USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 38
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Mr. Roberts served two years on the school board, and, although a good Republican and interested in the success of his party at home and in national capacity, he is no politician, prefering to devote his time exclusively to his individual affairs.
Mr. Roberts was married on November 29, 1887, to Rose Crandall, daughter of George Francis and Esther Jane (Pendleton) Crandall, the
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former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Maine. They came to Iowa when young and married in Fayette county, living three miles north of Hawkeye for a period of forty-two years. George F. Crandall died in 1894, but his widow is still living on the old home place with her son, Clyde.
To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts four sons and one daughter have been born, namely : Harrison G., who graduated in the normal department of the Uni- versity of Iowa, with the class of 1910, had taught already one year each in three different schools and is now teaching in the high school at Plover, Iowa. His mother, who was a teacher for three years, received her first certificate from George W. Fitch, having taught school in Bethel township where she met her husband. Reno R. Roberts was also a student in the State University ; Charles Irvin, Archie M. and Edna Rose.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. at Hawkeye and active in church work, being liberal supporters of the local congregation.
WILLIAM WOHLGEMUTH CONKLIN.
On a large farm in Bethel township may be found a fine spcimen of one of the early pioneers, still well preserved, though at the advanced age of ninety-three. In William Wohlgemuth Conklin is seen a type of the class of men who made the west and stamped upon the communities where they settled their own individuality in a way so forcibly that it has survived for generations. Mr. Conklin is a native of New York state, belonging to a branch of the same family that produced the celebrated Roscoe Conklin. He was born in Montgomery county, December 24, 1816, of Mohawk-Dutch parentage. His father was a shoemaker and he, too, learned the trade as he grew up. About 1861 he joined the movement to the west and located in Rock county, Wisconsin, five miles south of Janesville. He took a govern- ment claim of eighty acres, but in March, 1866, removed to Fayette county, Iowa, coming by team from Calmar and settling in the north edge of Bethel township. At that time the county was comparatively new and he was able to buy eighty acres at a very reasonable price. His claim was in section 4, and only a part of it had been cultivated, the residence being a log cabin. Part of the land was timber and part prairie. At later periods Mr. Conklin added to his possessions one hundred and twenty acres in lots of forty acres in Eden township and still owns two hundred acres he purchased in his
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earlier years. He became a fixture and has ever since resided in Fayette county, of which he has long been one of the most honored citizens. He joined the young Republican party at its birth and has ever since remained an ardent member. He has never missed voting for President since he be- came of age, has at various times served his township in official capacities and altogether has ever been regarded as a model citizen. One of his chief passions was a desire for the enlightenment of the people and with this end in view he used his constant influence for the establishment of schools and promotion of education. Meantime he stuck steadily to his farming and achieved a full measure of success among the best agriculturists of Fayette county.
On July 2, 1840, Mr. Conklin married Sally Margaret Weller, who was born August 21, 1821, and ended her earthly career March 20, 1897. They had five children, four boys and one girl. Sarah E., the eldest, is the wife of Willam Arnold and resides at Bristow, Butler county, Iowa. Harvey F., the eldest son, married Charlotte Clark and has four children, Edward, George, Carrie and Effie, besides a daughter who died in childhood. He is managing a farm of over one hundred acres in Eden township. Holden T., the second son of the subject, married Eliza Burzee and had one child, Almira. He resided near the middle of Bethel township, where he died March 10, 1871. Sebastian W., the next of the family, was born April 6, 1853, in Rock county. Wisconsin, and came with his parents to Fayette county some years later. He married Mary A. Bell, by whom he has had five children, Rose, Bert. Will, Mabel and Florence. Rose, the oldest of these, married Max Finch and resides with her father on the home place. Bert, the second child, married Jessie Sturch and became a stenographer at Cedar Falls. Failing health com- pelled him to give up and he was brought back to his old home, where he died December 18, 1907. Of his two children, one died in infancy and the other is a son named Kenneth. Will is homesteading in South Dakota. Mabel married George Sturch, a farmer of Fayette county, and has one child, Veryl. Florence remains at home with her father. Sebastian W. Conklin, fourth of the subject's children, has lived on the home place ever since coming to Iowa, except two years spent in Oswego, Kansas. He returned to Fayette county and now owns one hundred and twenty acres of the old home place, his father making his home with him. Besides general farming, he deals in cattle quite extensively and has prospered in his ventures. Edgar W. Conkling, young- est child of the subject, died in infancy. Mary A. Bell, wife of Sebastian Conklin, was born at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, being a daughter of B. K. and Clarinda Hulda Bell. The mother was descended from Governor
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Bradford, who came over in the "Mayflower." Mrs. Mary Conklin came to Fayette county with her parents about 1861, the family locating in the south- west corner of Auburn-township. Her father died in 1883 and her mother in 1896. Iowa has no family connection which is more universally esteemed than the Conklins and no family of equal opportunities has done more than they for the upbuilding of Fayette county. Mrs. Conklin and two daughters belong to the Christian church, two other daughters belonging to the Presby- terian. Mr. Conklin is a Republican in politics.
