USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 36
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HON. WILLIAM C. SMITH.
The history of this county would not be complete without a record of the life and work of the Hon. William C. Smith. Ilis ability as an agricul- tural expert has added to the material wealth of the locality and his gener- ous benefactions have been a power for good. In private citizenship, it is comparatively casy to live upright and honorable, but the real test comes when a man is placed in such a position that by making concession to prin- ciple he will gain in power or in financial resources. When Mr. Smith became a state senator he stood this test. Elected by the people, he served the people, remaining true to the same principles that had actuated his con- duct as a private citizen. William C. Smith, banker, and retired farmer of Eagle Grove, was born in Roxbury, Delaware county, New York, on Decem- ber 22, 1842, his parents being Robert and Jeannette ( Lyle ) Smith, both of Forres, Scotland. Mr. Smith's grandfather was Alexander Smith, whose wife was a Miss Calum, and their entire lives were devoted to farming in their native country, Scotland. Their children were John, James, Robert, Christiana and Jesse. Robert Smith, a Scotch farmer also, was born in
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1790, and after his marriage came to America, in 1836, traveling in a sail- ing vessel called the "Crookston Castle," it requiring six weeks to complete the then hazardous journey. Attracted by the scenery and rich soil of Rox- bury, New York, he and his good wife located there, where he continued farming until his death, in 1867. His wife died in 1884. W. C. Smith is the fifth of a family of eight children, the others being Alexander, David L. (deceased ), Mary, John R., Robert S., Thomas and Jenette. W. C. Smith and his brother, John R., are the only members of the family living in this county. Alexander lives in Jasper county, this state, and is eighty- five years old.
W. C. Smith was educated in the Roxbury Academy and the Delphi Academy, where he was a classmate of Jay Gould, the famous railroad magnate, and of John Burroughs, the New England naturalist and author, and also. of Margaret Walker, who afterwards became the wife of George Westinghouse, the great inventor and manufacturer. In spite of his aca- demic training, Mr. Smith retained his love for the freedom and independ- ence of country life, and at the close of his school days he returned to the cultivation of the soil near Roxbury. In 1869, surrendering to the adven- turous spirit which attracted so many to the West, he rented a farm north
of Des Moines, lowa, and lived there for a short time, when he tried mak- ing his home in Jasper county. This he soon gave up to become a cattle herder in Wright county, lowa, his work taking him from one end of the county to the other as well as to the larger portion of northwestern lowa. For twenty years he bought and sold cattle and herded cattle on the land which Eagle Grove now occupies. In this connection it is interesting to note that the man who is the owner of five thousand six hundred and forty acres of land, received during the first session of his work in Iowa the munificent salary of twenty dollars a month. Having to begin with little more of this world's goods than brawn and brain, he was content to convert this into wealth by his own hard work.
As soon as Mr. Smith was able he began to acquire land, which, while inexpensive then, later become valuable. In 1880 he bought three hundred and twenty acres of farm land in this county at six dollars and twenty-five cents per acre, which now is worth two hundred dollars, and immediately converted wild prairie into fields yielding rich harvest. It was not long before, by reason of his extensive improvements and his success in agricul- ture and stock raising, Mr. Smith's farm was considered one of the finest in the county. He later added two hundred acres to his holdings and began
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to acquire property in other states. He now has three hundred and twenty acres in the state of Minnesota, sixteen hundred acres in North Dakota, and three thousand two hundred acres in Canada. So successful had Mr. Smith become that by 1892 he was able to retire, and he then moved to Eagle Grove, where he soon became prominent in its financial enterprises. For fourteen years he was president of the State Bank of Bagle Grove. In 1902 he sold this interest in the bank and gave his entire time to land speculation.
It was while he was state senator that Mr. Smith endeared himself to his constituents, and justified by his conduct in office their faith in him. It was here that he showed those traits of character which proved him to be truly loyal to the best interests of the common people. He sought always to encourage by his vote, and otherwise, those measures which stood for the good of the people, as distinguished from the good of what is now known as "the interests." In no way can a man better show his patriotism than in this.
