USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 55
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In the spring of 1871 he ordered sev- terests in the furniture, coal and lum- eral car loads of lumber and establish- ber business the previous year. Ac- companied by some of his intimate
ed the coal and lumber yard north- west of the depot. The furniture friends, or the members of his own business was started about the same family, he has made a number of time by storing the goods in the east tours to California, Mexico, the great end of the depot, which was then lakes and other interesting localities used as a private room for the family in this country, and in 1899 visited his of the agent. The furniture business native heath in Scotland.
was continued there as long as he re- mained in charge of the station. In the spring of 1900, he began the In erection of a new residence for him- 1871 he began to invest in town lots self and family, on the north-east and was appointed the local agent for corner of block 35 and fronting on their sale by the Town Lot Co. He King and sixth streets, Fonda. This also erected a small house, 14x24 and is a four story frame building 65x55 14 feet high. This, the third house feet, with a porch 12 feet wide exten- built in Marvin, was increased by a ing half way around it and built sev- large front addition in 1881, and was eral feet above the floor with masonry the residence of the Fairburn family having a facing of pressed brick and until 1889. Soon after his arrival he Bedford stone. It will be provided
began to act as an agent for the with a complete gas plant, an electric sale of lands and the negotiation of light outfit and be heated by a com- loans, and to do the banking business bined hot water and hot air plant. for this community. The original When completed in 1901 at a cost of $20,000, it will be the finest residence bank building built in 1877, is the one story frame structure in which the in Pocahontas county. the Fonda creamery Co., has had its
As a citizen he has never taken office since its organization. In 1881 a very much interest in politics nor brick bank was built on the corner of been a candidate for political honors, First and Main streets, that in 1885 yet no one in Fonda and vicinity, was made a double two story brick has exerted a public influence so po- block and it has since been known as tent over the entire period of the his- the Pocahontas County Bank, the old- tory of Fonda as he has done. He est one in the county and having now was a member of the first town coun- a paid up capital of $100,000. In 1887 cil and was elected to that office four he was instrumental in organizing the times, '79-80 and '84; served as Mayor Fonda Town Lot Co., that effected of Fonda, four years, '82-83 and '87-88. the purchase of nearly 400 acres of He was a member of the first Fonda land around the town site, and he has school board in 1880, president of it in since served as president of that or- '81, and was the first treasurer of the ganization. Each of these new lines school funds, in 1880.
of business was undertaken as the de- He received his early education in mand for them arose in connection Scotland where among other things,
414
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
he learned the Shorter Catechism and ren, the first-born, George, having many chapters in the Bible. Asa died at Marvin in childhood. Edward result he never forgets that "Man's H. and Frank A., after graduating chief end is to glorify God and enjoy from the high schools of Des Moines. him forever." He has been a liberal spent one year in the Iowa College of contributor to all the churches in Law, Des Moines, and then took a Fonda and was president of the board a full course in the law department of trustees of the Presbyterian church of the University at Ann Arbor, Mich. from the time of its organization in In October 1899, after a very credit- 1886 until 1890, the year after his re- able examination at Des Moines, they moval to Des Moines. During his res- were both admitted to the bar. . Ed- idence in Des Moines he became one ward has found a place in the Poca- of the most liberal supporters and hontas County Bank, where he in- a trustee of the Central Presbyterian tends to utilize his legal knowledge in church there, and continued to sup- port the churches in Fonda.
the transaction of business rather than as a practitioner, and Frank has
"Be sure you are right, then go connected himself with the law firm ahead," is a maxim he never know- of Carr and Parker, Des Moines. Nel- ingly violates. His decision of char- lie, the youngest, is at home and per-
acter is in some measure the result of self training, but more largely an in-
sning her studies.
His father (b. 1823), on May 14, 1896, heritance from his Scottish ancestry. died at Cascade, Iowa, where his His father, for twenty years, was an farm was located; and his mother (b. elder in the Presbyterian church be- 1825) died at Marion, January 10, 1898. ~Garlock Ephraim (b. Dec. 25,1820), who died on his homestead, near Fon-
fore he left the old country and was a man of reverent and very positive convictions. His success in da, September 19, 1895, was the head business may be atributed to his of a family whose history has become strict one of the most prominent in Poca-
sagacity, assiduity and integrity. His word has always been hontas county. He was a native of Montgomery county, N. Y., where on October 10, 1841, he married Harriet, daughter of Folonan and Jane Doty, and lived there until 1857, when he and his family moved to DeKalb Co., Ill. In March 1869, accompanied by Abram O. his oldest son who was des- tined to hold high official position in this county, he came to Cedar town- ship, where both entered adjoining as good as his bond, and his "yes" or "no" indicates that the matter under discussion has been decided. He has attended strictly to his own business and managed it with all possible ener- gy that he might make it a success. He has never taken that interest in politics, that might naturally be ex- pected of one in his station, but when called upon to render local public ser- vice he has done so with marked ef- homesteads on the set section 24, and ficiency. By reason of his personal erected two houses near each other Two knowledge of the law and its imparti- for their respective families. al enforcement he proved himself one months later William E. and family of the best mayors that Fonda has and George arrived in wagons, bring- ever had.
