USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 33
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JAMES HOLMES.
James Holmes, who owns and operates a farm of two hundred acres sit- nated on sections 29 and 30, Washington township, is also well known as a breeder of pure-blooded Percheron horses. He was born in Stark county, HHinois, near Toulon, March 2, 1852, a son of John Holmes, a native of Ire- land who, on emigrating to the new world, located in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he worked at his trade of a tailor. He was married to Miss Sarah MeKenty, and later removed to Stark county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. His family numbered twelve children, of whom seven survive: George, a resident of Alta; Rose; John; Samnel; James, of this review; Elizabeth; and Mary Ann. Robert, who served in the Civil war, died in Toulon, Illinois.
James Holmes, whose name introduces this review, was reared on the home Farm in Stark county and was educated in the district schools near his father's home. Ile purchased a farm when starting out to make his own way in the world and was engaged in farming in his native county until 1895,
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when, believing that Iowa offered better advantages to the agriculturist, he removed to Buena Vista county and purchased two hundred acres of land on sections 29 and 30, Washington township, and has sinee been engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising. IIe also breeds pure-blooded Percheron horses and commands good priees for his stock, one two year old animal bringing him five hundred dollars.
Mr. Holmes was married in Stark county, Illinois, March 4, 1885, to Miss Jane MeCurdy, and their union was blessed with three children: John, a young man at home; Alexander; and Rose. They lost their first-born, Nancy, who died in infancy. The wife and mother died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, September 9, 1900.
Politically Mr. Holmes is a republican and for a long period has served as a school director, while in Iowa and Illinois he has served as highway commis- sioner. Mr. Holmes owns stock in the elevator at Alta, and also owns a good residence property in the village. His home farm, too, has been greatly enhanced in valne through the improvements he has here made, for he has built a large barn, has set out an orchard, installed a system of waterworks on the place, and now has a model farm property, his home being considered one of the attractive places of this section of the state, while the hearty good cheer which there is found makes it a favorite resort to many friends.
I. B. CHRISTENSON.
Those who contend that success is the result of propitious circumstances or the outeome of genins have but to examine into the life records of the great majority of successful men and they will find environment and influence have but little to do with individual progress in the business world. On the con- trary it is the man who in early life makes his services of value to his employer and who is diligent, persistent and enterprising that gradually works his way upward and eventually reaches the goal of prosperity. This fact is evidenced in the life record of I. B. Christenson, who since 1885 has been engaged in merchandising in Sioux Rapids. Ile was born in Christiania, Norway, July 12, 1860, and is a son of C. B. Christenson, who came to America in 1865. He settled first in Chicago, where he remained for several years. and during that time followed the shoemaker's trade. In the hope of better- ing his financial condition in the growing west he removed to Sioux Rapids in 1880 and here in connection with work at his trade he also followed the oceu- pation of farming.
1. B. Christenson attended the publie schools in Chicago and being of an alert and receptive mind, quick to observe and comprehend, he soon acquired a practical knowledge outside of the information obtained from his text-books, learning to correctly value the people and circumstances that make up life's contaets and experiences. Ile was but five years old when brought by his parents to the new world, and is thoroughly American in his ideas and inter- ests. In 1885 he became connected with mercantile pursuits in Sionx Rapids
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and under the firm name of I. B. Christenson has eondueted a prosperous busi- ness to the present time. Through close attention to every detail and unfaltering allegiance to the principles of fair dealing and honest treatment he has won an extensive patronage from the people of Sioux Rapids and the surrounding country. No merchant of this part of the country stands higher in publie regard and esteem or more fully enjoys the trust reposed in him.
Mr. Christenson is broad and liberal in all of his dealings and also in his views of life. He is interested in those concerns which affect the publie wel- fare, nor does he hesitate to give of his time and means to further measures for the public good. He is a citizen of worth who has never been so absorbed in his own affairs as to forget his duty to his fellowmen or to the community at large.
CLINTON J. ROBINSON.
