USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 51
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Charles P. Dow acquired a common-school education in Wisconsin and afterward assisted
MR. AND MRS. C. P. DOW.
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his father until his marriage, which was cele- brated in Beaverdam, Wisconsin, Miss Eliza- beth Heath becoming his wife. She was born in Ontario county, a daughter of Mitchell and Jeanette Heath. Her father was a farmer in Wisconsin for many years and afterward re- moved to Covington, now South Sioux City, Nebraska, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for a long period and then retired to private life. Both he and his wife died in Covington. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dow were born eight children, of whom four are now living: Ida J., the widow of Austin J. Kings- bury and a resident of Sioux City; Minnie G., a stenographer residing with her mother ; Katie, the wife of Fred Haney, of Minneapolis, Min- nesota ; and Louella B., also a stenographer, re- siding with her mother. Those deceased are Frank, Edith and Leila and one who died un- named.
After his marriage Mr. Dow left Wisconsin in 1864 and removed to Union county, South Dakota, settling near Sioux City, where he worked at the carpenter's trade and also en- gaged in contracting until 1875, when he came to Covington, Nebraska, which is now South Sioux City, just across the river from Sioux City. There he began working at his trade and also did general work in the machine shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road for a short time. He afterward turned his attention to bee culture, and after purchasing a lot on which he built a home he engaged in condneting an apiary and raising honey for the market for several years, or until impaired health eaused him to seek a change of climate. He then located in Powers county, Colorado, where he resided for several months, and upon his return to Covington he once more engaged in raising honey. Later, however, he invested his money in real estate. He had been very successful in the condnet of his apiary and hav- ing acquired a competence he at length retired to private life. He continued to reside in Cov- ington until March, 1903, when he removed
across the river to Sioux City, where he lived in retirement from business until his death, Sep- tember 28, 1903.
In polities Mr. Dow was a stanch Republican and for two years served as a member of the Dakota legislature and held many minor posi- tions in Union county, South Dakota. He be- longed to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Covington, and as that city is just across the river from Sioux City he was well known in the latter place and the history of his life will be received with interest by his many friends, who reside in the county seat. Mrs. Dow is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church here and her two daughters are members of the Presbyterian church. They now reside at 1422 Pierce street and Mrs. Dow still owns a nice residence in South Sioux City and sev- eral good building lots there.
ISAAC A. HARVEY.
Isaac 1. Harvey, who is engaged in the ab- straet business in Sioux City as a member of the firm of Talley, Harvey & Company, was born in Carmonsie, Scotland, June 8, 1850, his parents being William J. and Isabella (Barelay) Harvey. His father was the laird of Carmonsie, a justice of the peace and deputy lieutenant of the county. ITis landed posses- sions comprised three thousand acres. Hle spent the greater part of his life in Scotland and died in 1868. His wife passed away in 1890, at the age of sixty years. They had a family of eleven children. Isaac .1. Harvey, the seventh child and the only one in America, was reared and educated in his native land and came to Iowa twenty years ago. He lo- cated in Sioux City in 1888 and has since been engaged in the abstraet business. He was first associated with George M. Pardoe for two years, and sinee December, 1889. has been with O. B. Talley, under the firm name of Talley, Harvey & Company. They have a good pat-
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ronage and the years of the firm's existence have been prosperous ones to them.
Mr. Harvey was married in 1886 to Miss M. Margaret Simpson, of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, and they have one son, John V. Harvey, who is a student in Williston Seminary, at Easthampton, Massachusetts. Mr. Harvey is a Republican and a member of the First Pres- byterian church. In the years of his residence in this country he has seen no reason to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for here he has won a desirable measure of prosperity, and has gained many friends. He has also become deeply interested in the coun- try, her institutions, and the progress which she is making, and is truly American in inter- ests and spirit.
ELIZABETH J. MACDERMOTT, M. D.
