USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 30
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March 22d, 1879, Kellogg & Herrick organized the Cherokee Butter and Cheese manufacturing Company. The building is 24x50 feet in dimensions, with an addition twenty feet square. The firm buys cream from about 1,000 cows. This industry bids fair to become a very important one.
The Cherokee Times was established October 21st, 1870, and is consequently now in its twelfth year. It is in every sense a highly creditable publication. Robert Buchanan is the editor and pro- prietor.
The Iowa Free Press, like the Times, is an eight-column folio, Robert Johnson and Will P. Goldie, editors and proprietors: both papers are well sustained, of good typographical appearance, and newsy.
The population of Cherokee may be set down as very nearly, if not quite, two thousand. Its educational advantages are excep- tionally good. The public schools are on an unusually good foot-
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ing, and a college is in contemplation, the opportunities for such an institution in Cherokee being apparent.
The future prospects of Cherokee as to railroads are good. Al- ready two different companies are surveying through the southern part of the county, and strong talk of a road running northeast and southwest, following the Little Sioux river, connecting Omaha with St. Paul and Minneapolis by a more direct route, and giving the vast lumber regions a new and more direct outlet to the South- west; also a new railroad is projected through Cherokee from Des Moines to the wheat fields of Dakota. These roads secured will make Cherokee a town of 10,000 inhabitants, and an excellent manufacturing point.
MARCUS.
The town of Marcus is a substantial place, whose personal inter- ests will be found to be well represented in the biographies here- unto attached. The first building was erected in 1871. I. M. Jackson and A. H. Dwight were the first settlers. The first school was begun in 1873, and the first sermon in Marcus was preached in 1875, by Rev. W. F. Rose, Congregational minister. The church societies are well represented by the Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist denominations.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which has a flourishing lodge in Marcus, had for its charter members I. Cask, S. W. Wea- ver, W. H. Skinner, M. I. Ames and R. W. Heath. Its active members are eleven. The lodge meets at S. W. Weaver's. A Masonic lodge is also one of the prominent features in this con- nection.
The Good Templars' Society has fifty-nine members, and holds its meetings in the school house. C. P. Kilburn is W. C .; Mrs. J. H. Sheldon, W. V. C .; T. W. P. Clough, P. W. C .; J. H. Sheldon, S .; Miss N. Cleglow, F. S.
The Presbyterian Church Society was organized during the past season, by Rev. George Knox, of Cherokee.
The population of Marcus is about 450, and is composed of a sturdy mixture of nationalities, German, English, Swedish, Scotch, etc.
The depot was built in the winter of 1869-70, and is 30x79 feet in dimensions. A grist mill with three run of stone, two elevators, warehouses and two hotels are among the important acquisitions to the town. The first white man to settle in the township is stated to have been H. Bowman, a native of Vermont. Mrs. Bow- man is still living in Marcus. The first female settler was Mrs. W. E. Rose, who came in 1871. The first house was erected on section.36, by Mr. Bowman, in 1869, the first soil in the township being broken that year.
In 1874, the first regular election occurred, the depot building being used as a voting place. Fourteen votes were cast, that being
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the entire vote of the township. The first officers elected were as follows: R. Wilmot, J. M. Sheldon, E. Prunty, Trustees; W. E. Rose, Clerk; I. Bowman, Supervisor; A. H. Dwight, Elion Prunty, Justices of the Peace; E. Gearon, Constable; I. M. Jackson, As- sessor. The first assessment was made in 1875, the number of families being fourteen; population forty-four; number of houses, nineteen; cattle, fifty; hogs, thirty-nine; acres improved, 620. The first person to locate in business in Marcus was I. M. Jackson. C. Parkin built his grain house in 1873. A store was opened by J. Hyndman in September, 1873. R. Wilmot opened the first hotel in July, 1874. The school house was built in the same year. The first car of stock was received by J. Clarkson in February, 1877.
Clarkson & Metcalf have a warehouse with a capacity of 15,000 bushels; L. Gund, of a capacity of 10,000 bushels.
The village of Marcus has doubled in population in the past year. The receipts at the depot for the twelve months just prior to this writing were $36,400. Five hundred and fifty-six cars were sent out from the town during the same time.
A public hall 22x56 feet, with ceiling twelve feet high, adds greatly to the convenience and advancement of the community. There is also a half-mile circular track in excellent condition. The population of the county is closely estimated at 10,000.
Among the noteworthy farms of this section is that of Theo. Groff, about a mile northeast of Marcus. Mr. Groff came to this part of the country about four years ago.
The first school in Marcus was taught in 1873-4, Miss Nina Shel- don being the teacher. Nine pupils were enrolled.
