USA > Iowa > Wright County > History of Wright County, Iowa, its peoples, industries and institutions > Part 44
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In 1858 the senior Robert Duffy located in Iowa township, Wright county, where he purchased between three hundred and four hundred acres of land. which he immediately began to improve. Two years later his wife and children joined him, traveling by railroad as far as Independence, Iowa, and from there they journey by wagon. At first they owned only one horse and a yoke of oxen. The subject of this sketch was one of five children,
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three of whom were boys. James lives at Cherokee, Iowa; Fannie is deceased; William and Robert R. are residents of Rowan; Mary Jane is the wife of D. H. Peper, of Dows.
Robert R. Duffy, was able to acquire only a limited education, living and working at home until he was married. After his marriage his father contracted for a farm northwest of Rowan, making the first payment, and turned over the property to his son who continued the payments until he became its owner. To this farm he later added forty acres making one hundred and twenty aeres in all. At that time a log house stood on the property and between fifteen and twenty acres of the land had been culti- vated. The owner then planted one hundred and sixty rods of maple and cottonwood trees, and built a good, substantial barn, adding other improve- ments. There the family lived for nine years, then moved to Rowan where they built a small home, the dimensions of which were fourteen by twenty- two feet. This was in 1885, and this house was the first one built on what is now known as Main street. There the family lived for eleven years, and during that time, one of the events in the memory of Mr. Duffy is the fact that he unloaded the first car load of coal and handled the first load of grain on the Rock Island railroad out of Rowan.
For eight years Mr. Duffy handled grain for the firm of Finch & Hay- ward, and then went into business for himself. For a period of one year he was in partnership with H. J. C. Box. For six years he dealt in hogs, transporting in that time only one carload of cattle. But his business enter- prises were not limited to the above, for he also owned a general store to which he gave all of his attention after he discontinued the grain business until he sold out in 1896. He then returned to his farm and remained there until 1902 when he returned to Rowan for the winter, and later moved to Knox. North Dakota, purchasing there one hundred and sixty acres of land, which was a homestead relinquishment. Living there for six months, he returned to Rowan in May. 1903, and ran the switchboard to the local tele- phone company, which he operated for two years and three months. This business undertaking on his part was partially due to the fact that before going to Dakota he had been injured in a runaway accident and was unable to engage in the strenuous work that he was accustomed to. In the year 1907 he was appointed postmaster of Rowan, a position which he held until July 16, 1913.
Addie Emerson became Mrs. Duffy on February 21, 1876, the marriage taking place in Wright county. Mrs. Duffy was born in Cedar county. Iowa, on January 28, 1858, and is a daughter of Charles C. and Mary Ann
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( Wohrer ) Emerson. The parents of Mrs. Duffy were natives of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, respectively, and came to this county in 1863.
Mr. and Mrs. Duffy have only one child, Dolly, who was born on Janu- ary 18, 1878. For one term, the latter took a course in the school at lowa Falls, her studies being in music. She then studied at home and taught music for about three years. On February 3, 1897, she became the wife of Walter H. Whitten, of Rowan, where Mr. Whitten is a hardware mer- chant. They have two children, namely: Ellfreida, who was born on November 28, 1807; and Berneda, born on June 20, 1899. Both children live at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Duffy are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in which they have been active since the time when services were held in an old school house in the woods, near what is the present site of Rowan- what was then known as Horse Grove. Mr. Duffy was secretary and trustee of the first church built in Rowan. He was also township assessor for three years, having been appointed under a Republican administration, as he has always been a member of that party.
Mr. Duffy has wielded no little influence in connection with the indus- trial, commercial and religions interests of Rowan, and he is now numbered among its truly influential men. His life has been one of successful but umselfish accomplishment.
C. W. MEYER. -
One of the progressive farmers of this county is C. W. Meyer. Not content with the results of old methods he has sought by scientific treat- ment to increase the productivity of his land. By experiment and observa- tion and good common sense, he has become a man whose advice is sought and whose opinion is respected. A retired farmer of Wall Lake township, Mr. Meyer was born in Dupage county, Illinois on September 14. 1855. His parents, Frederick and Gertrude ( Engstler ) Meyer, both being natives of Germany.
