USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 31
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In Rome, New York, Mr. Whittemore was married to Miss Celia Brown, a native of that place and a daughter of Giles K. and Lavina (Posson) Brown, hoth of whom were natives of New York. Her father was extensively en- gaged in farming in the east and owned large tracts of land near Rome, New York, where he made his home until his life's labors were ended in death. Mrs. Brown is now living at the ad- vanced age of ninety-one years, and makes her home with her children in Rome, Brooklyn and Saratoga, New York. She has also paid several visits to her daughter, Mrs. Whittemore, in Sioux City. Unto our subject and his wife were born three children: James H., who was connected with oil mills and was also engaged in the cotton business in the south, removed to Sioux City and was identified with milling interests here for a few years. He is now in the city treasurer's office with his brother George
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B., who is the second of the family and is now a young man went to Illinois, where he met serving as city treasurer of Sioux City. Dilla, and married Miss Mulholland, a native of that state. They located in Moultrie county and there Mr. Conard died when his son William was about two years old. His widow survived him for a number of years and afterward re- moved to Macon county. the youngest, is the wife of Harry A. Gooch, who is cashier of the Iowa State National Bank. They have three children : Dorothy W., Helen W. and Harry W. Mr. Gooch has been engaged in the banking business since coming to Sioux City, and is very prominent here, being an active factor in financial and business circles and also well known in social life.
After his removal to Sioux City Mr. Whitte- more lived retired until called to his final home. He had in former years made careful invest- ment of his means and by his capable business management he acquired a comfortable com- petence. He passed away January 25, 1898, and his remains were interred in the Logan Park cemetery. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Texarkana, Ar- kansas. He always took an active interest in politics, served as alderman at Texarkana throughout the period of his residence there and was also county treasurer at Miller county, Arkansas, for several years. He also engaged in mercantile pursuits. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church of Brooklyn, New York, but never united else- where and the daughter and sons are members of St. John's Episcopal church in Sioux City. Mrs. Whittemore has recently sold much of her property in the east, but still has property in Arkansas and has realty interests in Sioux City in addition to her pleasant residence at No. 2102 Jackson street, where she is now liv- ing with Mr. Gooch and his family.
WILLIAM CONARD.
William Conard, a farmer on section 16, Rock township, is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Moultrie county, that state, on the 5th of May, 1863. His parents were Anderson and Harriet ( Mulholland) Con- ard. The father was born in Ohio and when
William Conard has been dependent upon his own resources from early boyhood. He had fair common school advantages and was reared in Illinois. He worked as a farm hand by the month in that state for several years and when a young man came to Iowa. Throughout his entire life he has carried on agricultural pur- suits and is now well known as a progressive and enterprising agriculturist of Woodbury county. Making his way to this state in early manhood he was married in Louisa county on the 27th of September, 1888, to Miss Carrie Jane Bozman, who was born in that county. They located near Decatur, Illinois, and for a year after his marriage Mr. Conard continued to work by the month as a farm hand. He then engaged in the operation of a rented farm for several years and also did any work that he could secure that would yield him an honest living aud give him a good start in life. He operated a coal bank for about four years in Knox county, Illinois, and in 1893 he came to Iowa, where he rented a tract of land, which he operated for several years. In 1900 he pur- chased his present property but rented and cul- tivated other lands for a year following. He traded his farm for South Dakota land and re- moved to that state, being identified with agri- cultural interests there for a year, after which he sold out and returned to Ida Grove, Iowa, where he purchased and conducted a hotel. He was identified with that business for four- teen months and also engaged in speculating in Dakota land. He had previously purchased his present property and in 1903 he erected a commodious and substantial residence upon his farm. This he has since occupied. He also built a good barn and has one of the best im-
WILLIAM CONARD AND FAMILY.
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proved farms in his township. His executive ability, keen business foresight and untiring diligence have been the strong and effective ele- ments in his successful career and thereby he has won for himself an enviable position among the men of affluence in Woodbury county.