ing their own and their father's cat-
On December 5, 1871 he married Su- tle with them, the former securing as san Olive, daughter of Judge Wm. a homestead the n } ne } of the same Wilson and Olive (Dean b. 1817, d. '45) section. The other members of the Hamilton (b. 1810 d. 1865) of Dubuque. family arrived about the same time Their family consists of three child- by rail to Webster City.
A. O. GARLOCK, DES MOINES. COUNTY AUDITOR, 1874-81. STATE SENATOR, 1888-89.
MRS. A. O. GARLOCK.
MRS. WM. D. MCEWEN.
REV. GEO. H. DUTY. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AOLFE, 1887-90.
REV. GEO. H. AINSLIE. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ROLFE, 1883-97.
415
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
Ephraim Garlock was a carpenter dustrious and ambitious youth may se- as well as a farmer and assisted many cure recognition and rise to positions of his neighbors in the erection of of honor, has its practical illustration their pioneer houses. His own home in the record of the subject of this is commonly regarded as the oldest sketch, who did not hesitate to locate landmark in Cedar township and it on the frontier of the "wild and wooly west," and work out his own destiny with those who might be as- sociated with him in the effort to con- vert a vast, wild prairie into green certainly is in all that part of it that is east of Sunk Grove, in which he al- so turned the first furrow. In the early days many a weary traveler was
made welcome at his home and none pastures, fruitful fields and beautiful seeking food and shelter were ever homes. turned away until they were first fed and rested.
Those of his family that survived him are Abram O. and William E. Des Moines; Joseph W. at Independence; Levi, Walnut Grove, Minn .; George at Marathon; Ida, a teacher, and Anna
Abram O. Garlock was born Decem- ber, 4, 1842 at Coopertown, N. Y., and in 1857 moved with his parents to De- Kalb Co., Ill. He received his educa- in the public school, learned carpen- try by working with his father and acquired a practical knowledge of
who still live with their mother on book-keeping and commercial law the old homestead. Abrain, William by clerking in a store. On December and Joseph were soldiers during the 4, 1864, he married Amanda M. daugh- civil war, the first two having enlisted ter of Charles S. and Mary Ann(Wood- as members of Co. K.42d Ill. infantry, ward) Hunt, of DeKalb Co., Ill, and 23, 1869, when he located on his own homestead, w+ se } section 24, Cedar township. A. O. being a 2d Lieut. and W. E. engaged in farming there until March sergeant at the time of their dis- charge. Levi, Feb. 27, 1872, secured the homestead of Noah Woolsey e} se} Sec. 12, 80 acres, and later married Ella Porter his grand-daughter.
His knowledge of carpentry was of He great advantage to him on the front- lived a few years at Gilmore City, is ier, for when he was not engaged on now engaged in the real estate busi- the homestead, he found profitable ness and has a family of eight child- employment as a contractor and build- ren. George married Josephine War- er. He became the pioneer school- wick and has a family of three child- house builder by the erection of more ren. It has been a source of pride that buildings of that kind than any other no member of this family was ever man in this settlement in the early addicted to the use of tobacco or days. He built the first one in Fonda, strong drink in any form.
in Marshall and Butler townships, the
Garlock William Erastus (b. 1844) first two in Dover, the first three in married Martha, daughter of Rev. R. Williams and the first four in Colfax Persons, of DeKalb Co , Ill. In the townships, and three others in the spring of 1886 he left his homestead south east part of Calhoun county, all and lived for a few years at Gilmore before the close of the year 1873.
