USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 43
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In Jackson county, Indiana, Mr. Walker was again married, his second union being with Miss Martha E. Hiekson, a native of Akron, Ohio, born September 19, 1843, her parents being Thomas and Ann Eliza (Hicks) ITick- son. Her mother was descended from the famous Hicks family, Quakers, of Quaker City, Pennsylvania. Her father was a native of Ireland and eame to America at an early day, settling in Jackson county, Indiana, where for many years he occupied a government position, serving in that eapacity until his death. His wife also died there. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Walker were six children: James, who married Lizzie Jerome and resided in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he is engaged in business as a stoekman ; McClelland and Hortense, both deceased; Addie A., a leading young lady of
Sioux City, who was writing a book of the old soldiers of this part of the state, but her labor was never finished as she was taken ill and died in Sioux City, May 15, 1904, amid the deep re- gret of a very large circle of friends ; Jefferson C., who married May Allen and resides in Lin- coln, Nebraska, near which place he has farm- ing interests; and Ida May, who resides with her mother and is engaged in teaching in the public schools of Sioux City, Iowa, where she has taught for four years.
Mr. Walker gave his political allegiance to the Democracy, but never sought or desired office. IIe enlisted in the Sixty-seventh In- diana Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days' serviee in the Civil war and was honorably dis- charged at the end of that time. He attempted to re-enlist but was refused on account of dis- ability. He resided near Sioux City for about twenty-five years and was well known here, this being his market place where he made his purchases and also sold his grain. He had many friends in the county seat and through- out this portion of the state. In his home he was devoted to the welfare of his wife and children and his loss was greatly felt by many who knew him. After her husband's death Mrs. Walker resided in Plymouth county until 1890, when she sold the farm and removed to Sioux City. She has lived in different sections of this city and in 1902 she took up her abode in Morn- ingside, where she purchased a nice residence at No. 1511 Oak street, where she and her daughter now reside.
The family attend the First Presbyterian church.
PETER C. EBERLY.
Peter C. Eberly is now living retired in Sioux City, but for many years was closely identified with its agricultural and kindred in- dustries, including the raising of grain and stock and the manufacture of cheese and mo-
MR. AND MRS. P. C. EBERLY.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN EBERLY.
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lasses. Unremitting diligence has formed the iar with the arduous duties of developing a new basis of his success, which now enables him to farm, and he continued to assist his father until enjoy life without further recourse to the twenty-two years of age. active, strenuous labor which occupied his at- tention for many years.
Mr. Eberly was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1838, and is a son of John and Eliza ( Leidig) Eberly. The fam- ily is of German lineage and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of Peter C. Eberly, who settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. John Eberly was born in the Keystone state in 1812, and in early life was a farmer, fol- lowing that pursuit for four or five years, after which he worked for his brother in a sawmill and lumber yard until his removal to the west. In 1849 he removed to Salem, Henry county, Iowa, where he rented a farm, and later set- tled in Johnson county, about ten miles north- west of Iowa City. He rented a tract of land upon which he lived until the succeeding spring when he purchased eighty acres, which he de- veloped and cultivated until 1868, when he re- moved to Louisa county, this state. Several years were devoted to farming there and in the spring of 1873 he came to Woodbury coun- ty, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Big Whiskey creek val- ley, north of the Correctionville road. There he devoted his energies to general agricultural pursuits tor some time and made that farm his home until his death, which occurred in 1890, while his wife, who was born in 1819, passed away in 1900. They were married in 1837 and thus traveled life's journey together for about fifty-three years. They were pioneer residents of various sections of this state, coming to Iowa in the early days of its statehood and bearing a helpful part in the substantial development and improvement of the localities in which they re- sided.
Peter C. Eberly acquired his early education in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and afterward continued his studies in the public schools of Johnson county. In early life he beeame famil-
About that time Mr. Eberly was married to Miss Eliza J. Alt, a daughter of J. W. Alt, a farmer of Johnson county, Iowa. The wedding was celebrated on the 7th of February, 1861. After his marriage Mr. Eberly worked at the carpenter's trade until 1862, when he responded to the call of his country for aid in preserving the Union and joined the Twenty-second Iowa Infantry for three years. Following the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Sa- vannah, Georgia, July 25, 1865. He did a soldier's full duty and returned to his home with an honorable military record, having aided in the defense of the stars and stripes and the cause they represented at the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and the siege of Vicksburg. Although in many hotly contested engagements he was never wounded, notwithstanding the fact that his uniform was several times pierced by rebel bullets.
