USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 22
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Dr. Davis was born in Queenstown, Upper
Canada, September 2, 1825, his parents being Jacob and Sarah Maria (Eastman) Davis. While there is no record concerning the found- ing of the Davis family in America, it is de- finitely known that they were of Welsh descent and that the Doctor's ancestors removed from the United States to Canada at the time of the war for independence, for they did not believe in the severance of the ties which bound the colonies to the mother country. They were known as United Empire Loyalists and were given a large grant of land in Canada because of their allegiance to the British erown. One of the Doctor's ancestors married a French Hu- guenot, another a Holland lady and a third a native of Wales, and thus the blood of several nationalities is running in the veins of their descendants. In a very old Bible which be- longed to Dr. Davis' grandfather is the follow- ing, written in ink which is now quite faded :
"William Davis, his book. God give him grace herein to look, And not to look, but to understand, That larning is much better than land. For when land is sold and money spent, Then larning is most excellent. And when my sounding bell shall tole, May the Lord of Heaven receive my sole."
The ideas expressed in the above have been shared by most of the descendants of the writer. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Davis was Rev. Daniel Ward Eastman, who was the first Presbyterian minister allowed to perform the Presbyterian marriage service in Canada, as the service of the Church of En- gland was the one in general use.
When about ten years of age Dr. Davis ae- companied his parents on their removal to Lew- iston, New York, where he continued his educa- tion, attending an academy which was then flourishing there. It is said that "he was very popular as a young man, lively and jolly, mak- ing friends of every one." He acquired his medical education in Geneva, New York, was graduated with the class of 1847, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Niagara
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Falls, New York, where he remained contin- dora, lowa. Mrs. Davis is now in York, Ne- braska.
uously until 1870, when he sought a home in the west, locating at Sioux City. He was the first person to locate in what is now the beanti- ful suburb of Morningside. Entering upon his professional work here, in the practice of medi- eine he carried comfort and hope into many a household and became the loved family physi- cian in many homes of the county. He was anx- ions to make his labors in the world count for the most possible, and therefore he was contin- ually reading in order to perfect himself in medical lore. In addition to handling a large and gratifying general practice, he served as a member of the United States examining board of surgeons for pensions from 1884 until 1896. He belonged to the Woodbury County Medieal Society, the Sioux City Medical So- ciety, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Davis was married in Meadville, Penn- sylvania, to Kate Ramsey Johns, who died in Sioux City, October 27, 1891. They had four children : William Johns, who died in Danville, Illinois, August 7, 1883; Darwin Finney, who is elerking for the Pelletier Dry Goods Com- pany, of Sioux City, and is married and has one son, William Johns ; Kate, the wife of Allan G. Kennedy, of Prescott, Arizona; and Anna, who makes her home with her sister. On the 17th of December, 1893, Dr. Davis was mar- ried to Elizabeth Cramer, of Sioux City, and they had one son, William Ozgood, born March 31, 1894. Mrs. Davis served for some time as matron of the Boys and Girls' Home, of Sioux City, a most worthy institution which has for its object the sheltering of homeless children or those whose parents are unable or unworthy to care for them. Mrs. Davis has rendered a signal service to humanity in this particular. On the 29th of June, 1904, she resigned her position and was succeeded by Miss Martha Miller, who was matron of The Orphanage at Des Moines two years and three years at El-
Dr. Davis was a communicant of St. Thomas' Episcopal church of Sioux City from the time of his arrival here until his death and was al- ways deeply interested in everything pertaining to the moral progress and the best development of the city and county. One of the local papers said of him at the time of his death, which oc- eurred February 18, 1897. "Dr. Davis was a man whom it was a pleasure and inspiration to meet ; his good fellowship was infectious, his langh a very cure for the blues and although he had his full share of disappointments and sorrow he was never moody or cynical but al- ways cheerful, hopeful and considerate. There was about him no cant, no double standard in veracity and his actions always exceeded his professions and he lived an upright, truthful life. A marked trait in his character was his loyalty to his friends; it pained him to hear them criticised even if he felt that they de- served it, and when they needed help he did not stop to pray but sought to gain God's help by helping them." Such a career makes the world better and though one's influence does not ex- tend beyond his local community it is neverthe- less a potent force for good in the world.