City, and now owns a fruit farm at He took an active part in the organ- Des Moines. In Cedar township he ization of Cedar township, served as was a trustee in 1875 and president of the first secretary of the school board the school board in 1885. He has one two years, 1871-72, as township clerk son, Ephraim G., who is still at home. in 1873, and as postmaster at Pocahon- Garlock Abram Oscar. That tas one year in1877-78.
this is a country where the honest, ir-
In the fall of 1873 he was elected
416
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
auditor of Pocahontas county and per- miliarly called Birdie, and for two formed the duties of that public office years, '90-91. an assistant in the Ex- in a manner so efficient and accep- change Bank, who, in November 1892, table to the people, that he was con-
married S. H. Kerr, and resides at tinued in it eight years,1874-1881, hav- Rolfe; Agnes O .; Cora B., who gradu- ing been twice re-elected without any opposition. During the first three and on Dec. 4, ,99, the 57th birthday years of this period he lived at old Rolfe and moved to Pocahontas at the time of the change of the county seat.
ated from Des Moines College in '99 and 35th wedding anniversary of her father, married Guy Barker, and re- sides at Macksburg; Mabel, Abie and Elwood.
He has always advocated the prin- The duties of the auditor's office were not so onerous as at present and, ciples of the republican party, and utilizing his spare moments by as a public officer, proved himself reading law, he was examined at Po- worthy the confidence of his constit- cahontas and admitted to the practice uents. His good judgment and of law by Edward R. Duffie, Judge of business tact were recognized in his the District Court, September 21, constant development of the per- 1880. He also engaged in the sale of manent school fund of the county real estate, especially, the lands of which, at the end of his last term as non-resident owners, purchasing in auditor, amounted to $30,000. He 1874 a set of abstracts from J. J. has been strictly temperate and eco- Bruce. In 1883, in partnership with nomical in his habits, and while giv- W. D. McEwen, he erected a stone ing liberal local support to the preach- building on the west side of Main ing of the gospel, has made large con- street, Pocahontas, for an office and tributions towards the erection of bank. The Pocahontas Savings Bank, all the earlier church buildings in founded at this time and place, was this county.
the second one established in this When it is remembered that he county. In 1886 they established the went forth from the parental roof at Exchange Bank of Rolfe, known since fourteen to learn early how "to pad- 1892 as the State Savings Bank, and dle his own canoe," rendered loyal in the fall of 1891, the Bank of Plover, and patriotic service as a soldier, in at Plover.
the hour of the nation's peril, and ex-
In 1888-89, as state senator he en- perienced the hardships of pioneer joyed the honor of representing this, life as a homesteader on the frontier, the 50th district in the 22d General it is perceived that he began at the Assembly of Iowa. lowest round of the ladder that leads
In 1889 he moved to Rolfe and two to success. He has been a hard work- years later to Des Moines, where he er and, possessing a clear head and still resides, except in mid-summer when he usually occupies his cottage at Point Pocahontas, at the south- west corner of Lake Okoboji.
strong hands, whatever he undertook was done, and whatever he touched prospered. His ideas have been prac- tical and his methods well suited for the accomplishment of his plans. His
He has retained his interest in the affable manner and strict integrity banks at Rolfe, Plover and Pocahon- have caused him to be held in high tas, and when the education of his children has been completed it is ex- pected that he will return to Pocahon-
esteem by all who know him, he keeps well posted in regard to the business and politics of the country and the tas county, the arena for twenty two success that has crowned his efforts years of his most successful achieve- has made him one of the leading and ments.
most influential men of northwest
His family consists of Mary E. fa- Iowa.
417
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
Fuchs (Fox) Louis, Joseph and ment as soon as it was possible. It re- Frank, accompanied by their parents, quired a few years to get a start but John and Helen (Wickel), in the during the period of their partner- spring of 1871 came, to Cedar town- ship they were recognized as the ship. Louis entered the w} seł sec. pioneer cattle feeders of Cedar town- 12, 80 acres, as a homestead on April ship. Their shipments of cattle in 22, '71 and received the patent for it the early days surpassed others in the December 29, '79. Joseph, finding vicinity not only in their aggregate that he was not needed by his broth- value but in the superiority of their er on the homestead nor by the other condition which commanded the highest market price. For a quarter of a century these men have main- tained the enviable reputation of be- ing the largest and most successful settlers of this new community, soon afterward sought and found employ- ment in the copper mines of Michigan south of Lake Superior. He remained there about six years and, sending feeders in the township. As the his earnings to his brother Louis, the years have passed they have become latter secured for him a homestead of the owners of large farms, and have 80 acres on the st nw} section 12. The proportionately enlarged their barns, entry for this homestead was made by sheds and feed lots. Each has now a his father March 10,'74, and he re- capacity for feeding 250 head of fat ceived the patent for it September 10, cattle and, during recent years, they '80; it having been first entered in have made their annual shipment 1870 by Henry Pallersels and in 1872 about the month of September. Each by Geo. F. Symmonds. After his re- of them keeps about 400 head of cat- turn in 1876 he and his brother lived tle and the sales of each in 1899 and worked together until 1880 when amounted to $18,000.
he married and began to occupy his own homestead.
