USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 18
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crossed the Atlantic and took up his abode near Sioux City. He first settled on a farm in the vicinity of Wolf Creek and was engaged in gen- eral agricultural pursuits there for a few years. He then removed to the city and was employed as a common laborer for a short time. On the expiration of that period he purchased the Chi- cago Hotel, of which he was proprietor for nearly four years, when he sold out. He then entered into partnership with Nicholas Tiede- man, who was also an early settler of Wood- bury county, and is now living retired in Sioux City. They established a retail grocery store at the corner of Fourth and Virginia streets and were there engaged in the grocery busi- ness for more than ten years, or from 1875 until 1885, when Mr. Anthon sold out and re- tired. Mr. Anthon disposed of his business interests on account of ill health. He after- ward did a little bookkeeping and other light work, but practically lived retired until his death.
In 1875 Mr. Anthon was married to Miss Katherine A. Miller, a native of Germany, born October 27, 1856, and a daughter of John and Anna Miller, both of whom are natives of the same country. Mr. Miller was one of the very early settlers of Sioux City. In taking up his residence in America he located first at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, whence he afterward came to Woodbury county, where he has since made his home. He is now living retired, and both he and his wife reside with Mrs. Anthon. He is well known here, having for many years been identified with its busi- ness affairs and during the Civil war he made a creditable record by three years' service in defense of the Union. There were two chil- dren born unto Mr. and Mrs. Anthon: John, who died at the age of six months, and Fred- erick W., who is a mail carrier in Sioux City and resides with his mother.
Frederick W. Anthon acquired only a com- mon-school education in the schools of Ger- many. He made two trips to America, arriving in this country first in 1856, at which time he settled in Davenport, Iowa, where he en- gaged in the grocery business for several years. Frederick W. Anthon departed this life July He then returned to Germany, remaining in 5, 1901, amid the deep regret of many friends.
F. W. ANTHON.
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He was never an office seeker, nor did he hold positions of publie preferment, but he gave a stanch and unfaltering support to the Demoe- racy. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit of the fraternity. He was especially prominent among the German- American citizens of Woodbury county and there were in his life record many elements worthy of emulation and of commendation. Mrs. Anthon owns a large residence at No. 415 Virginia street, where she is living with her son and parents. She also owns prop- erty at the corner of Fourth and Steuben streets, within the business district of the city.
NELSON A. WILLSEY.
Nelson A. Willsey, a farmer of Wolf Creek township, living on section 28, has large landed possessions, his farm aggregating five hundred and twenty aeres. Iowa has long been the state of his residence, for he located here in 1855. He is, therefore, familiar with its history and has witnessed the greater part of its growth and progress. He has seen railroad lines ex- tended into many parts of the state, while tele- graph and telephone communications have been established. It is within his memory, too, when much of the land, especially in western Iowa, was still in possession of the government and when aere after aere was still raw and unimproved, just as it came from the hand of nature. He feels a just pride in what has been accomplished in the state and he is of the earn- est and enterprising citizens who have with- held neither effort nor their co-operation from movements for the general good.
Mr. Willsey was born in Henry county, near Galva, Illinois, November 17, 1846. His father, W. H. Willsey, was born in Pennsyl- vania, on the 6th of May, 1821, and was of German lineage. When a young man of about
eighteen years he left the east and became a resident of Henry county, Illinois, in 1839. There he married Miss Jane Elizabeth Cun- ningham and they settled upon a farm in Henry county, Mr. Willsey transforming the wild tract into richly cultivated fields, which he continued to improve until about 1850. In that year he eame to Iowa, settling first in Wright county, and in 1855 he removed to Winona county, locating in Maple Valley. There he opened up a large farm, owning nearly two thousand acres, and thus carrying on agrienltural pursuits on an extensive scale he contributed in large meas- ure to the substantial upbuilding and growth of his community. He reared his family there and subsequently he removed to Harrison county, where he again purchased and owned a large farm. His entire life was devoted to the work of tilling the soil and raising stoek and his labors were attended with a high meas- ure of success, owing to his unfaltering per- severanee and sound judgment. He died Ang- ust 9, 1897, and thus passed away one of the honored pioneer residents of the state.