Clinton J. Robinson has been a resident of Newell from the age of four- teen years and is now a leading representative of its commercial interests as proprietor of a furniture and undertaking establishment. He was born in Phoenix, Oswego county, New York, February 8, 1867, and is a son of William and Charlotte (Munger) Robinson, who were likewise natives of the Empire state. It was in the same state that Harry S. Robinson, the grandfather of our subject, was born, and for many years he followed the occupation of farming in Oswego county, his last days being passed in Phoenix, where he died at the very venerable age of ninety-four years. In early manhood he married Miss Nash, who was about eighty-six years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of four sons and three daughters: Benjamin : Jay; Charles; William; Mary, the wife of Eugene Crandall; Martha, the wife of Bert Catheart ; and Emma. the wife of James Kerns. The maternal grand- father of Clinton J. Robinson was also a native of New York and carried on farming pursuits in Oswego county until he passed away in middle life. In his family were the following children: William, George, Sarah, Laura, Charlotte and Marcella.
In tracing the ancestral history of the family to a still more remote period it is found that Benjamin Robinson, Sr., the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Stephentown, New York, in 1786. When but a lad he removed to the town of Manlius, where he remained until 1804, and was then engaged by Henry Bush, of Volney, New York, to go and teach school in that town. Mr. Bush was authorized by the inhabitants to pay six dollars per month for a teacher but Mr. Robinson declined the position unless he could be paid eight dollars per month, which sum was finally agreed upon and the young schoolmaster started for Volney. On the way Mr. Bush requested Mr. Robinson not to disclose the fact that he was to have over six dollars per month, saying that he proposed to pay the extra two dollars out of his own pocket. Mr. Robinson opened school in 1804 in a log schoolhouse just over Seneca Hill, that being the first school ever taught in the town. At that time
EDNA ROBINSON
CLINTON J. ROBINSON
WILLIAM ROBINSON
BENJAMIN ROBINSON
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there was but one frame house upon the site of the present village of Fulton. In 1806 Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Sweet, with whom he lived forty- eight years. In 1812 he taught the first school in the present town of Grandy, then Hannibal, in a little log schoolhouse and from that time became elosely identified with the interests of the locality. He served in the war of 1812 and always took an active interest in public affairs.
Reared in the Empire state, William Robinson early became familiar with farm life but chose an industrial eareer and became a contractor and builder. He arrived in Newell, Iowa, in the spring of 1881 and still makes his home here. In early manhood he became a soldier of the Union army, serving as a private of the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth New York Volun- teer Infantry. When hostilities had eeased he again resumed earpenter work in New York and lived in Syracuse for ten years before his removal to Iowa in 1881. He has since been connected with building operations in Newell and many evidences of his skill and handiwork are seen in the substantial and attractive homes of that town. Both he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist church. Their family numbered four children : Clinton J., of Newell, lowa; Grace, wife of F. L. Santer, of Le Mars, Iowa ; William H., of Detroit, Michigan; and Vineent M., of St. Joseph, Missouri. Having spent the first fourteen years of his life in the state of his nativity Clinton J. Robinson then accompanied his parents to Iowa and has sinee lived in Newell. Ilis early education was acquired in the public schools of Syracuse, New York, and he afterward attended the high school of this city. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for sixteen years, sinee which time he has been connected with mercantile pursuits. He purchased the furniture business of P. Meighen and has conducted the store to the present time, carrying a large and well selected stock of furniture. IIe also does an undertaking business and both departments receive a liberal patron- age. His business methods are straightforward and honorable and his entire commercial career will hear the closest investigation.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Robinson was married on the 18th of December, 1889, to Miss Johanna Rothe, a daughter of William and Christina Rothe, who came from Germany to the new world and settled first in Connecticut, whenee they removed to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, about 1865. The father died there when seventy years of age, but the mother still survives and makes her home with her daughter in Newell at the age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of eight children: William; Carrie; Lena ; Emeline; Catherine; Johanna and Emma (twins) ; and Louis. Mrs. Robinson was born in Mineral Point, Wiseonsin, and by her marriage has become the mother of a daughter, Edna, who is now attending college in Sioux City.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, are interested in its work and generous in its support. Mr. Robinson is now serving as one of the board of church trustees and is likewise a ment- ber of the school board of Newell. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and his political allegiance is unswervingly given to the republican party. While there have been no unusual chapters in his life record, it is the history
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of a man who in every relation has been faithful to the duties devolving upon him, and his citizenship is such as constitutes the substantial basis of the country's stability and prosperity.
