USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 38
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enterprise. In 1891 he turned his attention to the manufacture of briek and tile on a tract of land of forty-six aeres on the eastern border of Storm Lake. He has now carried on the business for seventeen years, being the pioneer in this industry in the county. Ile employs twenty men, operates four kilns and sends his produet to a large territory. The business methods he has employed have ever been unassailable and his commercial integrity constitutes an im- portant element in his success. He possesses, too, unfaltering energy and determination and quickly recognizes an opportunity.
In 1868 Mr. Russell was married to Miss Harriet E. Butler, who was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. in 1840. They became the parents of five children : Harry, deceased; Bertie and Bessie, twins, both of whom have passed away; Stella E., who is a graduate of Storm Lake high school and Ames College, and is now a high school teacher; and Gracie E., who was graduated from the Storm bake high school and the Buena Vista College, and spent one year a stu- dent in the State University and is now teaching in the high school of Sae City, Iowa.
Always in community affairs Mr. Russell has done effective work for the county in many lines. His business interests have always been of a character that has contributed to publie prosperity as well as to individual interests and, at the same time in other ways, he has done good work for the city, withholding his cooperation from no movement or measure calculated to prove of public good. He has several times served as a member of the city council and has exercised his official prerogatives to further the municipal interests of the city in the lines of material improvement. He has also done good work for the schools as a member of the board of education. Ilis political allegiance is given to the republican party, while the Masonic fraternity numbers him among its exemplary members.
JOHN M. JONES.
John M. Jones, who has been the efficient superintendent of the Buena Vista county poor farm for the past nine years, was born in La Salle county, Illinois, December 13, 1858. His grandfather. John Jones, Sr., was a native of Wales but brought his family to the new world and located in Illinois, and it was in that state that John Jones, Jr,. the father of our subject, was reared. In 1849 he made the overland journey to California, where he spent several years, meeting with a fair measure of success in his search for the precious metal. On returning to Ilinois he married Miss Johanna Sly, who was a native of Ohio and of Irish parentage. John Jones, Sr., was a prominent agri- «ulturist of La Salle county, where he owned several farms and reared his family. Ile passed away in that county in 1898 when seventy-seven years of age, his birth having occurred in Wales in 1821.
John M. Jones was reared to manhood on the home Farm and obtained his education in the common schools. In 1881 he came to Buena Vista county, Iowa, and purchased three hundred and seventy aeres of land which he broke
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and began to eultivate, while he also Fenced the fields and erected several good buildings. In 1882 he returned to La Salle county and on the 25th of Deeem- ber of that year was united in marriage to Miss Jennie M. Bartlett, who was born and reared at Belvidere, Illinois, and was a daughter of Sylvester Bartlett, who removed from New York to the Prairie state at an early day. Mr. Jones subsequently returned to his farm in Buena Vista county and was engaged in its further development and improvement for fifteen years, on the expiration of which period he leased the property and took up his abode in Storm Lake. Here he conducted a meat market for two years and was then appointed superintendent of the county poor farm, in which capacity he has since capably served. He took up his abode on section 24, Washington town- ship. and ereeted a commodious and up-to-date residence with furnace heat, hot and cold water and all modern conveniences. He likewise built a substan- tial barn, tiled and fenced the land and has a good system of water works. The number of inmates at the home averages about seven and the farm is almost self-supporting. For abont eight years Mr. Jones also engaged in the raising of thoroughbred Hereford cattle but recently sold the herd. He still keeps some high grade stoek, however.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born three children : Raymond A., cashier of the Shaler Bank at Storm Lake; and Harold D. and Forest K., who are students in the Storm Lake high school. Mr. Jones gives stalwart alleg- iance to the republican party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of trust and responsibility. He has served as township trustee, member of the school board, township com- mitteeman and also as a delegate to county conventions. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Storm Lake, while his wife is one of the official members of the Rebekah lodge. He is likewise affiliated with the subordinate lodge and is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Court of Honor. Having resided in this county for more than a quar- ter of a century, he is well and favorably known here and is moveover widely recognized as a wide-awake, progressive and public-spirited citizen.
WILLIAM PIKE.
William Pike is an active and progressive farmer and stockman residing on section 21, Bayes township, where he owns and operates a valuable and well improved farm of four hundred and twelve acres. His birth occurred in Hampshire, England, on the 18th of October. 1855, his Father being Henry Pike, also a native of that place. The latter followed agricultural pursuits
as a life work, and all of his eight children were born in the Merrie isle. The year 1869 witnessed his emigration to the United States, the family home being established on a farm near La Salle in La Salle county, Ilinois.
