USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 20
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January 8, 1834. He is a son of Walton Plato, one of the early settlers of Chautauqua county, who was a mechanic, possessing much natural ability in that direction. Hle followed the cabinet-making trade and also the trade of a carpenter and joiner. Removing westward to Illinois he died there about two years later. His wife survived him and reared her children in Illinois and in Iowa, removing to the latter state about 1844, at which time she took up her abode in Jackson county.
It was there that Mr. Plato of this review re- mained until sixteen years of age, when he went to Dubuque. Ile had attended the com- mon schools and also pursued an academic course previous to this time, and in Dubuque he entered the law office of Platt Smith, where he read law for five years. He then returned to Jackson county and was engaged in the practice of his profession for a few years or until after 1856, when he came to Woodbury county and purchased land, becoming the own- er of a traet in Miller township. There he carried on general farming for a few years. He afterward removed to Kedron township, settling on the Sioux bottoms, where he opened up a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, developing a most valuable property, on which he remained for thirty-five years. The rich alluvial soil was made to produce excellent erops and continued cultivation and improve- ment resulted in the development of a splendid property. In 1892 he rented his farm and lo- cated at his present home adjoining Anthon. He also improved a farm of two hundred and forty acres on the river and in connection with the cultivation of the fields he was engaged in raising and feeding stoek, winning very de- sirable success in that work. He had no eapi- tal when he came to Woodbury county, but through his persistent efforts and capable man- agement he accumulated a handsome eompe- tenee, becoming the owner of two large and valuable farms and also some residence prop- erty in Anthon. He was one of the first law-
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yers of the county and practiced in the courts here for thirty years.
On the 20th of September, 1857, in Sioux City, Mr. Plato was united in marriage to Miss Hepsy Livermore, a native of Ohio, who was brought to Iowa during her infancy and was reared in Jackson county. They were the first couple married in Sioux City, the wedding ceremony being performed by Esquire John H. Charles. They became the parents of five chil- dren, of whom three are living: Charles A., who resides in Anthon, is a stockdealer and shipper. He is married and has five children : Nettie, Cecil, Bert, Hepsy and Raymond. C. H. Plato, the second son, is engaged in the grain business. He is married and has three children: Edna, Marcus and Sadie. II. P. Plato, the youngest, is residing upon a ranch in Idaho and his children are John, Osman, Netta, Lester, Alta, Winnifred, Ada and Fred.
In his political allegiance Mr. Plato has al- ways been an unfaltering Democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have had little attraction for him. He was, however, deputy county surveyor for a number of years and was engaged in surveying here and also did government surveying in Wisconsin before com- ing to Woodbury county. He likewise did work along that line in Nebraska. He is to- day one of the honored pioneer settlers of Wood- bury county. In the early days of his resi- dence here he knew every man for miles around and he is one of the few remaining pioneer lawyers of northwestern Iowa. He has seen this portion of the state transformed from a wilderness and swamp into a well developed district, which is the home of a contented, hap- py and prosperous people, and he has borne his full share in the work of improvement. He can relate many interesting incidents of pio- neer life here and he is numbered among those who bravely faced the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of the frontier settler. He had no capital when he arrived here, but through his untiring energy, capable manage-
ment and well directed efforts he has won for himself a place among the substantial residents of Woodbury county and his life history forms no unimportant chapter in the annals of this portion of the state.
CHARLES E. WOOLRIDGE.
