USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 24
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The Bradford family were stanch abolitionists and Casper Bradford took an active part in the conduct of the underground railroad prior to the Civil war, assisting many slaves on their way to freedom in the north. When the republican party was formed to pre-
S. C. Bradford
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vent the further extension of slavery, he joined its ranks and voted for Abraham Lincoln. Ile did not long live to see the country freed from the yoke of slavery, however, for his death occurred in 1865. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Sarah Cochlan, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1838, and is now living at Ames, Iowa. She is of English lineage. After the death- of her first husband she was again married in 1878, becoming the wife of Thomas Hardcastle, an Englishman who follows farming in this state. The two daughters of her first marriage are: Isabel, the wife of Charles Moses, a farmer living at Ames; and Margaret, the wife of William Hardcastle, who also carries on agricultural pursuits in the same locality.
Seott C. Bradford was the son of the family and was reared upon the home farm. He acquired his education in the country schools of Indiana and lowa, coming to this state in 1875 with his mother, who located on a farm near Ames. There he remained until 1883 and supplemented his early education by study in the Ames high school, while in 1885 he entered the lowa State College at Ames, and was there graduated with the class of 1888. Mr. Bradford entered upon business life in an educational capacity, becoming principal of the schools at Sioux Rapids, lowa, in 1888. At the end of the year, however, he accepted the position of assistant cashier in the Farmer, Thompson & Helsell Bank, a private concern at Sioux Rapids, where he continued for a year. He was transferred by this firm to a branch house at Marathon, where he acted as assistant cashier until the fall of 1892, the institution in the mean- time becoming the First National Bank. At that date he was elected clerk of the district court and continued in the office for six years, discharging his duties in a manner so prompt and capable that he won the entire commenda- tion of all concerned. In 1895 he was appointed receiver for the Buena Vista State Bank and so capably conducted its affairs during his receivership that when the business of the bank was closed up he paid one hundred cents on the dollar and only assessed the stockholders four per cent. In 1896 he formed a partnership with Judge Lot Thomas in the condnet of a banking, real-estate and loan business, which connection was continued under the firm style of Thomas & Bradford until 1900, when Judge Thomas was elected to congress. Mr. Bradford then bought out his partner's interest and continued the busi- ness alone for one year.
On the expiration of that period he sold out to Schollar & Son, who con- tinued the business under the name of the Citizens Bank. Since that time Mr. Bradford has confined his attentions to the real-estate business and to other concerns, which have proven of substantial benefit to the community and a source of profitable income to himself. He has condueted many important realty transfers and in the fall of 1899 he built the Bradford Hotel, the leading hostelry of Storm Lake, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. It is one of the ornaments of the city, being a hotel of which a city of much larger size might well be proud. In 1899 Mr. Bradford established the Storm Lake Butter Tub & Tank factory, and has since continued manufacturing interests along these lines. The first factory was destroyed by fire but a larger one took its place, and the enterprise is now one of the important industrial concerns of the city, capitalized for ten thousand dollars. It furnishes employment to a large mim-
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ber of workmen and keeps in circulation through its payroll a goodly sum of money.
On the 3d of April. 1889, Mr. Bradford was married to Miss Catherine Ifanmum, who was born in Ohio in 1867, and is of English lineage. Her parents were Robert and Hannah Hannum, the former a miller by trade. Removing to Jowa in the '60s they settled near Ames. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bradford have been born four children: Bernice L., Anra L., Gladys M., and Sarah Catherine.
Mr. Bradford is a member of several fraternal organizations. He is thus connected with the Masons, Knights of Pythias. Odd Fellows, the Woodmen, and the Eastern Star. He exercises his right of franchise in the support of the men and measures of the republican party, and though he has never songht political office he is one of the most prominent factors in the life of Storm Lake, taking an active and helpful part in all that pertains to its intellectual and social progress. For four years he was president of the board of trustees of Buena Vista College and is still one of its members. He was likewise president of the board of trustees of the Carnegie Library when the library building was erected, and is still serving on the board. He is justly accounted one of the most progressive and enterprising residents of Storm Lake, wielding a wide influence in public affairs and leaving the impress of his individuality for good upon the community. He stands as a splendid representative of American man- hood and chivalry, and his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit have made him in this community a director of public thought and opinion.
