USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 47
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Mr. Lister has met with some success as a business man, proving that he possesses fair business acumen, energy and foresight by his able management of whatever he has turned his attention to, having had experience covering a wide range. He has made a fair success of the local opera house and brought it up to standard, it now ranking with theaters in cities much larger than Newton, a good class of attraction being constantly booked. He keeps everything in fair order and his attractions draw large crowds, at times many from other towns.
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Mr. Lister at one time made a trip to England, his early home, which he left when a babe. While on this visit he made most of the trip from London to Paris on a bicycle. At present he lives in Des Moines, but spends most of his time in Newton. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Newton. Personally, he is a genial, obliging, genteel gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.
CHARLES W. WINN.
There are few people in Newton or in Jasper county who do not know Charles W. Winn, a progressive merchant and representative citizen. The chief reason why this is true is that he possesses a never-failing fund of humor and is a man blessed with that wealth of human sympathy which always en- dears one so favored to his fellow men. No gathering of a social nature but receives an added spice if he be present, for he can always be relied upon to make a happy little speech or tell a quaint and funny story. This genial, obliging and popular gentleman was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, March 5, 1844, and he is the son of J. W. and Harriet ( Virden ) Winn, both natives of Ohio. His father was a merchant and came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1854. The trip was made in an old-fashioned "prairie schooner," through a country more or less wild, over unbridged streams, rough roads, and filled with all kinds of wild game. The father purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Henry county, Jowa, but the hardships and loneliness of pioneer life caused him to turn his attention away from home-building in a new country in less than a year and he went back to Ohio, his son returning with him. In 1863 Charles W. Winn again left Ohio and went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked at different things for two years. He then returned to Ohio and on May 1, 1866, was united in marriage with Eunice Thomas, daughter of David and (Hewett) Thomas, natives of Pennsylvania. Both these parents are now deceased, as are those of Mr. Winn also.
To Mr. and Mrs. Winn five children have been born, namely : Orlando, who has remained unmarried, resides in Newton ; Estella Laird, wife of J. L. Laird, lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Harvey W., who is married, is a prominent business man in Ft. Worth, Texas; Frank D., who is yet single, lives in Des Moines : Blanch, who is a successful teacher, has remained single and is living at home.
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In 1866 Mr. Winn again moved from Ohio to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he bought and improved a farm, living on it for several years. Later, in 1878, he came to Newton, Jasper county, and in this vicinity again engaged in farming pursuits with his usual success. He then turned his attention to the shoe business, which he has followed ever since, having been in his present location in Newton, either as clerk or proprietor, for a period of twenty- three years. He has one of the neatest, best arranged and best known stores in the county, which is always carefully stocked with an up-to-date and at- tractive line of footwear of every description, and his trade has constantly grown, now extending to all parts of the locality. A criterion of his honesty and courtesy to patrons is seen in the fact that many of his best customers are of ten or twenty years' standing.
Mr. Winn is one of eight brothers and sisters, three of whom are still living, namely : Isaac makes his home in Ohio; Frank D. lives in Idaho; and himself. Mr. Winn and his family are members of the Presbyterian church of Newton, of which he is an elder. In politics he is a Democrat and. fraternally, belongs to the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He has always manifested an abiding interest in the growth of Jasper county and has always readily supported every movement calculated to augment the same.
ALVIN C. GATES.
Alvin C. Gates, who was born in Ashland, Ohio. October 14. 1855, is the son of E. N. and Sarah (Cunningham) Gates, the father being a native of Vermont and the mother of Ohio. It was in the year 1840 that the father came to Ashland, Ohio, and engaged in the practice of law. Here he met and married his wife and here he resided until 1857, when he came to Geneseo, Illi- nois, again engaging in the law business. Mr. Gates's reason for stopping at this point was that he might wait until the railroad should have been built farther west.
Before leaving Ohio, the father had, in 1854, journeyed to Jasper county, Iowa, and entered something over four thousand acres of land from the gov- ernment. paying the regulation government price of one dollar and a half per acre for it. It was situated in different parts of the county. It was this wise and far-seeing move on the part of the father which laid the foundation of the Gates fortune, which is considerable.
