USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume II > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
175
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
was master: with the Royal Arch chapter, in which he served as high priest: and with the Knights Templar commandery. In the days preceding the Civil war he was associated with the underground rail- road and was an ardent abolitionist. He was married to Miss Cath- erine Shuey in Indiana and they had nine children, of whom our sub- jeet is the only one still living. Following her demise in 1858 he married Elizabeth Winchester, by whom he had four children. He was ealled by death in 1896.
Walter A. Noel was edueated in the high school at Adel but when thirteen years of age began to learn the printer's trade. In 1876, when twenty years old, he purchased the Dallas County News, pub- lished at Adel, and conducted it successfully until 1893. He then went to Beatrice, Nebraska, and remained there for fourteen years, during which time he was eonneeted with several different papers. In 1907 he came to Roekwell City and purchased the Advocate, which he has sinee edited and published. It has a circulation of fifteen hun- dred and is recognized as a valuable advertising medium. Its news columns are reliable, and every effort is made to give the subscribers of the paper an account of all of the local happenings of interest. In addition to publishing the Advocate Mr. Noel does a large job printing business.
In 1879 Mr. Noel married Miss Rebeeea Lee, a daughter of R. M. Lee, of Adel, a farmer by oceupation. Mr. Noel is a repub- lican and is a loyal worker in behalf of his party. For five years he served ably as postmaster of Adel. His fraternal connections are with the Masonic blue lodge and the Royal Arch chapter. Through- out his career he has relied upon his own energy and ability, and he has gained a highly creditable measure of success in his chosen field of work.
JOHN JOSEPH FOLEY.
John Joseph Foley was engaged in the restaurant business in Lake City for a year and a half but is now devoting his time to quetioneering. He is still quite a young man but has already gained a gratifying measure of success. His birth occurred in Carroll, Iowa, May 14, 1887, and his parents are Bernard Francis and Katherine (Coady) Foley.
John Joseph Foley attended the country schools and the public sehools of Carroll and supplemented the education thus acquired by
176
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
taking a course in the Morningside Business College of Sioux City, Iowa. For twelve years he was employed at farm work, but at the end of that time he removed to Lake City and entered the restaurant business, so continuing for a year and a half. For the last five years, however, he has engaged in auctioneering and has cried many impor- tant sales, ineluding a thirteen thousand dollar sale at Sibley, Iowa, on the 4th of March, 1914. He has gained quite a wide reputation and his services are much in demand.
On the 22d of April, 1914, Mr. Foley was married in Lohrville, lowa, to Miss Elfie Pratt, a daughter of William A. Pratt. Mr. Foley casts his ballot in support of the candidates and principles of the democratie party and manifests a commendable interest in publie affairs. He is a devout communieant of the Catholic ehureh, to the support of which he contributes and whose work he furthers. His energy, reliabilty, sound judgment and knowledge of human nature insure him continued success in his ehosen field of work.
LORIN OSCAR WRIGHT.
Lorin Oscar Wright is proprietor of a billiard and pool hall in Lake City and is also conducting a eigar store in connection, selling to both the wholesale and retail trades. He was born on a farm in Sae county, Iowa, May 22, 1883, a son of Joseph W. and Mary E. (Brooks) Wright. He was reared on the home farm, meeting the usual experienees that fall to the farmer boy as he assists in the work of the fields through the spring and summer months. In the winter seasons he pursued his studies in the country schools of his home loeality. IIe eontinned under the parental roof to the age of twenty- four years, when he went to Alberta, Canada, and homesteaded a claim of one hundred and sixty aeres, remaining in that seetion for four years. He then disposed of his holdings there and returned to Calhoun county, continuing as an agriculturist here for three years. He next purchased the billiard and pool hall at Lake City and has since been proprietor of this establishment. He also eondnets a wholesale and retail cigar business. his trade now covering a wide territory.
