The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 109

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 109

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Ryon, John A. (b. 1836), owner and occupant of sec. 19, 640 acres, is a native of Wayne county, Pa., the son of William nnd Eleanor (Roberts) Ry- on. His mother was a descendant of Rev. Hugh Roberts, the first Quaker preacher in Philadelphia. His grand- father, William, was a native of Wy- oming, Pa., and his great-grand-father came from Connecticut to Wyoming a short time previous to the massacre by the Indians of that place. A fam- ily bible, that his father purchased about the time of his marriage, while, on a rafting expedition and carried home on foot, a distance of 100 miles, may be seen at his home.

In the spring of 1883, D. C. Williams started a nursery of five acres and an orchard of 200 apple trees on this farm. Many of the apple trees have been bearing during the last ten years. The varieties that have done best are the Duchess (summer), Wealthy (fall), Pewaukee's, Bailey's and Talman's Sweets (winter), Martha and Whitney No. 20 (crab). The apple crop in 1896 was about 100 bushels, and much larger crops have been gathered since that date,

Mr. Ryon has been very successful in raising stock, both hogs and cattle, and is now in very comfortable cir- cumstances. He is a fine looking man, wears a full beard, takes little interest in politics and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He has secured a good heritage for his children.

His family consists of four children :

Lizzie in 1892 married Wilbur E. Craig (p. 684) and located on the nw } sec. 30, where they occupied the first house built in Washington township, by J. L. Clark in 1870. Her family consists of two children, Hattie and Alice.

At the age of two years he came with his parents to Kendall county, Ill., where he grew to manhood. In 1861 he engaged in farming in DeKalb county, where in 1863 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Dunbar. After his mar- Andrew D., (b. 1868) in 1893 married riage he sold his farm and served in Grace, daughter of William and Julia the army as a member of Co. K, Eighth Edwards. He occupies the sw } sec. Illinois Cavalry, from Oct. 4, 1864, to 19. His wife died in 1894, leaving one July 22, 1865. His regiment, under child, Grace. In 1898 he married

810

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

Mary Pooler (b. 1873) and has one son, there a harness shop, which he main- John.

tained during the next thirteen years.

Hugh L. (b. 1870) in 1898 married During this period he was industri- Alice Gertrude Moore. He occupies ous and earnest, and by close atten- the nw { sec. 19, and has two children, Bertha and Julia Etta.

tion to business built up a good trade. He was a good workman and carried a

Jay (b. 1872) in 1900 married Lizzie large and varied stock of harness and M. Aschenbrenner, and is located on other horse furnishings. His shop section 19. was the only one in the town and by

Sheldon, John Burton (b. 1867), employing skilful workmen and using druggist and optician, Havelock, is a only good materials he was enabled to native of Illinois, the son of William draw trade from long distances. In A. and Sarah A. (Loverin) Sheldon. the spring of 1902 he disposed of his After completing a course in phar- interest in the harness business and macy at the Iowa State University in became a dealer in general merchan- 1889, he became a member of the firm dise. He has carried into this new of C. D. Baker & Co., druggists, To- and wider field of business operations ledo, Iowa. In 1891 he married Myrtle the good-will he acquired during his Stauffer of Gladbrook and located at long previous residence in Havelock. Havelock, where he has since been He served as clerk of Washington proprietor of a drug store and jewelry township four years, 1893-96, and has business. There is no occupation in beena member of the Havelock Coun- which care, knowledge and experience cil five years, 1898-1902.

are more essential than in that of the In 1892 he married Matie Webster of druggist, and the establishment con- Havelock and has a family of three ducted by Mr. Sheldon is one of the daughters, Zella, Madge and Benita. most reliable in the county. He has Strong, James C. (b. 1834), a pi- oneer resident of Washington town- had many years of profitable experi- ence and carries a large stock of fresh ship and a county supervisor, 1875-83, drugs, medicines, oils, paints, school is a native of Branch county, Mich- books and stationery. He is also an igan, the son of John and Eliza optician, having completed a course (Moore) Strong, both of whom were of in optics at the college at South Bend. Scotch descent. His father died when Ind., in 1901, and carries a carefully he was four years of age, and all of selected stock of jewelry. his brothers and sisters are also dead.

