The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 110

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

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Co , Pa , and in 1882 located at Fonda lic church.

where he found employment as a car- penter and builder. years, 1896-1900, he was a partner with Elijah H. Anderson in a drug store. During recent years he has been en- gaged in the sale of real estate. He has served several terms as a member of the Fonda school board and town council.

His family consists of five children.

His family consists of five children,

During four Michael, Catherine, Anna Ellen, Mar- garet and Mary Elizabeth. William, the oldest, died from an accidental gunshot wound in 1896.

Mary Byrne, his widowed mother, came to America in 1880 and has been a resident of this county since that date. She has dwelt most of the time with her three sons, Thomas

Albert G., a graduate of Fonda and of in Grant, Matthew in Cedar, and Wil- the pharmaceutic department of the liam. Peter Byrne, who was a resi- Iowa State University, in 1902 mar- dent of Grant township 20 years and ried Mae Fitch and is now engaged in moved to Minnesota in 1902, was also the drug business at Pierce, Nebraska; her son. He married Ann, sister of James is a bank clerk; Frank, Rebec- Jeremiah O. Sullivan, and raised a large family. Her other son, Michael, ca and Madge are at home.

Burson, John R., a carpenter, in lives in England.

1882 located at Fonda where in 1884

Carleton, Samuel M., (b. 1825; d. he married Anna, daughter of Robert 1895), farmer, Cedar, was a native of Leslie, of Cedar township. In 1887 he Salem, N. H., where in 1846 he mar- moved to Los Angeles, Cal., but is ried Lydia R. Sargent. He found em- now in Pennsylvania. He has two ployment in the cotton mills at Sal- children, Nellie and Ruth.

mon Falls, N. H., and remained

Byrne, Wm. Michael, (b. 1858), is a there 35 years, serving as an overseer native of County Roscommon, Ireland, during the last ten years. In 1879 he the son of William and Mary (Kelley) came to Pocahontas county and loca- Byrne. He was raised on a farm In ted on a farm southwest of Fonda, 1878 he married Catharine Lynch and, which he improved and occupied until coming to America, worked two 1891 when he moved to Fonda. He months on a railroad in N. J., and died at 70 in 1895 and his wife at 78, then located in Cedar township, Poca- Jan. 1, 1902.

hontas county. In 1880 he bougut a His family consisted of three chil- farm of 80 acres on sec. 14, Dover dren two of whom died in childhood. township, which he was the first to James S., the oldest, in 1874 married occupy and improve. He increased Elva A. Mitchell and located at Sal- this farm to 240 acres, improved it mon Falls. Five years later he and with' good buildings, grove and or- family came with his parents to Cedar chard and occupied it until 1896, when township. He died at 28 in 1891, one he built a house and moved to Fonda month after the death of his wife.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

He left one daughter, Rena, a Fonda all suppers served by the society. graduate in 1894. In 1896 she married Vernon W. Harris, a clerk, and in 1902 located at Anthon, Iowa.

Challand, George, (b. 1846; d. 1900) was a native of Canton, England, and at four came with his parents to Shabbona Grove, Ill., where he grew to manhood and in 1871 married Julia Alice, daughter of Montolbert Green- field. In 1872 he located near Clare, Iowa, and, a few years . afterwards near Rolfe, where his wife died at 50 in February 1900. He died in Decem- resident alternately ber following.

Their family consisted of children, Mrs. Wealthy Smith, of Minneapolis, Terry at Rolfe, Mrs. May (Frank) Neal, formerly of Poca- hontas (Des Moines), Clarence, Maud, Claude and Martin.

