The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 99

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1004

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

ma J., Minnie B., Sarah and Charlie. His second marriage was in Illinois, June 15, 1875, to Miss C. J. Propps. They have one child, Bertie. RAMEY, K. M .- Furniture dealer. Was born in Knox (now Morrow) county, Ohio, June 2, 1838. Was there raised and educated. His father, John Ramey, was an agriculturalist in that State. In early life K. M. pursued school-teaching. In the spring of 1869 he came to Iowa, locat- ing at Monroe, Jasper county, where he resided for a time and taught school. In 1871 he removed to Marengo, where he engaged in the furni- ture trade. Came to Grinnell in 1875 and he has since been in trade. Was married, in 1865, to Miss Mary K. Howard, of Ohio, a lady of culture and refinement. Mr. Ramey is among the solid business :nen of Grinnell and carries a stock of furniture that will compare favorably with any in the county. Mrs. R. is also a teacher, which occupation she has followed most of the time since her marriage, having taught for some time in the graded school of Marengo and for the last five years in the graded schools of Grinnell.

ROLLINS, J. S .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 18, P. O. Grinnell. Born in Kennebec county, Maine, November 26, 1836; was there raised and educated and resided until 1857, when he came West, locating in Cedar county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and resided until 1875, when he came to Poweshiek county, locating where he now resides. He was mar- ried, January 3, 1860, to Miss Matilda J. Fuller, a native of Ohio. By this union they have had three children, two of whom are now living: John S. (born January 4, 1861), Annie J. (born July 11, 1866). They lost one (born June 3, 1870). Mr. Rollins enlisted August 13, 1862, in com- pany B, Twenty-fourth Iowa volunteer infantry. He was honorably dis- charged August 3, 1864. His farm consists of 160 acres, one and one-half miles from Grinnell. His orchard consists of 175 apple trees and smaller fruits in proportion. He makes a specialty of stock-raising.

SAWYER, J. W .- Dealer in groceries and provisions, Grinnell. Was born in Vermont, May 29, 1836, and there was educated and grew to manhood. After leaving school he learned the harness-making trade and in the fall of 1873 came to this city, where he obtained a position in G. M. Hatch & Co.'s dry goods store as salesman. In 1875 he was appointed city marshal; again appointed in 1876 and also in 1878, making three consecu- tive terms. In 1879 he became engaged in the business which he now fol- lows. He was also appointed township trustee in the fall of 1878 and still holds that office. He was married, November 29, 1860, to Miss Sarah G. Short. The result of this marriage is two children: Ida S. and Car- roll E. M.

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SCHUYLER, C. L .- Merchant tailor, Grinnell. Was born in Mont- gomery county, New York, October 4, 1840, and after receiving a good education commenced farming, which he continued until the spring of 1865. He then came to Poweshiek county, Iowa, located in this city, resumed farming, and in 1868 became engaged in his present business, which he has since followed. IIe enjoys a large share of the patronage of the people. His marriage was in Grinnell, December 25, 1873, to Miss Eliza D. Suth- erland. Their family consists of two children: Frank L. and David L.

SCHEELER, C. J .- Blacksmith and livery and feed stable, Grinnell. Was born in Indiana on the 12th of February, 1854, where he was partly educated. When eleven years of age he came with his parents to this county, locating in this city and completed his schooling. Then learned the blacksmith trade, which he continued until 1878, when he gave it up on account of ill-health. Has a good stable in connection with the black- smith shop. He enjoys a good patronage.

