USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 34
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Mr. Crane died upon his farm in June, 1890, and was buried in Keokuk. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a republican in his political belief, serving as township trustee for a number of years. His widow removed to California and passed away in Los Angeles in 1903. The paternal grandfather of the sub- ject of this review passed away in Indiana.
Ellsworth B. Crane was born August 27, 1862, upon the home- stead and as a boy attended the Ashland school near his home, his first teacher being Miss Mooney. He continued to make his home under the parental roof after he grew to manhood, with the excep- tion of two years spent in California. From his youth he has been accustomed to farm work and early became acquainted with practical methods of agriculture. After the death of his father Mr. Crane inherited the farm and is still devoting his time and energy to its operation. He employs modern methods in the cultivation of the fields and, as the land is rich and fertile, he harvests annually boun- tiful crops, which bring him a good income.
The marriage of Mr. Crane and Miss Belle Grimes was solemnized April 8, 1891. Mrs. Crane is a daughter of William and Ruth (Reed) Grimes, residents of Montrose township. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children: Mary Hazelton, a graduate of the Keokuk high school with the class of 1912; and William LeRoy and Ruth, both of whom will graduate from the same school in 1915. Mrs. Crane is a member of the Pres- byterian church of Montrose, which Mr. Crane also attends. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Woodmen, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. A son of a pioneer, his cooperation has always been given to all projects having for their purpose the advancement of the county.
ROBERT F. RACEY.
The development of the automobile business has furnished a profitable field for many enterprising men. Among the representa- tives of the trade in Fort Madison was until very recently Robert F. Racey, who in 1913 opened a garage and sold the Herff-Brooks car. In the intervening period, covering a little more than a year, he built up a growing and substantial business. He was born in Missouri on the 10th of November, 1894, and is a son of J. L. and Emma (Arnold) Racey, who were farming people. The mother
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is a sister of W. A. and G. L. Arnold, well known citizens of Fort Madison.
Robert F. Racey was educated in the public schools and his entrance into the business world was made as an apprentice to the machinist's trade, for which he thoroughly qualified. He possesses much natural skill and ingenuity in this direction and his subsequent business experience and study have greatly promoted his efficiency. Removing to Fort Madison on the ist of March, 1913, he soon after- ward made arrangements for engaging in business here and equipped and opened a garage at No. 811 Front street. In 1913 he handled the Hershoff car and in 1914 sold the Herff-Brooks car. This is a four cylinder, thirty-eight horse power car, retailing at eleven hundred dollars, and also a six cylinder, forty-eight horse power, the sales price of which is thirteen hundred and seventy-five dollars. His garage was well equipped and he was capable of doing extra repair work. He is a young man who is just entering his third decade, but already he has demonstrated his business ability and by reason of his energy, enterprise and laudable ambition will no doubt win larger success in the future.
ALONZO B. HUGHES, M. D.
Dr. Alonzo B. Hughes, who has been engaged in the general practice of medicine at Keokuk since 1897, was a prominent factor in educational circles of Nebraska for a number of years prior to 1894, when he came to Keokuk as professor of the chair of chemistry in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. After the consolidation of the Keokuk and the Physicians and Surgeons Colleges he became professor of materia medica and therapeutics.
Dr. Hughes was born in Scotland county, Missouri, on the 9th of August, 1856, his parents being W. P. and Elizabeth Ann ( Hol- land) Hughes, who took up their abode in Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa, when our subject was a small boy and subsequently removed to Des Moines, Polk county. In those two cities Alonzo B. Hughes acquired his literary training, and subsequently he followed the pro- fession of teaching for a period of twenty years. He also served as city superintendent of schools at Villisca, Montgomery county, this state, and at Schuyler, Nebraska. Prior to this time he acted as ward superintendent for the schools at Atlantic, Cass county, Iowa. Dur- ing a period of four years he was the editor of the Nebraska School
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Journal. When thirty-six years of age he read medicine and after coming to Keokuk as professor of chemistry also attended lectures. At the age of forty he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons and had the unusual distinction of signing his own diploma. In 1897 he embarked in the general practice of medicine at Keokuk and has since been accorded an extensive and gratifying patronage.
