USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 26
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So, in all his life, when he reached the time where he could give he daily remembered the friends of his youth who had met with adver-
sity, and the poor around him in kindly help. And yet this charity was given in modesty; it was daily given, and yet the world knew little of it. How true the words of his friend and minister on the day of the last rites in his honor :
"If every struggling man and woman he has helped eould stand forth; if every young man he has started aright by his adviee or his ex- ample eould join the throng; if every youth who received his first good impulse from him eould add his testimony; if the representatives of every good eause he has helped could speak -there would arise the noblest army of all, an army that would gladly hail him as chief, and their gratitude and love would constitute his divine commission. If every good deed that he has done eould blossom forth into vis- ible shape, the pathway to his tomb would be carpeted with roses."
He loved humanity and bore no malice in his heart. He loved his friends, and sued for peaee rather than continued hate. No man took a vow to injure him, who was worthy of his esteem, that he would not have met to plead for pardon and forgiveness along the path of honor.
A few days before he passed away he left home for Chieago, there to meet business en- gagements, and to perform a duty delightful to himself in seleeting tokens of love for those dear to him for Christmas gifts. Exposure brought him to his sick bed, where he remained for ten days, during which every tender care was given him, every medieal aid, nursing, and the greater helpfulness of wife and children. In those ten days of illness he was still the heroie man, struggling, hoping for health and recovery, and yielding submissively to every request and treatment, cheerful in his siekness, helpful, faithful and brave. But the disease had taken strong hold on him, and in the pres- ence of his family, on the morning of De- cember 30, 1901, he passed away from earth, life and those dear to him.
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By the decree divine, the reason for which we know not, his life passed away in the very climax of its usefulness and helpfulness. Yet unfalteringly and brave in death as in life, he met that final deerce. So living and so dying, as to him we can justly say, "Earth ner- er pillowed upon her bosom a truer person, nor heaven opened wide her portals to receive a manlier spirit."
Mr. Peavey laid the foundations for his grand success in business, and the making of his grand character, in his younger days from 1867 to 1884, while a resident of Sioux City, Iowa. While thereafter he achieved a still greater name and greater wealth, he never ceased in his devotion and loyalty to the city in which he first made his western home. Sioux City claimed him as one of its own, and while honoring him as one of its most publie spirited citizens during the period in which he made that place his residence, it is glad now to render homage in honor of his good name, and reverence to his memory.
HON. MARLIN J. SWEELEY.
Marlin J. Sweeley, representing Woodbury county in the twenty-ninth general assembly, is a native son of Iowa, his birth having oe- eurred in Dallas county on the 18th of De- cember, 1857. His parents are Samnel and Savila (Phillips) Sweeley, and the former a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, was a tailor by trade and is now living retired in Adel, Dallas county, Iowa. The first repre- sentatives of the name came from Germany to America and established the ancestral home of the family in Pennsylvania soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. The name was originally spelled Schwille, but has developed into its present form. The great-grandmother, Gotliebe Schwille, was born Jannary 13, 1760, and died on the 28th of February, 1840, while her husband, Georg Schwille, whose birth oc-
curred September 17, 1753, passed away Sep- tember 12, 1820. George Sweeley, the grand- father, was born in Pennsylvania, and there spent his entire life, rearing his family of five children in that state. These were Samuel, Moses, Philip, Jacob and Mary. Unto Samuel and Savila Sweeley were born six children: Edward P., Marlin J., Frank L., Vietor T. and two daughters who died in infancy.
Marlin J. Sweeley continued his public-school education in the high school of his native town, Adel, Iowa, and afterward engaged in teaching in Dallas county for a year and a half. He pursued a course in law in the Iowa State Uni- versity, where he was graduated in 1878 and he entered upon the practice of his chosen pro- fession in Adel in the same year, there remain- ing until 1885, during which time he was elected clerk of the courts and was re-elected for a sec- ond term, serving in all for four years. In January, 1885, he removed to Storm Lake, where he continued in practice until December, 1890, and then came to Sioux City. From 1888 until 1890 he had served as county attor- ney of Buena Vista county, and then resigned in order to remove to this place. For eight years he was attorney for the Farmers' Loan & Trust Company and later resigning he opened an office for the private practice of law, in which he yet continues. He has succeeded in his profession as the result of his unwearied industry, elose application, careful preparation of cases and his strong and forceful presenta- tion of his case before judge or jury.
