USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 46
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provement and its present excellent condition is the result of his untiring labors, sound busi- ness judgment and thorough knowledge of agri- cultural pursuits. He has built a large and substantial barn and has ample shelter for grain and stock. Shade trees of his own plant- ing adorn the land and a good orchard was set out by him, together with much small fruit. He has fenced the place, thus dividing it into fields of convenient size and has engaged in the raising of good stock, selling annually a large number of cattle and hogs. He has proved that labor and enterprise are the foun- dation of success and through his strong pur- pose and unfaltering industry he has made for himself a place among the substantial agri- culturists of Rock township.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been born six children, five of whom are living, as fol- lows: Sylvia, the wife of Nelson Foster, a resident farmer of Rock township; Maud; Inez, who died at the age of four years; Os- car Walter; and Ila. The parents hold membership in the Christian church at Rock Center and take an active and zealous interest in its work. Mr. Wright is serving as one of its elders and in politics he is a stanch Repub- lican who has filled the position of township trustee. He has also been a member of the school board for a number of years and does everything in his power to advance the cause of public education in his locality. In busi- ness affairs he is found reliable and trustworthy and his whole life has been such as to merit the confidence and regard of his many friends.
CHARLES F. THOMPSON, M. D.
Dr. Charles F. Thompson, a representative of the medical fraternity of Woodbury county, whose years of practice number twenty-two and who for nine years has been a resident of Cor- reetionville, was born in Erie county, Pennsyl- vania, Jannary 1, 1854. His father, Elliott S. Thompson, was also born in Erie county, and
the grandfather, Hiram Thompson, was a native of New York. The family is of English and Scotch ancestry and was established in New England at an early period in the colonization of the new world. Hiram Thompson removed from the Empire state to Pennsylvania, and there his son, E. S. Thompson, was born, reared and educated, continuing to make his home in the place of his nativity for many years. He reared his son Dr. Thompson there, and the latter was educated in Albia College of Penn- sylvania. Subsequently he pursued a course in Eclectic Medical Institute, attending lectures in 1880. He afterward practiced until 1888, when he returned to college and not only com- pleted a course in the Eelectic College as a graduate of the class of 1888, but also studied Homeopathic medicine and was graduated from the Pulte College in the same year. He afterward made his way westward to Nebraska and settled in Springfield, where he was in practice for five years, and in 1894 he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Correctionville, where he has since built up a large and Inera- tive business. He is now one of the successful physicians of the county. He belongs to the Eclectic Medical Association and keeps abreast with the profession by his perusal of books, journals and medical literature. He is continually advancing, rendering his labors more effective in the great work of alleviating human suffering and the public and the pro- fession accord him an enviable position in the ranks of his chosen calling.
Dr. Thompson was married in Ohio to Mrs. Aura Ella Atwater, a widow, who died in Cor- rectionville, leaving one son, Karl F. Dr. Thompson was again married July 1, 1896, his second union being with Gertrude E. Cobb, a native of Wisconsin, who was reared in Cor- rectionville, where the wedding was celebrated. There are two children by this marriage, Lilah G. and Russell T.
Dr. Thompson purchased lots and built three residences in Correctionville and now owns
DR. C. F. THOMPSON.
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five dwellings and his office in this city. Thus he has helped to improve the town and his in- terest in its progress and upbuilding is also marked by active co-operation in many meas- nres for the general good. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is an carnest and zealous Republican who always supports the measures of the party, yet has never sought or desired office for him- self. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias lodges of Correctionville. Since determining upon a life work he has persevered in his persistent purpose to win success through capable and honorable methods and in his chosen calling, wherein advancement depends entirely upon merit, he has gained for himself an enviable place and honored name.
P. P. COMOLI.
P. P. Comoli is proprietor of the Corn Pal- ace Cement Works at Sioux City, and stands at the head of his calling in the northwest. He has developed a business of wide proportions that is to-day recognized as a leading industrial enterprise of Woodbury county and, moreover, his life history is an illustration of the fact that success may be attained through unfalter- ing energy and undeviating purpose and that America affords splendid opportunities to her adopted sons who, coming to this world with- out acquaintance with American customs or the language of the people, nevertheless find the opportunities that lead to prosperity.
