USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 17
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John M. Thom, the father of George I. Thom, was a native of Indiana, but was reared in Pennsylvania and was married there to Eleanor Jane Ellis, who was his second wife and the mother of George I. Thom. By trade the father was a millwright, following that pursuit throughout his active business career. In an carly day he sought a home in the west amid the broader business opportunities to be found in this portion of the country, and, removing to Minnesota, he there built and operated a mill. Subsequently he went to California, where he worked at his trade for some time, but after- ward returned to Pennsylvania and there joined his family. He continued as a millwright in
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the Keystone state until 1882, when he came to Iowa, settling near Charlotte, in Clinton county, where he owned and conducted a mill.
George I. Thom was reared to manhood in Clinton county and pursued his education in the schools of Charlotte and DeWitt. About 1882 he came to Woodbury county, where he worked at the milling business, which he had learned umder the direction of his father. Later he turned his attention to farming and in 1887 he came to Correctionville, where he began a transfer business, conducting a dray and ex- press line. He now owns and employs several teams used in this business. He is messenger for the American Express Company and handles all the express that is transferred here. In the transfer business he has secured a large patron- age and is one of the successful and prosperous men of the town. He purchased here a good residence, which he has remodeled and im- proved, and now has a very desirable home.
Politically Mr. Thom is a stanch Republican, giving unfaltering support to the men and meas- ures of his party. He was elected and served as a member of the town eouneil for about seven years and in 1902 he was chosen mayor of Cor- rectionville for a term of two years, so that he is the present incumbent in the office. He has ever been most loyal and true to the trusts re- posed in him and while he gives an economic and business-like administration his work is also characterized by a progressive spirit that has accomplished much good for the city.
Mr. Thom was married in Woodbury county, November 21, 1879, to Miss Ellen M. Orner, a native of Wisconsin, who came to Woodbury county when a maiden of eight summers. She was reared and educated here and is a daughter of Isaac Orner, a native of Ohio, who spent his youth in Indiana, whence he afterward went to Wisconsin and was married there to Elizabeth Ashmore, a native of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Thom have seven children : Elizabeth Jane, who is a teacher of Woodbury county ; George A., who holds a good business position ; Margaret,
who is a student in the high school; Robert, Er- nest, Raymond and Victor. They also lost their first born, John, who died in infancy. Mrs. Thom is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Thom belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being identified with the blue lodge at Correctionville and with Kingsley Chapter, R. A. M. He served through all the chairs, in- eluding that of junior warden, and for two years has been master of the lodge. He is like- wise identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, has filled all of its offices and is a past chancellor, while on several occasions he has been representative to the grand lodge. Mr. Thom has been a resident of Woodbury county for a quarter of a century, has seen the wild land transformed into good farms, fences built and roads laid out, while towns and villages have sprung up and all the improvements of modern civilization have been introduced. As an early settler he deserves mention in this vol- ume, and, moreover, is entitled to recognition because of his active and helpful co-operation in many measures contributing to public prog- ress and improvement.
F. M. MOLYNEUX.
F. M. Molyneux is engaged in the practice of law in Woodbury county, making his home in Correctionville. He has practiced, how- ever, in the different courts of the state during the past eleven years and has been a resident of Iowa since 1867, while in Woodbury coun- ty he has lived since 1891. Mr. Molyneux was but a lad of nine years at the time of his arrival in Iowa, his birth having occurred in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, January 24, 1858. The family is of English lineage and was founded in America by William Moly- neux, the great-grandfather, who emigrated from England to America with his family, settling in the Keystone state. He was among
F. M. MOLYNEUX AND FAMILY.
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the early residents of Pennsylvania. At the time of the Revolutionary war he was pressed into the British navy and served until he could make his escape, when with three others he managed to gain his liberty and became a resi- dent of Sullivan county, Pennsylvania. Thom- as Molyneux, the grandfather, was born in England and accompanied his parents to the United States. He grew to manhood, was mar- ried and among his children was Henry Moly- neux, also a native of Pennsylvania. He was reared in Sullivan county and was there mar- ried to Miss Ella Warburton, also a native of England, who spent her girlhood days in the Keystone state. Henry Molyneux was a me- chanie of considerable ingenuity and ability and learned and followed the millwright's trade. In 1867 he removed to Iowa, settling in Chero- kee county, where he worked as a millwright for several years. He then settled upon a homestead farm, being one of the early resi- dents of Pilot township, where he spent his re- maining days. His wife was killed in a tor- nado in 1894.