Mr. Sweeley was married in 1879 to Miss Alice J. Slocumb, a daughter of Charles and Lydia (Vedder) Slocumb, of Albany, Illinois, and they have one son, Everett M., who is now pursuing a course of study in the Univer- sity of Michigan. Mr. Sweeley has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for nearly a quarter of a century and is also affiliated with the Elks lodge. He is very energetic, enter- prising man, with excellent business and execu- tive ability as well . s professional skill. In
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every community in which he has resided for any length of time he has been called to public office and there has been no exception to this rule in Sioux City. He has been a prominent Republican since attaining his majority and was president of the Me Kinley Club in the cam- paign of 1896. In 1891 he was elected by a large majority to represent Woodbury county in the twenty-ninth general assembly and has been prominently mentioned for other offices. His efforts have not been a minor element in the growth and success of his party in this portion of the state, nor is his prominence lim- ited to professional and political circles, for in social life he receives the warm personal re- gard which arises from manliness and true no- bility of character.
WILLIAM W. VAN DYKE.
Concentration of purpose and persistently applied energy rarely fail of success in the ac- complishment of any task however great, and in tracing the career of William W. Van Dyke it is plainly seen that these constitute the secret of his advance in the business world. He is now a representative of various leading in- surance companies in Sioux City and has se- cured a clientage which makes his business at once extensive and profitable.
Mr. Van Dyke is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Fort Madison on the 1st of September, 1839, and is of Holland lineage. The family was established in Amer- ica at an early day and the grandfather, Wil- liam Van Dyke, was a farmer who spent the greater part of his life in agricultural pur- smits in Ulster county, Pennsylvania. His parents, John and Sarah (Canner) Van Dyke, were natives of Ulster county, Pennsylvania. Not long after their marriage they came to Iowa, driving across the country to Fort Madi- son, where they arrived in January, 1837, in a pioneer epoch in the history of this state.
The father was a carpenter and became actively identified with building interests in the locali- ties in which he made his home. In 1877 he became a resident of Sioux City, where he died at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife, surviving him for a long period, passed away in Sioux City at the age of eighty-four years. They had a family of six children: William W .; Henry, deceased; Mary, the wife of D. T. Hedges, of Sioux City; Henry H., who was killed in a railroad accident; Kate, the wife of Craig L. Wright, of Sioux City, Iowa; and Lizzie R., who died at the age of three years.
William W. Van Dyke, having acquired his education in the common schools, began clerk- ing in a dry-goods store in Keokuk, Iowa, when yet but a boy. From an early age, therefore, he has been dependent upon his own resources and whatever success he has achieved has come as the direct reward of his earnest, persistent labor. In 1860 he went to Nebraska City with a stock of dry goods and opened a store, which he conducted for a year. The enterprise was then removed to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and at that time Mr. Van Dyke retired. Soon afterward he went upon the Mississippi river, becoming interested in navigation. In 1861 he was in the employ of the United States gov- ernment as a clerk and was also captain of a vessel a portion of the time. Near the close of the Civil war he became part owner of a steamboat line operating in Mobile Bay, but in 1865 he sold his interest therein and again pur- chased an interest in a line of boats running from St. Louis, Missouri, to St. Paul, Minne- sota. IIis attention was devoted to that busi- ness from 1865 until 1871. The following vear witnessed his arrival in Sioux City, where he entered the employ of the firm of Tootle, Livingston & Company, acting as bookkeeper for two years. On the expiration of that period he became an employe of the firm of Hornick & Wall and after successive promotions eventu- ally became a partner in their wholesole drug business, with which he was connected until
WILLIAM W. VAN DYKE.
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1888, when he sold his interest. In the spring of that year he purchased the insurance bnsi- ness of Peters & Dwight and has since been a general insurance agent at this place, repre- senting a number of the old line companies.
