USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 52
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CHARLES FREMONT CHAMBERS.
Among the enterprising men of West Union few have been as active in business circles or exerted as great prestige as the well known gentleman whose name appears above. Charles Fremont Chambers, present postmaster of West Union and for many years variously identified with the interests of the city, was born in Lake county, Illinois, December 23, 1861, being a son of Jed O. and Catherine (Smith) Chambers, both natives of Binghamton, New York. The subject's mother died when he was an infant and his father de- parted this life at the Iowa home about the year 1890, there being at this time but three members of the original family living, namely: Myron, of Waverly, Iowa; Mrs. W. B. Shelburn, of Spangle, Washington, and Charles F., of this review. By a second marriage Jed O. Chambers became the father of quite a number of children, all of whom died at West Union, during an epidemic of diphtheria, which raged there some years ago.
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Owing to adverse circumstances, Fremont Chambers was enabled to ob- tain but a limited training in the schools of Portage county, Wisconsin, where he went when quite young, consequently the greater part of his education con- sists of the valuable and practical kind received only in the stern school of experience. In the fall of 1879 he came to West Union, Iowa, and became a clerk in the postoffice, which position he held continuously for a period of thirteen years, during which time he served under C. H. Talmadge, William McClintock and again under the former gentleman. During eight years of the time spent in the postoffice he was agent of the American Express Com- pany, but resigned the latter position by reason of the conflict in the issuing of express money orders in an office of the United States government. When the telephone was established at West Union Mr. Chambers took charge of the central office which he conducted to the satisfaction of the company until resigning the position on account of removal of the postoffice, resigning his position in the postoffice to become a clerk in a clothing store. After two years in the latter capacity he was elected, in 1894, county recorder, which office he filled by successive re-election three terms of two years each, declin- ing to stand for a fourth term, although assured of being elected by the usual overwhelming majority.
On retiring from the above office Mr. Chambers engaged in the loan and abstract business, which he conducted with gratifying success for two years, a part of the time in partnership with Morton Blake and later as a mem- ber of the firm of Chambers & Ainsworth. At the expiration of the time indicated, he returned to the mercantile house by which he was employed when elected recorder, and continued with the firm as clerk until elected cashier of the First National Bank of Fayette, which position he did not as- sume by reason of being appointed postmaster of West Union a short time afterwards. He entered upon the duties of the latter office February 15, 1910, and thus far has met with the high expectations of his friends and the public in general and fully justified the wisdom of his appointment.
Mr. Chambers was secretary of the West Union school board for several years, retiring therefrom when appointed cashier of the bank. He also served two and a half years as city clerk and it was during his term that the new system of uniform accounts was established, a great improvement on the former way of conducting the business of the office.
On November 30, 1881, Mr. Chambers was united in marriage with Esther J. Rosier, daughter of George N. and Alice (Gibbons) Rosier, early settlers of West Union and members of a well known and highly esteemed family of Fayette county. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have two children, Charles
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Blaine, the older, being assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Oel- wein and a young man of excellent business ability. Catharyne, the daughter, after finishing the high school course at West Union entered the Iowa State University, from which in due time she was graduated with an honorable record as a student and is now teacher of the English department in the West Union high school. Charles was also graduated from the city high school and later took a full commercial course at Cedar Rapids, where he fitted him- self for a business career. Politically, Mr. Chambers is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and fraternally stands high in Masonic circles, belonging to West Union Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Unity Chapter No. 62, Royal Arch Masons, at Elgin ; Langridge Commandery No. 47, Knights Templar, and De Molay Consistory No. I, at Clinton, Iowa. He has been active and influential in the work of the various branches of the order with which identified and at different times has held the most im- portant offices within the gift of his fellow-craftsmen. Honorable and up- right in all of his relations, business, official and social, and enjoying to a marked degree the confidence and esteem of the public, Mr. Chambers is pop- ular in the city of his residence and has worthily earned a conspicuous place among the representative citizens of his adopted county.