Returning to the quiet pursuits of civil life Mr. Eberly resumed work at the carpenter's trade in 1865 and was thus employed until the spring of 1873, when he came to Woodbury county, and purchased a farm of eighty acres on Big Whiskey creek, south of the Correction- ville road. He increased his holdings from time to time until he now owns two hundred and forty aeres, and he continued active farming operations until August 15, 1901, when he re- moved to Morningside, where he now occupies an attractive home, supplied with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. While upon the farm he also conducted a molasses mill, the output being from sixty to one hundred gallons per day during the cane season. He also oper- ated a cheese factory, using from twelve to six- teen hundred pounds of milk per day. He oper- ated a threshing machine for a number of years, and also dealt in stock. His varied interests, capably conducted, returned to him a most grati-
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fying income, and he prospered as the result His has been a busy and useful life, in which of his indefatigable effort, strong purpose and intelligently directed labor.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Eberly have been born ten children, and with the exception of Sherman, who was born September 4, 1869, and died September 6, 1870, all are yet living, namely : Ida May, born November 23, 1861, was mar- ried September 3, 1884, to F. E. West, a farmer. Frank Sheridan, born May 26, 1866, was mar- ried March 22, 1888, to Miss Phoebe Craig, and is now farming in North Dakota. Bertha Olive, born November 8, 1867, was married June 11, 1897, to George Phippen and since his death she has become the wife of Edward Sac- kett, a farmer of South Dakota. Ottis Victor, born June 16, 1871, is a farmer of Woodbury county. Dora M., born April 10, 1873, is the wife of Paul Hoffman, who is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in this county. Fred Hayes, born July 14, 1875, was married to Ethel Burk, in 1902, and is also a farmer. Josephine Belle, born May 21, 1877, was married in 1898, to Marsh Parker, a carpenter of Sioux City. Luther Sloan, born June 20, 1880, married Marie Runge, and is engaged in the tilling of the soil in North Dakota. William John, born September 3, 1882, is farming in North Dakota. The mother of these children died in June, 1888, and in September, 1889, Mr. Eberly was again married, his second union being with Miss Julia Eberly, of Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, a daughter of Joseph Eberly, a farmer and pioneer of that county.
In his political views Mr. Eberly is a Repub- lican and has been called upon to fill various local offices, having served as justice of the peace, assessor, school director and township trustee, while for seven years he was a member of the board of supervisors. His official record, like his private life, is commendable, having been characterized by the straightforward and honorable performance of every duty devolving upon him. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and to the First Baptist church.
have been manifest loyalty in citizenship, indus- try in business affairs, and honor in all his rela- tions with his fellow men.
ARTHUR V. VAN DORN.
One of the most enterprising and success- ful farmers and stock-raisers of Little Sioux township is Arthur V. Van Dorn, who is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this section of the state. His paternal grandfather, Cornelius Van Dorn, was one of the first settlers of Monona county and continued to make his home there throughout life. He was born on the 2d of June, 1793, in New Jersey, and there grew to manhood but in early life accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Saratoga, New York, where they were engaged in the hotel business. On leaving that state they removed to Ohio, where Cornelius Van Dorn was married in 1822 to Miss Mary Wilkinson, a daughter of Samuel Wilkinson, who made her a present of forty acres of good land in Ohio. It was cov- ered with a heavy growth of timber, which Mr. Van Dorn cleared away and then engaged in the cultivation of the land, making his home thereon until October, 1854, when he removed to Fayette county, Iowa. Renting a farm a mile southeast of West Union, he resided thereon one winter and the following May rode on horseback to Monona county, returning in June with the determination to locate in that county. Packing his household goods he started for his new home in company with his wife and two children, one of whom was the father of our subject and the other Samuel Livingston Van Dorn, now living in Rodney at the age of sixty-three years. Three of the family, with a part of their possessions, re- mained on the farm in Fayette county to take care of the crop. Our subject's grandfather was the second man to locate in Grant town-
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ship, and in July, 1855, purchased the old Seth Smith farm on section 3, near the present site of Rodney on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Mr. Smith was the first set- tler of the township. Throughout life Mr. Van Dorn continued to make his home in Monona county, where he died October 13, 1876, and his wife, who was a native of Kentucky, passed away on the 29th of September, 1879, both be- ing laid to rest in the Smithland cemetery.