Clark, Mrs. Sarah A., (b. 1822), Fonda, is a native of Washington Co., Pa., the daughter of John and Mar- garet Williams. In 1843 she became the wife of John W. Clark and located in the vicinity of Cincinnati, O. In 1853 they moved to Stark Co., Ill., and in 1875 to Warren Co., where he died a few years afterwards. In 1889 Mrs. Clark became a resident of Fonda, where her daughter, Mrs. Emmet Kay had previously located. Dec. 14, 1900, at the end of ten years' service as president of the Ladies' Aid Society of the M. E. church, she was very pleasantly surprised at a meeting held in her honor, by the presentation and adoption of the following resolutions:

"In view of the fact that sister Sarahı A. Clark, who has reached the advanced age of 79 years, has for more than ten years performed efficiently the arduous duties of president of this society, and has been a faithful member and an untiring worker in the M. E. church for more than half a century, therefore,

Attests: MRS. DR. LEESE, pres. MRS. A. BURSON, sec.

Her family consisted oi five daugh- ters. Euphemia E. married Albert Hillard and died soon afterwards. Mary B. married Emmet Kay, (see Kay) Alice married James B. Knotts and lives in Lucas county. Emma died in her youth, and Georgia A., an assistant in The Times office many years, resides with her mother.

Chapman, Joseph, (b. Nov. 3, 1808) Williams township and Fonda during recent

eight years, is a native of Fairfield Co. Conn., the son of Phineas and Ruth Tread well Chapman. His father who was the seventh son of Phineas Chap- man, Sr., was born, lived and died, at the age of 57 in 1821, in the same

house. During the period of the war of 1812 he served as the sheriff of Fairfield county. His six older broth- ers, during the Revolutionary War, were in the U. S. army, where John became a captain and Albert and James were promoted to minor posi- tions. Joseph was fourteen at the time of his father's decease. He had three brothers, John, Hiram and Charles, and seven sisters, Laura, Betsey, Ann, Eliza, Matsey, Lydia, and Mary, and all of them died many years ago near the old home in Con- necticut, except Hiram, who died in Oregon.

At sixteen Joseph was put out by his mother as an apprentice and worked during the next five years at the hatter's trade in Wilton. The next year was spent in a jewelry store at Albany, N. Y., where he learned to clean and repair the clocks in use at that time. As a book agent and jeweler he spent the next two years canvassing Culpepper, Madison and several other counties in Virginia. During this period he furnished many an evening's entertainment playing

Resolved, that she be made an honorary member of our aid society, have a voice and vote therein, be free from the payment of all dues and ro- melyen complimentary invitation to on the flageolet, singing songs and

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BIOGRAPHIES.

telling witty stories. In 1835, in of the props show it. In like manner company with his brothers, Hiram the use of profanity to support a and Charles, all single, he came to man's veracity always shows where Peoria county, Ill., where in 1837, he he is weak, Don't swear, if you ex- married Eliza Ann Sher wood and, lo- pect others to believe you." He was cating on a farm of 80 acres, improv- very entertaining, possessed con- ed, enlarged and occupied it until siderable native wit, and often sur- 1872, when his wife died and he went prised his listeners by beautiful and

to the home of his daughter, Robah Oakes. In 1887, he became a resident of Fonda and vicinity in the home of his son, Baxter S. Chapman.

He united with the Presbyterian church in his youth, served fifty years as a teacher in the Sunday school and nearly as long as a deacon in the church. Such was his reverence for the Sabbath and love for the sanctu- ary, that when he had passed four score and ten he made personal sacri- fices to attend church.

He passed his 94th birthday Nov. 3, 1902, and has been the oldest resident in the vicinity of Fonda since 1900. He never used tobacco or liquor in any form and attributed his steady nerves and good health in old age to that fact. "I cannot tell," said he on one occasion, "what effect the use of tobacco or liquor might have had on me, for I never used either; but I