Mr. Comoli was born at Lake Magiore, Swit- zerland, March 16, 1862. He attended the common schools of his native country and served an apprenticeship in the cement works at Lausanne, Switzerland, and also with the Vicat Company of Grenoble, France, complet- ing his apprenticeship with the latter. In the year 1884 he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and soon afterward established his home
in Sioux City. lle was variously employed until 1887, when he began business as a cement contractor. Ilaving learned the business in some of the largest houses in France, and hav- ing had many years' experience in the houses of LaPorte de France and Maison Vicat of Grenoble, the largest companies in Europe (from whom he holds certificates as to his qualifications), he can justly claim to be an expert in the use of cement, and the only spe- cialist in the trade that has had a regular course of training in Europe; not merely by theory, like many of the western mechanics, but by practical experience in the birthplace of the industry. This has enabled him, with three years' experience in this climate, to un- derstand the difference between handling the cement here and there and to find the remedies for preventing the cement from breaking from severe frosts. Trained from youth in the handling and working of cement Mr. Comoli stands unrivaled in Sioux City and the north- west, as a master of every branch of his pro- fession. He employs a staff of skilled work- men, so that he is prepared to give complete satisfaction in all kinds of work. He has al- ready done a great deal of some kinds of work here that was entirely unknown before his ar- rival. He introduced the present system of cement working in Sioux City and he did the work of the South Dakota Building of the World's Fair in Chicago. He completed the contract for the construction of similar work around the South Dakota building at the St. Louis Exposition for 1904. Many products of his constructive work are: Sidewalks, driveway and border; steps and curbing; cel- lar floors, halls and stairways; arches made of cement, concrete or brick: window sills and caps, plain and ornamental ; cornice, on brick or any kind of work; facing, on brick walls and cement-retaining walls; garden fountains, basins, cisterns and reservoirs; concrete foun- dations for buildings ; hexagonical or other tiles, sewerage and gutters; floors for creameries,
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breweries and stables ; waterfalls and cascades ; brick walks; stone blocks for graveyards, and vases for flowers; artificial stone curbing for fences; and, in fact, anything that can be made with cement. Mr. Comoli has recently associated with him in business F. Van Gor- der as a partner and the name of the Corn Palace Cement Works is retained. The fact that they have many imitators is a sure indi- cation that their work is of the highest grade.
In 1893 Mr. Comoli was united in marriage to Miss Anna Kucera, of Vienna, Austria, and they now have a pleasant home in Sioux City. He is a loyal son of his adopted land and al- though when he came to America he was unable to speak the English language he has steadily progressed in business lines and to-day is one of the leading representatives of industrial art in Sioux City, enjoying a snecess which he richly merits.
FRANK VAN GORDER.
Frank Van Gorder, one of the enterprising young business men of Sioux City, Iowa, now a partner of P. P. Comoli in the ownership and conduct of the Corn Palace Cement Works, was born in Sullivan county, New York, Sep- tember 18, 1865, his parents being James and Clara (Morris) Van Gorder. The father was a native of New England and was a ship builder by trade. His death occurred in 1877 when he was sixty-four years of age, but his widow still survives.
Mr. Van Gorder, the second in their family of four children, was educated in the public schools and at the early age of thirteen years started out in life for himself. He was em- ployed in a lumber mill for four years and afterward engaged in the laundry business at Newburg, New York, at Albany, New York, and at Lansing, Michigan. He carried on that pursuit in his own country when twenty-one years of age, conducting a laundry at Lansing
for three years. He was also proprietor of a laundry at Fishkill Landing, New York, for a year, and at the end of that time he returned to Lansing, Michigan, where he continued in the same business for three and a half years. He then removed to Bay City, Michigan, where he was located for two years, after which he went upon the road as a traveling man for a Cincinnati firm, which he represented for two years.