Charles E. Woolridge, who is a practical me- chanie and for a number of years has been en- gaged in contracting and building in Correc- tionville and in Woodbury and adjoining coun- ties, is a western man by birth, by training and by preference, and the spirit of enterprise which has led to rapid and substantial growth in this part of the county has also been manifest in his business career, which has been character- ized by steady progression and accomplishment. Mr. Woolridge is a native of Nebraska, his birth having occurred on a farm near the pres- ent town of Beatrice, December 10, 1863. He dates his residence in Iowa from 1881. His father, Edward E. Woolridge, is a native of England and when a young man emigrated to the United States in 1832. He located first in Lake county, Illinois, and he, too, possessing mechanical ability, had learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade and put his knowledge to the practical test as a contractor and builder, being thus engaged for a number of years. He was married in Illinois to Miss Delilah Haw- thorne, a Scotch lady, and on leaving that state he removed to Nebraska, where he resided for a number of years. After the Chicago fire of 1871 he returned to Illinois and settled in the burned city, where he worked at his trade for a number of years and there reared his family. At a later date he took up his abode in Oregon and is now living near the city of Portland, that state. In his family were three sons, the eldest of whom is E. C. Woolridge, who is with his parents in Oregon. The youngest son, J. H. Woolridge, is a contractor and builder and
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resides in Correctionville with his wife and children.
Charles E. Woolridge, the second son, was reared in Chicago, attended the public schools there and afterward continued his education at Dundee and at Elgin, Illinois. Under his fa- ther's direction he learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade and for several years was iden- tified with the building operations in Chicago, but the west with its opportunities attracted him and in 1881 he came to Woodbury county, Iowa. Since that time he has been actively and successfully engaged in contraeting and building. In Correctionville he has erected public buildings, business houses and a great number of residences, and throughout the sur- rounding country there are many evidences of his handiwork in substantial dwellings, barns and other farm buildings. He is skillful and capable in the line of his trade and his own practical knowledge enables him to direet in excellent manner the labors of those whom he employs, so that good results are obtained. Mr. Woolridge aided in organizing the Correction- ville Pressed Brick Company, of which he is a stockholder. This company was formed in 1902 and now has two kilns completed and ready for active work in the season of 1904. The plant is operated under the direct man- agement of Mr. Woolridge, who gives almost his entire time to the manufacture of brick and to the business of the company.
In Ida county, Iowa, in the fall of 1888, Mr. Woolridge was united in marriage to Miss Car- rie E. Rhodes, a native of this state, born near Grinnell. She is a daughter of S. L. Rhodes, a native of Pennsylvania, and now a resident of Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Woolridge have five children : Lillie, Delilah, Lewis, Clarence and Gladys. They also lost two children, Alice M. and Edith, who died in infancy.
Socially Mr. Woolridge is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and politi- cally he is a zealous and earnest Republican who endorses the principles of the party as
embodied in its platform, yet is not active in politieal circles, preferring to direct his atten- tion into business channels. He has been a resident of Woodbury county for over twenty years and has aided materially in its upbuild- ing and improvement. Ile is especially well known through the eastern and northern part of the country, where he has the confidence of the people, gained through his genuine per- sonal worth and business integrity.
GUSTAVE PECAUT.
Gustave Pecaut, now deceased, was among the adopted sons of Iowa who settled in Sioux City in pioneer days and he came here when this was a mere village on the frontier, when the Indians were still numerous in this part of the county, when much of the land was yet in its primitive condition and when the homes of the settlers were very widely scattered. As the years passed he carried on his business in- terests in a manner that brought to him success and in his later years he was enabled to en- joy a well earned rest from labor.
