USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 58
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THE SCHORI BROTHERS.
Albert, Ernest and George Schori, all sons of Benjamin Schori, men- tioned at length elsewhere in this work, comprise the firm of Schori Brothers, widely known in this section of the state as stock buyers and all-around stock- men, being among the most progressive and substantial of Fayette county's representative citizens, for in their dealings with their fellow men they are honorable, fair, punctual, possessing a genius for execution and management and of those qualities of personality which usually win whatever the line of work followed.
Albert Schori was born in Elgin, this county, May 24, 1872, and he
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received his education in the public schools of this place, and worked for his father, who was engaged in the stock business, remaining with him until he became of legal age, when he became a partner of his father and thus the firm continued until 1899, when Ernest Schori joined the firm; then the business was operated by these three until 1907, when George Schori pur- chased his father's interest, since when the firm has been known as Schori Brothers, who continue the business started by their father. They are the largest stock dealers in northeastern Iowa, as already intimated, the name of the firm being familiar not only throughout this locality, but at the leading markets of the middle West where they frequently take large numbers of . various grades and qualities of livestock. Together with their father, they operated about one thousand acres of land in this vicinity, in connection with their livestock.
Albert, Ernest and Elmer Schori, the last named a younger brother, together with Elias Benson, comprised the lumber company of Elgin, known as Schori & Benson, which carried on an extensive business for some time.
Albert Schori was married, December 18, 1895, to Ella Neuenschwander and they are the parents of the following children: Clarence Benjamin, Georgie May, Leo Levern and Gerald. Fraternally, Albert Schori belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons and the Yeoman lodge.
Ernest Schori married Lily Thoma, of Elgin, in 1896, and they are the parents of two children, Ernestine Ethel and Jeraldine Elizabeth. Ernest Schori is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
George Edward, the third member of the firm of Schori Brothers, does the clerical work in connection with their business.
Such a firm does a community a great deal of good in furnishing a ready market for its livestock and by giving it a prestige in other communities and the Schori Brothers are deserving of the high esteem in which they are held by all who know them.
EDWARD C. FENNELL.
This enterprising business man and representative citizen is a native of Fayette county, Iowa, and an honored member of one of the oldest and best known families of Illyria township, where his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Fennell, located as early as 1.849, shortly after the land was subject to entry. Thomas Fennell was a native of county Tipperary, Ireland; his
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ELIZABETH FENNELL
THOMAS FENNELL
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wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Cox, was also of Irish lineage, having first seen the light of day in county Cork. These parents were married in their native land, but sometime in the forties came to the United States and, as indicated above, moved westward in 1849 and first located on forty acres of government land in what is now Illyria township, Fayette county, Iowa, there being at that time only a few scattered families in that part of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Fennell came west poor in this world's goods, the sum total of their possession on arriving at their destination in the wild, unsettled country of northeastern Iowa consisting of two good oxen, a cart. a few household effects and seventy-five cents in money. With this meager and inauspicious beginning they set resolutely to work to improve their small farm and, being rich in health and energy, they faced the future with hopeful anticipation and in time realized the results of their labors in a comfortable home.
Without entering into a detailed account of Thomas Fennell's career, suffice it to state that it was not long until he was able to increase his holdings and otherwise add to his means, and at one time he was the owner of four hun- dred and ninety acres of as fine land as Fayette county could boast, the greater part of which he reduced to cultivation, using the remainder for pasturage. He became one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Illyria township, as well as one of the wealthiest men, and as a citizen he was enterprising, public spirited and a leader in nearly every movement for the material progress and general welfare of the community in which he resided. He is still living and, although rapidly nearing the century mark, is hale and hearty, possessing nearly all of his faculties, mental and physical, and today there are few if any as intelligent and interesting characters to be met with in this part of Iowa as "Uncle Tom Fennell," as he is affectionately called by his friends and neighbors. He has lived to see Fayette county developed from a wilderness to its present advanced state of civilization and for many of the changes that have taken place since his arrival, over sixty years ago, the country is largely indebted to his intelligent forethought and efficient leader- ship. A devout Catholic and ever loyal to the Holy Mother church, he was one of the leading spirits in organizing the local church at Wadena and it was mainly through his generosity that the congregation was provided with the beautiful temple of worship in which services are now regularly conducted. Mrs. Fennell, or "Aunt Bess," the name by which she is familiarly known, was a fit companion for her energetic husband and all who came within the range of her influence were profuse in their praise of her many lovable qualities. After a long and useful life, devoted to the good of her
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family and friends, she entered into rest on the 2d day of July, 1900, leaving to perpetuate her memory, the love and veneration of all who knew her.
