USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 50
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Amasa Beason, the father of Dr. Beason, was born in Greene county. Ohio, and followed general agricultural pursuits in that state. He was married to Miss Phoebe Smith, also a native of that county, and in the year 1865 they removed westward to Iowa. settling in Guthrie county. Later they became residents in Cass county and afterward removed to De Kalb county, Missouri. Subsequently they lived in other places, the death of Amasa Beason occurring at Diamond Springs. Kansas, in 1899, when he was seventy-four years of age, while his wife passed away in 1889, at the age of sixty-five years. Both were Methodists in religions faith and were people of the highest respectability. Their family numbered ten children, six sons and four daughters: Sarah E .. the wife of William Jefferson, of Casey, Iowa; William Albert, deceased ; Jennie C., the wife of William Smith, of Diamond Springs, Kansas; Thomas R., of Ogden, Utah; Charles M., also of Ogden, Utah; James Harvey, deceased; Joseph MI., of Diamond Springs, Kansas; Silas A .; Rosa E., the wife of Lincoln Yayman, of Kansas City, Kansas; and Mary A., the widow of William Hayes, and a resident of Rockford, Ohio.
Dr. Beason was but five years of age when his parents removed to Iowa He lived in Guthrie and Cass counties for three years, in De Kalb county, Missouri, for five years, and in Wyoming for three years. Ile was also in Utah and Colorado for a short time and for three years in Peru. Indiana. He afterward removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, where he lived for six years. His boyhood and youth were largely devoted to the work of the farm, but thinking to find other pursuits more congenial and profitable than the work of the fields he determined to give his attention to a professional career and became a student in the Chicago Dental College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1899. Opening an office in Newell he has been loeated here continuously since 1897 and that his proficient service has met with hearty approval and support is indicated in the liberal patronage accorded him. le displays marked skill and mechanical ingenuity in handling the instru- ments and various little appliances that constitute the dentist's tools, and, moreover, he has an intimate knowledge of the seientifie part of the business.
On the 24th of January, 1892, Dr. Beason was married to Miss May Lowry, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Phoebe (Shrover) Lowry. Mrs. Beason was born in Dixon, Illinois, while her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and now live at Maryville, Missouri. The father was a farmer in early manhood but is now retired. His family numbered six children: Anna, the wife of Thomas Howell, of Maryville, Missouri; Wesley, living in Grant City, Missouri ; Lizzie, the wife of Cephas Clark, of Maryville, Missouri; Samuel, also of that place; Richard, of Grant City. Missouri; and Mary, the wife of our subjeet.
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Mrs. Beason's paternal grandfather was the Rev. Samuel Lowry, a Methodist minister. Mrs. Beason is also a dentist and practices with her husband. She is a graduate of the Western Dental College of Kansas City, Missouri, and displays marked skilt in the work of the office. Dr. and Mrs. Beason have no children of their own but are rearing an adopted daughter, Lucite. In addition to his practice Dr. Beason is a stockholder in the tile factory, eity waterworks, and the Newell Hotel, and he owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Newell township, and another tract of similar size in Coon township.
Dr. Beason takes an active and helpful interest in the welfare of his town and cooperates in many movements for the general good. Both he and his wife are consistent and helpful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance is given the democratic party, and he is associated with several fraternal organizations. He belongs to Royal Lodge, No. 428, A. F. & A. M., in which he is now serving as secretary. Ile also belongs to Newell Lodge, No. 232, 1. O. O. F .. and both he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Stars and Rebekahs. In professional lines he is connected with the State Dental Society. A genial, courteous gentleman, of unfeigned cordiality, he has many warm friends and his good qualities entitle him to the respect and good will which is everywhere given him. Both he and his wife occupy an enviable position in social circles and their own home is attractive by reason of its warm-hearted hospitality.
ROBERT LINCOLN CAMPBELL.