FAWCETT WETHERALL.
Fawcett Wetherall, who is suecessfully engaged in farming and stoek- raising on his finely improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Coon township, was born in Cumberland county, England, November 13, 1850, his parents being John and Jane E. Faweett Wetherall, who were also natives of England but are now deceased. Our subjeet had bnt one sister. Eleanor, who died at the age of eleven years.
Faweett Wetherall attended the schools of his native land until sixteen years of age and then took up the work of farming, which line of activity claimed his attention until he had attained his majority. Having determined to establish his home in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating first in Summit county. Ohio, where he followed general agri- cultural pursuits for five years. Coming to Buena Vista county, Iowa, in 1877, he took up his abode near his present farm of one hundred and twenty aeres of land, four miles north of Newell, which he purchased in 1903. He has a number of fruit trees and in addition to the work of general farming is also engaged in raising stock, both branches of his business bringing to him a gratifying annual ineome.
Mr. Wetherall was united in marriage in 1877, to Miss Anna Point, a native of Ohio, whose parents are now deceased. The record of their ehil- dren is as follows: Shirley E., who wedded Leonida Lee; Fra A., the wife of Hanford Pyle; Nellie E., who is attending school; and Nealia E., who died in infancy.
Mr. Wetherall and his wife, having resided in this county for more than thirty years, have gained many warm friends here and are, moreover, widely recognized as people of genuine personal worth, whose lives have ever been upright and honorable.
WILLIAM HOLMES.
Since 1870 William Holmes has been identified with the agricultural life of Buena Vista county and he today owns a good farm of two hundred and forty-acres, situated on section 32. Seott township, which he rents, while he makes his home on forty acres near the city. He was born in Ayrshire, Scot- land, January 21, 1843, a son of William Holmes, Sr., who was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, and was there married to Janette Reid. They emi- grated to the new world in 1858, and locating in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, the father there engaged in farming and spent his last years
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in the Keystone state. There were two sons of that marriage, the brother of our subject being Robert Holmes, who removed westward to Dallas county, Iowa, at an early day and homesteaded eighty aeres of land. He still makes his home in this state. The father was married a second time and by that union there were five sons, John. Thomas, Frank, James and Charles, and two daughters, Ellen and Mary Ann.
William Holmes of this review was a lad of fifteen years when he accom- panied the family on their emigration to the United States. He soon found employment as a farm hand, being thus engaged for three years, or until he was eighteen, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war. In Bradford county on the 26th of August, 1861, he joined a company of light artillery under General MeClellan. Mr. Holmes participated in many of the most important battles of the war, including Yorktown, Antietam, Gettysburg and Bull Run, and was also in the siege of Atlanta. He was later sent to Bridge- port, Alabama, and at that place was granted a thirty days' furlough, which he spent at his home in Pennsylvania.
When that time had expired he again joined his command and remained at the front until the elose of hostilities, receiving a most honorable discharge at Key West, Florida.
Returning to the north, Mr. Holmes located in Jasper county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming for a year and a half and then continued his journey to Dallas connty, farming near Perry for one year. In 1870, however, he took up his abode in Buena Vista county, homesteading a claim of one hundred and sixty aeres in Seott township, where his brother Robert also seenred a home- stead. He then went to Dallas county and spent the winter. It was while residing there that William Holmes was married February 26, 1870, to Miss Mahala A. Fletcher, who was born in Cass county, Michigan, but when eight years of age was brought to Iowa and was reared in this state. Her father, Thomas E. Fletcher, was born in Canandaigua county, New York, and was one of the first settlers of Cass county, Michigan.