STEPHEN S. ADAMS.
Stephen S. Adams, now deceased, was en- gaged in dealing in wood and hay in Sioux City and left behind the record of an honorable business career as well as an upright private life. Ile was born in West Boxford, Massa- chusetts, November 8, 1842, his parents being Isaac and Sarah (Searles) Adams, both of whom are now deceased. At the usual age he began his education in the public schools of Massachusetts and was engaged in the foun- dry business with his brother until twenty-nine years of age when he songht a home in the west, making his way to MeCook, South Dakota.
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This was in 1872. He engaged in farming and stock-raising until he removed to Sioux City in 1892, when he turned his attention to dealing in wood and hay. Of the farm he had developed an excellent property. He placed his lands under a high state of cultivation and he successfully carried on farm work, so that he became the possessor of a comfortable com- petence. In his mercantile efforts he has also prospered and he contimed in the trade until his death, which occurred on the 1st of May, 1895.
Mr. Adams was married on the 16th of March, 1872, to Miss Hannah Goodell, a daughter of John and Eliza ( Pickens) Good- ell, both of whom are natives of Marshfield, Erie county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Adams became the parents of two sons. John Scarles, who was born December 1, 1885, and died March 29, 1891; and Stephen James Scarles, who was born October 1, 1887. Mrs. Adams still carries on the business which was estab- lished by her husband and in its control has displayed excellent business ability, keen dis- cernment and marked executive force.
JOEL N. WOODWORTH.
Joel N. Woodworth was a very prominent and well-to-do business man of Sioux City, where he engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigars as a wholesale dealer from the time of his arrival here in 1883 until his death. He was born in Bristol township, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, in March, 1851, a son of Lafayette D. and Eliza (Smith) Woodworth, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. At an early day Lafayette D. Woodworth settled in the west, going to Ke- nosha county, Wisconsin, and secured a home in Bristol township, where he engaged in farm- ing for several years. He afterward removed to the vicinity of Beloit, Wisconsin, where he carried on fruit raising for a few years and
then returned to Kenosha county, where he en- gaged in general farming until his removal to Sioux City. Here he purchased land near Riverside Park and devoted his time and ener- gies to the raising of fruit. Residing here un- til his health failed he then decided to go fur- ther west. In 1852 he had made a trip to Cal- ifornia by wagon and when it became neces- sary for him to seek a change of climate he re- membered the pleasant experience and recollec- tions of that far off sunny land and again jour- neved to California. After selling his property in Woodbury county he purchased twenty acres of land near Los Angeles, where he engaged in fruit raising until his death. His widow still resides on the fruit farm in Los Angeles county.
Joel N. Woodworth obtained his education in the public schools of Beloit, Wisconsin, and then returned to Kenosha county. He first be- gan traveling on the road for a silver plating house in Waukegan, Wisconsin, but after a year he secured a position as a farm hand near Kenosha, where he worked for a short time. Later he went to Bristol, Wisconsin, where he purchased a small general mercantile establish- ment and carried on business for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he removed to Truesdell, Wisconsin, where he be- came proprietor of a small general store, but, meeting with reverses, he closed out his busi- ness a year later. He next took up his abode in the city of Kenosha, where he established a cigar business, conducting a jobbing trade. He purchased a horse and wagon and drove over the country, selling his cigars to various mer- chants. He was thus engaged for two years, after which he removed to Ellis county, Kansas, where he purchased a sheep ranch and conduct- ed a stock business for two years. On the ex- piration of that period he returned to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he engaged in clerking for six months. He then left his family there and started for Mitchell, South Dakota, with the intention of establishing a cigar store in that
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Juh Woodworth
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place, but while on the way he met J. A. Wheel- er, now of Sioux City, who advised him to come to Woodbury county, and on the 15th of July, 1883, Mr. Woodworth removed his fam- ily to Sioux City, where he began in the cigar business as a jobber. He rented a small room in the second story of a downtown business house and there established what was known as the Woodworth C. O. D. Cigar House. He began traveling on the railroad through South Dakota, selling his stoek, and later his growing business demanded that he give his entire at- tention to its supervision from the office, which was afterward removed to No. 219 Douglas street. He conducted a very extensive and profitable business, but for some time he was in ill health and in the hope of being benefited thereby made several trips to California. In 1899 his physician told him that he must quit business and go to the west. He then placed the cigar mannfactory and store in charge of the J. N. Woodworth Cigar Company, in which he retained a financial interest. He went, how- ever, to Pasadena, California, in the fall of 1899. His health improved there and in July, 1900, he returned to Sioux City, where he re- sumed business, continuing in the same line un- til his health again failed. In October, 1903, he made another trip to California, this being the eleventh one. He then settled in Los An- geles and established a cigar store, but his health gradually grew worse and he died on the 3d of March, 1904.