Nelson A. Willsey, one of a family of eight children, of whom two sons and five daughters are now living, was reared in Iowa. As the family home was in a frontier region his edu- cational privileges were very limited, but he made the most of his opportunities and by read- ing, study and observation has added largely to his knowledge and become a well informed man. In early life he engaged in teaching and was thus connected with the intellectual devel- opment of the state for some time. Later he turned his attention to farming in the county in which he was reared and became the owner of a large tract of land there, of six hundred and fifty-three aeres, on which he placed many excellent improvements, in keeping with the modern ideas of agricultural progress. In the carly days much of the farm work was done by hand, but later machinery took the place of hand labor and the agriculturist was thus en- abled to do much more work than he had hith-
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erto accomplished in the same time. Mr. Will- tiality. Politically he is a stanch Republican sey has used the latest improved machinery, has and although he has been called to positions of political preterment he has never been a poli- tician in the sense of office seeking. IIis wife and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Anthon, and to the Knights of Pythias lodge there. There have been no exciting chapters in his life record, but his history proves the sure rewards of char- acter and indicates what may be accomplished when one has strong determination. In public office he has been a practical man of affairs, busy and energetic and he has attained envi- able success. In his home he is a pleasant and agreeable companion and in whatever place or relation found he is a gentleman of genuine worth, whom to know is to honor. practiced the rotation of crops, has studied closely the condition of the soil and has so guided his labors that excellent results have attended him. In 1895 he removed to Wood- bury county and bought his present place, com- prising five hundred and twenty acres. This is a well improved and valuable farm. He re- built and remodeled the house, also built a large barn and has now a property which is thoroughly equipped with modern conveniences. He has made a business of the raising and feeding of cattle which he fattens for the mar- ket, shipping annually from six to fifteen car- loads of stock. In 1891 he rented his land and removed to Anthon in order to educate his children. There he was engaged in general merchandising and later he built a neat resi- dence and also a business block, making his home in the town for over three years, but he then sold the store and business and returned MARK D. CORD. to the farm in the spring of 1904.
On the 15th of October, 1869, in Winona county, Iowa, Mr. Willsey was married to Miss Margaret Muckey, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Joseph Muckey, who came from Wisconsin to Iowa, but was a native of New York. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Willsey have been born seven children, who are yet living: Ver- non H., a substantial farmer residing in Wolf Creek township; W. J., who owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Brule county, South Dakota; Millie May, the wife of B. F. Curance, a farmer of Wolf Creek township; Minnie Pearl, the wife of H. H. Branum, of Nebraska; Harriet E., the wife of George Gil- lette; and John J. and Clarissa, both at home.
Mr. Willsey has been called to public office and in various positions has discharged his duties in a most capable manner. He has been township trustee and township treasurer and was also justice of the peace for a number of years, in which office his decisions were char- acterized with the utmost fairness and impar-
This gentleman is entitled to distinction as one of the most progressive and enterprising business men of Woodbury county and has for twenty-two years been identified with the in- terests of Danbury, where he is successfully en- gaged in the real estate, loan and insurance bus- iness. Upon the commercial activity of a com- munity depends its prosperity and the men who are recognized as leading citizens are those who are at the head of successful business en- terprises. Mr. Cord is a man of broad capa- bility who carries forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes.