Mr. Wright was married August 22, 1911, to Miss Mande Cal- houn, a daughter of John C. and Reanna (Johnson) Calhoun. The father was born in Ontario, New York, in October, 1859, a son of Charles Calhoun, who came to this county in 1869 and here engaged
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY 177
in farming on land which he purchased. In his family were six ebil- dren but the son John C. and a daughter are the only ones now resid- ing in Calhoun county. John C. Calhoun began farming for himself in 1879. renting land for two years. He then engaged in farming for five years in Elm Grove township, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty aeres on section 8, Elm Grove township. He was married November 10, 1883. to a daughter of Pleasant Johnson, who came from Ohio to Calhoun eounty and engaged in farming in Elm Grove township. To Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun were born three chil- dren: Floyd, a resident of South Dakota : Mande, now Mrs. Wright; and Lois, in school. The father is a republican in his political views and has filled some publie offiees, having a number of times served as school director, while for nine years he was township trustee and two years served as elerk. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have two daughters: Leona May, whose birth occurred April 22, 1913; and Ethel Fern. who was born February 6, 1914.
In his political views and affiliation Mr. Wright is a republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Chris- tian church. His success in life is the result of his own well directed labors. ITis residence in Lake City eovers only a brief period but during this time he has gained a wide eirele of friends, who esteem him for his many good traits of character.
J. A. BENSON.
J. A. Benson has proved very efficient as manager of the Wood- ford-Wheeler Lumber Company at Pomeroy and is a valued citizen there. ITis birth ocenrred at Britt, Iowa, on the 10th of December, 1884. and he is a son of Olaf and Christina (Swanson) Benson. The father was born in Malmö, Sweden, where he was reared and where his marriage occurred. Subsequently he emigrated to America and located at Britt. Hancock county, Iowa, where he worked as a section hand for a time. Later he was section foreman for the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad. In January, 1885, he purchased a quarter seetion of land in Haneock county, stocked his place and was preparing to devote much of his time to its operation. On the 9th of February of that year, however, he was killed by a snow-plow. His widow is still living and makes her home at Britt.
J. A. Benson attended the public schools at Britt and when twenty years of age became a student at the State College at Ames. Later
178
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
he took a three years' course in the Memorial University at Mason City. Iowa. While attending school as a youth he worked in a black- sinith shop and for the electric light company, thus providing for his own support. In April, 1905, he went to Portland, Oregon, and was employed in landscape gardening until November of that year, when he went to San Francisco, where he was employed as steward on a ferryboat until February, 1906, when he went to Nevada, where he prospected for a time. Later he spent some time at Willow Springs, Nevada, whence he went to San Antone, Nevada. Later he was located at Goldfield, Nevada, where he worked a elaim, after which he helped to build the Goldfield Hotel. In the spring of 1908 he returned to Britt, being in employ of the Woodford-Wheeler Lumber Company at Britt and Algona, Iowa, and on the Ist of September. 1911, he took charge of the lumber yard of the company at Pomeroy, Calhoun county. He has built up a large business which he has based on fair-dealing and unfaltering enterprise. He is energetie and has excellent judgment, and the man who possesses such a combination of qualities rarely fails to gain success.
Mr. Benson was married on the 27th of November, 1911, to Miss Mable L. Burbank, who was born in Algona, Iowa, and was there reared and echicated. To their union has been born a son, Basil Cyril, who died in infancy. Mr. Benson is a democrat but has never had the least desire for public office. Fraternally he belongs to Solar Lodge, No. 475, A. F. & A. M., of Pomeroy, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Red Men. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church and take an active part in its work. Mr. Benson has resided in many different parts of the country but is convinced that no state offers advantages superior to those found in Iowa and he is at all times ready to further the advancement of his · section in every way possible.
JOHN MARION FICKLE.
John Marion Fiekle, who for the past eight years has served as city clerk of Lake City, was born November 27, 1853, on a farm twelve miles from Columbus, Ohio, a son of William and Prudence Peabody (Gouldin) Fickle. the former born in Perry county, Ohio, July 10, 1828, and the latter in the same locality, May 31, 1832. They were married May 30. 1850, and spent the first few years of their married life in Ohio, but in 1857 journeyed westward, loeating in
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY 179
Henderson county, Illinois, where the father engaged in farming for eight years. In 1865 the family removed to Boone county, Iowa. and there the father continued work as an agrieulturist for three years. At the end of that period, or May 1, 1868, he came with his family to Calhoun county and for a number of years cultivated rented land in Jackson township. In 1888 he bought eighty acres there, which he cultivated until his death, on the 22d of July, 1891. The mother, surviving for a few years, departed this life December 13, 1899.
