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 61
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The business of Ida Grove may be classified as follows: Six gen- eral stores, three grocery stores, one clothing store, one boot and shoe store, two restaurants, three drug stores, two banks, two fur-
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niture stores, three hardware stores, four millinery stores, three meat markets, two jewelry stores, three elevators, one grist mill, four saloons, three hotels, three lumber vards, four agricultural implement depots, five livery stables, four harness shops, two barber shops, four blacksmith shops and four wagon shops, one plow factory.
The Ida Creamery was established in the spring of 1882, and is operated by Mauer Bros. They have a commodious brick building 20x32 feet, with a wing 14x30, which is frame. This creamery has a capacity of 1,000 pounds per day. It is situated one-half mile from the town and is operated on the cream-gathering plan. Its internal arrangements are of the most modern plan.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.
M. E. Church Society .- The Ida Circuit was originally part of the Smithland Circuit, but was detached from this circuit in 1869, and formed into the Maple River Circuit. In 1875, it was again divided and called Ida Circuit. The first pastor who traveled this section when within the bounds of the Smithland Circuit was Rev. L. Taylor, who included in this work what is known as the Sioux City District. Taylor was succeeded by Rev. Seymore Snyder, and he by Rev. Adams, who in turn, was succeeded by Rev. Barker, who was the last preacher on the circuit before it was divided. Maple Circuit included a point on Soldier Creek, Mapleton, Battle Creek and Ida Grove. Rev. L. H. Woodworth was placed in charge, and was succeeded by J. P. Hauxhurst, who was appointed to Ida Circuit in 1871. In September, 1872, Ida Circuit was set off from the Maple Circuit, and Rev. Harrison Bailey was appointed pastor, and was reappointed in 1873. He was followed by Rev. L. H. Woodworth. In 1875, Mr. Bailey was again appointed to this charge, and was succeeded by Rev. W. B. Hastings. At the session of the annual conference, in September, 1876, Ida was attached to Fort Dodge district, with Rev. Edwin Hobbs as pastor. Ida was made a separate charge in September, 1878. Rev. C. B. Winter afterwards took charge and was followed by Rev. Henry Brown, who is the present pastor. The church building, located on Moorehead Avenue, in Old Town, is the pioneer of the houses of worship. It is 32x45 feet, and contains 250 sittings. It was erected at a cost of $1,900. It was dedicated in November, 1878. The parsonage was erected in the fall of 1881. It is 16x26 feet, and cost $700. The church mem- bership is about eighty. With the church is connected a Sabbath School, with an average attendance of fifty pupils. H. B. Pierce is Superintendent.
Baptist Church Society .- Organized August 16th, 1879, by D. D. Proper. Rev. J. W. Daniels was the first pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. C. E. McManis, who took charge in July, 1881,
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and who is the present pastor. The officers of the church are: W. H. Bliss and R. H. Dawson, Deacons; Albert Needham, Clerk; F. R. Moorehead. Treasurer. The Society now numbers about forty members, and has a Sabbath School with an average attendance of fifty pupils, with D. H. Sanford as Superintendent. The church was built in 1880. It is a large frame building, 30x50 feet, with a side vestibule 10x16 feet. The whole is surmounted by a belfrey. The basement is fitted up to contain a robing room and a baptistry. The building was erected under the supervision of Rev. J. W. Daniels. The seating capacity is about 350, in- cluding gallery. It is of the Gothic style, furnished with hand- some stained glass windows, and is quite an ornament to the town.
Presbyterian Church Society .- This society was organized in 1873, by George R. Carroll. Rev. A. E. Smith was the first pastor and took charge in 1878. The present officers of the church are: John A. Lytle, Alex. Hartly and F. Sampson, Elders. The soci- ety now numbers sixty-four members. There is a Sabbath School with an average attendance of ninety pupils. H. W. Rule is the Superintendent. The church was erected in 1880. It is a neat frame building 30x50 feet, with a tower 8x8 feet, and 60 feet high, and a recess back of the pulpit 5x9 feet. It contains 150 sittings, and cost about $3,000.
Catholic Church Society .- Was organized about 1879, and has a membership of about sixty families. Rev. Father Norton is the pastor. The church was erected in 1879. It is a frame building 30x40 feet, and has about 250 sittings, and cost $2,400.