Thomas and Elizabeth Fennell reared a family of eleven children, namely: Mrs. Mary McIntee, deceased; John, who is living in retirement at Elkader, this state; Thomas, a farmer of Independence, Oregon ; William, of New Hampton, Iowa ; James, a farmer and stock raiser of Illyria township : Edward C., of this review; Elizabeth, who lives with her father and looks after his interests; Ella, now Mrs. Arthur A. Hill, of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, where the husband has been engaged in the mail service for a period of seventeen years; Kattie, whose husband, Oliver Smith, also a resident of Los Angeles, is engaged in mining.
Edward C. Fennell was born October 19, 1859, in Illyria township and spent his early life on his father's farm. After acquiring a practical educa; tion in the public schools of Wadena, he turned his attention to agriculture and stock raising, which he still carries on and in which his financial success has been commensurate with the intelligence and energy displayed in all of his undertakings. In 1890 he began buying and shipping live stock, which has been no inconsiderable part of his business ever since, although in the meantime he has built up other important interests and, as indicated in a preceding paragraph, is now distinctively a man of affairs and one of the representative citizens of the county of Fayette.
In October, 1906, Mr. Fennell assisted in organizing the Wadena Savings Bank, in which he is the largest stockholder and of which he was elected president, a position he has since held. This bank began business with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars and at the present time the deposits amount to ninety thousand dollars, the institution proving popular from the beginning and being highly prized by the citizens of the town and country. The other officers are J. D. Shaffer, vice-president, J. O. Probert, cashier, the board of directors consisting of the following well known professional and business men, namely : Dr. R. P. Berry, J. D. Shaffer, Oakland Probert, Henry Jennings, J. C. Probert, P. H. Hastings, J. H. Wilson, F. J. Schroeder and E. C. Fennell. The present handsome and commodious brick building, one of the finest and best equipped structures of the kind in the northeastern part of the state, was erected in 1908 at a cost of six thousand dollars.
Politically, Mr. Fennell wields a strong influence for the Republican party, but has never been an office seeker, his large and varied business interests requiring all of his time and attention. Aside from serving as a member of the board of directors of the Wadena school district, he has held no public positions, although by nature and training well qualified to fill any
GEORGE D. DARNALL, M. D.
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office within the gift of the people of his town or county. In his religious faith he was reared a Catholic and has ever been a true son of the church and active in the affairs of the same, being a leader of the local congregation at Wadena, and one of its chief financial supporters.
On May 15, 1891, Mr. Fennell was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Alma Messerli, daughter of Christ and Marie (Krebs) Messerli, these parents coming to America in 1867, from their native country of Switzerland and settling in Illyria township, Fayette county, where they still live, the father being one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens of the community. Mrs. Fennell is one of six living children, the names of her brothers and sisters being as follows: Lizzie, wife of Louis Wilbur; Amanda, who married G. A. Rice : Christ, Fred, and Clara, wife of W. D. Mattocks.