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In June, 1860, the father finally came to Jasper county, settling in New- ton. A year later he moved out on one of his big farms a mile and a half northeast of Newton. After this, although he still practiced law to some extent, he practically gave up his profession, giving his attention to his vast farming interests.
E. N. Gates was one of the able lawyers of his time. He was also a brilliant and forceful orator and a man of fine public spirit. During the war he was'commander of the board of enrollment for the sixth congressional dis- trict of lowa, acting as attorney and settling all legal questions. On account of this position he was ever afterwards called "Judge" Gates. He was very prominent in the state Grange of his time. He died in Newton in December. 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years.
AAlvin C. Gates, the subject of this sketch, is one of six children, all boys, of whom but two are living. Three died in infancy ; Sumner E., who died in Jasper county in 1900, was born in Ohio and at his death was a farmer of considerable means: Lorin .A .. who was born in Illinois, in 1858. resides in Newton, was formerly engaged in the mercantile business. but is now engaged in oil operations in Kansas.
Alvin Gates attended law school at Iowa City in 1876-77 and graduated from that school, afterwards opening a law office in Newton, where he en- gaged in the general practice of law for four years. Disliking the work, he purchased a livery stable in Newton, which he conducted for three years. He was then appointed deputy sheriff under 1. L. Patten, which office he filled for three years. Next he was elected city clerk and superintendent of the Newton light and water plant, which position he held seventeen years. During the latter part of that time Mr. Gates and George Parsons organized the G. W. Parsons Company, of which Mr. Gates is secretary and treasurer. This com- pany manufacture heavy excavating machinery, selling their products all over the United States and in foreign countries. He is also vice-president of the One Minute Manufacturing Company, known all over the United States. Mr. Gates also has other interests of importance, owning some valuable lands. He is a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, AAncient Free and Accepted Masons, also Gebal Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons, and Oriental Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar, also Za-Ga-Zig Temple, Ancient Arabian Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Des Moines, lowa. Mr. Gates is also a mem- ber of Des Moines Lodge No. 98. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On December 5, 1877, Mr. Gates was married to Jennie, daughter of Ephraim and Martha ( Harvin) Bennett, both natives of Iowa. Mrs. Gates is one of three children, two of whom are dead. Adam and David. Mrs.
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Gates was born January 23, 1860, and is a woman of rare culture and re- finement. She is also prominent socially, being a member of the local chapter of the P. E. O. She is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. To this couple have been born four children, one only surviving at this writing : Grace and Glen, twins, born 1879: Grace died in 1880 and Glen in 1889: Earl, born in Newton in 1889, resides in Newton. He is shipping clerk for the Parsons Company. He was recently united in marriage with Catherine Wilson, of Newton : Harry Dale, born in 1893, died in Newton in 1894.
ALBERT I. BAKER.
Among the men who have been instrumental in public affairs is Albert I. Baker, of Newton, a man eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all classes, and whose name should be perpetuated in the history of his locality, partly because of his honored and untiring efforts in upbuilding the same and partly because he has led a worthy and consistent life, also because he is the scion of one of the prominent and influential old pioneer families, the type that has made the great Mississippi valley rival that of the Nile in medieval times.