The first birth was that of Elsie Bowman in April, 1874; the first death, a brother of John Bird, Sr., in 1875; the first marriage, George Paactier and Miss Nina Sheldon, in 1878; the first grain brought to market, by I. Gorner in September, 1873; the first car of grain shipped, was in. September, 1873, by C. Parkin.
There are more than one hundred pupils enrolled in the public schools of Marcus. There are three lumber yards in the town, each one of which is doing a thriving business. H. D. Dwight is the postmaster, and the office is very satisfactorily and systemati- cally con ducted. The business of the office has doubled within the last year.
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CHEROKEE COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES,
CHEROKEE.
James Archer, dealer in lumber, grain and coal, established business July 12th, 1869; was born in Scotland in 1828; came to America in 1842, and located in Rockford, Ill .; from there he re- moved to Fayette county, Iowa; thence to Waverly, Iowa, where he was engaged in the lumber business three years. In 1869, he removed to Cherokee, and engaged in business as above. He has been a member of the town council, and has served several terms on the school board.
S. B. Allen, proprietor City Hotel, was born in Washington county, New York, in 1832; came west in 1868, and located in Buchanan county, lowa, where he remained until the spring of 1881, when he removed to Cherokee and engaged in business as above.
C. Allison, senior member of the firm of Allison Brothers, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots and shoes, was born in Wisconsin in 1846; received his education at Madison, Wisconsin. He went to Nevada; where he was foreman of the Opher mine for several years; thence came back to Eldora, Ia., and in 1873 he came to Cherokee and established his present business.
H. Allison, junior member of the above firm, was born in Wis. in 1857. In 1869 he went to California, where he remained until he came to Cherokee. These gentlemen intend to erect a brick building, 30x100 feet, the coming spring.
N. T. Burroughs, of the firm of Scribner, Burroughs & Co., bankers, was born in Michigan in 1840; moved to Ia. in 1869, and engaged in the real estate business. In 1872 he entered business as above; is also extensively engaged in the raising of fine stock. Married Addie H. Phipps in 1873.
Thomas S. Brown, blacksmith, was born in Massachusetts in 1852; when he was four years of age he came to Cherokee, where he has since resided.
E. S. Block, dealer in clothing, hats, caps, and gent's furnishing goods, trunks, valises, etc., etc., was born in Bohemia in 1848; came to America, and engaged in the clothing business in New York City; from there he went to Arkansas; thence to Nebraska City. and after traveling throughout the west, he, in 1876, located in Cherokee. and engaged in business as above.
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D. W. Benway, dealer in furniture of all kinds, established busi- ness in June, 1881. He was born in Massachusetts in 1849; from there he removed to Wisconsin; thence to Independence, Iowa. In 1877 he came to Cherokee, and for a time was proprietor of the City Hotel. In June, 1881, he engaged in business as above.
Charles Blaesser, barber, also dealer in tobacco and cigars, was born in Germany in 1845; came to America in 1866, and located at Milwaukee, Wis. In 1874 he removed to Cherokee and engaged in business as above. He married Regina Schmidt, of Wis. They have two children-Walter A. and Charles H.
Carlton Corbett, of the firm of Corbett & Whitmore, dealers in real estate, was born in Massachusetts, August 12th, 1831. In January, 1856, he came west and located in Cherokee; has held the office of county recorder and treasurer, and is one of the pio- neers of Cherokee county.
John Collins, of the firm of Collins & Minor, was born in Ken- tucky in 1852; came to Clayton county, Iowa, when quite young, where he lived until 1875, when he came to Cherokee, and for a time was engaged in farming. He married Fannie F. Pearson. They have three daughters.
W. B. Chick, dealer in groceries, fruits and provisions, estab- lished business in 1872; was born in Maine in 1848; came to Mich- igan in 1868, and two years later he came to Cherokee. He enlist- ed in the first Maine light artillery, and served two years and three months. He has been three terms county auditor of Cherokee county.
J. H. Davenport, county surveyor of Cherokee county, was born in New York in 1838; came to Michigan in 1856, thence to this state, and in 1860 located at Cherokee. He was elected to his pre- sent office in 1866, and has held the office almost continuously since; has also been superintendent of schools of this county and served three years in the U. S. army in the Indian department.
Eli Eshleman, county treasurer of Cherokee county, was born in Pa. in 1829; came west in 1856, and settled in Ills., where he lived seventeen years; in 1872 he came to Cherokee and engaged in farming; was elected to his present position in 1879 and re- elected in the autumn of 1881. He married Amanda Fry, of Lan- caster county, Pa. They have ten children-five sons and five daughters.