Dr. Hughes was president of the State Association of Superin- tendents and Principals of the State of Nebraska in 1888; president of the North Nebraska Teachers' Association in 1889; president of the State Teachers' Association of Nebraska in 1890; delegate to the National Teachers' Association from Nebraska in 1800; and a member of the educational council of Nebraska in 1893 and 1894. In 1899 he was elected a member of the board of education of the city of Keokuk and has continued to serve in that capacity to the present time with the exception of one year, acting for six years as president of the body. In 1913 he was sent as a delegate from the city of Keokuk to the International Congress of School Hygiene at Buffalo, which was the first convention of its kind in the United States and the fourth to be held in any country.
In 1881 Dr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Anderson, of Atlantic, Iowa, by whom he has two children: Ger- trude, who is now Mrs. George S. Yant; and Horace C. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and other social and benevolent organizations. In his life are the elements of greatness because of the use he has made of his talents and his opportunities, because his thoughts are not self-centered but are given to the mastery of life problems and the fulfillment of his duty as a man in his relations to his fellowmen and as a citizen in his relations to his city, state and country.
FRANK DAVIS.
Frank Davis is a resident farmer of Montrose township, owning and cultivating eighty acres. He was born in Green Bay, Lee county, lowa, November 24, 1863. His father, Armstead Davis, was a native of Ohio, born December 9, 1818, and in that state he wedded Anna McGregor, who was born May 30, 1829. They came to Iowa at an early period in the development of Lee county, and secured a farm in Montrose township, remaining residents of this section of
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the state throughout their remaining days, the father passing away May 18, 1883, while his wife died April 6, 1896, their remains being interred in a cemetery at Sandusky. Both were consistent members of the Christian church. They are survived by two sons, Albert and Frank, both residents of Montrose township.
The latter was reared in the township where he still makes his home and attended the public schools of Ashland a part of each year until he reached the age of eighteen. He worked upon his father's farm from early boyhood and continued to assist in its cultivation until the time of his marriage. On the 19th of January, 1898, he wedded Miss Sadie Colvin, the marriage ceremony being performed by the Rev. Sanderson, of the Christian church of Keokuk. Mrs. Davis was born at the old Colvin home in Montrose township on the 6th of November, 1865, and acquired her education in the public schools. Her parents were William and Catherine (Van Arsdell) Colvin. Her father, who was born in Kentucky, came to Iowa at an early day with his wife and three children, driving across the country to Lee county. He settled in Montrose township and finally pur- chased the farm upon which Mr. and Mrs. Davis now reside, remain- ing thereon to the time of his death, which occurred in August, 1909. He was a faithful member of the Christian church and he exercised his right of franchise in support of the republican party. His widow still makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Davis, who is one of a family of seven children, namely: Malissa, the wife of Austin Wright of Keokuk; Amanda, who married John Boyd of Montrose ; Mary, who became the wife of Zach Boyd and died in Missouri; Martha, who became the wife of William Grimes and died in Indiana; Mrs. Davis; Nannie, the wife of Robert Grimes of Mon- trose ; and J. H. Colvin.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Davis located upon his farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Montrose township and continued to cultivate and improve that property until 1910, when he sold out. He then purchased his present farm and erected a residence thereon. The interior finishing of the house is of walnut grown upon this place. The home is an attractive one and the excellent appearance of the place indicates the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner, who is justly accounted one of the progressive farmers of his part of the county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Davis has been born a daughter, Catherine, whose birth occurred in 1900 and who is now attending the public schools of Ashland. The parents are members of the Christian church at Summitville and do all in their power to further the moral
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development of the community. Mr. Davis is a republican in his political views and while he has not sought public office he has served on the school board for nineteen years. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He has a wide acquaintance in this county, where his entire life has been passed, and that his record has ever been an honorable and commendable one is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.
