USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 22
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The town has never been organized or incorporated, although at least three efforts have been made to do so, the first of which was December 18, 1894, and the last abont six years ago. It was proposed to include in the town limits a section of land, or one mile square, but the proposition was defeated.
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The town is a splendid business place, having three stores, two banks, two hardware and implement stores, a drug store. three elevators, a brick and tile plant, and all other business places usually found in a town of this size.
The records of the township show that in January, 1867, the officers were as follows: I. T. Ilollingsworth, elerk ; Charles H. Dahl, assessor; Abner Bell, Geo. W. Struble and Henry Steen, trustees and Christian Johnson, road super- visor. The present officers of the township are A. L. Campbell, clerk; W. F. Anderson and R. T. Morris, justices of the peace; F. M. Findley, constable ; Ole Cleaveland, assessor, and Harold Haroldson, James Lesis and Ole Mickelson, trustees. The town is governed, with Barnes township, by the trustees and justices of the peace.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The Independent District of Linn Grove was very probably organized in the summer of 1892, as the first meeting of any board of directors for an Inde- pendent district was held August 1, 1892. The board at that time consisted of O. A. Mickelson, H. E. Loe, C. L. Ward and O. L. Hesla.
The school building under the township district was situated on the site of the present one. When the Independent district was formed, an old schoolhouse across the river was fitted up into two rooms, and to this place the larger pupils were sent, and the smaller ones to the schoolhouse situated in the town proper. H. L. Pierce was the last teacher in the township district school, and Miss Julia Brown was the first teacher under the Independent district. Twenty-seven pupils constituted the enrollment of the school at that time.
During the year 1894, a schoolhouse, thirty-six by fifty-four, was erected, costing one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine dollars. Before it was finished, however, the plans were changed somewhat whereby an addition, cost- ing six hundred dollars, was built. In 1901 a heating and ventilating apparatus was installed. This constitutes the present building. The old buildings were both sold when the new one was erected, and one of them is still used as a residence near the site of the present building.
The present enrollment of the school is one hundred and twenty-seven. The corps of teachers is constituted as follows: Miss Ida M. VanBuskirk, prin- cipal; Elsie Lake, Theresa Loe, and Mable Rider, the grade teachers.
The present board of directors is composed of the following men: A. L. Campbell, Joseph Roberts, W. F. Batten, Lewis Johnston and H. O. Hanson.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The First Regular Baptist church of Linn Grove was organized on the 18th day of December, 1889, by Rev. Robert Carroll, missionary of the State Conven- tion and Home Mission Society in the Northwestern District of Iowa. The fol- lowing persons composed the membership of the church at its organization: J. R. Findley, Mrs. J. R. Findley, Dr. and Mrs. Wm. B. Hall, Mrs. Sarah Evans, John E. Bloodgood, Mrs. Jessie Bloodgood, Mrs. Ida Buland. James Findley was elected the first deacon, John E. Bloodgood, clerk, and Wm. B. Hall, treasurer.
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In 1890 the first board of trustees was elected as follows: Thos. Evans, K. Buland, Il. W. Mayne, W. B. Hall, and J. R. Findley. In the same year their first church building was erected, costing one thousand four hundred and forty- three dollars "from foundation up." This constitutes the present building. The society held services in the Union church building until their own was orerted. The Union church is so called because it was erected by popular subscription, and is open for the use of all denominations. Besides the church the Baptists own a parsonage, which together with a lot, was purchased in 1900, and rebuilt in 1903, twelve hundred dollars being expended for this work.
The following ministers have been pastors of this church: Revs. John Firth, a supply, F. L. Ketman, a student, A. Amburn, a supply, Thos. E. S. Sapham, W. A. Nelson, C. W. C. Erickson, O. W. Catlin, G. M. Bentley, R. E. House, J. W. Oliver, W. T. Reese and J. V. Wright.
The officers of the church at the present time are: C. I. Pease, clerk; Lewis Lewis, treasurer ; Chas. Hanson and Lewis Lewis, deacons; S. G. Buland, Lewis Lewis, D. W. Evans and James Morris, trustees. The enrollment numbers sixty-two.