He is serving his fourth year as a In 1854 he married Ellen, sister of member of the Havelock council and Morah and Jason Russell, and located sixth year as treasurer of the school on a farm. In 1858 they came to Du- funds.

buque county, Iowa, where he worked His family consists of two children, in the lead mines six years and en- Olive B. and Lawrence Burton, one gaged in farming the next five. In child having died at the age of two in 1869 he came to Pocahontas county 1895.

and made the purchase of 2,200 acres of land for himself (560 acres), Jon-

Sidwell, William Onides (b. 1867) is a native of West Virginia. In 1873 athan L. Clark, Benjamin Mather, Ephraim Smith, Lewis Foland, John, Harry, Morah and Jason Russell in he came with his parents to Marshall- town, Iowa, where two years later his mother died. Later he accompanied Washington and Sherman townships. his father to Benton and also Grundy In May, 1870, accompanied by Jon- county. In 1886 he located at Have- athan L. Clark and Jason N. Russell, lock and three years later established he began to occupy and improve his

811

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP,

farm on section 32, and the next year with marauding trappers (p. 274). built on it the second house and When the era of better times began, planted the first grove in the town- about the year 1880, he spent much ship. He improved this farm with time in the work of improving his good buildings and orchard and occu- land, and has erected the second and pied it until 1888, when he moved to third set of farm buildings. Two of Havelock and became the proprietor his farms have wells 300 feet deep, of a . lumber yard. After a few operated by windmills. Two of them years he relinquished his interest in have orchards in good bearing condi- the lumber business and has since tion, and one of them contains eight been living in comparative retirement acres. The Wealthy, Duchess and a in the enjoyment of the well earned few other varieties of apples have competency acquired during the early stood this climate well, and since 1895 and prosperous years of his long, ac- have yielded several crops of 200 tive and eminently useful life. bushels or more.

He performed a leading part at the His family consisted of five children: time the township was organized, and Alva A. (b. Mich. 1854), a teacher in served two years as one of the trustees, the early days, in 1874 married Marilda six years as the first justice, and nine Pilgrim and occupies the old home years-1877-85-as the first treasurer farm three miles southwest of Have- of the school funds. He served nine lock. He served as a township trustee years-1875-83-as a member of the in 1879, and seven years as the first board of county supervisors. He was secretary of the school board. His mayor of Havelock in 1895 and served family consists of eleven children, one three years as a member of the first having died in childhood: Etta May, town council.

James F., Elizabeth, Pearl W., Ida F.,

He is president of the Havelock Old Elmer, John, Mary, Mildred, Wilbur Settlers' association and has presided and Archibald.

at all of their annual gatherings since the second one, held in 1897. Ever since he located in Washington town- ship he has been the most prominent ter, Lucile. citizen of it. His long period of ser-

William A. (b. Mich. 1857) married Mary Pilgrim, a cousin of Marilda, lives at Alida, 111., and has one daugh-

Jason F. (b. Iowa., 1860) in 1889 vice as a member of the board of married Amy Wilson and lives on a county supervisors is suggestive of part of the old farm on section 32.

the public confidence reposed in him. Mary Ellen (b. Iowa, 1866) in 1893 He has always endeavored to do his married Rev. Joseph Herrington, a duty conscientiously, and the integrity minister of the M. E. church, lives of his motives has never been as- now at Barnum and has a family of sailed. During his long and active two children, Luella Grace and Lois career he has exerted a potent influ- Maud.

ence in the township and county, and

Myrta Luella (b. 1876), the only his memory will be cherished by his member of the family born in this fellow citizens as that of an upright, county, in 1899 married George Dick- honorable man. He is a good illustra- erson, lives at Havelock and has two tion of the adage that "Patient plod- children, James Claude and Burton ding persistently prosecuted produces Clay. permanent prosperity."

Luella postoffice, the first one in Washington township, was

During the eighteen years spent on named in her honor.

the farm he had his early experiences Thomas, Sylvester P. (b. 1852), as- with the grasshoppers (p. 258) and sistant cashier of the Bank of Have-

812 PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

lock, 1891-98, is a native of Mahaska had sought refuge in it at the time county, the son of James B. and Irene the Indians arrived. When the In- A. Thomas. In 1875 he married Ella dians came they hitched their ponies M., daughter of William and Mary and secreted themselves in the tim- Perry, and located on a farm in Mar- ber some distance from the cabin. shall county. In 1887 he located in Then one of the chiefs came to the Havelock and engaged in the mer- cabin dancing and singing to attract cantile business in partnership with the family out of it. William, about C. H. Collins. In 1891, when the ten years of age and being in the yard, Bank of Havelock was established, he was the first to see the chief approach- relinquished his interest in the store ing and called to those in the house and becoming an assistant cashier in to see the "old chief," whom he rec- the bank, continued to fill that posi- ognized, dance. This Indian had tion until 1898, when he moved to been at the Thomas home on several previous occasions to receive food and