William Pike, who was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the United States, grew to manhood in La Salle county and acquired his education in the common schools. Remaining under
MRS. WILLIAM PIKE
WILLIAM PIKE
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the parental roof until he had attained his majority, he then purchased a farm and was snecessfully connected with agricultural pursuits in La Salle county for several years. On the 20th of February, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Miller, who was a native of Pennsylvania but was reared in Illinois. Their children are Robert, Willis, Franklin, James, Harrison, Nor- man and Mabel, of whom all except the youngest were born in La Salle county.
In 1894 Mr. Pike came to Iowa, purchasing two hundred and forty acres of the farm on which he now resides. He at once began to improve and develop the property, added to and remodeled the residence and barn and likewise erected a new barn, cribs and all necessary ontbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. As time passed and his financial resources increased he added to his original purchase until his landed holdings now comprise four hundred and twelve acres, all under a high state of cultivation. In addition to the work of general farming he is also engaged in raising and feeding horses, cattle and hogs on an extensive seale, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual ineome. He is likewise a stockholder in the canning factory and in the tub factory at Storm Lake and is widely recognized as a man of excellent business ability and sound judg- ment, being numbered among the substantial and progressive citizens of the county.
In his political views Mr. Pike is a stanch republican, while his religions faith is indieated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at Storm Lake, with which his wife is also identified. Ile is one of the trus- tees and an active worker in both the Sunday school and church, doing all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. His many good qualities have won him the regard and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact and the circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
ALEXANDER T. LILLY.
Alexander T. Lilly, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on his farm of two hundred aeres in Coon township, where he also conduets a dairy, was born in Ohio on the 20th of August, 1850. Ifis father, Joseph Lilly, whose birth occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1810, followed the trade of black- smithing in early manhood but later turned his attention to general agrienl- tural pursuits. He was a democrat in his political views and his religious belief was indicated by his membership in the Catholic church, in the faith of which he passed away. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Fanning and was a native of Virginia, is also deceased. Unto this worthy couple were born the following children : Edward, deceased; Teresa, the wife of John D. White; Theodore, who is a farmer in Pocahontas county, lowa; Joseph, a resi- dent of Cedar Rapids; Alexander T., of this review ; Rebecca, the wife of Dean
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Deman; Elias, who lives in Pocahontas county; John, of Fonda, lowa; and Mary, who has also passed away.
Alexander T. Lilly attended school in Linn county, Iowa, until eighteen years of age and then returned to the home farm, assisting his father in the work of the fields until twenty-seven years of age. He was then married and engaged in the operation of rented farms until his savings were sufficient to enable him to purchase his present place of two hundred acres in Coon town- ship, Buena Vista county. The property is now well improved and developed and a large number of shade trees greatly enhance its attractive appearance. In addition to his general farming interests he also raises stoek to some extent and eonduets a small dairy, meeting with well merited prosperity in his various undertakings. Ile is now numbered among the substantial and enterprising agriculturists of the county and the success which has attended his efforts is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it has come to him entirely as the result of his unwearied industry and well directed labor.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. Lilly chose Miss Catherine Mackey, a native of Massachusetts, by whom he has the following children : Ellen, the wife of Thomas Ashley, of this county; Joseph, who is a farmer by occupation ; and Lawrence, Teresa and Martin A .. all of whom are at home.
Mr. Lilly gives his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy, and in religious faith is a Catholic. A man of unfaltering integ- rity and genuine personal worth. he has won the regard and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact in business or social relations.
CHARLES O. PORTER.
Charles O. Porter is a retired farmer living at Storm Lake. He was for a long period connected with agricultural interests and was also well known as a stock-dealer, but when his business activity had brought him a handsome competence he put aside further business cares and is now living a retired life. He was born in Massachusetts in 1851 and was the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children, his parents being Orin S. and Mary ( Royce) Porter. The parents were both natives of Connecticut and the former was of Irish lineage, while the latter was of Welsh descent. The Royec family was repre- sented in the war of 1812. In the year 1853 Orin S. Porter left New England and went with his family to Illinois, settling upon a farm in Will county, where he spent his remaining days. Throughout his entire life he engaged in the tilling of the soil and met with a ereditable and gratifying measure of success in his undertakings. His political views were in harmony with the principles of the republican party. He died in 1901 at the venerable age of eighty-four years. having for some time survived his wife, who passed away in 1892 at the age of seventy-four years, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was long a consistent member.
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM PIKE
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Charles O. Porter was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that belong to the lot of the agriculturist. He attended the country schools when not busy with the work of the fields and when he put aside his text-books he determined to make the occupation to which he had been reared his life work. In 1883 he arrived in lowa, settling in Sae county near the Buena Vista line. There for almost two decades he carried on general farming, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and annually gathering good erops as the result of his diligence and perseverance. He also engaged quite extensively in handling horses and other stock. He owns a half section of improved land in Sac county and from this property derives a sub- stantial annual income. In 1902 he left the farm and removed to Storm Lake, where he is now pleasantly located in a comfortable home, a handsome compe- teney supplying him with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries that go to make life worth living.