In 1898 Mr. Conard was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in Ida county, leaving six children; William O., Lulu May, Ernest, AAda, Cassie and James. On the 27th of December, 1899, Mr. Conard was again married in Ida county, his second union being with Mrs. Mary C. Haller, whose birth occurred in Cedar county, Iowa. She is a daughter of Philip and Mary A. (Sheets) Darger, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia and was the oldest of their three children, one son and two dangh- ters. Leaving home at the age of six years she lived with strangers until eighteen and the fol- lowing year earned her own living. She then married Frederick Haller, by whom she had three children: Edna G. and Elmer F., who are still living, and Ray II., deceased. Politi- eally Mr. Conard has been a life-long Republi- can. although he was reared in the faith of the Democracy. He belongs to the Yeoman Fra- ternal Insurance Company as does Mrs. Con- ard.
JOHN N. WARREN, M. D., M. S.
Dr. John Nelson Warren, whose professional service is that of the consulting physician and surgeon, the latter branch making heavy de- mands upon his time and attention, has been a resident of Sioux City since 1889. He was born in De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa, April 30. 1846, a son of Monroe Warren and Betsey N. (Soliss) Warren, of Albany. New York. The father removed from western Ohio to Davenport, Iowa, in 1843, and the following year settled in DeWitt, where he established
a blacksmith shop, which was later developed into a carriage factory.
Dr. Warren atttended the public schools of De Witt, pursuing the high-school course there, and later was a student in the seminary at Mount Carroll, Illinois, prior to entering the State University of Michigan in 1869. He was a student in the Miami Medical College, at C'in- cinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated with the class of 1871, and he pursued a post-grad- nate course in New York city. Ile was assist- ant to Professor Dawson for three months in the winter of 1883-4, being the first man to take a practical course of actual work, instead of the ordinary method of watching the labors of the instructor. That method was then in vogue in Germany but had not yet been adopted in America. He also studied under Dr. Thomas Emmett aud others and made a specialty of surgery. He studied general surgery under Dr. Little and spent three and a half months in the New York Woman's Hospital. He was also for one year in the Cincinnati Hospital and thus by broad and varied hospital experience has been well trained for the arduons duties of a private practice in surgery. He was graduat- ed in 1884. He had, however, practiced in De- Witt, Iowa, from 1876 until 1878 and at Storm Lake from 1878 until 1882. He was associ- ated with Dr. Platt in a drug store in Sioux City for one year, 1882-3, after which he went to New York for a year's special study. Then returning to Sioux City he opened an office in connection with Dr. Savage. In 1885 he went to Storm Lake, Iowa, but in 1889 returned to Sioux City, where he has remained continu- ously since, and during the last five years he has engaged only in surgery and a consulting practice. ITis opinions are hell in high regard by the members of the fraternity and his skill in surgical work has led him to confine his at- tention thereto.
Dr. Warren was chief surgeon for the Sioux City & Northern Railroad Company from the time of the construction of its line until it
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was purchased by the Great Northern in 1901. Mr. Gere was born at Wellsburg, Chemung He is also chief surgeon of the Willmar & Sioux county, New York, September 10, 1842, and Falls Railroad Company, is president of the Sioux City College of Medicine and is also professor of principles and practice of surgery and clinical surgery. He is a member of the Woodbury County Medical Society and the Sioux Valley Medical Society, of which he was one of the organizers and its secretary in 1874. He aided in organizing the Iowa State Association of Railway Surgeons in 1894 and belongs to the American Medical Association, the Western Surgical and Gynecological Asso- ciation, the International Association of Rail- way Surgeons and the Iowa State Medical So- ciety. is the youngest son of George Morgan and Sarah Champlin (Parke) Gere. The ancestry of the family can be traced back through more than two and a half centuries to George Gere, who was born in the county of Devon, England, arrived at Boston in 1635, and was one of the early settlers of New London, Connecticut. Captain Rezin Gere, the great-grandfather of Thomas Gere, was killed in battle at Wyoming, Pennsylvania, during the war of the Revolu- tion. In the maternal line Mr. Gere is descend- ed from colonial ancestry equally remote, the progenitor of the family in America being Rich- ard Parke, who was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1602. Richard Parke settled in Fraternally Dr. Warren is a Mason, belong- ing to Landmark Lodge, No. 103, A. F. & A. M., also to the chapter and commandery. In politics he is a stanch Republican, with deep interest in the success of the party, but his pro- fessional duties leave him little time for polit- ical labors, for in his chosen field of labor he is leading a busy and useful life. Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1636, and there became the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, including the site upon which Harvard College now stands. Benjamin Parke, the great-grandfather of Mr. Gere, was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, while com- manding a company of minute men, who were fighting to sustain America's liberties. His son, Thomas Parke, with his wife Eunice THOMAS PARKE GERE. Champlin, who was one of the Champlin fam- ily of Newport, Rhode Island, was the first settler of Dimock township, Susquehanna coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and their daughter, Sarah Champlin, afterward Mrs. George Morgan Gere, was the first white child born in that township, her natal year being 1802. There the father of our subject resided until May, 1850, when he removed to Waukegan, Illinois. In March, 1851, he became a resident of Allen's Grove, Wisconsin, and in July, 1852, located at Wabashaw Prairie, now Winona, Mime- sota, where he remained until July, 1854, when he settled at Chatfield, Minnesota.