QUINTUS C. BABCOCK.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed, is numbered among the foremost citi- zens of Fayette county and has by his enterprise and progressive spirit contrib- uted in a material way to the industrial, commercial and educational advance- ment of the county. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in his business affairs and is well deserving of mention in this his- tory of Fayette county.
Quintus C. Babcock is a Yankee by nativity, having been born in Orwell, Vermont, on March 20, 1837, and is the son of Stephen P. and Emeline (Cooper) Babcock. Mr. Babcock was reared on the parental farmstead near the village of Orwell, and received his education in the schools of that locality, which for that early day were of a high order of efficiency and thoroughness. In 1857 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Fayette county, Iowa, they locating first at the town of Fayette. To still further round out his mental discipline the subject attended the Upper Iowa University three years. In 1860 the subject's father bought a farm in Smithfield township, this county, to which the family removed. In 1867 Mr. Babcock married and the year following he began farming on his own account in the same locality, owning a splendid tract of four hundred acres. He was prospered in his operations and added to his landed possessions from time to time as he was able until he is now the owner of sixteen hundred and fifty acres, much of it being a superior quality. Aside from a quarter section which lies in Fairfield township, this land all lies in Smithfield township. In 1892 Mr. Babcock moved to the city of Fayette, where he has since con- tinued to reside, though he still gives his personal attention to his extensive farming operations. He is practical and progressive in his methods and keeps in close touch with the most advanced ideas and methods in agriculture.
Eng bu E G Williams & Ben NY
D. G. Babcock
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In 1867 Mr. Babcock was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Steven- son, a daughter of William and Ellen D. (Comstock) Stevenson. She was a native of Ohio and came to Fayette county about 1858. Her father had died in Ohio when she was two years old. Mrs. Babcock died June 1, 1897, and on August 4, 1903, he married Mary E. Bailey, who was born at Fowler- ville, Livingston county, New York, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Simpson) Bailey. John Bailey came from Freckingham, England, in young manhood, his wife having been born in county Antrim, Ireland, though descended from Scotch Covenanters. She came to America with her sisters when she was sixteen years old. In 1875 Mrs. Babcock's parents came to Fayette county, Iowa, locating just north of Oelwein. In 1887 the family moved to Fayette, in order to give the children an opportunity to attend Up- per Iowa University. After Mrs. Bailey came to Fayette she was engaged by the board of trustees of Upper Iowa University to be matron of one of the boarding halls. She held this position fourteen years, which was the longest period any person has ever held the position at the university. She was assisted by her children and the students that she came in touch with numbered many hundreds, perhaps thousands, the largest number at- tending at the hall at any one time being one hundred and fifteen. Mrs. Babcock taught school in Waudena, Randalia and Fayette before her mar- riage. Mr. Babcock himself had in his earlier days also engaged in teaching school, having in 1858-59-60, taught two winters at Arlington. There the pupils were all crowded into one room and for his service Mr. Babcock re- ceived twenty dollars a month and "boarded around." He there gained an interest in educational affairs that never left him.