Ida Grove Public School .- This is an independent school dis- trict. The school building is a fine structure, erected in 1881. It contains six rooms and a basement, and is heated by two furnaces. It was erected at a cost of 11,000. There are three teachers employed, and an average attendance of 100 pupils. Prof. O. E. Smith is the principal, Miss Bertha Barker and Retta Daw- son assistants. The present school board are: I. Kennedy, President; D. A. Grosvenor, E. L. Worcester, L. Tinkle, S. B. Higgins and Isaac Bunn, Trustees; F. W. Shearer, Secretary.
Kane Lodge No. 377, A. F. d. A. M .- This Lodge was in- stituted July 8th. 1876, and the charter was granted June 8th, 1877. The charter members were: Matt. M. Gray, W. M .; O. Waterman, S. W .; Chas. Beers, J. W .; W. Vankirk, S. D .; E. S. Bigelow. J. D. ; T. S. Snell, Secretary; Calvin Bailey, Treasurer; A. A. Stowell, Tiler. These were also the first officers. The officers now are: S. B. Carr, W. M .; W. Vankirk, S. W .; G. F. Barnes, J. W .; H. A. Worcester, Secretary; Noah Williams, Treas- urer; W. J. Scott, J. D., and E. Whitcomb, Tiler. The Lodge now has a membership of thirty-seven, and meets once in each month. The Lodge contemplates building a hall this year.
Ida Grove Lodge No. 74, V. A. S .- Instituted August 23d, 1881, by Mr. Maltbie. The first officers are: S. B. Higgins,
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Rector; D. N. Goodell, Scribe; J. C. Higgins, Questor; P. H. Hillman, Usher, and Mr. Machahan, Speculator. The Lodge numbers nineteen members and meets the first Wednesday in each month. The present officers are: P. H. Hillman, Rector; J. B. Williams, Scribe; Isaac Bunn, Questor; Harry Shamo, Usher, and Frank Wright, Speculator.
Ida County Agricultural Society .- Organized March, 1875. The society has thirty-five acres of grounds, situated three-fourths of a mile from town, and the best half-mile track in Ida County. The grounds are all enclosed with a close board fence, and have a nice floral hall, sheds, etc. This society holds its fairs annually.
BATTLE CREEK.
Battle Creek, which is situated on the Maple Valley Branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, about forty-five miles from the junction, is located in the centre of the beautiful Maple Val- ley, and was laid out by the Blair Town and Lot Company, in 1877, on lands purchased by the company from W. J. Wagoner, of Denison. Located as it is, it presents a fair appearance from all points on each side of the valley. The soil is fertile and product- ive, and the town is located in a rich farming country. The depot was built in 1877.
Frank E. Beckwith moved the first house into the town in 1879, which building was used as a boarding-house. Charles Havens built the first house constructed in the town and used it as a sa- loon. The first store was opened by John Nott in the spring of 1880. William Warner soon after opened a store. Sam. Warnock was the first to engage in the lumber business. John Nott was appointed the first postmaster and has held the position ever since. John Holcomb was among the earliest settlers and was the first to engage in the hotel business.
The town was incorporated in December, 1880, and A. Bassett was elected the first Mayor; W. Jones, Recorder, and J. M. Boles, John Nott, William Warner, W. H. James, Sam. Warnock, and Peter Amerman, Councilmen. The population of the town is now estimated to be between 400 and 500 people. The present town officers are: A. Bassett, Mayor; J. C. Walter, Recorder; A. V. Mckown, Sam. Warnock, W. E. Churchill, John Nott, B. C. Bow- man and Hugh Smith, Councilmen.
The business of Battle Creek may be classified thus: Three general stores, two drug stores, one harness shop, two meat mar- kets, three hotels, one bank, one furniture store, two saloons, three lumber yards, three agricultural implement depots, two millinery stores, one elevator, one barber shop, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one livery stable, one restaurant.
Battle Creek is situated in the heart of an excellent farming country, and is undoubtedly destined, if one may judge the future
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by the past, to become one of the most important business points in Western Iowa. Its growth has been rapid and vigorous, and still continues, and all fair-minded people who have given the sub- ject consideration, will coincide with us in the view given.
