Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 155

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

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RECORD OF IOWA.

that is shown in the giving of needed aid in the hour of distress. It will be readily imagined that one so devoted to humanity would be a loving and tender husband and father, and such he was known to be.

In Iowa Falls Dr. Foster was united in marriage with Miss Abbie J. Estes, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of J. L. and S. M. Estes.

In his political views Dr. Foster was inde- pendent, supporting the man whom he thought best qualified for office regardless of party affiliations. He more closely, however, ad- hered to the principles of Democracy than to those of any other party. In his early life, when on the Pacific slope, he served as a mem- ber of the Territorial Legislature, but was never an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his business interests. He held membership in a number of medical societies, and was deeply interested in the ad- vancement of his profession. The Doctor de- lighted to take long walks across the prairies and through the forests, studying nature in its various aspects, and looked "through nature up to nature's God." He had a keen love and appreciation of flowers, appreciating with an artist's eye the gradations of color, their varied forms and perfume, and was familiar with many wild varieties as well as the cultivated.

Although reared as a Quaker, he worked his way into a broader faith, being a firm be- liever in the Creator and recognizing the broth- erhood of mankind. He followed closely in the footsteps of him who came not to be min- istered unto but to minister. As a citizen he needs no eulogy. He was always true to the duties devolving upon him, and interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his resi- dent community and his country. He did all in his power to promote the happiness of his wife and only child; and his beautiful home, which he erected, was supplied with all the comforts he could procure. His life, combin- ing all the qualities of a true Christian, was so just, so gentle, so kind and noble that the world is undoubtedly better for his having lived. His

death was occasioned by a fall on the steps of his residence, and he passed away December 7, 1894. His funeral was the largest ever held in Iowa Falls and indicated the love and re- spect that was universally given him. ·

Mrs. Foster still survives her husband and is now living at the old home in Iowa Falls. She is a member of the Universalist Church, and hers has been a noble life, her many ex- cellencies of character winning her a large cir- cle of friends. Her father, Jason L. Estes, was prominently connected with this city dur- ing its early history, -in fact was one of the founders of the town, and was identified with all public enterprises. He was born in South Adams, Massachusetts, October 1, 1817, and at the age of fifteen removed with his parents, John and Sarah Estes, to Manlius, Onondaga county, New York. Two years later the family went to Genesee county, New York, and he resided on the home farm until twenty- one years of age. He then engaged in teach- ing school, and also studied civil engineering in Rochester, New York. In 1834 he became identified with the West, locating in DuPage county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for ten years. He then followed surveying and civil engineering until 1851, when on ac- count of ill health he went to California, but remained on the Pacific slope only a short time. In 1855 he took up his residence in Iowa Falls, was one of the three original pro- prietors of the new town site, and in 1857 was interested in the building of the first flour- mill. He spent much of his time in surveying for many years, and for a considerable period held the office of County Surveyor. He was a good business man, of excellent judgment and uniformly successful, accumulating a fine property. He took a very active part in pub- lic affairs and was a friend to all matters per- taining to the general welfare.

Mr. Estes was married in Illinois, in May, 1843, to Miss Sarah M. Sargent, a native of Colesville, Genesee county, New York. They had two daughters. The elder, Abbie, is the widow of Dr. Foster; and the younger died in

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1864, at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Estes passed away October 12, 1876, and the community therefore lost one of its most valued citizens. Mrs. Estes is a woman of culture and refinement and practical business attainments, and is still living in Iowa Falls:

Frank Estes Foster, the only child of the Doctor, was born in Iowa Falls, March 30, 1866, and is one of its most enterprising young business men. He was educated in the com- mon schools, completing the high-school course, and afterward accepted a position as assistant Postmaster, which he acceptably oc- cupied for five years. In February, 1893, the Home Savings Bank was organized, with a capital stock of $25,000, and he was made its cashier. Mr. Foster had almost entire charge of the business from its establishment until November 1, 1895, when he resigned.