Humboldt county and became cashier of the Bank of Rutland. In 1902 he had smoked the "pipe of peace." As located at Hunter, Oklahoma, and as- soon as the family was attracted out- sociated with Clark L. Thompson, his side the cabin the Indians rushed son-in-law, became proprietor of the from the timber and as a result of Bank of Hunter. Clark L. Thompson their first volley William was shot in became its vice-president and Fay C. the head and instantly killed. Mr. Thomas, his son, its cashier. At the Thomas received a severe wound in time of his removal from Havelock he the right arm and two of the neigh- owned several valuable town proper- bor women were also wounded. Af- ties and about 780 acres of land in that ter this onset the attention of the In- vicinity. He served five years as treasurer of Havelock.

dians was occupied for a short time in getting the horses from the stable.

His family consisted of two chil- This gave the family time to get into dren: Bertha M., a graduate of Mt. the house and barricade the door and Vernon college, became the wife of windows. Fortunately three hunters Clark L. Thompson, banker, and lives or trappers, who were well provided at Hunter, Oklahoma. Fay C., a ,with arms and ammunition, were graduate of the Capital City Commer- lodging with the family at this time, cial college, and cashier of the Bank and Mr. Thomas had three rifles, of Hunter, died at the age of twenty- though after his injury he could not four in 1903.

A SPRINGFIELD SURVIVOR.

use them. The fusilade of the hun- ters kept the Indians at bay until 11

It is of interest to note that S. P. o'clock at night when they withdrew, Thomas was a survivor of the Spirit taking the horses but leaving about Lake massacre of 1857. His father eight of their own number who had and family, consisting of wife and six been killed by the hunters.

children-Frank, Albert, Emma,

One hour later preparations were William, who was killed (p. 33), Syl- begun for the departure of the family vester and Mary, the baby-in 1855 had located at Springfield, Minn., wherethe Indians arrived with bloody intent about 4 o'clock in the after- noon of March 26, 1857, after the mas- and those that were with them to Ft. Dodge 75 miles distant. To make this journey some of the cattle that were left were hitched to a sled, the women and children were loaded on it sacre at Spirit Lake. The log cabin and the trip was begun in the dark- of Mr. Thomas was located at the ness of the night. In the haste of edge of some timber and 22 persons leaving, supplies of food were forgot-

813

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

ten and they were nearly famished this county each year of his residence from hunger when met by the relief in it until he became superintendent. expedition from Ft. Dodge. Mary, He is a man well qualified by educa- the baby, died from the exposure in- tion, experience and good character cident to the journey, about the time to perform efficiently the duties of a of their arrival at Fort Dodge.

Mr. Thomas had built the log cabin

teacher or superintendent.

Encouraged by the generosity of on his own homestead, but after this Hon. George Schee of Primgar, as terrible experience, he never returned to occupy it. He engaged for a few years in the mercantile business at Nevada and then moved to Marshall county, where he died in 1866.

superintendent of the schools of Po- cahontas county, he has accomplished one thing for which he has often been congratulated and will be long re- membered, namely, the development of an interest in libraries, that has placed an assortment of good books in He

Vance, Ulysses Samuel (b. 1868) county superintendent, was born near Indianapolis and at three years of age the rural schools of this county. moved to Benton county, Ind , where believes that when a child is taught he grew to manhood on a farm. He to read, he should be encouraged to received his education in the public read good books, and he has put forth school, Oxford Academy and Purdue an honest endeavor to place good University at La Fayette, Ind. He reading, through the public schools, began to teach school at seventeen and, with the exception of two years, county. within the reach of every child in the All the rural schools of this has been engaged in teaching or edu- county, with four exceptions, now

cational work ever since. In 1894 he have libraries of 10 to 375 volumes each, and the town schools have larg- will show that there are over 10,000 located on a farm in Washington township, this county, intending to er ones. The annual report for 1903 engage in farming, but in less than a month he was induced to become prin- volumes in the schools of this county, cipal of the Havelock schools, and instead of 1,021 volumes in 1900 when held this position from April 1, 1894 he became superintendent. Accord- to July 1, 1898. He organized the ing to the last statistics issued by the high school and graduated the first state superintendent, Pocahontas class from it in 1898. In connection county stands at the head of the list with his school work he served as edi- in reporting the largest Increase in tor of the Havelock Item from Oct. the number of library books for the