In the family of this worthy couple were thirteen children: Lavinia, the eldest, born April 25, 1823, married Samuel Bixler and died in February, 1904; Jane C., born October 15, 1824, died in California, July 6, 1886; Emily, born November 17, 1826, died in 1903; Virgil, born July 4, 1828, lives in Rod- ney, Iowa; Washington, born March 6, 1830, is the father of our subject; Hannah was born January 30, 1832; Martha S. was born Sep- tember 27, 1834; Amanda L. was born May 27, 1836; Elizabeth, born in July, 1839, is deceased; Samuel Livingston was born March 15, 1841; Burgess was born August 15, 1842; James N., born October 17, 1844, is engaged in the real-estate business in Seattle, Washing- ton ; and Mary, born July 24, 1846, died June 18, 1861, hers being the first death in Grant township, Monona county.
Washington Van Dorn, our subject's father, was born in Washington township, Richland county, Ohio, March 6, 1830, and was edu- cated in both common and select schools, the latter at Belleville, Ohio. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa in 1854, the journey being made with ox-teams, and he re- mained with his father for two years after locating in Monona county. He then removed to section 3, Grant township, where he resided until 1860, when he took up his abode on the farm in Little Sioux township, Woodbury county, now occupied by our subject and his mother. For six months he was engaged in mercantile business in Smithland as a member of the firm of Van Dorn & Billings, his part-
ner being Rev. D. P. Billings, whose wife was a sister of Mrs. Van Dorn. In 1887 Mr. Van Dorn erected a store building in Rodney and again embarked in merchandising, but soon traded the property for farm land. The build- ing is now owned by McDonald & Son, who conduct the Rodney Bank.
At Smithland, November 2, 1858, Wash- ington Van Dorn was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Van Zant, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, April 3, 1835, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Hutton) Van Zant. Three children blessed this union, but Ada Alice, born August 8, 1859, died February 16, 1864, and Florence May, born May 3, 1865, died Marel 14, 1904, of pneumonia after eight days' illness. The latter married W. L. Clark, of Rodney, but left no children. Our subject is now the only child living. The fa- ther's death occurred January 18, 1898. He was a man highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him and left many friends as well as his immediate family to mourn his loss.
Arthur . V. Van Dorn was born in Smith- land, January 10, 1868, and was educated in the public schools of that place and at college in Sioux City. On leaving school he returned to the home farm, where he now lives with his mother, but for two years he was engaged in merchandising with his father in Rodney un- der the name of Van Dorn & Son. With that exception he has always followed farming and stock-raising and is meeting with excellent suc- cess in his operations. He has two hundred and twenty-five acres of land, one hundred and twenty acres in pasture, one hundred and five acres timber land and meadow. He makes a specialty of raising Hambletonian trotting stock and is an excellent judge of horses. Po- litically he follows in the footsteps of his fa- ther and supports the Democratic party. The family have always been connected with the Methodist church and socially he is a member of Smithland Lodge, No. 620, I. O. O. F.
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Wherever known he is held in high regard and physiology being very popular, the latter espe- the family has ever been one of prominence in cially being considered very helpful to teach- the community where they reside. ers on account of her clear and thorough pre- sentation of the subject. All these years, al- ADELAIDE E. THOMAS, M. D. though one less energetic and systematic would have considered their time fully occupied, she found time to pursue her study of anatomy, physiology and medicine, so that when she final- ly decided to quit the field of instruction, in which she had made such a marked success, and take up the profession of medicine she had such a foundation that the work of build- ing a complete professional structure was com- paratively easy. The first two years of her medical school work were taken in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Des Moines. She then, after teaching one more year, matric- ulated at the Iowa State University, where she completed her medical course.