Mr. Van Gorder came to Sioux City, Iowa, in the employ of the Standard Oil Company and acted as its traveling salesman for a year prior to becoming a partner of Mr. Comoli in Feb- ruary, 1903. This relationship has been main- tained for almost two years and the business is constantly growing, in both extent and im- portance. It was established by Mr. Comoli in 1888 and its specialty is cement curb stones, steps, floors, tile-laying and all kinds of orna- mental cement work on the exterior of build- ings. They are also workers in plain and ornamental Venetian mosaic marble flooring and vestibules.
Mr. Van Gorder was married, in 1892, to Miss Harriet Rorison, of Saginaw, Michigan. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and is an enterprising man who in the conduct of his present business enterprise is displaying marked energy as well as dis- criminating judgment.
G. E. ADAMS.
G. E. Adams is one of the leading farmers and extensive stock-raisers of Woodbury county. Throughout his entire life he has engaged in agricultural pursuits and to-day is enjoying a very gratifying measure of success, while con- trolling large farming interests. He was born upon a farm in Rock Island county, Illinois, on the 28th of May, 1853, and is a representa- tive of an old southern family. His paternal grandfather, Ephraim Adams, was a native of
G. E. ADAMS AND FAMILY.
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North Carolina, whenee he removed to Ken- tueky. There he reared his family, consisting of several sons and two daughters, of whom Elijah Adams, the father of our subjeet, was the eldest. Elijah Adams was born in Kentucky, was there reared and educated and after attain- ing to man's estate he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Buntin, who was also born in that state. They removed from Kentucky to Indiana, Mr. Adams being abont twenty-five years of age at the time. He was a farmer and stoek-raiser and always followed that pursnit. When he went to Illinois he settled upon a farm in Roek Island county, and his last days were passed upon a farm near Smithland, Wood- bury county, Iowa, where he died about 1890, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife died in December, 1900. They were the parents of four children. Elizabeth G. is the wife of Pal- mer Hall, a resident of Smithland, and they have six children. James Wallace is married, resides in Smithland and has two children. William Harrison, also of Smithland, is mar- ried and has three children.
George E. Adams, the youngest of the family, was reared under the parental roof. He was only three years old when brought to Iowa from Illinois on the removal of the family to this state and thus he is one of the early settlers, his residence in the state covering almost a half century. He was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier, where the settlers had to endure many hardships and trials in reclaiming the wild land for the purposes of civilization. He assisted in the arduons task of developing the home farm and when his services were not needed in the fields he attended the publie schools. In early manhood he began farming on his own account by renting and operating his father's farm, and he afterward purchased a quarter section of land on which stands his pres- ent residence, while his farms in Willow town- ship now comprise eight hundred and forty acres of rich land, he having extended the boun- daries of his property by additional purchase.
His farm near Smithland of three hundred and forty acres is managed by his son. The balance near his home le manages himself. His fields are now well tilled and moreover he is exten- sively and successfully engaged in the raising of live stock, making a specialty of Poland China hogs, Durham cattle and Norman horses. He now has one hundred and fifteen head of cattle and sixteen head of horses upon his place. His farm is neat and thrifty in appearance, and a glance will indieate to the passerby the careful supervision of a practical and painstaking owner.
In 1873 Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Ella A. MeClusky, a daughter of Alex- ander McClusky, of Pennsylvania. Ile was a farmer up to the time he enlisted in the army at the outbreak of the Civil war. He, however, had moved to Jackson county, Iowa, about 1854. Enlisting in the Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, he served about two years, when he became ill from exposure and died in 1863. The mother now resides at Sergeant Bluff, Wood- bury county. Mrs. Adams was one of a family of five children, all living: W. H., who resides in North Dakota; Elizabeth, wife of Robert O'Connor, of Anthon, Iowa; Addie, widow of E. R. Evans and a resident of Sergeant Bluff; Alexander, who resides in Anthon, Iowa; and Mrs. Adams. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been born three children. Ellis Leroy, born De- cember 12, 1878, is married and lives on a farm near Smithland. He has two children, Nellie Katherine and Dariel, aged respectively three and one years. Margaret R., twenty-four years of age, is the wife of Fremont Burns, and has one daughter, a year old. Trne E., born Jan- uary 19, 1888, is at home. The girls attended school at Morningside, and the son was a stu- dent in Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Iowa. Mrs. Adams was born in Jackson county, Iowa, June 23, 1857, and has been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband. The family are members of the Methodist church at Holly Springs, and Mr. Adams is serving as
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class leader and steward in the church. In poli- ties he is a Prohibitionist, which indicates his position on the temperance questions. He is a man of upright principles and high ideals and he always favors and supports every movement which he believes will benefit his fellow men or advance the material, social, intellectual and moral welfare of the community.