Mr. Baker was born in Livingston county, Illinois, December 1, 1864. and he is the son of William E. and Sarah ( Chesebro) Baker, both natives of New York. His mother's parents were pioneers of Livingston county, Illi- nois, having built the second house in Sullivan township. there, and for, many years they farmed extensively in that county. William E. Baker was reared in Cincinnati, Ohio, and he came from there to Livingston county, Illinois. when a very young man, where he located on a section of land purchased by his father and here he was married. There is no more prominent man in Liv- ingston county, Illinois, today than the subject's father. for he has at all times been active in politics and has held numerous township and county offices, having twice been a member of the county board of supervisors. He was at one time mayor of the town of. Dwight. Illinois, and was also a mem- ber of the board of education there. After leaving Dwight he moved to Fair- bury, in the same county, where he was appointed postmaster under Cleve- land. Upon retiring from the postoffice in 1890 he was elected county treas- urer on the Democratic ticket, having resigned the position as postmaster to accept same. During his term as treasurer he was elected chairman of the Democratic county committee, in which capacity he served through two
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different campaigns, winning in both. Since going out of office he has been appointed on the board of review for the apportionment of taxes for his county. At present he is residing in Pontiac, the county seat, and is serving as justice of the peace for Pontiac township. having been elected in 1909 by both parties. He is serving in this capacity with his usual ability and satis- faction. Although Mr. Baker is now seventy-three years of age. , he is hale and hearty and an interesting man to know, being of the finest characteristics and well informed on all public questions. His wife is now sixty-six years old, and they have a host of warm friends. Their family consists of six chil- dren, an equal number of boys and girls. namely: Albert I., of this review : Clark E., a photographer of Smithfield, Utah; Stevens R., an attorney in Pontiac; Helen lives in Pontiac; Della, who married a ranchman, lives in Kalispel, Montana, and Isabel, in Pontiac.
When eighteen years of age .Albert I. Baker began working as an assist- ant bookkeeper and cashier in a large general store at Fairbury, Illinois, and there he remained three years, giving his employers the utmost satisfaction. Then he and his brother Clark established The Fairbury News, a weekly paper which flourished for three years, when the plant burned. The following day both brothers accepted a partnership with The Fairbury Blade, where they remained two years. Clark Baker then went to Utah and in December, 1890, Albert I. Baker was appointed deputy clerk of Livingston county under John C. George and served four years. AAfter, that he spent over three years in Elkhart, Indiana, as head bookkeeper for the National Paper and Supply Company, and it was while living there that he met and married Mrs. Har- riet A. Gruber, nec Dodson, she being the widowed daughter of James J. and Jane (McLean ) Dodson, both of Ontario, Canada, where the father had been a merchant ; he is now deceased ; his widow is making her home in Buffalo. New York, and is now seventy-four years old.
One child, a son, born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, died in infancy.
In November, 1898, Mr. Baker came to Newton, Jasper county, and purchased the Iowa State Democrat, which he sold after running it less than a year, then engaged with the Iowa Mercantile Company, filling the position of bookkeeper and cashier with his asual ability and fidelity for a period of four years. The next two years he was storekeeper and purchasing agent for the Parsons Self Feeder Company. On June 1, 1906. he became auditor and credit man, for the One Minute Manufacturing Company, which position he still holds, performing his duties in a manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and to the entire satisfaction of his employers. He owns a beauti- ful modern home in Newton. He and his wife are both members of the
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Methodist Episcopal church at Newton, Mr. Baker being one of the trustees. He has always taken an active interest in politics. especially since coming to Newton. He has acted as secretary of the Democratic central committee of the county and it is in a great measure due to his efforts that the party has been placed on a successful basis. Fraternally, he is a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and he is a dimitted member of Newton Chapter No. 100, Order of the Eastern Star, of which his wife also is a member. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen at Newton. He is a genial, kindly man whom it is a pleasure to meet. well informed on current topics on which men and parties divide and is acquainted with the world's best literature. He is one of those sincere, honest, public-spirited citizens who are a credit to any com- munity. for while laboring to advance their own interests they never lose sight of their obligations to their neighbors and the general public.
GEORGE M. ALLEN.
There are always valuable lessons to be gained in perusing the life his- tories of such men as the late George M. Allen, one of Jasper county's most popular citizens whose life forcibly illustrated what energy, integrity and a fixed purpose can accomplish when animated by noble aims and correct ideals. During the years of his residence in the county he held the unequivocal con- fidence and esteem of those with whom he came into contact, for he was a man whom to know was to trust and admire owing to his many commendable attributes of head and heart, when the "reaper whose name is death" gath- ered him in its sheaves while in the fullness of his strength and the prime of useful manhood, his irreparable loss to the community was keenly felt by all.