C. H. WEGERSLEV.
C. Il. Wegerslev, who for many years was identified with journalistic in- terests as editor of the Alta Advertiser, but is now practicing law, was born in Broager, Schleswig. Germany, February 21. 1874. his parents being Jacob and Christian ( Fisk) Wegerslev, the former of Danish and the latter of Swe- dish birth. The father was a carpenter by trade. In the common schools (. Il. Wegersley began his edneation and. continuing his studies, was grad- uated from the Alta high school with the class of 1890. Hle also pursued a course in the Iowa State University and was graduated from the law depart- ment in the class of 1908. He has always been a student of history, political science and economies. After leaving the public schools he became identified with the printing business, with which he was associated for fifteen years, find- ing the pursuit congenial as well as profitable. He has lived in Alta sinee his arrival from Europe in 1884. and was from 1890 until 1905 editor, publisher and printer. After fifteen years' connection with the Advertiser, however, he sold out in the latter year.
In polities Mr. Wegerslev has always been an earnest republican, progres- sive in his party views and liberal in political creed. The only office that he has over filled is that of postmaster of Alta, in which he served for eight years or from 1898 until 1906. During his business life he contributed to all the
VIEW OF THE S. C. BRADFORD FARM
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publie enterprises of the town, giving active and helpful support to many measures for the general good.
On the 5th of November, 1899. Mr. Wegersley was married to Miss Mae Tincknell, and they have one daughter, Janet, now three and a half years of age. Mr. Wegersley is a member of the Knights of Pythias, has filled all of the offices in the local lodge and is a member of the Jowa grand lodge. He is also connected with the Masons and the Woodmen. He belongs to no church but attends religious services and believes in a liberal religion, with freedom to think as conscience dictates.
JOHN A. MILLER.
John A. Miller, residing on seetion 27. Storm Lake township, where he is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising, is well known as a prosper- ous and progressive citizen of Buena Vista county. Born in Germany, September 3, 1855, he was there reared and educated, and in 1874 married Miss Margaret Groat, also a native of the fatherland, born March 16, 1856. Two of their children were born in that country, and in 1883 Mr. Miller emigrated with his little family to the United States, locating in Storm Lake, Towa. Scorning no employment that would yield him an honest living, he at first worked at anything that eame to hand but later engaged in truck gardening, successfully following that line of activity for ten years. He first rented land but later, when his financial resources had increased. bought a tract of twenty aeres east of Storm Lake. On selling this place he pur- chased the farm where he now resides on section 27, Storm Lake township, situated within a mile and a half of Storm Lake. The property embraees eighty aeres and he has placed thereon many substantial improvements which enhance its value and attractiveness. He has added to and remodeled the residence, erected three good barns and likewise planted an orehard. His well directed labor and sound judgment have brought him a most gratifying measure of prosperity in his farming operations and as a stock-raiser he has also met with well merited success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born seven children, namely : Professor Harry Miller, who is at the head of a school at Calmar; John, who recently drew a claim in Rosebud reservation and is going there to farm; Treno, a graduate of the Storm Lake high school, who is now a teacher of this county; Margaret, the wife of Floyd Binkley, of Canning, South Dakota; Mary, who is a school teacher: Albert II .. a student in the Storm Lake high school; and William, who passed away at the age of two years. The parents are justly proud of their children, to whom they have given the advantages of a good education, and all are well known in Storm bake and throughout Buena Vista county.
In his political views Mr. Miller is a republican but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his private busi- ness interests. He is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church at
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Storm Lake, and his upright, honorable career has won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he has been associated. £ When he arrived in this county twenty-five years ago, a stranger in a foreign land, he had to depend entirely upon industry and diligence in the struggle for a competence. These qualities, however, he possessed in abundant measure and in their utilization has gained the success that now entitles him to representation among the enterprising and substantial citizens of this county.