John Marion Fickle was a little lad of four years when his parents left Ohio to become residents of Illinois, and was a youth of twelve when a removal was made to lowa, so that his edueation was prac- tically acquired in the country schools of the latter state. He con- tinued under the parental roof until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he began farming for himself. In 1891 he purchased three acres of land adjoining Lake City, this land being devoted to the raising of fruits and vegetables. For the past eight years he has served as city clerk and his official duties, as well as his private affairs, are ever discharged in a most creditable manner, as is evidenced in the fact that he has so long been retained in this position.
Mr. Fickle was married July 10, 1881, to Miss Louisa Mishler, who was born April 12, 1862, in Fayette county, Iowa, a daughter of John and Mary ( Blair) Mishler. the former born August 24. 1824, and the latter November 18, 1828. They were reared in Germany and were there married. Both are now deceased, the mother passing away March 15, 1881, while the father, surviving for a long period, departed this life May 22, 1904. at the very advaneed age of eighty years. To Mr. and Mrs. Fiekle have been born four sons: Frank W., whose birth occurred April 10, 1882, and who is now a govern- ment employe in the postoffice at Seattle, Washington; Henry B., who was born March 18, 1884, and is a dispatcher with the Chieago & Great Western Railway at Clarion, Iowa; Clarence R., who was born February 2, 1891, and is now assistant postmaster at Ketchikan, Alaska: and Robert R., born November 25, 1893, a draftsman at Cedar Rapids, lowa.
Mr. Fickle is prominent in Masonry, holding membership with Zerubbabel Lodge, No. 240. A. F. & A. M., and Cypress Chapter, No. 99. R. A. M., and he is a member of Lake Queen Chapter, No. 119, O. E. S., and has filled a number of chairs in these different organizations. IIe is also an Odd Fellow, being now a past grand of Lake City Lodge, No. 330. and past chief patriarch of Mount Aetna Eneampment, and being the oldest living member in the latter
180
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
organization. In politics Mr. Fickle is a republican and with the exception of one year has served on the school board since 1897. IIe was reelected for his seventeenth term July 1, 1915. He has always been deeply and actively interested in schools in order that his own and other children might receive an education suited to the demands of the time. In his earlier life he engaged in teaching for a number of terms, so that his interest in educational affairs has never abated. His high ideals, his personality, the history of his life and his profound sense of integrity could be made the text of a lesson from which the young men of today might profit.
JAMES F. MCGINNIS.
James F. McGinnis is accorded a large and lucrative patronage as a chiropractor and his standing in his profession is indicated in the fact that he is president of the United Chiropractor Association. He was born in Johnson county, Iowa, July 25, 1873, of the marriage of Joe W. and Clara (Donaldson) MeGinnis. The father was born in Iowa in 1848 and the mother in Illinois in 1856 and their marriage occurred in this state in 1872. The father is a son of Michael McGin- nis, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States in his young manhood and was married in Iowa. For years he resided in Johnson county, this state. He was a stone mason by trade and helped to build the old capitol building at Iowa City. The maternal grandfather of our subject. James Donaldson, was born in Pennsyl- vania but became an early settler of Iowa, where he followed agrieul- tural pursuits. Joe W. McGinnis was a carpenter and contractor and has resided in Iowa City during his entire life, with the exception of four years, which he spent in Calhoun county as a representative of the Baker Medical Company. During that time he lived in Lake City but is now living retired in Iowa City.