F. M. Molyneux passed the days of his boy- hood and youth on the old family homestead in Cherokee county, attended the common schools, afterward pursued a more advanced education in higher institutions of learning and subsequently became a teacher, following that profession for several years. He was later engaged in the real estate business at Wakefield and Chadron until he was admitted to the bar. He next took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar at Chadron, Ne- braska, in 1898, while later he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Iowa. He then entered upon his professional career in Nebraska and subsequently spent one year in travel, largely visiting the southern states, including Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Missis- sippi, Arkansas and Missouri. In 1892 he came to Correctionville, where he opened a law office and has since secured a good patron- age. He practiced in all the courts of the
state and is a successful representative of the legal fraternity, having accurate and compre- hensive knowledge of the principles of juris- prudence, while in the preparation of cases he is thorough and exaet, carefully studying every point that may be brought to bear with force on his presentation of the case.
Politieally Mr. Molyneux is a stanch Demo- crat and supports the men and measures of the party with earnestness and zeal. He has been chosen by popular suffrage to the position of city counsel, acting in that capacity for a num- ber of years and in community affairs he is deeply interested, as is manifested by his active co-operation in many measures for the general good.
In 1882 Mr. Molyneux was united in mar- riage in Cherokee, Iowa, to Miss Jennie San- born, a native of New Hampshire, who was reared, however, in this state and educated in Cherokee. She successfully engaged in teach- ing prior to her marriage. She has become the mother of two children, Guy and Russell, who are students in the city schools. They also lost two children, Blanche, who died at the age of two years; and Ray, who died at the age of three years. Mr. Molyneux has built a good residence in Correctionville and his family are very comfortably situated. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and is ever true to the tenets of the craft, while in his life he exemplified its beneficent teachings.
CHARLES E. RUGGLES.
Charles E. Ruggles, whose identification with business interests of Sioux City dated from 1882 until the time of his death, was a furniture merchant whose energy and enterprise were numbered among his strong and salient char- aeteristics. He was born in Fairfield, Ohio, May 26, 1856, his parents being Eli and Mary (Ruggles) Ruggles, both of whom were natives of Boston, Massachusetts. The father removed
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from that city to Fairfield, Ohio, and there en- views and he belonged to the Modern Woodmen gaged in the furniture and undertaking business for several years. He afterward located in Charlotte, Michigan, where he conducted a simi- lar enterprise for several years, but on account of ill health he removed to the south, where he has since made his home. He is now living re- tired and resides in Atlanta, Georgia. His wife died in Dawson, Georgia, in 1890.
Charles E. Ruggles was educated in the com- mon schools of Charlotte, Michigan, and became familiar with the furniture business as his father's assistant there. He finally began busi- ness on his own account in the same way and conducted a furniture store in Charlotte until 1882, when he came to Sioux City. Here he entered into partnership with Captain Miller and established a furniture store at the corner of Ninth and Douglas streets. They conducted the business at that place for a few years, at the end of which time Mr. Ruggles removed his stock to 413 Water street, where he conducted a retail furniture store throughout his remain- ing days. He was ill only a brief period and he died on the anniversary of his birth, May 26, 1892.
In 1883 Mr. Ruggles had married Miss Char- lotte S. Goldie, a native of Sioux City and a daughter of Robert and Martha (Harris) Gold- ie. Her father is deceased and her mother, now Mrs. Charles F. Hoyt, resides in Sioux City. Sketches of both Robert Goldie and Charles F. Hoyt are given on other pages of this volume. Two children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Rng- gles, both of whom reside with their mother: Ralph Edwin, born November 4, 1886, and Glenn Goldie, born November 19, 1888.