Frederick Meyer was a cloth dresser by trade in Germany, and came to America when he was between thirty and thirty-five years of age. Locating in Chicago, he followed the cigar maker's trade for three years, then pur- chasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near that city he engaged in agricultural work until he took his family to Wheaton, Illinois, and there they lived until his death in 1905. His wife passed away four years later leaving their seven children.
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C. W. Meyer is the only son of his parents who is living in this county. After leaving school in Dupage county, Illinois, he helped his father on the farm umtil his twenty-fifth year, when he bought a farm of his own of eighty acres in that county and there for five years he worked. Selling out he moved to lowa where he and his family spent their first winter in Wool- stock. Purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land in Hamilton county, four and one-half miles from Webster City, Mr. Meyer engaged in general farming and stock raising, feeding out about two carloads of cattle a year. He farmed in that county for twenty years, until March, 1908, when he sold out and settled on a farm which he bought in Wall Lake town- ship. this county. Ilere he engaged in general farming, feeding out three or four carloads of cattle and hogs a year until 1014. He then retired from business and moved to Clarion where he built a fine modern residence. lle still owns his farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Wall Lake township.
Mr. Meyer's marriage occurred in December, 1880, the bride being Barbara Grobner, daughter of Joseph and Barbara ( Wagner) Grobner. Mrs. Meyer and her parents were born in Austria. When she was four years old her father came to the United States, but died from the effect of a sun-stroke three months after his arrival. \ year later she and her mother moved to Illinois. Her father served in the Austrian army and was in some of the fiercest battles of the Austrian-German War. Mrs. Meyer and her mother located in Dupage county, Illinois, and here she met and married Mr. Meyer. The mother remained in that county until 1900 when she came to lowa and since that time has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Meyer. Mrs. Grobner is the mother of three children, all of whom are living. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer has been blessed by the birth of four children. These are William L., Martha, Thresia and Mabel. The latter became the wife of George Clam and to them two chil- dren, Marie and John, were born. William became the husband of Elsie Cramer. Thresia is living in Webster City, Iowa. Martha is living in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are devout members of the Roman Catholic church and in politics he is a Republican. At Webster City, Mr. Meyer was for two years road commissioner. The career of the man whose history is here briefly described. is one which exemplifies the power of the will. Determined from early manhood that he would succeed, he bent all his energies to that end, and in doing so, has sacrificed nothing of the respect due to true worth. He and his good wife have formed lasting friendships among those whose esteem they have won.
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DANIEL SHERMAN.
The unusual and interesting career of Daniel Sherman may well be recorded for the benefit and inspiration of others. A resume of such a life is valuable alike for the lesson it teaches of perseverance against the odds of adversity and the inheritance of misfortune, as well as for the lesson of honorable ambition. Having lost his mother at the age of three months, his life became a round of difficulties and tribulations, but he has achieved, in spite of such handicaps, and today is one of the prosperous citizens of Goldfield, Wright county, Iowa.
Daniel Sherman was born on September 15. 1856, in New York City and what little education he received was acquired in that place, previous to the ninth anniversary of his birth. At that time, he was placed in an orphan asylum where he remained for six months, later being shipped with a number of other children to Illinois for the purpose of being "bound out" to the farmers of that state. The father of Daniel Sherman was a native of England and learned and followed the trade of carpenter and ship builder in' that country, previous to his immigration to America. He was also employed as a carpenter in the navy yards at New York City, after his arrival, until his death in 1885. His first wife was a native of New York City and they became the parents of two children, Mary and Daniel. After the death of his first wife, he was married a second time and became the father of two children, David and Harriet.
Daniel Sherman, upon his arrival in Illinois, was "bound out" to a farmer by the name of Robert Mullin and remained with him for six long, weary years, awaiting the opportunity to develop into something more than a mere automaton at hard labor. The opportunity never came, and with a grim determination to mold his destiny to his own liking, he ran away, finally locating in, or near, Sandwich, Illinois, on a farm where he remained for a period of eleven years. During this time he married and shortly settled on a place which was rented, and here began the initial operations which terminated in success. This first independent venture. covered a period of sixteen years and in 1900, with his little family, he removed to lowa, where he purchased one hundred and fifty-four acres of land, at forty- five dollars per acre, located one and one-half miles east of Goldfield. Wright county, lowa.
