USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 37
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Horace S. Hunter spent the first twelve years of his life in the state of his nativity and then went to Ohio, where he resided until 1850, when he made his way westward to Porter county, Indiana, settling near Valparaiso. There he was employed at farm work but in 1863 returned to Ohio and became a resident of Custer. Wood county, where he worked as a carpenter and plas- terer. He also operated sawmills and followed various other pursuits that would yield him an honest living until he joined the army. He belonged to the state militia and in 1864 enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days' service. He was a private and with his command did guard duty.
The year 1869 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Hunter in lowa and for forty years he has now made his home in this state. He first settled in Sae county. where he purchased eighty acres of land four miles south of the present site of Newell. It was a wild and unsettled district, the ground covered in win- ter with one dazzling sheet of unbroken snow, while in summer the prairies were starred with wild flowers. Mr. Hunter broke the sod and tilled the fields, carrying on farm work year after year, and adding to his property from time to time until he was the owner of eight hundred and eighty aeres when he retired. Always generous with his family he then divided his property with his children, but still owns a good traet of eighty aeres, from which he derives a substantial income. Ilis extensive holdings indicate his life of indus- try, well directed labor and capable management.
In 1853 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hunter and Miss Laura Ann Dell, a daughter of Solomon and Eliza ( Phay) Dell. They became parents of eleven children, of whom seven reached adult age. Eliza, the eldest. is the wife of John Rodda, of Newell, and they have four children, Mert. May, Frank and John. William, who is farming in Sae county, married Flora Ann Ellis and they have three children, Mand, Ethel and Hazel. John, also a resident farmer of Sae county, wedded Macey Aldrich. Charles, who carries on gen- eral agricultural pursuits in Sac county, married Dora Harper and they have three children, Levern, Stewart and Ennice. Harry, who is carrying on farm work in the same county, married Celia Fyfe and has two children. Myrtle and Ernest. Forest, who owns an orange grove at Ontario, California, married Estella Coates, and they have two children. Dale and Wayne. Sarah Ellen, the youngest, is the deceased wife of Frank Peek. The mother, Mrs. Laura Ann Hunter, died March 6, 1897, at the age of sixty years. She was a men- ber of the Christian church and a most estimable lady who made friends wherever she went. On the 2d of November, 1898, Mr. Hunter was married to Mrs. Annie Messenger, nee O'HIern, who was then a widow. By her former marriage she had three children: Hattie. William and Fred. The daughter is the wife of Charles Hechtner and has three children: Elsie, Lloyd and Ernest.
Mr. Hunter belongs to Newell Post, No. 416, G. A. R. Politically he is a republiean and has filled all the various township offices, serving at different times as supervisor, justice of the peace and school director. Ile has always been a capable official and is as loyal today to his country as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields. He justly deserves to be called a self-
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made man with all of the honor which that term implies, for he started out empty-handed and has worked his way steadily upward, achieving suecess through his determination, energy and careful management. In all of his dealings he has been strictly honorable and the rest which he is now enjoying is well earned. He has lived to see remarkable changes in the county as this seetion of the state has emerged from pioneer conditions and taken on all of the evidences of a modern civilization. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present and his mind is stored with many interesting reminiscences of the early days.
ALBERT F. MORSE.
Albert F. Morse, whose administration as postmaster has given universal satisfaction to his fellow townsmen in Newell, well deserved to be mentioned in this volume as one of the representative citizens of Buena Vista county. He was born in Will county, Illinois, near Joliet, Angust 12, 1858. His par- ents are Adams P. and Anna (Morse) Morse, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. The father was a son of Ira Morse, who was also born in the Green Mountain state, and who died there in middle life. He married Rebecca Adams, who lived to an advanced age and reared a large family. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a native of the Empire state, and followed the activities of farming and died in middle life, but his wife was well advanced in years when called to her final rest.