After her husband's death Mrs. Ruggles con- tinued the business for a short time and then the entire stock and building were destroyed by fire. Mr. Ruggles had been quite successful in his business affairs and enjoyed a large trade, so that he had accumulated a comfortable compe- tence and left his widow in good financial cir- cumstances. He was a Republican in his political
Camp. He also belonged to Company H, of a Regiment of the Iowa National Guard. He en- joyed the respect of his fellow men because he was always straightforward in his business transactions and true to the duties of both pub- lic and private life. His friends found him a social, genial man, and in his home he was ever devoted to the welfare and happiness of his wife and children. Mrs. Ruggles is a member of the First Congregational church here. She owns a nice residence at No. 1319 Pearl street, where she resides and which was built by Mr. Ruggles soon after their marriage. She also has a lot on Water street where the business block was located.
PERRY S. SUMMERS.
Perry S. Summers, who is engaged in general merchandising at Hornick, where he has al- ready established himself in public favor so as to win a liberal patronage although he has been a resident here for but a brief period, was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1871. His parents were Perry and Martha Summers, at one time residents of Ohio. In 1860 they removed west- ward and established their home upon a farm in Jefferson county, near Fairfield. There the father spent his remaining days in agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife died upon that farm. He was of English descent, while Mrs. Summers was of German lineage. In their family were three children, two sons and a daughter, of whom the subject of this review was the youngest.
Upon the home farm in Jefferson county Perry S. Summers was reared. His early educa- tional privileges were supplemented by a course of study in the Fairfield high school, in which he was graduated with the class of 1887. He afterward pursued a commercial course in the Fairfield Business College and was thus well equipped for a mercantile career. Later he
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went to Coon Rapids, Iowa, where he engaged in clerking, and after his marriage there he came to Hornick and since 1902 has been iden- tified with the business interests of this place. In May, 1903, he purchased the store of I. F. Searl and now carries a large and well selected stock of general merchandise. A liberal patron- age has been accorded him because of his earnest desire to please his customers, his reasonable prices and his straightforward business methods.
While clerking in Coon Rapids Mr. Sum- mers formed the acquaintance of Miss Sadie Williams, a daughter of William P. Williams, a retired farmer of that place. They were mar- ried December 9, 1902, and then came to Hor- nick, where they have won many friends and the warm regard of those with whom they have come in contaet. Mr. Summers is a Republican in his political affiliations and he belongs to Charity Lodge, No. 197, A. F. & A. M., of Coon Rapids.
WILLIAM HOPPE.
William Hoppe, whose fine farm of two hun- dred and forty acres, well cultivated and im- proved, is the visible evidence of his life of bus- iness activity and unfaltering energy, has been a resident of Iowa since 1882 and of Woodbury county since 1892. He is among the sons of Germany who have come to America to improve their financial conditions and have found in the business life of the new world the opportuni- ties they sought. He was born November 12, 1855, in the fatherland and spent his youth up- on a farm there, while in the schools of his na- tive country he mastered the elementary branches of learning. He had no training in the English tongue, however, and has acquired a knowledge thereof since coming to the United States. In accordance with the laws of that land he joined the German army and was for three years connected with the military affairs of that country.
On the 12th of February, 1882, William Hoppe was united in marriage in Germany to Miss Louisa Hlene, a native of the fatherland, and soon afterward they started for the United States, taking passage at Hamburg in a vessel bound for New York, where they arrived on the 19th of March, 1882. They at onee resumed their journey across the country, traveling con- tinuously until they arrived at Seott county, Iowa, where they joined some German friends. There Mr. Hoppe worked as a farm hand for two years. He afterward went to Tama county, Iowa, where he rented a tract of land and en- gaged in farming for seven or eight years. In 1892 he removed to Woodbury county, where he again rented land until 1893, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm on section 15, Union township. Five years later, his financial resources having greatly in- creased, he bought eighty acres adjoining and he now owns a valuable property of two hun- dred and forty aeres. Unabating energy and unfaltering determination are minbered among his salient characteristics and his success has been achieved through these qualities. He re- built and remodeled a house, also built a large barn, two corn cribs and other outbuildings. Shade and fruit trees have been planted by him and he has also fenced the farm and erected a windmill and wind pump. Everything about the place is in excellent condition in keeping with the modern and progressive spirit of the times and as a farmer and stock-raiser he is meeting with very desirable success, keeping on hand good grades of stock and other farm ani- mals, while at the same time he is engaged in the cultivation of various cereals.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hoppe have been born four children : Lena, who is the wife of Fred Benedix, a resident farmer of Woodbury county ; Henry, who carries on farming on the old homestead; William and Fritz, who are also under the parental roof. The parents were reared in the Lutheran faith and are communi- cants of that church. Ile gives his political
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support to the Republican party where national issues are involved and at local elections he votes independently regardless of party affilia- tions. He has been elected and served as school treasurer and has also been a trustee of the Woodbury County Mutual Insurance Company. He is one of the successful German-American citizens who have strong attachment for their adopted country, realizing that through condi- tions that here exist they have had the oppor- tunity to win success by the exercise of individ- ual business talent.