A native of Wisconsin, he was born in Kau- kauna, June 21, 1863, his parents being Charles and Mary A. (Knapp) Cord. The father was born in Lincolnshire, England, and was eighteen years of age when he came to America. By trade he was a miller, having followed that occupation in his native land. From New York he made his way westward to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was a resident of that state for nineteen years, after which he
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removed to Anamosa, Iowa, where he spent ten years. Ile next made his home in Oakland, Nebraska, and from there returned to Iowa, loeating in Emerson, twenty-five miles west of Sioux City, where he died on the 7th of March, 1885, at the age of fifty-one years. His esti- mable wife, who was born in New York, in 1834. still survives him and now makes her home in Effingham, Illinois. In their family were five children, namely: Kate A., now the wife of William Kyke; Minnie, who married Howard Parmelee and died in Lincoln, Ne- braska, in March, 1904, at the age of forty-five years: Charles E., who is married and is en- gaged in the practice of medicine in Chicago; Mark D., of this review; and George D., who is married and makes his home in Delmont, South Dakota, where he is connected with the Security State Bank and is also engaged in the real estate business.
During his boyhood and youth Mark D. Cord accompanied his parents on their various re- movals and received a good practical educa- tion in the common schools. During his resi- dence in Oakland, Nebraska, he was employed in a mill and after coming to Danbury, Iowa, he helped to build the mill here and worked in the same for three years and a half. It was on the 30th of May, 1882, he arrived at this place and since giving up his position in the mill in 1885 has devoted his time and energies to the real estate, loan and insurance business with marked success. He has bought and sold much farm property and has been very fortu- nate in his real estate dealings, making con- siderable in this way. He has made judicious investments and is to-day the owner of between two and three thousand acres of fine farming land in Woodbury and Ida counties.
On the 13th of February, 1887, Mr. Cord was united in marriage to Miss Ella Gray, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Thomas J. Gray. She is a graduate of the Danbury high school and for two or three years se- cessfully engaged in teaching school after her
graduation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cord have been born five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Nellie, June 21, 1889 : John C., April 21, 1891; Marie, May 30, 1895: Charles, April 15, 1900; and Mark, October 9, 1902.
The Republican party finds in Mr. Cord a stanch supporter of its principles and his fel- low citizens recognizing his worth and ability have called upon him to fill the offices of mayor and councilman as well as other positions of honor and trust. He is a prominent Mason, belonging to Danbury Lodge, No. 387, A. F. & A. M .; Monona Chapter, No. 115, R. A. M., at Mapleton; Columbia Commandery, K. T .: and El Kahir Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He stands high both in business and social circles and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his part of the county.
JEREMIAHI KELLY.
Jeremiah Kelly, who is now living a retired life in Sioux City is among the adopted sons of the United States who, coming to this coun- try without capital, have found in its business conditions the opportunities which they songht for achieving success, and who through their earnest labor and persisteney of purpose have become possessed of a comfortable competence. Such has been the life record of Mr. Kelly, whose frugality and industry have made him the possessor of property interests that now en- able him to live a retired life.
Mr. Kelly was born in Ireland in 1823, a son of Cornelius and Mary (Hennigan ) Kelly, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle, the father dying in that country. Jeremiah Kelly was reared and educated in his native conn- try and came to the United States in 1849, when about twenty-six years of age. IIe land- ed at Boston, Massachusetts, and afterward went to New Hampshire, where he followed
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farming and also worked as a common laborer until 1857. Believing the middle west would furnish him better business opportunities he then came to Sioux City, arriving here on the 23d of May of that year. Here he was em- ployed in various ways for a time and later he procured a tract of land in what is known as Bacon's Hollow and began farming. When the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad was built to Sioux City he erected the Mountaineer Hotel, at the corner of Virginia and Fourth streets, and conducted it with success for about nine years. He then returned to his farm and in connec- tion with its cultivation he also did various odd jobs, successfully turning his hand to many kinds of labor. During this time he rented the hotel, but when Sioux City experienced its first boom he sold his property to good advan- tage, and purchased of S. T. Davis a residence, which he occupied from 1889 until 1904, when he sold the property. Economy, careful management, good business judgment and en- ergy have brought to him the success which he now enjoys and which makes him one of the substantial citizens of northwestern Iowa.
Mr. Kelly was married in 1854 to Miss Bridget Clancey, who was born in Ireland in 1826, and eame to the United States in the same year in which her husband crossed the Atlantic, landing also in Boston. They were married in Exeter, New Hampshire, and her death occurred in October, 1901. She was a member of the Catholic church, to which Mr. Kelly also belongs, and he gives his political support to the Democratic party.