The Sunday school has a membership of over one hundred; Lewis Lewis is superintendent and Miss Geo Mayne, secretary.
There is a junior B. Y. P. U. with Mary Morris, president ; Earl Campbell, secretary ; Thos. Harris, treasurer.
The ladies of the church have their Aid Society; Mrs. Maggie Roberts is president ; Miss Mary Morris, secretary ; and Miss Guennie Lloyd, treasurer.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Calvinistie Methodist church ( Welsh Presbyterian) was organized June 8, 1907. The organization was effected by Rev. Hugh Owens of Ottawa, Maine, who had been duly appointed by the Presbytery, and the Rev. W. S. Harris of Linn Grove. The new society was called "The Riverside Church." There were twenty-four charter members, from whom the following were elected officers: JJ. G. Lloyd, secretary; JJ. T. Evans, treasurer ; Henry Rees. Elmer Evans and John Evans, elders.
The society holds its services in the Union church building, meetings being held in the evening only. The present membership is about twenty-eight; the officers are constituted as follows: Henry Rees, D. C. Jones, and Elmer Evans. elders ; Mrs. A. J. Erickson, secretary; D. C. Jones, treasurer. Rev. W. S. Harris is the present pastor.
The Ladies Aid have the following officers: President, Mrs. E. W. Evans; vice president, Mrs. Andrew Rees ; secretary, Miss Grace Lloyd; treasurer, Mrs. C. E. Brosten.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
Linn Grove Camp No. 4854, M. W. A., was instituted June 25, 1897. Twenty-one persons composed the charter membership as follows: G. B. Ander- son, Benj. Buland, S. G. Buland. Thomas David, Henry Deden, Harry Dowling,
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Frank G. Ellis. Joe Englund, F. M. Findley, II. T. Flansburg, C. S. Goodrich, A. W. Jones, R. F. Ilughes, Oscar A. Goodrich. Wm. Lewis, II. W. Mayne, Albert E. Phelps, Arthur Phelps, Henry L. Pierce, Joseph Roberts and Ole O. Strome.
The lodge used the rooms above the restaurant until 1908 when they moved into their present hall. They have an enrollment of forty-seven members, with the following officers: Matt Peterson, V. C .; Ira Fountain, banker; James Morris, clerk ; Geo. Reese, W. A .; Ansker Nord, watchman; John Leehy, sentry; Geo. Desriglle, escort ; E. E. Smith, physician ; Geo. Desriglle, Carl Rokkon. and J. W. Davis, managers.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JUDGE LOT THOMAS.
No history of Buena Vista eounty would be complete withont extended and prominent reference to Judge Lot Thomas, for the public life of no other man of the community has been more varied in service, more constant in honor or more fearless and upright in action. ITis name adorns the pages of Iowa's judicial history as one who stood as the embodiment of the ideal in the admin- istration of justice, neither partisan prejudice nor personal bias defleeting him in the slightest degree from the straight path of the law.
Judge Thomas was born in Fayette county. Pennsylvania, October 17, 1843, and was reared to farm life, remaining on the old homestead until twenty years of age. He had previously mastered the elementary branches of learning in the public schools and at that time he entered the Vermillion Institute at Hayesville. Ohio, where he pursued his studies from 1864 until 1868. He was ever an apt and earnest student and the same thoroughness character- ized him in his preparation of legal cases in later years. He remained at home long enough to cast his first presidential vote for General Grant in the fall of 1868 and the same day started for Warren county, Iowa, thinking that the new and growing west offered better opportunities. For two years he devoted his time to teaching school and to the study of law in that county, and in 1870 matriculated in the law department of the state university of Iowa, where in two years he completed the full course. He then located for practice at Storm Lake in the fall of 1871. but as Sioux Rapids was then the county seat, he removed thither that year and was a practitioner at the bar there until Storm Lake was chosen as the county seat in 1877, and he returned to this city.