O. C. Ford, wholesale and retail grocer, and dealer in queens- ware, established business in 1876; was born in New York in 1841; came to Wisconsin in 1849, and in 1871 removed to Cherokee; for a time engaged in the insurance business, and was then employed as clerk in a hardware store, which he continued until he engaged in his present business.
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J. S. Green, dealer in grain, groceries, queensware, fruits, etc., established business in 1879. Was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1847, for fourteen years he traveled for Chicago and St. Louis wholesale houses. In 1879 he settled at Cherokee and engaged in business as above.
Robert Gick, dealer in stoves, hardware and farming tools of all kinds, established business in 1880. Was born on the Isle of Man, in 1845; came to America in 1870, and settled in Warren, county, Ill .; thence to Jasper county, Iowa, and in 1872 removed to Cherokee, where he has since resided.
W. S. Heymer, of the firm of Heymer Brothers, liverymen, was born in Essex county, New York, in 1847. He came west in 1878, and settled in Cherokee, and entered the employ of F. D. Yaw, in the livery business. He married Julia Canfield of this State. They have one son-Frank.
Thomas Heymer, of the firm of Heymer Bros., was born in N. Y. in 1846; his first location was in Dubuque county, Ia .; thence to Jackson county; thence to Cherokee. He served three years in the army in Co. I, Iowa volunteers.
George W. Hodgins, liveryman, established business in 1870. Was born in Vermont in 1826, his first location in Iowa was in Hardin county; thence to Marshalltown; thence to Bedford, and in 1870 he came to Cherokee and engaged in business as above. His son, Eugene D. Hodgins, was born in Missouri in 1859, and is now a partner in the above business.
Edwin Hughes, harness maker, established business October, 1881. Was born in Wales in 1852; came to America in 1870, and his first location was at Portland, Maine. From there he went to New York; thence to Ohio, and after making a trip to the Black Hills, returned to Cherokee and engaged in business as above. He married Sarah Mills, a native of England. They have one son and two daughters.
Robert Hall, of the firm of Robert Hall & Son, dealers in farm machinery and grain, was born in N. Y. in 1822; came to Ills. in 1857, and in 1871 he removed to Cherokee and engaged in busi- ness as above.
Jas. Henderson, dealer in real estate, established business in 1871; was born in Scotland in 1818, came to America in 1848 and settled in Clayton county, Iowa, and was engaged in farming. In 1868 he removed to Cherokee. He has been twice elected to the position of county treasurer; has also been a member of the city council.
C. E. P. Hobart, of the firm of Hobart & Snyder, dealers in grain and coal, was born in Vermont in 1819; from Vermont he went to Oshkosh, Wis .; and in 1870 he came to Cherokee and engaged in the lumber business. The following year he engaged in business as above.
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William Jones, merchant tailor and dealer in ready-made cloth- ing and gents' furnishing goods, was born in Wales in 1844; came . to America in March, 1870, and located in Cherokee and engaged in business as above. Mr. Jones makes a specialty of making suits to order; he employs none but experienced workmen, and he has a reputation second to none in western Iowa.
George A. Johnson, dealer in general merchandise, established business in March, 1874; was born in Canada in 1842; he came to Michigan in 1864. In 1867 he returned to Canada, and in 1871 he came to Cherokee, Ia., and was employed as clerk until 1874, when he engaged in business as above. He married Eliza Head, of Canada. They have four children.
H. Kennedy, of the firm of H. Kennedy & Co., dealers in gen- eral merchandise, established business in 1875; also have a branch store in Peterson, Clay county. He was born in Ohio in 1850; came to Iowa with his parents in 1855. He next moved to Chero- kee and engaged in business as above.
A. B. Knox, of the firm of Knox & Nicholson, proprietors of the N. Y. store, established in 1872, was born in Pa. in 1855; came to Cherokee, Ia., in 1879, and engaged in business. He married Lizzie Goheen, a native of Pa.
George W. Lebourveau was born in New Hampshire in 1828. In 1857 he came to Cherokee, and is one of the pioneers of this county; was the first treasurer and first recorder of this county, was also the first mayor of Cherokee, which position he held two terms. He is one of the original town proprietors. He enlisted in Co. I, 7th Ia. cavalry, and served three and a half years.
David Lynn, of the firm of Lynn & Bryant, proprietors of meat market, established business in 1881. He was born in Ohio in 1844; came to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1859; thence to Winne- shiek county; thence to Jackson county, Ills .; thence to Cherokee. He served in Co. A, 2nd regiment, U. S. A., three years; married Annie E. Underhill. They have one daughter-Mary F.