WILLIAM A. JJONES.
William A. Jones, cashier of the Security Bank, is well known in business and financial circles in Storm Lake and Buena Vista county. His reeord has been characterized by that steady progress which results from the expansion of one's innate powers and talents and by a ready mastery of the duties which each day brings. He was born in De Witt county, Illinois, in 1853, his parents being Arthur C. and Nancy (Swisher) Jones, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was of Welsh lineage. A tanner by trade, he followed that occupation in Illinois and then turned bis attention to farming there. At an early age he went to De Witt county, where he entered a tract of land from the government and began converting the wild prairie into well improved fields. To his original holdings he also added and became a pros- perons farmer, who met success in the tilling of the soil and also in handling cattle. His political views were in accord with the principles of the repub- lean party. and the motives which governed his life were largely found in his religious faith as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife belonged to the same church, was an earnest Christian woman, and both enjoyed the full confidence and esteem of those who knew them. The death of Mr. Jones occurred April 25, 1874, when he was about sixty years of age, while his wife died March 25. 1882, also at the age of sixty years. They were the parents of eight children. of whom two died in infancy.
William A. Jones, the fifth in order of birth, was reared on the home farm and attended the country schools, working in the fields through the sum- mer months, while in the winter seasons he pursued his education. lle continued on the old homestead until 1882 when, thinking to find other busi -. ness pursuits more congenial and profitable, he turned his attention to merchandising. He had taken up his abode in Storm Lake in the spring of 1878, but in the fall of that year he removed to a farm in Hayes township, which he had previously purchased. There he resided until 1881, when he again eame to Storm Lake and entered the implement business in connection with George W. Perrine, under the firm name of Perrine & Jones. After a short time, however, he sold out to his partner and again resumed agricultural pursuits in Maple Valley township, where he remained for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he came to Storm Lake and bought a stock of dry goods, formerly owned by a Mr. Robinson. This was in 1883 and he con- tinned snecessfully in that line of business until January, 1908, having a large
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and well appointed store, while a liberal patronage was accorded him. On the 18th of February of the same year he went into the Security Bank, a pri- vate institution, having a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and has since been its cashier.
Mr. Jones was married to Miss Nellie G. Spooner, a daughter of J. C. Spooner, a pioneer farmer of Grant township. Mr. Jones belongs to the Odd Fellows society, while the religions faith of his wife is that of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a republican and though he never seeks nor desires office he is a loyal advocate of its principles. for he believes that they consti- tute the basis of sound and progressive government. He has always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his busines affairs and his life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, so that he is numbered today among the substantial citizens of Buena Vista county.
OSCAR M. NELSON.
Oscar M. Nelson, one of the practical. progressive and respected farmers of Nokomis township, is living on section 13. where he owns and cultivates a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He is numbered among the old set- tlers of the county, for Buena Vista was still largely an undeveloped region when he took up his abode within its borders in 1873. He was then a youth of ten years, his birth having occurred in the city of Roekford, Illinois, October 14, 1862. Ilis father, A. P. Nelson, was a native of Sweden, who in early man- hood came to the new world, settling in Rockford, Illinois, where for fourteen years he worked at the miller's trade. He was married at Rockford to Miss Mary S. Styf, also a native of Sweden, and three sons were born unto them ere their removal to Iowa. Mr. Nelson visited this state in 1872, purehased a traet of raw land and the following year removed his family to this place. With characteristic energy he began to till the soil and improve the farm, and made it one of the well developed properties of that locality. Both he and his wife have passed away and in their death the community lost two of its industrious and worthy citizens.