An enumeration of the men of the present generation who have gained distinction in west- ern Iowa would be incomplete were there fail- ure to make prominent reference to the gen- tleman whose name introduces this review. In his business career he has shown indomitable perseverance and strong individuality, and there is in him a weight of character and a fidelity of purpose that have commanded the respect of all. He is widely known in con- nection with railroad construction and indus- trial development in this part of the state, hav- ing first visited Sioux City in 1871 with an engineering corps, since which time he has so directed his efforts that there has come to him a distinguished position in connection with the great material industries of Iowa.
Thomas Parke Gere accompanied his parents on these various removals. He pursued his early education in the frontier schools and was afterward a student for six terms in the Chat- field Academy, meeting the expenses of his
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academic course with money which he had St. Paul down the Mississippi river. This road earned as a flagman in the service of a survey- ing party, engaged in subdividing government land at the headwaters of the Des Moines river. He had been thus employed when sixteen years of age. After leaving the academy Mr. Gere continued his studies at home until the in- auguration of the Civil war in 1861. He vol- unteered three times before gaining the con- sent of his parents to his enlistment but at length, when nineteen years of age, he was mus- tered into the service as a private of Company B. Fifth Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers, joining the army at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. He was appointed first sergeant of his company on the 5th of March, 1862, and second lieuten- ant on the 24th of March, of the same year. The company was stationed at Fort Ridgely during the succeeding summer and lost thirty- two men, including its captain, in the Sioux outbreak of that year. In December, 1862, the company joined the regiment at Oxford, Mis- sissippi, and participated in the subsequent campaigns of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Army Corps of the Army of the Tennessee, Mr. Gere was appointed first lieutenant of his com- pany on the 20th of Angust, 1862, was made regimental adjutant March 20, 1863, and brig- ade adjutant on the 7th of March, 1864. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Nash- ville, Tennessee, on the 15th of December, 1864, and captured a rebel flag in the engagement on the following day, and in recognition of this was presented by congress, through the seere- tary of war, with the United States medal of honor on the 22d of February, 1865, at Wash- ington, D. C. On the 5th of April, 1865, he was mustered out of service by reason of the expira- tion of his term of enlistment. Ile made for himself a most creditable miltary record and returned home with the honors of war.
