Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 146

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360

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When only nineteen years of age and while yet a student, Mr. Sells took the stump for the Democratic party and became widely known as an effective campaign speaker. He was at that time dubbed the "boy orator,"-a title which even time seems powerless to de- stroy, as it still clings to him notwithstanding his now maturer years and dignified position.

Mr. Sells was elected City Recorder of La Porte in 1880, and filled that position for two years. In 1882 he was elected Mayor by a unanimous vote of the people. He served for one term with much credit and was urged to accept the second but declined the honor of re-election. He was City Solicitor for many years and attained considerable prominence as a general practitioner at the bar, while a resi- dent attorney of La Porte. Mr. Sells has always been an uncompromising Democrat, and ever since his earliest manhood has taken

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a prominent part in the work of that party. He represented the Dubuque District on the Democratic State Committee for many years, and during the greater part of that service was secretary of the committee and a prominent factor in directing several very important cam- paigns.

In 1886 he was named as the Democratic nominee for the office of Secretary of State, and made a vigorous race for the position, but was defeated. The following year he was chairman of the State Committee and a dele- gate to the national Democratic convention, and during the presidential campaign of 1888 he was sent by the national committee to In- diana, where he made a brilliant canvass in be- half of his party. In 1889, Mr. Sells trans- ferred his residence from La Porte to Vinton and is one of its honored citizens. The same year he was chosen Colonel, commanding the Iowa Sons of Veterans, and filled the position with distinction. He was on Governor Boies' staff four years. In 1892 he was elected to fill Governor Dysart's place on the board of trustees of the Iowa Agricultural College, and at the end of the time declined re-election.

Although always active in politics and prominent in public affairs, as this brief re- view of his career will show, it has always been in the work of his chosen profession that Mr. Sells has ever been most deeply interested, and the remarkable success attained by him in the practice of the law has given him a de- served prominence as one of the foremost at- torneys in the State. He was twice elected State's Attorney of Benton county, and is re- garded as one of the most able and vigilant public prosecutors that county has ever known. In 1892 Mr. Sells was made secretary of the Democratic national convention, and again in 1893 was chosen chairman of the Iowa State convention. In 1894 he was appointed United States District Attorney for the Northern Dis- trict of Iowa, an appointment which came to him with the endorsement of nearly all the prominent members of the bar without regard to party and with good words from almost

every journal in Iowa, Republican as well as Democratic. Such an endorsement, coming to a young man just arrived at the halfway station along life's journey, is an honor, in- deed.

During the time he has occupied the im- portant position of District Attorney, Mr. Sells has made an admirable record and fully dem- onstrated the wisdom of his appointment. Concerning his splendid record Secretary Olney is quoted as saying, while yet Attorney Gen- eral : "I consider that the department has found a jewel in Cato Sells. He is one of the best men in the service. I am delighted with his course as an official of this department and am grateful to the men who recommended him to me. I am particularly pleased with the manner in which he conducted the pension fraud cases."

Hon. Cato Sells is widely known and en- joys a very high reputation as an honorable man and an attorney of exceptional ability. He fully merits the prominence he has attained and is worthy of all the honor conferred upon him.

ILLIAM PERRY WHIPPLE is the senior member of the law firm of Whipple & Zollinger, of Vinton, and is one of the most able attorneys of Benton county. It is a well-known fact that the professional ranks of our cities have been mostly recruited from the farms, and some of the most eminent meinbers of the bar have been reared as farmer lads. Our subject was born on a farm in Benton county, December 26, 1856, and is a son of Cyrenus T. and Nancy J. (Cline) Whipple. The father was a native of Ohio, born October 1I, 1829, and the grand- father was among the earliest settlers of Ver- mont. The mother of our subject was born in Indiana, January 2, 1838. In the family were five children, of whom three sons and a daugh- ter are yet living, and all are residents of Ben- ton county, the two brothers of our subject be- ing farmers.