JOSEPH HOBSON.
One of the early settlers in Fayette county was Joseph Hobson, late of West Union, now deceased. He came to Iowa in May, 1855, and after a few months spent in Westfield township and vicinity, located upon a farm in Smithfield township. Here he built a residence, improved his land, and re- sided for about two years. He had for some years studied law as opportunity and leisure from other pursuits permitted, and in 1856 was admitted to the bar in this county. In 1857 he removed to Westfield (now Fayette), where he taught school, and later opened an office and engaged in the practice of law. In the fall of 1858 he was elected clerk of the district court, and in December of that year removed to West Union where he ever after resided until his death. December 15, 1893.
Mr. Hobson was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1823. He was the eldest son and second child of John Wainwright Hobson and Abigail Bishop (Scott) Hobson. His father was born at Peniston, Yorkshire, Eng- land, August 22. 1794, and was the son of Joseph Hobson. of that place.
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Joseph Hobson
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The subject of this sketch traced his ancestry back to his grandfather, Joseph Hobson, of Yorkshire, England, who was born at or near Peniston. In early life he was a woolen manufacturer, but later discontinued this business, and subsequently carried on business at Bullhouse Hall, at farming and colliery work. He was prominent locally, quite successful in business, full of enter- prise, and something of a musician. Joseph Hobson was thrice married ; his first wife was a Wainwright (the grandmother of the subject of this sketch), with whom he had one son and two daughters. He resided in that vicinity all his life, and died at seventy-four years of age, and was buried at Peniston church.
John Wainwright Hobson, son of Joseph Hobson, just referred to, came to America with his uncle, Joseph Wainwright, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1816. He settled in Pittsburg and married Abigail Bishop Scott, in 1819. She was a daughter of Joseph Scott, a paper manufacturer, and a native of Massachusetts, who subsequently removed to, and was one of the early settlers of, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and later located at Pittsburg, where he passed the later years of his life.
The mother of the subject was of Scotch-English ancestry. She was born in New Jersey, April 10, 1799, and crossed the mountains with her parents in childhood, when they removed to Pennsylvania. She resided in Fayette county, in that state, nearly all her life, and died at Connellsville in 1883.
John Wainwright Hobson was stricken with Asiatic cholera during the prevalence of that epidemic, and died August 14, 1834, at Pittsburg, after a sickness of a few hours.
The son, bereft of his father at the early age of eleven years, obtained such education as the times afforded and limited means could command. Public schools as we now know them being few in number, if any, at that time, he was compelled to depend upon such opportunities for securing an education as were afforded by private tutors and his own endeavors. He was always fond of reading, a good student, with a strong memory, and by the time he arrived at mature life had a wide range of knowledge, covering history, literature, politics, and general information. In early boyhood he was apprenticed to a cabinetmaker, but, not liking that avocation, learned the carpenter's trade. In the autumn of 1848 he removed to Connellsville, Penn- sylvania, where he was employed at his trade, and was for a short time a partner in a foundry business. In the spring of 1853 he removed to Cleve- land, Ohio, where he had charge of extensive building operations in connec-
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tion with his brother-in-law, the late John B. Ingham, of Allegheny City. Between the time he located at Cleveland, and his arrival in Iowa, he resided for a short time in Sanilac county, Michigan.
.A competent observer, who had known Mr. Hobson intimately for many years, said of him "that he never knew a man who excelled him in his ability to get along with men in his employ, or one for whom men would willingly do more than for him." His varied experience well fitted him for his work in the future. He entered upon the duties of the clerk's office when the county was new, and many of our modern methods and aids to officials were unknown, or even unthought of. During his incumbency of the office, ex- tending from January, 1859, to January, 1869, he applied to the office that system which early gave to it the orderly and business-like methods which have ever since been employed, and which distinguish the clerk's office to the present time, as one of the best kept and managed offices of its kind in the state.