The marriage of W. S. Smith and Dora Fisher was solemnized on December 24, 1800. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of Albert and Catherine (Crowne ) Fisher, formerly of Eagle Grove. Mr. Fisher is living now in Montana, his wife having passed away. Mrs. Smith is a sister of Lon Fisher, a prominent citizen of Eagle Grove, whose biography is presented elsewhere in this volume. Mr Fisher is manager of the Farmers Elevator Company, and is also manager of three other elevators in this county. He is well and favorably known in local business circles. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been ideal, and the latter has been a wife well fitted for the public career of her husband. They have been the parents of three children, William, Leslie and Russell. The eldest son, William, died when sixteen years old; Leslie died in infancy; Russell is the only one living, and is attending Ames College.
Notwithstanding his very active career, Mr. Smith has never neglected his religious life, and for many years, both he and his estimable wife have been helpful in their church membership. The former is a trustee and the latter is a steward of the Methodist Episcopal church, and to its work they have made frequent and large contributions. Mr. Smith has always been affiliated with the Republican party, to which he has given both financial and moral support.
Mr. Smith is one of the citizens of Eagle Grove who can always be depended upon to give time, energy and means for the betterment of the
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financial and moral conditions of the county, and thus is he loyal in the truest sense of that term. As a man he has the courage of his convictions, and broad-minded and tolerant in his views. His wholesome private life. as well as his honest administration of his public duties, is a fine example of what can be done by the American boy possessing common sense, ambition, intellectual capacity, and a heart beating with humanitarian impulses.
Mr. Smith is related to the late Donald Day Smith ( Lord Strathcona ). who was one of the most prominent men of Canada, was high commissioner and one of the wealthiest men of Canada.
EDWIN BALLOU.
It is well to hold in grateful remembrance those sturdy ones of other years who sowed and planted and builded for future generations, for upon their work and sacrifice has modern civilization grown. One of this goodly company who helped convert the waste places of this country into beauty and usefulness is Edwin Ballou, a man of great force of character and far- sighted patriotism. Edwin Ballon was born on February 10, 1832, in Portage county, Ohio. He is the son of Barnabas and Rachel ( Bowen) Ballou.
The parents of Mr. Ballou were natives of New Hampshire, having moved from there to Ohio. The Ballous, who are of French descent, belong to a very old and famous family in the United States. President Garfieldl's mother was a Ballon, and a direct descendant of Edwin Ballou's ancestry. Barnabas Ballou, who was a farmer, was the father of eight children, namely : Nathan, Silas, Mrs. Lavina Clark, William, Nathaniel, Mrs. Sarah Tibbits; Edwin, the subject of this sketch; and Andrew, who died while in the army.
At the time of his childhood Edwin Ballon was able to acquire only a meager education in the common schools. From his seventh until his twenty-first year he lived with his family in McComb county, Michigan, but his father died when the lad was only thirteen years of age. From that time until he reached his majority he worked in the lumber woods in Mich- igan. In 1853 he migrated to Cedar county, Iowa, traveling as far as Chi- cago by rail, and from there he drove to Iowa with his brother, Silas. He had made a previous trip to Chicago before any railroad was there. After spending two years in Cedar county he settled in Wright county, to which
MP. AND MRS ! DWIN BALLOU
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he was driven by a team of oxen, on May 10, 1855. Ilere he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in sections 28 and 33, of Iowa town- ship, for which he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. Ile received the deed for this land from President Pierce.
An interesting side-light on the financial condition of the country at that time is shown by a circumstance connected with the purchase of this land. He was required to pay for it in gold and as he had only paper cur- rency he had to pay a premium of two per cent. on the purchase price in order to get the gold. In those days even the merchants discounted paper money. It.was necessary for him to go to Des Moines, lowa, to get the deed for his property, the nearest postoffice being at that time at Eldora, a distance of forty miles. About two years later an office was built at Allen, which was twenty miles away, and two years after that the government established an office in the grove located about one-half mile southwest of the present site of Rowan, and this office was called Fryberg. As the government would not have the mail sent there, the people had to meet the expense of the carrier out of their own pockets. Only six families at first received their mail there. Fryberg continued to be the postoffice until the railroad was built and the office was moved to Rowan.