Mr. Peeaut was born in Switzerland on the 19th of February, 1826, and when only four years of age he lost his mother. He was edu- eated in France and came to the United States with his father in 1845 and located in New York city. There he worked for his brother in a carriage shop and afterward accepted a position as traveling salesman with the Amer- ican Fur Company, which he thus represented for five years. On the expiration of that period he came to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1854, and in Woodbury county he turned his attention to farming. Later he removed to Nebraska and laid out what became the town of Covington. There he sold lots and aided materially in the development of the new municipality. He was also engaged in the hotel business at Covington and there continued to reside until 1874, when he returned to Sioux City. Here he began dealing in real estate and for many years
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handled considerable property here, always keeping well informed concerning realty values and securing a liberal patronage by reason of his progressive and honorable business methods. At length, in 1889, he retired from active busi- ness life and his remaining days were spent in the quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
On the 10th of February, 1859, Mr. Pecaut was united in marriage to Miss Christina Held, a daughter of Erhardt and Charlotte Held. Mrs. Pecaut was born January 8, 1837, and by her marriage she became the mother of nine children: Edward William, who is now dep- uty sheriff of Woodbury county; Charles F., a dealer in cigars; Henry L., who is assistant chief of the fire department at Sioux City; Philip P., who is engaged in business as a barber; Gustave A., who is living in this city; John C., salesman ; Teeny A., the wife of Ern- est Keith, who is bookkeeper in the wholesale hardware house of Knapp Spencer at Sioux C'ity ; Albert B., a barber ; and George, at home. Mrs. Pecaut is a member of the Presbyterian church. On the 29th of December, 1900, Mr. Pecaut passed away and thus Sioux City lost one of its pioneer residents, one who had inti- mate knowledge of the early progress and de- velopment of this part of the state as well as of its later improvement and advancement. He never sought to figure in any public light, but was content to do his duty as a private citizen and business man and he made for himself an honorable name in that way.
THOMAS GEORGE HENDERSON.
Thomas George Henderson, a resident of Sioux City since 1877, and a member of the bar whose legal learning and capability in ac- tive practice are attested by the large and im- portant clientage accorded him, was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, on the 26th of Novem- ber, 1852. He is a son of James and Joan
Henderson, both natives of Scotland, and the latter was a descendant of Sir Robert Bruce. The father entered upon his business carcer in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, as a har- nessmaker, and after his marriage emigrated to America in 1849, establishing his home in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he conducted a harness-making business until 1854. In 1850 he took the first premium at the State Fair of Wisconsin on a manufactured Scotch collar. Removing to northeastern Iowa in 1854 he owned lands and engaged in farming in Clay- ton county for a number of years, and in 1870 went to Cherokee county, Iowa, where he also conducted farming interests. His ability lead- ing to his selection for public office, he served as county treasurer of Cherokee county and in other local positions, giving evidence of his pub- lie-spirited and loyal citizenship by his faith- ful performance of every duty which devolved upon him. He died in May, 1891, and his wife, surviving him for more than a decade, passed away in September, 1902.
Thomas G. Henderson was about two years old when brought to Iowa. Indebted to the public school system of the state for the early educational privileges he enjoyed, he later at- tended college at Algona, Iowa, for one year, and afterward spent three years in the State University, at Iowa City, but sustaining an injury he was forced to remain home for a year, and in consequence abandoned his idea of graduating. He continued in the university until June, 1876, and pursued the regular clas- sical course. Naturally a mathematician, Pro- fessor Philbrook of the civil engineering de- partment of the university, tried to prevail upon him to take that course, but his ambitions were in another direction.
After leaving the university Mr. Henderson, in the fall of 1877, entered upon the study of law in the office and under the direction of the firm of Joy & Wright, of Sioux City, and was admitted to practice September 26, 1879. Since locating in this city in September, 1877,
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T. G. HENDERSON.
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he has continuously made it his home and has engaged uninterruptedly in the practice of law since his admission to the bar, his earnest labor and thorough preparation winning for him an enviable position at the bar, which he has al- ways retained.
On the 18th of August, 1894, at Lisbon, lowa, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Spadt, whose parents were res- idents of Lisbon, to which city they had re- moved from Columbus, Ohio. Her father's ancestors fought in the war for independence and Mrs. Henderson is now connected with the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also belongs to the Episcopalian ehreh. Mr. Henderson was reared in the Baptist church, but is not a believer in creeds, but sym- pathizes in all efforts to make the world better and his inffuence is ever on the side of right, truth and progress. He is at all times a stal- wart Republican and was chairman of the Re- publican central committee of Woodbury coun- ty, in the Blaine campaign. For twenty years he served as United States commissioner. He belongs to no secret organizations save the An- cient Order of United Workmen, but became a member of the Hawkeye Club on its formation twenty years ago and is also a member of the Sioux City Boat Club. Establishing his home in Sioux City in early manhood, he has in his professional career and private life displayed those traits of character which make for good citizenship and honor in every relation with his fellowmen.