JUDGE GIFFORD S. ROBINSON.
Judge Gifford Simeon Robinson, late chief justice of the supreme court of Iowa and now chairman of the board of control of the state, is one of the most conspicuous figures in the history of jurisprudence in this state, having gained distinctive preferment at the bar, which
led to higher honors until he was called to the most important office within the gift of the state of Iowa in connection with the judiciary department. He entered upon the practice of his profession in 1870 and his success came soon, because his equipment was unusually good, he having been a close and earnest student of the fundamental principles of law. Strong mentality and forceful individuality, combined with deep and unselfish interest in the welfare of his adopted state, have so entered into his nature as to render him a leader of public thought and a molder of public opinion.
Judge Robinson has spent his entire life in the Mississippi Valley. He was born in Tre- mont, Tazewell county, Illinois, May 28, 1843, and was reared upon a farm, to the work of which his attention was directed through the summer season, while in the winter months he had the opportunity of acquiring a much covet- ed education, his district school privileges being supplemented by study in an academy. An ex- perience entirely different from anything he had as yet known came to him when he was nineteen years of age. His country was in- volved in Civil war and the patriotism of his nature being strongly aroused he offered his services in defense of the Union, becoming a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, with which he re- mained in active service until after the battle of Chickamauga, in which he sustained a se- rious wound that incapacitated him for further field service and caused his discharge May 27, 1864.
Following his return home Judge Robinson engaged in teaching district schools for a year and then resumed his own study at the Illinois State Normal School, at Normal, Illinois, where he spent two years. During two years' service as a tutor in Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri, he also gave considerable time to study in the law department of that institution, and in May, 1869, on the comple- tion of the regular course, he was graduated
Very truly yours,
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and was admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Missouri.
Since 1870 he has been a member of the Iowa bar, beginning practice in that year at Storm Lake, where he remained for eighteen years. He has gained distinguished honors and successes as a representative of his chosen call- ing, owing to the ability without which there is no advancement in his field of labor. He has moreover exercised strong and beneficial influ- ence in public affairs and has been the ac- knowledged leader in many movements which have had as their basic element the progress of the commonwealth. In 1875 he was elected a member of the Iowa legislature, and the fol- lowing year he was appointed by Governor Kirkwood a member of the board of directors of the new state Normal School at Cedar Falls, and was active in the organization and man- agement of that institution for nearly six years.
In 1881 Judge Robinson was called upon to represent his distriet in the state senate and was re-elected in 1885. In 1887 he was elected a judge of the supreme court of his state and in 1893 was renominated by acclamation and re-elected for a second term of six years, so that he served upon the bench in the court of last resort in Iowa for twelve years and for three years was chief justice of the state. A man of unimpeachable character, of unnsnal intellectual endowments, with a thorough un- derstanding of the law, patience, urbanity and industry, he took to the bench the very highest qualifications for this most responsible office in the state government, and his record as a judge was in harmony with his record as a man and a lawyer, distinguished by unswerv- ing integrity and a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. Upon his re- tirement from the bench he joined his son, Leonard B. Robinson, in the practice of law in Sioux City, and was thus engaged for a few months.
Judge Robinson, in April, 1872, had mar- ried Mrs. Janette E. Gorham, formerly precep-
tress of the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia, Kansas, who died in November, 1893. There were four children of this marriage.
Judge Robinson is not only widely known as a lawyer, lawmaker and judge, but also as a lecturer upon the subject of jurisprudence, for in 1890 he was appointed to such a posi- tion in connection with the law department of the State University of Iowa, and so continued until 1900. In 1895 the university conferred. upon him the degree of Doctor of Law. He was appointed by Governor Shaw a member of the board of control of state institutions, Feb- ruary 27, 1900, and is now connected there- with. He has always been a supporter of the Republican party, but in office has ever placed the welfare of the commonwealth before par- tisanship and the advancement of publie meas- ures before personal aggrandizement. His course has been such as to reflect honor and credit upon the state that had honored him.
