was born in Collins township. July 7, 1858. son of Benjamin and Edith ( Day ) Shenkle. They were both natives of Brown county, Ohio. and removed with their respective parents to Marion county, Indiana, where they grew to maturity and were married. In 1850 the Shenkle family, with that of William Fertig, started westward. their destination being Fort Scott. Kansas. They journeyed by water down the Ohio river, then up the Mis- sissippi to the mouth of the Missouri, thence to Kansas City. On reaching the latter point they heard much talk of troubles in Kansas on account of the slavery question and they decided to seek a more peaceable region.
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Being very favorably impressed with what they had heard concerning this section of Iowa, Mr. Shenkle outfitted with a team of horses and a wagon and his friend purchased an ox team and wagon as their means of trans- portation to their new home. On the 2d day of May they arrived at Eden- ville, now Rhodes, Marshall county, Iowa, where they remained for a time. Mr. Shenkle visited Story county and being very much pleased with the ap- pearance of the country, purchased a tract of raw prairie land which he broke, also erecting a log cabin to which he removed his family in the fall of 1856. His farm consisted of two hundred acres, of which eighty acres was timber and was considered a choice piece of land on account of the timber, but the price which he paid-five dollars an acre-was thought by settlers to be highly exorbitant. The same land would now readily bring one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. The first election for the organiza- tion of the township was held at Mr. Shenkle's home, and as the country was quite thinly inhabited, there were only five votes cast at this time. The township was named Collins in honor of a township in New York state. from which one of the nearest neighbors of Mr. Shenkle came. Mr. Shenkle was active in the councils of the democratic party and was first clerk of the township, holding that position until his death, which occurred in 1865. Mrs. Shenkle continued on the home farm until after her children were grown up, and then she made her home with the subject of this review, being called to her reward May 3. 1898, at the age of eighty-three years.
WV. T. B. Shenkle was reared under the healthful conditions of a coun- try home and acquired his early education in the common schools. At twelve years of age he was placed in charge of the home farm, his older brothers having gone out into the world, and when he reached his eighteenth year he began operating rented land on his own account. After his mar- riage he removed to a farm of eighty acres, which he had purchased a year previously, located two and one-half miles east of Collins. He continued upon that place for ten years and then removed to Collins, where in 1898 he was placed in charge of a hardware business, which he managed success- fully for one year. In 1899 he went to Churdan, Greene county, Iowa, and was identified with the hardware business there, in partnership with a brother-in-law, the title of the firm being Tipton & Shenkle. After eighteen months' experience they closed out the business and Mr. Shenkle returned to Collins and opened a real-estate office. He has since been interested in farm lands and has found the business so congenial to his taste that it is probable he will so continue for a number of years to come.
In 1887 Mr. Shenkle was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Tipton. of Collins township, a daughter of Leonard and Isadora ( Eatherton) Tip- ton. natives of Ohio. They came to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1851, and lo- cated in Story county in 1877. The mother passed away February 4, 1904, and the father is now making his home with his daughter at Collins. One child, Eva, who died in infancy, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Shenkle.
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Mr. Shenkle has spent over fifty years in the part of the state where he now lives and few men are better acquainted with its resources. He early became thoroughly familiar with agricultural pursuits and as a business man has shown a discrimination and sound judgment that have added greatly to his reputation, so that today he is one of the best known real- estate men in this section. He is a member of Fervent Lodge. No. 513, A. F. & A. M .; Amity Lodge, No. 361, I. O. O. F .; and the Mystic Workers of the World, and he and his wife are connected with the Order of the Eastern Star and the United Brethren church. Politically he is an earnest supporter of the republican party, and although he has never sought po- litical office he has been active in assisting many of his friends who have done so.
GEORGE HYDEN.
One of the successful agriculturists and extensive landowners of Story county was George Hyden of Richland township, who passed away Febru- ary 23, 1911, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was born in Staffordshire, England. on the 12th of May, 1828, and was a son of Robert and Elizabeth ( Nokes) Hyden, both of whom spent their entire lives in that country, the father living to the advanced age of one hundred and two and one-half years. Four children constituted the family, all of whom have now passed away.
Mr. Hyden spent the first twenty-three years of his life in the mother country and then in 1851 decided to become a citizen of the United States. believing that this country afforded better opportunities for ambitions young men. Crossing the Atlantic he landed at New York city and made his way to Fredonia, New York, where he hired ont by the year for three and one-half years and then again started westward, settling at Rock Island. Illinois. Hle remained there only about six months, however, and in the spring of 1855 arrived in Story county. After working out for eleven months he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 22, Rich- land township, which was unbroken and unimproved prairie. He began to cultivate the soil, adding such improvements as he could from time to time and in 1857 he erected the house in which he continued to live through- out life. Mr. Hyden was successful in his vocation, his good management and tireless energy being rewarded by the means which enabled him to later add two hundred acres to his realty holdings, but this he subsequently sold to his son-in-law. He then owned, in addition to his homestead, eighty acres on section 27. Richland township. and one-half section in Texas.
Mr. lyden was wedded to Miss Louisa Pool. a daughter of John and Ann Pool. She died in 1801. Of this union there were seven children born, two of whom are still living: Gorilla is the wife of Clark Apple and
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the mother of five children. Rose is the wife of J. C. Hilburn, who was born in Spencer, Owen county, Indiana, and is a son of J. C. and Bridget Hilburn. His parents were both dead ere he left home, and before coming to Iowa he spent some time in Kansas and Nebraska. He has been a resi- dent of Story county about twenty years. He purchased land in Richland township, which he subsequently sold and then bought the farm which he now occupies from his father-in-law. He is recognized as one of the lead- ing citizens of the community and is held in high regard wherever known. To Mr. and Mrs. Hilburn have been born the following children: Willis, George Howard, Blanch, Beulah, Clarence and Walter.
After he acquired the rights of full citizenship through naturalization Mr. Hyden cast his vote with the republican party. The esteem in which he was held was indicated by his election to many of the township offices, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of the community. He was one of the most respected and substantial farmers of his section and during his residence here won many friends, whose esteem and good- will he always retained.
FRED HOLTBY.
That the United States affords the possibilities which warrant the am- bitious young man or woman in aspiring to almost any goal with full confidence of attaining it is universally conceded and to such men as Fred Holtby it has ever proven not only the land of promise but of fulfillment. Mr. Holtby was born in Yorkshire, England, on the Ioth of March, 1865, a son of Stephen and Ana ( Holtby) Holtby, also natives of Yorkshire, where they lived and died. The father was a farmer by occupation.
Our subject was reared on the home farm, acquiring his preliminary education in the village school and later being sent to a boarding school for a more advanced course, as is the custom in that country. On attaining his majority he decided that conditions in the United States offered better opportunities to ambitious young men than those of conservative England. He, therefore, set sail for America, landing in New York with twelve dol- lars in his pocket. Undaunted, however, he made his way west and located in Morgan county, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand. He remained there for six years, carefully laying aside a portion of his meager wage each month in order that he, too, might become a landowner. In June, 1892, he again set his face toward the west, Iowa being his destination this time. He stopped in Story county for a short time and then rented a farm just over the line in Jasper county, about five miles south of Coffins, where he began farming for himself. After six years of economy, good manage- ment and unremitting toil he had secured sufficient means to enable him to make a start for himself, so he purchased a small farm in Jasper county.
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