Oscar M. Nelson is one of two living sons, his brother, J. A. Nelson, being a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A younger brother, Emil, died at the age of twenty-two years. Oscar M. Nelson was largely reared on the home- stead farm in this county and to some extent attended the primitive schools of the neighborhood, but is largely self-educated, for it was necessary that he assist his father in the arduous task of developing a new farm. He gave to his father the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority. and then purchased a part of the old home place and began farming on his own account.
Mr. Nelson made further preparation for having a home of his own by marrying in June, 1888, Miss Anna C. Bladine, who was born in Sweden but was reared in America. For a year after their marriage the young couple
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lived upon the northern part of the home farm and later Mr. Nelson purchased the interest of the other heirs in the property. He has since rebuilt and remodeled the dwelling, has also put up a good barn and outbuildings, and has thus furnished ample shelter for grain and stock. He has now a well improved place, the farm being divided into fields of convenient size by fences that are always kept in good repair, while the latest improved machinery fa- cilitates the work of the fields. He cultivates the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate and in addition he also raises some cattle, horses and hogs. He and his brother owned one of the first steam threshers in the county and also one of the first corn-shellers, operating this for a number of years and thus adding materially to their annual income. Aside from his farming, Mr. Nelson is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator, the Alta Creamery and the Fair Association.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born three sons and six daughters, who are yet living: Lenora. Ruth, Lillian, Elida, Elsie, Inez, Oscar H .. Curtis and Everett. They also lost their three eldest children in infancy. Politically Mr. Nelson is a republican and that he has the confidence, regard and good will of his fellow townsmen is indicated by the fact that he has served for fourteen years as township assessor. In November. 1908, he was elected county supervisor for a three years' term. Ile is likewise a member of the Alta Lutheran church and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is well known in Alta, Storm Lake and, in fact, throughout Buena Vista county, as a man of much business ability and as a public-spirited citizen, whose labors are not selfishly centered upon his own success but have constituted an ele- ment in the upbuilding of the community.
WILLIAM JJ. MINARD.
William JJ. Minard is successfully following farming on eighty acres of land situated on section 9. Maple Valley township, which he owns, and he also operates an adjoining traet of eighty aeres belonging to a sister. He came to Buena Vista county in 1878 when much of the land was still unimproved and undeveloped and has seen the county grow into one of the rich agricultural districts of the state.
Mr. Minard was born in Ulster county, New York, January 12, 1852, a son of James Minard. who was born in the same county. November 12, 1825. In the paternal line the family comes of French ancestry and representatives of the name served in the Revolutionary war. The father was reared in Ulster county and was there married to Miss Sarah J. Turpening, who was likewise a native of that county. They there remained until after the birth of their two eldest children. when, in 1856, Mr. Minard removed with his family to La Salle county, Ilinois, and purchased a farm of eighty acres, which he cleared and developed. and later added one hundred and twenty aeres more. Five more children were added to the household in La Salle county, and there he reared his family, and engaged in general farming pur-
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suits. He eventually came to Buena Vista county and invested in land for his children. He then returned to the Prairie state and opened a mercantile enterprise in Leland, conducting the same for three years. On the expiration of that period, however, he returned to his farm but later sold his farm prop- erty and took up his abode in Aurora, Illinois, where he spent his remaining years, his death there occurring in 1901, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. His widow still survives and yet makes her home in that city. Of her family of seven children, two sons and two daughters survive, namely : William J., of this review ; Edward J., who is engaged in merchandis- ing in Aurora; Mrs. J. HI. Husk, who makes her home in Shabbona, Illinois; and Mrs. T. R. Davis, a resident of Aurora.
William J. Minard was educated in the public schools of Leland and was a little lad of four years when the family removed from the Empire state to La Salle county, Illinois. After completing his studies he returned to the home farm and there remained until the father engaged in merchandising in Leland, when the son assisted him in the store for three years.
