USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 47
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years, secretary of the school board for seven- teen years, township trustee for a number of years and has served as a delegate to almost every county convention and has twice been a delegate to the state convention of the party. He is, indeed, an influential factor in local political circles and in office has discharged his duties with the utmost promptness, regu- larity and fidelity. He has been a resident of Iowa from his infancy to the present time, covering sixty years, and was one of the first settlers of Woodbury county. There are few who have so long witnessed its growth and de- velopment as Mr. Hatfield and he has a very wide acquaintance within its borders. He
lived in Iowa when the greater part of its land was still in the possession of the government, when its streams were unbridged and its for- ests uneut and when there was no railroad to carry the traveler across its broad prairies. He has watched with interest the progress of civilization, and in the community where he has made his home has borne his full share in the work of progress as a public-spirited cit- izen.
JAMES McDONALD.
This well known and prosperous farmer of Little Sioux township was born on a farm in Lake county, Illinois, October 24, 1849, and is a worthy representative of an honored pio- neer family of Woodbury county, where almost his entire life has been passed, having been brought here in 1854 by his parents, James and Jenette (Parlen) MeDonald, both natives of Scotland. Our subject's Grandfather Mc- Donald spent his entire life in that country, there dying at a very advanced age before the emigration of his son to America. James Mc- Donald, Sr., was the only one of the family to come to the new world. In his native land he received a good education and learned the stone-mason's trade. It was about 1845 that
MR. AND MRS. JAMES McDONALD, SR.
MR. AND MRS. JAMES McDONALD, JR.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WOODBURY COUNTY
he crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of the United States. After spending some time in Lake county, Illinois, he removed to Woodbury county, Iowa, in 1854, being the third to loeate in Little Sioux township, as Mr. Lee settled there in 1851 and Mr. Smith in 1853. The journey to this county was made by boat and train to St. Joseph and thence across the country by team. The family settled upon the farm now owned and occupied by our subject and here the parents spent their re- maining days, the father dying in January, 1882, and the mother, who was born in Glas- gow, Scotland, passing away in March, 1883.
In the family of this worthy couple were sev- en children, namely: William W., now sixty- two years of age, who is engaged in the bank- ing business in Rodney, Iowa; Margaret, who married F. L. Smith, a nephew of O. B. Smith, and died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving four children; Agnes, who died at the age of twelve years and was the second person buried in the Smithland cemetery; James, the next in order of birth; Elizabeth, who died in in- faney in Illinois ; Laura, deceased wife of Ber- iek Bennett; and Isabel, who died in 1871, at the age of fifteen years.
James McDonald, of this review, is indebted to the common schools of this eounty for the early educational advantages he enjoyed. Dur- ing his boyhood he aided his father in the work of the home farm and since attaining man's estate has engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. He is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well im- proved and valuable land under a high state of cultivation. He has a fine, commodious resi- dence, erected in 1873, and the place is com- plete in all its appointments. In connection with general farming Mr. McDonald is quite extensively engaged in stock raising and finds that branch of his business quite profitable. He has one hundred head of fine shorthorn cattle, twelve horses and seventy hogs of the Poland China breed. He is a progressive and
painstaking farmer and has met with merited success in all his undertakings.
Mr. MeDonald has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Ella M. Morgan, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of Jolin Morgan. She came to Iowa in 1881 and died in 1895, leaving three children, as follows: Ida, born in 1882, is now the wife of L. W. Cleveland, of Rodney, and two children, Franz D., who is living, and James, deceased. Will- iam M., born in 1884, is at home with his fa- ther. He had a twin sister who died in in- fancy. Leonard, born in 1890, is attending school. In April, 1901, Mr. McDonald wedded Miss Betsy Landon, a native of Missouri. They attend the Congregational ehureh of Rodney and are people of prominence in the commu- nity where they reside. Mr. McDonald's par- ents were Presbyterians in religious belief but during their residence in Iowa attended the Methodist Episcopal church. Socially our sub- ject is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is held in high estecm by all who know him.
SAMUEL TAIT DAVIS.
