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 59
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M. H. Herrold, merchant, was born in Athens county, O., in 1844; moved with parents to La Porte county, Ind., in 1851. He followed farming until 1864, then came to Sac City, Ia., and en- gaged in present business. He carries a well selected stock of dry goods, boots, shoes, furnishing goods and notions. He intends in the near future to build a brick block, feeling the need of more room for his rapidly increasing business.
Louis Hunefield, proprietor of blacksmith and plow works, was born in the province of Lippe Detmold, Germany, in 1829; came to the U. S. in 1849, and located at St. Louis, Mo., where he worked at his trade one and one-half years, then moved to Dodge county, Wis., where he worked at his trade nearly twenty-two years. He came to Sac county in 1872, and engaged in farming for a year and a half; then sold part of his farm, retaining eighty
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acres, and moved to Sac City. He was in the employ of Mr. Fish- man for about eight years, then purchased the business. He em- ploys three men and does a large business .
Joseph H. James, harness dealer, was born in Iowa county, Wis., in 1856, learned his trade at Mineral Point, and in Feb., 1877, moved to Webster City, Ia. In June, 1879, he came to Sac City and purchased the business and stock of Lewis Vanderworker; has since purchased building and lot. He employs three men and carries a full stock of harness, saddles, robes, blankets, whips, etc. In the spring of 1880 he established a branch shop at Newell, Buena Vista county, which is the only one at that place.
Jones & Baxter, proprietors of the City livery, feed and sale barn, established business in 1878. They own and occupy the barn on the corner of Fifth and River Sts. Have stalls for forty- five horses, keep twenty horses and twelve buggies and carriages for livery purposes. This is the only livery barn in the city.
John Kessler, wagon maker, came to Sac City, Ia., from Kenosha, Wis., in 1872, and established his present business. He occupies a shop on the south side of the public square; manufactures wagons and buggies and does a general repair business.
F. H. Knights, of the firm of George Knights & Co., dealers in boots, shoes, hats, caps, gloves mittens and rubber goods, came to Sac City in Sept., 1881, from Dubuque, Ia., where he had been en- gaged in the jewelry business for three years, and established his present business in partnership with his father, George Knights. They have the county agency for the Crown sewing machine.
R. H. Lamoreux, postmaster and druggist, was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1839; moved to Wausau, Wis., and engaged in the lumber business. He moved to Sac City, la., in 1868 and en- gaged in the grocery business, which he conducted nine months, then purchased a farm and for four years engaged in farming. In the winter of 1872 he engaged in clerking in the drug store of Eli Camp, and also took charge of the postoffice under J. E. Arm- strong. He purchased the drug business and stock in the spring of 1875 and the following spring was commissioned postmaster. His drug store, which is elegantly fitted, contains a full line of drugs, stationery, books, paints, oils, toilet and fancy articles, etc. He is assisted by F. B. Knight, deputy postmaster, and is also a registered pharmacist.
Chas. E. Lane, clerk of the courts, was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in 1874; moved with parents to St. Catherines, Canada West, in 1846; thence to Dyersville, Dubuque county, la., in 1856. He moved to Sac county in 1873; bought land and en- gaged in farming in Eden township until the autumn of 1878, at which time he was elected to his present office. on the republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1880.
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A. B. Mason, attorney at law, was born in 'Tama county, Ia., in 1857. He attended the Toledo High School for several years and afterwards the Iowa College of Law, of Des Moines, from which he graduated in 1880. He came to Sac City the same year and opened a law office in Sac county bank block, on second floor, also does a land, loan and insurance business.
James N. Miller, editor and proprietor of the Sac Sun, is a native of Pa., and was for several years editor of the Republican, published at Waynesburg. In 1870 he came to lowa and located at Eldora, Hardin county, remained only a short time, then came to Sac City, and established the Sac Sun, which has grown to im- portance and is the official paper of the county. In 1878 he built the new office which he now occupies. The paper is an eight- column folio, and has a circulation of eight hundred. Mr. Miller is prepared to do first-class job work of all kinds.
H. T. Martin, county superintendent of schools, was born in Putnam county, Ind., in 1839; moved with parents to Boone county, Ia., in 1853. He returned to Ind. in 1855, and attended the Cloverdale Seminary for two years; spent the following winter in Mo., and in 1858 returned to Boone county, Ia. He engaged in teaching school, and for twelve years taught in that county. He then entered the employ of the railroad company and was agent at Ontario, Story county, for eight years, and for four years at Odebolt, Sac county, where, in partnership with Mr. Bennett, the present editor, he established the Odebolt Observer. He was also engaged in the restaurant business ten months. In the fall of 1881 he was elected county superintendent, on the independent ticket.
