USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 58
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ter of a minister, in 1884 moved to California and has a family of six children, Frank, Harry, Arthur,
son Lawrence Johnson married Viola Darling in California and has two children, Inez and Glenn. His daughter, Sophia Johnson M. D.,
Potter Rufus C. (b. July 15, 1812), a silent partner in the firm of J. N. Nellie, Roy and Jessie, twins. His McKee & Co., Fonda 1881-89, was a native of Chili, N. Y. and was the son of Daniel and Abigail (Hemingway) Potter. His father was a veteran of the war of 1812 and his mother a member of the society of Friends, so
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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
that from childhood he was trained married Harriet Gleason, then en- in the principles of patriotism and listed as a member of the 74th Ill. piety. Sept. 22, 1836 he married Inf. and served three years in the Hannah C. Turner (b. Nov. 19, 1816 army. He then engaged in farming N. Y.) also,of patriotic blood, whose near Cherry Valley, later moved to grandfather, Captain Joseph Tombs, Rockford and in March 1889 to Fonda, of Maine, served under Washington Iowa, where he became the successor in the Revolutionary War. In 1837 of Carpenter & Russell in the hard- he located at Hadley, Mich., in 1863 in
ware business. After two years he Cherry Valley, Ill , and in July 1881 moved to Storm Lake where he is at Fonda, where he died Dec. 22, 1889. still engaged in the hardware busi- His large and beautiful residence, ness under the firm name of J. H. completed at Fonda in July 1888, was Potter & Son. His family consisted then adjudged to be the best finished of two children: William R. married and most convenient in this coun- Nina K. Kellogg who died in March ty. It is now known as the DeGraffe 1895 leaving two children, and in 1896 home. His wife, who had rendered he married Ida Sisson; Fannie is at fifty years of faithful service in the M. home. E. church and was respected as a 3 -- Mary Louise married John N. Mc- "mother in Israel", departed this life Kee (See McKee).
at Fonda, Nov. 12, 1893. His life was a 4- Josephine Julia married Ambrose highly exemplary one. He was natur- A. Horton and for a few years lived ally of a quiet disposition and mani- on his father's farm near Cherry Val- fested such an holy zeal for the house ley. In Sept., 1875, they located on of God that he became a living epistle the S. E. } Sec. 4, Williams township, of the meek and lowly Jesus. As long Calhoun Co., Iowa, and three years as his strength permitted, his place later in Pomeroy where he engaged at the Sunday and mid-week services first in the lumber business and after- in banking. In 1892 they
was never vacant and he loved to min- wards
gle his own with the voices of others moved to Storm Lake where she died in prayer, praise and testimony. Oct. 30, 1893, leaving a family of five
His family consisted of one son and children: Ava Grace Horton in 1894 three daughters all of whom located married Burton Willis, manager of at Fonda and vicinity for at least a the Willis Lumber Co., and lives at short period. Webster City; Ada, a milliner, Elmer, Frank and Josephine are at home.
1 .- Sarah Abigail, August 13: 1863 at Cherry Valley, married Abram F. In 1895 Mr. Horton married Julia DeGraffe, a carpenter and wagon Brownlee of Wis., and two more chil- maker, has been a resident of Fonda dren, Buelah and Harold, have been since 1888 and her family consists of added to his family. In 1899 he three daughters: Louise a teacher; moved to Spencer where he is now en- Anna in 1893 married Charles A. gaged in the real estate business.
Alexander, assistant cashier of the Patterson Michael Frampton (b Pocahontas County Bank, Fonda, Jan. 19, 1857), resident physician at since 1891 and has one child, Donald; Pocahontas and Fonda from 1882 to Mary Franc, also a teacher. Louise 1895, is a native of Haratio, Darke and Franc have taught several suc- county, Ohio, the son of Samuel and cessive years in the Fonda schools and Martha ( Frampton) Patterson. He are regarded as two of the best teach- grew to manhood in Erie county, ers in this locality. Ohio, graduated from the high school in Berlin Heights and on March 2.
