USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 42
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WILLIAM E. MILLS.
One of the well known and progressive farmers of Indian Creek town- ship is William E. Mills, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 26th of August, 1863. His parents, Edward C. and Levantia D. (Guy) Mills, were both natives of the state of New York, removing to Illinois with their respective parents when young. They were married in Ottawa, Illinois, in 1859, and then settled on a farm in La Salle county, where they continued to reside for eight years. In 1866 they came west locating on one hundred and sixty acres which they bought in Indian Creek town- ship, this county. Here in 1876 Mr. Mills died but the family remained on the farm until 1900, when they removed to Maxwell, where Mrs. Mills passed away in 1907.
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William E. Mills was but twelve years of age when his father passed away and when he was barely fourteen assumed the responsibility of con- ducting the home farm. He remained at home until 1891, when he de- cided to become a pharmacist and entered a drug store in Maxwell in order to learn the business. In the summer of 1893 he bought an interest in the store in which he was employed, but retained it only a short time, however, selling out the following spring and going to l'ine Village, In- diana. He purchased a store in the latter place, which he continued to run until 1902, at which time he disposed of his interests there and, re- turning to Story county, bought a farm in Union township, near Elwell, upon which he lived for five years. He sold this farm in 1907 and bought his present place in Indian Creek township, where he has ever since re- sided.
On the Ist of October, 1893, Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Maud V. Flickinger, a daughter of Levi and Catherine ( Traxler) Flick- inger, at that time residents of Maxwell but natives of Pennsylvania, where they were reared and married, coming to Story county in 1869.
Mr. Mills follows diversified farming and raises the best breeds of stock, although he does not specialize. llis fields are well tilled, his stock well cared for and his farm has the general appearance of being owned and conducted by a progressive, businesslike agriculturist.
He has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity and is at present identified with the Herald Lodge, No. 455, A. F. & A. M., and is a de- mitted member of the Royal Arch chapter. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His wife is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and also holds membership in the Presbyterian church. Although he does not take any active interest in politics to the extent of seeking public office. Mr. Mills is a stanch adherent of the republican party, and each election finds him casting his ballot for the candidates of the same. His high prin- ciples, progressive spirit and unquestionable integrity make him a most desirable citizen, and it is needless to say that he is one of the highly re- spected and esteemed farmers of this county.
HON. PARLEY SHELDON.
No history of Ames would be complete without extended reference to llon. Parley Sheldon. now serving for the tenth term as mayor of the city. This, however, but indicates one line of his intense and well directed activity, which in many other avenues has constituted a force in the growth and prog- ress of the community, as well as a source of individual success.
Parley Sheldon was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, about three miles from Cleveland on the 7th of June, 1844, a son of Parley and Elvira ( Litch) Sheldon. His father, Parley Sheldon, Sr .. was born in Jefferson county,
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New York. in ISI0. and when eighteen years of age became a resident of Ohio. In Cuyahoga county he married Elvira Litch, whose birth occurred in Vermont in 1809. She accompanied her parents to the Buckeye state in her early girlhood and following their marriage continued to reside upon the farm where the wedding was celebrated until they were called to their final rest.
Parley Sheldon, whose name introduces this record, spent his boyhood and youth upon the home farm until he espoused the Union cause during the Civil war as a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from which regiment he was honorably discharged in August, 1865. When the war was over he resumed his agricultural pursuits in Ohio and in addition to cultivating the fields turned his attention to the breeding of standard-bred trotting stock. Ile conducted that business ex- tensively and became well known in that connection.
On the 27th of September, 1865, Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Frances A. Judd, who was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1845, and is a daughter of O. B. Judd. Their children are Bernice J. and Harriet E. The former was born January 5, 1867, and is the present cashier of the Story County Bank, which position he has held since his graduation at the Iowa State College in 1888. The latter was born November 27, 1869, and is now the wife of E. W. Hammer of Chicago.
Mr. Sheldon dates his residence in lowa from 1874. when he arrived in Cedar county. In the spring of 1875 he became the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of land adjoining Ames on the south, brought his family to the new home and continued the breeding of horses, the feeding of cattle and hogs and general farming, giving to his business his personal attention until 1882, in which year he removed to Ames, and for three years there- after was engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock.
The sterling qualities which Mr. Sheldon displayed in business naturally attracted the attention of his fellowmen and in the spring of 1883 he was elected to the city council, where his course was such that the following year witnessed his election to the mayoralty. In 1885 he was appointed post- master under President Cleveland and served in that capacity until 1890. after which he was again elected mayor, filling the position until 1894. In that year he was again appointed postmaster and continued in that office until 1898, having served in the position altogether nine years. In the meantime he had turned his attention to banking, having in 1890 purchased the Story County Bank, which he has since conducted, and which is regarded as one of the leading financial institutions of Ames.