Dr. Adelaide E. Thomas, who is now en- gaged in the practice of medicine in Sioux City, was born in Canandaigua, New York. She is the daughter of Enoch and Harriet (Hill) Rogers. On the father's side she is descended from old Puritan ancestry, the paternal grand- mother being a sister of Ezra Stiles, who was president of Yale College for many years. The maternal line comes of Quaker stock, the grandmother being an Aldrich of Rhode Island. Her ancestors were among those who were driv- en out of Salem, Massachusetts, in Roger Wil- liams' day. For many generations on both sides of the family they have been teachers, preachers, writers and expert artisans.
Dr. Thomas' father, who was a wagon and carriage manufacturer, removed to Lorain county, Ohio, during the '50s. It was here that Adelaide E. Rogers was united in mar- riage to William S. Thomas, a wood worker by trade. When a few years later Dr. Thomas' parents decided to try their fortune in Iowa the young couple came with them, locating in Knoxville. But after a few years' residence here on account of Mr. Thomas' failing health, they returned to Ohio where Mrs. Thomas for a period of twelve years taught in the public schools. They then returned to Iowa, she still following her profession of teaching, serving as principal of the schools at Beacon, New Sharon, Van Meter, Webster school in Des Moines, and the normal department of Drake University. She then opened a private normal school in East Des Moines, conducting it suc- cessfully for several years. During all of the time after her return to Iowa her summers were spent working in the normal institutes of the state as instructor and leeturer, her leeture upon Atlantis and those upon anatomy and
Immediately after her graduation, as a mark of the confidence in her ability, she was ten- dered the position of house physician at the State Hospital, which position she filled for six months, thereby gaining much knowledge and practice. At this time she decided to make Sioux City her home and the large practice she has built up proves that her decision was wisely taken. Dr. Thomas has since taken post grad- nate work in Chicago and then the student habit that she formed as a teacher still stays with her so that nothing in the line of her profession escapes her eye or mind. She is an active supporter of woman's suffrage, the tem- perance canse and gives her aid and influence to all good work for the uplifting of human- ity. She is a member of the Christian church and as far as possible co-operates with the church activities. She is a member of the State Medical Society and president of the Sioux City Homeopathic Medical Society.
Dr. Thomas is the mother of one daughter, Addie, who died one year after her marriage to Pierce Ratliffe, then of New Sharon, now of Sioux City. Mrs. Ratliffe left a baby boy who survived her but a few months. Dr.
DR. A. E. THOMAS.
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Thomas' strong mentality and quick intellec- tual comprehension has enabled her to master the best medical courses and in the practice of her profession she displays a ready adaptability in applying her knowledge to the needs of her patients.
WILLIAM C. DAVENPORT.
William C. Davenport, ex-chief of police of Sioux City, who is interested in agricultural pursuits as the owner of a valuable and exten- sive ranch in Edmunds county, South Dakota, was born in Ohio in the year 1861. He received but limited school advantages and entered upon his business career without capital so that what- ever snecess he has achieved is the direct out- come of his own labors, experience and sound judgment. During his boyhood days he en- gaged in clerking and in 1881, when twenty- one years of age, he came to Sioux City, Iowa. For six years thereafter he served as deputy sheriff of Woodbury county under Sheriffs Me- Donald and Magee. He was later appointed deputy United States marshal for the western division of the northern district of Iowa in 1889 and held the position until 1890. He then turned his attention to the livery business, but he was not long permitted to remain out of public office for his fellow townsmen, recogniz- ing the value of his service, again called him to a position of public trust. In 1893 he was elected sheriff of Woodbury county on the Re- publican ticket and continued in that office for six years, discharging his duties without fear or favor. In the spring of 1902 he was ap- pointed chief of police of Sioux City. which position he filled until the spring of 1904, and was widely recognized as a most efficient officer. He has ever displayed excellent qualifications in this and in other offices, was ever gentle- manly and kind in the discharge of his duties, yet showing no fear or partiality. He regards a publie office as a publie trust and in the per-
formance of his work displayed the same promptness and care that he has given to his private business affairs, He is now the owner of a very extensive ranch of five thousand acres in Edmunds county, South Dakota, which is well stocked with horses and cattle. In the spring of 1904 he established an office in the Toy building and is successfully engaged in private detective work.