In 1869 Mr. Van Dyke was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret M. Mumma, a dangh- ter of David Mumma, of Mount Carroll, Illi- nois, and unto them have been born two chil- dren, John W. and Craig D. The latter is teller in the Iowa State National Bank. The former, John W. Van Dyke, D. D. S., gradn- ated from the Northwestern Dental School, of Chicago, and has his office in the United Bank building, Fifth and Jackson streets, where he is enjoying a Inerative practice. Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke have a wide acquaintance in the eity, which has been their home for more than thirty years and the cirele of their friends is extensive. In matters pertaining to the wel- fare and progress of the community Mr. Van Dyke has taken an active interest and in his business career has made a record which com- mends him to the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
ISAAC HAMMOND METCALF.
Isaac II. Metcalf, who is successfully en- gaged in farming and stock-raising in Willow township, was born on a farm in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1857, and is a son of Morris Pratt and Lneinda (Baker) Metcalf, both of whom were born near Seneca Lake, New York, and were of English descent. Our sub- jeet's paternal grandfather was Isaac Ham- mond Metealf, Sr., in whose family were seven children, namely: Ruby, Mandy, Minerva, Moses, Marvin, Morris P. and Miles, all of whom are now deceased with exception of Min- erva and Miles. The latter is about seventy years of age and lives below Horniek. Miner- va has reached the advanced age of eighty-seven
sylvania, who made his home near Estherville, Iowa, until his death, and she is now living with her grandson Bert Brown ten miles north of Mr. Metcalf. Our subjeet's mother was also one of a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, all now deceased.
The children born to Morris P. and Lucinda (Baker) Metcalf were William, who now makes his home in Scio, New York; Theodore, who died in the army during the Civil war; Harvey B., who was also a soldier and is now a resident of Potter county, Pennsylvania; Walter, who is living in Modale, Harrison county, Iowa; Mary, deceased wife of Benjamin Erway, by whom she had three children, George, of Mon- damin, Iowa, Mrs. Rosa AArmstrong, who lives near the gulf coast in Texas, and Ida, deceased ; David, who makes his home in Smithland, Iowa; Isaac HI., of this review ; Eugene S., also a resident of Smithland; and Rosa May, wife of Andrew Gardner, of Lynch, Nebraska, by whom she has six children, four sons and two daughters.
Isaae II. Metcalf was principally reared and educated in the east, pursuing his studies in the common schools of Pennsylvania. In 1874 the parents and three children, including our subject, eame to Woodbury county, Iowa, and the father took up a homestead in Willow town- ship, two miles northwest of the farm on which his son now resides. Throughout the remain- der of his life he made his home in that town- ship and died there in 1890. His wife survived him several years, passing away at Lynch, Ne- braska, in September. 1903.
Throughout his active business life Isaae H. Metcalf has carried on farming and stock-rais- ing and is to-day the owner of eighty aeres of well improved land in Willow township where he makes his home. For the past three years he has suffered considerably with rheumatism and on this account has left much of the work of the farm to his sons.
On the 25th of February, 1884, Mr. Metcalf years. She married James Riggs, of Penn- was united in marriage to Miss Alice Brown,
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who was born in 1866 and is a daughter of George W. and Maria (Hyland) Brown, of English descent. Her father served through- out the Civil war as a member of Company F, Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. IIe died when Mrs. Metcalf was quite young and her mother subsequently married Henry Kel- sey. Her death occurred in May, 1899. She left five children besides Mrs. Metcalf, namely : Retta, wife of Charles Metcalf, of Holly Springs, this county ; Ira, a resident of Smith- shire, Illinois ; Carrie, who is living at the old home one mile east of our subject in Willow township; Rosa, wife of Martin Seward, of German City; and Perle, also on the old home farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf have four children: Lewis, born December 24, 1884, was educated in the Holly Springs school and now assists in the operation of the home farm. Roy Ham- mond, born February 21, 1887, also attended school at Holly Springs but on account of l:is father's health he was obliged to lose two years that he might aid in the work of the farm. During the year 1904 he operated eighty acres. Oliver Harrison, born September 26, 1888, is still in school and resides at home. Alma, born May 30, 1898, completes the family. The par- ents and older children belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Holly Springs and the family is one of prominence in the community where they reside. In his political views Mr. Metcalf is a Republican and he takes an active interest in public affairs.