CHARLES F. LYTLE.
Charles F. Lytle, a general builder and con- tractor of Sioux City, Iowa, has arisen to an enviable position in business circles from a humble position, and in this enlightened age, when men of industry, energy and merit are rapidly pushing their way to the front, those who, by their individual efforts, have won favor and success, may properly claim recognition. Such a one is Mr. Lytle. Thoroughness char- acterizes all his efforts and has been one of the strong elements in his prosperity, while his reliability has also figured as a leading fac- tor in his advancement.
Mr. Lytle was born September 11, 1869, in Johnson county, Iowa, a son of Robert B. and Sarah (Kemp) Lytle. The Lytles lived origi- nally in New York and later in Ohio and the father, a native of the latter state, is now a grain dealer of Chicago. He had five broth- ers, but only two survive: Charles F. and Will, the latter of Cincinnati, Ohio. The for- mer, at the time of the Sioux Indian massacre, came to the west to fight the Indians, was at Fort Dodge and Cherokee, and was afterward mustered out at Yankton, South Dakota. The other brothers died in early life. William Lytle, a consin of our subject, was a brigadier general in the Civil war and was killed at Chickamauga.
Charles F. Lytle spent his boyhood days upon an Iowa farm until fifteen years of age, and during that period devoted a portion of the time to the work of the schoolroom, as
a pupil in a district school near Storm Lake. For ten years after putting aside his text- books he was connected with the grain trade, in the employ of his father. He was afterward in a wholesale and retail drug store at Fort Dodge, and when twenty years of age he be- gan business for himself as a farmer and grain dealer, at Sulphur Springs, Iowa, where he carried on the business for five years. He afterward spent two years as a traveling sales- man in Nebraska and western Iowa, and in 1899 he came to Sioux City, where he was en- gaged in the real-estate business for a year. IIe then turned his attention to the plumbing business and the installation of heating and steam and hot water plants, and continued therein until 1903, when at the death of R. F. Baker, a general contractor and builder, he purchased his business and is now conducting general building and contracting operations. The first year he did a business amounting to five thousand dollars and in 1903 to two hun- dred thousand dollars. The company is known as the Lytle Construction Company, of which Mr. Lytle has been the chief promoter and is the president, while Leonard Lytle is vice-pres- ident. He has been very successful in the erec- tion of large buildings and important contracts have been awarded him. He erected the build- ing known as the Swasey block, in opposition to all the labor unions of Sioux City, and has shown a commendable determination to conduct his business interests according to his own plans without outside dictation, and in the contest with the union has been victorious. There is no man who believes more in paying a fair wage, but his independent spirit could not brook the dictation of men who have no right to interfere with his private business in- terests, and his course has won the approval of the large majority of fair-minded citizens here. In consequence a large patronage has been ac- corded him. He erected the Deering building of Sioux City, a thirty thousand dollar struc- ture; received and executed the contract for
C. F. LYTLE.
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the Mason City sewer system; also the Sac City sewer system and that at Dell Rapids, South Dakota; the waterworks at. Laurel, Ne- braska, and the paving and cement work around the Northwestern passenger station in Sioux City, which is the only piece of Galesburg brick in Sioux City. This work was completed at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. He is now erecting a block of his own, which will be known as the Lytle block, a sixty-five thousand dollar building, while the ground, which he also owns, is worth fifty thousand dollars. The building is at the corner of Nebraska and Fifth streets, one hundred feet square, is three stories in height with basement and is a fine modern structure,
Mr. Lytle was married in 1900 to Miss Lena Klingeman, a daughter of Dr. J. C. Klinge- man, of Papillion, Nebraska. He is a Mason, having been initiated into the order at Storm Lake, Iowa, in 1893, while he is now affiliated with Landmark Lodge, at Sioux City. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Storm Lake and in politics is a Repbulican. He is a man of strong purpose, of high principles and fearless in his defense of his honest convic- tions, and his independent and straightforward condnet in relation to his business interests has won for him a high measure of respect.