11, 1897 to July 1, 1898, and then gave public schools, and largest amount of his entire time as a moulder of public money raised for that purpose. This opinion to the paper until Oct. 1, 1899. is one of many evidences that he is In 1897, as a candidate for the office of laboring efficiently to promote the in- county superintendent, he gave his terests of our public schools. He is predecessor a close race for the nomi- held in high esteem by the educators nation and became his logical success- of the state.

or, on the basis of skill as an educator In 1892 he married Ella Maud, old- and popularity among the teachers. est daughter of Geo. W. Kyle, who In 1900 he began to perform the du- has been a resident of Washington ties of the office of county superin- township since 1893. Two of his fam- tendent and is now serving his second ily of four children are living: Emmet term. He became a leader in town- Lowell. the oldest, and Ulysses Sam- ship institutes in Indiana and was an uel, the youngest. In 1901 he moved instructor in the county institutes in to Pocahontas.

814

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

Ward, Thomas (b. 1835) is a native 1280 acres of land in Washington of Canada, the son of Calvin and township. He located on 31 and his Margaret Ward. In 1862 he married son Frank on 19. That spring they Rosanna Dorman and four years later broke 310 acres and planting it in flax located on a farm in Clinton county, secured a yield of 18 bushels to the Iowa. In 1891 he located on his pres- acre from some of it. He built that ent farm, the se } sec 28, Washington year two sets of farm buildings, sunk township, which he was the first to three wells and planted five acres occupy and improve. He has increas- with nursery stock on the farm of ed this farm to 400 acres and improv. James C. Strong on sec 32. ed it with good buildings. In 1884 he enlarged the nursery to

His family consisted of five child- 20 acres (p. 997) but Frank leaving sec. ren:

19 it was sold to John A. Ryon.

Jeremiah D. (b. Canada 1863) in 1887 His wife, Sarah M. Chapman, died married Nellie L. Hubbard and occu- at 57 June 17, 1887, and 'he died two pies the north part of sec 28. He has years later.

one daughter, Alice.

His wife was a native of Chautauqua

Catherine in 1883 married William county, N. Y. In 1847 she married Steen, owner and occupant of the se } D. B. Chapman and located at Mon- sec 16. He has been secretary of the mouth, Ill. Two years later they School board since 1897. His family moved to Arkansas. About ten years consists of seven children: Roy, later they returned to Illinois, and in Thomas, Arthur, William, Rose, Am- 1864 he died at Eau Claire, Wis., leav- ber and Ellen.

Margaret A. in 1887 married John E. Moats, lives at Boone and has one daughter, Blanche.

Sarah Jane in 1887 married Mitchell E. Hoover, an engineer, and lives at Lake City.

ing one daughter, Mary L. Chapman.

In 1869 Mrs. Chapman became the wife of D. C. Williams and located at Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he engaged in the nursery business and remained until 1881, when they came to this county.

Mary L. Chapman, who became very prominent as a teacher in this

Thomas C. (b. 1872) in 1894 married Margaret Boekenoogen, occupies the nw } sec 28 and has two children, county, in 1886 married Prof. Abbott Hazel and Clifford. C. Page, principal of the Waterloo Rose and Philip Isaac are at. home. high school. She was a graduate of the State Normal school and served

Williams, David C., nursery man, in January 1881 purchased the ne } as an instructor at several of the an- sec 31, all of sec 19 and altogether nual institutes in this county.

XXVIII.

BIOGRAPHIES.

"If you have a word of cheer, That may light the pathway drear, Of a brother pilgrim here, Tell him so. Let him know How much you appreciate What he does; and do not wait Till the hand of Fate Lays him low. For the spirit that has fied Does not need, to speed it on, Our poor praise, where it has gone."

"Granite monuments may crumble but cherished memories endure while life lasts. "

One of the chief glories of America No man is born into the world is, that it is a country in which abili- whose work is not born with him; ty and industry find their surest and there is always work and tools to work speediest reward. Fame and fortune withal, for those who will; and bless- are open to all who are willing to ed are the horny hands of toil. Our work. Neither class distinctions, lives are songs; God writes the words, social prejudices, nor differences of and we set them to music at pleasure; birth or religion prevent the man of and the song grows glad, sweet or sad, true merit from winning just reward as we choose to fashion the measure. of his labors in this favored land. The following biographical sketches The lives of great men, like great include some who have lived in one or events, occupy a prominent place in more parts of Pocahontas county, and the history of the world and they become our instructors.