CHARLES J. HYDE.
Charles J. Hyde was born on the 6th of March, 1855, on the farm which he now owns and occupies on sections 33 and 34, Washington township. Here he has always made his home and in connection with general farming he has for the past twelve years conducted a dairy, milking twelve cows and selling the milk himself from his own wagon. He owns one hundred and fifty-five acres of very valuable and productive land on sections 33 and 34, Washington township, conveniently located one mile from the city limits of Fort Madison.
Charles J. Hyde, our subject's father, was born in New York city in 1801 and in 1836 became a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois, where he married the mother of our subject, Miss Elizabeth Laub, in 1844. She was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and became a resident of Nauvoo in 1842. At that place Mr. Hyde conducted a livery stable for some time, but at the time of the troubles there he was driven out and came to Fort Madison, where he followed the same business for a time. He also secured a quarter section of land in this county and, making his home thereon, devoted considerable attention to agricultural pursuits. In connection with general farm- ing he also engaged in stock-raising here. In politics he was a demo- crat and for several terms most acceptably served as county super- visor from his township. At one time he was a member of the Baptist church. He died on his farm in Washington township, August 14, 1886, and his wife passed away there December 31, 1903. He first married Lucy Sherwood, who died in this county, and the four children born to them-Jane, Adaline, Udney and Henry- are also deceased. His second wife was the mother of our subject, and by that union there were two children, the elder being Emma Louise, now the wife of D. H. Kern of Fort Madison. While
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engaged in business in Nauvoo the father owned his farm in this county, and the family resided thereon.
Charles J. Hyde was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farm boys of his time and locality, and he remained under the parental roof until after reaching man's estate. In 1886 he was married to Miss Minnie Mumme, who was born in Fort Madison, September 21, 1855, a daughter of Christ and Sophia Mumme, who were from Brunswick, Germany, and were early settlers of this county, where their last days were passed. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hyde are: Elizabeth, who is now employed as a stenographer in the office of James C. Davis, attorney for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Des Moines; Edna, court reporter in Fort Madison; Alice, who is employed as stenographer by Herming- hausen & Herminghausen, of Fort Madison; Fred R., who is now operating the home farm and is serving as secretary of the township school board; Emma, who is employed as stenographer by George B. Stewart, an attorney of Fort Madison; Minnie, at home; and Charles J., Jr., who is attending high school in Fort Madison.
Mr. Hyde has never wavered in his support of the men and measures of the democratic party and has taken a very active and prominent part in local politics. He served for fifteen years as town- ship clerk and is one of the influential and enterprising citizens of his community.
WILLIAM STRUTHERS.
William Struthers is an active, energetic farmer, owning and cultivating one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 32, Mon- trose township. He was born in the same township, on the old family homestead three miles west of his present residence, the prop- erty being now owned by William Runer. There he spent his youth- ful days, with the usual experiences of the farm lad. He is of Scotch lineage, being a grandson of John Struthers, who was born in Scot- land but was reared in Lancashire, England. On crossing the Atlantic he took his family to St. Louis. His children were as fol- lows: Alexander; James, who died in St. Louis; Mrs. Isabelle Humphrey; and Jane, who married and went to California.
Alexander Struthers, the father of William Struthers, was born in Lancashire, England, about 1834, and came to the United States soon after his marriage to Mary Nightingale. They sailed from Liverpool and landed at New Orleans, whence they proceeded up
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the river by boat to Keokuk. Later Alexander Struthers was a boat- man on the river for several years, but afterward turned his attention to farming in Montrose township and became one of the leading agriculturists of the district, continuing upon his farm until his death, which occurred when he was about sixty-five years of age. His wife died twenty years later, when seventy-four years of age. They belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church when in England, but after coming to the United States joined the Latter Day Saints. In his political faith Mr. Struthers was a democrat. The children in the family were: Agnes, who became the wife of Jonathan Rankin; Sarah, who married Asaph Buck and lives in Keokuk; Ellen, who became the wife of Riley Ellerton and is deceased; William, of this review; Elizabeth, who became the wife of S. B. Wright of Montrose township; and Margaret, who married James Kite of Louisiana.