A. W. HATFIELD.
Thayer, of Cattaraugus county. Mr. Hatfield followed farming in the east until 1844, when he removed to Iowa, locating in Clinton coun- ty, north of DeWitt. There he entered land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made thereon, but with characteristic energy he began the culti- vation of a farm and placed two hundred aeres under the plow. Hle put good improvements upon it, reared his family there and continued to make his home upon that place until called to his final rest in the year 1899. His wife died upon that farm about 1890. In their family were five children, of whom the subject of this review is the eldest. The others are R. S., who is living in Correctionville; Eugene, a farmer and gardener of Clinton county, Iowa; Carrie, the wife of Jacob Klotz; and Charles of Sioux City.
A. W. Hatfield was reared to manhood in Clinton county, Iowa, on the old home farm and early became acquainted with the arduous labor necessary for its development and cul- tivation. His common-school advantages were supplemented by an academic course and thus he was well qualified for life's responsible du- ties. When he had arrived at man's estate he was married in Clinton county, September 17, 1864, to Miss Adelaide Willey, a native of Buffalo, New York, but reared in Canada, whence she afterward came to Iowa. Her father, Benjamin Willey, settled in Clinton county about 1862. IIe was a native of Can- ada, spent his youth there and was married in Buffalo, New York, to Pamelia Seymour, who was born in the Empire state. Mr. Willey was a blacksmith by trade and followed that pursuit in early life, but on removing to Iowa turned his attention to farming, settling upon a tract of land in Clinton county. There were two sons in the family, W. S. Willey, who is now living on a farm in Minnesota, but was formerly a railroad engineer, making the run to Sioux City for eighteen years: and J. A.
A. W. Hatfield, living on section 26, Rut- land township, and well known as a practical and progressive farmer and also as an anc- tioneer, has been a resident of Iowa through six decades and is one of the honored pioneer settlers of Woodbury county, arriving here on the 10th of June, 1867. He was born in Cattarangus county, New York, April 29, 1844, and is a son of Eli Hatfield, who was also born in the Empire state and there mar- ried Miss Anna Thayer, who was likewise a native of New York, and a daughter of Squire Willey, who is a traveling engineer in the
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northwest and makes his home in Norfolk, Ne- braska.
After his marriage Mr. Hatfield engaged in farming in Clinton county for three years and then came to Woodbury county. He se- cured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres constituting the farm upon which he resides and was the first settler in Rutland township. He built a log house which he oc- cupied for several years. He planted a grove and fruit trees, began to plow his land and to improve his farm. About 1872 he built a farm house and he has since added to this and remodeled the dwelling until he now has a very good residence. He has also erected a large and substantial barn. He raised the timber and made the lumber for this structure, and he has upon his place other substantial out- buildings. When he settled here it was five miles to the home of the nearest neighbor, but as the years have passed the country has be- come thickly settled. Mr. Hatfield has been quite successful as a farmer and stock-dealer and has become widely known as an auctioneer. He has followed that calling for twenty-five years, erying farm sales, and now conducts about two sales each week. He has been a member of the Horticultural Society for a number of years and a director of the North- western Society. He and his son Willey and J. A. Wood are the owners of the Roek Branch Telephone Exchange, with forty-eight miles of line extending through three townships and with connection with the Iowa state line. These gentlemen put in and own the line and it is a worthy and well patronized enterprise.
Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield are the parents of two sons, Willey, who assists his father in the operation of the old home farm; and Eugene, who died at the age of twenty-seven years. He was a machinist and died in Montana. Mr. Hatfield is a strong Republican in his politi- cal views. He was elected and served for four years as justice of the peace, was township as- sessor for three years, sehool treasurer three
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