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Mr. Whipple of this review early began work on the homestead, and soon was familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He enjoyed the advantages af- forded by the common schools during his early youth, and subsequently entered the State Uni- versity of Iowa City in the academic depart- ment. Later he took up the study of law in the same institution and was graduated in both courses. He then located in Vinton, where he opened an office and at once entered upon the practice of his chosen profession. He soon afterward formed a partnership with George M. Gilchrist, under the firm name of Gilchrist & Whipple, and later was associated in busi- ness with the Hon. Cato Sells, now United States District Attorney for the Northern Dis- trict of Iowa. He formed his present partner- ship with Mr. Zollinger in 1894, and the law firm of Whipple & Zollinger is now well estab- lished in business, practicing in all the courts of the State, and has a high reputation for ability and trustworthiness. Mr. Whipple is now attorney for the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company at Vinton, also for the Vinton Build- ing & Loan Association and other corpora- tions. He is president of the Bliss Rock Paint Company, but the greater part of his attention is given to his professional duties. He is a logical reasoner, a deep thinker, a clear, con- cise and forceful speaker, and his power is rec- ognized by both judge and jury.

In his political connections, Mr. Whipple is a Republican, unwavering in his support of the party principles and an earnest worker in its interests. He has filled several positions of public trust with credit to himself and satisfac- tion to his constituents. His social affiliations are with Vinton Lodge, I. O. O. F.

On the 7th of September, 1881, Mr. Whip- ple was united in marriage with Miss Cather- ine D. Joyce, of Vinton, Iowa, daughter of Patrick Joyce. She died, leaving two sons, - Cyrenius J. and Milo R. In 1887 Mr. Whip- ple was again married, his second union being with Miss Jennie Keith, an estimable lady who has many friends in Vinton.

WIGHT ELDRIDGE BAKER, a lumber merchant of Traer, began business along this line in 1883 in connection with William L. Kinney, under the firm name of Baker & Kinney. Four years later, however, he bought out his partner, and since August, 1887, has been sole proprietor. He is the oldest lumber merchant of the town, and is one of the representative and progressive business men who, by the pro- motion of the enterprises with which he is con- nected, has added to the inaterial welfare of the city.

Mr. Baker has made his home in Traer since July, 1875. He was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, April 19, 1852, and is a son of Prentiss M. and Mary (Stevens) Baker, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Quebec. The paternal ancestors of our subject had for several generations resided in New England. Josiah G. Baker, the grand- father of Mr. Baker, of this mention, was a Vermont farmer, but removed to Canada and subsequently went to Wisconsin, spending his last days in La Fayette county, that State. Prentiss M. Baker was reared on the Vermont farm, where his parents settled. and in that country made his home until 1850, when he went to Stanstead county, Quebec, where he engaged in farming, was married, and resided until the fall of 1863. At this date he took up his residence on a farm in Iowa county, Wis- consin, which is still his home. During his early life he was a teacher of vocal music, and was a pupil of Lowell Mason, of Boston. He possessed a very fine voice, and his services were much sought for in social gatherings to furnish entertainment for the people. His later years, however, have been devoted to agricultural pursuits. He votes with the Re- publican party, but has never sought or desired official honors. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the parents of five children, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. In order of birth they are as follows: Dwight E., of this sketch; Mary J., wife of J. C. Smith, of Iowa county, Wisconsin; Frederick W., a farmer of that

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county; Ella M., a teacher in the public schools of La Fayette county, Wisconsin; and Nellie G., whose husband, Samuel Vickers, is editing a paper in Blanchardville, La Fayette county, Wisconsin.

Dwight E. Baker spent the first eleven years of his life in his native land, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to the Badger State, where he was reared to man- hood on the old home farm, there remaining until twenty-three years of age, with the ex- ception of the period spent in learning the mason's trade. In 1875 he came to Traer, where he worked as a mason, a plasterer and bricklayer, taking contracts along that line. Thus he was engaged until 1883, when he em- barked in the lumber business, which he has since followed. Success has attended this undertaking and he has built up a large and constantly increasing trade, which yields to him a handsome income. He also owns a lumber- yard in Dinsdale, Tama county, which he has operated for four years. He now has one of the finest office buildings in the county, the in- terior being handsomely finished with various kinds of fine woods. It was erected in 1894, and in 1883 he built a pleasant and commodi- ous residence.