JUDSON L. FOLLETT.
Among the men whose life records form an integral part of the history of the business de- velopment and substantial upbuilding of Sionx City is numbered Judson L. Follett, now de- ceased. He was one of the pioneer humber. men of the city and, active and influential in its community affairs, he served as mayor and
at other times bore a helpful part in promoting the city's progress. He arrived here in the year 1857 and, purchasing a sawmill upon the river, began the manufacture of lumber, in which he continued throughout his remaining days.
Mr. Follett was a native of New York, his birth having occurred in Sherburne, Chenango county, on the 18th of February, 1831. His parents, Uzziel and Fannie (Miller) Follett, were also natives of the Empire state and the father followed farming in Chenango county throughout his entire life. He passed away there in 1868 and his wife also died in the same county. They were the parents of three children, of whom Judson L. was the eldest. David, the second, became judge of the court of appeals of New York, filling that position at the time of his demise. Hiram, the sur- viving brother, resides upon the old homestead farm in Chenango county.
Judson L. Follett acquired his early educa- tion in the common schools of his native county and attended the Hamilton Academy, at Hamilton, New York, thus acquiring a good knowledge of the branches of learn- ing that fitted him for life's practical duties. At the age of twenty-one years he began working on a farm for his aunt, who was a widow and resided in Chenango county, New York. After a few years thus passed he started for the west, locating first in the middle states, where he taught a district school for a few years or until 1857, when a party of land surveyors started for Iowa. Mr. Follett joined the party and came by wagon to Woodbury county in 1857. The following year he entered into partnership with L. C. Sanborn and they established a sawmill on the river here, this being the second enterprise of the kind in northwestern Iowa. The business increased with the growth of the city and also because of the enterprising methods of the firm, and ultimately they became owners of very ex-
I & Foll A
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tensive mills and lumber yards here, shipping tion was a tribute to her personal worth as well their prodnet to many points in the northwest. as a public recognition of her ability. She owns a very large and fine residence at No. 1309 Nebraska street, where she resides, and annually she makes trips to California to visit her daughter. Mr. Follett continued in the milling business until his later years, when he practically re- tired, but indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature and, being unable to con- tent himself without some business interest, he continued to supervise his investments until his death, which occurred December 27, 1893.
In January, 1867, Mr. Follett returned to the east and was married, in Madison county, New York, to Miss Viola Wiekwire, a native of Hamilton, New York, and a daughter of Harvey and Orilla (Lee) Wiekwire, both of whom were born in Hamilton county and spent their entire lives there, the father engaging in farming on what is still known as the old Wiek- wire homestead. The father died there De- cember 9, 1861. Four children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Follett: Fannie, who died at the age of four months; Judson L., who mar- ried Flora Manrer, and died February 5, 1903, at the age of thirty years, since which time his widow has married again and now resides in England; Mary L., the wife of Richard Arm- strong, of California; and David, who died in infaney.
In his political views Mr. Follett was a stanch Republiean who made a study of the is- snes of the day as they related to the needs of the people at large and he was ever able to sup- port his political position by intelligent argu- ment. In 1865 he was elected mayor of the eity and filled that position for one term. He was also supervisor for several years and his official duties were ever discharged in a capable manner. He was well known throughout north- western Iowa as an enterprising business man, as a citizen whose fidelity to duty was above question and a friend whose loyalty was ree- ognized as one of the salient elements in his character. Mrs. Follett is a member of the Unitarian church of Sioux City. She was the first and only woman cleeted a member of the board of edneation of Sioux City and her elec-
REV. TIMOTHY MEAGHER.