SHERMAN, J. T .- Son of Samuel and Martha Sherman. Born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1849. In 1854 came West with his parents to Ottawa, La Salle county, Illinois, where he remained until 1864, when his parents immigrated to Iowa and located in Eddyville, Wapello county. Here he entered the Eddyville Star office as an apprentice and remained in the office until the paper suspended publication, when he returned to his former home, Ottawa, and obtained a situation in the Ottawa Republican office. He continued to work here for four years, when he returned to Iowa and procured a situation on the Albia Union. In 1869 became one of the publishers of the Des Moines Valley Gazette, a weekly newspaper published at Eddyville, Iowa. In 1871, in company with W. T. Bruer and Chas. Griffith, established the Macon City Republican, at Macon City, Missouri. In the fall of the same year he severed his connec- tion with the Republican and established the Andrew County Republican, at Savannah, Andrew county, Missouri. In the spring of 1872 was united in marriage to Miss R. E. Snell, at Savannah, by Rev. Gllis, of the First M. E. Church, of that city, and after having sold his interest in the Repub- lican in the fall of the same year, he accepted a situation on the St. Joseph (Missouri) Daily Commercial as assistant business manager and local edi- tor. In 1874 he returned to Iowa and accepted a situation as foreman of the Albia Union. In 1875 started the Eddyville Advance and continued the publication of that journal until November, 1876, when his office was destroyed by fire. Rebuilding his newspaper press in the spring of 1877, in company with L. H. Boydston he began the publication of the Powe- shiek County Democrat. Disposing of his interest in the Democrat in No-

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vember of the same year, he purchased a new office and began the publica- tion of the Grinnell Independent, at Grinnell, on January 18, 1878. After one year's successful business he disposed of a half interest in the Inde- pendent to Michael Snyder, and the paper since that time has been pub- lished by the firm of Snyder & Sherman. Since establishing the Inde- pendent he has purchased a lot in the north part of the city and built a residence thereon. His family consists of a wife and four children, two boys and two girls.

SHERMAN, L. N .- Farmer and stock-raiser, section 2, P. O. Grinnell. Is a native of New Hampshire and was born on the 20th of October, 1828. After obtaining his education he removed to California and became engaged in gold mining, which he continued until the fall of 1855, then returned to his place of birth. In the fall of 1856 he came to Poweshiek county and is the owner of a farm of 835 acres, well improved. He is an extensive raiser of fine stock and devotes considerable time to that business. His place is situated three miles northeast from town, upon a very desirable location. Mr. Sherman was married in the State of New Hampshire, January 28, 1856, to Miss Angenette H. Williams. The result of this union is two children: Clara and May, both of whom are now deceased.

SHUSLER, L. F .- Druggist, Grinnell. Was born in Warren county, Illinois, May 30, 1854, and received his education at the Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois, graduating from that institute in the summer of 1874. After leaving school he engaged in teaching at Belleville, Illi- nois, where he taught three years and in September, 1878, came to this county and located in Grinnell and is doing a good business in the drug line. Although yet a young man, he has won many friends by his fair and honorable dealings and has a bright future before him.

SNOW, ERASTUS-The New West has hardly numbered those years which are required to bring to the front rank in society a model class of men peculiarly Western. A visitor from the Sunny South amidst the sterility and rocks of New Hampshire asked, " What do you raise up here?" to be answered, " We rear men, sir"; but they cannot all stay, and if Doug- las thought Vermont a good State to emigrate from, so is New Hamp- shire, and conspicuous among those who may have had the same opinion, provided they came to Iowa, is Hon. Erastus Snow. He being quite una- ware of this attempt at sketching, we are ignorant in regard to his per- sonal history, birth-place or age, save that it was in the old Granite State life began, and the full black beard, only slightly silvered, indicates about that mature age on the shady side of fifty, a guess confirmed by the fact that he has a son for several years a practicing attorney in northern Iowa.

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Mr. Snow is an accountant, having served many years as a bank cashier in his native State, removing to Davenport a reputed money loaner, where loans were easier put out than taken in. Next removing to Grinnell, where just out of the corporation he has a farm, which, regarding location, trees, and tasteful house architecture, is the equal of any establishment in central Iowa. But fine stock and model grounds could not detain the owner on his fertile acres and he gravitated into public affairs, still retaining his home. As member of the county Board of Supervisors our finances were by him brought out of disorder and indebtedness, known and provided for. Once he was elected to the Lower House in the General Assembly and once State Senator holding a conspicuous place as a trusted financier on committees, without any attempt at oratory, rather being disposed to the " golden silence." Several years since, when the farmers made an alliance, under what was called the Order of Grangers, this gentleman was accorded that prominence which correctness and business habits ensure, and is now at the head of one of the largest mercantile houses, occupying one of the most spacious stores in this region, where order mirrors the man. The presidency of the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company, which has proved such wise economy to the insured, was also accorded to him, an office which he now holds. On the organization of the First National Bank of Grin- nell, ten years ago, Mr. Snow was elected president, and on the founding, the past year, of the Grinnell Savings Bank he was also made president. In brief, if said as a business maxim, "Caution is the parent of safety," that may have been the guide of one who has neither grasped to hold, nor been ambitious for position, beyond the measure which was honorable and a pleasure for friends to accord, each succeeding expression of confidence bringing evidence of those qualities which so modest a gentleman might regard as flattery by a further mention and analysis. Mr. Snow is a prac- tical believer in the "dignity of labor," and in early life from necessity, and later from choice, has been diligent in business and faithful to the many trusts conferred upon him. He believes that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, and his life's history clearly demonstrates that strict integrity, persevering industry, joined to economy and good habits, seconded by a determined will, are unfailing passports to success.