On the 4th of October, 1874, in Harvard, Illinois, Mr. Woodworth had been married to Miss Amelia E. Nichols, who was born in Lake county, Illinois, June 16, 1856, a daughter of James M. and Pollie .A. (Austin ) Nichols. Her father was a carpenter, contraetor and architect and followed business along these lines in Wan- kegan, Wisconsin, and in Harvard, Illinois. Finally he removed to Pamona, California, where his death occurred July 23, 1902, and his widow still resides in that city. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Woodworth were born five children:
Lulu, the wife of John E. Hathaway, a com- mission merchant of Sioux City; Minnie, the wife of Shelby K. Johnson, a dentist of Sioux City; James, who is residing with his mother; Winnie Belle, who died October 15, 1883; and Gertrude, at home.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Wood- worth brought his remains back to Sioux City for interment and he was laid to rest in Logan Park cemetery. He was a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen eamp and in his political views was a Republican. Both he and his wife were members of the Whitfield Methodist Episcopal church of Sioux City, of which he was one of the founders, while she was one of the charter members. He was a very industrious man, en- ergetie and diligent in business, kind-hearted and generous in his relations with his fellow men and he had many friends in business circles and in social life in Sioux City. He left his widow in a very comfortable financial condi- tion. She now owns fruit lands and other property in California and mueh valuable real- ty in Sioux City, including three new resi- dences which she has recently erected here and which return to her a good rental. She also owns a nice home at No. 900 West Fifth street, where she and her children reside, it having been the old home of Mr. Woodworth. The family is prominent here, occupying an en- viable position in social circles and Mr. Wood- worth is one whose memory is cherished because of his upright life, his fidelity to friendship and his deep and helpful interest in the affairs of his adopted county.
WILLIAM H. HINKHOUSE.
William H. Hinkhouse, a successful farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 19, Union township, where he has a farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres, was born in Hanover, Germany, November 1, 1864. His father, Bernard Hinkhouse, came to the United States
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about 1886, joining his children in this coun- try. He purchased a small farm in Rutland township, Woodbury county, and spent his last years here, passing away in the spring of 1895. His first wife died in 1866 and he afterward married again.
William II. Hinkhouse spent the first seven- teen years of his life in Hanover, attended the public schools there and after coming to America learned the English language as a student in the public schools of Cedar county, Iowa. It was in 1882 that he sailed for the United States, taking ship at Bremen for New York. He made his way direct to Cedar county, Iowa, where he joined some friends, and for seven years he was employed as a farm hand, being in the service of but two men during that entire period. In 1891 he came to Woodbury county, purchased ninety-three acres of raw land and at once began to place this under the plow. He also built a little house and later he bought eighty-two acres adjoining the first tract. He now farms the entire place and he has recently completed a neat residence and good barns. The trees he has planted are now large and in fine condition and add to the value as well as attractive appearance of the place. He raises good grades of stock and his farm is divided into rich pasture land and productive fields, the latter yielding fine harvests.