George M. Parker, merchant, was born in Hartford, Ill., in 1847; moved with parents to Manchester. Ia., in 1851; thence to Delhi, where he received his education. He traveled for wholesale houses of Chicago and Dubuque for six years. In 1872 he engaged in business at Earlville, Ia., and two years later came to Sac City and established his present business. The store is in the Bank block. In 1881 he commenced the erection of a creamery, which is fitted with a ten-horse power engine, and will have a capacity of from 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per day. This is the only creamery in the county; it will employ from fifteen to twenty teams, and from twenty to thirty men. Mr. P. has for two years previous conducted the business on a smaller scale.
A. D. Peck, county auditor, was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1846. He graduated from the Syracuse High School in 1872 and the same year moved to Cedar Rapids, Ia. He came to Sac county in the spring of 1873 purchased land and engaged in farming until the autumn of 1877, when he was elected auditor and was re-elected in 1879 and 1881.
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Asa Platt, stock dealer and farmer, was born in Middlesex county, Conn., in 1830; moved with parents to Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1839; thence in 1848 to Erie county, Penn .. and engaged in the lumber business. In 1856 he moved to Sac City, Ia., which had just been laid out and contained only two log cabins. He pre- empted land near town, one hundred acres of which he laid out in town lots, and nearly all of which he has since sold. He engaged in mercantile business in 1864, which he continued for twelve years. In 1874 he erected a fine brick and stone residence in the city, at a cost of ten thousand dollars. He carries on his farm and is extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock.
J. O. Platt, of the firm of Schaller & Platt, proprietors of meat market, was born at Saybrook, Conn., in Dec., 1836; removed with parents to Chautauqua county, N. Y., in 1839. In 1850 he moved to Erie county, Pa., was employed for a time in a meat market, and afterwards engaged in business for himself; sold out in 1866 and moved to Sac county, Ia. He engaged in farming until 1874 when he moved to Sac City and opened a meat market which he run three years then sold. He next engaged in the stock business for several years, and in Aug., 1881, bought an interest in his pres- ent business. Mr. P. has been a member of the board of super- visors.
A. S. Platt, senior member of the firm of Platt & Platt, dealers in clothing and furnishing goods, was born in Windsor county, Vt., in 1839; moved to Dubuque, Ia., in 1870 and was in the em- ploy of the I. C. R. R. four years. He moved to Osage, Wis., and was for about six years a member of the firm of Simons & Platt, grocers. He came to Sac City, Ia., in Dec., 1880, and purchased business and stock of J. M. Woodard and engaged in his present business. In 1881 he took into partnership his nephew C. A. Platt.
C. E. Read, furniture dealer and undertaker, was born in March, Canada, Dec. 20th, 1826; moved to Toledo, O .. in April, 1856; was engaged in the drug business four years; then moved to Huron county, Mich., where he was engaged in same business for three years. In Aug., 1865, he came to Sac City and engaged in con- tracting and building. He entered his present business in 1873; employs first-class cabinet-maker, and carries a fine stock of every- thing in his line.
E. M. Reynolds is business manager for C. Hatfield, furniture dealer and undertaker. This business was established in 1879, and contains a complete stock of furniture and undertakers' goods, and is the agency for the White, Wilson and Victor sewing machines, also for the Mason & Hamlin organs.
Philip Schaller, county treasurer, was born in Woerth, province of Alsace, Germany, in 1838; came to America and landed at N. Y. City in Apr., 1854, and in Dec. of the same year located at Dubuque, Ia., and engaged in wagon-making. He enlisted in
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1862 at National, Ia., in the 27th Ia. Inft., was sent to Minn. among the Indians, and thence south; was with Gens. Sherman, Smith, Steele and Thomas in some of the principal battles; was mustered out at the close of the war, and returned to Clayton county, Ia. He purchased land in Sac county in 1868, returned to Clayton county and remained until 1870, then engaged in farming in Sac county, on 640 acres of land. He was agent for the Iowa Railroad Land company while living on the farm, and was afterwards transferred to Storm Lake, and held the agency for Buena Vista county until he was elected treasurer of Sac county in 1877, to which office he has been re-elected each successive term since. He is now land agent for this county, having been ap- pointed in Jan., 1878. He has been a member of the board of supervisors of this county for five years. He organized a Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. in 1874, and was elected as its President, which office he still holds. The insurance company has about $800,000, issued in policies and on property.