Adams P. Morse devoted his time and energies to farming and on leaving New York removed to Illinois during the early period in the development of the latter state. He bought land in Will county and there carried on general farming. When the Civil war broke ont he enlisted in Company K, One Hun- dredth Illinois Infantry, and served for about two years. He was honorably discharged on account of illness and died soon after his return home, not liv- ing to see the close of the war which indicated that the preservation of the Union was an assured fact. His wife survived him and died when about thirty-eight years of age. They were both Methodists in religious faith and were people of the highest respectability. Their family numbered three ehil- dren : Albert F .; Palatiah Adams, of Manhattan, Ilinois; and Flora E., the deceased wife of Alfred T. Cole.
Albert F. Morse was reared in Will county, Hinois, and early became familiar with the work on the home farm. He began his education in the dis- triet schools, afterward attended public school elsewhere and later became a student in Grand Prairie Seminary, Onarga. Ilinois. He was engaged in teaching school for several terms and at the time of his marriage turned his attention to farming in Will county. He came to Buena Vista county in 1885 and purchased eighty acres of land in Coon township, on which he lived for several years. On selling his farm he began clerking in Newell for John Forbes & Company, with whom he remained for several years, while later he was employed as salesman for Hoyne & Ervin until 1906, when he was
MR. AND MRS. A. F. MORSE
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appointed postmaster by President Roosevelt, and is now the incumbent in that position.
On the 19th of March, 1879, Mr. Morse was married to Agnes E. Cole, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Russell) Cole, who removed to Buena Vista county about 1888, and settled on a farm near Storm Lake, owning there two hundred and forty acres. A few years later they removed to the eity of Storm Lake. where the father died. ITis wife survived him until 1903, and passed away at the age of eighty-three years. His father was a native of Lincoln- shire, England, where he spent his entire life. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Morse was Michael Russell, a native of Herefordshire, England, where he owned a vast timber traet, on which he employed a large number of men. When well advanced in years, he came to America and lived with his daugh- ter in Will county, where he died at the remarkable old age of one hundred and nine years. His children were Eliza, Mary, Ann, Kate, Hannah and Wil- liam, three of whom died as the result of accidents. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cole there were eight children : George W., Alfred T., Edwin P., Edgar J., Sidney L., Mary A., Agnes E., and Kate L.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morse were born two sons: Albert E., who married Stella Brown; and Leighton R .. who is a high school student in Newell. The parents are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Morse belongs to the Masonie fraternity. Ile also holds membership in Newell Lodge, No. 232, I. O. O. F. His political support is given to the republican party, and he served as township treasurer for four or five years. He has always been loyal in citizenship and progressive in his support of measures for the general good and in the community he is recognized as a valued resident, well meriting the respeet which is uniformly accorded him. Whatever sueeess he has attained is attributable entirely to his own efforts, for he started out in life empty handed and has worked his way upward through the careful utilization of his innate talents and the improvement of his opportunities.
WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM.
William Cunningham is proprietor of a garage and dealer in antomobiles at Storm Lake, largely handling the Jackson car. In this connection he has built up an extensive business which has already reached profitable propor- tions and which is constantly growing. His birth occurred in Burlington, Wisconsin, in 1871, his parents being Patrick II. and Anna (Nagle) Cunning- ham, both of whom were natives of Burlington, where the father still lives at the age of sixty-two years. Ile was a stock buyer for many years, but is now proprietor of the Cunningham Anditorium, a summer resort at that place. In the careful management of his business affairs he has gained a goodly measure of success and he has become well known in his community by reason of a pro- gressive and publie-spirited citizenship. Ile votes with the republican party and for a number of years filled the office of sheriff of Racine county, discharg- ing his duties with promptness and fidelity. He belongs to the Catholic church,
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of which his wife was also a communicant. She died in 1876, leaving five chil- dren : Mary, the wife of Frank Beller, fire marshal and street commissioner of Burlington; Edward, a real-esate dealer in Newell, Iowa, and at the present time state representative: William, of this review: Catherine, now Mrs. Leonard Walker, of Berkeley, California ; and Frank, who is engaged in rail- roading. Following the death of his first wife Mr. Cunningham married Loretta Steinhoff, of Burlington. Wisconsin, and their three children are : John, a stock buyer of Burlington. Wisconsin; Arthur, who is engaged in business with his brother John ; and Loretta, who is a teacher of music and is at home.