Rev. Timothy Meagher, pastor of the English speaking Catholic church at Danbury, Iowa, since 1883, was born at Bramblestown, in Coun- ty Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1854. There he spent his early life and his preliminary educational privileges were supplemented by a course of study in St. Kierans College, in which he con- tinued until 1883, when he crossed the Atlan- tic and came to Danbury, Iowa. He is one of the oldest priests in northwestern Iowa to- day in point of service. When he accepted this charge he held services in four counties and continued to ride the circuit for several years. The railroad was just then being built through Danbury and extended only as far as Mapleton. During the past fifteen years, however, many improvements have been brought about and the labors of the priest have been lightened.
Father Meagher has six hundred members in his church and there is a school of about two hundred pupils with six sisters in attendance. A good school building, a good dwelling house, and other buildings have been erceted and the church property is now in excellent condition. Father Meagher is devoted to his church and its npbuilding. He drives over his parish, which comprises a large part of four townships in the three adjacent counties. His people own some of the best land and the most at- tractive homes in Iowa and he has awakened a deep interest in the church and its various activities and has gained for the church a gen- crous support from many of its parishioners.
Father Meagher is a son of Daniel and Ellen (Delaney) Meagher, both of whom spent their
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entire lives in Ireland. They left three sons and five daughters. His brother, Patrick, and sister, Margaret, came to Ameriea in 1866. Patriek married in Chieago and Margaret in St. Louis.
HENRY REINHART.
Henry Reinhart, now deceased, was for many years prominent in financial eireles in Wood- bury county. He was born in Germany Sep- tember 10, 1838, and was a son of Christian and Christiana Reinhart, who came to the Unit- ed States in 1847, loeating first in Lee county, Illinois, but both are now deceased.
Henry Reinhart spent the first nine years of his life in the fatherland and then aecom- panied his parents to the new world. He pur- sued his education in the common schools of Lee county and afterward removed to Sae coun- ty, Iowa, in 1877. There he engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising, plaeing his land under a high state of cultivation, so that his fields annually returned to him good harvests that brought to him a desirable income. As a stoek- dealer he was also prosperous and kept good grades of cattle. In 1889 he removed to Sioux City, where he carried on business as a stoek commission merehant at the stockyards. Later he erected the Reinhart flats and in more re- cent years he devoted his attention solely to the supervision of his property interests, the in- come therefrom giving him all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
In 1858 Mr. Reinhart was nnited in mar- riage to Miss Martha Hndsell, a daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth Hudsell. She was born in Germany and eame to the United States in 1846, the family home being established in Lee county, Illinois, where her father spent his remaining days, passing away in 1857. His widow still survives him and is now eighty-six years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reinhart were born seven children, namely: Catherine,
the wife of John Fuesh, who resides in Sae county, Iowa; Christiana, the wife of George Stephen of Sae county; Elizabeth, the wife of George Beizer, whose home is in Lake City, Iowa; John, who is married and lives in Sac county; Charles, who is married and makes his home in the same county; Anna, the wife of James Turner, of Sioux City; and Osear, who is employed as teller in the First National Bank of Sioux City.
While residing in Sae county, Iowa, Mr. Reinhart served as supervisor for two terms. He gave his politieal allegiance to the Demoe- racy, kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and when in office was most loyal to the trust reposed in him, but he always preferred to do his duty to his county and assist as a private eitizen rather than a public official. He was a self-made man and one whose life history proved the value and foree of energy and enterprise in the aetive affairs of life. He possessed sound judgment which enabled him to make judieious investment in real estate and, owing to the growth and development of the northwest his property inereased in value and brought to him an excellent income so that he beeame numbered among the capitalists of Woodbury county. He passed away in 1897 respeeted by all who knew him and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untar- nished name as well as valuable realty posses- sions. His widow, Mrs. Martha Reinhart, is now living at No. 813 Sixth street in Sioux City.
A. E. McMANUS.
A. E. McManus, a native of New York, re- moved to Madison county, Wisconsin, in his boyhood days and in 1880 came to Sioux City, where he is now engaged in the insurance busi- ness at No. 300 Fourth street, representing many of the old and reliable companies. He has commodious offiees there and is a very busy
HENRY REINHART.
MRS. MARTHA REINHART.
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