Mr. and Mrs. Fennell have one child, a daughter, Marie Elizabeth, who was born December 31, 1894, and who is now a student in a parochial school at Elkader. Miss Marie is a young lady of fine mind, which has been carefully cultivated under the direction of very able instructors, being especially proficient in music, in which she early manifested decided talent. She excels in both instrumental and vocal music, graduating in each from St. Joseph's Academy at Elkader, standing especially high as pianist, being one of the most skillful performers ever sent from that well known institution. She is also an artist of marked talent and is now studying painting under a master of art in the school where she received her other training. She has a lovable disposition, is popular with her schoolmates and friends and her presence in the home gives interest as well as gladdens and makes bright the domestic circle. Fraternally, Mr. Fennell is a Knight of Columbus, being a member of Lodge No. 510, of Dubuque, Iowa.
HON. GEORGE D. DARNALL, M. D.
There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at large than the self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble-minded men whose life work is the alleviation of suffering and the ministering of comfort to the afflicted, to the end that the span of human existence may be lengthened and a great degree of satisfaction enjoyed during the remainder of their earthly sojourn. There is no standard by which their beneficent influence can be measured ; their helpfulness is limited only by the extent of their knowledge and skill, while their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that spring
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from the very source of life itself. Someone has aptly said: "He serves God best who serves humanity most." Among the physicians and surgeons of Fayette county who have risen to eminence in their chosen field of endeavor and have won a reputation that has trancended the limits of the county is Dr. George D. Darnall, of West Union, whose career has been that of a broad- minded, conscientious worker in the sphere to which his life and energies have been devoted and whose profound knowledge of his profession has won for him a leading place among the most distinguished medical men of his day and generation in upper Iowa. But a perusal of his interesting life record, briefly set forth in the following paragraphs, will show that he is also a potent factor in other relations of life, as well.
George D. Darnall was born near Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, May 28. 1843, and is a son of Capt. William D. and Eliza J. (Metcalfe) Darnall, the father having been, for many years, a captain in the Illinois state militia and for a time a major. Doctor Darnall is descended from one of the oldest and best families of the United States, many members of which have been promi- nent in various walks of life, Col. Henry and John Darnall (brothers), who emigrated from England with a company of Lord Baltimore's colony, in 1665. locating in Maryland, being the first of this name on this side the Atlantic. Col. Henry Darnall was the first surveyor-general of Maryland. Members of the family took a conspicuous part in the Revolutionary war, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, married Mary Darnall, a member of this family. Carroll was said to have been the wealthiest of Maryland patriots, worth perhaps two million dollars when the war began. His contributions to the cause of the colonies were liberal. He reached the advanced age of ninety-five years. Doctor Darnall's grandfather, John Darnall, emigrated from Maryland to Kentucky in 1779, accompanied by his brother, Isaac, and settled near Paris, where he took up farming. The Doctor's father, William D. Darnall, was born in Kentucky. November 19, 1812, and removed to Illinois in 1820, the family locating near Paris, Edgar county, and there he grew to maturity, received his education and worked on the home farm during his youth, and there he married Eliza J. Metcalfe in 1838. She was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of William and Jemimah (Redmon) Metcalfe. The family was of English origin and settled in Kentucky in an early day. They removed to Edgar county, Illinois, about 1624. Four sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Darnall, namely : Prudy Jane married Alexander Moyer, both now deceased, her death occurring in Paris, Illinois, in August, 1870; John W., formerly a lawyer in Chicago, now deceased ; Dr. George D.,
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of this review ; James J., who served nearly four years in the Civil war, mar- ried Eveline Graham, of Pratt county, Kansas ; Jacob N. is married and lives in Paris, Illinois; Sarah Ann, who married James A. Kester, of Paris, died January 5, 1889. The father of these children, a man of many praiseworthy characteristics and influential in his community, was called to his reward on November 12, 1888, having spent a half century on his farm and in Paris, Illinois, where he resided at the time of his death. His widow remained on the old homestead in Paris until her death on October 31, 1906. William D. Darnall was a patriotic and public spirited citizen, and he served as a soldier in the Black Hawk war, in the campaigns of 1831 and 1832, in the same com- mand of which Abraham Lincoln was a captain, they having been old and inti- mate acquaintances.