J. & W. C. Shull, of the firm of Shull Bros., dealers in lumber, lime, coal, hair, cement, etc., office on Main street, established business in 1880. They were formerly of Montgomery county, N. Y. J. Shull graduated from the Fairfield Seminary and entered the employ of Walter Shoemaker, lumber dealer, Chicago, Ill .; came to Sac City in 1880. W. C. Shull, previous to coming to this city, was engaged in the drug business at Little Falls, N. Y .; afterwards with D. R. Dyche & Co., druggists, Chicago; came to Sac City in May, 1881, and formed present partnership.
George A. Smith, watchmaker and jeweler, was born in Belvi- dere, Ill., in 1851; moved to Waverly, Bremer county, Ia., in 1855. He attended the high school, at Ypsilanti, Mich., from 1868 to 1872; returned to Bremer county and learned his trade. He moved to Sac City in Dec., 1874, and established his present business in the Commercial Bank block. He keeps a fine line of clocks, watches, jewelry, silverware and opticans' goods, and in connection carries a fine stock of stationery, books and newspapers.
Rev. Robert Smylie, pastor of the M. E. church, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1849. He graduated from Victoria College, Coburg, in 1868; entered the ministry the following year and filled various pulpits in Ontario. He was ordained at Dunville, in 1873; in Oct., 1880, he came to Sac City, Ia., and took present charge.
George Stanley, proprietor of the Stanley House, came to Sac City in May, 1881, from Bloomington, Wis., where he had been engaged in the mercantile business for eleven years. He pur- . chased his present hotel property, and after thoroughly renovating and refitting it, engaged in present business. He keeps a first- class house and runs a 'bus to and from trains.
B. W. Trout, deputy recorder, was born in LeRoy, Bradford county, Pa., in March, 1843. He enlisted in the 106th Pa. Vol., and was in several of the most important engagements of the war.
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He was wounded at Gettysburg and also at Petersburg, June, 1864, where he was captured and confined in Libby Prison a few days; started for Macon, Ga., and escaped, was recaptured and taken to Lynchburg, Va., thence to Raleigh, N. C. He was paroled in March, 1865, and discharged the following April. He came to Sac City, Ia., in May, 1867, and engaged in farming one season; taught school the following winter, and continued teaching until 1871, when he was appointed deputy treasurer, which office he held until 1878, excepting during the year 1874. He then filled a vacancy as recorder, and was appointed deputy upon Mr. Flack's being elected recorder. Mrs. B. W. Trout, milliner, established business in Dec., 1880. She carries a full and elegant line of mil- linery and ladies' furnishing goods, and employs a first-class mil- liner trimmer.
Henry L. Willson, sheriff, was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in 1841; moved with parents in 1851, to Dundas county, Can- ada West. In 1869 he moved to Clinton, Clinton county, Ia., and engaged in contracting and building; thence to Sac county in the autumn of 1875 and followed same business. He was elected to his present office in the autumn of 1881 and moved to Sac City in Jan., 1882.
Christopher Waddell, collection agent and auctioneer, was born in Oxford, Eng. He was for several years in the Royal Mail West India service, also East India service. In 1851 he came to Amer- ica and located at York, Dane county, Wis .; was engaged in farm- ing, also livery business. In 1872 came to Sac City and engaged in the livery business. He was elected sheriff in 1876 and re-elected in 1877 and 1879 on the Democratic ticket, the county being re- publican by a majority of nine hundred. This speaks well for Mr. \V.'s popularity.
John L. Woodward, junior member and business manager of the firm of Condron & Woodward, dealers in grain and machinery, was born in Champaign county, O. He served during the war of the rebellion a short time, doing garrison duty, after which he bought land in Dallas county. Ia. He engaged in the grain business at Dallas Centre, which he continued for two years and in 1871 lo- cated at Sac City, where he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1880 established business as above. During 1881 the firm shipped one hundred cars of grain.
ODEBOLT.
F. R. Bennett is editor and proprietor of the Odebolt Observer, which was established in July, 1880, and is a six-column quarto paper. In 1847 he edited and published the Advertiser, at Rock Island, Ill., afterwards was connected with various papers in Clin- ton county, Ia. He came to Odebolt in 1880. This is the only
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democratic paper published in the county and it has a subscription list of about 500. Office on second floor of Schmitz block and is thoroughly fitted up as a job office. He employs three compositors.
