USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 34
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Mr. Dornbusch's holdings of farm land have constantly increased in size and value and he is now the possessor of more than eight hundred acres of valuable farm property. Of this, six hundred and forty-four acres are lo- cated in O'Brien county, one hundred sixty acres in South Dakota, and a tract of forty-four acres on the north edge of the town of Paullina is now the family homestead, being cultivated by Mr. Dornbusch and his sons, he being relieved of the more arduous labor which characterized the earlier years of his life. Truly a wonderful accomplishment, all this, for a man who started at the foot of the ladder and is yet in the prime of life.
Mr. Dornbusch is a firm believer in the principles of Democracy and . consistently votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the German Lutheran church of Paullina, but has not been interested in fraternal affairs, belonging to no lodges, but preferring to devote his time and his energies to his home and the upbringing of his family. Though a man who has labored assiduously and steadily, he has found time to take an interest in movements looking toward the general uplift of the community and is respected as one of the representative citizens of the county.
SELONIOUS BRUNDAGE.
Among the strong and influential citizens of Sac county the record of whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section, the gentleman whose name appears above occupies a prominent place and for years he has exerted a beneficial influence in the locality where he resides. His chief characteristics are keenness of perception, a tireless energy, hon- esty of purpose and motive, and every-day common sense, which have en- abled him not only to advance his own interests, but also largely contribute to the moral and material advancement of the community.
Selonious Brundage. a retired farmer of Sheldon. Iowa, was born April 25, 1866, in Canada and is the son of Philip and Eliza (Warren) Brundage. who also are natives of Canada. Philip Brundage and family came from Canada to Marshall county, Iowa, and settled near Lamoille in 1870 and con- tinued to reside in Marshall county until 1883, when they moved to O'Brien county and settled in Summit township where they purchased a farm. Philip Brundage died on his farm in 1899. To Mr. and Mrs. Philip Brundage were born six children: Mrs. Henrietta Wyatt, of Nebraska; William M., of Summit township: Mrs. Alameda Fitch, of Floyd township; Selonious, with
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whom this narrative deals: John, of Summit township, and Mrs. Anna Brad- ley, of Sheldon.
Selonious Brundage received his education in the common schools of Marshall and O'Brien counties. Iowa, starting early in life to follow the occupation of farming. He remained on the farm after completing his schooling and assisted his father. When he was twenty-one years of age he purchased land of his own and now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Summit township and a similar amount in Dakota.
Mr. Brundage was married March 23. 1898, to Lula Harkins. the daugliter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Harkins, and to this marriage has been born one daughter. Lulu Marie, who is still with her parents and is now attending school. Politically, Mr. Brundage is a Republican, but has never felt in- clined to take an active part in politics. He keeps well informed upon the current issues of the day and is able to discuss them intelligently. Frater- nally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Brundage's career in this county has been an honorable one and although leading the life of the simple and unostentatious farmer, yet he has done his duty as he saw it in all the relations of life. He has borne himself so that his relations with his fellow men have ever been above reproach and his good name be- yond criticism.
WILLIAM H. NOYES.
William H. Noyes, four years recorder of deeds and four years sheriff of O'Brien county, was born October 3. 1850, at Barnet, Caledonia county, Vermont. His family removed to Wisconsin in 1864, and at eight years of age he learned or commenced the tanner's trade, then the spool and bobbin business for three years, then a year on the farm, and then learned the print- er's trade at Elkader, Iowa. For Colonel Eibeck in 1868 he set type on the Osage Tribune, and later became editor himself of several Iowa papers. Later he became a fireman on the Milwaukee road and then vard master at Sheldon. He was married to Susan A. Smith in 1874. He was elected county recorder in 1882 and again in 1884. In 1887 he removed to Sanborn and the same spring was elected its mayor. In the latter part of the same year he removed to Primghar and engaged in the mercantile business. He was mayor of Primghar for two years. In the fall of 1889 the people again called him into service by electing him sheriff of O'Brien county over the popular Clark Green. Later on he removed to Minnesota, where he was a member of
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the Legislature of that state for several terms. He has since resided in Wis- consin, his old home, and took part, as an official. in some of the disturbances by the notorious Deitz in the famous defense of his claim and mill dam. He did duty in O'Brien county as one of the long-term officials, eight years, dur- ing which he was "hale fellow well met" and known as "Billy" Noyes.
