USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 3
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In 1893 Mr. Kelly was appointed collector of internal revenue by President Cleveland and also disbursing agent of the treasury depart- ment. He had always been a "sound money"
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proches
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WOODBURY COUNTY
man-an advocate of the gold standard. He years started out to earn his own living by was a member of the first "free trade," or tariff reform club, organized after the war, and has for many years been a member of the Reform Club of New York and a warm advocate of Civil service reform. He was a delegate-at- large to the Democratic national convention of 1888 which nominated Cleveland and Thur- man and in 1892 he supported Governor Boies in the Democratic national convention as a candidate for the presidency. In 1896 he re- fused to support Bryan on account of the plat- form then adopted and was a delegate to the Gold-Democratie national convention which nominated Palmer and Buckner.
While in Des Moines Mr. Kelly formed the acquaintance of Miss Martha A. Hill, daughter of Colonel S. G. Hill, of the Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, who was killed while leading a bri- gade at the battle of Nashville. Mr. Kelly and Miss Hill were married in Muscatine, Iowa, May 1, 1878, and unto them were born seven children : Rose, Mabel, Martha, Rachel, John H., Eugene and Gardner. He was for many years president of the Humane Society of Sioux City and is a man who has special re- gard for the amenities of life, supporting all measures which tend to ameliorate the condi- tions which work hardships to his fellow men, whether they come through social, business or political conditions.
ANDREW HAAKINSON.
Andrew Haakinson, a retired farmer living in Sioux City, was born in Norway, January 8, 1841, and is a son of Haakinson Amanson and Ellen Hanson. The father was a farmer of Norway and came to the United States in July, 1861, loeating in Winnebago county, Wisconsin. He died October 20, 1881, and his wife passed away April 11, 1882.
In the schools of Norway Andrew Haakinson pursued his education, but at the age of ten
working as a farm hand by the month. He was thus employed until twenty years of age. He came to the United States when his parents crossed the Atlantic and after locating in Win- nebago county, Wisconsin, he purchased sixty acres of land. He had been a resident of Amer- iea but little more than a year when he espoused the cause of the Union and, enlisting in the fall of 1863 as a reeruit, was mustered in February 22, 1864. He became a member of Company K, Eleventh Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, and participated in General Banks' expedition and also in the battles at Fort Blakely and Mobile bay. He received an honorable dis- charge September 4, 1865, and then returned to Wisconsin. Mr. Haakinson's name was spelled at that time Hagerson. Not long after this he sold his original farm, but purchased eighty acres of land in the same county and shortly afterward bought forty acres additional. He then carried on general farming operations on his tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres until 1884, when he sold his Wisconsin property and came to Iowa. For a short time he made his home in Sloan, but in the fall of that year took up his abode in Sioux City. Hle purchased eighty aeres of land which is now within the city limits and soon afterward sold this and bought twenty aeres adjoining, while in 1893 he bought one hundred and twenty-seven aeres adjoining the twenty-acre tract. The one hundred and twenty-seven-aere traet is located in what is known as the Wash- ington Park addition and is within the cor- poration limits of Sioux City. The twenty acres have not been platted in lots. Mr. IIaakinson has lived retired since 1888, merely giving his time to the supervision of his prop- erty interests, which have largely increased in value with the growth and development of the city. His life has been one of untiring aetiv- ity and continued progression, and although he started ont for himself empty-handed when a little lad of only ten years he has steadily ad-
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vanced on the road to success, and in the pos- session of a handsome competency is now living a retired life.
Mr. Haakinson is a member of General Hancock Post, No. 22, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. In his political views he is a stanch Republican, cast his first presidential ballot for Lincoln in 1864 and since that time has never failed to vote at each election and to support the men and measures of the Repub- lican party.
REV. RALPH P. SMITH.