E. R. Little, jeweler (repairing a specialty), established business in 1880. He was born in Ohio, November 4th, 1858, and received his education in Ohio, where he also learned the jewelry business. He moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1879, and the following year removed to Cherokee and engaged in business as above.
George L. Moore, manufacturer and dealer in harness and saddles, established business in 1881; was born in Aurora, Ill., in 1857. He came to Cherokee in 1872, and engaged in the same business.
Arthur Molyneux, of the firm of Molyneux Bros., law and collecting agents, was born in Sullivan county, Penn., in 1856; graduated at Iowa City law school in the class of '81, and soon after located in Cherokee, and engaged in business as above.
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R. D. Minor, of the firm of Collins & Minor, was born in Waukesha county, Wis., in 1853; came to Cherokee in 1871, and engaged in farming until he engaged in his present business.
E. Miller, county recorder, was born in Pa. in 1850; removed to Cedar county, Ia., in 1852, and to Cherokee in 1872, and engaged in farming; was elected to his present office in November, 1880; has served as town clerk, also assessor. He married Belle Stone, of Ohio. They have two children-Oretas and Orville.
Thomas McCulla, attorney at law, was born in Hamilton, Canada, in 1856; came to the United States when quite young, and located in N. Y .; afterwards moved to Muscatine, Ia., and there attended school; then entered the Baptist Institute at Wilton, after which he entered the university at Iowa City, graduating from the law department in the class of '79; came to Cherokee and opened office; makes a specialty of collections.
Chas. Nicholson, of the firm of Knox & Nicholson, was born in Sweden in 1855; came to America in 1871; settled in Mich .; then moved to Hampton, Ia .; thence to Cherokee, and became a part- ner in the above business, which was established in 1872, and is one of the largest mercantile houses in the city.
L. W. Newell, dealer in boots and shoes, was born in Ill. in 1855, and when seven years of age moved to Muscatine, Ia. He traveled for a Cincinnati house for two and one-half years, and in June, 1881, moved to Cherokee, and established his present busi- ness in Aug. of same year.
H. A. Olmsted, stat on agent for the I. C. R'y. company, was born in Mass: in 1848. He was appointed to his present office in 1871. He married Cornelia Jones, of Neb. They have three children.
E. L. Olmsted, was born in Mass. in 1851; came to Delaware county, Ia., in 1858. He was for five years in the employ of the C., & N. W. R. R. Co., as station agent and operator.
O. R. Olmstead & Son, are dealers in boots, shoes, overshoes, gaiters, etc. R. S. Olmstead, was bornin Wayne county, Pa., in 1854, and the same year moved with his parents to Wis. He en- tered the employ of J. P. Dickey & Co., in 1876. He married Frances Brown, of Woodman, Wis.
Dr. W. H. Palmer, dentist, was born in N. Y. in 1855; was en- gaged in dentistry in Syracuse, N. Y., and in 1881 moved to Cherokee, Ia., and opened office the same year. He married Fran- ces Campbell, of N. Y., in 1880.
T. Patton, of the firm of Robertson & Patton, dealers in lumber, grain, sash, doors, blinds, etc., was born in Ireland in 1844; came to America in 1864, and settled in Dubuque county, Ia .; thence
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to Delaware county, and in the autumn of 1870 came to Cherokee, and was one of the first settlers; was for some time in the employ of the railroad company; established his present business in 1876.
Joseph Reed, proprietor of the bakery and restaurant, was born in Pa. in 1829; removed to Ill. in 1864; thence to Ia. in 1875; lo- cated at Cherokee in 1881. He married Mary Tallman, a native of Pa. They have three sons and two daughters.
J. G. Reigel, blacksmith, repairer and manufacturer, was born in Germany in 1849; came to America in 1854, and located in But- ler county, Pa .; removed to Hardin county, Ia .; thence to Mis- souri, and in 1876 came to Cherokee, Ia., and established his pres- ent business. He married Ellen L. Kenyon, and has one child- Effie M.
James Robertson, of the firm of Robertson & Patton, was born in Scotland in 1833; came to America in 1856, and settled in Can- ada; removed to Cedar county, Ia., in 1868; thence in the follow- ing year to Cherokee, and engaged in buying grain. His present business was established in 1876. He married Catherine Comrie, a native of Scotland, and. has two sons and three daughters.
R. L. Robie, county auditor, was born in Vt. in 1850; removed to Tama county, Ia., in 1868; thence to Cherokee, and engaged in farming. He taught the grammar department of the public schools here one term; was appointed county superintendent of schools, and served during 1876, and was then appointed deputy clerk and treasurer. He was elected to his present office in 1881. He married Ella L. Fairfield, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
A. B. Ross, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, tobacco, cigars, crockery, glassware, queensware, etc., was born in Nova Scotia in 1843. He came to Cherokee, Ia., in 1870, and engaged in the above business in 1874.
