The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 53

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 53

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In 1876, at the age of twenty two, he came to America, bought a farm at Newell, Iowa, and engaged in farm- ing. Two years later he learned the creamery business, and finally located at Manchester, where, on September 11, 1887, he married Rosetta J. daugh- ter of W. B. Ellis, a successful and prosperous farmer of that place. He has been a resident of Fonda and pro- prietor of the creamery since Nov. 1, 1889.

In the management of his business interests he is thoroughly systematic and methodical. He reposes implicit confidence in his workmen and gives them to understand that he expects them to do all their work in the best manner whether he is present or ab- sent. He studiously endeavors to avoid the use of borrowed capital and July 1886 this veteran track-layer was

Bott William, a resident of Fonda and vicinity since 1870, was born in Stratton, Rutland county, England, December 18, 1827, and he was the son of Robert and Charlotte (Bains) Bott. His father was the overseer of the estate of Sir Gilbert Ethcort. In 1850 he came to America and spent the first two years on a farm at Syracuse, New York. He then engaged as fore- man in laying railroad track and re- sided successively at Danville, (Cana- da), Cincinnati, TerraHaute, and Shelbyville (Ill.). At this place, April 17, 1859, he married Susan, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Sapp, and soon afterwards moved to Lichfield. In 1869, he located at Iowa Falls, and superintended the laying of the I. C. railroad from Iowa Falls to Storm Lake. As the railroad advanced his family moved to Webster City, Fort Dodge and Fonda, arriving at Fonda, in August 1870. He found a home for his family at first in the unfinished depot, and when he was compelled to leave it about the middle of October, some of his workmen built him a house in one day. He continued in the employ of the railroad company until 1879 and among others laid the track on the road from Judd to Le- high and on the Webster City and Crooked creek railway. As late as

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

called to Webster City, to superintend been a loiterer, but always an indus- the laying of ten miles of new track trious and hard worker. His long ex- for a mining company. perience as a foreman is suggestive of His farm of 240 acres on section 21, his superior tact and ability in man- Cedar township was purchased in 1870 for $5 an acre. In 1874 he moved upon it and began the work of its improve- ment. During a residence of twenty years on the farm he improved it with fine buildings, fences and groves. aging others. He has been a success- ful farmer. On the farm he was careful neither to go in debt nor sell a bushel of grain. He raised hogs and cattle successfully by providing for them suitable buildings and giving them He

In 1894 he returned to Fonda, where his constant, personal attention. his wife died, May 13, 1895, in her 74th endeavored to keep the fences and year. Their family consisted of five buildings in the very best shape and children three of whom died young. enjoyed what some are pleased to call Jennie, wife of Joseph B. Bollard, and "good luck." In addition to his farm Lizzie reside in Fonda, the latter and home he also owns a valuable brick block in the business portion of

with her father.

Wm. Bott is one of the few men, Fonda. still living, who have had the oppor- tunity of witnessing the growth of Fonda and of taking an active part in promoting the best interests of the town and community. When he came to this place in the spring of 1870, the town site was a wild prairie without roads, houses or trees. Only two small temporary buildings had been erected, one a blacksmith shop, by Peter Ibson and the other a grocery by Jacob Sil- bar. Intoxicating liquors were kept in the latter, and Mr. Bott having about seventy-five men in his employ, notified Silbar not to sell any of them to his men. Silbar, affirming his right to sell to who ever paid him for the drinks, was advised to be careful or the men would carry his outfit away. That evening a number of the men gathered about his building, lifted it and were in the act of carrying it to Cedar creek, when Mr. Bott inter- fered and prevailed upon them to de- sist from their purpose.

Wm. Bott was a member of the board of county supervisors, six years, 1880-82 and 1886-88, and served as its chairman in 1881 and '87. He has been president of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian church, of Fonda, since 1890. Although of a happy and contented state of mind he has never

Bothwell George W., M. D. now a. resident of Fairbanks, was a resident of Fonda, from November 1, 1877, until 1888. He practiced medicine and, du- ring the latter part of this period, had an interest in a drug store. His mother Mariah A. (Muir) and son George H. began to reside with him in Fonda in 1878, and on October 22nd that year, he married Ida Dodge, of Fonda. This ceremony was perform- ed by Rev. H. G. McBride, and it seems to have been the first one in Fonda, by a resident pastor of the M. E. church. His son, a very exemplary young man, after preparing himself for college in the Guthrie county high school at Panora, received a se- rious stroke on his head while at work during the summer vacation, that caused a slight derangement of his mind, and he was killed by a freight train one mile east of Fonda, September 10, 1887, in his 19th year. Both of his parents were natives of Scotland, and in 1843 came to Toronto Canada, where his father (John) died a few years later. In 1860 his

mother and family moved to Fondu- lac, Wis., and three of her sons enlist- ed in the civil war. She was one of God's noble women and passed to her

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CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

reward at Fairbanks, August 27, 1893, chandise owned by W. H. Clemens. in her 81st year.