Among the promoters and upbuilders of Sioux City Samuel Tait Davis was prominent. With keen discrimination he recognized possi- bilities and utilized opportunities and contrib- uted in large and important measure to the im- provement of the city along substantial lines of development. In his business career he worked his way upward from humble surround- ings to large worldly success through the op- portunity which is the pride of our American life, and his value as a citizen and business man were so widely recognized that his death was regarded as a publie calamity in Sioux City. Mr. Davis was a native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, his parents being George and Eliza (Reichard) Davis. Until ten years of age he dwelt with his parents in Meadville and
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during a portion of that time attended an acad- emy. The family afterward became residents of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Davis of this review continued until twenty- one years of age, assisting in the arduous task of clearing and developing a farm which was covered with a heavy growth of timber when it came into possession of his father. He also attended the pioneer schools which existed in that frontier neighborhood and later he engaged in teaching. Desirous, however, of acquiring more advanced knowledge himself, he entered Allegheny College, at Meadville, leaving that institution while in the sophomore year, in 1852. Subsequently he became principal of Greenville Academy at Greenville, Pennsyl- vania. Entering upon the study of law under the direction of Hon. David Derrickson, of Meadville, he was admitted to the har in the autumn of 1885 and then, believing that he might have better opportunities in the west, he came to Sioux City, Iowa, arriving here on the 29th of February, 1856.
Mr. Davis became a partner in the firm of Parker, Gray & Davis, land agents and attor- neys, and with the growth of the town their clientage rapidly increased. Mr. Davis con- tinned to make investments in realty and after a number of years he abandoned the practice of law in order to give his attention to his ex- tensive property interests. He platted several additions to the city and in many other ways materially advanced its progress and upbuild- ing. Perhaps the greatest improvement con- ceived and carried out through the genius of Mr. Davis was the straightening of the channel of the Floyd river within the city limits. However, it is because of the building of her railroads that Sioux City owes to him a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. The early development of a community depends upon its railroad facilities which bring it into close touch with other parts of the country, affording a market for its products and bring- ing to it all necessary supplies. Mr. Davis
aided in organizing and incorporating the Sioux City & Pembina Railroad Company. He drew up the articles of incorporation and assisted in organizing the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad, of which company he was made secretary and director. He likewise became a stockholder in the State Savings Bank of Sioux City, of which he was the vice-president, the Sioux City Savings Bank, the National and the Home Savings Banks. He was rated as one of the eight millionaires whose fortunes were made in Sioux City. He displayed ex- cellent business ability and sound judgment, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. He was distinctively a man of affairs and his efforts were directed into channels where keen foresight and enterprise led the way. He accomplished much when his record is viewed from a financial standpoint and he accomplished even more in the develop- ment of a character which made him a most respected and honored resident of his com- munity. Everything pertaining to the welfare of the city received his interested attention and ofttimes his active co-operation. In the fall of 1866 he was elected prosecuting attorney and in 1871 he was chosen mayor of Sioux City, and in both positions discharged his duties in a most commendable, prompt and public-spirited manner.
On the 9th of February, 1859, occurred the marriage of Mr. Davis and Miss Jane A. Put- nam, of Sioux City, who passed away in 1877. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living, namely: Stella, the wife of William Gordon; Mary, the wife of H. M. Bailey; Florence, who married William C. Hutchins ; George and Ross.
On the 13th of October, 1881, Mr. Davis was again married, his second union being with Miss R. C. Smith, of Nantucket, Massachu- setts. They had one son, John Allen, who is now attending the Boston Polytechnic school, and his mother spends much of her time there while he is in school.
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One day, while crossing at Ninth and Jack- son streets, Samnel T. Davis was struck by an elcetric car and died about an hour later. He had largely lost his hearing and was therefore not aware of the approaching ear, his atten- tion being held by a game of ball which was in progress in the neighborhood. Sioux City thereby lost one of its most prominent, influen- tial and honored residents. He was respected and esteemed by all not only because of the splendid snecess which he had achieved, mak- ing him one of the millionaires of northwest- ern Iowa, but also because of the honorable, straightforward policy he had ever followed. He came to the west with little capital save the qualities with which nature had endowed him, his strong intelleet and marked enterprise, and he directed his efforts along lines that proved of material benefit to his city as well as a source of gratifying income to himself.