Robert Lincoln Campbell, formerly president of the Buena Vista College, was born in Belleville, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1865. That city was also the birthplace of his father. Joseph Campbell, who was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The family was founded in America in colonial days and representatives of the name participated in the Revolutionary war with the continental army. Although the educational advantages which Joseph Campbell received were somewhat limited, he became a well informed man, for he was a broad reader and, moreover. had the faculty of assimilating what he read. For this he was recognized as one of the leading and influential citizens of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, and he left the impress of his individuality upon the substantial development of that community. His life was characterized by high and hon- orable principles and the Presbyterian church found in him a consistent and helpful member. who for forty-five years served as one of its elders and was untiring in his work in its behalf. In every rotation of life he was not only just but displayed also the higher attribute of merey and his sympathy was manifest in his tangible efforts to assist those with whom he came in contact. A stalwart republican in his political belief he was often urged to become a candidate for office but always refused, preferring to do his publie duty as a private citizen. Ile passed away in 1894 in his seventy-eighth year and thus closed a long, useful and honorable life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wilson, was born in Belleville. Pennsylvania, and died in 1894 in
ROBERT L. CAMPBELL.
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her seventieth year. She was a daughter of Major William Wilson, who won his title by serviee in the Pennsylvania Militia and who was a successful agriculturist of the Keystone state.
Robert L. Campbell of this review, was the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children and his early training was that of the home farm, where he assisted in the work of the fields from his boyhood days. His pre- liminary education was acquired in the district schools and later he pursued a preparatory course in the Pennsylvania State Normal, at Indiana, Pennsyl- vania. He afterward engaged in teaching sehool for one year and next matriculated in Wooster University at Wooster, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1891. Three years later his alma mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. He pursued a classical course and while in college was business manager of the Index, the junior annual of the college. During his senior year he was business manager of the Voice, the students' paper, and he was also much interested in ath- leties, including baseball and football. He likewise represented the college on a number of occasions in a public way, delivering addresses and orations, being ehosen by the faculty and the students to act as the orator on the laying of the cornerstone of one wing of the university building. He had a ready and fluent delivery and was largely master of the art of rhetorie, while his scholarship, his interest in athletics and his activity in all matters relating to college life made him very popular with both faculty and students.
In preparation for a life in the ministry, Mr. Campbell spent three years in McCormick Seminary, at Chicago, and was graduated in 1894. His first pastorate was at Grand Ridge, Illinois, where he remained for six years, when he accepted a eall from the church at Ilenry and there continued for three years. He afterward became pastor of the church at Marion, Iowa, where he continued actively and earnestly at work in his ministerial capacity until he was called to the presidency of Buena Vista College in the fall of 1906 and remained at the head of that instituiton until recently. In the same year the college at Cedar Rapids conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He brought to his new field of work a contagious enthusiasm which was manifest in all branches of the college work. With the aid of his associates he thoroughly systematized the courses taught in various lines and the college is now proving a valuable element in the intellec- tual progress of northwestern Towa.
In October, 1894. Dr. Campbell was married to Miss May B. Ihrig, who was born in Wooster, Ohio, in July, 1865, and is a daughter of David B. and Elizabeth Ihrig, the former a merchant. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born three children, of whom one died in infancy. Twin sons, Robert and Charles, were born June 4, 1900. The wife and mother passed away in 1903, and in June, 1906, Dr. Campbell wedded Miss Rebecca Pence, who was born in Lowellville, Ohio, in 1871, and is a daughter of James N. and Mary (Arrel) Pence, the former a retired farmer.
Dr. Campbell votes with the republican party and supports his position by intelligent argument when occasion demands, but has little time for aetive participation in political affairs, as he feels that his energies are needed in
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the college work. He stands with that progressive class of educators who recognize the fact that physical, mental and moral training should go hand in hand and he stands for high ideals in all departments of educational work, knowing that in the great majority of instances the school training consti- tutes the foundation upon which is builded character and success in later life.
CHARLES JOHNSON.
Charles Johnson is now living a retired life in Alta, but for thirty-seven years was one of the active, energetic and enterprising farmers of Buena Vista county and still owns two hundred and fifty acres of land in Maple Valley township, which return to him a good annual income. A noted leeturer on the publie platform once said, "Sweden is the home of the honest man," and this statement finds verifieation in the lives of the citizens of Buena Vista county who are numbered among Sweden's native sons. To this class belongs Charles Johnson, who was born in Sweden, October 15, 1847. He remained there through the period of his boyhood and youth and attended the public schools, acquiring a fair education in his native language, but he had no knowledge of the English language when he came to the new world. The year 1871 witnessed his arrival in America and he has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home on this side of the Atlantic, for here he has found good business opportunities and has also gained many warm friends.