James F. McGinnis was educated in the schools of Lake City, Corville and Iowa City. Upon beginning his independent career he gave his time and attention to work as a photographer and was later for three years X-ray operator at the State University of Iowa. Subsequently he was in the employ of the government at Rock Island. Illinois, for seven years and at the end of that time went on the road. In 1909 he entered the Palmer School of Chiropraetic at Davenport. Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1910. He became one of the faculty of the institution and remained there until November, 1912,
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY 181
when he located in Roekwell City for the practice of his profession. He has been accorded a liberal patronage from the beginning and has demonstrated the value of the science of chiropractie in eliminat- ing eause of many diseases. He has not only sneeeeded profession- ally but he has also gained a gratifying measure of material pros- perity.
On the 12th of February, 1904, Mr. MeGinnis married Miss Edna MeGill, a native of Louisa eounty, Iowa, and they have two children, Leola and Neola, twins, who are attending kindergarten. Mr. MeGinnis is a republican in polities but has never had time to take an active part in publie life. Fraternally he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Homesteaders, and his religious faith is indi- eated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. He has what is probably the largest medical library in the county and is constantly studying along professional lines. He has been honored by his eol- leagues by election to the presideney of the United Chiropractor Association. Since coming to Rockwell City he has gained the respeet of his fellow eitizens and has won the warm friendship of many.
SAMUEL A. HICKS.
Samuel A. Hieks, the efficient manager of the Joyce Lumber Company at Yetter, was born in Exira, Audubon county, Iowa, on the 3d of July, 1877. He is a son of John A. and Mary B. (Smith) Hieks, the former born in Canada on the 11th of February, 1844, and the latter in Ohio, in 1855. Samuel A. Hieks was given excel- lent educational advantages and after graduating from the Exira high school in 1897 was for six months a student in the Atlantie Business College. He then entered the employ of the Green Bay Lumber Company at Exira, with which he remained as yardman for five years. He was then for six years manager of that company's vards at Malvern, and at Shelby, Iowa, but on the 19th of January, 1914, he came to Yetter to take charge of the yards of the Joyce Lumber Company. He understands thoroughly all phases of the business and has managed the interests entrusted to him well, gain- ing recognition as one of the successful business men of Yetter.
Mr. Hieks is a republiean in his politieal belief but has never taken a very active part in publie affairs, although he is not remiss in any of his duties of citizenship. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons
182
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
and the Knights of the Maccabees, in which he has been ealled to high office, as for the past four years he has been first master of the guards of the state grand tent. Although he has resided in Yetter a comparatively short time he has gained the unqualified respect of his fellow citizens and has made many warm friends who esteem him for his admirable qualities.
FRANK M. COON.
Frank M. Coon is the president of the F. M. Coon Company, Ine., which conduets one of the large general stores of Manson, and the suecess of the business has been due almost entirely to his ability as a merehant. Ile was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, on the 24th of April, 1860, a son of Lewis and Rachel (Campbell) Coon. His maternal grandfather. F. John Campbell, resided for many years in the Iloosier state. His daughter Rachel, who was born in Indiana in 1818, first married J. Dare, by whom she had a son, Theodore, who died in the Civil war. Her second husband, Lewis Coon, was also a native of Indiana, where his birth oceurred in 1831, and their marriage was celebrated in that state. About 1855 they removed to Dubuque eounty, Iowa, where the father operated a rented farm for a number of years. In 1869 the family removed to Greene county, where the father owned eighty aeres, which he cultivated for seven years. At the end of that time he sold the property and bought a farm near Jefferson, where he resided until 1879. In that year the family home was established in Grand Junetion and Mr. Coon entered the furniture and undertaking business, in which he met with gratifying sneeess. He is now living retired at Grand Junetion. having aeeu- mulated more than a competence. Politieally he is a republican and as he is well informed on publie questions he has considerable influ- enee in his community. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and his integrity and high sense of honor are gen- erally recognized. His wife passed away in 1894. To their union were born five children: Harriet, the wife of J. P. Davis, who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Grand June- tion: Emery, a farmer, who died January 31, 1915; Viola, the wife of Henry Lee, a farmer of Greene county: Belle, who married W. S. Livingston of Grand Junction: and Frank M.
The last named received his early edueation in the public schools of Greene county and later attended an academy at Jefferson, Iowa.