In 1910, after cultivating this farm for a period of ten years, he sold the place and retired to the town of Goldfield, lowa. Four thousand dol-
DANIEL, SHERMAN AND FAMILY.
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lars worth of improvements were made on the land while it was being operated under the careful management of Daniel Sherman and the principal products were corn and small grain. The home in town is modern and is kept in the best of order and adds to the beauty of the town.
Daniel Sherman was united in marriage to Clara Shoemaker, daughter of Obadiah and Martha Shoemaker, in 1884, and to them have been born three children, Obadiah, William and one child who died in infancy. Clara Shoemaker received her education in the country schools of Illinois, dis- continuing her studies at the age of fourteen years. Her father was the owner and operator of one hundred and forty acres of land in Illinois. He and his wife were the parents of ten children. His death occurred in 1898.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, Obadiah and William, both bid fair to follow their father's example of thrift and perseverance. Oba- diah married Kittie Bissel and they are the parents of two children, Helen and Robert. William is at home. .
Daniel Sherman held the office of school director for a period of twelve years. His religious inspiration is received through his attendance at the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a member. Politically, he is a Democrat and has the courage of his convictions as regards all party ques- tions. In the declining years of his life, he can review his career with satisfaction and the knowledge of duty done and the goal of his ambition reached, with the knowledge that his good fortune is the result of honorable endeavor and the consideration of the rights of others.
CHARLES W. HILL.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biography, and who is a well-known agriculturist of Grant township, Wright county, Iowa, was born in New York state, August 21, 1831, and is the son of William and Sarah (Herrick ) Hill, the former being a native of Connecticut and the latter a native of New York. William Hill was married in the state of New York when a young farmer and in that state he resided all his life. The four of their ten children now living are Sarah, Dianthy, Washington and Charles W., the subject of this sketch.
Charles W. Hill attended the schools of New York, and at the age of thirteen years he left school and was employed by various farmers of the (31)
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vicinity until his twenty-fifth year when he married and rented a farm in Steuben county, New York. There he remained for five years, at the end of which time he began a twenty-years residence on a rented farm in lowa township, Wright county. Buying a tract of two hundred and forty acres at three and five dollars per acre he moved on his newly acquired land in 1881, and began placing thereon many improvements which have made this one of the best farms of the section. It is modern in every respect, the expense being in the neighborhood of five thousand dollars. Hardship was not unknown to Mr. and Mrs. Hill, who were pioneers in this section of the country, and who started life together without means, encouraged only by their ambition for future success and their willingness to earn it by strenu- ous work. It is because no obstacle seemed insurmountable that these stout hearts were among the strong ones to give this county its early virility and hope for the future. With a wife and two children to support all the strength of his courageous young manhood was needed. When he began his life as an independent farmer Mr. Hill did not even possess that first essential of every rural estate, namely, the cow. Many times he and his neighbors were called from their sleep in the night to fight prairie fires, and it was his custom in order to protect his property, to plow around his quarter of a section.
In 1856 the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hill was solemnized, the bride being Adelia Riley, daughter of Simeon Riley. Of this union three chil- dren were born, these being George, William and Adella, the last two being deceased. Mrs. Hill passed away in 1888. Adella became the wife of James Lindsay and to them one child. Edward, was born. George married Jessie Stockwell and they became the parents of eight children, namely : Benjamin, Harlan, Myron, Ruby, Adelia and Gerald; two children died in infancy, Nellie and Grace.
The subject of this sketch was honored by being made a director on the school board of Grant township, a position which he filled with honor for a number of years. His political affiliations have been with the Republican party. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge.
By arduons labor, by thrift and by faith in themselves Mr. and Mrs. Hill have been able to attain for themselves a competency which is the more valued because it is the result of their unaided efforts. His success is a striking example of what can be accomplished by the man or woman who has the above commendable qualities of character. In converting the soil into wealth, Mr. Hill has thus not only added to his personal riches, but he has contributed to the wealth of the county and state.
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FREDERICK NELSON.