In the public schools of his native town William Cunningham mastered the usual branches of English learning and later went to Chicago, where he seenred employment. Some time afterward he was made manager of a cream- ery at Burlington, Wisconsin, and then again went to Chicago, where he bought and sold horses at the stockyards. His residence in Iowa dates from 1886, in which year he located at Newell, where he was engaged in stock dealing for two
years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Storm Lake, where he conducted an agricultural implement business until 1905. In that year he went to California, where he remained for several months and on again coming to Iowa opened his automobile garage, where he handles different kinds of ears. making a specialty, however. of the Jackson. His sales in 1907 amounted to forty-two thousand dollars and in connection with his sales department he con- duets an extensive repair shop.
In 1900 Mr. Cunningham was married to Miss Blanche Inman, who was born in Benton, Iowa, in 1878, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Demuth) Inman, who came to Buena Vista county at an early period in its development and settled upon a farm in Nokomis township. Mr. Cunningham belongs to the Catholic church; gives his political support to the republican party and is a member of the Commercial Men's Association. There have been no unusual or exciting chapters in his life record, his course being marked by that steady progress which results from close application to business and the wise use of the opportunities which have come to him.
JAMES YUILL.
James Yuill operates one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, situated on section 20, Nokomis township, having made his home on this farm since 1881. He was born in Scotland. January 19, 1851. and was there reared to the age of nineteen years, when, forseeing that there was no future there for him and having heard and read a great deal about the freedom and the oppor- tunity for advancement in this country, he decided to leave home. It was therefore in 1870 that he emigrated to the United States and made his way direct to JJasper county, lowa. He was there engaged in farming for eleven years, when he came to Buena Vista county and located on the farm of one hun- dred and sixty aeres on section 20. Nokomis township, where he now lives.
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Mr. Yuill chose as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life, Miss Flora Miller, their marriage being celebrated in Jasper county in 1876. She was there born and reared and is a daughter of Thomas G. Miller, who was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, whence he came to Iowa in 1855 and has lived on one farm for a half century.
Politically Mr. Yuill is a republican, but formerly gave his support to the men and measures of democracy. He has never sought nor desired office, pre- ferring to give his attention to his private business affairs. Both he and his wife are members of the Alta Presbyterian church, and Mr. Yuill is a Master Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Alta, and the Eastern Star. IIe is also a member of the Aneient Order of United Workmen.
CHARLES J. PARKER.
Charles J. Parker is filling the office of sheriff for the fifth term. No higher testimonial of his efficient service could be given than the fact that he has continued so long in this position. Abraham Lincoln said: "You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." This fact is again and again exemplified in public life. While incompetent men may be elected to office their incapacity is soon manifest and the party does not again call them to the position. It is, therefore, proof of capability and fidelity on the part of Mr. Parker that he has so long been continued in this office by the vote of the publie. Widely and favorably known his life reeord eannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1858, and is a son of Joseph Parker, a native of Somersetshire, England. He left the mother country and crossed the Atlantic to Canada in early manhood and afterward came to Jowa, where he died in January, 1900, at the age of seventy-five years.