Dr. Elizabeth J. MacDermott, who since 1894 has been engaged in the practice of medi- cine in Sioux City with excellent success, was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, November 5, 1864. Her parents, P. S. and Elizabeth (MaeDermott) Brennan, are both deceased. In early boyhood the father came from Ireland to America and settled in Wisconsin, where he afterward engaged in business as a civil engi- neer and surveyor. He was county surveyor there for about eighteen years and subsequent to his removal to Ackley, Franklin county, Iowa, in 1871, he was elected surveyor of that county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brennan were highly educated people and Dr. MacDermott received the greater part of her early instruc- tion from her parents. Aside from this she attended a school which convened in a log build- ing. In the family were three children: Jo- seph M., a farmer of Oklahoma, now forty-two years of age; Mrs. Anne O'Brien, the widow of Dr. C. D. O'Brien, of Ackley, Iowa, now living with her sister; and Elizabeth.
From early girlhood Mrs. MaeDermott mani- fested strong predilection for the practice of
medicine. She comes from a family of physi- cians on her mother's side, all of her mother's brothers being physicians and officers in the English army. When a mere child she was one day "playing medicine" with her brother and gave him a dose of laudanum, not realizing what it was, but when she saw the result, none of the family being at home, she took down Dr. Chase's medical book, hunted up what was said about the poison and administered the antidote, thus saving the child's life and also displaying at that early age great self-control and capabil- ity. She attended school in Ackley, Iowa, also was a student in the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Iowa, spending two terms in that institution. When fifteen years of age she taught school in Grundy county for two years. When nineteen years of age she went to Dub- lin, Ireland, visiting there for two years and also receiving instruction from private gov- ernesses. Returning to Iowa at the age of twenty-one years, she made her home with her father until his death, in September, 1886.
In March, 1887, she was married in Ackley, Iowa, to Dr. J. D. MaeDermott, who died in 1889. He was a graduate of Trinity College of Dublin, Ireland, and also of a college in Scot- land. For a number of years he was a surgeon on the Allen Steamship line between Liverpool and Canada and was a close friend of Sir John MacDonald.
In 1891, after the death of her husband, Mrs. MacDermott determined to take up the study of medicine and entered the Northwestern Uni- versity at Chicago, from which she was gradu- ated in 1894. She completed the four years' medical course in three years, and was gradu- ated in pharmaey at the same time. Coming to Sioux City in 1894, she has enjoyed a grati- fying practice here from the start and now has a large patronage. She is a member of the Mis- souri Valley Medical Society and the Austin Flint Medical Society of Franklin county, Iowa.
Dr. MacDermott is a member of the French
DR. E. J. MACDERMOTT.
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Catholic church of St. John the Baptist. For the last two years she has spent the winter months in California. She has wide acquaint- ance professionally and socially in Sioux City, and in the vocation which she has chosen as her life work she displays superior proficiency, arising from natural aptitude and careful prepa- ration.
MARTIN BOYLE.
Martin Boyle, residing upon the old Boyle homestead of one hundred and twenty aeres in Liston township, Woodbury county, was born in Illinois, in July, 1872, his birthplace being in Carthage, Hancock county. His parents were Michael and Margaret Boyle, and the father was a farmer by occupation in early life, but subsequently turned his attention to other business pursuits in Keokuk, Iowa. He died in February, 1892, at the age of sixty- seven years, while his wife passed away in 1896, at the age of fifty-six years. The pa- ternal grandparents of our subject were Thomas and Mary (Dolen) Boyle, natives of Ireland, in which country their son Michael Boyle was also born.
In the family of Michael and Margaret Boyle were the following named: Thomas, who died at the age of six months; Annie, who died at the age of two years ; Mrs. Mary O'Con- nor, who is now residing in Geddis, South Da- kota : Eliza, the wife of P. Rush and a resident of Woodbury county; John, who is living in Morgan township; Mrs. Maria Holden, of Ok- lahoma; Maggie, who is a sister of merey in Council Bluffs; Martin ; and Josie, the wife of Ed Lahey, who resides in Morgan township.
Martin Boyle was a young lad when brought by his parents to Iowa and his education was acquired in the public schools of Dallas and of Woodbury counties. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the labors
and duties that fall to the lot of the agricul- turist, and he still resides upon the old family homestead, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of rich land now well improved and highly cultivated. He is an enterprising farmer, conducting his business along pro- gressive lines, and his labors are attended with a gratifying measure of success.