C. D. Boardman, physician and druggist, was born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in 1854; moved with parents to Lyons, Clinton county, Ia .; there attended school, and in 1871 entered the Agricultural College, of Ames. He graduated in 1874 and in the winter of same year entered the Chicago Medical College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1877. The same year he opened an office at Monticello, Ia., also engaged in the drug busi- ness, in partnership with Dr. Mellett; at the end of one year Dr. Boardman became sole proprietor. In May, 1880, he moved the stock to Odebolt and established his present business.
J. C. Bodine, farmer and stock raiser, was born in N. Y. in 1835; in 1865 moved to Aurora, Ill., where he engaged in the stock business. He moved to Grinnell, Ia., in 1868; thence to Sac coun- ty, in 1874. He purchased in Cook township, where he now re- sides, a farm of 320 acres, which is well improved. He also owns another farm, containg 160 acres, which he rents. Mr. B. is one of the representative farmers of this county; has filled many offices of trust; in politics is a democrat.
S. H. Bowman, of the firm of S. H. Bowman & Co., dealers in lumber, coal, linie and mixed paints, was born in Baltimore, Md., in March, 1854. In 1873 he entered the Business College of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., from which he graduated in May, 1874. He went to Neb. in 1878, and was engaged in the lumber business at various towns. In March, 1880, he came to Odebolt, Ia., and established the above business; he is the senior member and busi- ness manager of the firm, which has branch yards at Ida Grove, Battle Creek and Danbury.
J. W. Burnside, dealer in dry goods, boots, shoes, notions, car- pets, etc., was born in Steuben county, N. Y., in 1833; moved with parents to Crawford county, Ia., when quite young. He received his education at the Methodist University of Delaware, O., afterwards attended Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1854. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Garden Prairie, Ill. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in the 95th, Ill. Inft .; remained in the service until 1866. During that time he was transferred from the vol- unteer service to the regular army. He was in several important engagements, was wounded at the seige of Vicksburg, also at Fort Du Risse. After leaving the army he located at Boone, Ia., and engaged in mercantile business. In 1878 came to Odebolt and en- gaged in business as above.
Frank L. Dennis, editor and proprietor of the Odebolt Observer, was born in Clinton county, Ia., in 1852. He learned his trade in the De Witt Observer office; remained there until 1878, then moved
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to Wall Lake, Sac county, and established the Wall Lake Journal, which ke sold in April, 1881. He came to Odebolt and purchased the Odebolt Reporter, which was first established at Sac City by W. W. Yarham, who moved it to this city in November, 1877. The office is in the basement of Wright's Opera Block and is fitted for a first-class news and job office. The paper is republican in politics, is a six-column quarto, with a subscription list of six hundred.
Henry Dockstader, proprietor of the Revere House, was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., in 1836; moved in 1842 to Tioga county, Pa .; thence to Jones county, Ia., in 1857. He there engaged in farming until 1872, then moved to Panora, Guthrie county, where he farmed until the autumn of 1881. He came to Odebolt and took charge of the Odebolt House, which he thoroughly renovated and refitted, changing the name to Revere. It is now a first-class hotel.
Alfred G. Erlenborn, dealer in general merchandise, was born at Mendota, Ill., in 1860. He received his education at the Jesuit College, of Chicago, Ill., from which he graduated in 1875. He entered the banking house of Erlenborn Bros .. at Mendota, of which bank his father was the senior partner. In 1879 he went to Denver, Col., was there employed as bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery house. He returned to Iowa in 1881 and located at Ode- bolt. He engaged in the loan business and also as bookkeeper for Warneke. Afterwards engaged in business as above; also does a loan and insurance business; is assisted by his brothers, Otto and Julius and W. Pitschner.
C. E. George, of the firm of George & Coy, attorneys at law, was born at Alexandria, Grafton county, N. H., Dec. 20th, 1857. He received his education at the high school of Bristol, N. H., and the New London, N. H., and Newbury, Vt., Academies. He read law for two years with Hon. S. B. Page, at Woodville, Vt., and in 1879 graduated from the Vermont University, obtaining the degree of A. B. He also graduated from the law department of the Ann Arbor, Mich., University. He came to Odebolt, Ia., in March, 1880, and engaged in the practice of his profession. During the summer of the same year he formed a partnership as above. Dell Coy, of the above firm, was born in Kane county, Ill., Aug. 15th, 1857. He received his education at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill., and in 1878 entered the Union College of law, at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1880. Came to Odebolt the same year. They attend strictly to law, collection and insurance busi- ness, and although both young, have placed themselves in the foremost ranks of the profession.