In April, 1889, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Glen Hay, who was born in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1868, and is a daughter of W. L. Hay, now a retired hard- ware merchant of Iowa Falls. They have one child, Fred, who was born on the 23d of Au- gust, 1891.

In his political views Mr. Foster is a Democrat, and in respect to the fraternities is a prominent member of several civic societies. He is now Past Chancellor of Alpine Lodge, No. 7, K. of P., and was two terms its repre- sentative in the Grand Lodge. He also be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Independent Order of Red Men, and has represented the latter in the Grand Lodge.

ORACE CASSOTT is one of the wide-awake and enterprising farmers of Dallas county, Iowa, now success- fully engaged in the cultivation of his land and in the raising of fine stock, -the lat- ter only for his own use, however.

He was born on the 29th of August, 1852, and is the second of the four children of Henry and Charlotte (Parrott) Cassott. His paternal

grandfather was born and reared in Kentucky, and when a young man left his native State, removing to Warren county, Ohio, where he cleared a large farm, making it a productive place. There he spent the remainder of his life, and in connection with the cultivation of his land also engaged in the operation of a distillery.

Henry Cassott, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead in Ohio, and during his youth worked on his father's farm. He attended the public schools of the neigh- borhood, was an apt student and became an exceptionally well-read man. He was thirty- two years of age when his father died, and soon afterward he left the Buckeye State, journeying westward to Iowa, accompanied by his wife and two children, both of whom had been born on the farm where their ancestors had so long resided. This was in the fall of 1855. The father purchased 200 acres of land at $13 per acre and at once began the cultivation of the place, which he continued to improve until his death, which occurred in September, 1869. He was a warm advocate of the Union cause during the Civil war, but was not a robust man, and so sent a substitute to the army. Those who knew him respected him for his sterling worth and strict integrity, and his death was mourned by many friends. His wife still survives him, and on the 12th of November, 1895, will celebrate her seventy- first birthday. She is now enjoying good health and is surrounded in her pleasant home with all the comforts of life.

The four children of the family are all liv- ing and prosperous. Mary, the eldest, born November 2, 1849, is the wife of J. C. Hanes, a farmer of Boone township, Dallas county. They have two children, -Henry D. and George G. Horace is the next younger. Clara, born June 18,. 1857, is now living in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Ella, born June 7, 1860, was married February 19, 1884, to Joseph Hanes, also a farmer of Boone township, and they have two children: Guyer N. and Mary E.

The gentleman whose name heads this re-

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RECORD OF IOWA.

view has been a resident of Dallas county since the age of three years. It was then a frontier settlement, and with the family he shared in the usual experiences and hardships of frontier life. He was early inured to the labors of the farm and since his father's death has contin- ued its cultivation. His mother owns a dower interest in the property at this time, but it will eventually become the property of our subject, who also owns forty acres adjoining. He is a practical man of affairs and the place is now under a high state of cultivation, while upon the farm may be seen some fine fancy stock.

On the 26th of November, 1894, Mr. Cas- sott was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Hanes, and both he and his wife are widely and favorably known in this locality. They attend the Methodist Church, and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. For three years he held the office of Road Super- · visor.

a HARLES H. LYON. - Biography is by nature the most universally profitable, universally pleasant, of all things," wrote Carlyle, while Macau- lay said that "the history of a nation is best told in the lives of its people," and Lamartine that "history is only biography on a large scale." Mr. Lyon undoubtedly deserves to be numbered among the founders of this com- monwealth. He is a representative of one of its honored pioneer families and is one of the oldest native sons. He was born within the borders of the State during its Territorial days, and from that time up to the present has lived the life of an upright man, true to all the duties of citizenship, of business and of social life, and when the existence of the Union was threatened by the Rebellion of the South, he was found among the noble band of blue- coated soldiers who followed the starry banner until it was victoriously planted in the capital of the Southern Confederacy.