SNIDER, H. K .- Of the firm of McDonald, Snider & Co., druggists and dealers in stationery, Grinnell. Was born in Greensburg, Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1851, and when one year old his parents moved to Johnstown, same State; thence to Sherlysburg, where he was partly educated. In November, 1871, he came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, completed his schooling, and then went into a drug store with his uncle,

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remaining until 1874; then moved to Malvern, Mills county, and became engaged in the drug business, which he there followed until the fall of 1875, when he came to this county and continued his former business under the firm name of Snider & Hedges. In June, 1877, he sold his in- terest to Dr. Hedges, and was employed as clerk with Johnson & Co., and in July, 1880, he purchased his interest in the present firm, of Dr. Clark. Mr. Snyder was married, in Fairfield, Iowa, September 14, 1875, to Miss E. L. Tomy. They have one child, Blanche E. (born July 17, 1877).

SNYDER, MICHAEL-It is no small matter to attain success on American soil, especially when taking into consideration the disadvantages of overcoming foreign birth and learning the use of a new language in a strange land. These were the impediments bravely met and overcome by Mr. Michael Snyder, who was left an orphan at the age of thirteen years in a strange land, and penniless. He was born in Luxembourg, in the year 1833, and came to this country in 1846 with his parents, who, soon after their arrival on the American continent, died. Coming to Iowa, Mr. Sny- der settled in Cascade, where he spent twelve years as a laborer, after which he entered the mercantile business, and spent sixteen years in that line very successfully, in Cascade. He was married to Miss Mary Burk in 1858, a native of Ohio, who died in 1870, and by whom he had five children, three now living: Edwin E. (the eldest, now station agent at Montezuma), Emily (now being educated in Heidelberg, Germany) and Louise (attend- ing school at home). In 1871 he married Mrs. C. E. Dow, who has one adopted daughter, Kate V. (now Mrs. A. B. Wood, of Ewart). With prop- erty enough to satisfy an ordinary ambition, and a desire to be brought into contact with enterprise and the best of schools and railroads (there being no railroad at Cascade) he removed to Grinnell in 1874. Here he has been no idler, nor palsied by that caution which makes dull monotony in business. The first enterprise was to make a convenient, attractive and pleasant home, which he did, as will be revealed by a visit to his residence in the west part of the city. The scheme of the G. & M. R. R. was in- augurated, and he advanced his money and time, and at one time had the largest sum in the road, and was president of the corporation, but has re- cently sold out his interest to ex-Governor Merrill, of Des Moines. Then a hotel was wanted at the railway junction-now the Chapin House-a model establishment, into which he threw his whole energies, until com- pleted and well under operation. The city and county would have a sav- ings bank, and to this Mr. S. made the largest local subscription, and is now a director, and also one of the executive committee, as well as an offi- cer of the First National Bank. To the erection of the new stone church

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he gave his time as one of the building committee, and, we believe, was one of the most liberal donors toward its erection. This is the orphan, grown up to be a self-made man, honest, energetic, sagacious, and to whom society becomes a debtor, as this city has, even after his brief residence, when being better known, he will find a larger field for his enterprise and be even more highly esteemed by a community that asks not where a man was born, but whether he is alive, rather than a leech, or a cypher on the wrong side of the numerals.