O. A. PATTERSON.
O. A. Patterson has reached the seventy- seventh mile-stone on life's journey and is now living retired in Sioux City. Nature seems to have intended that man should enjoy a period of rest in the evening of life. In carly man- hood he is full of vigor, energy and hopeful plans ; later comes more mature judgment to guide his actions and render his labors effective as factors in the business world ; and then with advanced age his powers are somewhat dimin- ished, although in intellectual and moral strength his growth may be continuons. It is well when his efforts of mature manhood have resulted in the acquirement of a handsome com- petence that enables him to enjoy leisure and rest in later life. Such has been the career of Mr. Patterson, now an honored and esteemed resident of Sioux City. He was born in Craw- fordsville, Indiana, in 1827, a son of Peter HI. and Elizabeth ( Bausman ) Patterson. Ilis pa-
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rents were married July 23, 1818. The father died in California in 1857 and the mother passed away on the 15th of October, 1858.
When but fourteen years of age O. A. Pat- terson came with his parents to Iowa, the fam- ily home being established at Iowa City, where he continued his education in the public schools. In 1850 he purchased the drug store of United States Senator Harlan of Iowa City and con- dueted it for a number of years or until 1870, when he removed to Sioux City and purchased the drug store previously owned by Charles Kent. This he conducted for about thirteen years, enjoying a large and profitable patron- age, and in 1883 he retired to private life and has since been connected with no business en- terprise. In community affairs, however, he has always taken a deep interest and has given helpful support to many public measures of benefit to the locality.
Mr. Patterson was married October 3, 1855, to Miss Eliza A. Sanders, who died in the year 1863, and their children were: Lela and Lucy, both at home; Charles, who died September 5, 1861; Fannie, the wife of Charles W. Haller, of Omaha, Nebraska; and Mrs. Eliza Corbett, who is a widow and resides at home. In 1870 Mr. Patterson was again married, his second union being with Cornelia Wilson, who was
a sanitarium which is one of the most worthy institutions of the city and she is also con- neeted with other benevolent enterprises and charitable institutions here. Both Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are members of the Unitarian church.
JOHN DINEEN.
John Dineen, who is filling the position of chief of police of Sioux City, was born in Galena, Illinois, August 6, 1860, his parents being Timothy and Mary (MeGuire) Dineen, who were natives of County Cork, Ireland. The father came to America at an early age, settling in Galena, Illinois, where he followed the wagonmaker's trade. He died December 31, 1863, and his wife passed away on the 7th of January, 1868. He was a member of the Catholic church. In the family were three children, of whom John is the eldest. His brother William resides in Sioux City, where he is connected with the Terminal Railroad Company, and Clara has been a successful teacher in the city schools for the past seventeen years.
John Dineen pursned his education in the publie sehools, which he attended until twelve born in 1836, and is a danghter of Thomas W .. years of age. He afterward worked as a farm and Catherine S. Wilson. Her parents were natives of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came to Iowa in 1851, locating on a farm near Iowa City. They were married in 1827 and Mr. Wilson passed away October 16, 1885, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years, while his wife died on the 22d of January, 1887, at the age of eighty-one years. In the family were six children: Annie E., who died in 1858; Samuel; Mary J .; Olivia and Cornelia, twins; and James S., who passed away on Christmas day of 1903. Mrs. Patterson is the president of the Women's Christian Associa- tion, which position she has beenpied for the past twenty years. This association conducts hand and in 1885 he took up his abode in Sioux City, where he secured employment at teaming. On the 15th of June, 1887, he was appointed deputy under James F. Shanley, the deputy marshal, and served in that capacity until March 25, 1889, when he was appointed assistant chief of the fire department of Sioux City by the city council. He continued in that position for eleven years and was eaptain of hose company No. 1 for four years. He was next appointed chief of police on the 1st of April, 1904, and is now at the head of the department. His previous service is a guar- antee of capability and loyalty in his present position and already he has won the high com-
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