Mr. Lyon was born on the 24th of May,

1840, being the eldest of the five children of John and Sarah (Canfield) Lyon. The father, a native of New York, was of English an- cestry, while the mother was of Scotch de- scent. In 1839, when twenty-three years of age, John Lyon came to Iowa, locating in Van Buren county, where he has since made his home. At the advanced age of seventy-nine years he is still active, retaining his powers to a remarkable degree. On the farm which he developed in the midst of this frontier region our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and continued to give his father the benefit of his services for some years after he had attained his majority. He availed him- self of the opportunities for an education that the common schools of the neighborhood af- forded, and has always taken great delight in study, which he has continued at his own fire- side until he has become a man of broad gen- eral information. His pursuits of peace, how- ever, were interrupted, for duty called him to the defense of the national honor. He was at the time a student in the Bentonsport Academy, but text-books were laid aside for the rifle and the thoughtful student became the vigilant soldier. He had just entered upon his twenty-second year and was soon to have taken up the study of law, but all hopes and - ambitions were put aside for the weightier consideration of maintaining untarnished his country's dignity and law.

Mr. Lyon enrolled his name among the " boys in blue " June 13, 1861, at Keokuk, Iowa, and became a member of Company A, First Iowa Cavalry. This company was raised and commanded by Captain William G. Tor- rence. On Saturday, July 27, the citizens of Keokuk gathered together to bid the boys good-by and to present them with a flag. It was on this occasion that Captain Torrence made his memorable speech, "When this flag shall be trailed in the dust, my wife will be a widow and my children orphans." Through the four long years of the war this starry ban- ner floated above its regiment, and though the brave Captain, who afterward became Colonel

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

of the Thirtieth Iowa, was killed at the head of his regiment, the flag maintained its proud position over the heads of the victorious troops. Mr. Lyon saw much service and was never absent from duty save when in the hos- pital for a short period. All through the war he rode one horse, and he says that on more than one occasion the noble animal saved his life, and that one of the severest trials which he has ever undergone was when he parted with it. The war having happily ended in the preservation of the Union, he was honorably discharged under general orders, June 6, 1865.

Our subject returned home with little money and with no knowledge of a trade or profession. Soon afterward he rented a farm in Van Buren county and through the súc- ceeding winter he taught school. Not content with his own educational attainments he sub- sequently attended college for two years and has always been a great reader. He has also been a valued contributor to many of the pa- pers of the State and written many able ar- ticles, his favorite subject being the temperance question, on which he has pronounced views, which he sets forth in a clear, instructive and entertaining manner.

In 1872 Mr. Lyon removed to Dallas · county and purchased 160 acres of land on sec- tion 28, Union township, where he has since made his home. He also added another quar- ter section and now has 320 acres of valuable land, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved, with the various buildings found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. In 1879 he built a creamery called the Dexter Creamery, which was under the supervision of Mrs. Lyon, who is an experienced butter- maker; and so excellent was the quality of the products of this establishment that she won in five years, at the State fairs, $1, 100 in cash prizes. In 1880 she gained two first premiums; in 1881, a first premium and a diploma; in 1882, two first premiums, one second diploma, sweepstakes and the Higgin silver cup, valued at $50; in 1883, five first and three second premiums; in 1884 six first and three second

premiums and the sweepstakes; in 1885, six first premiums, a diploma for the largest dis- play and the sweepstakes. The creamery was successfully conducted for ten years and then sold.

Mr. Lyon was married on the 3 1st of March, 1868, to Sarah J. Tiffy, a native of Iowa, born June . 17, 1846. They have seven children: Ella, born April 20, 1870, wife of Norman Richardson, of Maxwell, Iowa; Charles W., born October 9, 1873, now a school-teacher; Willard H., born February 16, 1877, who, with his brother John, is a student in the State Nor- mal school of Iowa; Paul T., born December 28, 1879; Mary, born December 15, 1880; and Ray B., born August 31, 1889. The last three are attending school in Dexter. Mr. Lyon, re- alizing the value of education, is providing his children with excellent advantages in this di- rection and thus fitting them for life's practical and responsible duties. He and his family are members of the Christian Church, and socially . he is identified with Wadsworth Post, No. 36, G. A. R., at Dexter, Iowa, of which he has been chosen commander three times. He has always been a Republican and is a member of Des Moines Veteran Tippecanoe Club.