Frederick Nelson, retired farmer and stockman, formerly of Eagle Grove township, but now of Goldfield, lowa, is a native son of Denmark who chose American soil as the means of deriving a competency for him- self and family and American freedom for the practical application of innate ideals of character that could best be developed in the free, open life of the West. He wisely chose agriculture as the means to an end and his every effort has been fraught with success.
Frederick Nelson is one of six children born to Nels F. Fredricksen, a native of Denmark, and his birth occurred on February 25, 1847, in that country. Nels F. Fredericksen followed the trade of blacksmith while a resident of Denmark but upon his arrival in America, he purchased two hundred acres of land in Wright county, Iowa, and engaged in agriculture. He immigrated to the United States in 1873 and came directly to Wright county where he settled permanently. His death occurred in 1902. The names of his six children follow : Marion, Lena, Fred, Louis, Annie and Patrina.
Frederick Nelson attended school in his native land until he was four- teen years of age and followed the trade of blacksmith, as well as that of day laborer in the agricultural line, until the age of twenty-seven, at which time he immigrated to America. Upon his arrival in this country, he went directly to Chicago, Illinois, remaining there for two days and then con- tinning on his journey to Goldfield. Wright county, Iowa. He was employed as a farm hand by the month for a period of three years and at that time purchased a farm in Eagle Grove township which he operated for himself. This piece of property consisted of forty acres and the venture was so suc- cessful that, in a few years, he invested in eighty acres more adjoining the original purchase. The farm has been improved to the extent of eight thousand dollars, is well tiled and all under cultivation. The principal pro- ducts of the farm were, during his management, corn, grain, cattle and hogs. In the spring of 1914 he retired to the town of Goldfield, Iowa.
In 1876 Frederick Nelson was imited in marriage to Caroline Madsen, and they became the parents of six children: Nels, Albert, Carl. Lars, George and Margaret. Margaret. Albert and Carl are deceased. Nels mar- lied Nellie Hanson and they are the parents of four children. They are living on a farm in Liberty township, Wright county, lowa. Lars married Myrtle Halverson and they are living on the home place. George married
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Agnes Hansen and they have a farm in Eagle Grove township, Wright county, lowa. The first wife of Frederick Nelson, Caroline (Madsen) Nelson, died and in 1885, he was married, secondly, to Mrs. Mary Hansen, a native of Denmark, and daughter of Lars Godredsen, a day laborer of Denmark She was a widow of Mr. Hansen and was the mother of four
Anna, John, Tillie and Augusta. Anna lives at home. John is children :
cleceased Tillie married Angust Larsen. They live on a farm in Liberty township and have three children. Augusta married Archie Blewit and they are the parents of one child. They reside in Goldfield, Iowa. The mother of these children came to America when thirty-six years of age. By her marriage to Frederick Nelson she is the mother of one child. Arvig, who is employed in a garage at Goldfield.
Mr. Nelson is a member of the Danish Lutheran church and holds the office of secretary in the Danish Brotherhood lodge. Politically, he is a Republican and very earnest in his support of the same. Secure in the hearts of his fellow citizens, he is enjoying the well earned rest from a life of toil and honorable endeavor, and the declining years of his life mirror the reflection of duty done and service rendered to the best of his ability.
ROBERT M. CAMERON.
By a perusal of a man's life record an index of his true character is revealed to the reader, and only a man of integrity and honor is capable of retaining the continued confidence and esteem of his fellow men. The influence for good is wielded by the uprightness of the citizens of any com- munity, and this virtue has been part and parcel of the life of Robert M. Cameron, of Belmond. Wright county, Iowa, who, for years, has been a leader of wisdom and strength of character, and now in his eighty-sixth year, still holds the love and respect of his many friends.
Robert M. Cameron was born on July 2, 1830, near Canton, Ohio, and is the son of Samuel and Eleanor ( McCall) Cameron, who were the parents of these children: Miranda, deceased; John R., who married and was the father of four daughters and three sons, and died in 1911; Robert M .; Alexander, who married and had three daughters and one son, died in 1905 and was buried at Deadwood, North Dakota; Cyrus S., who married and is now residing in New Mexico: Charles W., who is married and has three daughters and now living in Chico, California; and Mary E., wife of E. A.