Rev. Ralph Parsons Smith, rector of St. Thomas church (Episcopal) at Sioux City, was born in Granville, Licking county, Ohio, July 10, 1868. His paternal grandfather, David Smith, came from Yorkshire, England, to America in early life, and Charles B. Smith, father of Rev. R. P. Smith, was born in New York city. He became an attorney at law and practiced his profession until 1863, when, re- sponding to his country's call for aid, he en- listed at Springfield, Illinois, for service in the Union Army, becoming a member and second lieutenant of the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He won promotion from time to time and when mustered out was serving with the rank of colonel. He was captured while serving on detail duty after the battle of Vicks- hurg and was sent to Andersonville, where he re- mained until exchanged. He died in Septem- ber, 1874, at the age of thirty-five years. He adhered to the faith of the Church of England, to which his ancestors had belonged, and his wife was also a member of the Episcopal church. She bore the maiden name of Caroline Parsons and was a descendant of one of the passengers on the Mayflower. Her father, Ralph Parsons, was a merchant and married Laura Case. There was but one child born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Ralph Parsons. Ten years
after the death of her first husband Mrs. Smith became the wife of Benjamin F. Thomas, head professor of physics in the Ohio State Uni- versity, and by that union there were three children.
In early boyhood Rev. R. P. Smith attended a private school in Granville, Ohio, continued his studies in the academy there, of which he is a graduate, and afterward entered Denison University, in which he was graduated on the completion of a classical course in 1888. He spent a year in the engineering service of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in Wash- ington and afterward became connected with the Associated Press, acting as correspondent in the house of representatives at Columbus, Ohio. He then turned his attention to educational work as assistant superintendent of a Young Ladies' Academy at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he remained for two years, after which he taught in the Morgan Park Academy, at Chi- cago, Illinois, for a year. At the same time he studied for the ministry in the University of Chicago. In that city he founded the South Side Academy, which he conducted for three years, teaching dead languages and natural sci- ences. At the same time he pursued post-gradu- ate work in the University of Chicago.
In 1894 Rev. Smith went abroad, spending a year in Europe, during which time he was largely engaged in study in Leipsic and other centers of learning. While there he was of- fered an assistant professorship in German in the University of Illinois, at Champaign, and accepting this served in that capacity for three years. Mr. Smith was pursuing his studies with the intention of entering the medical pro- fession or the ministry, and deciding upon the latter he was confirmed by Bishop Vincent in 1897 and became a candidate for holy orders. He entered the Episcopal Theological School at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was gradu- ated in 1898. He took his canonical degrees at Columbus, Ohio, and was ordained to the priesthood in St. Paul's church, at Cincinnati,
REV. R. P. SMITH.
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Ohio. Ile then accepted a charge at Cummins- capital, where he served as a messenger boy in ville, a suburb of Cincinnati, where he re- one of the patrician families for three years. mained for two years and was then associate rector of Shattuck school, at Faribault, Min- nesota, for a year. He came to Sioux City, January 4, 1903, and has since been rector of St. Thomas Episcopal church.
Rev. Smith was married on the 28th of June, 1901, to Miss Marguerite Thorne, who was born in Virginia in 1878, a daughter of Wil- liam Thorne, a farmer of the Old Dominion. They have two children, Margaret Parsons and Laura Parsons. Rev. Smith is a member of the Masonic and of several college fraternities, and in his political views is an independent Re- publican, for while he usually votes for the men and measures of the Republican party, he does not consider himself bound by party ties.
ALEXANDER KERIAKEDES.
Alexander Keriakedes has within a compar- atively short space of time attained a success that makes his career partake of the marvelous and yet his prosperity is due entirely to close application, unfaltering energy and capable management. It is therefore well merited and has gained for him the admiration and respect of all who know aught of his career. He was born in Sparta, Greece, in November, 1874, and is a son of John and Pauline Keriakedes, both of whom are yet living in Sparta. The father was a farmer and served in the Grecian army, but is now retired from service on a competency. In the family were eight children, six of whom are yet living, the three sons being in this country while the daughters are at home.