In 1891 Mr. Davenport was married to Miss Anna M. Magirl, of Delaware county, Iowa, and they have two children, Florence M. and Chester C. Mr. Davenport is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias lodge and several other social and benevolent organizations. His business interests and his official life have brought him a wide acquaint- ance and all who know him entertain for him high regard, for there are many elements in his life record that are worthy of warm com- mendation.
FRANK M. COONEY.
Frank M. Cooney is one of the prominent business men of Anthon and a representative citizen who for years has been actively engaged in the grain and stock trade. Though no land is richer in opportunities or offers greater ad- vantages to its citizens than America, success is not to be obtained through desire, but must be persistently sought. In America "Labor is king," and the man who resolutely sets to work to accomplish a purpose is certain of success if he has but the qualities of perseverance, un- tiring energy and practical common sense. Frank M. Cooney is one whose career excites the admiration and gains the respect of all, for through his diligence and persistent purpose he has won a leading place in Woodbury county.
Mr. Cooney was born in Dubuque county, Towa, May 29, 1857, and is a son of Mathew Cooney, who came to this state in 1843, when a
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young man of sixteen years. He was one of the early residents of Dubuque county and there developed a farm, upon which he spent his remaining days, his attention being largely devoted to the further improvement and culti- vation of his land. There he died in 1900, at the ripe old age of seventy-five years.
It was upon the homestead farm in Dubuque county that F. M. Cooney was reared and when a young man he went to Cherokee county, where he engaged in farming and dealing in stock, continuing there for three years. In 1888 he came to Anthon, where he entered into partner- ship with B. F. Wilson, built a grain elevator and has since engaged in the grain trade. He also buys and ships live stock and the firm like- wise purchased, owned and improved several farms. The partnership was continued until 1894, when Mr. Cooney bought out Mr. Wil- son's interest in the business and continued therein alone until 1900, when he sold the ele- vator and grain business. He owns about one thousand acres of land near Anthon in Miller township. Some of this land is rented, while a large portion of his realty possessions are used for pasturing and feeding the stock. All is valuable and well improved land and Mr. Cooney is now one of the most extensive realty holders in his portion of Iowa. He is also a stockholder and director in the Citizens' State Bank of Anthon, and he owns a good home property there.
In 1881 in Anthon Mr. Cooney was united in marriage to Miss Maggie D. Murray, a na- tive of Iowa, who was reared and educated in Woodbury county and prior to her marriage was successfully engaged in teaching. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cooney are communicants of the Catholic church of Anthon, having been reared in that faith. He votes with the Democratic party, where national issues are involved, and at local elections he is independent, support- ing the candidates whom he thinks best quali- fied for office regardless of party affiliations. He has never desired office, preferring to give his
attention to his extensive business interests, but he has served, however, for two or three terms on the town board and has been a delegate to the county conventions. His career has been marked by steady progression and, in view of the fact that he commenced his business life empty-handed, his success is all the more re- markable. He is now numbered among the most enterprising citizens of Anthor, having been engaged in active business here for many years and having taken an interested part in the maintenance of the commercial life and substantial advancement of the town. IIe has fostered numerous local business concerns and has contributed of his means and influence to various undertakings calculated to benefit the community at large.
JAMES INGWERSON.
James Ingwerson, now one of the prosperous, enterprising and progressive farmers of Wood- bury county, living on section 33, Banner town- ship, was born in Clinton county, Iowa, Janu- ary 10, 1859, the eldest of the twelve children of Frederick and Emma (Heath) Ingwerson. His grandparents in the maternal line were na- tives of England and came to America about 1853, settling in Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Heath was a brass molder by trade. From Toledo he re- moved to the eastern part of the state, settling on a farm, on which he lived until about the close of the Civil war, when he took a trip to England, and on again coming to the United States he settled in Clinton county, Iowa, near DeWitt, where he engaged in the manufacture of brooms. He died at the age of seventy years, after which his widow came to Woodbury county, and died a year and a half later, also when about seventy years of age. Frederick Ingwerson, a native of Hamburg, Germany, came to America when about twenty-five years of age, believing that he would have better busi- ness opportunities in the new world. He made
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