William Holmes took his young bride to his claim in Buena Vista county. He built a sod house in which they made their home for some time, and with an ox team he broke his land. He divided the fields into convenient size by building fenees, set out an orchard and shade trees, erected good and substan- tial outbuildings and in due time replaced his little pioneer home with a good modern residence. As time passed and he prospered in his undertakings he bought an additional eighty aere tract, thus becoming the owner of two hun- dred and forty acres. He cultivated this farm until 1904, when he leased the land and purchased forty acres of land near Storm Lake, to which he removed and which he has since cultivated. He is now numbered among the worthy citizens of Buena Vista eounty and the success which he enjoys is well merited, for it has come to him as the result of hard labor and excellent business judg- ment. He owns stock in the canning factory at Storm Lake and is thus interested in the industrial life of the city.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes was blessed with twelve children, of whom nine still survive. The record is as follows : Stella, the wife of Edward Mainweiring ; Leroy, a farmer of Jamestown, North Dakota; Lewis J., who resides in Spokane, Washington ; Lottie, the wife of David Scofield, a resi-
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dent of Cherokee county, Iowa : Alice, the wife of A. T. MeCrista, of. Okla- homa ; Jessie, who died at the age of three months; Luella, the wife of James Johnson, of Buena Vista county; William, a resident of Marstonmoor, North Dakota; Thomas, who died in the fall of 1907 when a young man of twenty- three years; Ida, who acts as housekeeper for her brother William in North Dakota; George, who died in October, 1907, when a youth of eighteen years; and Hazel, a student at Storm Lake.
Mr. Holmes is a stanch supporter of the republican party and several terms served as township trustee. while for a long period he was justice of the peace. He has acted as treasurer of the school board for a number of years, has been highway commissioner and has served as a delegate to county eon- ventions on numerous occasions. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Holmes maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Baker Post, G. A. R., at Storm Lake. Though born across the water, he has practically been reared in this country and has therefore allied himself with its interests. He possesses all the elements of what in this country we term a "square" man-one in whom to have confidence, a dependable man in any relation and any emer- geney. Ile is always found ready to meet any obligation of life with the confidenee and courage that come of conseious personal ability, a right con- ception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
JOHN T. REDFIELD.
John T. Redfield is now living retired at Newell, deriving his income largely from his extensive investment in land. He was born in Oriskany, New York. October 2, 1848, and is of English deseent. The Redfield family originated in England and the ancestry is traced back to William Redfield, who held an ecclesiastical position in 1213 A. D., under the reign of King John. The progenitor of the family in America also bore the name of William Redfield. He landed with a colony in Massachusetts, about six miles from Boston, in 1630, and was one of the first to settle on the south side of the Charles river. The place of his location is now easily established, it being the northwest section of what is today the town of Brighton.
Theophilus Redfield, grandfather of John T. Redfield, was born in the state of New York and was a tanner by trade. He removed to Watertown, New York, where he died in 1858, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His wife, in her maidenhood Ruth M. Tuttle, survived him and died at a very old age. They had ten children: Sophronia, William E., Maroa, Darius, Sophia, George, Henry Stone, Emily, James W. and John Calvin.
Rev. Henry Stone Redfield, born in the Empire state, was a graduate of Ilamilton College and of the Auburn Theological Seminary, after which he entered upon the active work of the ministry and largely engaged in preaching in his native state. Ile was chaplain in the Twenty-fourth New York Regiment
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during the Civil war and his later years were passed in Westfield, New York. Hle wedded Mary Emeline Shapley, who was also born in New York and died at Phoenix, that state, in 1870. They were parents of six children: Henry Martin, now deceased; James Bartlet, who died at the age of two years ; John T .; Mary Catherine, who died when three years of age; William, of Spokane, Washington; and Alfred, of Kansas City, Missouri.