Making his way to Minnesota Mr. Gere re- smined his studies and in the fall of 1865 he accepted a position with an engineering party engaged in surveying lines for a railroad from
is now the river division of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. Seem- ing to possess a natural predilection for eivil en- gineering, his studies from that time forward were most diligently directed to the acquire- ment of that profession. In April, 1866, he engaged as a leveler on the northern division of the St. Croix & Lake Superior Railroad, and in the fall of the same year he became as- sistant under General G. K. Warren in the United States survey of the Mississippi river from Fort Snelling to Hannibal, Missouri. During the months of January and February, 1867, he was enrolling clerk of the house of representatives of the state of Minnesota. On the 1st of May, 1867, he became assistant en- gineer with the St. Paul & Sioux City and the Minnesota Valley Railroads, acting in that ca- pacity during the location and construction of the main line and its branches, or until the 1st of January, 1873, when he was appointed chief en- gineer and was placed in full charge of the maintenance of way and structures. Mr. Gore filled that position seven years, and on the 15th of January, 1880, was appointed assistant su- perintendent. Upon the consolidation of the St. Paul & Sioux City and West Wisconsin Railroads under the name of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad he was, on the 1st of October, 1880, made superinten- dent of the St. Paul division and on the 1st of June, 1881, he was appointed superinten- dent of the Sioux City division with head- quarters at Sioux City. On the 16th of Jan- mary, 1882, he was transferred to the position of superintendent of the eastern and northern divisions and returned to St. Paul. In De- cember of that year he was notified of his ap- pointment as assistant general superintendent of the entire line, but upon the acquirement of the road by the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- road Company and the retirement of HI. HI. Porter from the presidency, the general super- intendent, Charles F. Hatch, also vacated his
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position, and Mr. Gere likewise resigned, his owner of his loeality, prominent and influential resignation taking effect on the 1st of April, citizen there, exerting strong influence in local 1883.
In that year Mr. Gere entered into partner- ship relations with R. D. Hubbard, of Mankato, Minnesota, and constructed the large plant known as the Linseed Oil Works in Sioux City. This was begun in the summer of 1883 and was completed in 1884 under the immediate supervision of Mr. Gere. He has since resided in Sionx ('ity as manager of the business, which has beeome one of the great productive indus- tries of this portion of the state. He has also been instrumental in promoting many other business enterprises and was in 1891 president of the Sioux City & Northern Railroad Com- pany, and a member of the board of directors of the Corn Exchange National Bank.
Mr. Gere was united in marriage on the 16th of September, 1874, with Mary Emma Shepard, at Mankato, Minnesota, and they now have two daughters and two sons.
The career of Mr. Gere has been characterized by untiring industry and by enviable aceom- plishment. He is quick of perception, active and persistent in execution, and his elose appli- eation to business and excellent management have brought to him the reputation which is to-day his. His business principles and actions have been characterized by striet and unswerv- ing integrity. His labors, too, have been of a character that have proven of direct benefit to his fellow men and his personal qualities of courtesy, kindliness and affability have gained for him the regard and friendship of those with whom he has come in contaet.
MRS. CAROLINE SMITH.
Mrs. Caroline Smith, well known in Sioux City, where she has made her home for forty- three years, was born in Koltstadt, Germany, April 26, 1838, a daughter of John and Helen ( Kissel) Shuster. Her father was a large land-
affairs, and for twenty-eight years he was the honored mayor of Koltstadt. He died in the year 1842, while his wife passed away in 1848.
Mrs. Smith eame to the United States in 1860, a young lady of but twenty-two years, to visit her brother, who was then living in St. Louis, Missouri. After a year there passe i she removed to Sioux City, Iowa, where she has resided continuously since 1861. In 1863 she beeame the wife of Captain Benjamin Franklin Smith, who was an assistant adjutant general and at the close of the Civil war held the rank of eolonel. He was a brave and fear- less officer, one who was unfaltering in his loy- alty to the cause he esponsed, and at the battle of Fort Donelson he was wounded. When hos- tilities had eeased and the preservation of the Union was assured by reason of the valor and continued loyalty of the northern troops, Mir. Smith returned to Sioux City, where he en- gaged in the drug business. He was influential and active in public affairs and his eo-opera- tion could be counted upon in all movements for the general welfare and the public good. Sioux City numbered him among its valued residents and his fellow townsmen gave proof of their trust in him by electing him to the position of county treasurer, which office he filled through re-election for eight consecutive years, retiring from the position as he had en- tered it-with the confidence and good will of all concerned.
Not long after his return to private life his health failed him and the last years of his life were spent in retirement from business cares. He passed away June 9, 1879, at the age of forty-two years, and his loss was the occasion of uniform sorrow throughout Sioux City. IIe is yet well remembered by many friends as well as by his family, to whom he left not not only a comfortable competence, but also the prieeless heritage of an untarnished name and honorable reeord in all life's relations.