C. D. CLARK.
C. D. Clark, who for nearly twenty years followed farming in Kedron township, and is now living a retired life in Anthon, has ro- sided in Woodbury county since 1873. He is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having oe- eurred in Carbondale, Luzerne county, on the 19th of December, 1848. His father, Arnold Clark, was born in Rhode Island in 1805 and
was reared to manhood there. In his native state he married Elizabeth Lydia Potter, who was born near Providence, Rhode Island, in 1817. Mr. Clark was a farmer by occupation and removed from New England to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he cleared the land and developed good farms. In 1856, however, he sought a home in the Mississippi valley, set- tling in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he opened up a new farm. There he resided for some time and reared his family in that local- ity. Later he came to Towa, where he joined his children about 1886 and here he spent his last years, passing away about 1900. His wife survived him for about four years. In the family were three children, a son and two daughters.
C. D. Clark, whose name introduces this re- view, spent his boyhood days on the old home farm in Wisconsin and attended the common schools through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he aided in the work of the fields. He came to Iowa in 1873, settling in Kedron township, Woodbury county, where he purchased eighty acres of good land. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the tract, which he placed under the plow, transforming it into richly cultivated fields. Later he bought more land, becoming the owner of about four hundred acres in con- nection with W. L. Clark. In this way he owned nearly two sections of land. Mr. Clark made good and substantial improvements upon his farm, raising and feeding stock and also cultivating the various cereals which are most productive in this part of the country. He lived upon his home place for about twenty years, then rented the farm and purchasing a lot in Anthon erected thereon a good home and has since lived retired. Success has attended his efforts and industry has been the key that has unlocked to him the portals of prosperity. He began life with no capital and without the assistance of influential friends, but strong pur- pose and diligence have contributed to his finan-
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cial growth and he is now one of the substantial men of the county.
Mr. Clark was married in Woodbury county on the 1st of January, 1880, to Miss Cora Hunt, a native of Illinois, born in MeHenry county. Her father, Mansfield IIunt, became one of the pioneer settlers of Woodbury county and Mrs. Clark was reared here and was a successful teacher prior to her marriage. They became the parents of four children, but they lost their first born, Frank Arthur, who died at the age of thirteen years. Gertrude Maude, who is the wife of Gilbert Maddison and has one child, Cora Anna; Sylvia Lydia ; and Viva Farres. In 1900 Mr. Clark was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 17th of December, of that year, to the deep regret of many friends as well as her immediate family.
Politically Mr. Clark has been a life-long Democrat and has served as assessor and com- missioner of highways. He was on the town- ship board and was also assessor of the town for three years. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, and chapter, and in Cornelius Lodge, No. 550, A. F. & A. M., he has filled all of the chairs. He was also connected at one time with the Odd Fellows. He has been a resident of Woodbury county for thirty-four years, has witnessed much of its growth and development and has helped to improve it and make it what it is to-day. His success in life may be attributed to his indefatigable energy and to the close and assiduous attention he has paid to the minute portions of his affairs.
OSCAR A. HOFFMANN.
Oscar A. Hoffmann, editor of the Volks- freund at Sioux City, Iowa, was born in Ger- many in 1858 and in his early boyhood days was left an orphan. He began his education in the public schools and was also instructed pri-
vately by his unele, who was a minister. He afterward attended the Progymnasium in Weis- senfels and from there went to the gymnasium at Halle, an institution about three hundred years old, in which are seen about four thou- sand students each year. Nine years of study are required to complete the course there. After his graduation Mr. Hoffmann entered the Uni- versity at Leipsie, where he became a law stu- dent and later entered the University of Halle. He studied higher mathematics, physics and the science of nature, branches which he found es- pecially to his liking. He also joined an aca- demical society of science, of which he is yet a member. Later he attended the Prussian Uni- versity at Marburg and left that institution with the first degree on his state examination. When he had completed his studies he accepted a position in the Royal College but found that it would take too long to acquire a profitable position through the ordinary avenues of pro- motion there. In his boyhood he had read much of the resources and richness of the United States and he also heard favorable reports from his uncle, who had come to this country with a capital of eight thousand dollars and is now a wealthy resident of Texas. Mr. Hoffmann had devoted twenty years of his life to study and after acquiring his education he had left about fifteen thousand marks of his patrimony. With this capital he decided to come to the new world and in 1885 he crossed the Atlantic and through the influence of some relatives located in Sioux City, Iowa. Here he invested his money in real estate and built a residence on East Third street.