During the years of the Rebellion-1861 to 1865-there was no bank or railway in the county, and the express business was done by stage coaches, or by private messengers, between West Union and the terminal of the railroad. Mr. Hobson was during all this period designated by the soldiers in the field as the consignee of funds sent by them to their families at home and many thousands of dollars were sent to him for distribution, and by him delivered to the designated beneficiaries, without expense for services rendered by him. During this trying period he was ever active and vigilant in rendering such services as he could in befriending the families of the soldiers at home, in sus- taining the soldiers at the front, and in upholding the government in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion. Next to the soldier in the field is the need of the loyal friend and supporter at home. Each in his own way equally important, although one is at the seat of carnage, and in daily peril, while the other, re- mote from the danger of disease and battle, by his co-operation helps to make the success of the soldiers possible. Few who have not given the matter thought, can conceive how necessary to the welfare and success of the soldier at the front is the earnest support of the great army of loyal men and women who by their voluntary efforts sustained and encouraged the forces in the field. Many were the acts of kindness performed, and numerous the sacri- fices made, by the subject of this sketch, in that trying ordeal of which it would not be proper to speak; sufficient it is to say that at all times, by speech, act, and purse. he loyally upheld the efforts of the government to suppress the Rebellion.
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Upon retiring from the clerk's office, Mr. Hobson was elected to the thirteenth General Assembly of Iowa, and served as a member of that body in 1870. In that year he was, without solicitation on his part, appointed as- sessor of United States internal revenue for the third congressional district of Iowa, and served efficiently and to the entire satisfaction of the officials in charge of the department until May, 1873, at which time the office expired by limitation and the duties connected with it merged with those of collector of internal revenue. Upon the conclusion of his services as assessor he re- ceived from the commissioner of internal revenue, at Washington, D. C., strong commendation of the manner in which the office had been conducted during his incumbency.
Joseph Hobson was one of the founders of the Fayette County National Bank in 1872, and was its first and only president until his resignation as such in December, 1887. He also served as vice-president of the Fayette County Savings Bank, from its organization, in 1875, until December, 1887. Much of the early success of each of these financial institutions was due to the business ability and integrity of Mr. Hobson, to his extensive acquaintance and to the personal confidence the people reposed in him after an acquaintance extending over so many years. He served as mayor of West Union for two years, and as a member of the school board in that town for twelve years. He was active in encouraging all public enterprises and liberal in aiding them. He had been a resident of the county many years before the advent of a rail- road, and when a prospect of obtaining one presented itself, he was earnest in his advocacy of the measure and contributed liberally of his time and means to secure it.
The present generation knows nothing of the disadvantages of living in a county destitute of these necessities, but take them as a matter of course. The pioneers of fifty years ago obtained them by voting taxes and donating money to build them, and the community was satisfied if it could secure rail- road accommodations by contributing liberally to their construction.
Politically, Mr. Hobson was originally a Whig, and later a Republican. He often alluded with pride to the fact that he cast his first vote for President for Henry Clay, and made a long journey by stage-coach to reach his voting precinct for this purpose. Upon his arrival in Iowa, he took an active part in politics. He had speaking talent of a high order and for many years was prominent in convention work and as a political speaker. Perhaps he made more political speeches in the county than any other man who has lived in it. His fund of facts, and acquaintance with history, literature, and politics, com-
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bined with the happy faculty of always being able to illustrate his point with an appropriate story, well told, enabled him to entertain and instruct an audience.