Upon the old homestead farm William Struthers spent the days of his boyhood and youth and attended the Ambrosia public school, about two miles from his home, walking that distance. Among his teachers of early days was Mr. Hitchcock and his last teacher was Edward Haskett. He was a farm boy, with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the youth who is reared amid an agricultural environment.
On the 26th of March, 1879, Mr. Struthers was united in mar- riage to Miss Ella Kite, who was born on a ranch near Buena Vista, in Amador county, California. Her father, John Kite, was born in Boone county, Kentucky, in 1824, and there remained until about sixteen years of age. He acquired a limited education in one of the old-time schoolhouses of the early period. During his boyhood the Indians were numerous in Kentucky and he became a great hunter. When sixteen years of age he drove a herd of sheep through to McDonough county, Illinois, accompanied by his uncle William Jackson, a Methodist Episcopal preacher, who settled there. Mr. Kite afterward returned to Kentucky and later came to Iowa with another uncle, Addison Miller, who afterward returned, but Mr. Kite remained. He lived in that section until the time of his mar- riage and afterward settled on the prairie near Nashville. During his active life he had many exciting and ofttimes hazardous experi- ences, living much of the time upon the frontier. He was for several years a pilot over the rapids. He crossed the plains to California at an early day with an emigrant train bound for the gold fields of the Pacific coast. He was accompanied by his wife and children and they were almost a year upon the way, stopping for the winter on the shores of Salt Lake. There the government officials refused to
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allow them to proceed further on account of the deep snows in the mountains. During that winter the father boiled the briny water containing the salt, which he peddled over the country. In the spring, accompanied by two companions, he started on ahead of the train on foot in order to blaze the way, for the canyons would fill up with snow and it was difficult to find the road. At length they returned to the train and led them over the mountains into California through the Jackson and Ione valleys. They arrived right in the heart of the placer mines. Mr. Kite purchased a squatter's claim of ·three hundred acres. His first peep into the valley gave him the impression that it was one vast field of oats. These were not the cultivated variety but grew wild. Upon his claim Mr. Kite built a frame house, for there was much fine pine timber there. With char- acteristic energy he set to work and developed his farm. Around him were many Digger Indians and it was not an unusual sight to see a grizzly bear. After remaining for twelve years he returned to Iowa and traded his California place for a farm in Lee county, owned by George Wirtz and Mr. Struthers. It was in May, 1865, that the family started back, having two wagons, each drawn by a team of horses. They also rode and drove eight loose horses, and they overtook several wagons on the return trip. By the time they reached Salt Lake City the train consisted of eight wagons. At Fort Halleck they joined a government freight train and there met a train that had been attacked three miles from there by the Indians and had lost three of their wagons. It was three or four days later that the train with which Mr. Kite traveled left Fort Halleck. He and his family remained with the train until they reached Nebraska City on the Missouri river, after which they struck out alone, crossing Iowa. They were but three months in making their return journey. It was in 1850 that Mr. Kite married Miss Angeline Graham, who was born in Huron county, Ohio, in 1830, a daughter of Carter and Eliza (Green) Graham, who were married in Huron county, Ohio, and died in Lee county, Iowa. They were members of the Latter Day Saints. They removed to Iowa when their daughter Mrs. Kite was three years of age and settled at Nashville. Their family numbered ten children, seven of whom reached adult age, namely: Mrs. Kite; Mrs. Mary A. Horton, who died in Amador county, California; George H., who went to California at an early day and was never heard from again; Edward and Benjamin, who also went to Cali- fornia; William, who went to British Columbia; and Lenora, who became the wife of Benjamin Herrick and died in Montrose town- ship.