Mr. Johnson located first at Paxton, Illinois, and near that town secured work as a farm hand, remaining there for three years. He then came west to Towa and has since lived in Buena Vista county. Here he also worked by the month as a farm hand for a year and during that time added to his savings until he had a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase eighty acres of raw prairie on seetion 6, Maple Valley township. He soon became familiar with the arduous task of developing new land. It is a difficult thing to break the sod, to pulverize the elods and to render the land mellow and productive, but Mr. Johnson set himself resolutely to this task and upon the place built a small house, which afforded him shelter while he was doing the early work ou the farm.
He made further preparation for having a home of his own by his mar- riage, returning to Ilinois for his wife. There, on the 1st of February, 1878. at Altoona, he wedded Betsey Anderson, who was born and reared in Sweden. They began their domestie life on the lowa farm and Mr. Johnson bought more land, seenring an adjoining eighty aere traet which was broken. Later he afterward purchased eighty arres on the south, so that he became the owner of a farm of two hundred and fifty acres. As he progressed and there was good market for the products which he raised, he was enabled to add many modern improvements to his place, creeting thereon a substantial residence, two good barns, a granary, double cornerib, a cow house and
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chicken house. In fact, he added all the conveniences and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. He also set out a good apple orchard, planting much small fruit and divided his place into fields of convenient size by barbed and woven wire fences. In addition to tilling the fields he also raised and fed stock and keeping a good grade of eattle he found a ready sale for his stock on the market. Rapidly the years passed until 1903 when he rented his place and removed to Alta, where he bought a neat residence and now makes his home.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born six children: Gustave, who follows farming in Boyd county, Nebraska ; Carl, who is married and is asso- ciated with his brother in Boyd county; Esther, the wife of Harry Isaacson, who is operating her father's farm; Ida, the wife of August Larson, a farmer in Nokomis township; Benjamin, a student in the Rock Island Business College ; and Mabel, a pupil in the home school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and in polities he is a republican. He has served as delegate to the county conventions, has filled the office of township trustee and has been identified with the schools for a number of years. ITo is a self-made man, who came to America empty-handed and through his own labors and the assistance of his wife has beeome one of the prosperous residents of Alta. Fortune has not favored him, for he has worked long and diligently to achieve the success, which is the result of his perseverance, industry and business integrity.
JOHN WILCOX.
John Wilcox, a retired agriculturist residing on section 28. Seott town ship, was born in Fountain county, Indiana. December 6, 1834. He has the genealogieal record of the family, showing that representatives of the name, emigrated to the United States in 1734. The father, Levi V. Wilcox, who was a native of Essex county, New Jersey, was a hotel proprietor in early manhood but later purchased a farm of five hundred and seventy aeres in Warren county, Indiana, on which his demise occurred in the year 1853. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hukla Crane, was also born in New Jersey and was called to her final rest in 1837. Unto this worthy couple were born ten children but only two of the number survive, John and Frank. The latter is married and makes his home in Champaign, Illinois. Like his brother. he was a loyal defender of the Union at the time of the Civil war, was made major of the Sixty-third Regiment and later was promoted to the rank of colonel of the Fifteenth Infantry.
John Wilcox received but limited educational advantages, for he began work as a cowboy when only fourteen years of age, herding cattle on the Grand prairie in Indiana and also in Illinois for four years. Subsequently he was employed on a farm in Warren county. Indiana, and in 1856 removed to Winterset, lowa, where he resided for two years. On the expiration of that period he went to Colorado and for two years hunted buffaloes on the
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plains and deer and sheep on the mountains. He afterward went to Mound City, Kansas, and there enlisted in Company D. Seventh Kansas Cavalry, with which command he served for three years and twenty-five days. He was ever a brave and loyal soldier, faltering in the performance of no task to which he was assigned, and there is still imbedded in his limb a piece of lead which he received in battle. After the close of hostilities he went to Winterset, Iowa, and subsequently came to Buena Vista county. In 1869 he homesteaded eighty acres of the farm on which he now resides on section 28, Scott town- ship, and later purchased an additional tract of eighty acres. £ When he erected his little shanty there was not another structure of any kind in sight, for the district was but sparsely settled and bore little resemblance to the pros- perous and thiekly settled region of today. Mr. Wilcox made all the improve- ments on his place, set out the trees and brought the fields under a high state of cultivation. Ile still resides on the farm but is now living retired, enjoy- ing in well earned rest the fruits of his well directed labor in former years.