The Battle Creek Times, a neat seven-column folio weekly paper, was started by Hugh Brannan, April 23d, 1880. Mr. B. ran the paper but three months, when the material was bought by S. Warnock and W. E. Roberts, who hired John Jones to run it. It was afterwards. leased to J. L. Kroesen, now of the Wall Lake Journal. S. W. Young purchased the paper in the fall of 1881, and is now editor and proprietor. It is Republican is politics, and has a circulation of 550 copies.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.
M. E. Church Society .- The M. E. Church Society of Battle Creek was organized March, 1881. The first pastor was Rev. O. L. Neville, who was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. F. M. Luce. The first officers were: H. Haworth, M. L. Branch, F. M. Lewis, and A. B. Mckown, and are still serving as officers of the church. The society now numbers about twenty. It has a Sab- bath School in connection, with an average attendance of forty pupils. M. L. Branch is the Superintendent. The church build- ing was erected in 1881-2, and was dedicated February 26th, 1882. It is a neat frame structure, 26x40 feet, with a tower 10x10 feet on the corners, surmounted with a belfrey, which contains a large bell. It has abont 200 sittings and cost $2,000.
Presbyterian Church Society .- Organized June 13th, 1879. The first officers were: E. P. Smith, G. W. Mc Williams, R. Warnock, James Preston, and John S. Piffer. Rev. A. E. Smith was the first pastor. The present officers are the same as the first. The present pastor is J. C. Gilkerson. The church building was completed in 1880. It is 26x40 feet, and cost $2,000.
Battle Creek Public School .- Wilson Jones taught the first school in the town. The district is still a sub-district of Maple Township. The present school building was, moved from outside the limits into the town, and formerly used as a town hall. It was converted into a school building a few years ago. The present school board of Maple Township consists of ten directors, one from each sub-district. S. Beard is President, Wilson Jones is the Secretary, and A. Stowell Treasurer. The Battle Creek school numbers eighty-five pupils. Wilson Jones is principal, and Mrs. E. Warner, assistant.
Samaritan Lodge, A. F. & A. M .- Dispensation was granted March 21st, 1881. The first and present officers are: G. W. Hoskins, W. M .; J. P. Creager, S. W .; W. E. Churchill, J. W. The charter members were: P. K. Taylor, A. V. Mckown, H. Lampman, Wm. Warner, H. S. Squyer, J. C. Stoughton, A. R.
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Graiser, A. C. Hoyt, J. L. Richardson, Smith Waite. The society meets once each month, and has a membership of about twenty.
Battle Creek Lodge No. 202, A. O. U. W .- This Lodge was instituted Angust 15th, 1879. The charter members and first officers were: A. A. Stowell, Foreman; R. K. Cameron, P. M. W .; I. N. Goin, M. W .; C. W. Oxwood, O .; H. N. Davis, Rec .; W. Jones, Financier; A. L. Brockway, Rec .; P. K. Taylor, G .; A. A. Nauman, I. W .; B. Graiser, O. W. The present officers are: J. Nott, M. W .; W. Jones, P. M. W. and Rec .; R. A. Mc Williams, Foreman; A. Lampman, O .; C. F. Sufeld, Rec .; J. I. Rogers, G .; J. F. Snyder, I. W .; A. Nauman; O. W. The society now num- bers about fifteen members, and holds its meetings every Satur- day night.
IDA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES,
IDA GROVE.
A. T. Baker, M. D., was born in Jackson county, Ia., in 1847. He began the study of medicine at an early age, graduated from the Iowa State University in the class of '76. The same year he located at Webster City, where he soon built up a large and lucra- tive practice. He moved to Ida Grove in 1879, and is one of the leading physicians of the county.
Ed. H. Barnes, stock dealer, was born in St. Albans, N. Y .; moved to Manchester, Ia., in 1855; was there engaged in business for twelve years. He went to Waterloo, where he engaged in the hotel business; then went to Yankton, Dak. He built the telegraph line from there to Fort Sully. In 1871 he came to Ida county, Ia., and was elected sheriff in 1872.