John T. Redfield spent the greater part of his youth in Oswego, New York, and after attending the public schools there continued his education in the Oswego Academy. He then learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he fol- lowed until his marriage. On his removal from New York to Newell, Iowa, in 1873, he purchased a coal business and became a factor in the commercial activity of the town where his brother Henry was already engaged in the ele- vator and grain business. They formed a partnership and continued their interests in the firm name of Redfield Brothers for many years. They bought both grain and live-stock and sold farm machinery. Their business consti- tuted the grain market for a district more than thirty miles in area. During the early period of their connection with the business life of the locality Edward Foy was purchasing muskrat hides on such a large scale that he paid out more for hides than was paid for grain and live-stock, as indicated by the bank books of that period. The Redfield Brothers continued together for twenty years, at the end of which time John T. Redfield purchased his broth- er's interests and a few years later sold out to Martin Goltey. Mr. Redfield owned the corner store now occupied by J. O. Erwin, and other property which he traded for farming land. Hle now owns eleven hundred and twenty aeres in Sae county but makes his residence in Newell and gives his super- vision to his land and cattle interests. lle handles Aberdeen-Angus cattle on an extensive scale and during the past three years has exhibited his cattle at the stock show in Chicago.
On the 29th of September, 1869. Mr. Redfield was married to Miss Eldona Gilbert, a daughter of Joseph and Louise (Haight ) Gilbert. By their mar- riage there are two sons and a daughter: Frank G., the oldest, is a partner and assistant eashier in the Miller & Chaney Bank of Newell. He wedded Mary I. Miller, daughter of De Witt C. and Agnes (Lawson) Miller and they have four children : Frances, Dona. John Miller and an infant son, Lena Kate, the only daughter, became the wife of Dr. F. C. Foley and died leaving a daughter, Dona. Clayton II. has recently completed a course in the Chicago University.
Mr. and Mrs. Redfield are members of the Congregational church, in which he is serving as deacon, and in the various church activities they are deeply interested. Ile belongs to Newell Lodge, No. 332, I. O. O. F., and votes with the republican party. At one time he served as justice of the peace. but has never been active as an office seeker. preferring to give his time and enterprise to his business affairs, which gradually increased as the years went by until he is now the owner of extensive farming and cattle-raising interests and one of the most prosperous citizens of his community. He is, moreover, one of the early settlers of Buena Vista county, having lived here for more than a third of a century. At the time of his arrival it was a frontier dis-
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triet, in which the work of improvement seemed scarcely begun, the now thriving eities of Newell and Storm Lake were tiny villages and the homes of the farmers were widely scattered. Much of the land was uncultivated and only here and there was a tract plowed to show that the seeds of civilization had been planted in this pioneer district. Mr. Redfield has taken a very active and helpful part in the growth and development of the country and through his careful managed business interests has attained gratifying prosperity.
ARTHUR M. FOSTER.
Arthur M. Foster, pleasantly located in the new Odd Fellow's block, where he has conducted business successfully since 1901, was born in Moore- town, Vermont, April 24, 1861. He is a representative of prominent New England families, and was the youngest of the seven children of Leonard and Anna L. (Evans) Foster. The father was born in Vermont and his life span covered more than ninety years, his death occurring in 1897. He was of English decent, acquired a common-school education and in early manhood engaged in teaching. Upon the home farm he was reared, but he left the farm to engage in mercantile pursuits at Mooretown. Vermont, where he sue- cessfully and energetically conducted business for twenty years. On the ยท expiration of that period he retired with a handsome competeney and removed to Waterbury, where he spent his remaining days. He was an old-line whig until the dissolution of that party, when he joined the ranks of the new repub- lican party. He continued to support it until his death. He was prominent in political circles and for six years represented his district in the state legis- lature, where he took an active part in framing the public policy and formulating laws of_ the commonwealth. Upright in all his dealings and straightforward in every relation of life, he was held in high esteem and his many good qualities constituted an example well worthy of emulation. Earnest in his faith as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he took an active part in its work, had served as steward and also as leader of the choir. His wife, who was born in Stratford, Vermont, is now living in Water- bury, at the age of seventy-seven years. She is of English decent and belongs to a family that was represented in the Revolutionary war. She holds mem- bership with the Methodist Episcopal church, and her life has been that of a consistent church woman who has always endeavored to closely follow the teaching of the Scripture.
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