In 1880 Mr. Porter was united in marriage to Miss Anna A. Anteliff, who was born in England in 1851 and during her childhood days was brought to the United States by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Autcliff, who established their home in Will county, Illinois. Mrs. Porter is one of a family of six chil- dren ; the others being: Harriett, who is now deceased; Charlotte, the wife of Henry II. Merrill, a capitalist of Gladbrooke, Tama county, Iowa; Eliza, the wife of John Simpson, a farmer and stockman living in Kossuth county ; Mary, the wife of George Aufeliff, a farmer of Indiana; and Jane, who has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have two daughters: Lizzie A., now the wife of William Miller, of Alta, Iowa; and Ada B., who is at home and is bookkeeper for II. W. Krause Company of Storm Lake. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have led lives of usefulness, winning for them the respect and good will of all who know them. Mr. Porter exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and has served in a number of township offices. In all the relations of life he has been found loyal to duty and his genuine worth has gained him the admira- tion of all and the friendship of many.
DAVID S. WILLIAMS.
Among the residents of Sioux Rapids who are now living retired is David S. Williams, formerly closely associated with agricultural interests, and through that avenue of activity he won the success that now enables him to put aside business cares. He has known what it is to work hard and unceas- ingly but has found also that diligence is the basis of prosperity.
He was born November 24, 1842, in South Trenton, a few miles from Utica, New York, and is a son of John D. and Mary (Evans) Williams, who were natives of Wales. They came to America about 1840 and settled in the Empire state, where they resided until 1854, when they removed to Waukesha county, Wisconsin. After a residence there of two years they located in Ber- lin, Wisconsin, where they spent their remaining days. The father was a
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farmer and in following that occupation provided for his family, which num- bered ten children : John HI., deceased; Thomas and William, who have also passed away; David S .. of this review ; William T., a resident of Wheaton, Min- nesota, who first married Sarah Felton. by whom he had two children, Mattie and Roy, and after her death he married again and by the second union had five children; Robert and George, brothers of our subject, both of whom are deceased ; Charles Morgan, who married Maggie Jones and lives at Stony Point, South Dakota; James A., residing in Watertown, South Dakota; and Edward Williams, who is married and resides on the old homestead four miles north of Berlin, Wisconsin, this place being the first land which the father owned in this country.
David S. Williams was a pupil in the public schools in his boyhood days and assisted in the farm work until twenty-one years of age, when in response to his country's call, he joined Company F of the Twenty-second Regiment of Wisconsin hifantry, with Captain Robert T. Pugh in command of the com- pany and Colonel Utley in command of the regiment. They were assigned to the Second Division of the Third Brigade of the Twentieth Army Corps. De- cember 22, 1863, and were with Sherman on the celebrated march to Atlanta, where Mr. Williams had the opportunity of casting his first vote. on which occasion he gave his support to Abraham Lincoln. The regiment was ordered from Atlanta to Savannah and proceeded through the Carolinas to Averysboro. At that place Mr. Williams was wounded, was then sent to Newbern and on by steamer to New York city, where he was honorably discharged May 16, 1865. It was not until he reached New York that he heard of President Lincoln's death more than a month before.
On the 19th of May of that year Mr. Williams returned home but it was several months before his wound had sufficiently healed to enable him to become an active factor in the world's work. He made preparations for hav- ing a home of his own by his marriage in December. 1866, to Miss Eleano Davis, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Bennett) Davis, both of whom were natives of Wales. They came to America at an early day and settled in Ber- lin, Wisconsin.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams resided in that state until 1869, when on the 25th of September of that year their reached Clay county, Iowa. There Mr. Williams seenred a government claim and began the development of a farm, upon which he resided until 1894. It was an arduous task to develop the wild land but he broke the sod, planted his fields and in due course of time gathered rich harvests as the reward for his care and labor. He followed practical, progressive methods of farming and eventually gained thereby a handsome competence, which enabled him to put aside Further business duties. He then removed to Sioux Rapids, where he now makes his home.