Mr. Baker has been twice married. In 1877 he wedded Elnora Woolley, daughter of Dr. Woolley. She died in June, 1888, and her two children died in infancy. In 1890 Mr. Baker led to the marriage altar Miss Mary L. Teauneaure, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Thomas Teauneaure. At the time of her marriage she was living in Rockford, Illinois. By their union they have one child, Ralph Prentiss. Their home was one of the finest residences in the town and was the abode of hospitality, a hearty welcome ever being extended to their many friends.

In the ranks of the Republican party Mr. Baker is an earnest worker and for three terms has served as Mayor of the city. The reins of the city government were never in more capa- ble hands, and that his administration gave general satisfaction is shown by the fact that

he was three times elected to the office. Every enterprise for the benefit of the city receives his hearty support and co-operation, and he has been an important factor in the upbuilding of Traer. Socially he is connected with Hesperia Lodge, No. 340, A. F. & A. M. His atten- tion, however, is mostly given to his business interests, and the success he has achieved is entirely due to his own efforts.

ELAVAN E. MOORE, station agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Charles City, Iowa, has occupied this position during the past eleven years and is now in his twenty -. eighth year of continuous service for the same company, having been employed in Wisconsin before coming to Charles City.

Delavan E. Moore dates his birth in Pen- field, New York, May 24, 1842, and is a son of Erasmus R. and Jane A. (Miller) Moore, natives of New York State. His father was a farmer near Rochester, New York, was well-to- do, and at one time was Colonel of the Eight- eenth New York Rifles, a regiment of militia. He died in 1842, three months after the birth of his only child. In 1848 the widowed mother and her little son moved to Wisconsin, and in Milwaukee she was subsequently married to Alden S. Kelley; a contractor and builder. Soon after their marriage they went to Nash- otah Mission, twenty-five miles distant, where Mr. Kelley erected a number of buildings. A few years later he purchased a farm near Delafield, Wisconsin. In 1860 the family re- moved to California. In 1863, however, they returned to Wisconsin, again taking up their abode at Nashotah, where Mr. Kelley estab- lished himself in the merchandise business and where he continued thus occupied until the time of his death in 1880. Mrs. Kelley died in 1882. They were members of the Episcopal Church.

The subject of our sketch accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Kelley on their various moves until the opening of the war. While they resided

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in Wisconsin he spent two years in the high school at Three Rivers, Michigan. When the war broke out he enlisted in San Francisco, California, with more than 500 men, forming a battalion, embarking by way of Panama to New York, where they expected to enter the service as an independent battalion; but they were assigned to the Second Massachusetts Cavalry. Altogether he participated in no less than forty-two engagements, was often in the thickest of the fight with the dead and dying all around him, and only on one occa- sion was he wounded, this being in his leg. He still retains the bullet-not in his leg, but in his safe. At the close of the war he was mustered out, one of the 137 who were left of the 532 with whom he went to New York.

After the war Mr. Moore remained one year in Maryland, where he engaged in farming. While in California he had learned telegraphy, taking it up as a mere pastime and not expect- ing to make it his life work; but after the war and his year of farming in Maryland he re- turned to Wisconsin and entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road Company, his first position being at what is now Doylestown. Later he was in various other offices along the line, spent fifteen years at Bangor as station agent, and eleven years ago came to Charles City, Iowa, where he has maintained the confidence of his employers, and where he is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.

Mr. Moore was married in 1865 to Mary A. Gantt, who died in 1870, leaving three lit- tle children, namely: Josephine, who grew up and married a Mr. Miller, and who died in California, leaving two sons and an infant daughter; D. Ross, now the State manager of the Northwestern Life Association of Minne- apolis, and a resident of Charles City; and Ernest F., of Dodge City, Kansas, and a con- ductor on the Santa Fe Railroad. In 1872 Mr. Moore wedded Eliza J. Chase, a native of Waterloo, Wisconsin, and to them have been born four children, as follows: Minnie, who died at the age of seven years; Maud, who

died at the age of three years; and Mattie and Kenneth, at home.