Mr. Hinkhouse was married in Woodbury county, October 19, 1897, to Miss Lena Bene- dix, who was born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and was a daughter of Fred Benedix, a native of Germany, who, however, was reared in Illinois and Iowa. Removing to Woodbury county, this state, his daughter, Mrs. Hink- house, was here reared from the age of ten years. Two children have been born unto our subject and his wife, Willis and Hilda. Mr. Hinkhouse is a Democrat in his political views, but has never given his time and attention to the seeking of office. He has, however, served for several years as district treasurer and is a warm advocate of the public-school system.
HIe and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Correctionville and is also connected with the O. D. H. S., a German Society. All that he possesses has been acquired through his own ef- forts and his life history stands as a proof of the fact that success may be obtained through persistent effort, laudable ambition and keen business ability.
REV. PHILIP JOSEPH O'CONNOR.
Rev. Philip Joseph O'Connor, the priest in charge of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Sionx City, was born in Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, on the 2d of June, 1854, and is a son of Philip and Margaret (Lenihan) O'Connor, natives of Ireland. His early education was acquired in the public and parochial schools of Ottumwa, Iowa, he having accompanied his parents on their removal to this state in 1857. He after- wards became a student in St. Francis' College at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and continued his studies in the University of Our Lady and Angels near Niagara Falls, New York. When he had completed his theological course he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ryan, of the Buffalo diocese, on the 16th of March, 1878, and has since devoted his time and energies with untiring zeal to his holy calling. He be- came assistant to Father MeLaughlin at Clin- ton, Iowa, where he remained for five months and during that time he established a school there with Mother Cecelia in charge. His first regular pastorate was at Monticello, Iowa, where he continued for five years and under his guidance there the stone church and resi- dence were built, and in many other ways the work of the church was carried successfully for- ward. He was afterward appointed to Carroll, Iowa, where he labored for eighteen consecu- tive years. He built a stone house of worship there, fitted up the parish hall and also added to the property, which because of the many im-
REV. P. JJ. O'CONNOR.
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provements placed thereon became valuable and desirable. In 1902 he was transferred to St. Joseph's Catholic church in Sioux City, where he is now established, arriving here in the month of February. Already under his guid- anee the convent has been enlarged and school rooms inereased and renovated, the different de- partments of elmreh work have been thoroughly organized and substantial advance has been made in the promotion of the church work.
EDWARD W. OATES.
One of the most prominent business men of Danbury is Edward W. Oates, who is the junior member of the firm of Skewis & Oates, dealers in grain and stock and manager of the Iowa- Minnesota Lumber Company of Minneapolis. He was born in the town of Shullsburg, Lafay- ette county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of July, 1869, and is of English ancestry. His father, William Oates, was a native of Cornwall, En- gland, born in Chasewater, February 13, 1832, and acquired his early education in the sehools of that country, the knowledge there obtained being supplemented by night study after com- ing to America. In fact, much of his education was secured after his marriage. It was in 1846 that he accompanied his parents, Joseph and Cordelia (Pollard) Oates, on their emigration to the new world. They were also natives of Cornwall, the former born February 3, 1810, and the latter in September, 1809. The family located in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where Joseph Oates died in 1886, at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife departed this life in 1887, at the age of seventy-eight. They had but two children, the younger being Mary Ann, now the wife of John Truran, of Shullsburg, Wis- consin, and the mother of seven children.
In early life William Oates became a lead miner in England, that being the principal oe- cupation of the people of his community. He taught school in the United States for some
time and at the age of seventeen years became a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, since which time much of his life has been devoted to the work of the ministry. Ile has been a great student and an original think- er along various lines, and is to-day a well in- formed man.