2 .- James Henry Potter in 1861
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CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
1881 from the medical branch of the amount of energy, keeps himself Western Reserve University at Cleve- abreast of the times in all matters re- land. On April 5, 1882, after one lating to his profession, and both year's practice of medicine in Cleve- wins and holds the confidence of his land, he located at Pocahontas, Iowa, patrons by showing himself worthy of and was the first resident physician it. He keeps a clear head and is ani- of that town. That summer he mated with the noble desire to prove erected a building, now used by the an honor to his profession. He has Bank of Pocahontas, on the lot now successfully performed a large num- owned by. Dr. Barthol and established ber of important surgical operations, a drug store and office in it. In Sep- and that he stands high as a physician tember 1884 he moved to Fonda and, and specialist is evidenced by the in connection with the practice of his fact, that a large proportion of his pa- profession, became a partner with tients consists of those who have been Thomas F. Kelleher M. D. in the referred to him by other influential drug business. The interest of the physicians.
latter in the spring of 1885 was bought by J. N. McClellan and one year later by J. B. Bollard; and in 1888 Dr. Pat- terson sold his interest in it to Henry
His family consists of two children, Alpheus M. and Cordelia.
Price Edward and his wife Eliza- beth, natives of England, married Brown. In December 1888, he went there in 1839, came to America in to New York City and spent three 1842 with one son, Theophilus, and months in the post graduate medical located in New York State. August school making the diseases of the eye 1, 1873, he entered as a homestead the and ear the subject of special study. Subsequently he spent several similar periods in Chicago, during the winter wy seł sec. 36, Cedar township and be- came a resident of Pocahontas coun- ty. After a few years he engaged in of 1894-5 remaining seven months, the the mercantile business at Pomeroy forenoon of each day being occupied and died there in 1885. His wife died at the Rush Medical Institute and at Rockwell City in 1888. His family the afternoon at the State Eye and consisted of eight children, all of Ear Infirmary. In June 1895 he mov- whom except the eldest son were born ed to Des Moines, established an in New York. Theophilus enlisted office on the corner of Walnut and in the civil war and was killed in Sixth streets and has since devoted battle. Edward J. in 1869 located on his attention, as a specialist, to the a homestead in Calhoun county, Iowa, treatment of diseases of the eye and married Harriet R. Rockwell, of ear.
December 6, 1883 he married Cora E., daughter of A. B. P. and Cordelia Walker Wood, of Fonda, and they became Louisa A. located at Fonda in 1870. owners of a farm of 240 acres on sec. entered a' homestead in Williams tion 27, Sherman township that in township in 1872 and became the wife 1890 was exchanged for one of 200 of Wm. J. Busby, of Fonda, in 1874. acres principally on sec. 25, Cedar Ellen M, lives with her sister in Min- township. After four years this one neapolis. Robert J. died at Rockwell . was sold and another one was bought City in 1895, and John D. died in 1860. on section 23 which was improved Francis P. married W. M. Frantz, with good buildings and sold to Syl- agent of the I. C. R. R., and lives at vester Barron in 1899.
Dr. Patterson possesses an unusual
Rockwell City, and now lives in Cali- fornia. Charlotte E. married H. E. and lives in Minneapolis.
Fort Dodge.
Reniff Garrett Russell (b. Nov. 4.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
1856) proprietor of a blacksmith shop, this locality. His shop is also head- quarters for the repair of bicycles. Fonda, since 1885, and two since 1896, is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is industrious and energetic in pro- He is the son of Elhanan Winchester moting his business interests and (b. 1813, Rochester, N. Y.) and Cath- takes a personal interest in all local erine Butler Reniff. His father in public matters. He was a member of 1833 married. Bennett, who the Fonda council six years, 1891-96, was the mother of four children, two and has been chief of the fire-depart- of whom, Marion and Daniel grew to ment since its organization six years manhood and live in Michigan. She ago. He has served four years as treasurer and is now a director of the died in 1848.
In 1851 he married Catherine But- Big Four District Fair Association. ler (b. Apr. 13, 1824, Ireland) and the The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. G. R. next year moved to Kalamazoo, Mich- Reniff and their parents may be seen igan. In 1868 he moved to Windham, on another page.
Johnson county, Iowa, the next year
Robinson Joseph Peter (b. Oct. 3, to Des Moines and in 1885 to his own 1844) resident of Fonda and vicinity farm on the sex sec 23, Marshall town- since April 1871, is a native of Skow- hegan, Somerset county, Maine, where he was raised on a farm, at-
ship, this county, where he died, October 31, 1896, in his 87th year, and his wife, June 19, 1898. Both were in- tended public school and also Bloom- terred in the cemetery at Fonda. He field Academy. In 1866 he went to was a man of genial and refined na- Boston where, after completing the ture, whom to know was to esteem commercial course in Comers' Com- and respect; and she was animated mercial College, he found employment with an unselfish desire to make as an instructor of mathematics in others happy. Their wedded life cov- that institution for one year and then ered a period of nearly fifty years and as a bookkeeper for a wholesale honse. their family consisted of three child- In 1868 he moved to Calamus, Clinton ren, two of whom, Frank and Garrett county, Iowa, and three years later to R. are still living.