SPAULDING, H. W .- Carriage and wagon manufacturer, Grinnell. Was born in Vermont, June 29, 1847; was there raised, educated and learned the trade he now pursues, and continued the same until the spring of 1873, when he engaged with the wholesale manufacturing establishment of Wiley & Russell, introducing their screw cutting machinery and tools through- out the United States, and continued with them until July 15, 1876, when he came to Poweshiek county, locating in Grinnell. He was married, Oc- tober 16, 1872, to Mirann J. Lull, of Hartland, Vermont. By this union they have two children: Henry E., Freddie E. Mr. Spaulding is the most extensive manufacturer of carriages and platform spring wagons in Powe- shiek county. He is an experienced workman, and superintends all work turned out of his establishment. Although but a few years located in Grinnell he is well and popularly known throughout the fifth and sixth districts for his first-class and attractive work.

SPENCER, C. H .- Cashier of the First National Bank of Grinnell. Among the enterprising men who have built up Grinnell from the nucleus of a village to a city of three thousand inhabitants is Charles H. Spencer, who settled here when the place contained less than twenty five families and who has been thoroughly identified with all its interests. He is a na- tive of Saybrook, Connecticut, is a son of Sylvester Spencer, for many years a notary public and bank clerk, and was born on the 6th of June, 1824. The maiden name of his mother was Elizabeth Clarke, whose father, Ezra Clarke, was a soldier in the Revolution, aiding the Colonies to gain their freedom from the British yoke. The Spencers were from England, three brothers coming over about two centuries ago, one of them settling in New York, and the other two in Connecticut. From one of the latter brothers sprang the branch to which Charles Henry belongs. At the age of twelve years he went to New York City and served as a runner boy in a bank for three years; then went to Great Bend, Jefferson county, in the northern part of the State, and clerked in a store; a few years later became proprietor of the store, remained in that place about twelve years, in mer- cantile trade, and in the winter of 1856 settled in Grinnell, where for twenty-

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one years he has been one of the leading business men. After merchan- dizing here alone for three years, Mr. Spencer went in the drug business, in partnership with Dr. Thomas C. Holyoke, and continued that business connection until the demise of the doctor in 1876. They instituted at an early day a small exchange office, which grew into the First National Bank of Grinnell, organized by Mr. Spencer and others in 1865, and going into operation in March, 1866. He became its cashier, and has held the office ever since, making it not only a very firm, but very popular instution. In earnestness and expedition in business, Mr. Spencer is unexcelled in Grin- nell, and the confidence of the people in his honesty is unlimited. Mr. Spencer has been a member of the Congregational Church since 1860, and has at different times held the offices of trustee and treasurer of the society. He has also been treasurer of Iowa College, which is located at Grinnell. He has probably had more money pass through his hands than any other man in Grinnell, and not a dollar of it has failed to be accounted for. A truer or more trustworthy man it would be difficult to find anywhere. Po- litically Mr. Spencer is a Republican, with Whig antecedents, but as much as possible he has shunned office, though he is now one of the County Supervisors, and has held the office of mayor of this city. On the 6th of February, 1850, Mr. Spencer chose for his life companion Miss Mary A. Hayworth, of Evans' Mills, Jefferson county, New York, and they had four children, three of them yet living, two sons and one daughter: Charles H. (who died at the age of sixteen), Henry C. (assistant cashier in the bank), Louis E. (attorney, practicing his profession in this place, and a graduate of the law school in Des Moines), Mary E. (now Mrs. George A. Dudley). Mr. Spencer is generous hearted, very liberal, and a true neighbor, never forgetting the injunction of the Savior to remember the poor. His chari- ties are distributed in the most quiet and private manner. He is also a warm friend of the young, often giving them, in an unobtrusive and most kindly manner, words of advice wich are "like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

STURTEVANT, REV., J. M. JR .- Pastor of the Congregational Church, Grinnell, Iowa. Born February 2d, 1834, at Jacksonville, Illinois. His elementary education was obtained in the schools of his native city; enter- ing Illinois College at the age of sixteen, he graduated with honor in 1854. After graduation he taught one year in the public schools of Jacksonville, and one year in Illinois College. He then entered the Andover Theologi- cal Seminary, and after three years satisfactory professional preparation entered the Christian ministry and was settled pastor of the Congregational Church of Hannibal, Missouri, in 1860. Here he served with most satisfac-