In his profession no dreary novitiate awaited him. On the contrary his practice steadily increased from the beginning both in volume and importance, for he carly demonstrated his power and ability in coping with the intricate and complex problems of the law. His mind was analytical, logical and inductive in its trend, and he determined with remarkable rapidity what were the salient points in his case and so presented them before the court that he seldom failed to win the verdict desired. Ilis recognized ability led to his selection for county attorney and he also served as mayor of the town. In 1884 he was chosen judge of the fourteenth district, taking to the bench the same qualifications that had characterized him as a man and citizen-lofty
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patriotism, high ideals and the faithful performance of every duty. Ilis deci- sions were marvels of judicial soundness and it was seldom that the higher tribunals had occasion to reverse an opinion that came from his court. The opinion of no judge in the state was received with greater respect. His keen- ness and judicial turn of mind, his strict sense of justice, his entire freedom from influence of any kind and his thorough understanding of the law won him recognition in his judicial capacity which was state wide. He had the full confidence of the entire bar, the entire respect of the other representatives of the bench in Iowa and that his course received the endorsement of the gen- eral publie is indicated by the fact that he was four times elected to the office.
At length, on the 26th of August, 1898. JJudge Thomas resigned in order to accept the republican nomination for congress from the eleventh district. He was elected after one of the most interesting political contests in the state and was afterward reelected to the fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth congresses, closing his career March 4, 1905. He proved an able working member in the national halls of legislation, being connected with many important construe- tive measures, while his efforts in the committee rooms were of a most valuable character. He served with distinction on the judiciary and claims committees, where his opinions were always received with respect and were carefully con- sidered. He never took part in the debates which won the plaudits of the multitude but wielded great influence among legislators, who had the highest regard for his opinions. At no time was the honesty of his purpose or the soundness of his judgment called into question. and while some differed from him as to a political policy, they ever entertained for him the highest personal respect.
In 1873 Judge Thomas was united in marriage to Miss Oma E. Barton, of Ashland, Ohio, and they became the parents of two sons and a daughter: Clarence L., now an able lawyer of Muskogee. Oklahoma ; Frank, who died in February, 1907; and Cora.
Judge Thomas was devoted to his family, being always a man of domestic tastes who found his greatest happiness at his own fireside. He was never a robust man and often sheer will power kept him at his professional and offieial duties when his health demanded rest and quiet. At the close of his third term in congress, on the 4th of March, 1905, he decided to go to California, hoping that a stay in that sunny clime would prove beneficial, but while enroute to the coast he passed away at Yuma, Arizona, ou the 17th of March. No death in Storm Lake has been more deeply regretted. for the entire community recognized in his passing the loss of one of its most distinguished and honored citizens-a man whose record was no less commendable in his social and com- munity interests than it was in his professional career. He had displayed sound judgment in business matters and had made judicious investment in real estate, so that he left his family well provided for. He built one of the finest homes in the city of Storm Lake and aided in developing the county in many material ways. Ile was a thorough student of sociological and economic problems, was interested in social reform and was a stalwart and uncomprom- ising champion of civie purity, his leadership in this direction proving an element in municipal honesty. Ile attained a high degree in Masonry, was a
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member of the Mystic Shrine, and from the age of twenty-three years was connected with the Presbyterian church.
In a review of his life a local writer said of Judge Thomas: "It requires the discriminating mind, the enlightened conscience, the even temper, patience, profound knowledge of legal principles and of men ; inflexible devo- tion to the eternal principles of justice and a disregard of self, to make the great judge, and all of these essentials Judge Thomas possessed to an unusual degree. They made him one of the best and strongest judges who ever sat on the district bench in this state. He presided at the trial of many cases of great importance and rendered many decisions involving-large interests, in which great knowledge of the law was required, and as to facts and law he was nearly always right. The records of our state court of last resort show that there are few, if any, of his contemporaries on the beneh who committed fewer errors.
"He was sympathetie as other men, but he never permitted his sym- pathies to cloud his judgment. He did not leap to the conclusion of his cases, but formed his opinion only when he had examined the law and the evidence with painstaking care and felt that so far as he was able, by thought and study, he knew what the decision should be and he then rendered it. And he possessed the rare faculty of so announcing a ruling or decision as not to give offense to the losing party. The good faith of his conclusions was never questioned.