William Oates was married in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, August 24, 1854, to Miss Honor Skewis, whose birth occurred in Cambourne, England, May 28, 1829, her parents being Ed- ward and Mary ( Pearse) Skewis. She was reared and educated in her native land, being eighteen years of age when she came to the new world with her parents, who died in Shullsburg, Wisconsin. In 1882 William Oates left Wis- consin and the following year was joined by his family in Lyon county, Iowa, where they located on a farm near Inwood. He continued to make his home thereon until 1902, when he took up his residence in Inwood, where he is now living at the ripe old age of seventy-two years, honored and respected by all who know him. He reads a great deal but is disposed more to study and deep thought, and is also calm and deliberate in manner and speech. In appear- ance he is a man of dark complexion with dark hair and eyes. His wife also has dark hair and brown eyes. She took the greatest pains to in- euleate in her children a love of study and took especial pains to teach them the value of a good name, being a woman of many admirable traits of eliaracter.
In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, as follows: Elizabeth Ellen, born July 29, 1856, is the wife of James White, of Inwood, Iowa, and has one child, Harry, now eleven years of age. Caroline Jane, born May 28, 1858, died at the age of two and one-half years. Caroline Josephine, born April 9, 1862, is with her parents. Joseph Henry, born December 21, 1863, lives at Roek- well City, Iowa. He is married and has one child, Marjorie Thompson. Mary Cordelia, born September 1, 1867, is with her parents.
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Edward W. is the next of the family. James Albert, born November 23, 1870, was married in 1902. Ehner, born August 20, 1872, died at the age of two years.
Edward W. Oates began his education in the public schools near his boyhood home and later spent three years at Cornell College, graduating in the academic department at the end of two years. After leaving school he taught for two years in the country schools and for one term in the grammar department of the Inwood pub- lic schools, succeeding Professor C. R. H. Dun- can, who resigned the principalship to enter the United States service during the Spanish-Amer- ican war. For a short time he was employed in a bank at Inwood and was then with the Skewis Lumber Company for six years, being at Rock Valley, Iowa, a part of that time. He was afterward local manager for the company and subsequently came to Danbury as manager for the Iowa-Minnesota Lumber Company, in which capacity he is still serving in connection with his other business. In November, 1903, he became a member of the firm of Skewis & Oates, grain and stock dealers, F. H. Skewis owning a half interest in the enterprise. They are doing a successful business, having already built up a good trade which is constantly in- creasing.
On the 17th of December, 1902, Mr. Oates was united in marriage to Miss Mysta M. Erick- son, who was born March 15, 1877, a daughter of Christian and Mary (Hoyland) Erickson. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Danbury, in which faith Mr. Oates was reared, his family all holding membership in that denomination. He is a member of the Masonic order, being made a Mason June 29, 1904; the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 521, in which he has filled all the chairs and is now past grand, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 3398, at Inwood, of which he has been esteemed banker. His political sup- port is given the Republican party and its prin- ciples, but he takes no active part in political
affairs, preferring to give his undivided atten- tion to his business interests. He is a man of energy, enterprise and good business ability, and the success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own well directed efforts and the training which he received during his boy- hood. He is widely and favorably known in his section of the county and has made many warm friends here.
THE SAMARITAN HOSPITAL.
In 1884 the Women's Christian Association of Sioux City decided to establish the Samari- tan Hospital and this work was successfully carried on until the institution was opened to the public on the 11th of December of that year. It being the only hospital within a wide radius it was found necessary before erecting the present commodious and modern building to increase its capacity at two different times. There are now accommodations for sixty pa- tients and the number of demands has stead- ily risen from sixteen the first year to seven hundred and forty-seven in 1902. The hos- pital was placed in comparatively easy financial circumstances by the payment of a mortgage of ten thousand dollars on the 1st of October, 1898. In 1897 F. H. Peavey, a wealthy grain dealer of Minneapolis, made the association an offer of five thousand dollars if it would raise a like sum from among the people of Sioux City. This was done and the hospital was thus freed from the burden of debt. Since that time many improvements have been made. New rooms have been added by finishing off the third floor and to-day the Samaritan Hos- pital is one of the largest Protestant hospitals in Iowa. In connection with the hospital there is a training school of twenty-five nurses who make their home in a building owned by the association and fitted up with all modern im- provements. The hospital is non-sectarian and open to physicians and surgeons of both schools
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