"The lives of great men remind us We can make our lives sublime; And departing leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time,"

others who have come to it during recent years. The same motives that led us to make favorable mention of others prompts us to place these also in loving remembrance.

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816

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

BIOGRAPHIES. proprietor and manager of a clothing Bailey, John W .. (b. 1835; d. 1893), store, under the name of Woodhouse was a native of West Chester, Pa. In (George) & Blizzard. By his uniform 1860 he married Louisa Graham. He modesty and courtesy he has won the was a member of the 36th Wis. Inf. good-will of the people of Fonda and from Nov. 11, 1863 to Sept. 5, 1865. vicinity, and is now (1903) a member In 1874 he located at Fonda and, with of the board of education.

the exception of two years in Williams In 1892 he married Margarite But- township, continued to reside there ler, of Clarks, Neb., and has a family until his decease at 58 in 1893. He of three children, Grace, Harold and was an honored member of the Fonda Ruth.

G. A. R. post, having held nearly every office in that organization.

Burnett, William H., (b. 1834), resident of Cedar township from 1877

His family consisted of five chil- to 1888, was a native of New Bruns- dren. Nelson in 1886 married Mary

wick and a cousin of George Spragg. Wood and lives at Marathon; Ida in During his residence in Illinois he 1887 married Frank Niece and died at married Mary Vaughn and soon after- Fonda in 1894; Frank in 1896 married

ward located in Buchanan county,

Matie Turner and lives in Nebraska; Iowa. In 1877, after a short residence

Oscar in 1892 married Hattie Hender- in Greene county he bought of Mrs.

son and lives at Fonda; Myrtle in 1899 Rachel Hartwell the neset sec. 6,

married Wallace Haven, a painter, Cedar township, improved and occu-

and lives at Pocahontas.

pied it during the next eleven years,

Behrendsen, George, (b. 1843; d. when he located first at Dana, then 1898), was a native of Denmark. In in Colorado and is now in Missouri. 1869 he came to America, located in He was a first day advent and during Cook Co., Ill. where he married that his residence at Sunk Grove secured year Anna Nissen and found employ- the maintenance of occasionalservices ment as a carpenter. In 1875 he loca- there and in the Pinneo schoolhouse ted on sec. 33, Clinton township, Poca- in Dover township. hontas county, and occupied this farm His wife died during his residence until his death in 1898. His wife, in Colorado. His family consisted of Anna, died in 1878 and three of her nine children. Burpy died at 21 at four children were living at the time Sunk Grove; Ida married James Rari- of his decease, namely, Anna, Mrs. see, has two children and lives in Meta Holmgren and B. G. Behrend- Missouri; George is at Central City, sen. In 1879 he married Mrs. Henri- Colo .; Wm. H., an attorney, lives in etta Behrendsen, who with one Colorado; Letitia married Milton E. daughter, Mary G., survived him. All Burkhalter and lives at Pocahontas; of his children are still residents of Bertha married Edwin J. Southworth Clinton township. He was a man of and lives at Laurens; Alice died in rugged honesty and was held in high 1895; Lula married Wm. Haller and lives in Des Moines. The others are

esteem by all who knew him.

Blizzard, Harry A., (b. 1867), Albert and Ruth.

the

Burson, Abram, (b. 1856), Carpen- penter, Fonda, is a native of Greene Co. Pa., the son of James and Rebec- ca (Reynolds) Burson. His father's

Four of clothier, Fonda, is a native of Wilton, daughters, Letitia, Bertha, Alice and Iowa, the son of Augustus C. and Ruth, and their brother, William, Margarite (Ayres) Blizzard. At 17 he were teachers in this county and went to Clarks, Neb., and finding em- rendered very acceptable service. ployment as a clerk in a store, remain- ed there the next eight years. In 1895 he located in Fonda and became

817

BIOGRAPHIES.

family consisted of five sons, John R, for the education of his children. He David, Abram, Alexander P. and has managed the affairs on the farm James; and the three oldest, John, several years since his first removal David and Abram became residents from it and usually carries about 70 of Pocahontas county. David came head of cattle. In 1900 he formed a to Fonda in 1881, found employment a partnership with his nephew, Thos. in a hardware store and two years J. Byrne and has since been engaged later went to California where he in the stock, grain and implement still resides. Abram in 1879 married business in Pocahontas. He is a Margaret Ann Greenlee, of Greene democrat and a member of the Catho-

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 109

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846 Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058