Charles J. Parker spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the usual manner of farm lads. His time was divided between the work of the school- room, the pleasures of the playground and the duties of the home farm, and he continued to till the soil until 1886. Hle removed to Buena Vista county in 1875 and with his brother settled on a farm in Maple Valley township. There he continued to cultivate his fields with good success for about eleven years. when he removed to Alta and established a meat market, which he conducted for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and turned his attention to the grain business. Later, he bought a half interest in a hard- ware stock, forming a partnership with D. A. Wilkenson under the firm name of Wilkenson & Company, and while thus engaged in merchandising he also engaged in buying stoek. His time and energies were devoted to these two lines of business until he was elected sheriff in November, 1899. He has always regarded publie office as a publie trust, and those with whom he is acquainted know that no trust reposed in Mr. Parker was ever betrayed in the slightest degree. He has done much to crush out crime in this locality and is
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looked upon by the law-abiding citizens with the utmost favor and with fear by those who do not hold themselves amenable to the law. He was also mayor of Alta for four years and likewise served as constable there.
In 1882 Mr. Parker was married to Miss Annie Evans, who was born in Delaware county, Iowa, October 31, 1860, a daughter of Samuel and Jane Evans, who were born, reared and married in England and both are now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parker has been born a daughter, Erma, who is a student in the Gem City Business College at Quiney, Illinois. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Parker is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has a very wide acquaintance in Buena Vista county, and as a business man, official and publie-spirited eiti- zen enjoys the highest degree of confidence and good will of all who know him.
WILLIAM E. HAIGHT.
A well improved farm of two hundred and eighty acres, situated on see- tion 18. Elk township. is the home of William E. Haight. one of the publie- spirited and progressive pioneer settlers of Buena Vista county. He was born in Erie county, Ohio, February 22, 1847. a son of William and Rebeeea (Blackman) Haight, the farmer a native of Orange county, New York, and the latter of Erie county, Ohio. The father removed from the Empire state to Erie county, Ohio, when a young man and there met and married Miss Blackman. For several years he was engaged in farming in Erie county but in 1861 continued his journey farther west to Muscatine county, Iowa. He engaged in farming there for eight years and when Buena Vista county was opened up for settlement, Mr. Haight made his way here and homesteaded eighty acres of land. He cleared and broke the virgin soil, which in due course of time brought forth rich harvests, so that his annual income therefrom soon enabled him to add to his original holdings an additional eighty-aere tract. Ile spent his remaining years on that farm and died in November, 1897. His wife still survives and yet makes her home on the farm.
William E. Haight is thoroughly familiar with pioneer life, for it was during his early manhood that the family located in Buena Vista county and he assisted his father in developing the home farm and he also homesteaded an adjoining eighty aeres, which had to be cleared and developed into a cultiva- ble tract. As time passed and he prospered in his farming operations he added to his original claim until his farm now embraces two hundred and eighty acres. He has built a good residence, barn and other outbuildings and has made the place a valuable property. In addition to his general agricultural pursuits he deals quite extensively in stock, raising. feeding and breeding high grade animals. le now has a herd of ninety head of shorthorn cattle, with a pure blooded registered male at the head of the herd. He exhibits his stock at the county fairs and has made two excellent sales at the Alta fair.
Mr. Haight was married in 1877 to Miss Minnie Stevens, who was born and reared in Tama county, lowa, and prior to her marriage was engaged in teach-
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ing. This nnion has been blessed with eight children. The sons are: Clarence, who resides in Colorado ; William. a young man at home ; and Harry, Howard and Homer, also under the parental roof. The daughters are: Ida. the wife of Lester Stewart, of Oliver county, North Dakota; Myrtle, the wife of William Mann. a farmer of Cherokee county, lowa : and Pearl, who died at the age of seven years.
Politically Mr. Haight is a republican and has taken an active and helpful part in politieal eireles. He has served as justice of the peace, as township trustee and for thirty-two years was township treasurer, his long retention in office indicating his eapability and efficiency. He has also served as a delegate to county conventions. His fraternal relations are with Aurelia Lodge, K. P. Since Mr. Haight settled here forty years ago he has seen a wonderful change. At that time there was but one house between Storm Lake and Cherokee and the village of Alta had not yet been laid out. With other pioneers he met the problems and applied himself to the task which western life presented with steadiness and courage and his labors have been of material benefit in the work that has been accomplished along material, social and moral lines.