Thus. considering the ancestry of Doctor Darnall, it is no wonder that he is a man who does things and is a leader in his chosen life work. He grew to maturity on his father's farm and early in life knew the meaning of hard work in the fields. Determined to become an educated man, he walked be- tween three and four miles during the winter months to attend the subscription schools of those early days, paying a tuition of five cents per day. He subse- quently attended the Edgar Academy at Paris, a Presbyterian school, and he began life as a teacher, which he followed very successfully for some time, but, believing that the medical profession offered greater inducements, he began studying medicine with Dr. Mark Rowe, of Redmon, Illinois. He made rapid progress and in 1866 he entered upon the regular practice at Cherry Point, Illinois, and remained there until 1867, when he removed to Solon, Iowa, and opened an office. The year previous he had begun attending lectures in the Medical College of Ohio, located at Cincinnati, and was graduated with hon- ors from that institution with the class of 1872. Fully equipped for his chosen profession, he then located in Pomeroy, Iowa, where he continued practice until 1872, which year witnessed his advent in West Union, Fayette county, where he has remained in continuous practice to the present time, having been successful from the first, his name long since becoming a household word throughout this locality, ranking with the leading members of this profession in the state. He is now the senior physician in active practice in Fayette county. He has kept fully abreast of the times in all that pertains to the practice of medicine and surgery and is not only profoundly versed in his chosen line, but is also acquainted with the best literature of the world and is well posted on all current topics of the day.
Doctor Darnall's domestic life began on November 17, 1872, when he formed a matrimonial alliance with Sarah C. Lawyer, who was born in Illinois
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City, Rock Island county, Illinois, August 1, 1854, the daughter of L. M. Lawyer and wife, the father born in Maryland, of German parentage, and the mother, whose maiden name was Fisher, was also a native of that state. Her death occurred in 1868, being still survived by her husband, who makes his home in Solon, Iowa. Doctor Darnall's wife died January 27, 1883, and on May 28, 1896, the Doctor married Cora A. Lawyer, a sister of his first wife.
Politically, Doctor Darnall is a Republican and he has long taken much more than a passing interest in party affairs, holding various official positions with credit to himself and with satisfaction to all concerned. For five years he was the efficient chairman of the Republican central committee of Fayette county, was once coroner of the county, was a member of the city council of West Union for seven terms, and a member of the pension board for over twenty-five years, being now president of the same. He has also rendered efficient service as a member of the board of education. He received the nom- ination by his party for representative to the twenty-second General Assembly of Iowa, to which office he was duly elected, and at the succeeding convention he received a renomination by acclamation, but was defeated, as were many others of the Republicans, owing to the combined Democratic, Greenback, Labor and Prohibition vote of that year. He was also connected with H. B. Hoyt in the erection of the city hall.
Doctor Darnall has long taken an abiding interest in fraternal organiza- tions. Early in life he became a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 112, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, and upon coming to Iowa he transferred his membership to West Union. He has rapidly advanced in this order, and was made a member of Clermont Chapter, No. 62, Royal Arch Masons, and Langridge Commandery No. 47. Knights Templar. Later he was advanced to the Scottish Rite degrees, and is a member of DeMolay Consistory, at Lyons, Iowa, having attained the thirty-second degree. He is also a prominent mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Round Grove Lodge No. 41, West Union Encampment No. 57, and West Union Rebekah Lodge No: 97. He has served as worshipful master of West Union Masonic Lodge No. 60 for eight years, and has been an active and influential member, and he seems to carry the sublime precepts of this order into his daily life. He is an influential member of the Fayette County Medical Association, of which he has been secretary and president. He is also a member of the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
Doctor Darnall has been very successful as a business man and is the owner of valuable property. He owns the splendid brick block at the south- west corner of the public square, a beautiful residence and other property.