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B.F.SMIT-1
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith had been born Naney Clark. Her father was a well known three children, but Helen S., the eldest, died at the age of twenty years. Alice Eleanor is the wife of J. S. Michael and with this dangh- ter Mrs. Smith resides. Frank Edward, the youngest, is now living in Denver, Colorado. Mrs. Smith is a member of the English Luther- an church and her Christian faith has per- meated her life and guided her actions toward those with whom she has come in contaet. She has a wide acquaintance in Sioux City, where she has so long made her home, and the circle of her friends is now an extensive one.
WILLIAM JOHN WOLFE.
William J. Wolfe, the popular postmaster of Smithland, is an important factor in business circles, being one of the proprietors of the Peo- ple's Store, and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabated energy and industry that never flags. He is a leading mer- chant of the village and as a publie-spirited citizen is thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.
Mr. Wolfe was born in Kemptville, Ontario, Canada, on the 21st of April, 1871, a son of W. J. and Sarah (De Pencier) Wolfe. The father was born in the north of Ireland of Irish parentage and died when our subject was quite young. Mr. Wolfe was reared and educated in Canada and from there came to Smithland, Iowa, in 1889. Here he was married in June, 1893, to Miss Mande Haight, a daughter of George Haight, who is now living in Nebraska. She has two sisters who are stenographers in Sioux City and her mother is now Mrs. James Meek, who resides on a farm near Anthon in Miller township.
The latter, who bore the maiden name of Margaret J. Clark, was born in 1861 and is the only child of Elder Charles Henry and
minister of the Christian church. He was born in Genesee county, New York, on the 1st of January, 1817, and in 1856 married Miss Naney Rogers, who was born October 12, 1818, and is the youngest of the ten children of Na- than and Sarah (Jacques) Rogers. Her father was a representative of the Rogers family of Connecticut. In the year of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clark came west with a family to Min- nesota and settled fifty miles from Spirit Lake, where they remained until February, 1858, when they removed to Smithland, Iowa. On arriving at this place they found that most of the male population had gone to Pike's Peak. About 1860 the Indians created much alarm among the settlers and those living north of Smithland fled to that village, the women being left largely unprotected. Soldiers were sent for and a stock- ade was built at Correctionville. The Indians stole a great deal of stock and committed many other crimes. Although Mrs. Clark passed through many trying experiences in pioneer days she is still hale and hearty and is able to do her share of the household duties. In carly life her educational advantages were limited, but she made good use of her opportunities and is a very bright old lady. She now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Meck, three miles north of Oto. At one time Elder Clark kept a public house or tavern at Smithland, which was on the stage line about midway between Dennison and Sioux City. This hostlery was known as the Burr Oak Hotel. Mr. Clark got ont the logs for its construction, the doors and window casings being made of black walnut.
In 1894 Mr. Wolfe established his present store, starting in business with a small stock of groceries, but three years later he formed a partnership with J. D. Greve and added dry goods, boots, shoes, ladies' and men's furnish- ing goods and notions to his stock. They have enlarged their store building from time to time to make room for their growing stock and now ocenpy three rooms fronting the street
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with the grocery and dry goods depart- ment and postoffice. They carry a well selected stock valued at eight thousand dollars and re- ceive a liberal patronage from the surrounding country, the store being known as the "Big Store with Little Prices." Mr. Greve is not a resident of Smithland, but is connected with the firm of Greve & Company in a hardware store at Boone, Iowa, and also Greve Brothers at Cushing, Iowa. Mr. Wolfe is in charge of the Smithland establishment and no man in the community stands higher in the esteem of all classes, especially the farmers, who appreciate low prices, courteous treatment and honest dealing. Everything is sold exactly on its own merits. Mr. Wolfe has erected a fine residence in Smithland and takes great interest in beau- tifying his home and surroundings. He is a lover of good horses and has a fine team which he drives. He is also fond of baseball and is a devoted follower of Izaak Walton, being an expert fisherman, whose table often attests his skill with the hook and line. He is a true sportsman and has no mercy for those who dis- obey the fish and game laws. In his political views he is an ardent Republican and in re- ligious faith is an Episcopalian.
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