Mr. Ballou placed improvements upon his lands immediately after its purchase. Ile ent logs from the banks of the Jowa river with which to build his one-room log cabin the dimensions of which were sixteen by eighteen feet, the chimney made of mud and sticks being one of its dis- tinctive features. Ile and his family arrived in the county on May 10, 1855, but it was the 4th of July of the same year when they moved into their new pioneer home. Many modern improvements were placed on the farm which he increased until he at one time owned over one section of land. Ile has disposed of all this with the exception of four hundred and forty acres which includes the one hundred and sixty acres that be purchased from the government sixty years ago, which has never changed hands. In 1893, Mr. Ballou retired from active farm work and moved with his family to Rowan, where he has continued to live. His farm is rented at present.
In 1853 Edwin Ballon was united in marriage to Emily Kent, the cere- mony taking place in Cedar county, lowa. Mrs. Ballou was a native of Butler county, Ohio, and a sister of John and William Kent, whose histories appear elsewhere in this publication. To this union ten children were born, namely: George, Ovel, Viola, Carrie, Nathan, Emily, Edwin, Laura, Flora and Frank. George married Susan Brown, and their home was in lowa (26)
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township. His wife passed away, leaving two children, Nellie and Ray- mond, of whom Nellie married William Stout and became the mother of three children, Darrell, Velma and James. Ovel became the husband of Ester J. Lynk, who is the Rowan agent of the Rock Island railroad. He was the first agent of Rowan, and with the exception of about five years, when he owned and operated a hardware store, has continued as such ever since. He and his wife are the parents of three children, LeRoy, Glenn and Lavonne, of whom the first-named is married, and lives in California. Viola, the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Ballon, is Mrs. Franklin N. Tibbitts, of Gault. They have no living children. Carrie married Edwin J. Lynk, to which union were born two children, Anna and Ester. Carrie subsequently became the wife of Charles Wright, now deceased, by whom she became the mother of a daughter, Mamie. The two daughters by the first marriage are married, Anna being the wife of Herbert Aldrich, and the mother of three children, and Ester being Mrs. Orval L. Sanders and the mother of two chil- dren, Clyde and Florence Anna. Nathan married Mrs. Mary ( Tibbets) Mcclintock, and lives in Rowan. They are parents of three children, Otho, Emily R., and Clifford M., of whom Emily R. married Claude Chipman. Emily became Mrs. Frank Utter, and her death occurred in 1896, leaving a son. Ralph. Edwin, Jr., married Nellie Barnes and resides in Belmond, their only son being named Kenneth. Laura, who lives in California, is Mrs. Wallace Hunt. Flora and Frank Ballou both died in infancy.
Mr. Ballon was married, secondly, on February 22, 1888, to Mrs. Ilattie ( Gildersleeve ) Hoag, widow of Benjamin D. Hoag. The ceremony took place in Gault. Wright county. Mrs. Ballou was born on May 22, 1853, in Macedon, Wayne county, New York, and is the daughter of John and Catherine ( DeLong) Gildersleeve, natives of Washington, Dutchess county, New York. They moved to Wayne county in 1840. It is believed that the Gildersleeves are of English descent but there is no definite informa- tion on this point other than that Thomas Gildersleeve, the first member of the family of whom there is any record, was born about the year 1700. John Gildersleeve was the son of Philip Gildersleeve, whose father was Benjamin Gildersleeve, of Long Island. It is possible that the last named is the son of Thomas Gildersleeve. The DeLongs are of French descent. The second Mrs. Ballon is the mother of a daughter. Eva Lavina, who was born on June 29, 1890, and was married on October 7. 1908, to Carl Hadley, while traveling in California with her mother and father. Mrs. Hadley died on March 19, 1910.
Since 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Ballou have spent most of their winters in
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Pacific Grove on Monterey bay, California. They have spent altogether ten winters in that delightful place, occupying their own beautiful cottage, where Mr. Ballou intends to spend the remaining winters of his life.
Mr. Ballon was at one time a member of the Odd Fellow lodge of Belmond, but has discontinued his membership. He was a Republican until about the year 1900, when he became interested in the cause of Prohibition. Abraham Lincoln was the first President for whom Mr. Ballou voted, although he cast his first vote for Gen. Winfield Scott who ran in opposition to Franklin Pierce. Mr. and Mrs. Ballon are stanch members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, the former having been a charter member of the first congregation, to whom a circuit rider preached, this preacher covering a territory extending from Upper Grove to Cedar Falls, Iowa. The first church was built in 1800, Mr. Ballon being elected a trustee and continuing to act in that capacity until about 1910. He resigned, giving as his reason his frequent absence from home.