183
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
He devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until he was twenty- three years of age, when he seeured employment as clerk in a store, where he remained for three and a half years. In 1886 he eanie to Manson and started out in business for himself, opening a small gro- cery store in partnership with M. W. Fitz. It was necessary for him to borrow the eapital with which to make this venture but the store gained rapidly in publie favor and returned a good financial profit. The partnership between Mr. Coon and Mr. Fitz was main- tained for a number of years and at length they added a line of dry goods to their groeery stoek and as time passed the store became one of the large mercantile establishments of Manson. In 1898 Mr. Fitz sold his interest to John Harrison, who three years later sold out to Mr. Coon, who subsequently incorporated the business under the name of the F. M. Coon Company, Ine. He is president of the eoneern, which is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, and gives general oversight to the management of its affairs, although he leaves the actual work largely to others. His poliey has always been a liberal one and his enstomers have recognized the fact that they are certain of receiving full value for their money. The stock carried is not only of high quality but it is also varied and mueh pains is taken to meet the demands of the public. Mr. Coon owns one hundred and twenty aeres of fine land near Manson and in addi- tion to raising grain he breeds Holstein eattle and Chester White hogs, the sale of which yields him a good addition to his income. He also makes a business of buying and selling cattle and gives the greater part of his time to his interests aside from his store.
Mr. Coon was married in 1885 to Miss Anna Fitz, a daugter of James Fitz, and they have one son, Corliss, twenty-two years of age, who is a member of the class of 1916 of the Northwestern Dental College. Mr. and Mrs. Coon are also rearing a son of her brother, Evan Fitz, and have given their nephew parental eare sinee he was three weeks of age.
Mr. Coon is a republican, has served on the school board for twelve years, was sehool treasurer in 1890 and served for several years on the city council. On one occasion he was elected while absent from home and knew nothing of his election until his return. He has at all times proved capable and conseientions as an official and can be depended upon to further movements seeking the civic better- ment of his community. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic blue lodge, the Royal Areh chapter and the Knights Templar command- ery, and both he and his wife are identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, while he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.
184
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which he contributes and in the work of which he takes an active part. Mr. Coon began his business career on borrowed capital but soon discharged his indebtedness and by promptly utilizing the opportunities which have presented them- selves and by following honorable methods he has built up a large business which is a eredit to Manson and which has made him one of the men of wealth of the city.
ALEXANDER THOMAS LIGHT.
1
Alexander Thomas Light, a resident of Lake City, still owns and supervises the operation of two hundred acres of fertile land in Elm Grove township, Calhoun county. A native of Pennsylvania he was born near Kingstown, Cumberland county, on the 2d of April, 1842. His father, David Light, was born in Perry county, Pennsyl- vania, July 1, 1820, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Light. The former was a native of Pennsylvania and was of German lineage. He followed farming until his demise. David Light left home when but thirteen years of age, going to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he began work as a day laborer. In 1847 he went to Pulaski county, Indiana, where he entered eighty acres of land. Subse- quently he entered additional land and followed agricultural pursuits until forced to retire on account of ill health. He died in 1882. HIe was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal elmireh and was a local preacher of that denomination. Itis politieal belief was that of the republican party. He was married in 1840 to Miss Mary C. Moore, a native of Pennsylvania and of Irish descent. Her birth cecurred about 1813 and she died in January, 1845, when only thirty- one years of age.
Alexander T. Light was edueated in the pioneer schools of Indiana but although his opportunities for acquiring a knowledge of books were rather limited he gained excellent training in agriculture through assisting his father and also learned valuable lessons of industry, determination and integrity. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age and then went to Warren county, Indiana, where he was employed as a farm-hand for a time. At length he returned to his home and in October, 1864, enlisted in Com- pany E, Eighty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and did guard duty in Georgia and Tennessee, while he also participated in the battle
185
PAST AND PRESENT OF CALHOUN COUNTY
of Kingston, North Carolina. He served in the Fifteenth Army Corps under General Schofield and he was with Sherman's army at the time that General Jolmston surrendered. He participated in the grand review at Washington and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis in July, 1865.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.