Mr. Babcock has taken an active interest in business interests other than agricultural, being considered an able and shrewd business man. For five years he served as president of the Fayette County Mutual Insurance Com- pany. In the spring of 1904 he was elected vice-president of the State Bank of Fayette, which position he still holds. He has been a member of the board of trustees of Upper Iowa University since 1891 and since 1904 he has served as president of the board and in which capacity he has rendered invaluable services in the interests of the institution. In June, 1907, when the uni- versity was preparing to celebrate their semi-centennial, he started the en- dowment fund of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars by giving twenty- five thousand himself to start the subscription. The entire fund was raised, thereby securing thirty thousand more than had been promised by Andrew Carnegie if the one hundred and fifty thousand dollars should be raised.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Babcock are both members of the Methodist
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Episcopal church, and for many years he served as a trustee of the church, being at the present time a member of the official board. In every line of activity in which he has engaged Mr. Babcock has exhibited business qualities of a high order, his advice and counsel being considered desirable. His interest in educational matters is deep and his support and influence are . ever given to every worthy object. He is a man of genial disposition and fine personal qualities, which commend him to the high regard of all who know him. He enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout Fayette county and his friends are legion in number.
JOHN T. GAGER.
Holding prestige among the successful business men of Fayette county. John T. Gager, although now living in honorable retirement at his com- fortable home at Alpha, Eden township, has had much to do in advancing the material interests of his county and making it one of the important agricultural and commercial sections of the great Hawkeye state. The study of such a life cannot fail of interest and incentive, as he has for many decades been distinctively representative of his sphere of activity and has contributed in no small measure to the general prosperity and uplift of the locality, at the same time establishing a lasting reputation for honor and integrity.
Mr. Gager is the son of and Amanda (Thurston) Gager. The father's death occurred at Downer's Grove, Du Page county, Illinois, in 1874. He was a man of many fine characteristics, was successful in business and was highly honored by all who knew him. His wife was the representa- tive of the old English family whose genealogy, a long, complete and inter- esting one, was recently compiled and printed. The first Thurstons came to America in the old colonial days and many of them served in the Revolu- tionary war. The death of the subject's mother occurred on June 19, 1909, at Bourne, Kendall county, Texas, at the remarkable age of ninety-seven years. She was a grand old lady and an inspiration to her many friends. She and her husband were the parents of these children: Harrison, their eldest child, and Martha, the second, died in infancy; Anna M., born in New York in 1837, married George Groupe, with whom she moved to Kenoma, Missouri, later moving to Fairland, Oklahoma, are both now deceased ; John T .. of this review ; Charles M., born April 14, 1843, now lives at Oel- wein, Iowa; Joshua R., born October 4, 1845, now lives in Los Angeles,
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California; Mary C., born April 27, 1848, married James Sucher, of Down- er's Grove, Illinois, and she died July 20, 1885, leaving three children ; Lydia M., born in New York in 1850, married George H. Talmage, and she died in Texas in January, 1900; Abbie, born in 1853, married Daniel Foote and resided at Bourne, Texas; Ambrose S., born in York, Illinois, in 1855, died at San Antonio, Texas.
During the boyhood of John T. Gager his family moved to Illinois, locating in Downer's Grove, where, after he had attained to man's estate, he was united in marriage with Sarah F. Austin, on October 29, 1865. She was born December 23, 1841, in New York, the daughter of Burgess and Lucinda (Jenks) Austin, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. In their family were five children, of whom Sarah F. was the third in order of birth.
Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. John T. Gager, namely : Clara A., born July 27, 1866, taught school in this county for some time, and is now the widow of Dr. J. W. Robinson, who was a physician in Chicago; she lives at Alpha, this county, with her two children, Violet and Alice; Charles H., born October 30, 1867, married Eliza Miller, and he died on his farm in Bethel township, this county, in January, 1908, leaving a widow and three children, Alva, Alta and Ada; Charles G., born September 4, 1869, mar- ried Helen Miller and lives on his father's old homestead; he and his wife have three children, Charles, Eveline and Verla ; Ada L., born April 21, 1871, died April 28, 1878; Edith, born March II, 1873, died September 13th fol- lowing; Eva M., born August 16, 1874, is living at home; Alice M., born July 2, 1878, died in September, 1900, at the age of twenty-two years, un- married; she was a young lady of much promise, had been a teacher in the Sunday school, an active church and lodge worker and prominent in society ; Elmer E. and Ernest R. (twins), born November 29, 1881, conduct a general store at Alpha; the former married Lillian O. Gibson and they have three children, Ralston, Clover and Violet John.