0 HARLES K. ELLIS has occupied his present farm of 160 acres in Dal- las county since 1889, and has here given his attention to general farming. His identity with Iowa covers a period of twenty-five years, his arrival here being in 1870, and all this time his attention has been given to agricultural pursuits. In 1872 and for six years thereafter he had charge of the County Farm, which he ably managed to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

Mr. Ellis is of Eastern birth. He was born in Waterville, Kennebec county, Maine, July 26, 1844, and is a son of Joshua W. Ellis, now a respected citizen of Perry, Iowa. Mr. Ellis was reared on his father's farm and re- mained at home until he was married, which important event occurred November 9, 1869.

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Mrs. Ellis is a daughter of Jacob L. and Flo- rinda (Stevens) Sweet. Her father is a native of Ohio, and is now a resident of Bureau county, Illinois, where he settled some fifty years ago. Her mother died at the age of thirty-two years, Mrs. Ellis being then only seven years old. The Sweet family was com- posed of five children, two of whom are still living. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Ellis were Benjamin and Nancy (Rowell) Stevens. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have had ten children, five of whom are yet living. Four died in infancy and one, Bertha E., at the age of sixteen. The living are as follows: Edward L., born September 10, 1870, was married February 28, 1895, to Miss Anna Crocker; Fred R., born April 15, 1877; Harry L., July 4, 1879; Jacob Pearl, November 18, 1881; and Roy J., May 26, 1887. The eldest son is a graduate of the Dexter Normal School.

Mr. Ellis cast his first presidential vote for General Grant and has ever since maintained his allegiance to the Republican party, taking, however, no more interest in politics than to vote intelligently. He and his family have the high esteem of the people in their community and, indeed, of all who know them.

e UGENE STILES. - Among those whom the county has honored with office, and who, true to all the duties devolving upon them, have won high commendation by faithfulness, is this gentle- man, the well known Sheriff of Fremont coun- ty. Being widely and favorably known, we feel assured that the record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers, and there- fore gladly give it a place in this volume.

Mr. Stiles was born in the county which is still his home on the .18th of March, 1866. His father was one of the pioneers of this State, removing from Knox county, Illinois, to Iowa in the '50s. Amos Stiles, the father of our subject, was born in Ohio about sixty-five years ago, and was reared on the old home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties that

fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On coming to Fremont county, he took up his residence in Benton township, and for some years was en- gaged in the milling business, but the enter- prise did not prove a profitable one in that early day, when the country was but sparsely settled, and accordingly he turned his attention to farming. Here he wedded Mary McElroy, theirs being one of the first weddings celebrated in the county. To them were born the fol- lowing named children: Mrs. R. M. Leslie; Jennie; C. E., an agriculturist of Fremont county; Eugene; Hattie E .; Lillie A., wife of George Miller; and John A., of Idaho. The father of this family was a well known Demo- crat, and was an influential and respected citi- zen of the community.

Our subject attended the public schools, and also spent one year in the college of Shen- andoah, Iowa. At the age of nineteen he took · up the profession of teaching, which he fol- lowed for three years, and then turned his at- tention to the livery and breeding business in Sidney, making a specialty of heavy draft horses. To this enterprise he devoted his en- ergies until his election to the office of County Sheriff. He was reared a Democrat, but be- lieving the principles of Republicanism best calculated to advance the interests of humanity, he became a stalwart advocate of that party. He had two opponents in the campaign of 1893, but won the election by a plurality of seventy- five, R. S. Tate being his highest competitor. He has proved a most capable officer, fearless in the discharge of his duties. His most im- portant arrest was that of L. H. Davidson, who in October, 1894, murdered M. T. Don- nelly. Davidson fled, but was overtaken and captured at Riverside, California.

On the 28th of December, 1892, in Fre- mont county, Mr. Stiles was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Hiatt, whose father, Joseph L. Hiatt, was a pioneer of the county. They have twin boys, Bernard and Bertram. Socially, our subject is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Improved Order of Red Men.