a homestead on the n} sw} section 20,
Frank Reniff (b. Feb. 1, 1854) in Cedar township, Pocahontas county, Michigan, married Anna Crow, of which he improved and occupied un- Warren county, Iowa, lives in Mar- til the fall of 1876 when he secured shall township and has a family of the patent for it, went to the eastern two children, Etta and Charles.
part of this state and the following summer to Texas. In the spring of to 1878 he returned to this county, locat-
Garrett R. Reniff, learned his trade at Kalamazoo, Michigan, came Fonda, September 1, 1885, built a shop ed in Fonda and has been a prominent and for three years was in partnership with John W. Spitzbarth. In 1891 he built a pretty residence and married Ella Viola, daughter of Orlando and Roana Brown. In 1896 he purchased an additional shop at Fonda and the increase of patronage enables him to give employment usually to four workmen. He has made shoeing hor- ses a specialty and for many years has enjoyed the reputation of doing the most and finest work in this line in citizen of this town since that date. It was his custom in the early days to teach school in winter and sometimes in summer, and for this employment he was well equipped. He taught in Fonda in 1871 and subsequently in other places in this vicinity. As a fitting recognition of his ability and efficiency as a teacher, in 1880 he was elected Superintendent of Pocahontas county and performed the duties of that office four years, 1881-85, in a highly creditable manner. He has been engaged as a general merchant since that date and is now the pion-
437
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
eer of the present merchants of Fon- ried Ella A. Fuller and their family da. He has endeavored to merit the consisted of four children, Guy Scott, patronage of the people by constantly Otis, Evan, who died at seven years renewing his stock of goods with fresh of age, and Nellie Josephine. In 1893 supplies that both suit and please his he married Jenevee E. Crawford and customers. Long ago there was given they have one child Helen Isabel.
to him the reputation of "selling bet-
Robinson Guy Scott (b. Mar. 31, ter goods at lower prices than his 1871), county treasurer since Jan. 1, competitors;" and his long and suc- 1899, is a native of Maquoketa, Iowa cessful mercantile career is the just and has been a resident of this county reward of untiring energy, good judg- since a few months after his birth. ment and unbending integrity. He After completing his education in the realizes that the world moves forward Fonda public schools, he was for one step every day and he endeavors twelve years associated with his to keep pace with it.
father, Joseph P. Robinson, in the general merchandise business. Here
His ability to render efficient pub- lic service has been recognized and he not only received a valuable prac- utilized. In addition to the service tical training but became widely and rendered as a public school teacher favorably known as a young man of and county superintendent he served pleasing appearance, excellent habits as an assessor two years in Clinton and unquestioned integrity. In 1896, county, and two years in Cedar town- when he was not an aspirant for polit- ship, 1872 and 1875. He was a mem- ber of the Fonda town council three years, 1890-92; president of the Fonda school board two years, 1890-91; and secretary of it two years, '92-93.
ical honors, but many in the republi- can county convention felt the need of another candidate for county audi- tor, his name was suggested and he lacked only one vote of receiving the nomination. Three years later the nomination for the responsible office of county treasurer was accorded to
When superintendent of the public schools, in this county, he put forth an honest endeavor to raise their standard and increase their efficiency. him, he was elected and is now ren- At the close of his term of service the dering acceptable service in this teachers presented him with a fine official capacity.