Mr. Allen was born in this county on December 17, 1869, the son of James T. and Sarah E. Allen. the father a soldier in the Civil war, having been a member of Company G. Seventh Iowa Cavalry, and his death occurred when his son George was thirteen years of age. Left fatherless thus early in life, it became necessary for him to put his shoulder to the wheel, and, nothing daunted, he pushed forward through every obstacle, proving his sterling in- nate mettle. He was educated in the public schools and for two years he at- tended the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, from which institution he was graduated in 1890. He was a good student and advanced rapidly. and when he was ready to begin a career for himself he was well equipped.
Jurin allen
5 PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTON, LENEX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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Turning his attention to the clothing business, he entered the employ of G. M. Hoyt & Company. Later he formed a partnership with J. E. Ammons, succeeding the first named concern, but a few years later he and Mr. Ammons dissolved partnership, and Mr. Allen associated himself with J. T. Pound in the same business. He later sold his business to a Mr. Bock and in the spring of 1908 he formed a partnership with Fred A. Jones, under the firm name of Jones & Allen, clothiers, which partnership was continued until dissolved by the death of Mr. Allen, on July 21, 1910. He was regarded as one of the leading merchants of Newton, and always enjoyed a good trade with the sur- rounding country as well as the city, for he was uniformly courteous and considerate to his hundreds of patrons, all of whom were his friends, for he believed in injecting the Golden Rule into his every-day affairs and he there- fore had not only the confidence but the good will of those with whom he had dealings. He was a man of good judgment, keen discernment and managed well, consequently he was succeeding most admirably when his career was . suddenly cut short by the common fate of humanity.
On June 17, 1896, Mr. Allen was united in marriage with Grace Hough, who survives him. She was the daughter of William H. and Sarah E. ( Bond ) Hough, both natives of Virginia, born in the Shenandoah valley in Loudon county, where Mr. Hough was a prominent and influential Quaker. Mr. and and Mrs. Hough were married at Waterford, Loudoun county, Virginia. May 22, 1850, and they came to Iowa in 1858. locating in Newton, and for a time Mr. Hough freighted goods between that city and Grinnell. He was a man of much native ability and he took considerable interest in political affairs and was highly respected wherever he was known. For many years he owned and conducted a grocery store here. He was elected county recorder of this county on the Republican ticket for two terms, performing the duties of that office in a most satisfactory manner. His death occurred in Newton on April 16, 1894, when seventy-one years of age, his birth having occurred on Novem- ber 27, 1823. He was a member of the Methodist church and a prominent worker in the same, having united with the same soon after he came to Newton, although he had been reared a Quaker. For many years he was class leader in the local congregation and he also served his church as treasurer. His wife was born on January 17, 1832. and her death occurred in Newton on October 20, 1908. She was a woman of the finest personal characteristics.
Mrs. Grace (Hough ) Allen was born in the house which she now occupies, on January 25, 1872. and it has been her home ever since. All her girlhood pleasures are connected with the place, the joys of her young wife-
(33)
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hood, and later the place became hallowed to her as the place wherein her devoted life companion spent his last days on earth and also as the place from which both her beloved parents passed into the mystic beyond. and here, too, she was led to the happy hymeneal altar.
Mrs. Allen was graduated from the local high school in 1890, and she has been prominent in musical affairs from childhood. She is now a inember of the choir of the Methodist Episcopal church; in fact, she has been singing in this choir since she was a school girl. She has a splendid alto voice which delights all who have the pleasure of hearing her sing. Mr. Allen was also a singer of exceptional ability as well as a thorough musician, and for years he was a well known figure in the choir of the Methodist church with his wife, and he was also a member of the Newton band. His voice, rare and well trained, was frequently heard at funerals and upon memorial occasions.
Besides Mrs. Allen, the following children constituted the family of Mr. .and Mrs. William H. Hough : Mrs. E. E. McCord, Arthur and Fred, all living in Newton.
Surviving Mr. Allen, besides his wife, is a sister, Mrs. Carrie Rice, of Pueblo, Colorado, and Roy Allen, who is in the printing business in Newton.