L. G. Blair, photographer, was born in Ill .; moved to Wis. when quite young, and in 1876 moved to Denison, Ia. He came to Ida Grove in 1879, and established business. He has a branch establishment at Odebolt; is prepared to do first-class work at low prices.
O. J. Blodgett, attorney at law, is a native of N. Y .; moved to Warren county, Iowa, in 1868; was admitted to the bar in 1880, and located in Ida Grove in 1881; is now one of the leading attorneys of Ida county.
Isaac Bunu, clerk of the courts, is a native of England; came to America in 1851 and located at Cleveland, O .; removed to Du- buque, Ia., in 1856; thence to Ida Grove in 1871, where he engaged in wagon-making and blacksmithing. He was elected to his pres- ent office in 1874, and has been re-elected each term since.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
L. T. Burd, attorney at law, was born in Pa .; moved to Ill. when quite young. He read law in the office of the Hon. J. W. McDill; came to Ida Grove in Jan., 1882, and opened an office.
Buxton & Clark, real estate, loan and insurance agents. The firm is composed of Will. B. Buxton and C. J. Clark; they were formerly engaged in mercantile business at this place; sold out and engaged as above in 1881. They also have a complete set of abstracts.
Clark & Hubbard, real estate, loan and insurance agents. Mr. Clark is a native of Wis .; moved to Butler county, Ia., in 1868, and engaged in farming. He engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business in 1876 and two years later moved to Ida Grove, where he engaged in business as above. George C. Hubbard be- came a member of the firm in Jan., 1882.
Matt. M. Gray, attorney at law, was born in Hancock county, Ill., in 1850; moved to Mo. and engaged in the practice of the law. In 1872 he came to Ida Grove; opened the first law office in the town, and in 1873 was elected county auditor, which office he held until 1876; then was obliged to resign on account of his large and increasing law business. He has been associated in business with Hon. R. T. Shearer.
G. H. Gingrick, of the firm of G. H. Gingrick & Co., dealers in general hardware, is a native of Ohio; came to Iowa in 1878. He moved to Ida Grove and engaged in present business with A. M. Gingrick, who is also a native of O .; came to Iowa county, Ia., in 1856 and to Ida Grove in 1880. They carry a large and well se- lected stock of hardware.
E. C. Heilman, of the firm of Heilman & Moorehead, physicians and surgeons, was born in Scott county, Ia. He graduated from the Ohio Medical College in the class of '77. G. C. Moorehead is a graduate of the Iowa State University, class of '79.
L. D. Ingman, of the firm of Dean & Ingman, dealers in dry goods, clothing and carpets, was born in Ohio; came to Cedar county, Ia., in 1859. He enlisted in 1861 in the 5th Ia. Inft., was discharged in 1864, and returned to Cedar county, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He came to Ida Grove in 1880, and engaged in business as above.
William Jones, county auditor, is a native of Wis .; came to Ida county, Ia., in 1876, and engaged in teaching until elected to his present office, in the autumn of 1881.
Arthur L. Moore, of the firm of G. A. Edmunds & Co., dealers in general merchandise, is a native of Va .; came west in 1870, and in 1875 located at Sioux City, and was employed in the wholesale department of the dry goods house of Tootle, Livingston & Co., for six years. He then established present business. They carry a stock of goods that would be a credit to a much larger city; also have a branch house at Correctionville, Ia.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
J. H. Macomber, attorney at law, was born in Piscataquis county, Me. Was admitted to the bar and practiced law in his native state until 1876; he then moved to Ida Grove, where he opened an office and resumed the practice of law.
H. H. Moorehead, manager for the Green Bay Lumber Co., came to Ida county, Ia., in 1856. He engaged in the mercantile business in the spring of 1869, which business he continued until 1878. In 1880 he engaged as above.
H. H. Perry, proprietor of Ball's Hotel, is a native of Ill. ; moved to Marshalltown, Ia., in 1868, and engaged in the mer- cantile business. In Dec., 1881, he became landlord of the above house. This hotel is a first-class house, has large sample rooms, and all the comforts required by travelers.
H. B. Pierce, deputy recorder, is a native of Ill .; moved with parents to Cedar county, Ia., in 1865. He moved to Carroll coun- ty in 1874, and engaged in school teaching; came to Ida Grove in 1878, where he was principal of the schools for three years. In 1881 was appointed deputy recorder .