HIAL A. WHEELER, A. M., M. D.
Dr. Hial A. Wheeler, general practitioner of Sioux City and professor of principles and practice of medicine and clinical medicine in the Sioux City College of Medicine, was born in Barton, Orleans county, Vermont, June 20, 1854, his parents being Silas and Jane F. (Grow) Wheeler. The father was born August 1, 1822, and the mother June 5, 1828. In early life he engaged in farming, but they are now residing in Chicago, where he is engaged in looking after trustee estates. He took up his abode in Lagrange, a suburb of Chicago, in 1888. His paternal grandparents, James and Sally (Wilson) Wheeler, were natives of New Hampshire, the former born in 1795, the latter in 1798. The maternal grandfather, Orson Grow, was born in Maine in 1800 and married Fanny Allbee, whose birth occurred in New England in 1804. Mr. Grow died in 1875, his wife in 1898. Dr. Wheeler attended the public schools at Barton, Vermont, and the Free Bap- tist Seminary at Lyndon Center, Vermont, which institution he attended for two years, but did not take the full gradnate course. On leav- ing school he engaged in clerking in a mercan- tile establishment in Boston, Massachusetts, for a year. On the 9th of September, 1873, he ar- rived in LaSalle, Illinois, and engaged in teach- ing in the country schools for two years. In
1875 he drove a team across the country to Monona county, Iowa, starting on the 12th of March and reaching his destination on the 29th. He then rented a tract of land and engaged in farming and teaching school for two years, or until 1877.
On the 27th of September, 1876, Dr. Wheeler was married to Mary C. Ingham, of Monona county, Iowa, a daughter of F. E. Ingham, a farmer and school teacher. In the meantime Dr. Wheeler had read medicine and in 1877 he went with his family to Iowa City, where he matriculated in the medical department of the Iowa State University, being graduated in 1881. He then resided in Morse, where he practiced medicine for a brief period, but in the latter part of 1881 he removed to Riverside, Washington county, Iowa, where he continued in practice until June 1, 1883, when he re- moved to Onawa, Monona county, and prac- ticed there until November 11, 1893. On the expiration of that decade he came to Sioux City, where he has practiced since, with gratifying success. He belongs to the Sioux Valley Med- ical Society and the Missouri Valley Medical Society, and his reading and investigation keep him informed concerning the advance that is continually being made by the medical fra- ternity. He is very careful in the diagnosis of a case, practical in his efforts to check disease, and that his labors are attended by desired re- sults is indicated by the business which is ac- corded him. He is now dean of the Sioux City College of Medicine, having occupied the posi- tion for eleven years, while a recent election will continue him in the office for three more years. He is also professor of principles and practice of medicine and clinical medicine in that institution. He is the author and pub- lisher of a work entitled Abstracts of Pharma- cology, which was accepted by all colleges and universally used by druggists. It is the only work of the kind ever published and accepted by the colleges as authority upon the subject of which it treats.
