The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 69

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 69

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Ferguson Duncan, (b. July 4, 1837,) dren, Grace and Ethel are still living. merchant at Rolfe, is a native of England Llewellyn Edward, (b. Andes, Delaware county, N. Y. He * Page 499. was brought up on a farm and re-

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

ceived a good education in the public of age and a life-long republican, cast- schools and academy of that place. ing his first vote for Abraham Lin- At the age of twenty he began to en- coln. His family consists of two chil- gage in mercantile pursuits by serving dren, Ward and Agnes. an apprenticeship of ten years in a 1-Ward Ferguson, (b. Feb. 5, 1867,) store in New York. In 1866 he mar- after completing a high school course, ried Margaret Agnes Richmond. spent three years, 1886-89, in Cornell Three years later he came to Iowa College. He became a partner with and located at Clarence, Cedar county, his father in the mercantile business where for six years he was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1875 he

in the spring of 1891 at Oxford Junc- tion and in December following moved located at Oxford Junction and re- with him to Rolfe. On Oct. 24, 1893, mained there seventeen years. 1892 he became one of the general mer- ton, and has one daughter, Margaret chants in Rolfe, his son, Ward Fergu- son, being associated with him under the firm name of D. Ferguson & Son.

In he married Jennie M. Bell, of Hamp- Bell. He lives in a handsome cottage and has one of the largest private li- braries in Rolfe. He is secretary and treasurer of the Rolfe Telephone com-

The enlargement of the business represented by this firm has kept pace pany and was a member of the city with the growth of the community council in 1900-1901. and the demands of the times. In ev-

2-Agnes Ferguson, after graduating ery city or town there are certain at Cornell College in 1894, took a post- firms that are regarded as leaders in graduate course of one year for the special study of the German language and then taught it two years in the University at Fort Worth, Texas. Since Sept. 1, 1900, she has been gen-

their respective lines of business and their influence commands the respect and admiration of their cotemporaries. This firm is among the number of those that have been accorded this eral secretary of the Y. W. C. A. of distinction at Rolfe. In this rushing Omaha, Neb.

age of rife local competition and cos- Fish Romeyn B., (b. April 18, 1847,) mopolitan stores, the conditions under dealer in musical instruments, Rolfe, which a drygoods business may be suc- is one of the early pioneers of Poca- cessfully and prosperously conducted hontas county, having located at Old require a special genius for it, untir- Rolfe June 7, 1866. He is a native of ing energy, unceasing vigilance in Rensselaerville, N. Y., the son of noting prevailing styles, a sagacity Ethridge M. and Laura Ann Fish.

that can unerringly anticipate the fil- ture needs of patrons by judiciously selecting appropriate goods of stand- States as a landsman and was assigned ard value, and the ability to purchase a position on the steamer Mendota, of them advantageously. These require- the North Atlantic blockading squad- ron, James River division.

ments have been so happily met by this firm in the management of its business, that the visitor is delighted at what he sees and the purchaser with what he buys.

On April 11, 1864, at eighteen, he entered the naval service of the Unit-

When the army of the James ad- vanced on Petersburg, May 5-6, 1864, the Mendota proceeded up the James river above Aiken's Landing and on May 7-16th assisted in the removal of

Mr. Ferguson is the owner of a beau- tiful home in Rolfe and several fine the torpedoes in that vicinity, at farms in Iowa and Minnesota. He

Deep Bottom and Dutch Gap. On has been a member of the M. E. May 16-17th it was under the fire of church since he was twenty-six years the batteries at Chapin's Bluff and

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

the next day it opened fire on work- been engaged in the sale of pianos, or- ing parties at Trout's Neck. On May gans and sewing machines since the 22d it opened fire on the batteries year 1881. As a representative of Des near the Howlett Home. From that Moines township he was a member of date until April 1, 1865, it was sta- the board of county supervisors in tioned near the barricades at Deep 1872 and '73.