E. A. Porter, proprietor of the Porter House, is a native of O .; moved to Guthrie county, Ia., in 1856, and engaged in the grain business. He came to Ida Grove in 1881, and opened the above named house, which was newly furnished. It is a first-class house with good sample rooms.
Patrick Scanlan, agent for the C. & N. W. R. R. Co. at Ida Grove, came to this place in 1881 and took charge of the above office; is also agent for the American Express Co.
William J. Scott, druggist, was born in Pa .; is a graduate of Girard College, of Philadelphia. He moved to Glidden, Ia., in 1877 and engaged in the drug business. In 1879 he came to Ida Grove, and engaged in present business.
F. W. Tibbetts, county treasurer, is a member of the firm of Tibbetts, Thompson & Co., dealers in grain and agricultural imple- ments. He was born in N. H .; moved to Wis. in 1855; thence to Iowa in 1864 and engaged in farming. He came to Ida Grove in 1877 and engaged in business with his brother; the firm soon after became Tibbetts & Tuthill, afterwards became Tibbetts, Thompson & Co. He was elected to his present office in 1881.
L. Tinkle, dealer in general merchandise, is the pioneer mer- chant of Ida Grove. The business is conducted by B. F. Dugan. He is a native of Ohio; came to Iowa in 1868 and engaged in the mercantile business at Fort Dodge. He became bookkeeper and manager of the above house in 1878.
O. G. Tremaine, M. D., was born in Oconomowoc, Wis., in 1854; moved to Hamilton county, Ia., in 1867. He began the study of medicine in 1877 and graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, in 1880. He located at Ida Grove in Oct., 1881, and engaged in the practice of medicine.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Dr. J. T. Walker, druggist, is a native of Ind .; moved to Iowa in 1854 and in 1867 engaged in the mercantile business with his father, in Linn county. He studied medicine and in 1872 gradu- ated from the Rush Medical College, of Chicago. He opened an office at Vail, Crawford county, Ia. Came to Ida Grove in 1877 and is the pioneer druggist of the place.
A. P. Williams, real estate and insurance agent, was born in Ind .; moved to Benton County, Ia., in 1856. He has been en- gaged in business in Cedar Rapids and Omaha. Came to Ida Grove in 1881 and engaged in business as above.
BATTLE CREEK.
D. R. Archer, real estate dealer and proprietor of the Hol- comb House, was born in Ind .; came to Ia. in 1880, and engaged in the real estate business; has sold since about twenty-five thous- and acres of land, of which one-third has been to actual settlers.
B. C. Bowman, of the firm of S. H. Bowman & Co., lumber dealers, is a native of Md. ; moved to Neb. in 1876; thence to Ia. in 1879 and engaged in the lumber business at Odebolt, Ida Grove, Danbury and Battle Creek .
W. E. Churchill, dealer in hardware and agricultural imple- ments, was born in N. Y .; came to Clarence, Ia., in 1862, and was employed as salesman in a hardware store until 1871, when he engaged in business for himself. He moved to Battle Creek iu 1878, and engaged in business as above.
C. P. Lund, dealer in agricultural implements and stock, was born in Denmark in 1834; came to America in 1861 and engaged in farming in Wis. In 1870 moved to Ida county, Ia., and in 1877 came to Battle Creek and engaged in stock and lumber business. In 1881 engaged in the above named business .
Jasper McArthur, farmer, was born in Linn county, Ia ., in April, 1857; came to Crawford county in March, 1878, where he engaged in farming on 145 acres, section 1. His postoffice is Battle Creek. On Jan. 1st, 1879, he was married to Ella Page, of Linn county . They have one child.
G. W. McIntosh, furniture dealer, is a native of Wis .; came to Ia. in 1869, and engaged as carpenter and builder. He moved to Red Oak in 1873, and to Battle Creek in 1877. In 1881 he engaged in his present business.
John Nott, postmaster, was born in Wis. in 1847; moved to Ida, Ia., in 1874; thence to Willow Dale, near the present town of Battle Creek, and engaged in the mercantile business. He was appointed postmaster in 1876; the office was moved to Battle Creek in 1877; he also moved there, having sold his business, and is still in office.