Alexander Keriakedes obtained his education in the public schools of his native place and on putting aside his text books went to Smyrna, Turkey, where he worked for his unele in a restaurant. He was then but thirteen years of age and he remained in Smyrna for three years. He next made his way to Athens, the Greeian
The year 1893 witnessed his arrival in Amer- ira. He located in Newark, New Jersey, where he secured employment in a candy fac- tory and there he learned the business, being employed at that place for a year and a half. Ile next went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he also followed candy making, and later he worked at his trade in Louisville, Kentucky, for six months. He afterward located in Min- neapolis, Minnesota, where he was employed in the same way for a year and in 1899 he opened a candy store in St. Paul, Minnesota, which he conducted with very gratifying success for three years.
In July, 1902, Mr. Keriakedes purchased the Des Moines Candy Kitchen at Sioux City, which he has since enlarged and supplied with modern equipment. He now has the most ex- tensive and finest retail candy establishment in Sioux City and also owned at one time a large confectionery story in Mason City, Iowa, but this store he has sold. At the present, however, he is the proprietor of the Lincoln Candy Kitchen at Lincoln, Nebraska, and his business is proving a most profitable one, his trade constantly growing. Mr. Keriakedes was joined in 1898 by his brother Peter, who is now in his employ, and in 1903 his younger brother, Thanash, came to America and our subjeet is now sending him to school.
He was married in 1899 to Miss Isabel Gard- ner, who was born in Rochester, New York. Mr. Keriakedes is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and his wife belongs to the Theosophieal Society. Although a young man he has gained success that many a one of twice his years might well envy and, moreover, when he came to the United States he was handi- capped by his lack of knowledge of the English language and a familiarity with the customs and manners of the people of the new world, but he readily adapted himself to changed conditions and through his unfaltering energy,
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which is the source of prosperity in all walks of life, he has rapidly worked his way upward to an enviable position in the business world.
JOHN HERR CHARLES.
John Herr Charles is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Sioux City, where he has made his home since the 1st of December, 1856, and he has been connected with many im- portant interests leading to the substantial de- velopment of this part of the state. He tvas born January 19, 1826, in Pennsylvania, and is a son of Joseph Charles, a grandson of John Charles and a great-grandson of Henry Charles. In the year 1734 Heinrich Karley, with his wife and his aged mother, who was blind, emi- grated from Zurich, Switzerland, to America. On his arrival he settled in Manor township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he pur- chased a tract of land, containing one hundred and seventy-one acres, and for this he paid twenty-one pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence sterling. This farm has remained in possession of the family to the present day and is now owned and occupied by his lineal de- scendant, Christian H. Charles. The family name in the interim has been anglicized and by the different branches of the family is writ- ten as it now appears in the life history of our subject. Heinrich Karley had three sons. Joseph, the oldest, was born while his parents were on the voyage to America, his natal day being June 10, 1734. John, the second, was born July 31, 1739, and Jacob was born Oc- tober 27, 1742. Heinrich Karley lived to be fifty-six years of age and died in his adopted land and was interred upon the old homestead farm where many of his descendants lie buried. His son John lived to be eighty-five years of age, while the third son, Jacob, reached the advanced age of ninety-seven years, nine months and eleven days.
Joseph Charles, the eldest son, was the sec-
ond in the line of direct descent to our sub- ject. Among his children was John, who was born March 29, 1766, and died in Mifflin town- ship, Ashland county, Ohio, at the age of sev- enty-eight years. Joseph, the second son, emi- grated to Warren county, Indiana, where his descendants may now be found. The daugh- ters, Martha, Magdalene and Maria, were born in the order here named and they emigrated from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, to the west.
John "Charles, the eldest son of Joseph Charles, and a grandson of Heinrich Karley, was married at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Maria Herr, the daughter of John Herr, for whom the subject of this review was named. Their eldest son, Joseph Charles, was born August 16, 1799. Anna, the second child, was born December 16, 1800, and became the wife of Martin Kagy. John was born July 13, 1802.
Joseph Charles, the father of our subject, was married to Elizabeth Kauffman and their children were John Herr, Abner E., Anna Marie, Joseph B., Elizabeth M. and Daniel K. Of this number Joseph B. died in California in 1898.