WILLIAM CONKLIN.
William Conklin resides on a farm near Cor- rectionville, where he has made his home since 1871. It is located on section 28, Union town- ship, and in its appearance indicates the super- vision of a careful and painstaking owner. Mr. Conklin is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Richland county, Decem- ber 29, 1821. He is a son of Cornelius Conk- lin, whose birth occurred in Cayuga county, New York. His paternal grandfather was John Conklin, also a native of the Empire John Conklin, also a native of the Empire state. state. He removed to Ohio abont 1814, estab- lishing his home in Richland county among its pioneer settlers. There Cornelius Conklin was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes of pioneer life and early became familiar with the ardnons task of developing a new farm. After attaining to years of maturity he married Miss Mary Austin, a daughter of Captain Will- iam Austin, an old sailor, who for over twenty years was upon the ocean as commander of a
ship. In 1809 he removed to Ohio, taking up his abode in Erie county and from Rich. land county Cornelius Conklin removed to Erie county about 1828.
It was in the latter county that William Conklin spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm. His educational privileges were quite limited because there were few schools in that new timber country. Ilis knowledge has been largely self-acquired since he attained to manhood, experience, ob- servation and reading gradually broadening his mind and adding to his information. When a young man he went to Indiana and on the 9th of February, 1844, he was married in De- Kalb, that state, to Miss Deborah Monroe. After his marriage he engaged in farming in DeKalb county for seven years and then re- turned to Ohio in 1851. During the succeed- ing nine years he was connected with agricul- tural interests in the Buckeye state and then again went to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he lost his wife in 1862. In 1864 he was married again, his second union being with Juda L. Cramer, a native of Pennsylvania.
After his second marriage Mr. Conklin ouce more resumed farming in Indiana, but in 1868 came to Iowa, settling in Marshall county, where he spent two years. In 1871 he came to Woodbury county and located on the land where he now resides, having previously traded for this property. He began here with one hundred and twenty acres of new land hitherto untouched by the plow, but he feneed it, placed the fields under cultivation and, in fact, opened up an excellent farm. He saw hard times and it was with difficulty that he provided for his family for several years, but his persever- ance and energy at length overcame all ob- staeles and in due course of time he was en- abled to ercet a neat and substantial residence and good farm buildings. He also planted fruit, shade and ornamental trees and has done much to improve the appearance of his place, which is now a very desirable farm property.
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Unto Mr. Conklin by his first marriage there were born two children who are yet living, Austin N., now of Idaho, and C. H., of Cor- rectionville. By the second marriage there are five children: Lois J., the wife of Walter Cockburn, of Correctionville; J. F., a farmer of Union township; Elsie, the wife of Levi Waller, of Union township; Minnie, the wife of V. R. Dewey, a farmer of Woodbury coun- try; and I. H., who is upon the home farm.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Conklin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a class leader for fifteen years. He is quite prominent and influential in local polit- ical circles and votes with the Republican par- ty. He was originally an old line Whig, but supported John C. Fremont in 1856 and has since deposited his ballot for each presidential candidate of the Republican party. He was elected and served as township clerk and for fourteen consecutive years filled the office of justice of the peace, at the end of which time he declined to serve longer. While filling that position he performed many marriage cere- monies and also conducted many litigated in- terests and his decisions were ever fair and impartial, based upon his knowledge of the law and of equity. In his business career he has gained that success which is the just re- ward of persistency of purpose and of strenu- ous labor. He had no capital when he started out in life for himself and to-day he is one of the prosperous farmers of Union township, whose life record should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others.
FRED BENEDIX.