October 16, 1895, he married Mabel
gold watch, as a token of their esteem, and in accepting it he very appropri- Elizabeth McKee, has one child, Lor- ately expressed the animating prin- na Eloise, and lives at Pocahontas. ciples of his own life when he said: Silbar Jacob, the first grocer to lo- "This beautiful souvenir is a remind- cate on the present site of Fonda in er to me that the time to finish our 1870, was a Jew that for some time life's work is not only brief but con- previous had been following the stantly passing; as each diamond min- graders on the I. C. R. R. and selling ute helps to make the golden hours, his wares from a pedler's cart. In which if lost are lost forever, let your motto be 'Onward and Upward, and stand on your merits.' " the fall of 1869 he built a shanty near a grader's camp on the west side of the creek south of the grove on Fair- "The riches of the commonwealth Are free, strong minds and hearts of health, burns' farm then owned by John A. Hay. He was assisted by Knute Tis- dale who cobbled and sold goods at the shanty while Silbar made weekly And more to her than gold or grain Are cunning hands and cultured brain." trips to Fort Dodge for new supplies. He and others awaited the location of the town and as soon as its site was In 1870 in Clinton county, he mar- indicated by the laying of a sidetrack
438
PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
east of the creek in the spring of 1870, family consisted of one son, Romeo he moved his shanty to the vicinity of M. Wilbur, who in 1870 came to the Ibson's first blacksmith shop, and it home of his uncle B. F. Osburn, was the second building in Fonda. taught school several years at Pome- When the town was platted he roy and vicinity and is now in Chica- erected a better building on the west go. 2 .- Jacob (b. June 28, 1855, N. Y.), side of Main street, but after one year a mason and plasterer, resident of Fonda, in 1889 married Nora May
sold it and moved away. He was the first one that sold intoxicating liq- Sheriff and has a family of four chil- uors in Cedar township. dren, Flossie, Virgil, David and Es-
Spielman David (b. Aug. 28, 1824), ther. 3. Mary married R. B. Adams, resident of Fonda and vicinity since drayman, lives at Cherokee and has 1870, is a native of Baden, Germany, a family of four children, Early, Hi- and in 1848 came to Sullivan Co., N. ram, Elizabeth and Maud. 4 .- Dora Y., where he found employment as a married Gustave Gottfried (See Gott- carpenter. In Dec. 1851, he married fried). 5 .- Sophia married Louie Dorothea Couch and five years later Lieb (See Lieb). 6 .- Frederick (b. moved to Dubuque Co, Iowa, Aug. 22, 1864, Iowa) a drayman, Fon- where he continued to work at his da, in 1896 married Alta Hardy and trade. In the fall of 1870 he located lives with his parents. 7 .- Elizabeth on a homestead of 80 acres on the st married William Wykoff, a plasterer, ned sec. 24, Cedar township, this coun- lives at Fonda and has four children, ty, improved and occupied it until Roy, Madge, Harry and Vera. 8. 1880 when he sold it and bought the Lulu, in 1893, married James H. swł of sec. 19, Colfax township, 160 Thompson, a carpenter, Fonda, and acres. On this farm he built a good has one child.
Sanborn George (b. Mch. 1, 1842), and occupied it until 1893, when he resident of Fonda and vicinity since sold it, built a comfortable residence June 5, 1869, editor and proprietor of in Fonda and moved to town.
house, barn and other outbuildings
the Fonda Times since Nov. 1, 1879,
In 1845 he entered the German is a native of Jefferson, Wisconsin. army and spent four and one-half He was the son of William (b. 1800- years in the military service of his d. 1876) and Mary (Page) Sanborn, who country. This was the period of the were natives of Wheelock, Vermont rebellion in Baden, and he partici- and with a family of four children, pated in thirteen battles.
two sons, Alden and Roswell, and two
He has been a good citizen and has daughters, Emily and Caroline, in raised a family of eight children, one 1839 moved to Jefferson, Wisconsin, where they spent the remainder of
having died in childhood and another at the age of twelve. 1 .- David (b. their days. His father was raised on 1851), married Mary Jane (Reed) Wil- a farm and engaged in farming during bur, who in 1872 bought and still owns most of his life. He also took an ac- a farm of 80 acres on the w} seł sec. tive part in politics, held many im- 25, Cedar township. He died in 1883 portant offices in his own township and county, Caledonia, Vt., and Jeff- erson, Wis., and served one term in the legislature of Vermont. After his leaving one son, Carl Spielman, who in 1898 married Stella Reed, of the state of Washington, and lives in Fon- da with his mother. The latter on removal to Jefferson, as a contractor coming to this county in 1872 taught and builder, he erected the first pub- school three years. She was first mar- lic buildings in that county seat, con- ried to James M. Wilbur, and their sisting of a court house and jail and
439
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
several other important buildings, one prisoner until the fort surrendered. of which which was a hotel that is He was stationed at Baton Rouge still a leading one of that city. His most of the time afterward and par- mother (b. 1802-d. 1877) was of Scotch descent. The Sanborns in this coun- ticipated in a number of small battles and skirmishes with the enemy in try are the descendants of three broth- that vicinity. During the spring of ers who came from England before 1865 his regiment was located at the War of Independence; and the Montgomery, Alabama, and from name was originally spelled Sandborn. that city marched to Fort Larado.