John Herr Charles was reared upon his fath- er's farm and in 1856 arrived in Sioux City, Iowa, reaching his destination on the 1st of December of that year. For four years there- after he was engaged in the real estate business and then entered the general mercantile estab- lishment of Milton Tootle, who is now a million- aire. Later he became a partner in this en- terprise and for forty years continued in the wholesale grocery business. He also extended his efforts to various other lines of business ac- tivity. In 1860 the banking firm of Means, Allison & Company consolidated its business with the banking interests of John H. Charles, who, however, severed his connection with the house on the 6th of September, of that same year. He has, nevertheless, been identified with many important business concerns. To
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WOODBURY COUNTY 1299206
Sioux City belongs the honor of fitting out the first civilians' expedition to the now rich and famous Black Hills country and on the 6th of October, 1874, the Collins and Russell party started from Sioux City for the Black Hills. This party consisted of twenty-six men who went through the Sioux nation, braving the danger of Indian attacks and the hardships of storms and blizzards. This was a very ardu- ous and perilous undertaking, but one which proved eminently successful. From Fort Lar- amie the members of the expedition were pa- roled. Sioux City sent an ambassador out to meet them and also furnished transportation for them to come home. John Charles was foremost in fitting out the expedition and gave liberally to sustain and carry out the Black Hills project. He was also one of the pro- moters of the Sioux City & Pembina Railroad, now a portion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system. For years he was identified with the Steamboat Transportation Company, oper- ating on the Missouri river as government con- tractor, his connection therewith being contin- ued until 1900, when he retired from active business life.
In 1861 Mr. Charles was married to Malvina Bryan, who died in 1864 at the age of thirty- one years, leaving one daughter, Florence, who is now the wife of Fred S. Martin, of Minne- apolis, Minnesota. In 1868 Mr. Charles was again married, his second union being with Jennie Townsend, who is a daughter of Joseph Townsend, of Kingston, New York.
Mr. Charles has continuously made his home in Sioux City since 1856 and his mind bears the impress of the early historic annals of north- western Iowa and at the same time he has an intimate knowledge of its latter-day progress and improvement. He has been the president of the Sioux City Scientific Association from . its inception and is the president and was also one of the promoters of the Floyd Monument Association. In 1876 he was elected mayor of Sioux City on the Republican ticket.
CHARLES A. DICKSON.
Charles A. Dickson, an attorney at law of Sioux City, was born in Dowagiac, Michigan, March 22, 1870, and is a son of Austin M. and Loraine (Beeson) Dickson, who were also natives of that state. The father was proprietor of a hotel and also conducted a mercantile enter- prise in that state. His political support was given to the Democratic party. His wife, who is still living, is a member of the Universalist church. They were the parents of two sons -- Charles A. and Clarence B., proprietor of a hotel in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
When seven years of age Charles A. Dickson accompanied his parents on their removal to Madison, Wisconsin, where he completed the regular course of study in the grammar and high schools. He then entered the Wisconsin State University, in which he pursued the modern classical course and was graduated with the class of 1891. He next took up the study of law in the same institution and was gradu- ated in 1893. In the fall of that year he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he remained until the summer of 1894, when he came to Sioux City and formed a partnership with R. J. Chase under the firm name of Chase & Dick- son. This was dissolved in 1898 and since that time he has practiced alone. IIe is a member of the Sioux City and State Bar Associations, and in a calling where advancement depends upon individual merit, close application and careful preparation, he has won enviable sue- cess. Ile now has a distinctively representative clientage and has shown excellent ability in coping with the intricate questions which en- gage the attention of the courts.
On the 30th of December, 1896, Mr. Dick- son was married to Miss Katherine Hardy, a daughter of Albert Hardy, who was superin- tendent of the public schools in La Crosse, Wis- consin. She is a native daughter of Michigan and has one child, Ruth. Mrs. Dickson belongs to the Congregational church and like her hus- band has made many friends during their resi-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WOODBURY COUNTY
dence in Sioux City. Mr. Dickson belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Beta Theta Pi, a college society. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy and during the past three years he has taken a very active part in politics in Woodbury county, serving during that time as Democratic county chairman.
FRANK H. BEAMER.