Ile has witnessed many changes as the work of growth and development has been carried forward in the county. He passed through all of the exper- iences of pioneer life and many hardships were met during his first few years in the county. The nearest market was at Fort Dodge and not even a box of matches could be obtained at any closer trading point. In the year 1869 Mr. Williams made twenty-four trips across the prairie and through the sloughs
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from Sioux Rapids to Fort Dodge. There were no houses except the Suckow and Schoomaker homes between the two places and the settlers had to depend largely upon what they raised for all that furnished their food supply. On more than one occasion Mr. Williams has fared on steak fried in muskrat oil and says that after a long trip of forty miles or more it tasted very good. Another year he made forty trips to Fort Dodge and in the winter had to con- tend with the snows and the blizzards, while in the spring the sloughs made travel very difficult. No well graded roads at that time crossed the prairie and at times even the trail was difficult to find. On one trip his load became swamped and the team pulled loose from the wagon, which remained in the slough for over two weeks, but the goods were perfectly safe there, not only from the fact that there were few travelers but also because the early settlers were strictly honest. In 1870, in company with D. C. Thomas, David Evans, James Hawkney and Joseph Jones, he surveyed the town plat of Sioux Rapids, he and Mr. Thomas being now the only surviving members of that surveying party. In the survey Mr. Williams insisted on making the streets wider but Mr. Thomas, who was very close in money matters, refused to allow it and in consequence the town has narrower thoroughfares than would have been seeured if Mr. Williams' ideas had been followed. Few men are better informed concerning the pioneer history of the county or have more intimate knowledge of the events which shaped its history. In the early days there came to the district a number of very unprincipled men and the county was swindled ont of thousands of dollars by fake contracts and in other ways. Mr. Williams reealls that one small bridge was moved from place to place and allowed to remain long enough each time to collect on the contraet. As the years passed, however, the conditions of pioneer life gave way before an advancing civilization; the wild prairie was converted into rich and fertile farms ; churches and schools were built and the work of development was ear- ried steadily forward until Iowa today has reason to be proud of this progres- sive northwestern county.
In 1901 Mr. Williams was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 15th of April of that year. Their children were as follows: Mary Elizabeth, the eldest, is the wife of Robert Watson, an extensive farmer, living in Douglas township. Clay county ; and they have three children : Howard, Elinore and Ruth. John II. Williams, the eldest son, wedded Mary Brown and resides at Newell, lowa. Edward married Maggie Evans and resides at Oklahoma City. Hattie is the wife of E. G. Boyer, of Nebraska, and they have three children. D. J. is living in Athena, Oregon. Ora Maude is at home. Earnest is employed in a printing offiee.
Mr. Williams belongs to Buena Vista Lodge, No. 574. 1. O. O. F., of Sioux Rapids, and to John Clough Post, G. A. R., which at one time had over seventy members. The ranks, however, have been thinned out to such an extent by death and removals that the remaining members now no longer hold meetings. Ile votes the republican ticket, supporting the party which was the defense of the Union in the dark days of the Civil war and which has ever been the party of reform and progress. He holds membership in the Baptist church and helped to build the old pioneer church in Donglas township-the first in Clay county.
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Such in brief is the history of one of northwestern Iowa's honored pioneers and the record cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers who have long known him and have ever respected him as a man of substantial qualities, straightforward in private life and honorable in all public relations.
LEWIS J. METCALF.
Lewis J. Metcalf is the owner of valuable farming property in the west, including a half section of land in Storm Lake township. He makes his home, however, in the city of Storm Lake and from this point superintends his agricultural interests. He is a native of Lafayette county, Wisconsin, his birth having there occurred July 25. 1857. His parents were John E. and Harriet Adelia (Richards) Metcalf. the former a native of Delaware and the latter of Wisconsin. Both were of English descent and the father was a farmer and stockman. On leaving his native state he removed westward to Illinois with his parents, being at that time but a mere boy. He was reared under the parental roof in what was then a pioneer district and he acquired a common-school education. Attracted by the discovery of gold in California in 1849, he made the long journey across the plains and over the mountains to the Pacific coast and was fortunate in his mining operations there, acenm- ulating several thousand dollars. He afterward located in Wisconsin, where he worked in the lead mines for some time and subsequently turned his atten- tion to farming and stock-raising. Ile met with a goodly measure of prosperity in his undertakings, so that in his later years he was enabled to enjoy all of the comforts of life. HIe voted with the republican party and died in 1902 at the age of seventy-two years. He married Harriet Adelia Richards, who was born in Wisconsin and died in 1878 at the age of thirty-five years. Their family numbered seven children, of whom Lewis JJ. was the third in order of birth. Following the loss of his first wife Mr. Metcalf afterward married Nettie Ilerriek, of lowa, and unto them were born two children, but both are now deceased. In 1876 John E. Metcalf removed from Wisconsin to this state, settling with his family at Storm Lake, where he resided until called to his final rest in 1902.
Lewis J. Meteall' spent a portion of his youth on the home farm and acquired his education in the public schools of Darlington, Wisconsin. IIe has largely been engaged throughout his connection with business interests in the work of buying and shipping cattle, and during the past few years has fed cattle on an extensive scale. He owns a hall section of land in Storm Lake township, lying partly within the corporation limits of the city, has a farm of a quarter section in South Dakota and a similar amount in Nebraska, together with a quarter section in Grant township. this county. Ile also has considerable town property and in 1903 he built a modern residence on Gen- eseo street, it being one of the finest homes in Buena Vista county. His extensive landed interests are the visible evidence of his life of well directed thrift and enterprise. Ile has worked diligently to secure success and in all
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