"The physical strength of Judge Thomas was not equal to the duties which fell to him and which he attempted to perform. During the last winter of his life he attended the sessions of the House when so weak he was com- pelled to reeline on a couch, being unable to be absent when important questions were decided. He held out to the end, discharging, so far as he could, every duty of his office ; and when all had been done and the speaker's gavel had fallen for the last time, he gave attention to his own welfare. It was thought that he might be helped by the mild air and the balmy sea breezes of the Pacific coast, and thither it was decided to go and the journey was commeneed. But just before it was ended, and less than two weeks from the close of his official duties, the end came and the worn out body was at rest.
"The life thus ended was a useful one, although the mind was always stronger than the body. Indeed. it is marvelous that one with so weak a physique should have accomplished more than did most of his contemporaries. Of the thirteen attorneys whose chief employment was the practice of the law in the year 1870, in the counties of the judicial district over which Judge Thomas afterward presided, five died before him and but seven are believed to be living. Of the seven, three moved from the state many years ago and others from the district ; and one has but a nominal residence within it. Of the original thirteen but four are known to be practicing law, and of these but two are practicing in the state. Of the three hundred inhabitants of Storm Lake who were here when Lot Thomas first came to the town, fewer than a dozen remain, and the proportion of the settlers of that year in the entire county who are still here is small. These facts are suggestive of the power
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of will which sustained JJudge Thomas in his life struggles when most men would have given up in despair.
"But however well he filled his part as citizen, attorney and law-maker, we turn to his record on the bench with most satisfaction. There he did his best work and won his greatest triumphs. He did this, not through fortuitons opportunity. but by the force of natural powers guided by training and expe- rience. Ilis judicial career merits the highest praise and may well be emulated by generations of judges yet to be. Rarely will it be excelled."
FREDERICK F. FAVILLE.
Frederick F. Faville, United States attorney for the northern district of Iowa, was born in Mitchell, lowa. June 5. 1865. His father, Amos S. Faville, was a most distinguished and honored citizen. A native of Herkimer county, New York, he was born in 1823. His early life was devoted to farming and after a trip around the world he came to Iowa, settling on a farm in Mitchell county, entering the land from the government. He was the first county sur- veyor of that county and the second to fill the position of county judge. He was also deputy United States internal revenue collector for what is now the third district. He was a member of the thirteenth general assembly of Iowa from Mitchell and Howard counties. Ile taught the first school in the county, organized the first Sunday school and was one of the early officers of the Congregational church which numbered him among its devoted members. HIe was also a member of the Masonic fraternity and his political allegiance was given to the republican party. A man of letters, college-bred and with strong native inteligence. Judge Faville was well qualified to occupy the posi- tion of prominence and influence which he did in the public life of the state.
His wife's maiden name was Esther D. Crary. She was born in Knox, Albany county, New York. in 1838. and was descended from Puritan ancestry and from Revolutionary stock. Mrs. Faville was a member of the Congrega- tional church and like her husband was greatly interested in the intellectual and moral progress of the community where they resided. His death occur- red in December, 1900, while she passed away in November, 1902. They were the parents of five children, of whom Frederick F. Faville was the third in order of birth.
Frederick F. Faville was a pupil in the public schools of Mitchell, lowa, in his early boyhood and afterward attended the Cedar Valley Seminary, at Osage, and later graduated from the Iowa State College, at Ames. He next entered the State University of Maryland. where he was a law student in 1889 and 1890. He further continued his preparation for the bar as a student in the State University of lowa, from which he was graduated with the class of 1891. In the spring of 1892 he began practice in Sionx Rapids, where he remained until the spring of 1895, when he came to Storm Lake to assume the duties of the office of county attorney and here he has lived continuously since. Ile continued in the private practice of law with growing success until March
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15, 1907, when he was appointed by President Roosevelt to the position of United States attorney for the northern district of Iowa. and is now the incumbent in that office.