On the 13th of October, 1863, at Winterset, Iowa, Mr. Wileox was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Loy Bard, a native of Trumbull eounty, Ohio, and a daughter of William II. and Nancy (Caldwell) Bard. In 1856 Mrs. Wilcox accompanied her parents on their removal to Madison county, Iowa. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, namely: Mary E., the wife of William Bice, an agriculturist of Buena Vista county; William L., who wed- ded Miss Mary Larson and operates the home farm; Laura M., the wife of HIarry A. Mack, who follows farming in Minnesota; and John E., who married Miss Alice Harden and resides in Oliver county, North Dakota.
Mr. Wilcox gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has capably served as assessor for two terms and also as justice of the peace. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his mem- bership in the G. A. R. He is numbered among the worthy pioneer settlers of the county and moreover receives the veneration and respect which should always be accorded one who has traveled thus far on life's journey and whose career has ever been upright and honorable.
MELCHIOR GUTEL.
Melchior Gutel. a prosperous and substantial agriculturist residing on see- tion 17, Washington township, there owns and operates a well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres. His birth occurred in France on the 28th of September, 1853, and in that country he was reared, while in early manhood he served for five years in the French army. The year 1880 witnessed his migration to the United States and after landing on the shores of the new world he made his way to Livingston county, Illinois, where he was employed as a Farm hand by the month for five years and subsequently rented a farm there, in the operation of which he was successfully engaged for several years. In 1894 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land where he now resides in Washington township but did not take up his
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abode thereon until 1895, since which time he has been numbered among the progressive and enterprising farmers of Buena Vista county. On the prop- erty he has erected an attractive and commodious residence, a granary, cribs and a new barn, and has likewise planted shade and fruit trees. He has also extended the boundaries of his farm by an additional purchase of forty acres, so that it now embraces one hundred and sixty acres, all under a high state of cultivation and improvement.
On the 17th of February. 1885, at Ottawa, Illinois, Mr. Gutel was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Roux, who was a native of Illinois but of French parentage. Their two sons are Joseph R. and Jule E. Gutel, both of whom were born in Livingston county.
Having resided in this county since 1895, Mr. Gutel is widely and favor- ably known here and has the respect and esteem of all with whom he has been associated. Coming to this country in limited financial circumstances, he has utilized his opportunities to the best advantage and has steadily worked his way upward until he is now numbered among the successful agrieulturists and worthy citizens of his adopted county.
OSCAR A. HARRIS.
Oscar A. Harris is the owner of a fine and well improved farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 23, Providence township. He has lived in this township for thirty years and for two years previous was a resident of Newell. His birth occurred in Lemington, Vermont. September 10, 1850, his parents being Stephen and Maria (Abbott) Harris, the former a native of Ver- non, Vermont, and the latter of Bath, New Hampshire. The father was one of a family of nine children and was reared to farm life. He followed the same occupation throughout the period of his manhood and died at Westfield, Massachusetts, August 14, 1882, when seventy-three years old. His wife passed away at Stewartstown, New Hampshire, in 1869, at the age of sixty years. They had a family of four sons and four daughters: Julia, the deceased wife of H. De Flanders; Warren, deceased; Horace, who is living in San Bernardino, California; Louella, deceased; Sewell, who makes his home in Brewster, Washington; Martha, deceased; Oscar, our subject; and Angie, who died in childhood. $
Oscar Harris was reared upon the home farm in Vermont from the age of four years, his parents at that time leaving the town and taking up their abode amid agricultural surroundings. The district schools afforded him his educational privileges and when not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields, remaining at home until he had attained his majority. He then started to earn his own living by working as a farm hand by the month, and in 1876 he came to Newell, lowa, where he worked for his brother Horace, who was a banker, for two years. He was then married and turned his attention to farming. He purchased eighty acres on section 13. Providence township, and for a quarter of a century devoted his time and energies to the further
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development and improvement of that farm. He then bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty aeres.in section 23, Providence township. It constitutes one of the attractive features of the landseape, for it presents a most neat appearance and is improved with good buildings, while the fields give promise of golden harvests in the autumn.