Mr. Sheldon has been a lifelong democrat. In 1902 he was a democratic nominee from the seventh district of lowa for congress and in 1910 he was the democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and in both of these con- tests received the strong support of his fellow townsmen, showing that where he is best known he is most strongly supported. Broad-minded citi- zenship is displayed in the election and reelection of Mr. Sheldon to the
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mayoralty. His fellow townsmen appreciate his worth and what he has done for the city. The greater part of the municipal improvements of AAmes have been made under his administration, and he brings to the conduct of the duties of the office the same progressive spirit and earnest purpose which characterize him in his private business affairs. He has ever been deeply interested in the welfare and upbuilding of the community, and whether in office or out of it has labored earnestly for general progress and improve- ment. His business interests have largely been of a character that have con- tributed to growth and advancement. He is a man of irreproachable in- tegrity in business affairs, and added to that he displays marked ability in the conduct of important interests.
Hle is a member of the Jowa Society of the Sons of the American Revo- lution through his ancestor Caleb Ellis, who served in a New Hampshire regiment through the entire struggle for American independence, participat- ing in many of the important battles, including Bunker Hill. Ticonderoga and Lake Champlain and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne.
lle has been treasurer of the independent school district of Ames since 1898 and is a stalwart champion of the cause of education and of intellectual progress. In fact, he stands at all times for progress and improvement ; is a man of action rather than theory ; and has been a leader in executing care- fully formulated plans for the benefit of the city and community. He is today one of the strongest elements in the life of Ames-a man who, while successfully conducting business affairs, has fully recognized and met his obligations of citizenship and his responsibilities toward his fellowmen.
WILLIAM KNIGHT BOARDMAN.
A man of ready resourcefulness and with genius for the management of intricate and important business affairs, William Knight Boardman was for a long period one of the most prominent and active citizens of Nevada and of Iowa, for his operations reached out into various sections of the state. He became recognized as an authority upon dairy and creamery projects and upon the subject of poultry raising, and he conducted an ex- tensive produce business in Nevada, where he made his home until his death, which occurred December 26, 1910, in Los Angeles, California. Ilis residence was erected in 1878, at No. 275 Locust street, and remains today as one of the fine homes of the city, so substantially was it built.
In far off New England the birth of William K. Boardman occurred. for he was a native of Troy, Vermont, born June 22. 1852. His parents were Norman and Lois ( Knight ) Boardman, natives of Vermont and of New York respectively The father was engaged in the practice of law in the Green Mountain state and on coming to the middle west sought a home in Iowa. He became recognized as a prominent and influential resident of the community in which he lived and served for one term as state senator
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from Clinton county, Iowa, about the close of the Civil war. He also filled the position of revenue collector of the second Iowa district under Presi- dent Grant. IIis early political allegiance was given to the democratic party until the time of the Dred Scott decision, after which he joined the ranks of the republican party on its formation and remained one of its stalwart advocates until his demise. In his business affairs he was quite successful and became the owner of extensive and important interests. He died April 30, 1894, on the eighty-first anniversary of his birth, having long survived his wife, who passed away in Lyons, Iowa, in 1857. In their family were three children: Homer C., who is engaged in the real-estate and loan busi- ness at Okeene, Oklahoma; William K., of this review ; and Charles D., of Chicago, who is president of the Boardman Land & Loan Company, he and his brother William owning a large amount of stock in the company in which Charles D. is serving as vice president.
William K. Boardman was but three years of age when his parents started with their family for Clinton county, Iowa. They traveled by rail as far as Sterling, Illinois, and drove across the country the remainder of the way until their destination was reached. He became a factor in the pioneer life of the community and remained a resident of Clinton county until 1871, when he went east for the completion of his education, entering Dean Academy at Franklin, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated two years later, or in 1873. He then returned to Lyons, now Clinton, Iowa, where he entered the clothing business in connection with William Buell under the firm name of Buell & Boardman. This relation was main- tained until 1877, at which time Mr. Boardman came to Nevada. Here he continued in the same line of business, becoming a member of the firm of Ross & Boardman. He was thus actively associated with the commer- cial interests of Nevada until 1879, when he sold out. In February, 1879. he was joined by his brother H. C. Boardman in the conduct of a produce business, which was carried on under the firm style of Boardman Brothers until 1902, when they sold out. In the previous spring William K. Board- man was stricken with paralysis, which incapacitated him for the active management of business affairs. At one time the Boardman Brothers were the owners of eight creameries in Iowa and also of four poultry ranches in different parts of the state, including a creamery and a poultry ranch at Nevada. In 1882 they erected a large cold storage building in Nevada, which was one of the first if not the first in the state. They are both recog- nized as men of resourceful business ability and an enterprising spirit car- ried them into important connection with various profitable undertakings which constituted an element in the growth and prosperity of the com- munitics in which they operated as well as in their individual success. At length, however, disease in a measure cut short the active business carcer of William K. Boardman. Throughout his active business life, however, he had done much that constituted an element in the county's growth and development and he was entitled to wide recognition as one whose labors
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were extremely beneficial to the county. He was a director of the Royal Union Mutual Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, with which he was thus associated for many years. He was also at one time president of the lowa Dairy Association, was president of the National Butter Makers As- sociation, vice president of the National Dairy Union, one of the trustees of the State Agricultural College at Ames for a term, and was state dairy commissioner for four years.