S. F. Russell, manager of the Fountain House, was born in Ve- nango county, Pa., in 1839; removed to Story county, Ia., in 1867, and two years later came to Cherokee and engaged in farming. In 1878 he took charge of a hotel at Meriden, where he continued two years; then engaged in his present position. He served in the army four and one-half years in Co. A, 10th Ill. Cav .; was promoted step by step until he reached first lieutenancy; received his discharge at San Antonio, Tex.
W. A. Sanford, cashier of Scribner, Burroughs & Co.'s bank, born in Norwich, N. Y., in 1854; removed with parents in 1860 to Decorah, Ia .; thence to Cherokee in 1875, and engaged in business as above.
Dr. Sherman, of the firm of Butler & Sherman, physicians and surgeons, was born in Pa. in 1846; moved west in 1862; graduated from the Keokuk medical college in the class of '73, and began the
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practice of medicine in Cherokee the same year. He is also sur- geon for the Ill. C. Ry. He married Nellie Terry, and has one child-Annie.
E. B. Smith, of the firm of E. B. Smith & Co., furniture dealers and undertakers, was born in Canada in 1851; came to the U. S. in 1871, and located in Cherokee, Ia .; was engaged in various oc- cupations for a time; then engaged in the above business, which was established in 1870. He married Ida Brown, of Syracuse, N. Y., and has two children-Homer and Frank.
A. H. Smith, jeweler and dealer in fine watches and jewelry, (business established in 1872), was born in Canada in 1849; re- moved to Ill. in 1859, and located in DeKalb county; thence moved to Calhoun county, Ia., and in June, 1869, moved to Marcus, and the following year to Cherokee. He engaged in business in part- nership with G. S. Brown, and afterwards became sole proprietor.
R. M. Smith, of the firm of H. Assman & Co., dealers in staple and fancy groceries, was born in Pa. in 1838; removed to Sioux City, Ia., in 1868; thence to Cherokee in 1872, and engaged in farming until engaging in above business, which was established in 1876. He served in the army in the 78th Pa. Inft .; was pro- moted to captain, major and the lieutenant colonel; received his discharge at Nashville, Tenn. He married Maggie Stephens, of Pa., and has four children-Leota, Leona, Roy and Meda.
M. Wakefield, attorney at law, will practice in all courts in the state. He was born in Ill. in 1842; moved to Sioux City, Ia., in 1870, and the following year located in Cherokee; received his edn- cation at the Ill. State Normal University, from which he gradu- ated in 1865; read law at Bloomington, Ill., and was admitted to practice by the supreme court, Jan. 18th, 1869. He is mayor of Cherokee, and has held minor offices in the city.
Walbridge & Moore, attorneys at law, land, loan and real estate office. They have fifty thousand acres of wild land for sale, rang- ing in price from three to ten dollars per acre; also improved farms for sale. Business was established in 1879.
Z. A. Wellman, postmaster, was born in N. Y. in 1826; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849; came to Delaware county, Ia., and engaged in the practice of his profession, which he con- tinued for twenty years. During President Fillmore's adminis- tration, he was appointed postmaster, but his health failing him, he engaged in farming, and in 1870 removed to Cherokee from Benton county, and engaged in the drug business. In 1872 he was appointed postmaster of this city, and has held the office ever since.
L. M. White, of the firm of White Bros., proprietors of restau- rant and bakery, and dealers in staple and fancy groceries, was born
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in Bloomsburgh, Columbia county, Pa., in 1859; received his edu- cation at the State Normal School, at Bloomsburgh; removed to `Cherokee in 1881, and established the above business in June of the same year.
J. C. Wilson, photographer, (copying and enlarging a specialty), was born in Ottawa, Canada, in 1848; moved to Ogdensburg, N. Y., in 1862, and came to Cherokee, Ia., in 1870, being one of its earliest settlers; has served as a member of the city council two years. He married Carrie L. Bates, of Durand, Ill., and has one child-Bessie M.
Ed. Williams, dealer in all kinds of grain, took charge of this business in 1879; was born in O., in 1847; moved to Cedar Falls, Ia., in 1854, and engaged in buying grain near that place. He married Carrie Maxwell, of Ia.
F. D. Yaw, liveryman, was born in N. Y. in 1836; removed to Delaware county, Ia., in 1861, and to Cherokee in 1876, and estab- lished his present business; has a large barn and can furnish good rigs at reasonable rates; also buys and sells horses on commission.
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