H.G. Wheeler (MD)
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Unto Dr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been born four children: J. Rush, born April 28, 1879, was married in December, 1901, to Miss Maud Stafford. He is the superintendent of the Light and Water plant at Hawarden, Iowa, and is well fitted for a successful business career he- eause of the educational advantages which were afforded him. After spending one year in the high school at Sioux City, he was for two years a student at Ames College and one year at the Leland Stanford University, of California, sub- sequent to which time he was graduated as an electrical engineer from the Seranton Corre- spondence School, of Seranton, Pennsylvania. E. Rnel Wheeler, the second son, born March 6, 1881, is a graduate of the Sioux City College of Medicine and is now practicing in Leeds. He was married to Miss Nellie Young, in March, 1903. 1. Ray Wheeler, born April 16, 1885, is employed in the train service of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Com- pany. Jessie J. Wheeler, born June 20, 1886, is attending Morningside College, at Sioux City.
Dr. Wheeler is an Odd Fellow and has filled all the chairs of his local lodge. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. In polities he is a staneh Republican. He and the family attend the Congregational church and are well known in social circles of the city, while Dr. Wheeler occupies a position in pro- fessional ranks that indicates a studious, care- ful preparation and a conscientious devotion to the demands of a large practice.
JOHN McNIFF.
For twelve years this gentleman has now made his home in Woodbury county and has been prominently identified with her agricul- tural interests, owning and operating a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Liston township. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Ireland
in 1834 and there spent the first thirteen years of his life. He attended the public schools of his native land to a limited extent but his edu- eational privileges were limited and he is almost wholly a self-educated as well as a self-made man.
It was in 1847 that he crossed the Atlantic in company with his parents, John and Mary ( MeGoff) MeNiff, and landed in Quebec. From that city he went to Leeds, Canada, where he spent six or seven years, and then made his home in Inron county, L'p- per Canada, until 1880, which year wit- nessed his arrival in the United States. He first located in Iowa, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres three miles from Battle Creek, where he lived until coming to Wood- bury county, Iowa, in 1892. In early life he engaged in lumbering and also worked in a saw- mill to some extent but has made farming his principal occupation. There he purchased a traet of railroad land, for which he paid five dollars per acre, being allowed three years in which to make the payments, but the property is now worth seventy-five dollars per acre. After operating it for some time he sold the place for twenty-five dollars per acre and bought his pres- ent farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Lis- ton township, for which he paid twenty dollars per aere and which is now worth seventy-five dollars per acre. The place is improved with good and substantial buildings. In connection with general farming Mr. MeNiff is engaged in stoek-raising to some extent and has twenty- eight head of eattle and five horses upon his place.
Mr. MeNiff was married on April 13, 1874, in Morris township, Huron county, Canada, in the Catholic church by Father Ausbury, to Miss Mary Ann Lynn, a native of Canada, born Au- gust 1, 1850, who came to the United States when twenty-five years of age. Five children have been born unto them, namely: John Pat- rick, who was born February 12, 1875, and is now engaged in farming; James Andrew, who
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was born November 29, 1876, and operates the the fatherland until 1870, when he once more home farm; Thomas Michael, who was born January 8, 1879, and was drowned one mile above Danbury, May 26, 1896, at the age of seventeen years, while a student in the schools of that place ; Mary Angela, who was born Au- gust 27, 1881, and resides at home and has suc- cessfully engaged in teaching in the public schools of the county for two or three years; and Francis Joseph, who was born May 10, 1889, and is attending school in Danbury.
In his political views Mr. MeNiff is a stanch Democrat. He was reared in the Catholic faith and is now connected with St. Patrick's Cath- olie church at Danbury. He has always been a hard-working, energetic man, and the success that has come to him is due entirely to his own well directed efforts, for he started out in life empty-handed.
FREDERICK W. ANTHON.
Frederick W. Anthon, who was connected with the business interests of Sioux City as pro- prietor of a hotel and grocery store for nearly thirty years, established his home here in 1870 and was therefore among the early settlers, con- tributing to the development and progress of this portion of the state through his active busi- ness affairs and his hearty co-operation in many movements for the general good. He was a native of Frentzberg, Germany, born February 10, 1836. His parents, Frederick W. and An- na Anthon, were also natives of the fatherland and never left that country. Mr. Anthon was a machinist by trade, carrying on that pursuit throughout his entire life in support of his family.
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