While the business of his office has closely occupied his time, Mr. Moore has always taken a deep interest in public affairs and shown him- self to be public-spirited. He served as Al- derman of the First Ward of Charles City two years, was City Clerk two years, and at this writing occupies the position of City Treas- urer. Religiously, he exerts an influence that is felt for good in the city. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is super- intendent of the Sunday-school, and at one time was president of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association. In fraternal circles also he is prominent and active. He is Past Eminent Commander of the Knights Templar at Charles City, a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at La Crosse, Wisconsin, and a member of the Uniformed Rank, and is Past Grand Master of the A. O. U. W. of Wiscon- sin. Also he is identified with both the subor- dinate lodge and encampment, I. O. O. F.

ATRICK J. GRANEY, one of the self- made men and prominent citizens of Dallas county, Iowa, is now living a retired life in Perry. He was born in the parish of Castle Island, county Kerry, Ire- land, in February, 1821, and is a son of John and Mary (Clemaine) Graney, who were na- tives of the same place, where the father passed away at the age of eighty-two and the mother at the age of eighty years. Of their family of eight children, five are yet living. The ma- ternal grandparents of our subject were Domi- nack and -- (Donahue) Clemaine. The grand- parents on his father's side were Cornelius Gra- ney and Mary, nee Brown.

Previous to coming to the United States, Patrick J. Graney had learned the nailer's trade, which he followed until about twenty- six years of age, when he sailed from Cork to Liverpool, England, and thence to New York, being one month upon the water. On landing on the shores of this country he had less than

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$to in his pocket, but by his good business ability and close attention to all enterprises with which he has been connected he has accu- mulated a handsome fortune and is probably one of the largest tax-payers in Dallas county.

On his arrival Mr. Graney went immediately to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he had a brother living, who had come to the United States a few years previous. There our sub- ject engaged as a general laborer until 1849, working at anything which he could find to do, but in that year he located in Indiana, where he engaged in railroad construction work with an uncle. For several years he was thus em- ployed, and later entered into partnership with a gentleman in contracting on railroad work. It was while engaged in this work in Indianap- olis, Indiana, that Mr. Graney obtained his start in life, which has led to his becoming one of the wealthiest men of Dallas county. Near that city he learned of sixty-seven acres of land on which two men had an option for thirty days, but he received the promise from the owner that if they did not arrive within the stated time he should have it. He had only $400 in cash, and on the non-appearance of the men he borrowed enough from those work- ing under him to make the purchase. The fol- lowing day the two men arrived and offered our subject $100 for his bargain, but he de- clined to sell until a prominent banker, who owned land all round his tract, asked him to name the price wanted for the land. On being told that $2, 500 cash would buy the same the banker took it, and with the proceeds of that sale, Mr. Graney purchased his first land in the Hawkeye State.

On the 19th of February, 1854, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Graney and Miss Mary Sheehan, who was born in county Kerry, Ireland, August 11, 1831, and is a daughter of James C. and Mary (Murphy) Sheehan, who were farming people of that community, where the father died at the age of ninety, and the mother when ninety-one years of age. In their family were eight children, six of whom still abide. The paternal grandparents of Mrs.

Graney were Timothy G. and Mary (Costello) Sheehan, while the maternal grandparents were Murtag and Julia (Griffin) Murphy. To our subject and his wife were born twelve chil- dren, seven of whom are yet living, as follows: Ellen F., who is married and has two children; Cornelius, who is married and has one child; Margaret A. by her marriage has two children; Patrick J., who is married and has three chil- dren; Hannorah, at home; Timothy J., who is married and has one child; and Dennis, at home. Two sons and one daughter died after reaching man and womanhood, the latter, who was married, leaving a child; and three chil- dren of the family died in infancy.