Bradshaw Zenas Condit Rev., a res- ident of Fonda, since Oct. 1, 1892, was born near Grandville, Indiana, Sep- tember, 26, 1840. In March 1846 he came with his parents to a farm in Cedar county, Iowa, making the journey in a two horse wagon. In the fall of 1859 his father was elected sheriff, and in January 1860 moved to Tipton. At the age of nineteen, Ze- nas that year entered the Tipton Union School, and after two years Cornell College, where he remained until the close of the fall term of 1865. March 27, 1866, he married Angeline Spitler, and continued in the work of teaching most of the time until Nov- ember 1870, when he moved to Webster City and began the study of law. In 1872 he began the practice of law at Belmond, Wright county. In the fall of 1879 he was elected auditor of that county and moved to Clarion, where their first and only child, Grace De- Ette, was born March 9, 1881. He con- tinued to reside there untilOct. 1 1886. He became a member of the M. E. church in February 1858, was ordained a deacon at Spirit Lake, Sep- tember 28, 1884, and an elder at Algo- na, September 29, 1886. He was pas- tor of the M. E. church in Luverne and Goldfield, each one year; in Lake Mills, Sioux Rapids, Ashton and Fon- da, each two years. Since the close of his pastorate at Fonda, October 1, 18- 94, he has been engaged in the prac- tice of law. His aim in life has been to be a faithful citizen and a devoted christian.

January 1, 1881, he opened a branch store and restaurant at Pocahontas, in charge of W. Hodges, and leased the Fonda creamery when it was com- pleted that spring. All of these busi- ness interests at Fonda and Pocahon- tas were relinquished in the spring of 1883. He took an active part in all the arrangements connected with the incorporation of Fonda. He was ap- pointed one of the commissioners to hold the first municipal election, was the first to hold the office of town treasurer, was a member of the first town council and continued to serve in that capacity five years, 1879 to 1882.

He married Ella J. daughter of James and Jean Busby, and their family consisted of five children two of whom died in childhood, and Har- ry, in his tenth year, December 15, 1895. For several years he and his family have resided in Des Moines and Chicago, in order to secure the best educational advantages for their two daughters, Aileen and Imogene, and in July 1899 they went to Paris, that Aileen, who possesses a voice of unusual sweetness and power, and who has al- ready become a very accomplished singer, might pursue advanced studies in music for a couple of years.

As a man he is gentle and good na- tured, never in a hurry but always planning some new venture and carry- ing to a successful issue large business interests. At Rockwell City there has been accorded to him the honor- able title, "Brower the Builder," be- cause, "he has built more houses and large business blocks in that city than any other man. " He has also been

Brower George L. was a resident of the inventor of a set of building blocks Fonda from January 1, 1878, until the that are greatly coveted by the spring of 1883, when he moved to

children all over the land. He is a Rockwell City, where he established man well equipped for business, has the Security bank. At the time he the faculty of developing large results located in Fonda, he opened a general from small beginnings, knows how to store and, one month later, purchas- make a profitable use of every thing ed the entire stock of general mer- that comes into his possession and

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

seems to be uniformly successful in ted than in the patient, beautiful life all his enterprises.

of Jean Busby. It can be truly said

Busby(Plunkett)Jean Mrs. who died of her, that her children arise up and at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. call her blessed.

Peter Kiene, in Dubuque, May. 1, 18- Busby William J. came to Fonda, in 98, was a pioneer resident of Fonda, the spring of 1871 and first engaged in and a beautiful monument in this the mercantile business in partner- cemetery marks her last earthly rest- ship with his brother Ebenezer. He ing place. She was a native of Scot- entered, as a homestead, the n} ne } land, and after her marriage to James section 8, Williams township, but Busby, came to America and located sold his interest in it to C. D. Lucas. first in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., After the death of his brother in 1873, and afterwards in Chicago, where he he bought a farm of 280 acres on the died, July 6, 1855, at the age of 55 east half of section 34, Cedar township, years. That fall, with a family of on which he has continued to reside seven children, she moved to Dubu- since 1875. He was the first to occu- que, remained there until the spring py this farm and has made all the im- provements upon it.