JOHN H. WEGERSLEV.
John H. Wegerslev, editor and part owner with C. A. Van Buskirk in the publication of the Alta Advertiser, has also held the position of postmaster at Alta since 1906. He was born in Broager. Nord Schleswig, Germany. May 20, 1876, his parents being Jacob and Christina Wegerslev, the former a car- penter by trade. In October, 1882. he accompanied his father and mother on their emigration to the United States, the family home being established in Alta, Buena Vista county, lowa.
John Il. Wegersley attended the public schools of Alta until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when he put aside his text-books to begin work as an apprentice in the office of the Alta Advertiser, being employed by his brother. C. II. Wegerslev, who was then in partnership with Thomas Wal- pole. After working for ten years as a printer he became a partner of his brother. C. Il. Wegerslev, and together they continued the publication of the Alta Advertiser until 1900. In 1899 he took a civil service examination at Omaha and in July of the following year accepted a position in the census bureau at Washington, D. C. He resigned, however, in 1901 and, returning to Alta, has since edited and controlled the Advertiser and is widely recognized as a most successful and prominent representative of the newspaper interests of the county.
On the 26th of December, 1900. Mr. Wegerslev was united in marriage to Miss Ilattie Tineknell, a daughter of F. G. Tineknell, one of the proprietors of the Bank of Alta. They now have a daughter. Marion.
In his political views Mr. Wegerslev is a stanch republican and takes an active part in county, distriet and state politics. In 1906 he received the appointment of postmaster at Alta, in which position he has since capably and
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efficiently served. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and has taken the chapter degrees, while in the Knights of Pythias order he has passed through the chairs and is a past chancellor and a member of the grand lodge of Towa. Though born across the water he is thoroughly American in spirit and interests and the county of Buena Vista, where he has now made his home for a quarter of a century, numbers him among its substantial and valued citizens.
JAY M. RUSSELL.
The business interests of Storm Lake find a worthy representative in Jay M. Russell, who is now engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile. He was formerly identified with contracting and building interests, but for some years has conducted his present enterprise, which is today one of the leading produe- tive industries of the county. HIe is. moreover, entitled to representation in this volume as a pioneer resident of Storm Lake, for he came to the town before the city was laid out and has since been active in its upbuilding and sub- stantial development. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1840. Ilis father. Alden Russell, was a native of Vermont and was of Scotch-English ancestry. The family, however, was founded in America in carly colonial days, representatives of the name becoming connected with the Plymouth col- ony of Massachusetts, while others esponsed the cause of freedom and joined the Continental army in the Revolutionary war.
Alden Russell made the occupation of farming his life work and in follow- ing that pursuit provided good, substantial living for his family. He removed from New England to the state of New York and when his son Jay M. was three years of age took up his abode in Kane county, Hlinois, where he seeured a traet of land and carried on farming. His last days, however, were passed in Wisconsin. Hle displayed a keen and marked discrimination in his business affairs and in his work was quite successful. Ilis entire life was in harmony with his principles as a member of the Baptist church, and his political faith was given to the democracy. Ilis wife bore the maiden name of Amanda Bennett. She was born in the state of New York, was of English lineage and also a representative of the old Revolutionary war families. Her father was a soldier of the Mohawk war. A lady of many estimable qualities, Mrs. Rus- sell held membership in the Baptist church and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew her in church or social relations.
Jay M. Russell, one of a family of four children, was reared upon the home farm and attended the country schools, while later he was afforded the oppor- tunity of pursuing his education in an academy. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, being first employed in building lines at Fort Dodge, lowa. He had come to Fort Dodge in January, 1865, and there remained until June, 1870, when he removed to Storm Lake. Here he has since lived, and with the growth and progress of the town has been closely identified. He has erected many of the prominent structures here, including the courthouse, schoolhouse and other public buildings, which still stand as monuments to his thrift and
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