Louis Fuchs acquired his farm as follows: In 1871, the homestead, 80
Their parents were natives of Ger- acres; in 1880, 80 acres; in '83, 80 acres; many where they raised a large fami- in '85, 160 acres; in '86, 80 acres; in '88 ly. In 1870, after the marriage of 160 acres; total 640 acres; all of it up- their eldest daughter, Johanna, who land. In 1899 he raised 7,000 bushels remained there and of Anna, whose of corn and bought 20,000 bushels husband, John Hoffman, died there more. His present house was built in leaving one son, Paul, now in Dubu- 1892. He was born July 23, 1839, and que, they came to America and lo- on December 21, 1873, married Mary cated in the timber districts of north- Magdalene Lieb, of Cedar township. ern Wisconsin, and the next spring on His family consists of Anna Ida, a the prairies of Pocahontas county. Franciscan sister, Dubuque; Martha They died, John in January 1881, Helen Elizabeth, (Mary Josephine died in in June 1878, and were buried in the her 17th year, in 1894), Helen Anto- Dover Catholic cemetery. nia, (Matilda died young), John
Louis Fuchs possessed $400 when he Leo, Cecilia, Agnes Angeline and came to Fonda, and after expending Agatha Alice, twins, Vincent Leo, Florence Josephine and Florian Jo- $270 for his homestead had $130 left for its improvement, and the tempor- seph, twins, and Leona. He was a ary support of his father and family. trustee of Cedar township five years, The homestead of Joseph in 1874 1878-82, and has been treasurer of the cost $400. These brothers had an am- school funds since 1890.
bition to raise fat cattle and made Joseph Fuchs acquired his farm as preparation to engage in this employ- follows: In 1874, the homestead, 80
-
418
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
acres; in 1885, 160 acres; in '87, 160 ward, Everett and Ruth; Eliza, a acres; in '92, 560 acres; total 960 acres. milliner, married to Charles Sayre, His present house was built in 1893. Fonda, and has one daughter, He was born in 1841 and in 1880 mar- Zola; George, a carpenter, married ried Stephana Rainier, of Dubuque. Jessie Ross and lives at Laurens; His family consists of three children, Albert, a painter, Fonda, married Matilda, Francis and Mary; Anna the Clara Evenson and has one child, Wil- first born having died in childhood. liam Glenwood; Everett, a painter. In the spring of 1900 he moved tem- Ina, a dressmaker and Ethel, a Fonda porarily to Des Moines to secure bet- graduate in 1899, are at home.
ter facilities for the education of his
Gottfried Gustav H. (b. Aug. 24, children. He is a man that appreci- 1843) resident of Fonda since March ates the enjoyment of good health, the 1899, has been a resident of Cedar peace and gladness of the home and township since June 1871, when he has the happy faculty of anticipating secured as a homestead, the n} neł the needs of every part of the work on section 36, 80 acres. He is a native of the farm.
Prussia, and coming to America with
Frank Fuchs, his oldest brother and his parents in July 1847, lived at Jef- owner of 206 acres of land in Cedar ferson, Wis., until the time of his township, and Martha, a younger sis- settlement in Cedar township. He ter who also came to Cedar township improved his homestead and occupied in 1871, make their home with Joseph. it until his removal to Fonda. He
Gilson John William (b. June 3, has been the most popular assessor of 1833), who died in Fonda, May 14, Cedar township, having performed 1896, was the son of George and Bessie the duties of that office fourteen (Hurst) Gilson, and a native of Man- years, 1877-78, '83-86, '89-90 and '95-1900. chester, England. He came with his He has been a member of the school parents to this country, grew to man- board several years, was treasurer of hood in Winnebago county, Ill., it in 1876 and president of it in 1888.
On April 8, 1877, he married Dora where, on Dec. 9, 1858, he married Elvira Sayre and engaged in farming. Spielman and his family consists of Aug. 9, 1862 he enlisted as a member three children, Ernest, Delphia Ava, of Co. D., 74th Ill. infantry and was a Fonda graduate in 1899 and a honorably discharged at Nashville, teacher, and Frederick.