of 1872, when, accompanied by four children, she moved to Fonda. Her He usually keeps a flock of sheep and in the fall of 1899, received three head from the herd at Ontario, Can., that was accorded the highest award at the World's Fair in 1893. They are of the Lincolnshire breed and one of two sons, William J. and Ebenezer, had preceded her and they had erect- ed, as a home for herself and family, the house now owned and occupied by Geo. H. Ellis, on the northeast cor- ner of block ten. Ebenezer, on his ar- them, weighing 276 pounds, yielded a . rival in the fall of 1870, engaged in clip of twenty pounds in 1900. It is the mercantile business in which he believed that these are the finest was joined by his brother William J. sheep in Pocahontas county.

in the spring of 1871, and this part- In 1876 and 1894-98 he kept a meat nership continued until the acciden- market in Fonda. On Nov. 1, 1877, in tal death of the former August 23, partnership with Edward Price, as 1873. After the settlement of her the firm of Price & Busby, he opened children in homes of their own, Jean a general store at Pomeroy, known as resided most of the time with her the "Cheap Corner." These business daughter Mrs. Geo. L. Brower. Her enterprises were carried on in connec- family consisted of Elizabeth J. mar- tion with the work on the farm. By

ried to George Butterfield, Plumas Co. his uniform courtesy and honesty he Cal .; Matilda, married to C. D. Lucas, won the favor of the public and se- Cherokee, Robert A. married to Eliza- cured the patronage of the best peo- beth Borland who survives him at ple. He has taken a considerable Dubuque; Mary A. married to Prof. interest in the progress and develop- C. Bayless, Dubuque; William J. mar- ment of Fonda. At the first munici- pal election in 1879 he was chosen a ried to Louisa A. Price, Fonda; Car- rie A. married to Peter Kiene, Dubu- member of the first town council .. He que; Ebenezer M. who was the first one interred in the Fonda cemetery; Ella J. married to George L. Brower,

was a member of the township school board from 1881 to 1884, and a trustee 1881-96. His brother, Ebenezer, was Rockwell City; and Rebecca who re- treasurer of the township school fund sides with her sister, Mary A. at Du- in 1873, until the time of his death. buque. The true nobility of mother- , May 20, 1874, he married Louisa A., hood has seldem been better illustra- daughter of Edward and Elizabeth

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CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

Price. Their family has consisted of plies were obtained from Carroll, Jef- ten children, namely: Robert A., ferson and Fort Dodge. In the spring who graduated at the Bayless Busi- of 1869 Marquis Chase made a trip to ness College, Dubuque, in 1897, and Fort Dodge for a load of supplies, and has since been in the employ of the while there was overtaken by a heavy I. C. R. R. Co. at Fort Dodge; Theo- rain. The wagon was drawn by four philus Price, who is in the employ of yoke of oxen, and on his return, in the same company on the Omaha divi- the effort to cross the head of Purga- tory slough a short distance northeast of the place where Pomeroy is now lo- cated, the front yoke of oxen mired in the mud and the others, moving on

sion; Edith May, who graduated from the Fonda High School in 1897 and has since been engaged in teaching; George E., Elizabeth Jean, a Fonda High School graduate in 1900; Carrie them, the entire eight head of cattle Mann, Willeben.E., who died in child- were lost by drowning. The youthful hood; Lourena L., Harrison W., and driver, then only eighteen years of Charlotte.

age, was compelled to stay over night

Chase Elijah, his wife Elizabeth with the load and the next day walked and five children, Marquis, Alfretta, home, a distance of eighteen miles, to Converse, Frederick and Thomas, the obtain a larger number of oxen and last about two and the first about assistance to extricate the wagon with seventeen years of age, located on Sec. its load. 6, Cedar township Aug. 9, 1868. They

Elijah and his family in 1878 moved came from Buchanan county with an to Buena Vista county, but returned outfit that consisted of four loaded in 1881. He died in 1895 and his wife, wagons drawn by fourteen yoke of Jan. 15, 1898, the latter at the home oxen, and ten head of cattle. They

of her son William, near Wadena, were accompanied from the same Minnesota. His family consisted of place by Geo. Spragg, a brother of ten children, namely: Marquis, in Mrs. Chase, whose outfit consisted of Dover township; Alfretta, wife of two wagons drawn by four yoke of Joseph Logan; Converse, Frederick, oxen, and four head of cattle. These Thomas, Eunice, wife of Thompson were the first settlers in Cedar town- Gilman; Frank, Joseph, Adrian and ship and they located on the same William.