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Snyder, who is the mother of one daughter and whose home is in Cedar Falls, lowa. In 1852 the father of these children removed from Canton, Ohio, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, leaving part of the family behind, but two years later took up his residence in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he remained until his death in 1893, at the age of nearly ninety-four years. His wife passed away in 1891, and both husband and wife are sleeping at Cedar Falls, lowa.
Robert M. Cameron joined the family at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, during the winter of 1853, but began business operations in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and also dealt in real estate. He purchased the first land sold in Grundy county, lowa, February 15, 1853. Twelve years later he transferred his business to- the town of Belmond, Wright county, lowa, but continued to follow his initial operations. His arrival in Belmond occurred on March 12, 1875. In May, 1867, Robert M. Cameron had mar- ried Laura E. Beeson, daughter of Jesse Beeson, a one-time member of the Michigan state Senate.
To Robert M. and Laura ( Beeson) Cameron have been born two chil- dren : Ernest B., who is married and has two children, lives at Cedar Rapids and holds the treasurership of the J. G. Cherry Manufacturing Company of that city ; and Daisy, who resides with her parents at Belmond, Iowa.
Robert M. Cameron has always taken an active interest in the com- munity affairs, and the citizens have shown their appreciation in electing him to serve as mayor of Belmond for four terms. He has also acted as justice of the peace for a period of fifteen years. His response to the citizens for their display of confidence in his ability to serve them faithfully and well is displayed in the city park, which was established during his administra- tion, also the road leading north to the town of Goodell, and a public well, five hundred feet deep, was driven and has since given an adequate supply of the very best water. This well has a complete piping system connected, which furnishes water to all parts of the town.
To say that Robert M. Cameron held the office of mayor for four terms may convey to the reader some idea of the esteem in which he is held by ·his fellow citizens, but when it is understood that he is a Democrat and that the town of Belmond, Iowa, is overwhelmingly Republican, then it is that he is raised from the class of an ordinary citizen and placed in a distinctive position. During President Cleveland's last term of office, he appointed Robert M. Cameron as postmaster of Belmond, Iowa, in which capacity he served for four years.
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Robert M. Cameron is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 210, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Belmond. His handsome home in Belmond, is one of the beauty spots of the town and beside his property in Jowa, he has extensive land hollings in Minnesota. His life has been interesting and varied in experience and a recitation of the two years spent in the California mines fills the listener with a desire to live those pioneer days for himself. On his trip to the mines, in 1858, the isthmus of Panama was crossed and again on July 4, in 1860, on his return trip. His embarka- tion was at New York and from there he sailed to San Francisco. The mines, in which he labored were in the counties of Butte and Nevada, Cali- fornia. In spite of his many years, Robert M. Cameron is hale and hearty and impresses everyone as being a much younger man than he is, for his heart is young and his life has been filled with good works.
OLE THOMPSON.
Unusual achievement and progress in the financial world has been the result of indefatigable labor and the study of material at hand on the part of Ole Thompson, a retired farmer and business man of Belmond, Wright county, Iowa, whose untiring efforts have given him an enviable place among his fellow men. A native of Norway and one of eight children born to his parents, he has overcome all obstacles and is entitled to the greatest praise.
Ole Thompson was born on December 27, 1854, and came to America when eleven years of age, with his parents and seven sisters whose names are: Annie, wife of Hans Jacobson, of Belmond, Iowa; Agnetta, wife of C. B. Johnson, of Belmond, Iowa; Pernele, wife of James Johnson, of North Dakota; Carrie, wife of Nels Sagustad, of North Dakota; Antinetta, who married Gus Nelson, of Mason City, Iowa, but is now deceased, her death having occurred some twenty years ago: Mattie, wife of M. J. New- gard, of Belmond, Iowa; and Gurner, who died when nearly three years of age. The family came from Brumendalen, Norway, to La Crosse county, Wisconsin. where they resided for three years, at which time they removed to Wright county, Iowa, traveling overland by ox team. Soon after their arrival, Ole Thompson purchased a quarter section of land in section 10, in Belmond township, and the family at once settled on it and began farmi- ing. The father died in 1872, as the result of injuries received in a fall
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