ROY R. CRUM.
The profession of the pharmacist and the druggist is one requiring technical training and a large amount of native ability in order to make the profession a successful one. In fact there is no vocation, except that of the physician, which touches the life of the people any closer than that of the pharmacist. It is a matter of fact that all of the prescriptions of the best physicians are compounded by pharmacists and thus it is easy to see the relation which exists between the life of the people and the profession of pharmacy. Hence it is necessary that the pharmacist be a trained man in order to meet the requirements of his profession. Roy R. Crum is a man of sound judgment, discretion, fair technical knowledge and busi- ness ability of a high order and has managed his affairs with splendid success since coming to Sutherland.
Roy R. Crum was born in Terre Haute, Illinois, in 1878. and is the son of Pierce and Salina ( James) Crum. Pierce Crum was born in 1854 in Virginia, Illinois, and was for many years a professor in the seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He was a man of culture and re- finement, being a graduate of Adrian College in Michigan. He was killed in a railroad accident in 1884. Salina James, the wife of Pierce Crum, was born at LaHarpe, Illinois, in 1856. Pierce Crum and wife were married in 1869 and to this marriage were born five children: Charles E .; James E .; Mrs. Mable C. McManiman, of Galesburg, Illinois ; Virgil A., a lawyer of Portland, Oregon, and Roy R., whose history is here briefly sketched.
Roy R. Crum remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, and then started to work selling books. Later he qualified as an electri- cian and followed this profession for three years. At the end of that time he started to clerk in a drug store, but, realizing that a practical educa- tion was necessary, matriculated in the College of Pharmacy, at Des Moines. and graduated from that institution in 1901. After graduating he added
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to his practical experience by clerking in the drug store at Primghar, Iowa. in the employ of the E. G. Prist Drug Company. In 1902 he came to Sutherland and bought out the L. J. Price Drug Company and until re- cently maintained his store in this city. He carried a large and care- fully selected line of drugs and druggists' sundries, and by his earnest earnest efforts to please all who entered his store and by his sound business judgment he met with well deserved success in this enterprise.
Mr. Crum was married in 1901 to Florence B. Todd and to this union have been born four children, Rupert. Virgil, Samuel and Mary, all of whom are still at home with their parents. Politically, Mr. Crum identi- fies himself with that large and intelligent class of citizens who are not bound by party allegiance to vote for any particular candidate. He casts his vote for the best man at all times and feels that in so doing he is serving the interests of his country. He and his family are earnest men- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and give it their support at all times. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Yeomen and the Modern Woodmen of America. As a citi- zen he stands high in the esteem of his fellow men, being public spirited and progressive and at all times willing to lend his aid and influence in be- half of all enterprises for the material advancement of his city, and the intellectual, social and moral good of its people.
JOHN WEAL.
There have been few residents of O'Brien county, Iowa, who have come here from the sturdy little country of Wales in western England, but those who have made this country their home have been prosperous and sub- stantial citizens. The Welsh people have as interesting history as any of those in Europe and there are no finer citizens to be found in the United States today than those who came from that little mountainous country.
The late John Weal was born in Wales and reared to manhood in his native country. He was married in his native land to Gwen Jones and came with his wife to this country in 1894. Immediately upon coming to this country they settled in O'Brien county, Iowa, where they first purchased one hundred and seventeen acres of land in Waterman township. Mr. Weal proved to be a very successful farmer and within seventeen years he had accumulated a fine farm of five hundred and twenty acres in this county.