APPENDIX.
Under this heading will be found historical and biographical matters that were received too late for insertion in their proper places:
AURELIA.
Aurelia, located in the eastern part of Cherokee County, on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. was platted by the railroad company in 1870. It was incorporated in 1880. The first town officers, under incorporation, were: : W. C. Marsh, Mayor; J. W. McMillan, Clerk; George Wharton, Treasurer; George Nelson, Marshal and Street Commissioner; W. P. Miller, R. C. Kleberger, W. F. Quirk, Alexander Frazer, G. A. Enright, W. H. Reynolds, Councilmen. Present town officers: A. Potter, Mayor; J. W. McMillan, Clerk; George Wharton, Treasurer: J. Fraser, Marshal; D. Watts, Street Commissioner; R. R. Whitney, C. R. Kleberger, H. Bisheal, William Natress, George Orswell, E. Daniels, Councilmen.
The first store in Aurelia was built by J. Clarkson in the autumn of 1869; the first dwelling, by R. R. Whitney, in 1870; the first child born was Carrie Au- relia Sampson, daughter of John and Naomi Sampson, born March 19th, 1874; the first train of cars arrived at Aurelia, in July, 1870; the first grain was ship- ped from Aurelia in the autumn of 1871, by R. R. Whitney.
The business establishments of Aurelia may be classified as follows: General stores, five; lumber yards, three; grocery stores, two; hardware, three; boot and shoe stores, two; harness shops, two; meat markets, two; livery barns, two; hotel, one; furniture store, one; photographer, one; millinery stores, two; coal dealers, four; blacksmith shops, two; wagon shop, one; drugstore, one; bank, one; printing office, one; saloons, two; bakery and restaurant, one; grain elevators, four; warehouses, two; veterinary surgeon, one; attorney, one; phy- sician, one.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.
The Methodist Church Society .- Organized October 31st, 1878, by Rev. Mr. Faus, with four members. Present membership, about one hundred. Rev. W. Parfitt, present pastor. The church edifice is 45x26 feet in dimensions, and was built at a cost of $1,600.
The Lutheran Church Society .- This society erected its church edifice in 1881. The church is 40x28 feet in dimensions, and cost $2,000. Twenty-five families are represented in the membership. Rev. Amen Johnson is the pastor.
Aurelia Public Schools .- The schools of Aurelia will be graded during spring of the present year, and the district properly organized as an independ- ent one. A fine school building 48x42 feet is nearly completed. It will cost $3,500.
Iowa Legion of Honor -On the 27th of February, present year, a Lodge of the lowa Legion of Honor was instituted at Aurelia. The Lodge was started with thirty-three charter members.
AURELIA BIOGRAPHIES.
J. R. Atwood, cashier of the Bank of Aurelia, is a native of Illinois; came to Iowa in July, 1881, and engaged in banking at Aurelia.
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APPENDIX.
Oscar Chase, dealer in agricultural implements, is a native of N. Y .; came to Iowa in May, 1869, and settled in Cherokee county, on section twenty-eight, and built the first house in the township. In 1831, he moved to Aurelia, and engaged in present business.
Edward Daniels, dealer in meat and live stock, was born in Middlesex county, Mass. Moved to Boston, and engaged in Boylston Market; remained there twenty years; moved to Iowa and settled near Aurelia, in 1869; engaged in farming until 1878, when he came to Aurelia, and engaged in business as above.
S. A. Frisbie, dealer in grain and stock, was born in Essex county, N. Y .; moved to Iowa in 1875, and engaged in the mercantile business at Aurelia. In 1881 he engaged in business as above.
Alexander Fraser, grain dealer, is a native of Wis .: moved to Clayton county, Iowa, in 1859: thence to Aurelia in 1871, and engaged in his present business. He is one of the largest grain dealers in the county, and one of the representa- tive citizens of Aurelia.
W. C. Marsh, manager of the mercantile house of Wharton & Bruskill, is a native of N. Y. In 1849 he moved to Wis., where he engaged in farming; thence in 1875 to Aurelia. He built the first hotel in the town, and in 1879 en- gaged in business as above.