Geo. Spragg married Miss Osburn, a the trip from Independence to Sunk niece of J. W. Wallace, and, after a residence of twelve years in the coun- ty, moved to Nebraska.

section. Their experience in making Grove was one that was not uncom- mon in those days, especially in wet seasons. At this date the railroad cx-

Bridges William Franklin, a resi- tended only to Iowa Falls and the dent of Fonda since 1888, was born trails west of Fort Dodge extended near Brighton, Canada, August 14, only to the settlements along Liz- 1847. Heis a son of Rev. John (d.1883)

ard creek. The sloughs were full of and Sarah (Hazlewood, d. 1879) water and so soft that frequently the Bridges both of whom were natives mud would be seen shoving in front of Buckinghamshire, near London of the wagon. All of the oxen, eight- England, where they married and een yoke, were sometimes required to lived until 1826, when, with a family draw a single wagon across a bad of four children, they came to Canada, slough and, in such cases, a half day making the trip across the ocean in would be consumed in crossing it. forty-four days. His father spent for- During the first two years of their ty years in the ministry of the Bap- residence at Sunk Grove all their sup- tist church and, while visiting his

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

son on the farm, held services at the years, 1890-92, and has been a trustee Prairie Creek school house, and at of the Presbyterian church since 1895. other places in the vicinity in Sac and His family consists of two sons; Calhoun counties. In 1852 the family William Henry, a graduate of the moved to Bristol, Dane county, Wis., Iowa State Normal, at Cedar Falls, in a settlement on the frontier that af- 1899, and principal of the public forded very few facilities for an edu- schools at Bagley; and John Clinton, cation. Here William F. grew to who graduated at the State Normal manhood and, on March 7, 1871, mar- in 1900.

ried Elvira M. Wood, of York, Wis. Brown Elisha C., resident of Fonda In 1872, by purchasing the right of and vicinity from 1875 to 1888, on Sep- another, who had held it four years, tember 27, 1864 entered the st sed sec- for $1000, and making a new entry he tion 34, Des Moines township, as a secured a homestead of eighty acres homestead, and occupied it until his on the nw ¿ section 6 Williams town- removal to Fonda. He served one ship, four miles south west of Fonda, term as county recorder, 1867-68, hav- and located on it. A little later he ing been elected without opposition. made additional purchases on the He was a morinon, or latter day same section that increased his farm saint, and frequently held religious to 240 acres. The improvements put services in the community where on this farm were for many years the he resided. In 1878, assisted by

finest in all that section. The large a man called Lambert he held a series bank barn built in 1885 at a cost of of special services at (old) Rolfe, Poca- $1500, was lifted from its foundation hontas and Fonda. During his last and badly wrecked by the great hail year at Fonda, he was janitor of the storm of May 27, 1899. From 1891 to public school.

'93 he owned the Central House and,

Brown Orlando (b. June 8, 1821) is from 1893 to '95, was engaged in the one of the earliest settlers in this sec- implement business at Fonda. About tion, having located on a homestead this date he purchased another farm of eighty acres on the n ¿ se } section of 110 acres in Dallas county. He 8, Williams township, in 1869. He also owns one vacant lot and two good came from the farm to Fonda in 1888. residences in Fonda.

He is a native of Washington Co, N.

Commencing with a capital of $300, Y., and his parents were Nathan and which he possessed at the time he lo- Laura (Babcock) Brown. In 1840 he cated on the homestead, his accumula- located at Prairieville, now Wauke- tions indicate he has been a success.

sha, Wis., where on August 24, 1845, ful farmer and that farming is, profit- he married Rcana Bacon (b. June 15 able. During all the years that he 1829) and they continued to reside there until 1853, when they moved to

lived on the farm he kept all the hogs and cattle the farm would support Fondulac; fifteen years later, or in and did not haul over 200 bushels of 1868, they moved to Alden, Iowa, and grain to town. When the grasshop- the next year to the homestead on pers robbed him of his crops during the frontier. On the occasion of the the seventies, he did not become dis- 50th anniversary of their wedding, couraged but practiced a closer econo- August 24, 1895, he and his faithful my and sought other means of income. wife were pleasantly surprised by the In Williams township he was a school appropriateness and completeness director four years and treasurer of of the arrangements made at the the school fund, seven. He wasa mem- home of their daughter, Mrs. G. R. ber of the Fonds school board three Reniff, for the celebration of that

John C. WM. F. BRIDGES AND FAMILY

William H.

MR. AND MRS. EDWARD ELLIS AND THEIR DAUGHTER MAUDE Fonda and Vicinity.

orlando and Ruana.B Brown ?

catherine Beniff 1813 -1496

Elhanan Reniff. 1824 -1898.

Ella B. and Sarritt R. Reniff.