have noticed the effect they have had a supply of the Shorter Catechism for

on others, and have profited by their experience. I have taken some light His family consisted of four child- ren: from the lamp of their experience without diminishing their light in Mary married John Sullivan and died in 1882, leaving, three children, Kittie Kinne, Bessie Orton and Hugh Sullivan. the least." He had an effective method of administering a gentle re- proof to those who were so irreverent as to use profane language in his presence. After reminding them that Baxter S., married Hattie Clemens, a pioneer and early teacher of Will- iams township. He is the owner and occupant of a farm of 240 acres south of Fonda. He has served several years as justice and has two sons, Fred C., a teacher and fruit grower, and Charles. good people have no need to use pro- fane language, and that its use always makes the impression that there is something wrong with the user, he would illustrate the matter by a refer- ence to the use of props. "When any one passes a house that is supported by props, it is not necessary that Robah married Wm. M. Oakes, a another should tell him there was farmer, and lives at French Grove, something wrong about it, for the use Ill.,

apt quotations, such as:

"From others fields we gather flowers, The thoughts are theirs, the thread is ours. "

In his 93rd year he repeated several stanzas of the ode on Heaven. "The faithless world in ruin lies, Enwrapt in fancy's vision, Allured by sighs, beguiled by shows And empty dreams; nor scarcely knows

There is a brighter heaven.

"A lonely stranger here I roam, From place to place am driven,-

My friends are gone and I'm in gloom-

This world is all a dreary tomb, I have no home but heaven."

He was accustomed to looking on the bright side of things, endeavored to make others happy, often referred to the secret of a happy life and kept free distribution.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

Joel died in his youth. garet Cashman Coleman. He is a Coffin, Marcellus W. (b. 1842; d. native of Derby, Conn., where he re- 1902), editor of the Rolfe Reporter, was ceived his early education. In 1868, a native of Glens Falls, N. Y. His he came with his parents to Allama- father died when he was twelve, and kee county, Iowa, and settling on a in 1863. he married Enma Warren (b. farm, attended the high school at 1843). In 1886, he moved to Maquo- Lansing, spent two years at St. John's keta, Iowa, and three years later to College at Prairie du Chien, Wis., and Grundy county. In December 1882, in 1877, completed a commercial when the town of Rolfe was new, he course in the Bryant & Stratton Com- located there and was proprietor of mercial College, Davenport, Iowa. the Rolfe House ten years. As an He taught school during the next editor of the Rolfe Reporter, the first seven years. In 1885, he married paper established at Rolfe, he was Emma Spelling and located at New associated two years with E. A. Duke Alb n, where he served as postmaster and the next four years with Percy O. three years, 1887 to 1890. During the Coffin, his eldest son, when (1890) the next three years he was engaged in paper was discontinued. He wore a the sale of general merchandise at long black beard, possessed consider- West Bend. In 1892, he came to Fon- able business capacity, and had the da, where he has since been engaged spirit of a leader. He served three in the insurance and loan busi-

years as a member of the first town ness. council of Rolfe 1884-'86, as the first president of the school board and was a justice at the time of his death, Sept. 2, 1902.

His family consisted of three sons. Percy O., who was associated with him in the publication of the Report- er, 1886-90, lived five years in Omaha, where he graduated as an electrician. In 1901, he returned to Rolfe.

He served three years as a township clerk in Allamakee county, two years as a member of the council at West Bend, and seven years as city recorder at Fonda. He has been sec- retary of the Northern Telephone Co. since its organization in 1899.

His family consists of two children, Hazel Leone and Helen.

Deacon, John (b. 1846), owner and In occupant of a farm of 160 acres on 1886, he married Lena Fisk and has sec. 5, Cedar township, is a native of one son, Ray. Edwin G., a farmer, Ireland. In 1865, he came alone to married Flora Butts and lives at America, lived two years in Boston Burwell, Neb. Clarence W. in 1891, and then located in Jackson county, married Lulu Belle Roberts and has Iowa, where in 1873, he married Mar- three children, Harry, Iona and garet Mahoney. In 1883, he located

Wayne.