Mr. Ballon has had the honor of filling all of the township offices and was associated with the initial organization of the township government. It has been his pleasure to watch the growth of Wright county from a barren prairie to a land of plenty, and in this development he has had no small share. Mr. Ballou is a peace-loving man, and has dwelt for many years in harmony with his many friends and neighbors whose good will and respect he has retained.
Mr. Ballon is the type of man whose active mind and energetic life could inspire a much longer biography than the present one. Ilis strength of character has set a high standard. His effort through life has been to observe the golden rule, and his motto has always been, "With malice toward none and charity for all."
AARON YEAROUS.
Aaron Yearous, the pioneer attorney of this county, a former mayor, city attorney and councilman of Eagle Grove and its veteran justice of the peace, has spent many years in the service of the county. Fortunate in having the educational opportunities to prepare himself for a life of more than ordinary usefulness, he early learned that "knowledge is power," and, therefore, set himself to work to acquire it. Ilis later years, which have been full of conspicuous achievement both in private legal practice and in public life, have proven his early wisdom and have rewarded him for the
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labor then expended in faith. "A stalwart" might be a fitting title to apply to such a gentleman as the one whose life history in brief follows. Mr. Yearous is a native of Jefferson township, Knox county, Ohio, having been born there on January 10, 1852.
Charles Yearous, father of the subject of this sketch, was a child of only two years when he was brought to this country by his German parents, who made their first home in Knox county, Ohio. The grandfather of Aaron Yearous started his farming career on property consisting of one hundred acres purchased from the government through a land warrant. In 1864 he left this farm to become a weaver in Clayton county, Iowa, a trade which he had followed in Germany. There he died, and his son, Charles Yearous, grew to manhood on the farm. A .few years after his marriage. he took up his residence in Clayton county, living there from 1854 until his death, in 1003. Ilis original eighty acres were subsequently increased to three hundred and sixty acres. The devoted wife of this sturdy pioneer, formerly Catherine Peters, still lives on the Clayton county farm. In all of the hardships of early country life, she was an able second to her husband. One of the exciting adventures associated with their carly travels was the crossing of the Mississippi river at Dubuque, this incident being fraught with real danger. Their first Clayton county home consisted of a quaint old log cabin of one room. Like all historical events, the life of this period may be more picturesque as a memory than it was in reality. To this worthy couple were born nine chiklren. Aaron being the only one now living in this county.
Mr. Yearons, though brought up amidst the hardships incident to pio- neer existence, not only survived them all, but used them as stepping stones to a worthy career. He received his early education in Clayton county, attending high school in Fayette county, where he was graduated in 1874. He then attended the lowa University, at Iowa City, being a member of the graduates of the law class of 1878, and immediately began the practice of law. In June, 1879. he located at Holdridge, Nebraska, also teaching and farming for a period of two years. He then removed to Eagle Grove, at a time when the town was just beginning to be built up on the east side. He and J. C. Moats formed a legal partnership, which lasted for one year. As law cases were at that time comparatively few and uncertain, it was neces- sary to acquire more income than could be obtained solely in the profession. and during the winter months Mr. Yearous added to his income by teaching school.
Besides being one of the city's most reliable legal practitioners as well
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as its pioneer attorney, Mr. Yearous has been honored with public office, having filled his functions so creditably as to justfy his fellow citizens in retaining him for many years. He was the city's mayor in the years 1907-8 and was for ten years a councilman. For two years he was the city attor- ney. Ile has the honor of having held the office of justice of the peace for a longer period of time than any man in the county, this being for twenty- four years.
Aaron Yearous and Elizabeth Shepard, daughter of John and Eliza- beth ( Hanks) Shepard, were united in the holy bond of matrimony on February 15, 1882, and to them have been born five children, Roscoe, Milo, Esther, Glynn and Howard. Roscoe and his wife, Ethel Hull, are the par- ents of three children, Hazel, Gladyes and Lester. Esther became the wife of Ralph Walster; no children have been born to this union.