On the 2d of May, 1900, Mr. Boyle was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brougham, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret ( Kennedy) Brougham, who were born in New York and Ohio, respectively. He was a railroad con- tractor, carrying on business in that way for many years. Ilis wife died when twenty-seven years of age and he afterward married again, while his death occurred November 27, 1895, when he was sixty-four years of age. Of the three children of the family James resides at Council Bluffs and the other two are Mrs. An- nie O'Connor and Mrs. Mary Boyle, who was educated in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, in the Western Iowa College at Council Bluffs and at the normal school for teachers. She en- gaged in teaching for four years, spending two years of that time in Pottawattamie and two in Woodbury county, but the profession did not prove congenial to her and she gave up the work and became the wife of Mr. Boyle. She is a lady of rare intelligence and most ad- mirable womanly traits and characteristics and is proving a most capable assistant and help- mate to her husband. On the farm they have a beautiful home, which is painted white and can be seen for miles around. Their marriage has been blessed with one child, Thomas, whose birth occurred February 17, 1902. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boyle are communicants of the Catho- lie church at Danbury and in his political views he is a Democrat. In 1888 he was elected a school director and has since occu- pied that position. His life record is ered- itable and commendable and in the county where he has so long made his home he deserves to be ranked among the representative citizens.
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S. V. LAMBERT.
S. V. Lambert, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 22, Rutland township, claims New York as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred there in Gen- esee county on the 14th of February, 1846. His father, Joseph Lambert, was a native of Eng- land and was there reared, learning the tailor's trade after completing his education in the pub- lic schools. When a young man he came to the United States, settling in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, where he worked at his trade. He after- ward located in New York and engaged in tail- oring at Darien Center, successfully conducting a shop there. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Anna Catherine Aborn, who was born in the Keystone state, but was of German par- entage and ancestry. Her parents died during her early girlhood and she was reared by friends. After removing to the Empire state Mr. Lam- bert continued to engage in tailoring there until 1856, when he went to Eaton county, Michigan, and although he located on a farm he worked at his trade in Eaton Rapids, where he spent his last years. In his family were six sons, all of whom reached mature years: William R., who died in early manhood; S. V., the second in order of birth; Walter, now of Chicago; Levi A., of Osceolo county, Michigan; Norris, who is living in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Frank, of Eaton Rapids, Michigan.
Mr. Lambert, whose name introduces this re- view, spent the greater part of his youth in Eaton county, Michigan, upon the home farm, and to some extent attended the public schools of the neighobrhood, but his energies were largely devoted to the work of the farm and from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the autumn he was largely engaged with the duties of the fields. After arriving at years of maturity he chose a companion and helpmate for life's journey, be- ing married in Eaton county, Michigan, July 3, 1869, to Miss Amelia C. Jeffrey, who was born in that county, a daughter of Thomas Jeff-
rey, a native of England and one of the pioneer residents of Michigan. In 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Lambert came to Iowa, locating in Jackson, where he worked by the month in a sawmill for six months. He then purchased a half interest in the business and was engaged in the manufac- ture of lumber for several years, after which he sold out and removed to Jones county. He then engaged in the cultivation of a rented farm for nine years, and in the spring of 1884 came to Woodbury county, where he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. This was culti- vated at that time, and with characteristic en- ergy he began its further improvement and has continued. the work until the tract is very arable and productive. After several years he pur- chased an adjoining quarter sectiou and now has a very excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres situated on sections 22 and 23, Rut- land township. IIe has remodeled the house, built an addition thereto and has also built two good barns on the home place. Shade and fruit trees have been planted together with a consider- able amount of small fruits, and the latest im- proved machinery is used in the cultivation of the fields. He has also erected a large new barn on the adjoining quarter section and both tracts of land are very well improved and valuable.
In 1900 Mr. Lambert was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 23d of April, of that year. There are two sons of this marriage: Victor C., who married Marmie E. Heaton and has one child, Louise; and Frank, who in connection with his brother is carrying on the home farm. The eldest child, a daughter, Anna Viola, died at the age of four- teen months.