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NIrs. Struthers was but three years of age when her parents removed to Lee county, establishing their home in Montrose town- ship. She attended the Summitville school, taught by Miss Sawyer and others, her last teacher being Mr. Van Papplendam. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Struthers lived first upon the old Kite farm for a year and then removed to the Younkin farm, on which they also lived for a year. They afterward resided on different places and then rented their present place until 1893, when Mr. Struthers pur- chased the property and in 1901 erected his present attractive resi- dence. At first he had one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land, but he has since sold a portion, retaining possession of one hundred and twenty acres. All that he possesses is attributable entirely to his own persistency of purpose, indefatigable energy and good man- agement. He has led a busy and useful life and his success is well merited.
To Mr. and Mrs. Struthers have been born four children. Verna May is now the wife of William Dupy, who resides at Ottumwa, Iowa, and they have four children. Rita, William Vernon, Lafayette Struthers and Lea Maxine. Lulu Angeline is now the wife of Lee Wilson Wright of Montrose township, and they have two children, Ella Janet and Kenneth Lee. Gladys Fay is the wife of Isaac Carrick of Montrose township, Lee county, and they have three children, Dorothy Maria, Hugh Isaac and William Earl. Mabel Clair, the youngest member of the Struthers family, is at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Struthers are widely and favorably known in Lee county, where they have now long resided and where his well spent life has won him not only a good property but also the merited regard of those with whom he has come in contact.
REV. FATHER ARTHUR J. ZAISER.
Rev. Father Arthur J. Zaiser, pastor of St. Joseph's church at Fort Madison, was born in Fowler, near Quincy, Illinois, January 25. 1862, a son of the Hon. John and Margaret ( Funk) Zaiser. The father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 16, 1835, and was the youngest in a family of ten children. He was seventeen years of age when he accompanied his brother Henry and his sister Hen- rietta to America. Arrived at New York, they proceeded westward, going down the Ohio river to Cairo and up the Mississippi to Quincy
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Rev. John Zaiser, the father, was a profound student and a most scholarly man. At the age of eighteen he became a minister of the Methodist church, with which he was actively connected until 1865, when he retired. On the 25th of September, 1860, in Burlington, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Funk, the eldest daughter of John Funk, who in 1835 became a resident of Burlington, becoming a pioneer of that city. To Hon. John and Margaret (Funk) Zaiser were born the following named : Arthur J., Laura, Fred H., Lillian, Albert C., Esther, Adam F. and Harry E. Of these, Albert C. and Harry E. are now physicians. In 1865 the father, John Zaiser, became a member of the Orchard City Wagon Company and continued in that connection until his death. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he served for two years as a member of the city council of Burlington, while from 1880 until 1884 he was mayor of the city. He was of the old school of gentlemen, punctilious, energetic, thoroughly honest in business and always endeavored to follow the Golden Rule.
The Rev. Arthur J. Zaiser was a little lad of about four years when he accompanied his parents to Burlington. He began his edu- cation in a private Methodist institution and at the age of ten years entered the Burlington public schools, in which he passed through the consecutive grades until graduated from the high school at the age of sixteen years. During the three succeeding years, 1877-80, he was a student in the Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and later he taught instrumental music for about a year. He was afterward employed for a year in a bank at Burlington. In the meantime he had given the subject of religion much thought and after wide reading and careful consideration he decided he would enter a religious life and became a student in the Jesuit College at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he devoted four years, 1883-87, to the study of the classics and other branches. Another year was spent studying philosophy in the Jesuit College at Buffalo, New York, and for three years he was a student in St. Francis Theological Seminary at Milwaukee. It was here that he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Katzer, June 21, 1891. He was assigned to the teaching of language and mathematics in St. Ambrose College at Davenport, Iowa, where he remained for three years and was then sent to Exira, Iowa, as first resident pastor of the church at that place. Under his direction the congregation grew and while there he erected a parochial residence and school.
In 1898, following the death of Father De Cailly, Father Zaiser was named as the former's successor at Fort Madison. His success
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