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Before his death, in 1909, he had retired from active work upon the farm and lived in Sutherland, where his widow is still living. The farm is high- ly improved and represents an investment of fifteen thousand dollars in addition to the price paid for the land. John Weal was married in 1894 to Gwen Jones, the daughter of William and Mary (Davis) Jones. Will- iam Jones was born in Wales in 1829 and his wife was born in the same country in 1825. William Jones began working as a wool buyer when nineteen years of age and followed this line of business until his death in 1899, dying at Builth Wells, Wales. He was married in 1848 to Mary Davis, and to this union thirteen children were born, eight of whom are still living and seven of the number still residing in Wales: William, Thomas, George, Mary, James, Ellen, Anna, and Gwen, the widow of Mr. Weal. William married Alice Evans and is a wool buyer. Thomas married Ellen Davis and followed the trade of a blacksmith: George mar- ried Elizabeth Lloyd and is a wool buyer: Mary is the wife of Thomas Weal, a carpenter; James is a painter and married Mary Hughes : Ellen is the wife of Rev. Morgan Thomas; Anna is the wife of Thomas Rich- ard. Mr. Weal died on the 9th of October, 1909. He was a member of the Church of England and in politics he was a Republican.
LEWIS WOODMAN.
It is interesting to note how the successful farmers of O'Brien county are gravitating to Sheldon, where they may spend their declining years in comfort and quietude. Scores of the finest residences in Sheldon have been built by farmers who have made their fortunes on the wide prairies of the county and then come to Sheldon to await their final summons. Among these worthy farmers who have made a success of farming in this county and have retired to Sheldon, there is no one more worthy of mention than Lewis Woodman, a retired farmer of Dale township.
Lewis Woodman was born April 4, 1845, in Alexander, Grafton county, New Hampshire, and is the son of David B. and Jane ( Patten) Woodman. David Woodman was born January 1, 1809, in Deerfield, New Hampshire, and died in 1886 in the state of his birth. To David B. Woodman and wife were born seven children : Mrs. Sarah J. Smith, of New Hampshire ; Mrs. Laura Downing, of New Hampshire; Mrs. Lydia Aldrich, of New Hamp-
LEWIS WOODMAN
X
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shire : Mrs. Susan C. White; George, who died in infancy ; Edward, a farmer of Kansas, and Lewis, whose history is here presented.
Lewis Woodman received a good common school education in the schools of New Hampshire and remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then decided to come west and seek his fortune and accordingly settled first in Clayton county, Iowa, where he worked out on a farm in the summer of 1867. Then he and his brother Edward purchased two hundred and forty acres in Poweshiek county and farmed it for the next eleven years. The land was a prairie at the time they purchased it, but they brought it under cultivation and have the satisfac- tion of seeing it yield handsome returns. In 1878 Lewis Woodman left Poweshiek county and came to Sac county. From Sac county he drove on through to O'Brien county and finally decided to settle in Dale township, although there were only two other families in the township at that time. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which had never been touched by the hand of man and about eight years later he added another one hundred and sixty acres in Summit township in this county. He now owns a total of three hundred and twenty acres of land in this county which is well improved in every way and nets him handsome returns on his invest- ment. He has five acres of orchard grove on his farm, a feature which is found on all of the better farms of the county. Several years ago Mr. Woodman decided to retire from active farming and at the time moved to Primghar, where he lived for seven years. However, his love for the farm drew him back and in 1907 he went back to his farm and remained until 1910, when he permanently retired to Sheldon. He has two lots and a beautiful residence at Sheldon where he is now living a life of ease.
Mr. Woodman was married in 1873 in Tama county, Iowa, to AAmanda Voorhees. To this marriage were born four children: George O., of North Dakota : William B., of Montana ; Andrew L., of Nebraska, and Mrs. Lillie M. Barnett, of Montana. On December 23, 1891, Mr. Woodman was married a second time to Mrs. Mary E. Quigley. Politically, Mr. Wood- man is a Progressive in his belief, but not in party affiliations. He prefers to be classed as independent, with progressive tendencies. It is noticeable that there are a large number of men throughout the county who are of the same opinion as Mr. Woodman in regard to their politics. He belongs to the Congregational church with his family and contributes liberally of his substance to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Primghar.