Mr. Hoffmann found that he was mistaken in his idea concerning the acquirement of wealth at the expense of little labor, but he has found as the years have passed that success may be gained through persistent and deter- mined effort. He was a teacher of gymnastics in Turner Hall here for a time and in 1886 he turned his attention to the newspaper business, purchasing the Volksfreund of A. Hermann
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O. A. HOFFMANN.
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and Dr. G. Brasch. This paper was founded by Charles Alexander. It is a German weekly and now has a large and profitable circulation. Mr. Hoffmann was managing editor of the Courier before becoming proprietor of the Volksfreund, of which he has since remained in charge, and he now publishes a journal which is a very welcome addition to the product of the press in many of the German households of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He is now a member (AAlter Herr) of the Academieal Mathematical Society of the University of Halle. As Mr. Hoffmann has prospered he has made judicions investment in real estate and now owns considerable valuable property on the west side which returns to him a good income. IIe has found that in this country labor is the foundation of all success and through his enter- prise and capable management he is now one of the substantial residents of Sioux City.
WILBERT B. BOOHER.
Wilbert B. Booher, president of the Dan- bury State Bank and a prominent business man, is one whose worth and ability have gained him success, honor and public conti- dence. He enjoys the well earned distinction of being what the publie calls a self-made man and an analyzation of his character reveals the fact that enterprise, well directed effort and honorable dealing have been the essential fea- tures in his prosperity.
Mr. Booher was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Suyder) Booher, who were of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. The father was also a native of the Keystone state and was a son of Samuel and Hannah Booher, the former of whom died when our subject was quite young. The grandmother survived her husband for some years and died in 1865 at an advanced age. Our subject's father, who
was a farmer by occupation, made his home near Orbisonia, Huntingdon county, Peunsyl- vania, where he passed away in 1864, at the age of forty-five years. The following year the mother brought her family to this state and purchased a small piece of land near Iowa City. She was left with seven small children to support, the oldest being our subject, who was only ten years old at the time of his fath- er's death. The others were: E. B., born in 1856; 1. B., born in 1858; J. B., born in 1860; S. J., born in 1862; E., born in 1863; and S. C., born in 1864. All are still living.
Mr. Booher's early educational privileges were very meager and his advantages in other directions were also limited. At an early age he began working on a farm and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until his removal to Danbury in 1882. Here he was first engaged in the implement business for a short time, in partnership with a Mr. Means under the firm name of Means & Booher, being connected with that gentleman during the winter of 1882-3, but in the spring he sold out to his partner and purchased the furniture business of Samuel Griffith. Three years later he added hardware to his stock and continued to engage in that business with marked success until 1892, when he sold out to David Tomge- man but the store is now owned by Fitzpat- riek Brothers. In the fall of 1892 Mr. Booher embarked in the grain business, which he car- ried on until 1898 and then sold out to F. H. Hancock. Since the organization of the Dan- bury State Bank in 1889 he has been one of its directors and since his election to the posi- tion of president in 1900 has devoted his entire time and attention to the conduet of the bank, which is one of the safest financial institutions of this seetion of the state. Its other officers are A. J. Santee, vice-president, and I. B. San- tee, cashier. These gentlemen, together with W. D. Gibson and Jolm Crilly form the board of directors. The success of the bank is largely due to the untiring efforts of our subjeet, who
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