Mr. Hobson was married at Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1847, to Elizabeth Baker, daughter of James and Rachel (Wigfield, sometimes erroneously written Wakefield) Baker. She was born at Bakerstown, Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1825, that village having been founded by her family, one of the earliest to settle in western Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hobson was a woman of strong common sense, unusual force of character, untiring energy and industry, an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a life-long member, and an efficient laborer in societies connected therewith, and was highly esteemed where she so long resided. She was from among that best of human-kind, the intelligent home- builder, the affectionate wife and mother, and in her life she proved an ex- emplar in all that pertains to the best and highest welfare of the family and the home. She died in her eighty-fourth year, on April 15, 1909, the anniversary of her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Hobson were the parents of eight children, six of whom grew to mature age. Leta, a daughter, died in infancy, and Loyd, a son, died in his eighth year. Joseph B. Hobson graduated at the United States Naval Academy with honor, and remained in the service until after he attained the rank of lieutenant, when he resigned. While he was in the navy he visited Japan, Australia, France, South America, England, Italy and other countries and many of the islands of the sea. Frank Hobson and Leroy T. Hobson founded the Argo at West Union, recently merged with the Gazette, and at this time conducted under the name of the Argo-Gazette, and published the paper successfully for many years. Frank Hobson had talent of a high order as a newspaper man, and was a public spirited citizen. The columns of the Argo will show that he zealously advocated every measure calculated for the upbuilding of the community and the city. The mechanical department was efficiently managed by L. T. Hobson, who was accomplished in everything necessary to the printer's art. Sickness in the family of Frank Hobson, in the person of his only child, and his subsequent death, necessitated the disposing of the property, and the removal of the father to Oklahoma, where he now resides.
The surviving daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Hobson are each married. Ella married H. I. McGuire, and resides at Cincinnati, Ohio. Fannie Eliza- beth married C. W. Knickerbocker, M. D., and resides at Cedar Falls, Iowa. L. T. Hobson and A. N. Hobson reside at West Union, Iowa.
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DAVID L. DORLAND.
One of the gallant "boys in blue" and a son of the Buckeye state is David L. Dorland, who has a large and well patronized livery and feed stable in West Union, his birth having occurred in Wayne county, Ohio, August 29, 1839, and he is the son of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Long) Dorland, natives of Wayne county, Ohio, who came to Clayton county, Iowa, in 1855, locating on a farm on Hewitt creek, near Volga. The father enlisted in the cause of his country, in Company H, Thirty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and he died of a disease contracted while in the service, his death occurring at Jeffer- son Barracks, St. Louis. Previous to his enlistment he had sold his first farm and had bought another in Illyria township, Fayette county, and on this his widow and children lived until after the war, when they moved to Wadena, thence to West Union, where she died at the home of her son, David L., of this review. Ten children had been born to these parents, namely : James, who was killed in the army ; David L., of this review ; Mary Haynes; Margaret Ann, Cornelius, George, Samantha, Hidinger, William and Garrett. Besides the subject of this sketch, the only ones living are Cornelius, Elizabeth and William. Five sons emulated the patriotic example of their father in this family and gave their services to the Union during the Civil war, all except Cornelius being in Iowa regiments. After serving from August, 1862, until August, 1865, David L. returned to his maternal home and engaged in team- ing for William Larrabee, hauling flour from the Clermont Mills to markets elsewhere, his home having been in Clermont at that time. He then moved to West Union and continued teaming for several years, hauling produce to McGregor and returning with merchandise, this being before the days of rail- roads in this locality. Mr. Dorland engaged in the grocery business in West Union for three years, and he was on a farm for three years. Selling his farm, he returned to West Union and for five years was in the saloon busi- ness, retiring from the same when the prohibition amendment passed. He then engaged in the livery business, which he still continues, having built up a very satisfactory patronage; in fact, he has met with a reasonable degree of success in all his business enterprises, having worked hard and managed his affairs in an honest manner.
Mr. Dorland was married on July 4, 1862, to Laura Jane Smith, daugh- ter of Millard Smith, a very early settler of Fayette county. One daughter was born to this union, Ida, now Mrs. Lewis Lloyd.
Mr. and Mrs. Dorland reared two children other than their own: Leo, taken when three years old, and who is now operating an electric theater in
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West Union, is married and has five children; he lived with his foster par- ents until twenty-one years old. Hattie Bowser has lived in the family from infancy, and is now twenty-seven years old.
Mr. Dorland owns his barn and livery equipment and also a nice residence property in West Union. He has eleven head of suitable driving horses and proper vehicles for their use, in fact, everything that goes to make up a mod- ern livery stable. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, politically, is a Republican.