Frank H. Beamer, who has attained distinc- tion as a representative of photographic art and is successfully conducting a studio in Sioux City, was born in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, November 15, 1873, his parents being Jared and Lydia (Merrick) Beamer. The father was a native of St. Catherines, Ontario, and the mother was also born in that province. In their family were four children and like the others Frank H. Beamer attended the common schools of Ottawa, Ontario. He began the study of photography under the direction and in the studio of E. F. Hall, of Buffalo, New York, in 1889 and there remained for five years. In 1894 he went to Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed by the firm of Arthur & Philbric, with whom he remained for two years, after which he spent a similar period with the firm of Hayes & Company. In 1897 he returned to Buffalo and formed a business connection with W. H. S. Otto as superintendent of his studio and while thus engaged he secured the first gold medal at the national convention. On again leaving Buffalo Mr. Beamer went to Spring- field, Massachusetts, where he became manager and operator in the photographic studio of R. I. Noble for one year and in 1898 he went to Albany, New York, as photographer for the Al- bany Art Union. In 1899 he removed to Bos- ton, where he was employed by A. Marshall until August of the same year, when he removed to Sionx City. Here he took charge of the Gen- elli studio, but in April, 1900, he purchased the Sidney Montgomery studio located at 415
Fourth street. He has since been the proprietor and in the meantime he has enlarged the studio to double its original size. Mr. Beamer has a most comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the latest processes of photography, keeps in touch with the most improved inventions con- cerning the art and added to his mechanical skill has an artist's appreciation of form, color and pose. He has been particularly skillful as a photographer of children and his work in this direction has won him notable prominence and high encomiums.
Mr. Beamer is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Tyrian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and to Sioux City Chapter, No. 26, R. A. M. He was married in June, 1895, to Miss Edith Michealis, of Buffalo, New York, and during their residence in Sioux City they have won many friends who extend to them warm-hearted ' hospitality.
FRANK T. HOUX.
Frank T. Houx, a general contractor, who is also engaged in a wholesale business as a dealer in mantels, tiles and grates, stands as a well known representative of business activity in Sioux City. He has developed an enterprise of importance and his labors have resulted in placing him in the front rank among the lead- ing contractors and merchants of northwestern Iowa. He was born in Martinsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1854, and is a son of William Edward and Susan Eliza- beth (Shimer) Houx. The father, a native of Maryland, was a manufacturer of furniture and died in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1879. The mother still survives him and makes her home in Howbert, Colorado. Following the acquirement of his preliminary education in the public schools Frank T. Houx continued his studies in the Normal College at Martins- burg, Pennsylvania. When fifteen years of age he began learning the plasterer's trade, to
F. H. BEAMER.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WOODBURY COUNTY
which he served a three years' apprenticeship, and for one year he was under instruction in Philadelphia. Subsequently he became a jour- neyman and was thus employed until March 9, 1875, when he removed to London, Ohio, and later worked in all the large cities of Ohio and Indiana. In July of the same year he made his way to Chieago and thenee to Norway, Iowa, where he spent three years. On the ex- piration of that period he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania for a visit and in April, 1878, he again located in Norway, where he continued to reside until 1880. In that year he removed to Audubon, Iowa, and in Mareh, 1884, he went to Woonsocket, South Dakota, where he remained until 1890, when he eame to Sioux City. The following year he estab- lished his business as a contractor in plaster, brick, stone, cement and tile work and in 1898 he began business as a general contractor and builder and dealer in all kinds of building ma- terials. In 1901 he further extended the field of his labor by establishing a wholesale house, in which he earries mantels, tiling and grates. His business has reached extensive and profit- able proportions and has been developed along modern eommereial lines. He has found that eapability and fidelity prove the best founda- tion upon which to build financial success and throughout his aetive business career in Sioux City he has always lived faithfully up to the terms of his eontraets, has executed his work in skillful manner and has thereby won the unqualified confidence of the general publie. His patronage is now extensive and he is elassed among the more successful business men of the city. His prominence in his special line of business activity is indicated by the fact that for four consecutive years he has been ehosen to the position of president of the Contractors, Builders & Traders Exchange.
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