A. Groman, M. D., was born in Lake county, Ind., in 1856. He received his preparatory education at Crown Point Seminary and studied medicine with his father, Dr. C. Groman. In the autumn
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of 1876 he entered the Homoeopathic College, of Chicago, from which he graduated in March, 1878. He opened an office at Ode- bolt, Ia., in June of the same year. Office on second floor of Wright's Opera block; consultation room adjoining.
Henry Hanson, grain, seed and stock dealer, was born in Swe- den; came to America in 1868 and landed in N. Y .; remained in that state until 1874, when he came to Sac county, Ia. He pur- chased land and farmed until 1877, then moved to Odebolt and en- gaged in present business. He owns a steam elevator fitted with all of the latest improved machinery, employs nine men in eleva- tors and warehouses, two bookkeepers and C. B. Hatfield, grain and stock buyer.
W. A. Helsell, of the firm of Zane & Helsell, attorneys at law, was born in Millersburg, O., in 1855; moved with parents to Iowa in 1861. He graduated in the scientific course at the Ames Agri- cultural'College in 1877 and in 1879 graduated from the law de- partment of Simpson's Centenary College. He was admitted to the bar before the supreme court at Des Moines, June 9th, 1879, and in the July following formed a partnership as above. He at- tends to the law and trial business and Mr. Zane to the loan, insur- ance and abstract business of the firm. They have a complete set of abstract books.
Martin Keck, proprietor of restaurant, ice cream and oyster parlors, also dealer in fancy groceries, confectionery, cigars, to- bacco, etc., came to Sac county, Ia., in 1878; engaged in farming, then came to Odebolt and established business as above.
J. H. Kitterer & Co., proprietors of the Pioneer hardware store, which was established in 1878 by W. Van Dusen, purchased the business in Aug., 1879. The firm is composed of J. H. Kitterer and Joseph Mattes; they are men of long experience in the hard- ware business, having previous to coming to this city been en- gaged in the same. They carry a stock estimated at $18,000, and do a driving business. They employ one clerk and three tinners. Make specialties of Glidden barbed wire, "Splendid" heating stoves, "Diamond" and "Acorn" cook stoves.
C. S. Lee, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, came to Denison, Ia., in 1869 from Philadelphia, Pa. In May, 1877, he moved to Odebolt, and opened a restaurant; two years later added a full stock of groceries. He has since closed out the restaurant and now attends strictly to his fast increasing grocery trade.
Joseph Mercer, dealer in agricultural implements, was born in Beaver county, Pa., March 1st, 1856; moved the same year with parents to De Kalb county, Ill. In June, 1880, he entered the employ of the Sandwich manufacturing company, at Sandwich, Ill .; traveled for them until Nov., 1881, when he located at Ode- bolt and engaged in business as above. He is agent for the goods
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manufactured by the following named firms: Sandwich Co., Briggs & Enochs, Scandia Plow Co .. of Rockford, Ill., Vandiver Co., of Quincy, Ill., Daly Harrow Co. and others.
E. A. Moody, painter and grainer, was born in Milwaukee, Wis. in 1848; was educated at Notre Dame College, of South Bend, Ind. In 1861 he enlisted in the regular army, and served during the war of the rebellion. Was discharged in 1865; returned to Mil- waukee and learned his trade. In 1868 he moved to Cincinnati, O., where he remained one year, then went west, and after a time located at Yankton, Dak. He returned to Milwaukee and soon after moved to Cherokee, Ia .; was there engaged in business three years. In Dec., 1878, he came to Odebolt and engaged in busi- ness. He does a good business and employs five men.
Frank A. Ross, insurance agent, came to Odebolt from Boone, Ia., where he had resided for twenty-five years. He first engaged in teaching school, and in Feb., 1880, established business as above. His office is at the Mayor's office, over the City Drug Store. He is agent for the Home Life Association, of Burlington, Iowa, for three counties, Sac, Crawford and Carroll.
H. F. Warneke, dealer in grain and stock, came to Odebolt, Ia., from Plattville, Wis., in 1879. He established a saloon, which he continued until Aug., 1881, and in the Sept. following he estab- lished his present business. He has shipped since establishing business to Jan. 1st, 1882, two hundred car loads. His ware- house has a capacity of ten thousand bushels; employs five men.
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