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Mrs. Woodman's father was Simeon Mead, of New York, who came to Iowa in the early days and died at Cedar Falls. Her mother passed away in Dale township, having spent her later days with her daughter, Mrs. Woodman.
DR. WILLIAM H. KENDERDINE.
The true western spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly ex- emplified in the lives of such men as Doctor Kenderdine, men whose ener- getic nature and laudable ambitions have enabled them to conquer many adverse circumstances and advance steadily to leading positions in the pro- fessional and business life of the communities in which they reside. Doctor Kenderdine is a worthy representative of the dental practitioners of this section of Iowa and has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in the town of Sutherland. O'Brien county, for the past thir- teen years.
Dr. William H. Kenderdine, a successful dentist and popular citizen of Sutherland, was born in Clay county, Iowa, in 1875, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Reeves) Kenderdine. Thomas Kenderdine was born in 1843 in England and was reared to manhood in his native country, fol- lowing the vocation of a farmer. In young manhood he came to America and settled in Ohio. where he worked as a farm laborer for a few years. after which he went to Iowa, settling in Clay county, where he homesteaded a tract of land, thereby securing a good farm in that county. In 1903 he retired from active farm life and moved to Dickens, Clay county, where he is now living. Thomas Kenderdine and wife were the parents of two children. Thomas, a farmer in Canada, and Dr. William H., with whom this narrative deals.
Dr. William H. Kenderdine was given a good common school educa- tion and afterwards took a two-years' course in the Nora Springs high school, where he graduated. after which he taught school for a time. He then took a position as clerk in a grocery store, where he worked for a short time and afterwards went to work in the office of Doctor Peck, a dentist at Spencer, Iowa. After working there for one year he went to Iowa City and entered the College of Dentistry, from which institution he graduated three years later. He immediately entered upon the active prac- tice of his profession, at Peterson, Iowa, and one year later moved to Sutherland, O'Brien county, where he has been actively engaged in the
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practice of his profession since 1901. He possesses a thorough knowledge of his work and keeps in touch with the latest advances made in the science of dentistry, being numbered among the ablest and most successful in his line in this section of that state. He owns a handsome home in Sutherland. as well as one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota.
Doctor Kenderdine was married in 1904 to Alma Colby, the daughter of Mrs. Nellie Colby, and to this union has been born one son, Harold. Politically, Doctor Kenderdine belongs to that large class of intelligent citizens who reserve the right to cast their votes for the best men, feeling that in so doing they are giving the country the best service within their power. Fraternally, the Doctor is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias, of Sutherland. Doctor Ken- derdine is a straightforward, conscientious man and his fellow citizens have marked confidence in him because of his public spirit and splendid personal qualities. Personally, he is a genial and companionable man and is popular in the various circles in which he moves.
ROBERT JOHN MOORHEAD.
Among the prosperous young business men of Sutherland. O'Brien county, Iowa, is Robert John Moorhead, who has been associated with Me- dealt & Cannon in the grain business in this city since March 1. 1914, yet has already impressed those with whom he has been associated as a man of exceptional ability. Previous experience as a farmer has made him well quali- fied as a grain dealer and his capable management of his business in this city is fast winning for him the confidence of the farmers of this locality. He is the son of George and Anna ( Willis) Moorhead, and was born at Gar- rison. Benton county, Iowa, in 1881.
George Moorhead was born in Ireland in 1840, grew to manhood and married in his native country and came to the United States in 1868 and lo- cated at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh he worked for Jones & Laughlin in the steel mills for several years. He then came to Garrison, Benton county, Iowa, where he lived several years and farmed rented land, and in 1884 he came to O'Brien county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land near the city of Paullina. He improved his farm and had the satisfaction of seeing it yield handsome returns on his investment. In 1904 he bought another quarter section of land and continued to farm until 1910 when he retired and moved to Paullina, where he is now living.