June 10, 1865. He belonged to the Guyett C. G. a general merchant army of the Cumberland, marched at Fonda from March 1878 to 1881, with Sherman to the sea and partici- was a native of Vermont. He was a pated in fifteen battles, Murfreesboro, soldier in the civil war and was mar- Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, ried in 1864 while at home on a fur- Chicamauga, Nashville, etc., and in lough. After the close of the war he seventeen skirmishes. On June 8, lived at Montpelier until he came to 1872 he entered as a soldier's claim, Fonda. He bought two lots on the the n} ned Sec. 20, 80 acres, in Dover east side of Main street, Fonda, erect- township, improved and occupied it ed thereon a two story, double, frame until 1892 when he moved to Fonda. building with basement, arranged it In Dover township he was a trustee for store rooms and other purposes in- in 1875, assessor in 1876 and justice of cluding a town hall, and engaged in the peace ten years, 1881-90.
general merchandize. He continued His family consisted of Clara, mar- in business until the spring of 1881 ried to Oscar Samsel, a resident of when he sold all his interests to J. N. Fonda and has three children, Ed- McKee, and on April 25th following,
419
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
his wife, Maggie, died of consumption cattle. He is now a resident of Ar- in her 39th year, leaving two child- kansas. ren.
Haffele Fred (b. 1851) hardware- man, Fonda, is a native of Germany and at two years of age came with his parents to Monticello, Wis., where December 17, 1873, he married Clara Breckenwagon. In 1881 he located at Newell, Iowa, and in 1884 at Fonda, where he engaged in the hardware business until 1893, when he became an assistant to the firm of Roberts & Kenning, his successors. He was a member of the town council in 1886 and of the school board three years 1889-91. His family consists of three daughters; Lourinda, who November 15 1894 married A. L. Roberts, hard wareman, Fonda, and has three child- ren Hazel, Homer and Lowell; Min. nie, a Fonda graduate in 1894 and a music teacher, and Edith.
Hartwell Rachel Mrs., one of the pioneer teachers of Fonda and vicin- ity, entered as a homestead the n} seł section 6, Cedar township, Nov. 20, 1869, and received the patent for it August 1, 1877. She was a widow, a sister of Robert J. Griffin who taught a term of school in her home in 1870- 71. In 1878 she sold her homestead to W. H. Burnett and left the county.
Hawkins Joseph (b. March 22,1847), owner and occupant of sw section 35, 240 acres, from 1878 to 1898 was, a na- tive of Somerset county, England. In his third year he came with his par- ents to New York State and in 1853 to Cascade, Iowa, where his parents spent the remainder of their days. May 5, 1873, he married Eliza, a sister, of James Mercer, and in the spring of 1878, with wife and two children, lo- cated on the farm in Cedar township.
Hathaway George W., County Su- At the time of his removal to Nebras- perintendent in 1872-73, was a native ka the improvements made upon this of Ohio, and on March 23, 1869, the farm consisted of a good house, a new day when the first four homesteads barn,a large cave built of rock, a fruit bearing orchard of three acres and a in Cedar township were entered on section 24, entered the e } nw } of beautiful grove of five acres.
His faithful wife who shared with of Miss Lydia Stephens, now of Wm. him the pleasures and privations of
that section, known later as the farm McIntyre.
He was accompanied by pioneer life, died October 20, 1893, in A. W. Creed, who that same day en- her 49th year, leaving a family of four tered the s & sw } of the same section daughters. Effie a graduate of the known later as a part of the farm of Normal Department of Highland Park College, October 12, '98, married Frank B. Burns and lives in Wood-
William Taylor, now of John Holyer. On Jan. 22, '70, Austin G. a brother, of A. W. Creed entered a homestead bury county; Ada, wife of F. Hamil- on section 12, and on December 7, '70, ton Bond Esq., lives at Fonda; Myrtle Mrs. Caroline Creed, widow of their a Fonda graduate in 1897, and a brother, entered the n sw } section teacher; and Marie. Roy, now in his 24. Some time afterwards she became 15th year was adopted in the spring the wife of Geo. W. Hathaway and se- of 1892.
cured the title to her homestead by In Cedar township he was assessor purchase. He secured his title in 18- in 1880-81, and president of the school 75. Soon afterwards he moved to board in '82 and '93. He was ready to Webster City, but in the early 80's render public service as a citizen bought a farm of 200 acres on section when called upon to do so, but he 29, Washington township, and for a was always engaged in a loyal endeav- few years engaged in raising fruit and or to develop or promote the moral
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