He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. His political allegiance has ever been given to the republican party. For four years he served as county attorney and in 1904 he was on the national republican ticket as presidential eleetor from the eleventh district.
In December, 1891. Mr. Faville was married to Miss Cora Thornburg, who was born in Orchard, lowa, in 1866. They have two children, Stanton S. and Marion B. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Faville is a trustee.
Mrs. Faville is much interested in the social and literary life of the city. She is president of the Tuesday Club, a ladies' literary organization, and chair- man of the book committee of the trustees of the public library.
A. M. CONNER.
A. M. Conner is one of the prominent business men of Buent Vista county, now actively engaged in merchandising in Alta, where he has been located for twenty-one years. Ilis energy and enterprise not only constitute a factor in his personal success but have also been elements in the growth and upbuild- ing of the town. A native son of Iowa he was born in Plainfield. March 27, 1868, and is a son of Aaron Conner, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume. There were but two children in the family. the other being a daughter. Ina, now the wife of Ed Larson, one of the prominent business men of Alta, mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Pursuing his education in schools of Alta, A. M. Conner was graduated with the class of 1886. From early boyhood he has been connected with mercantile interests and in early manhood entered into partnership with his father and mother in the conduct of a store, which has figured as one of the principal commercial interests of Alta for many years. His sister is now a partner in the business. After the father's death. A. M. Conner took charge of the store. He had previously been manager of the dry-goods and grocery department, and upon his father's demise assumed entire control, and is now at the head of the business, which is constantly growing in volume and importance. He carries a large and well selected line of goods, and the taste- ful arrangement of the store. as well as the reasonable prices and the straightforward business policy here followed, has constituted an element in the success of the undertaking. Mr. Conner and his mother are both stock- holders in the First National Bank and they are also stockholders in the Fair Association. He is interested in all that tends to promote activity along lines of general development and improvement and cooperates in many measures for the publie good.
In June, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Conner and Miss Lillian E. Parker, a daughter of W. W. Parker. a well known and influential
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farmer of this community and one of its early settlers. Two children grace this marriage. Floyd Arthur and Fern Amelia. In his political views Mr. Conner is a democrat and while he has never sought nor desired office he has served as a member of the city council and he always keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in community affairs. Mr. Conner belongs to the Masonic lodge and both he and his wife are well known socially, the hospitality of the best homes of the community being freely accorded them.
ANDREW R. BROWNE.
The enterprising little city of Alta finds a worthy and progressive repre- sentative in A. R. Browne, who for twenty-one years has been connected with the First National Bank and is now its eashier and manager. His business integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career and he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of his fellow townsmen and all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. He was born in Buena Vista county. August 8, 1871. His father, Frederic B. Browne, was a native of Canada, born March 25. 1843, and was a son of Frederic B. Browne. Sr., a native of England, who in early life erossed the Atlantic to ('anada. He later removed to Buffalo, New York, and afterward to Wis- consin, settling near Oconomowoc, where he spent his last years. His son and namesake was reared to manhood in that state and was married to Miss Hannah Russell, a native of Vermont and of Seotch lineage. After the out- break of the Civil war Frederie B. Browne. Jr .. enlisted for service in the Union army and joined the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. On the expiration of the first term he veteranized and remained at the front throughout the entire period of hostilities, covering four years. He was pro- moted from the ranks and commissioned second lieutenant in recognition of his meritorious conduct on the field of battle. After the war he was honorably discharged and returned home with a creditable military record, continuing his residence in Wisconsin until 1869, when he removed to Buena Vista county, lowa. This seetion of the state was then largely unsettled and unimproved, and from the government he entered a homestead elaim in Coon township. He then broke the sod. planted his crops and in the course of time opened up a good farm which he continued to eultivate for several years. He afterward removed to Sioux Rapids and in 1877 became a resident of Storm Lake, in which year the county seat was located there. In 1881 he came to Alta and for a number of years was cashier of the bank here, continuing thus in active con- nection with the financial interests of the town until his death. He was a well known business man and his enterprise and energy led him to suecess.
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