in this county on his present farm, which he has improved with good

Lem C. Coffin, a brother of Marcel- lus, was for many years the owner and buildings, groves and orchard. His

occupant of a farm near Rolfe. Sept. family consists of six children, Mary 5, 1864, he enlisted as a member of A., Robert, Alla, Julia, Margaret and Co. D. 175th N. Y. and served until Henry. the close of the Civil War. He is now

Dean, Thomas L. (1841), a pioneer a resident of Lyons, Neb., where he of Lincoln, is a mative of Ohio. In has been engaged in the hardware 1870, with wife and three children he business.

located on a soldier's homestead of

Coleman, Michael G., (b. 1854) 160 acres, the se sec. 34, Lincoln Fonda, is a brother of James H. township, this county. He assisted (p. 576), the son of William and Mar- in the organization of that township,

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BIOGRAPHIES.

was elected the first justice, and dealer, Rolfe, and has one child, served twenty-eight consecutive Elzabeth Lucile. Annie in 1901, years, 1873 to 1900. He served as pres- married Wardale O. McKilvey, ident of the school board two years, druggist, Rolfe.

clerk four years, and treasurer six

Detwiller, John (1887 -- 1893) victim years. He also served as sheriff of of the tornado of July 6, 1893, was a Pocahontas county two years, 1878-79. native of Canada, where in 1897, he Aug. 8, 1862, he enlisted as a member married Helen Stewart. In 1889, they of Co. D. 98th Ohio Infantry and located in the vicinity of Fonda and served until the close of the war. He at the time of his death were living has made a splendid record as a sol- on the south part of the William Mar- dier and citizen. He improved his shall farm. The house they occupied farm with good buildings and occupied was well protected on the west and it until 1900, when he moved to Poca- north by a dense maple and walnut hontas.

grove. They were not apprehensive of danger and were seated at the sup- per table. When the unusual roar of the whirling storm was heard, they hastily rose from the table and, open-

His family consisted of ten children of whom the first born died in child- hood. Ellen M., a native of Mercer county, Ill., in 1884, married William D. Pattee and died at 33, in 1899, at ing the door, perceived that their Pocahontas, leaving four children, barnand outbuildings had been car- Mary, George, Minnie and Nellie. ried away. The next moment the Mary E. in 1889, married George E. porch was wrested from its fasten- Hawk, a farmer, lives in Minnesota, ings. Stepping quickly into the room and has two children, Arthur and it seemed to Mrs. Detwiller, who sur- Frank. Minnie O. in 1887, married vived, to be unroofed and commencing to revolve. Becoming unconscious,

Charles E. Andrews. They own and occupy a farm of 160 acres in Lincoln she knew not what occurred, until township and have four children, she was in the act of rising to her feet

Lewis. Roy, Mabel,

and Lloyd. amid prostrate tree tops about twelve Challberge, a farmer, and together house had stood. No fragments of

Martha A. in 1900, married Edward rods north of the place where the with her brother, George T., con- the shattered house were near her, tinues to live on her father's farm in but she soon beheld the prostrate form Lincoln township. James E., a car- of her husband a few feet distant, penter, lives at Palmer. Frank in and found him helpless and uncon- 1902, married Josephine Flaherty and scious from terrible wounds about the lives at Pocahontas. John, the young- head and limbs. est, lives at Pocahontas.

Dennis, Ross, painter, Rolfe, in 1872. married Juliette Garvis, daught- er of Rev. W. A. Potter, and located which the trees had been broken by a at Monticello, Wis. In 1884, he blast from the north and lay one upon came to the new town of Rolfe, Poca- another in the rows facing southward. hontas county, where his wife died in His wife sustained serious injuries, 1900, leaving a family of three daught- and in 1896, returned to the home of ers, two children having died childhood. .