WALTER H. BEALL.
By a life consistent in motive and action and because of many commend- able personal attributes, Walter H. Beall, publisher of the West Union Argo- Gazette, has earned the sincere regard of all who know him, and because of his prominence in the public, business and social life of Fayette county, his name needs no introduction here. He was born in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, October 20, 1871. His father, Ithamer S. Beall, of Pennsylvania parentage and Mary- land stock, was born in Ohio, and came to Ringgold county, Iowa, in 1856. His mother, Charlotte Swan, of Massachusetts stock and parentage, was born in Maine and came to Ringgold county in 1857. They were married in 1858, and became the parents of four children, of whom the eldest daughter died in infancy; Mrs. W. W. Moffatt and R. S. Beall live at Mt. Ayr, Iowa ; and the subject of this sketch lived in or near that town practically all his life until he located in West Union in March, 1907. R. S. Beall died in 1876, and his widow still resides at Mt. Ayr.
Walter H. Beall was educated in the country and Mt. Ayr town schools, and spent three years in Simpson College at Indianola, but did not graduate. A year, 1891-2, between two years at college was spent in Des Moines as stenographer, and in June. 1893, he was taken into partnership by his brother in the business of publishing the Mt. Ayr Weekly News, a paper established by T. F. Armstrong a year before, their mother supplying the means for the venture. Neither of the brothers had previous experience in the business. but Walter H. has never followed any other line of business than that of a local newspaper since he first embarked therein. He was responsible for the organization of the Southwestern Iowa Editorial Association (now the Southern Iowa Editorial Association), proposing the idea and enlisting the co-operation of other editors of that town in inviting the newspaper men of
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southwestern Iowa to come to Mt. Ayr and organize, which was done in 1901. In 1894 the News was changed to a semi-weekly and so continued for thirteen years under the name Twice-a-Week News, enjoying fair prosperity, which greatly increased in 1905-6-7, until an advantageous sale was made and the business disposed of March 1, 1907. R. S. Beall had retired from the firm in 1899, the younger brother conducting the business from that time until he sold the paper eight years later.
A business visit to West Union in 1905 impressed Mr. Beall with the merits of the community, and three days after he gave up possession of the News at Mt. Ayr he was in West Union, owning the Argo and engaged in its publication, in which he has since continued. The Argo was founded in 1881 by Hobson Brothers. In April, 1910, he purchased the Gasette, founded in 1867 by Charles H. Talmadge, combining the two under the title Argo-Gasette. He has rendered it a potent factor in shaping public opinion and in fostering such movements as make for the general good of the com- munity.
Mr. Beall is a Republican, with a firm belief in progressive policies, and has taken a more or less active part in the politics ever since 1899. He has never aspired to office, his sole ambition being to be known as the publisher of a first-class local newspaper. He is chairman of the Fayette county Republican committee.
Mr. Beall was married June 30, 1897, to Maude Talley, also the child of pioneer people of Ringgold county, B. F. and Sarah C. (Keller) Talley. Mr. Talley died in September, 1907, Mrs. Talley now residing in West Union. Mr. and Mrs. Beall have an adopted son, Laurence, born in 1899. A pre- vious foster son, Harold, died in 1905. Mrs. Beall's nephew, Tru Talley, also made his home with them during the first six years of their married life. Mr. and Mrs. Beall have both been members of the Methodist church since childhood. Mrs. Beall carries much of the responsibility of the Argo man- agement, being as familiar with the conduct of a country newspaper as is her husband.
By close application to business and judicious management, he has made the Argo-Gazette one of the best papers of its type in eastern Iowa. Its col- umns teem with the brightest and best news of the day, and its mechanical ap- pearance is all that could be desired. It has been rendered valuable as an advertising medium, and its circulation is rapidly increasing. Mr. Beall is known to be a man of high integrity and honor and is deserving of the high esteem which is freely accorded him by every one, having the confidence and good will of all.
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