One year after his marriage, Mr. Graney located in Iowa, driving the entire distance from Indiana, and settled on 800 acres of land, which he had previously bought of the Govern- ment. He erected a log house, 18 x 24 feet, on his place, which was the eighth cabin in Spring Valley township, Dallas county, and it continued to be his home until 1865, when a frame dwelling was built. In 1893 he erected his beautiful home in Perry, where he is now living retired, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He accumulated over 2, 300 acres, and had fully 2,000 acres which he divided among his children. He became one of the leading agriculturists of this great commonwealth and transforined his land from an unbroken wilderness into one of the highly cultivated tracts of this section of the State. Prosperity seemed to attend his every effort, but his property was all acquired through his own industrious efforts and good management, and he deserves great credit for the success he has made in life.

Mr. Graney and his family hold a high and honorable position in social as well as business circles, and by all who know them are held in the highest regard. They are devout members of the Catholic Church, to the support of which and to educational institutions our sub- ject contributes liberally. His political sup- port is given to the Democratic party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Franklin

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Pierce. He has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking, but has been called upon to fill local offices of honor and trust.

S BAUR, residing on section 35, Jeffer- son township, Madison county, Iowa, is a very prosperous German farmer, well known throughout the county and universally esteemed. He has been a resident here for more than forty-one years, during which time the country has grown from

a wilderness, and his county is now regarded as one of the best in the State of Iowa. He is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born November 13, 1823, and is a son of Leopold and Caroline (Weiss) Baur, both of whom were natives of the same country. They were the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters, all of whom grew to ma- turity.

The subject of this sketch is the second born and oldest son in the family. He grew to manhood in his native country and received a university education. He came to America in 1843, a single man, stopping the first sum- mer in New York and New Jersey, going thence to New Orleans. In the fall of 1844 he worked in the Pensacola navy yard. In 1847 he went to Ottawa, Illinois, where he worked for a time on the Illinois canal. From Ottawa he went to St. Louis, and from there to Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade of stone cutter, which he learned in the old coun- try. Returning to New Orleans he took pas- sage in a vessel for the old country. In 1848 he returned to America, bringing with him his father and two sisters. He first located in Lenawee county, Michigan, where he pur- chased land, his sisters keeping house for him. On this farm he remained until 1851, when he again returned to the old country and dis- posed of his father's property. He remained there, however, until 1853, and in March of that year was united in marriage with Miss Bush, also a native of Germany, born Novem-

ber 5, 1831. She was the oldest of eight chil- dren born to George and Frances Bush.

Soon after his marriage the young couple set sail for the United States and in due time reached the farm of our subject in Michigan. They remained in that State but a short time, and then went to Chicago, where Mr. Baur worked at his trade until March, 1854. They then went to St. Louis and up the Missouri river to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he bought a yoke of oxen and a wagon and drove across the country to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and from there took an eastern course to Madison county, Iowa, and soon located on the farm where he now resides. He entered Govern- ment lands, which he commenced to improve by the erection of a log cabin into which they moved and there lived four years. In 1859 he built another log house, that was a little better than the first one, having a shingled roof. In 1874 he built his present residence, a brick structure 28x30, two stories in height, with an addition 24x23, also two stories in height. The house has eleven rooms, with a good cellar under the main part. To Mr. and Mrs. Bauer seven children have been born, of whom three are living: George, who mar- ried Florence Stauffer, of Jackson township, Madison county; Caroline, now the wife of John Withrow, of Madison county; Robert, who married Hettis B. McBride, and now re- sides on section 26, Jefferson township.

Since coming to this country Mr. Bower has been very successful in a financial point of view. He now owns 400 acres of as fine land as can be found in Madison county, and has given each of his two sons a farm of eighty acres. In politics he is a Cleveland Demo- crat.

F. McENIRY is now living re- tired in Lenox, Iowa, and after an active and useful business career his rest is well deserved. He be- longs to that class of citizens, so representative of America, who have by their own unaided

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efforts risen from humble surroundings to a position of affluence, demonstrating the fact that success is the reward of labor, persever- ance and capable management.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 146

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1360

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360