In 1877 Mr. Boardman was married to Miss Addie H. Henningsen. who was born in Jackson county, Iowa, January 6, 1857, and there resided until 1865, when she removed from Sabula to Lyons with her parents. Ilon. B. H. A. and Mrs. Henningsen. Her father was a capitalist and a man of affairs at Lyons, and it was there that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Board- man was celebrated. They became the parents of two children: Frank Mead, now manager of the Independent Telephone Company of Story county and a resident of Nevada ; and Lois Knight, at home.
Mr. Boardman was numbered among the charter members of the Knights of Pythias lodge and of the Modern Woodmen camp of Nevada. He held membership in the Presbyterian church and gave his political alle- giance to the republican party. While he was never a politician in the usu- ally accepted sense of the term, he was twice elected to the city council, of which he was a member when taken ill. Success attended him in his busi- ness ventures, enabling him to spend the winter seasons in California or in other districts where there is a more salubrious climate than can be found in Iowa.
HENRY WOLFFE BOWERS, M. D.
Although it is less than a year since Dr. Henry W. Bowers began prac- tice in Nevada he has been remarkably successful and the outlook is ex- ceedingly encouraging as to his future carcer. Born at Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, in 1882, he is the son of George A. and Alice B. ( Hershey) Bowers, both of whom are natives of the Keystone state. The father de- voted his active life to farming and attained a goodly measure of success. He and his wife are now living retired at Biglerville, Pennsylvania, the former having reached the age of fifty-four years, while the latter is three years his junior. They are both members of the German Lutheran church. Politically Mr. Bowers has been in sympathy with the democratic party during the greater part of his life, although he is also an earnest advocate of prohibition.
The fourth in a family of thirteen children, Henry W. Bowers was reared under the paternal roof, remaining at home until sixteen years of age and assisting to the extent of his ability in the work upon the home farm. He received his preliminary education in the district schools, later
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attending Hanover Academy at Hanover, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1900. He taught school for a time after entering the academy and also after his graduation but came to the conclusion that he would devote his energies to a professional career. Accordingly he went to Philadelphia in 1902 and entered a drug store, at the same time study- ing pharmacy and attending lectures in the Medico-Chirurgical College, graduating from that celebrated institution with the degree of Ph. G. in 1905. He then took up a medical course at the same college, which he pursued for three years, at the end of which time he went to Denver, Colo- rado, and entered the medical department of the Denver University, grad- uating with honors and receiving the degree of M. D. in 1909. In recog- nition of special talent as a student he received the appointment of interne or house physician of St. Luke's Hospital of Denver, one of the most noted hospitals of the west, which position he filled for one year, gaining an experience that has been invaluable to him in his practice.
In April, 1910, Dr. Bowers located for general practice in Nevada. He is an untiring student and a close observer, and his success has been largely due to his ability to make a practical application of his knowledge. He keeps thoroughly informed as to the latest discoveries and developments in medicine and surgery and is a constant reader of the best medical maga- zines and reviews as well as of standard works relating to his profession. He is a member of the Jowa State Medical Society and the Story County Medical Society and fraternally is identified with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has many friends in these organizations and also in the community where he lives. Having made a thorough preparation for his profession under some of the greatest physicians and surgeons of America, he is well qualified to discharge his duties and today it is doubtful whether any other profes- sional man in this part of the state has a more promising future than the gentleman whose name introduces this review.
WILLIAM VASEY.
Beginning as a farm hand, William Vasey, of Collins township, by energy, enterprise and sound business judgment has become one of the wealthy citizens of Story county. He was born in Yorkshire, England, April 22, 1849. son of Richard and Rebecca (Anderson) Vasey, both of whom were also natives of Yorkshire. In 1861 the family emigrated to this country and the father engaged in farming in Jacksonville, Illinois, until 1887, when he removed to Story county, Iowa. Several of his sons had preceded him to this county and were greatly pleased with the out- look as to its agricultural possibilities. Shortly after his arrival the father purchased eighty acres across the line in Jasper county. where he resided
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until his death, which occurred in 1898, having then arrived at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother departed this life seven years later. They were prominent members of the Baptist church and were highly es- teemed by all who knew them.