On the 28th of November, 1878, Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Viola MeBride, a daughter of Richard and Lura (Hutchins) McBride. Mrs. Hutchins was born in National, Clayton county, lowa, February 22, 1861. She was a granddaughter of Malcolm McBride, who came from Scotland and died in Clayton county, lowa. at an advanced age. Her maternal grandfather was John Hutchins, a native of Vermont, who followed the occupation of farming as a life work, and died when well advanced in years. Richard MeBride, her father, was also born in the land of hills and heather, and following his emi- gration to the new world married bura Hutchins, who was born in the Green Mountain state. They had seven children : Douglas, who is living at Plank- inton, South Dakota; Jeannette, the deceased wife of De Los Barber; Warren who is living in Worthington, Minnesota; Mary, the wife of Albert King, of Pocahontas county, Iowa; Viola; Orris, of Storm Lake; and Hector, who died at the age of fourteen years.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris have become the parents of three sons and a daugh- ter: Howard Warren, the eldest, is employed by the Gas Company at Los Angeles, California. He married Ollie Whitman and they have two children, Cecil Burdette and Hollis; Priscilla L. is the wife of Edward Hines, of Storm Lake, and they have two children, Majel Altabel, and Merrill Harris. Fay Everett and Ray Oscar are both at home. Mrs. Harris belongs to the Congre- gational church and is an estimable lady, who has many warm friends in the community. Mr. Harris belongs to Newell Lodge, No. 232, I. O. O. F., and his wife is connected with the Rebekahs. HIis political allegiance is given the republican party and for twelve years he served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. His interest in com- munity affairs find tangible proof in the support which he gives to many measures for the public good. He is interested in the welfare of the com- munity and is widely known here as a careful and enterprising citizen, and a capable and successful farmer.
JAMES S. BELL.
James S. Bell is now practically living retired in Storm Lake, deriving a gratifying annual income from his landed possessions. While he has no business affairs that are making constant demands upon his time and energies at the present, he is filling the office of supervisor and is also one of the officials in the church, so that he is by no means an idle man. ME. Bell is a native of Meigs county, Ohio, born in the year 1845, of the marriage of Thomas and Mary Jane ( Burch ) Bell. The father was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent. His father, William Bell, joined the
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colonial army from Pennsylvania and gave valiant aid to his country during the Revolutionary war.
Thomas Bell was reared to the occupation of farming and devoted his life to general agrienltural pursuits and stock-raising. When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Ohio, the family home being established in Monroe county and for many years thereafter he was closely associated with farming interests in that state. He was a good business man and very sue- cessful in his undertakings. In 1857, hoping to benefit by the opportunities offered in this new but rapidly developing country, he removed to Seott county, Iowa, and soon afterward purchased land in Cedar county. There he engaged in the tilling of the soil until 1880, when he retired to Wilton Junetion, Muscatine county, where he lived for nineteen years. He next pur- chased land in Cherokee county and in 1900 he established his home in Storm Lake, where he resided until his death, which occurred in January, 1905, when he was eighty-two years of age. Ile belonged to the Methodist Episcopal ehureh, was one of its officers and one of its most active and influential work- ers. His political views were in accord with the principles of the whig party in early manhood but from the organization of the republican party he was one of its stalwart and inflexible advocates. He lived an upright, active, useful and honorable life and all who knew him entertained for him warm regard. His wife, who was born in Chantanqua county, New York, in 1828, and is of English descent, now lives at Storm Lake. She, too, is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her Christian faith has gnuded her in all her relations with her fellowmen.
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