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George Moorhead was married to Anna Willis, who was born in Ire- land in 1854. To this union have been born four children: Andrew, who is now tending the home farm: Jennie married James Conn, a farmer living near Primghar, in this county: Helena, who is still living with her brother on the home farm, and Robert J.
Robert J. Moorhead received a good common school education and as- sisted his father upon the home farm until March 1, 1914, when he began to deal in grain in Sutherland. Previous to that time he had purchased a quarter section of land in Spink county, South Dakota, near Redfield. and has owned this since 1910. Mr. Moorhead has been in business only a short time at Sutherland, but in that time he has demonstrated his fitness to be classed among the progressive business men of his city.
Mr. Moorhead is unmarried. He is a stanch Republican in politics, although he has never had the time to take any active part in political af- fairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, belonging to Lodge No. 499 at Paullina. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Paullina and is a liberal supporter of its various ac- tivities. Mr. Moorhead is a young man with fine prospects for the future and his success in the past presages a successful career for him. He is a man of genial disposition and kindly manner and wins friends wherever he goes.
GEORGE L. JONES.
Among the successful farmers and business men of this community, George L. Jones has had much to do in advancing the material interests of O'Brien county, making it one of the important agricultural and commercial centers of this section of the state. A study of his life cannot fail of interest and incentive, for he has not only been distinctly representative in his sphere of endeavor, but has established a firm reputation for integrity and honor and is now actively identified with the Farmers Elevator Company as man- ager and is numbered among the substantial and worthy citizens of his com- munity, and no one more than he deserves representation in a work of this character.
George L. Jones, the manager of the Farmers Elevator Company, of Ritter, Iowa, was born in 1865, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, the son of James and Mary (Howell) Jones. James Jones was born in Wales in 1821, and came with his parents to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, when he was but three years of age. Upon reaching his majority he engaged in the
GEORGE L. JONES
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occupation of farming and became a prosperous farmer in that county, own- ing one hundred and ninety-six acres at the time of his death. He was mar- ried in 1859 to Mary Howell, who was born in 1831, and she is still living in Bradford county, Pennsylvania. To James Jones and wife were born nine children : Mrs. Marion Green, who lives in Pennsylvania; Martin, deceased ; Arthur, who is a resident of New York state: Benjamin, of Sioux county, this state; Martha, deceased; Mrs. Addie Whitaker, of Bradford county, Penn- sylvania : Mrs. Anna Williams, also of Bradford county, Pennsylvania ; Elmer, of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and George L., whose history is here portrayed.
George L. Jones received his education in Bradford county, Pennsyl- vania, and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1888 he came west and settled in Sioux county, Iowa, where he lived on a rented farm for one year, after which he went back to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, married and followed the occupation of a farmer in that state for six years. He bought one hundred and ninety-six acres of land in his native county and operated it until he sold out in 1896. when he came back to Iowa, settling in O'Brien county. He first rented three hun- dred and twenty acres of land in this county, which he operated for a short time, afterwards moving to Sioux county, Iowa, and rented land there for the next seven years. At one time he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land in Minnesota, which was well improved, and at this time has an interest in one hundred and sixty acres in O'Brien county, and also owns an interest in the Farmers Elevator Company, of Ritter, of which he is the present manager. He also takes an active interest in the breeding of blooded horses, making a specialty of Percheron horses and takes much pride in his stock, which took first prize at the Sheldon fair in 1905 and again in 1909.
Mr. Jones was married in Pennsylvania in 1890 to Agnes Davis, who was born in 1869 in that state, and to this union there have been born four children, Harriett and Leigh, who are both in the high school at Sheldon, and James and Gordon, who are both deceased.
Mr. Jones has always taken an active interest in politics and while liv- ing in Sioux county, Iowa, was township trustee for one term and assessor for one term. He and his family are earnest and faithful members of the Congregational church and subscribe generously to the support of that denomination. Mr. Jones has made his way through the world unaided and attributes his success solely to his own undivided efforts. He persevered because he had the determination and ability to take advantage of oppor- tunities as they presented themselves, and make the most of them.
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