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In company with his cousin, Dr. Charles F. Darnall, and L. A. Fisher, he car- ried on an extensive drug business in West Union for a number of years after 1887. He is now alone in the practice, in which he has been phenomenally successful, both professionally and financially. The firm name of Darnall & Fisher was long familiar at the corner of Vine and Elm streets. He is presi- dent of the Fayette County National Bank and a member of its board of direc- tors. He is one of the influential men in financial circles in the county. Per- sonally he is popular with a vast number of friends and acquaintances, possess- ing to a marked degree the characteristics that win and retain warm friend- ships .. By his kindness, courtesy and public spirit he has won an abiding place in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and by his intelligence, energy and enter- prising spirit has made his influence felt for many years in this section of the state, and as a result he occupies no small place in the favor of the public.
WILLIAM JONES.
In looking over the list of honored residents of Fayette county of a past generation who are now sleeping the sleep of the just there is found the well remembered name of William Jones, a man who led a life of which his descendants and friends who survive him should be justly proud, for he was truly a good and useful man, whom to know was to admire and respect. He was born in 1822 in Breconshire, Wales, and there he grew to manhood and learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1856, accompanied by his mother, he came to America and located in Illyria township, Fayette county, Iowa, where he bought twenty acres of land in section 20, built a log house on the place, which he cleared up and transformed into a good farm, making shoes and tilling the soil at the same time. He worked something less than a year at his trade in West Union, and he made his own shoes all his life. From time to time he added to his original purchase and at his death owned one hundred and fifty acres, forty acres in section 29 and the balance in section 20. Mr. Jones's mother made her home with him on the farm until her death, in 1879. In 1878 Mr. Jones built a large two-story stone dwelling on his place, consist- ing of nine rooms and he and his wife lived there very comfortably until their deaths. Politically, Mr. Jones was a Republican, but, preferring to give his farm all his attention, he never took much interest in political affairs and never sought office.
James Jones, an older brother of the subject, who was also born in
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Breconshire, Wales, left his native land sometime previous to the date that saw the departure of his mother and brother. He located in New York and there married Ann Sanders, who was born in Breconshire, Wales, in 1833. She had come with her parents to America when a young girl, locating in New York.
About 1857 Mr. and Mrs. James Jones came to Fayette county, Iowa, and located in Illyria township, where Mr. Jones was killed soon afterwards while digging a well. He left a widow and two daughters, Mary, now the widow of John Stephens, and Mrs. Clara Landas, of Fayette county. Some- time after the death of James Jones, William Jones and Mrs. Ann (Sanders) Jones were married, and to them were born five children, namely : William C., who lives in South Dakota; George W., who lives on the home place, which he owns ; Jane is the wife of Grant Wilber and lives in South Dakota ; Emily M. is the wife of Frank Follensbee, of Illyria township; Frank T. lives in Westfield township, this county. The two daughters of James Jones made their home with their mother and step-father until they were married. The death of William Jones occurred in May. 1887, and that of Mrs. Jones in July, 1887.
BURTON E. ODEKIRK.
Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success. It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in life are often attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary quali- ties of common sense and perseverance. The everyday life, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring experience of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and self-improvement.
Burton E. Odekirk is a native of Fond du Lac county. Wisconsin, where he was born on November 9, 1863, and is a son of William and Lurinda H. (Handcock) Odekirk, the former a native of Hoosick, Rensselaer county, New York, and the latter of Onondaga county, the same state. They were married in the latter county and in 1848 moved to Fond du Lac county. Wisconsin, the trip being made by boat to Milwaukee and then by ox team to their new home. There Mr. Odekirk applied himself to the work of a frontiersman and in the course of time succeeded in clearing two farms, a considerable task. In 1868 he came to Center township, Fayette county, Iowa, and bought one hur 1
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