It was while making his home in that city that Mr. Minard was married on the 17th of March, 1875. the lady of his choice being Miss Eva B. Hecox, who was born in Utica, New York. but was taken to Illinois when but two years of age. She was a daughter of Levi Hecox, one of the early settlers of Illinois. Following their marriage the young couple located on his father's farm, which he operated for one year, while during the succeeding two years Mr. Minard operated the Hecox farm. He then removed to Buena Vista county and located on his present farm, this comprising eighty acres situated ou section 9, Maple Valley township. Mr. Minard spent fifteen hundred dol lars in tiling his land, so that it has been made very rich and arable. He has fenced the fields with woven and barbed wire, has built a fine modern residenee, surrounded by a nice lawn and shade trees, and everything about the place is kept neat, presenting a thrifty appearance. Mr. Minard is one of the largest stockholders in the Farmers Elevator at Alta, and was one of the chief organizers of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and of the Fair Association, owning stock in both organizations.
As above stated Mr. Minard was married in 1875 to Miss Eva B. Hecox, whose death occurred about five years later, the date being May 17, 1880. She was the mother of two daughters: Nettie E., the wife of E. S. Judd, inter- ested in the Yeomen Insurance Company of Billings, Montana; and Mabel E., who is well edueated and is now a teacher in the Aurora high school. Mr. Minard was married a second time, this union being with Josephine M. Benson, the marriage being celebrated February 23, 1889. Mrs. Minard was born in Buena Vista county, and by her marriage has become the mother of four ehil- dren : Mand E., Warren L., Leland J. and Aliee.
In his political views Mr. Minard is independent. voting for the men whom he deems best qualified for office, regardless of party ties. He has served as township assessor for two years, while for twelve years, or from March, 1896, he has kept a record of the rainfall in the state and the United States, and has also been crop reporter of Maple Valley township for the state and the United States. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge
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at Alta, while both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He is a man of excellent business capacity and sound judgment and the success which he today enjoys is well merited, for it is the result of his own well directed labors and careful management.
THOMAS WALPOLE.
In a history of Buena Vista county it is imperative that mention be made of Thomas Walpole, who for thirty-six years has lived within its borders, while his residence in the state covers more than a half century. Throughout his life he has made good use of his opportunities and though no special ad- vantages aided him at the outset of his career he has worked his way steadily upward to achieve success as the result of the simple weight of his character and ability.
He was born in Groton, Tompkins county. New York, September 21, 1855. His parents were James and Julia (Murphy) Walpole. The father, who was a farmer by occupation. died in the year 1874. The mother, a lady of mueh force and eapability, kept her nine children together and gave all a good English education. She faced a difficult situation for there was an indebted- ness on the farm when her husband died and they had to face, too, the hard- ships of pioneer life. While comparatively little is known concerning the ancestral history of the family, it has been learned that a publie volume gives an account of the family name originating in Spain, from which country members of the family moved to France, from France to England, and from England to Ireland. James Walpole was born at Drumshambo, county Leitrim, Ireland, February 2, 1832, and his father was Thomas Walpole. The mother of our subject was born in Cork, Ireland. August 5, 1832, and she was a representative of one of the old and well known families of that land.
Thomas Walpole, the eldest of nine children, pursued his education in the common schools and also a business course at Valparaiso, Indiana, while for one term he was a student in the Southwestern Normal School at Shenandoah. Iowa. He was but two years of age when. in 1857, he was brought by his parents to Delaware county, lowa. Early in life he manifested a literary taste and studious habits, showed aptitude in the work of the schoolroom and made continuous progress in intellectual lines. In 1873 he removed with his parents to a farm in Maple Valley township, Buena Vista county, and as his father died soon afterward the work of the farm devolved to a considerable extent upon him. He began teaching in 1874 and devoted the summer months to the labors of the fields. With the exception of the year 1879-80, which he spent in pursuing a business course in Valparaiso, he engaged in teaching through the winter months until 1882. He then accepted the superintendeney of the public schools of Alta, where he remained until 1884. During that year. in connection with A. C. Smith as a partner, he bought the weekly paper known as the Advertiser, later his brother, E. E. Walpole, became the successor of Mr. Smith, and still later C. H. Wegersley succeeded his brother in the
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