W. H. Nolte, of the firm of Nolte & Davis. dealers in dry goods and groceries, was born in Ill .; came to Aurelia, Ia., in 1880, and engaged in present business. The firm have a fine store, and carry a large stock of goods.
D. G. Toenjes, dealer in staple and fancy groceries and queensware, is a na- tive of Germany; came to America in 1874 and settled in Jones county, Ia. In 1881 he came to Aurelia, and engaged in business as above.
George Wharton, of the firm of Wharton & Bruskill, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1851. He graduated from the Dubuque High School in 1874; then entered the store of Crotes & Walters, where he remained one year; thence to Aurelia, and engaged in business as above.
R. R. Whitney, grain dealer, is a native of Canada; moved to McGregor, Ia., when there was but one house in the town. He engaged in farming until 1869; then came to Aurelia and engaged in the stock and grain business.
SPENCER BIOGRAPHIES.
T. P. Bender and W. L. Bender, of the firm of Bender Bros., dealers in grain and stock, came from På. to Spencer, Ia., in 1872 and engaged in mercan- tile business. They built an elevator during 1881 at a cost of $7,000. This elevator has a capacity of 15,000 bushels and is the largest elevator on the line of the road west of McGregor. T. P. Bender has a large stock farm near the city. They have paid for stock and grain during the year 1881, $150,000.
J. F. and C. A. Constant, of the firm of Constant Bros., dealers in boots, shoes and gentlemen's furnishing goods, established business in 1881. They carry a large and complete stock of goods.
Rev. P. H. Fighmy is pastor of the M. E. Church of Spencer, Ia. He has been very successful since coming to this city and through his efforts added forty members to his church.
W. C. Gilbreath, dealer in grain and stcek. came to Spencer in 1878 from Williamsville, 111. He first engaged in mercantile business with I. F. Constant, but afterwards was engaged in publishing the Clay County News. In 1881 he engaged in his present business. He was the first mayor of Spencer. ٦٠٠
A. W. Miller, cashier of the Clay county bank, came to Clay county in 1868 and settled on a farm near Peterson. He moved to Spencer in 1871 and en-
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APPENDIX.
gaged in milling; he entered the banking business in 1876. The bank is on the corner of Main and Fourth streets; it occupies a brick block that was re- cently erected.
SIOUX CITY.
The Sioux National Bank of Sioux City, Iowa, with a capital of $200,000.00, is the largest bank in Western Iowa. Bills of exchange are bought and sold on principal cities in the United States and Great Britain. The bank has special facilities for issuing drafts on cities in France, Germany. Norway and Sweden. The White Star Line of Steamers is also represented. The Directors are: J. C. C. Hoskins, Wm. L. Joy, A. S. Garretson, Judge J. R. Zuver, Geo. Murphy, Alexander Elliott, D. P. Hale. Wm. L. Joy, President; A. S. Garretson, Cashier.
R. J. Chase, attorney at law, was born in Unity, Sullivan county, N. H., in 1840; removed with family to Nashua, N. H., when quite young; came west at 17 years of age and settled in Vernon county, Wis. After serving in the army during the rebellion, he returned to Madison, Wis., and began the practice of law; came west in 1873 and platted the town of Sibley, Osceola county, Iowa. Mr. Chase's name, unsolicited by him, was used by his friends in connection with the district judgeship in 1874, and he received a good vote in convention. In connection with O. J. Taylor, he opened his present office in the fall of the same year. The firm has a large practice in the higher courts.
STORM LAKE.
J. A. Dean, of Storm Lake, Buena Vista county, is President of the Iowa Land and Investment Co .: was cashier of the Storm Lake Bank. and is a Di- rector of the first National Bank of Storm Lake. The first named company has a capital stock of $50.000, and is incorporated for the purpose of negotiating long-time loans on real estate security, and transacting a real estate and gen- eral agency business. The Storm Lake Bank was discontinued on the 3d day of January, 1882, and its business transferred to the First National Bank of Storm Lake, which has an authorized capital of $100,000. James Harker is the President; J. C. French, Cashier.
Erratum .-- In the table of population by counties, that of Plymouth County should read 8,567 instead of 3,567.
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