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a HARLES D. FULLEN .- Actuating motives do not always determine the measure of absolute success in tem- poral affairs, but the man who attains to genuine success in life is invariably one whose dominating characteristics have been such as to entitle him to the confidence and regard of his fellow men. The lawyer is pre- eminently a factor in the economy of social conditions, and the one whose honesty of pur- pose and sterling integrity are beyond cavil is assured of tangible success and of the esteem of men. In the law is the field particularly open to talent, and the able lawyer is the con- servator of the rights and the interests of so- ciety. The subject of this review is one of the representative members of the bar of Iowa, an honored citizen of Fairfield, Jefferson county, and one who holds distinguished official pre- . ferment as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa.

A native son of the State in which he has gained so marked recognition, Mr. Fullen was born at Agency City, Wapello county, on the 8th of July, 1860, being the son of John and Margaret (Sage) Fullen (deceased in 1887), who were among the pioneer settlers in the county mentioned. John Fullen, who still lives at Agency City, is a native of the State of New York, being the son of Benjamin Fullen, who dated his nativity in the Emerald Isle. The mother of our subject was a woman of noble character and she and her husband were among the most honored residents of Wapello county, where they passed so many years of their lives and where they labored to goodly ends.

Charles D. Fullen, the immediate subject of this sketch, passed his youth in Agency City, where he was afforded such scholastic ad- vantages as were offered by the public schools, supplementing this preliminary discipline by entering the Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant, this State, where he pursued his studies for some time and then matricula- ted in the law department of the State Uni- versity, at Iowa City, where he graduated in 1880. He had early determined to fit himself

for the legal profession, and having thus real- ized his ambition he entered into active prac- tice at Ottumwa, Wapello county, where he remained for one year. In August, 1882, he became a resident of Fairfield, the county seat of Jefferson county, and this place has ever since continued to be his headquarters. Here he opened an office and soon after en- tered into a professional copartnership with Isaac D. Jones, under the firm name of Jones & Fullen, and this association continued until March, 1894, when our subject was appointed to the responsible office which he is now filling with marked fidelity and efficiency,-that as United States Attorney for the Southern Dis- trict of Iowa, his tenure of office extending over a term of four years and the district within his jurisdiction comprising forty-nine counties.

Prior to becoming the incumbent in this position Mr. Fullen had gained a distinctive prestige as one of the most able members of the bar of Jefferson county, and had been re- tained in some of the most important litiga- tions coming before the courts of the State, his clientage being of representative character. He is a strong and forceful advocate, and his pleas are ever concise, perspicuous and logical, taking cognizance of essential points and dis- carding all extraneous and irrelevant matter, while his utterances ever bear the stamp of earnest conviction, thus gaining him the re- spect and confidence of court and jury and the esteem of his professional confreres.

In politics Mr. Fullen is an ardent and un- compromising adherent of the Democratic party, and he has been a most zealous worker in the cause, as is manifest in the fact that he served nearly eight years as a member of the Democratic State central committee of Iowa, during which time he was secretary for three years and chairman for four years, a position in which he manifested a notable executive ability and the capacity for the management of endless details. During Mr. Fullen's incum- bency as chairman of the State committee the Democrats won their greatest victories in the

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State. His efforts were so well directed as to greatly advance party interests in the State, and he is known as one of the wheel-horses of the Iowa Democracy, his advice and counsel being held in the highest regard by the party leaders. His incumbency as chairman of the State central committee terminated in August, 1894. In the campaign of 1891 his perfect organization of the party was the best ever known in Iowa, and had much to do with having insured Boies' re-election as Governor of the State. Mr. Fullen's greatest power as a public speaker and advocate lies in his clear logic and evident sincerity.

In the year 1881 was consummated the marriage of our subject to Miss Anna B. Julian, a daughter of M. L. Julian, a prominent citi- zen of Mount Pleasant, this State. They have two boys: Julian, born in 1883; and Donald Douglas, born in 1888.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 155

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