As the shades of evening drew near, he breathed his last. Both had been carried north- ward over a tall maple grove, in

in her mother at Carlingford, Perth Co., Ontario. John Detwiller lived but a

Hattie May in 1894, married George few years at Fonda, but so excellent Hauck, a merchant, Rolfe. Ida in were his principles and so noble was 1895, married Joseph White, a grain his conduct that he won the esteem

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

and confidence of all who knew him. the support of his mother be added to He was survived by five brothers and the value of the personal property ac- five sisters, of whom three brothers, quired and money on interest it Alexander, William and Gavin, and makes $725.00 saved by the industri- one sister, Annie, a seamstress, were ous farm hand in five years; and that residents of Fouda a few years. during a period when every business

William G. Detwiller, in 1900, grad- interest suffered more or less from the uated from the Iowa State Normal serious financial depression, and the School, at Cedar Falls, receiving the average farm renter made nothing Master's degree. During his school worthy of mention. He is now mar- days at Cedar Falls he won many hon- ried and the happy owner and occu- ors as an athlete. In the fall of 1899 pant of a half section of land at Hay- he was appointed a captain of cadets field, Manitoba. by Major Dinwiddile and received his commission from Gov. Leslie M. Shaw in the spring of 1900. He is now principal of the Webster school, Sioux City.

Alexander Detwiller Feb. 3, 1892, E., sister of A. J. Stover, with whom began to work as a farm hand for his in 1880, he came to Pocahontas coun- uncle, Hon. James Mercer, for $200 a year and at the end of five years his balance sheet was as follows:

INCOME.

Earnings for five years $ 1,000.00

EXPENDITURES.

For support of the church and Sunday school 60.00

Sent home to his mother 175.00

Paid current expenses 140.00

Spent in travel 75.00

Personal property acquired 150.00 Money at interest 400.00

This is a very interesting and sug- gestive statement. It tells its own industry and economy. Nothing un-

Doty, Henry M. (b. 1852), owner and occupant of a farm of 80 acres on sec. 14, Marshall township, is a native of Michigan. Locating in Marshall county, Iowa, he married there Mary

ty. He was the first to occupy and improve his present farm, and has met with good success as a farmer. He participated in the organization of Marshall township, was one of its first trustees and served nine years in that capacity. His brother, Emery M. Doty, (b. Mich. 1849), who located near him on the same section, was treasurer of the school funds four years, 1885-88.

His family consists of two children, Laura and Torah.

Dower, Tomas J. Dr. (b. 1866) is a story of success achieved by discretion, native of Williamsburg, Iowa, the son of John and Elizabeth (Ward) Dower. usual was undertaken when he com- He acquired his special education by menced to work for his uncle, but the taking the scientific course at Val- results greatly exceed those of the paraiso, Ind., the medical course at average young man whoat twenty-one begins life with no other capital than his brain and brawn.

the Iowa State University, where he graduated in 1896, and two special medical courses in Chicago, one be-

He discovered himself worthy the fore and one after his graduation at confidence and esteem of his employer Iowa City. He located first at which was the secret of hi's long con- Livermore and in February 1899, at tinuance in the same position. Time Fonda, where he has been favored was cheerfully given him to visit the with a lucrative practice. In 1898, he World's Fair in 1893, and later a became a member of the Iowa State month was given to visit his old and also of the American Medical home. If the amount sent home for Associations. In 1900, he married

823

BIOGRAPHIES.

Mamie 1. Lyons, of Webster City, and member of the firm of Fitch Bros., owns a pretty cottage home.

Eberle, Thomas, one of the recent

Fonda, 1893 to 1903, is a native of Clayton county, Iowa, where in 1891, settlers of Marshall township, located he married Elizabeth Broker and en- on sec. 20 in 1899. He is meeting with good success on the farm and his

gaged in farming until 1893, when he came to Fonda and engaged in the capacity for managing the public af- hardware business. His family con- fairs of the township has been recog- sists of three children, Eva, Leon and nized by making him president of the Elnor. school board in 1902.