Fred Benedix, a substantial farmer, whose enterprising and progressive business methods have resulted in the acquirement of a valuable property comprising four hundred and eighty acres of Iowa's rich land situated on section 26, Rutland township, and also a farm of a
quarter section elsewhere in the county, was born in Germany, his birthplace being Meck- lenburg, and his natal day April 23, 1844. He is a son of Frederick G. Benedix, a na- tive of Germany, also born in Mecklenburg. There the father was reared and married. He emigrated to the new world in 1852 and made his way direct to Scott county, Iowa, where he located on a farm and reared his family. Subsequently he took up his abode in Rock Island county, Illinois, where he spent his last years.
Fred Benedix was reared in Scott county, Iowa, and received good public-school advan- tages. He early became familiar with the du- ties and labors of the farm and to his father gave the benefit of his services throughout the period of his minority. He went with him to Illinois and assisted in the cultivation of his father's farm in Rock Island county. He was married there on the 26th of October, 1871, to Miss Christina Jensen, a native of Germany, born of Danish parentage, but reared in the fatherland. She was married the same year in which she crossed the Atlantic.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Benedix removed to Iowa, settled in Pottawattamie county, where he rented a farm for one year. He then purchased a tract of raw land and opened up a farm of eighty acres, to which he afterwarded added forty acres. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for about nine years, on the expiration of which period he sold his property and came to Wood- bury county. Here he bought four hundred and eighty acres of land, which was then wild and uncultivated, but he at once began its de- velopment and improvement and in the course of time his labors wrought a great transforma- tion in its appearance, while the improvements which he placed thereon added to its value and its productiveness. He first built a small house, but after a number of years this was replaced by the present commodious and attractive home. He also built a large barn and other buildings
FRED BENEDIX AND FAMILY.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WOODBURY COUNTY
necessary for the shelter of grain and stock and, in fact, added all modern equipments to his place. He planted a grove, also set out many fruit trees and now has an excellent bearing orchard. In fact, this is one of the model farms of the twentieth century, and as neatness and thrift characterize every department of the work, the place is an indication of the enter- prising and progressive spirit of the owner. Upon his second farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, Mr. Benedix also has a good set of farm buildings, including a new house. He commenced life without a dollar and though empty-handed at the time of his marriage he has, through his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, gradually worked his way upward and is to-day the owner of six hundred and forty acres of rich and valuable land.
Mr. and Mrs. Benedix are the parents of ten children : Mary, now the wife of Ferdinand Goettsch, a farmer of Cedar county, Iowa; Lena, the wife of W. H. Hinkhouse, a resident farmer of Union township, who is represented elsewhere in this volume; Dora, the wife of William Flemma, a farmer of Rutland town- ship; Christina, the wife of Edward Mann, of Calumet, Iowa; Fred W., who resides upon his father's second farm in Rutland township; Ida, the wife of Charles Seidel, of Rutland town- ship; Henry, who assists in the operation of the home farm; Otilla and Elsie, at home, and Hermena, who died at the age of eleven years.
Mr. Benedix is a Democrat where national questions are under consideration, but at local elections where no issue is involved he votes independently. Both he and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and are members of that church. He has resided in Iowa during the greater part of his life and for many years has been identified with its upbuilding, its de- velopment and prosperity and in Woodbury county, where the entire period of his married life has been passed, he has made for himself a very handsome competence and an honored name.
FRED J. SULZBACH.
Many a lesson might be gleaned from the experience of Fred J. Sulzbach by the younger generation, and none more vital than this- that absolute honesty is the essential corner- stone of character, on which the entire super- structure must depend. Persistence and cour- age in the face of difficulties, also, are neces- sary factors to success, and energy and deter- mination must lend their aid. Such a purpose has actnated Mr. Sulzbach in his life work.