MR, AND MRS. GARRITT R. RENIFF AND THEIR PARENTS Fonda and Vicinity.

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CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

event, and they received the congrat- 1887-89. He continued to reside on ulations of many of their former the farm until 1894, when he moved neighbors and friends. During all to Fonda in order to secure better the years of their pioneer life they facilities for the education of his have been highly respected for their family, but has continued to give his useful and beautiful lives.

personal attention to the care of the

Their family has consisted of seven stock on that portion of the farm that children: Lyman W. in 1871 married is now devoted to the feeding of Charlotte Carman and now resides cattle. at Camp Douglass, Wis. Nathan Lo- The success achieved on the farm renzo, in December 1871, married Em- by Matthew Byrne is very suggestive ma Norton, who with four children, and encouraging. He came to the survives him in South Dakota. The homestead empty handed, never re- third died in childhood. James Ed- ceived a dollar from the old country, win, July 30, 1879, married Hattie experienced all the hardships of pio- Young, of Wis. and in 1883 they locat- neer life during the 70's but, possess- ed in Fonda, where he has since been ing a genius for hard work, like the engaged as a carpenter; their family instinct of the quiet beaver, he has consists of three children, Alta who given a splendid practical answer to graduated from the Fonda high the question, "Does the farm pay?" school in 1899, Orley and Valma. Al- His policy has been to raise and feed phonso O. a carpet weaver in Fonda, all the stock, especially cattle, for in 1896 married Mrs. Matie Hinman which he had pasturage in the sum- and they have one child, George Gar- mer and protection in winter, and to rett, she two by her former husband. invest the profits in more land. This Addison E., a teacher, Grant City, on is exhibited in the record of his pur- September 27, 1888, married Emma chases which were as follows: the Everhart and they have two children, homestead of 80 acres in 1870; 80 acres Allie E. and Ethel May. Ella, the more in '78; 40 acres in '80; 80 acres in youngest, December 22, 1891, became '88; 80 acres in '89; 80 acres in '90; 160 the wife of Garrett R. Reniff, Fonda. acres in '91; and the home in Fonda in

Byrne Matthew (b. 1847), resident of 1894. His sales of stock in 1899 Fonda. is a native of Roscommon Co., amounted to $16,000 and he has now Ireland, and in May 1867 came to 170 head of fine cattle fattening in his Baltimore, Md., where, in Dec. 1868 he married Mary Lynch, of Dubuque. They continued to reside there until

large pasture of 240 acres, 160 of which is hog-tight. The old adage "pa- tience and perseverance will per- Feb. 15, 1870, when he entered and form great wonders," has its fulfill- began to occupy as a homestead the ment in these facts.

His first wife died July 28, 1889,

wł nw Sec. 4, Cedar township. He received the patent for the land May leaving a family of ten children. 15, 1876 and, improving it with good James, in 1899, married Mary Carey buildings and groves, has purchased, and resides in Omaha; Katie gradu- from time to time, additional tracts ated at the Iowa Business College, Des so that he is now the owner of 600 Moines in 1898 and has since lived in acres in that vicinity. He is recog- that city; William died in 1898 at the age of 23 years; the others are Thomas, Alice, Mary, Elizabeth, a teacher, nized as one of the leading and most successful raisers of fat cattle in Ced- ar township. He has been a trustee Parnell, Maggie and Matthias. On of the township, and served as treas- May 3, 1894 he married Mary, daughter urer of the school fund three years, of William and Margaret Lynch, no

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

relative of his first wife, and their cil during the two years 1888-89, a family consists of two children, Em- member of the city school board seven met and Leroy, the latter born Jan. 1, years, 1885-91 and secretary of it dur- 1900.

ing 1891.

Carpenter John Daniel, senior mem- His family consists of three child- ber of the firm of Carpenter & Son, ren: Maude, June 6, 1894 became the Fonda, was born May 10, 1852, at wife of William Finnicum, who, since Goshen, Ind. Here he received his 1884 has been a conductor on the rail- education and grew to manhood, In road from Fonda to Des Moines; they 1864 he located at Panora, Iowa, now reside at Des Moines and have where he found employment as a tin- two children, Ross and Ruth. Roy, a ner. October 15, 1873, he married Fonda graduate in 1896, on Jan. 4,1900 Minnie, a daughter of William and married Mae Flint, of Fairfield, Neb., Maria Townsend, of that place, and and at the same date became a part- they continued to reside there until ner in the general store of his father. 1883, when the firm of which he was Florence, the youngest, graduated at a member, Docksteader & Carpenter, Fonda, with the class of 1897.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 53

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