Flint, George W .. resident of Will-

His family consisted of nine child- iams township, 1868 to 1878, was the ren. John in 1900, married Helen son of Silas Flint, who came with him Holder and lives in Grant township. from

Benton to Calhoun county. Marie in 1899, married Clement Guth- After a few years his parents return- rie and lives in Dover. Frank married ed to Benton county and died there, Maggie Holder and lives in Marshall. his father at 84 and his mother at 82. Charles, Clara, Thomas, Annie, a George W. was a highly respected teacher, Louisa and Edward are at citizen and served as treasurer of home.

Fitch, Samuel (b, 1822; d. Fonda, residence in it. In 1878, he moved to 1903), was a native of Wilburton, Eng- Clay county, Neb., and died there in 1897.

land. In 1851, he married Elizabeth Hazel, and coming to America located in New York. In 1856, he came to Clayton county, Iowa, and located on

He married Sarah J., daughter of Joseph L. Flint, and his family con- sisted of six children, two of whom a farm. In 1893, he located in Fonda, died during his residence in Williams where his wife died at 69 in 1895, and township.

Ines married Henry E. he at 80 in 1903. His family consisted Spencer, a carpenter, and died in 1898, of three children, Charles C. (b. N. leaving two children. Lulu M. mar- Y. 1851) lives at Mt. Vernon, S. D.

ried Nathan C. Barker .and lives at

George H. (b. Iowa, 1858) in 1878, Geneva, Neb. Lenora M. in 1900, married Amelia Biggle and engaged married Roy T. Carpenter, merchant, In Fonda, and has one child, Horace.

in farming in Clayton county. 1884, he moved to Calhoun county, Georgia Grace is at home.

and in 1891 to Fonda, where two years Flint, William P., a pioneer of later he was joined by his brother, Williams township and later a resi- Fred, and they became associated in dent of Fonda, is the son of Joseph the hardware business, under the L. and Jane Curtis (Dickey) Flint. name "Fitch Bros." This partner- His parents were natives of Maine, ship was maintained until 1903, when where they married in 1842. In 1851, George and family moved to the state they came to Illinois and two years of Washington. He served several later to Johnson county, Iowa, where years as a member of the Fonda coun- his father died in 1887. His mother cil and as a steward of the M. E. and brother, Caleb, live at Barnum. church. His family consisted of four In 1875, he married Kate J. Clemens children, of whom the first born died and his family consists of three child- at Fonda. Mae, a Fonda graduate in ren, Mabel, Edith and Clarence.

1899, in 1902, married Albert G. Bur- Ann . Flint, who married Joseph son, a druggist, and lives at Pierce. Hay, who in 1868, made the first en- Neb. Grace and Esther are at home. try of the Warner homestead, and

Fred W. Fitch (b. 1865), junior Enceba Flint, who became the wife

Calhoun county two years during his

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

of Wesley Hay, were both sisters of ily consists of four children, Verdie, William Flint and early residents of May, Helen, and Webster D. Williams township.

Griffin, James (b. 1848), resident of Forbes, John (b. 1858), merchant, of Cedar, is a native of Cork county, Fonda, is a native of Dixon, Ill., the Ireland. In 1866, he came to Dubu- son of Rev. Hugh W. and Mary que county, Iowa, and worked as a (Broad well) Forbes. In 1860, he mov- bridge carpenter for the I. C. Ry. Co., ed with his parents to Iowa, and has fifteen years. Here in 1872, he mar- been a resident of the state ever ried Catherine, sister of Jeremiah since, first at Tama, and later in Car- Sullivan. In 1881, he located on sec. roll, Buena Vista and Pocahontas 4 Cedar township. He has improved counties. In 1887, under the name of this farm with beautiful buildings John Forbes & Company, he engaged and increased it to 240 acres,

His family consisted of seven child-

in the sale of general merchandise at Newell. In 1895, he located at Fonda ren. and continued as a general merchant Michael in 1901, married Eliza, until 1902, when he became associated daughter of Patrick Kearns, and lives with E J. Chingren in the real estate in Fonda. where he is engaged in the business.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 110

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