George Sanborn, the subject of this Texas, by way of Vicksburg, making sketch, at the outbreak of the Civil what was probably the longest con- war in 1861, enlisted as a member of tinuous march by any regiment dur- Co. E, 4th Wis. infantry, at the age of ing the war. The object of this nineteen. On Jan. 1, 1864, he re- movement was to place the regiment enlisted in the same company and in the vicinity of the Maximilian war regiment, which had previously been in Mexico. In the spring of 1866, he transferred to the cavalry department returned to Madison, Wis., where he as the 4th Wis. cavalry. This regi- was honorably discharged on the 19th ment was not finally discharged until of June (1866.)
June 19, 1866, having made a continu- On Nov. 28, 1866, he married Lou- ous service of five years and six days, resta Augusta, (b. Oct. 28, 1844) daugh- which is said to be the longest period ter of Levi and Louresta Crandall, of of continuous service rendered by any Farmington, Wis., and engaged in regiment of volunteers in the Civil farming. On June 5, 1869, having de- war.
cided to locate on a homestead in the west, they moved for a few months to
During the first six months of his army life he was engaged guarding the home of Wm. Kennedy, a brother- bridges and building forts in the vi- in-law, then living on the SE} Sec. 4, cinity of Baltimore, and campaign- ing on the eastern shore of Virginia. Charles Ziegler.
Williams township, now the farm of On Aug. 13, 1869, he In the spring of 1862 he went with his entered as a homestead the E} SW} regiment, under Gen. Butler, to Ship Sec. 34, Cedar township, and occupied Island and New Orleans, and partici- it from February, 1870, until Septem- pated in the capture of Fort Morgan, ber, 1880, when he moved to Fonda, Fort St. Philip and the city of New where he has since resided. In August, Orleans. His regiment and the 28th 1870, he purchased 80 acres adjoining Massachusetts were the first federal his homestead on the same quarter, troops to enter that city after its sur- and in 1882, 140 acres more, making a render. His regiment performed an farm of 300 acres, all of which he still important part in the operations owns and has improved with fine against Vicksburg, and assisted in buildings, good fences and a beautiful digging the famous cut-off that has grove. In 1880 he erected a residence since made that place an inland city. in one of the prettiest locations in During 1863 he was engaged in West- Fonda and recent enlargements have ern Louisiana and the country along made it very handsome in appearance. the Red river, where he participated In 1884 he erected the brick block in the battle of Bisland and the siege known as the Times building and owns of Port Hudson, May 28th to July 8th. several other properties in Fonda.
On June 14th, while making a On November 1, 1879, he be- charge on the enemy's works he was came the editor and proprietor of the wounded twice, captured and held a Fonda
Times, called Pocahontas
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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.
Times from the time of its establish- He cast his first vote for Abraham ment at Old Rolfe, April 1, 1876, until Lincoln, the martyr president, at June 21, 1894 .* Baton Rouge, in 1864, during the peri-
Although he did not enjoy the priv- od of his military service. He has ilege of attending college, he received voted for every republican candidate a liberal education and taught several for president since that date and has terms of school in Wisconsin and vi- been an advocate of the principles cinity of Fonda. On the farm he and policies of the republican party. proved himself a practical and suc-
He became a member of the G. A. cessful farmer, and in this rural dis- R. post at Jefferson, Wis., in the fall trict the practical experience tlius of 1866, and has been a member of the gained was of great value to him in Fonda post since its organization in performing the onerous duties con- 1885. nected with the management of the has been our nation's greatest curse, printing office.
Perceiving that strong drink he has been a fearless advocate of
Through the long period of twenty. total abstinence and prohibition. He one years of editorial management of has always lent a helping hand when the Times he has become widely efforts have been put forth for the suppression of the open saloon, assists known as one of the most capable and successful editors in Northwest Iowa. in the support of the churches in During all these years his constant Fonda and has contributed toward aim has been to make the Times not the erection of nearly every church in merely a first-class local paper, but Pocahontas county.
also a living, positive and aggressive
He is now one of the oldest resident force in promoting the material, edu- citizens of this section and both in cational and moral interests of Poca- the postoffice and through the col- hontas county in gene. al and of Fon- umns of THE TIMES he has for many da and vicinity in particular. Through years well and truly served the best its columns during this long period he interests of this community. In the has exerted an influence along these lines second to none in this commun- ity.
printing office he worked at first on the old Washington hand-press and sustained a serious loss by the fire of
When he and his wife located in 1883. These were years of hard work this section the I. C. R. R. extended and many discouragements. Instead of yielding to these discouragements
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