At the time of his death Mr. Allen was treasurer of the Methodist church. He was a prominent Mason, being a member of the blue lodge; he was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a charter member of the Newton Hunting and Fishing Club. He had no children. He was a man of engaging personality, genial, kind and generous almost to a fault, ever true to all that was best and noblest. All who knew him felt the personal charm of the man, for they knew him to be a man not only of exceptional ability, but an advocate of all that meant progress in material, civic and moral lines.
WILLIAM M. BOYD.
We of the present generation do not fully realize what it meant for the young men of half a century ago, with life's bright promises before them, to leave business, the comforts of home and the pleasures of associations with family and friends and go out to do or die in the world's greatest war, in which they suffered indescribably, at times, during four long, dreary years, "in order that the nation might live." But they, our honored sires. did it. gladly and well, and today no man should be the recipient of greater esteem by us than the old veteran, who wore the blue. One such was William M.
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Boyd, long a highly respected citizen of Jasper county, who was born in Cen- ter county, Tennessee, January 22, 1843, and he was the son of John and Sarah (Beldon) Boyd, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of North Carolina. The latter came with her people to Tennessee with her parents when young and there met John Boyd and they were subsequently married by the noted "Parson Brownlow," a prominent preacher and poli- tician of his time. Mr. Boyd devoted his life to farming and carpentering and his death occurred in Jonesborough, Tennessee. at the advanced age of ninety years. He was influential in his community in public matters, and he and his oldest son were soldiers in the Mexican war, the father rising to the rank of first lieutenant. He was twice married and William M., of this review, is one of three brothers by the first marriage: Samuel T. died in Tennessee in 1909; James I. lives in Shelby county, Iowa. Nine children were born to the second marriage.
William M. Boyd left home with his father's brother when fifteen years of age and came to Illinois where he worked as a farm hand four years, then in 1854 he came to Jasper county, lowa, when the country was new, settling in Poweshiek township where he worked as a farm hand until he responded to his country's call and enlisted in Newton, in Company B. Forty-eighth lowa Volunteer Infantry, in the western division of the Federal army, under "Fight- ing Joe" Hooker. Ile was sent to Davenport, where he did guard duty, and later sent to Chicago to prevent a possible attempt to free a number of Con- federate prisoners held there. Returning to Rock Island, he was honorably discharged at the close of 1864 and returned to Jasper county, where he pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land, raw prairie, having long since transformed it into a splendid farm, well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and on which he was very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
In March, 1857, Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Amanda Sewell, daughter of John Sewell. a native of Indiana, and to this union three children were born, two sons and one daughter : Samuel died in infancy; Ella married Jonathan Lacy and resides in Colfax, this county : Sarah D. married a Mr. Patterson, a grain dealer of Mitchellville, Iowa.
The first wife of Mr. Boyd died in 1863 and in 1865. upon returning from the war. he married Margaret Martindale, a widow, and to this union seven children were born, all of whom are living, namely: Dr. F. E., of Colfax; Edward, who conducts a "bus" line in Newton : L. J. is a traveling salesman, out of Beatrice, Nebraska: H. C. is a druggist in Mason City : Bertrus is the wife of Sumner Baker, a merchant who lives in Maringo, this
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county ; Theodosia is unmarried and is living at home; Linnie is the wife of Richard Sharp, a miner of this county.
Until seven years ago, Mr. Boyd carried on active farm work, then re- tired and moved to Colfax, where he purchased a neat, substantial and com- fortable residence in which he spent his old age in the midst of plenty as a result of former years of activity. His death occurred on July 3, 191I.
He was always a man who had the public welfare at heart, and he served in nearly all the township offices. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Colfax, and he belonged to the E. D. Duncan Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was commander for several years. He belonged to Riverside Lodge No. 53. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Colfax, and he belonged to Oriental Commandery No. 22, Knights Tem- plar. at Newton, and to. the chapter of Royal Arch Masons: he had been a Mason since 1863. He was the recent overseer of the poor at Colfax and one of the commissioners of the soldiers' relief commission, and he was a member of the city council. In every capacity in which he served the public he acted conscientiously and won the approval of all concerned.
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