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tory results for nine years. For six months he preached for the New Eng- land Church, of New York; then, in 1870, was called to the pastorate in Ottawa, Illinois. Here was born their oldest child Amy, March 24, 1871. Mr. Sturtevant remained with this church three and a half years, when he was called to Denver, Colorado. In December, 1873, he accepted a unani- mous call to the pastorate of the church in Grinnell, where he has since re- sided, winning through his superior qualities the love and respect of all. The church is spiritually and financially a worthy pride of the city and State, being greater in members and having probably the most elegant stone edifice west of Chicago. Their second child, Hayward, was born here November 2d, 1878. Our subject was married to Miss Katie Hayward, daughter of Col. J. T. K. Hayward, of Hannibal, Missouri, November 26, 1861. He is in direct line of descent from the old New England stock of the same name. His father for many years has been president of Illinois College, at Jacksonville. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him in the Illinois College in 1879.

SUTHERLAND, G. C .- Of the firm of Mahler & Sutherland, dry goods and groceries. Was born in Danville, Vermont, August 29, 1853, and when about three years of age accompanied his parents to this county, locating in Grinnell, where he was educated. After leaving school he commenced farming, and continued the same until the fall of 1873, then obtaining a position as salesman in a clothing store. In 1877 he engaged in the gro- cery business, and in 1879 became engaged in his present business, under the firm name of Mahler & Sutherland.

T ALLMON, GEORGE W .- School teacher. Was born in the county of Chautauqua, in the State of New York, on the 12th day of October, 1837. While he was yet very young his parents removed to Ohio, and set- tled in Trumbull county, where he continued to live until he was about nine- teen years of age, where he attended the common schools of the country, and acquired an excellent common school education. He attended a select school at Salem for one year, and then attended normal school in Stark county, under Mr. A. Holbrook, the noted teacher in Ohio. Then returned to New York and taught his first school, near Fredonia. In the year 1856 he came to Iowa and settled near Davenport, where he attended two years at the Iowa College, then located at that place, and when the institution was removed to this place he went to Beloit, Michigan, and entered school where he remained two years and then returned to Davenport, and took charge of the East Davenport Ward school, which position he held when the War of the Rebellion broke out. He enlisted in company E, Twentieth Iowa infantry, with which regiment he was nearly two years,

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and was engaged in the battle of Prairie Grove, the Seige of Vicks- burg, and many small engagements. At the end of two years he was promoted to first lieutenant in the Seventy-third United States infantry, colored, in which regiment he remained until the close of the war when he resigned. During the most of the latter year he was on detached service. Was the assistant superintendent of negro labor at Baltimore where he had at times the charge of several thousand blacks. He was married in 1872, to Miss Susan Carhart, who is a lady of refinement and culture. She was born in Gilderland, Albany county, New York, where she continued to reside until she was thirteen years of age when her parents removed to Iowa. She acquired a good English education in the common schools and in Cornell University at Mount Vernon. While her husband was in the South, she went to him and was engaged by the United States government to teach among the colored people at Baton Rouge where she continued to labor for six or eight months. At the close of the war they returned to their old home, near Davenport, and purchased a farm where they lived about three years, when they sold out and came to Jasper county, and purchased a farm which he now (1880) owns. But for the last four or five years Mrs. Tallmon has been engaged in teaching, a part of the time in the country, but most of the time in the graded school in the city.

TERRY, GEORGE-Was born on the first day of October, 1880, and is a native of Coggeshall, county of Essex, England. He attended the Felsted Grammar School, and graduated therefrom in the summer of 1849. On the fifteenth of November, 1849, he emigrated to the United States. En- listed in the Seventh Missouri volunteer infantry, in April, 1861, took part in the second battle of Corinth, October 2, 3 and 4, 1862, and continued in government employ until November, 1870. March 22, 1871, he com- menced with Craver & Steele, was book-keeper in the lumber yards until December, 1877, and from that time until this has been employed in the header factory. Mr. Terry was married, in the city of Saint Louis, on the seventeenth of September, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth R. Whittaker, a native of Todmorden, Lancashire, England. Their family consists of three boys and three girls.

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The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,., Part 99

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1004

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Des Moines : Union Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1004