During a residence of thirty-four years in Iowa and of twenty years in Woodbury county Mr. Lambert has so lived as to win the respect of his fellow men and to merit their entire confi- dence and regard. His political views are in accord with the principles of the Democracy and he has been elected and served as member of the school board and as commissioner of
MR. AND MRS. S. V. LAMBERT.
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highways, but has never sought or eared for of- fiee. His attention has been devoted to his farm- ing operations and he is now one of the prosper- ous agriculturists of the county, although he started out in life empty-handed. He has, in- deed, won the proud American title of a self- made man and his record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others who have to start out as he did without capital or any assistance.
HON. ERNEST W. CALDWELL.
The municipality of Sioux City has enjoyed no more beneficial administration than that of Hon. Ernest W. Caldwell, its former mayor, who, without following any of the usual polit- ical methods to secure office, or making any great promises as to what he would do if elected, did, nevertheless, in the discharge of his duties give to the city a progressive, elean and business-like administration, favoring re- form and improvement along all lines, and did his full duty in establishing and maintain- ing the material interests and the legal status of his community.
Mr. Caldwell is a native of Clearfield, Penn- sylvania, born on the 13th of June, 1846, his parents being Matthew and Harriet (Hoover) Caldwell. His father is now living retired in Boone, Iowa, but his mother passed away at the age of seventy-seven years. Matthew Cald- well was of Scotch parentage and the family was established in Pennsylvania at an early epoch in the colonization of the new world. There are now many representatives of the name from this branch of the family not only in the Keystone state, but in other sections of the union. In the year 1856 he came to Iowa, loeating in Boonesboro, where he has since made his home. His wife was of German lin- eage and she, too, belonged to a well known family of Pennsylvania, which is very strong numerically. They were the parents of nine
children, seven of whom are yet living: Ern est W. : Alvira E., a resident of Sioux Falls. North Dakota : Anna, the wife of N. R. King, of Bagley, Towa : Leander E., of Pennsylvania ; Frank E., a minister of the Methodist Episco- pal church who is living at Cola, Iowa : Lucile, the wife of Henry L. Page, of Sioux City ; and Ravena, the wife of John MeCabe, of Boone, Iowa.
In his boyhood days Ernest W. Caldwell accompanied his parents on their removal from Pennsylvania to Boonesboro, Iowa, and when still but a young lad he entered upon an active business earcer as an employe in the office of the Boone County Demoerat, in which he had a position as compositor. In 1859 he spent a short time near Nevada, Story county, Iowa, and in 1861 was employed on the Des Moines Register. He set the type giving the account of the battle of Wilson's Creek and he con- tinued to work as a compositor in the capital city until 1863. In that year he printed the only newspaper issued between Des Moines and Sioux City. It was called the Greene County Star and was issued for the purpose of publishing the delinquent tax list for Greene, Carroll, Crawford, Sac and Ida counties.
In 1864 Mr. Caldwell joined the Forty- fourth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers as a mem- ber of Company H, enlisting for one hundred days' service and was mustered in at Boones- boro in May. At the expiration of his term he was honorably discharged at Nevada, Towa, and the following year he returned to his na- tive state, where he remained until April, 1866, when he again came to the west. The same year he took charge of the territorial printing for the territory of Nebraska, establishing his office in Omaha. In 1868 in connection with other printers he organized the Daily Evening Times of Sioux City, the first daily paper of this place, and took up his abode here in 1869. His journal was the predecessor of the pres- ent Daily Tribune. In 1870, however, Mr. Caldwell disposed of his interest in the paper