The mother of this family passed to her rest on September 28, 1886, and in September, 1888, Mr. Gager wedded Mrs. Sarah A. Paul, widow of Oscar S. Paul, a native of Monroe county, New York. She was born near Rochester, New York, October 17, 1835, the daughter of Oliver and Catherine (Spears) Perkins. Her father was born in Rhode Island in 1800, and her mother, a native of New York, was born in 1808. Sarah A. Perkins became the wife of Oscar S. Paul in 1853, and five children were born to them. Mr. Paul died in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1876. Of his children, Ed- ward M. Paul married Fanny Clark and they have these children: Allie,
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Oscar, Avis, Ray, Wanda, Mckinley, Harley and Freeman; Frank M. Paul is farming in Eden township; Carrie R. married Seth L. Clark, of Alpha. and they have these children : Sarah and Frank M., the latter living in Ta- coma, Washington; he married Lillie Burbank and they have two sons, Carl and Gordon. Laura A. Paul married L. G. Liddle, of Eden township, this county, and they have these children : Clifford, Paul and Russell. Kittie A. Paul is the wife of Will E. Stamp, of Waterloo, Iowa, and they have three children, Althea, Lyle and Ruth.
John T. Gager was one of the loyal sons of the North who offered his services to the Union during the dark days of the early sixties, enlisting at York, Illinois, July 29, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry. The regiment was assigned to duty with the Army of the Ohio. In the fall of 1862 the troops went on a forced march from Louisville to Frankfort, Kentucky, arriving just in time to save the railroad bridge from burning. Leaving there, they participated in the campaign of Kentucky and Tennessee by the invasion of Bragg and Morgan, the entire fall of 1862. marched to Scottville, thence to Bowling Green, and at length to Gallatin, Tennessee, where they guarded the south tunnel of the Louisville & Nash- ville railroad. They participated in the engagement at Laverne and Mur- freesboro and garrisoned Fort Negley at Nashville during the winter of 1863-4. Afterwards this regiment joined the Army of the Cumberland and subsequently was with the Army of Georgia, participating in the engagements at Resaca, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and the battles incident to the siege and capture of Atlanta and the Atlanta campaign. Mr. Gager enjoys the distinction of having been one of "Sherman's Bum- mers," and followed Sherman to the sea, and back to Washington, where he took part in the grand review of the victorious armies; in that city the regi- ment in which Mr. Gager served was mustered out, and he was honorably discharged near there on June 7, 1865, after having most gallantly served his country for three years.
Mr. Gager returned to the parental home at York, Illinois, at the close of the war, and in October following was married. He devoted himself as- siduously to farming upon land which was purchased from savings from his army salary, and in 1872 came to Fayette county. He owned a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in Bethel township, and he has been very success- ful as an agriculturist and stock raiser. He owns a famous pleasure ground in Eden township, having set out a two-acre grove of maples. box-alder. elm, with some native timber, on the banks of Crane creek and it has be- come popular as a picnic ground. He has a boat house, row boats, gasoline
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launch, etc. For years he has raised a fine grade of Poland-China hogs. He has made his home in Alpha since 1892. He has been extensively interested in the Alpha Farmers' Creamery Company, of which he is secretary. His annual report on the business and general standing of this firm during the past two years shows that this is one of the leading concerns of its kind in this part of the state. This company was organized on October 17, 1888, since which time the annual business has gradually increased until its cash receipts during the past year were nearly forty-five thousand dollars. It is fully equipped with modern appliances, occupying a modern stone, brick and cement building.
Mr. Gager is now a member of the Sutherland Post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Waucoma, being the present commander of the post. He is a loyal Republican and has taken an active interest in everything calculated to advance the county's interests. He and his wife are faithful members of the Congregational church.