One of Iowa's native sons, he was born in Fort Dodge, November 27, 1869. His father, Joseph Sulzbach, is a native of Germany and in the year 1851 he came to the United States, locating at Galena, Illinois. He had previous- ly learned the trade of a stone-mason and for many years he was foreman of the stone work in connection with the construction of bridges for the Illinois Central Railroad. While liv- ing in Galena he also engaged in contracting and building and in 1880 he came to Sionx City, Iowa, where he continued in the same line of business until 1889, when he retired from that field of labor. His efforts contrib- uted in large measure to the material improve- ment of the city. In 1882 he built the lin- seed oil works and he also took and executed the contracts for the Gilman block on Fourth street, the Martens block, the Schulein and Bruen blocks on Fourth street, the Sanborn & Follett wholesale building on Douglas street, the Groninger building, the old police station on Fifth street, the soap works for Haskins Brothers and numerous other buildings. HIe is now living at the age of seventy-five years, enjoying a well merited rest. He gives his political support to the Democracy and he is a member of the German Lutheran church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Caro- line Wegener was born in Germany and died in 1893 at the age of fifty-five years. She came to America about the same time Mr. Sulzbach crossed the Atlantic and they were married in this country. The following chil-
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dren were born unto them: Julia, now de- children grace this marriage: Louise, John, ceased; Katherine, the wife of William Muel- ler, who is a cement contractor at Fort Dodge, Iowa; Caroline, the wife of Rev. G. W. Bul- linger, a minister of the German Lutheran church at Canton, Kansas; Pauline, the wife of Charles Ahrens, a mason of Sioux City; Fred J .; and Henry L., who is a mason of Sioux City. There is also a step-sister, Freda Wesser.
Fred J. Sulzbach was a lad of only about eleven years when his parents removed to Sioux City and here he continued his education in the public schools and in a business college. He afterward learned the mason's trade under the direction of his father and when he had served a four years' apprenticeship he began contract- ing on his own account in 1889 and has since carried on the business. His first contract was the Wales Hotel at the corner of Tenth and Pearl streets. He afterward erected two build- ings for A. Groninger, the addition to Has- kins Brothers' Soap factory, and large number of other buildings. He also did the brick work of the suction mains of the water works, erected a large building at Doon, Iowa, built the Warren block in 1892, the Mulhall bank and hotel building and the postoffice and store building at Rock Valley, Iowa, fine structures costing thousands of dollars. He is now build- ing the brick sewer called the West Ninth and West Fourteenth street sewer, which will cost the city about thirteen thousand dollars; also building a store building in Hawarden, Iowa, and in 1899 he erected a handsome brick resi- dence at No. 611 Main street, which he and his family now occupy. The secret of his success lies in excellent workmanship, trustworthy business methods, fidelity to the terms of a con- tract and promptness in execution.
Mr. Sulzbach was married in 1894 to Miss Anna Holdenried, a daughter of John and Minnie (Shumacher) Holdenried. She was born in Sioux City in 1872 and her father was well known as a hotel proprietor here. Five
Fred, Helen and Frances. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church and Mr. Sulzbach belongs to the Contractors' Association, while in his political views he is a Democrat. He has found neither time nor inclination to turn aside from his chosen field of labor to seek preferment or prominence in other directions, but has through the exercise of his ingenuity and skill made for himself an honorable name and place as a representative of the industrial interests of Woodbury county.
EDWARD H. CRANE, M. D.
Dr. Edward H. Crane, one of the more re- cent additions to the medical fraternity of Woodbury county, is successfully engaged in practice in Correctionville and is descended from one of the old families of the Isle of Man. His paternal great-grandfather, William Crane, was born on that isle and became a blacksmith by trade. He was a man of unusual proportions, standing seven feet tall and weighing about three hundred pounds, while his strength was proportionately great. It is evident that his descendants inherited their physical prowess from him. John Crane, the grandfather, was also born on the Isle of Man and served as a body guard to the King of England when on his expedition in the Irish sea, his objective point being the Cathedral of Man. While on that trip John Crane was taken ill and died. He was the father of two children, Thomas and William, the former four years of age and the latter seven years old at the time of the father's death. The mother passed away about two years later and the children then went to live with an uncle, Clueus Farragher, who was also born and reared on the Isle of Man. In 1852 Mr. Farragher sailed for America, bringing with him the two children of his deceased sister. The vessel sailed up the gulf of Mexico and from New Orleans the
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