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and became foreman of the job department of the Journal office of Sioux City, and also filled vacancies on the reportorial staff. George D. Perkins, the editor of the Journal, was elected to the state senate in 1873 and during his term Mr. Caldwell filled the editorial chair and after the return of Mr. Perkins became man- ager of the business and job department of the Journal. In March, 1878, he removed to Sioux Falls, Dakota, and was there very prominent and influential in public affairs. He served as village clerk and was also interested in news- paper work until November, 1896, being first connected with T. F. Stahl in the publication of the Pantograph, of Sioux Falls, a relation that was maintained for four years. This was a weekly paper and for a time was owned and published by Mr. Caldwell and W. H. D. Bliss under the firm style of Caldwell & Bliss, the senior partner having editorial charge. In 1882 Mr. Bliss purchased the paper, but Mr. Caldwell continued as editor and upon the death of Mr. Bliss in 1890 Mr. Caldwell be- came sole proprietor of the Journal, which he continued to publish with good snecess until 1896. He then disposed of his plant and re- turned to Sioux City. In the meantime, how- ever, he had been very prominent and influen- tial in public affairs. From 1885 until 1887 he was territorial editor and ex-officio trans- commissioner and in 1887 he became compiler of laws, preparing a volume of fifteen hundred pages which became the body law for the two Dakota states and also for Oklahoma. With him in this enterprise was associated Charles H. Price. Mr. Caldwell was familiarly known throughout Dakota as "Cal" and this volume became known as "Cal code." In 1889 Mr. Caldwell was chosen a member of the consti- tutional committee to prepare the constitution of the state of South Dakota and perhaps wrote more of the organie law of that commonwealth than any other man. He was also a member of the joint commission, which was composed of seven members and the business of which
was to apportion assets and liabilities to the two states, which then formed the Dakota ter- ritory.
In 1896 Mr. Caldwell returned to Sioux City and in November of that year became city editor of the evening edition of the Sioux City Journal, which position he filled until, after much persuasion, he accepted the nomination on the Republican ticket for mayor of Sioux City and was elected. He did not spend a cent for his election, nor did he make any pledges as to what he would do in office, and the pop- ularity and the confidence reposed in him by the publie are shown by the fact that he re- ceived the largest majority that has been given any party candidate in Sioux City for mayor. He was elected in March, 1902, his vote above that of the other candidates numbering eleven hundred and twenty-seven. During his admin- istration no publie gambling houses existed nor were games of chance machines allowed in the city. He also quelled the bickering among sa- loon men, suppressed vice in many ways and promoted many measures for the general prog- ress and welfare.
In 1868 occurred the marriage of Mr. Cald- well and Miss Ineatus A. Board, of Omaha, Nebraska, and unto them have been born three children: Mande, who is the wife of J. C. Vitzthum, of Rock Valley, Iowa ; Paul H., who is market editor for the Sioux City Journal; and Claudia C. Caldwell.
CAPTAIN R. T. MADDISON.
Captain R. T. Maddison, who carried on gen- eral farming on sections 34 and 35, Kedron township, was born in Northumberlandshire, England, on the 14th of January, 1827. His father, Thomas Maddison, was also a native of the same locality and there reared his family. Captain Maddison spent the days of his boy- hood and youth under the parental roof and received good school privileges in Northumber-
R. T. MADDISON.
MRS. R. T. MADDISON.
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landshire, attending a high school after complet- a warm friend. He was reared in the Episco- ing his preliminary course. When a young man he enlisted in the Volunteer Second North- umberland Artillery as a gunner. He served for twenty years and was promoted to the rank of captain in recognition of his capability and loyalty.
In March, 1867, Captain Maddison was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Anna Archibald, an English lady, and they began their domestic life in their native country, where Captain Maddison carried on farming until 1880. He then emigrated to America and made his way direct to Woodbury county, Iowa, where he ar- rived in the month of March. Here he first purchased eighty acres of land, but to that property has added from time to time by addi- tional purchases until he now owns four hun- dred and eighty aeres, all in one tract. This is rich and arable and yields to him good erops. He has made many excellent improvements up- on the place and in connection with general farming he raises a good grade of stock. In all of his business life he is progressive and en- terprising and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In 1893 Captain Maddison was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on Christ- mas day of that year. Seven of their children are yet living: Ada, who is acting as her father's housekeeper; Thomas, a farmer of Kedron township; Harry, who is married and owns and operates a good farm in Kedron town- ship; John, who is in Montana, where he fol- lows merchandising; Leslie, who is acting as housekeeper for her brother; Nina, at home; and Gilbert, who is married and owns a good farm in Kedron township. One son, William Maddison, passed away in early manhood.
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