HON. HARRY P. HANCOCK.
The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of the family and of the community and it is a source of regret that people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found agriculturists, mechanics, teachers, lawyers, physicians, bankers and members of other vocations and professions. Hon. Harry P. Hancock, the well-known attorney of West Union, Fayette county, is distinctively one of the leading citizens of this locality and as such has made his influence felt among his fellow men and earned a name for enterprise, in- tegrity and honor, that entitles him to worthy notice in a work of the nature of this volume.
Mr. Hancock was born in Wayne county, New York, September 15, 1852, and is the son of Harry and Louisa (Traher) Hancock. His ancestors came from England, the father's side from Cornwall and the mother's from Plymouth, Devonshire county. On both sides they came to the United States at an early age and settled in Wayne county, New York.
Harry P. Hancock was educated in Cazenovia Seminary, at Cazenovia. New York, also at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, graduating from the latter in 1878. Selecting the law as his sphere early in life. Mr.
(69)
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Hancock has devoted his energies to that, ignoring other aspirations, in the main, to make himself what he is today, a thorough master of legal science in all its ramifications. The common law, the statutes of Iowa, the history, progress and growth of jurisprudence, as well as the higher and more abstruse principles of equity, are all completely at his command, constituting him one of the leaders of the bar, which position is readily conceded him by his associ- ates. As a practitioner he is cautious, vigilant and indefatigable, contesting every point with unyielding tenacity and employing his legal knowledge in sustaining his positions and attacking those of his adversary. He is forceful in argument, making an excellent impression upon the jury and the bench. He began studying law with Judge Waldron, of Saratoga county, New York. After receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws from the above named insti- tution, he began the practice of his profession at West Union, Iowa, form- ing a partnership with Judge W. A. Hoyt in 1879, which partnership con- tinted until the death of Judge Hoyt; since that time Mr. Hancock has prac- ticed alone, and has been very successful as a general practitioner. He has been retained as counsel by several banks. He has also been prominent in financial circles of the county, having organized and was vice-president of the State bank at St. Charles, Minnesota, and he organized and was the first president of the First National Bank of Perham, Minnesota. He is a director and stockholder in the State Bank at West Union, Iowa, and is inter- ested in its management.
Politically, Mr. Hancock is a Republican and he has been prominent in the affairs of the same for some time. He was state presidential elector of Iowa in the Harrison campaign of 1888 and stumped the state. He was prosecuting attorney of Fayette county for six years, from 1895 to 1900, per- forming his duties in such a manner as to gain the approval of his constitu- ents and the admiration of his party opponents. For a number of years he was president of the city school board. Religiously he is an Episcopalian. He belongs to the Commercial Club of West Union, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, having been a charter member of all the foregoing associations. But the club he takes most delight and interest in is the "H. A. L. Club" (the Historical and Literary Society) of West Union, of which he is the only living charter member. He with a few kin- dred spirits organized it in 1879, for the discussion of general historical and literary subjects. The members have met in Mr. Hancock's office once a week during the club sessions since it was organized and the interest in the same has never abated. It is the oldest club of its kind in the state. It is limited to fifteen members, and its members are the leading literary people of the community.
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Mr. Hancock is an eloquent and talented public speaker, profoundly edu- cated, widely read and has a thorough knowledge of public affairs.
Mr. Hancock was married on July 2, 1879, to Octavia Lansing, of Cazenovia, New York, the daughter of Lyman and Cornelia (Webster) Lansing, an excellent old colonial family of Cazenovia. Her direct ancestors came from England in 1636 and settled in Connecticut, and she is connected with the old New England Webster, Evans and Lansing colonial families. The city of Lansingburg in New York is named after the family. And today there can be seen at the capitol at Albany, New York, a fine oil painting of her great-great-grandfather, Garrett Y. Lansing. She can be several times over a Colonial Dame and Daughter of the American Revolution, as her direct ancestors fought in the Revolution and the war of 1812, as well as members of the immediate family in the late Rebellion.
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