William Vasey came to the United States with his parents in his thir- teenth year, and from the time of his arrival in this country was able to do a man's work behind the plow. However, he attended the district schools and received the foundation of an education, which he has greatly broadened by observation and reading during the years that have since elapsed. He came to Story county in 1868 and began work as a farm hand, showing an interest in his work which gave bright promise as to his future. At the age of twenty-three he was married and soon afterward removed to Peoria. Polk county, Iowa, where he had purchased eighty acres of land adjoining the limits of Peoria but located in Story county. He lived in the town and cultivated the farm for two years and then pur- chased a farm in Jasper county near the lines of Polk and Story counties. upon which he took up his residence. He managed this place with such ability that in 1887 he was able to purchase three hundred and twenty acres in Collins township, Story county, which he has since made his home. He has been remarkably successful and now owns seven hundred and fifty acres, three hundred and twenty of which are located in Eden township. Marshall county, six miles east of his home farm. He has dealt exten- sively in cattle, which he has fed upon a large scale and has also been un- usually successful in handling farm lands. He is still actively engaged in business and his judgment is regarded by his neighbors and friends as conclusive on subjects pertaining to agriculture and live stock.
In the spring of 1872 Mr. Vasey was united in marriage to Miss Ana Oxley, a native of England, and daughter of John Oxley, who after com- ing to this country lived in Maryland and Illinois and about 1866 located in Story county, lowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Vasey ten children have been born, namely: John, a farmer of Collins township; Charles, a member of the firm of Vascy Brothers, lumber dealers of Collins; Henry, a practicing attorney of Nevada, Iowa: Jesse, of Los Angeles, California : Raleigh and Chauncy, at home: Arthur, a member of the firm of Vasey Brothers of Collins ; Alma, wife of Euclid H. Harsh, a farmer of Jasper county ; Clara. now Mrs. Arthur Hands, of Collins; and Ethel, at home. Mr. Vasey was called upon to meet the greatest sorrow of his life in the death of his he- loved companion in August. 1896. She was a member of the Methodist church and possessed many estimable qualities of mind and heart that greatly endeared her to all with whom she was associated.
Mr. Vasey is not identified with any religious denomination but he is a stanch believer in Christianity and is a liberal contributor to church and charitable purposes. Politically he prefers to be independent, voting for the man rather than for the party. He has few superiors in lines of agri- culture and stock-raising, to which he has devoted the best energies of his
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life, and it is doubtful whether any man in his locality is a better judge of the productive capability or the value of land. Without aid from others, depending upon his own strong arms and an unalterable determination to win, he forged his way to an independent position financially and is now accorded the respect that rightfully belongs to one who has fought and won in the great battle of life.
PROFESSOR ALFRED ALLEN BENNETT.
Professor Alfred Allen Bennett is numbered among those who have won for the Iowa State College its splendid reputation as a strong center of learning. His labors have been an element in the growth of the school and his ability as an instructor is widely acknowledged. Under his guid- ance the chemistry department has been built up and developed until it is today one of the strong departments of the school, having an enroll- ment of about eight hundred pupils at a time. Thorough university train- ing qualified Professor Bennett for his work in this connection and for twenty-six years he has been one of the capable professors at Ames.
A native of New Hampshire, Professor Bennett was born in the town of Milford, in 1850, a son of Rodolphus D. and Mary ( Woodard) Bennett, the former born in Groton, Massachusetts, in 1816, and the latter in Merrimack, New Hampshire, in 1820. Their entire lives were spent in the east. In 1856 they went to Ohio with the idea of remaining and Mr. Ben- nett purchased a farm, but after a few months they returned to New Eng- land and both died in New Hampshire, the father passing away in Milford, while the mother's death occurred in Manchester. Each was sixty-eight years of age at the time of demise. Mr. Bennett had followed farming through the greater part of his life but spent his last years in honorable and well earned retirement in Milford.
Professor Bennett, the third in order of birth in a family of six chil- dren, resided with his parents until eighteen years of age, during which period he attended the village and country schools. Better educational ad- vantages were afterward afforded him, however, and he became a student in the Massachusetts Normal School at Bridgewater, where he completed the course in 1871. He entered upon the profession of teaching at Carver Green, Massachusetts, where he spent a half year, while later he was for two years principal of a grammar school in Manchester, New Hampshire. In 1873 he matriculated in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and on the conclusion of a four years' course was graduated in 1877 with the Bachelor of Science degree. Nearly a year had been given to post-grad- uate work and after his university course was completed he engaged in teaching for two and one-half years in Michigan as a member of the faculty of the military academy at Orchard Lake. He then returned to the univer-
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sity, where he studied for two-thirds of a year, doing special work in chem- istry and botany. He next accepted a position in the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he taught for two and one- half years, after which he spent two years as professor of chemistry and physics in the University of Chicago.
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