Mr. Yearous has been financier of the Ancient Order of United Work- men for eleven years. Politics has played an important part in the life of Mr. Yearous. It furnished a congenial field for the exercise of his mental faculties and was of sufficient interest to engage those elements of the fighter which predominate in the makeup of every attorney. The political fortunes of the Republican party in this part of the state owe much to the labors of Mr. Yearous, whose faith in the old party has never been shaken by modern unrest and who still regards himself as a "standpatter."
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GEORGE W. YOUNG.
For the edification of all who may peruse this brief record of the tife of George W. Young, be it said, justly, that his life has been one of unsel- fish interest for the betterment of his community, and of incessant applica- tion to the great principles of life. The earnest endeavor to acquire an honorable competency and to discharge, conscientiously, all duties assigned him, has resulted in the unprejudiced approval and unmistakable admira- tion of his fellow men.
George W. Young was born on October 27, 1864, and is the son of Duane and Mary Ann ( Chadwick ) Young, both natives of the state of New York. His birth occurred in Hardin county, lowa, where his early educa- tion was received. Duane Young was born on February 18, 1832, in John- son county, New York, and was the son of Richard and Maria ( Smicer) Young. Duane Young attended common school until eleven years of age,
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and at that time began work in the woolen-mills of his native town, where he was taught the trade of dyer. Remaining at that vocation until twenty years of age, he then became enthused with the stories of wealth to be had for the mere finding in California soil and in 1852 removed to that state, where he labored as a miner for three years. He then returned to New York by the way of Panama. After spending one year in his native state, he removed to Iowa, and engaged in the merchandise business, during the year of 1856. Transportation service was very poor and he was compelled to convey his entire stock of goods overland from Iowa City, a distance of more than one hundred miles, until such time as the Illinois Central rail- road was constructed as far as Cedar Falls, Iowa. That city then became his nearest trading and shipping point until 1867. Duane Young was one of the earliest settlers on the Boone and lowa rivers, and his patronage was drawn from twenty-five square miles of surrounding country. During his residence in Alden, Iowa, he was engaged in the grain industry and bank- ing, opening a private bank in 1881 known as the Bank of Clarion, with which institution he was connected until within a few years of his death.
In 1857 Duane Young was united in marriage to Mary Ann Chadwick, of Utica, New York, and they became the parents of seven children, as follow: Charles D., George W., William F .; Mabel, wife of E. A. Alex- ander ; Mand, who married J. L. Fellows; and Maynard and Clarence, who died in infancy. Mary Ann (Chadwick ) Young passed away in 1889, and five years later Duane Young married Mrs. Jenny Parker, of Pasadena, California, to whom he was united in marriage in 1894. Mr. Young's death occurred on August 23, 1906.
George W. Young is indebted to the schools of Alden, lowa, for his earliest training, having graduated from the high school at that place. He then became a student in Ames College, at Ames, lowa, to which institu- tion he took a two-year course. At the completion of his college career, he was fully equipped to enter the commercial world, and he engaged in the general merchandise business in Clarion, lowa, where he made his location permanent. His brother. William F. Young, became his partner in this enterprise and together they conducted the business for a period of fifteen years. Business relations between the two were brought to a termination when George W. Young purchased the interest of his brother and continned the business alone, until November 1, 1907, at which time the stock of goods was sold and he accepted the office as president of the Bank of Clar- ion, being the oldest bank in the town. The last statement shows its total resources as $390,000.
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In 1890 George W. Young was united in marriage to Elma Yarnell, daughter of David Yarnell. To this union five children have been born : June, Margaret, Mabel, George W. and Duane. June Young was married to Doctor Christianson, of Eagle Grove, Iowa. Margaret, Mabel, George W. and Duane are at home.
George W. Young is a member of the Masonic order and is now wor- shipful master of his lodge. Politically, he is a stanch Republican and vitally interested in all matters pertaining to the party. His high efficiency in all matters concerning commercial or civil endeavor has won for him the respect and esteem of an admiring public, and the secret of his large patron- age is revealed in his ability to make and retain friendships and in his affa- bility of manner and willingness to lend assistance to all enterprises worthy of his aid.
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