Bottom, and participated in the ope- rations against the rebel gunboats, iron-clads and the Howlett Home bat- tery on June 21st; against the batter- ies at Four Mile creek, June 30-July 1; 1-Laura R., in 1888 married Wm. J. Fraser, lives at Mt. Vernon, Skagit at Tilghman's Gate, July 16; at Deep Bottom and Strawberry Plains, July county, Wash., and has a family of eight children.

27-29; protected working parties at Dutch Gap, Aug. 10-14, and the forces

On Dec. 29, 1866, he married Ann, daughter of David Slosson, and his family has consisted of six children, three of whom died in childhood.

2-Elvira G., in 1894 married Frank moving from Dutch Gap to Deep Bot- Murray, who died at Rolfe May 19, tom, Aug. 15-18. It participated in 1898. She then moved to Skagit coun- all the operations of Graham's Naval ty, Wash., where on Oct. 18, 1899, she brigade in the James and Appomattox married Jasper Parker and still lives. rivers during the siege that resulted 3-Burt Fish (b. 1876) lives at La- in the capture of Petersburg and Rich- conner, Washington.

mond, April 2-8, 1865. On July 28th, Grant Cyprian Adelbert, (b. Dec. Maj-Gen. Hancock complimented the 18, 1841,) banker and lumber dealer at Rolfe, is a native of Bradford county, Pa., the son of Josiah Nelson and Ju- "The fire from the gunboat, Mendo- lia (Taylor) Grant. He was the old-

men on board this vessel for their ef- fective work that day as follows: ta, was very effective, nearly every shell alighting in the enemy's works."

est son in the family and in the spring of 1843, in his second year, moved

On July 16, 1864, Mr. Fish received with his parents to Carroll county, Ill. an injury in the right eye, by the ex- This long journey to the "far west" plosion of a shell from a masked bat- tery of the enemy, while serving as a sharpshooter near Four-Mile creek, Virginia. On Dec. 20, 1864, he was assigned service on a schooner that transported coal to the fleet off Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Afterward he was transferred to the steamer, Montgomery, and on Jan. 12-15, 1865, participated in the capture of Fort Fisher and the other defences of Cape Fear river in that vicinity. He was then returned to the Mendota on the

was made in a prairie schooner, the most familiar mode of travel in those days, and the place where they lo- cated was then only sparsely settled. Here the family experienced all the vicissitudes and privations of pioneer life for seventeen years. During this period the home of his father was a conspicuous landmark to the scattered population of that new country and his hospitality was known far and wide. As a result of the hard times that prevailed previous to the war, James river, and was honorably dis- and the dishonesty of a money shark, charged at Norfolk, Va., July 18, 1865. this home was lost.

After the war he decided to locate

On May 3, 1860, having two yokes of in the west, and traveling by rail to oxen, a wagon, a few personal effects, Boone, thence by stage to Fort Dodge, $125 and a family consisting of his he arrived in Des Moines township in wife and seven children, his father June, 1866. He secured and improved started for the southwest to begin a homestead on section 28. He has anew the battle of life, He crossed

C. A. GRANT Lumber Dealer and Cashier.

MRS. C. A. GRANT

D. FERGUSON General Merchant.

R. P. BROWN Egg-Packer.

ROLFE.

RESIDENCE OF C. A. GRANT, ROLFE, 1895.

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

the state of Missouri, the northwest- retains his interest in it, but gives ern part of Arkansas and the north- his special attention to the lumber eastern part of Indian Territory, but and coal business at Rolfe, in which finding no favorable location, turned since 1891 his son, John T., has been northward and arrived at Webster associated with him as a partner un- City, Iowa, in November following. der the name of C. A. Grant & Son. In 1862 he located more permanently This lumber yard, covering one acre in Marshall county. Here C. A., be- and a quarter near the Rock Island ing the oldest of the children, was depot, is the largest one in this county called upon at an early age to assist and is well stocked with every kind of in the effort to secure a home for the building material, including supplies of coal, brick and tile. He is also the owner of a farm of 80 acres in Clinton township and 320 acres in Davison county, S. D.

family. He did this manfully by breaking prairie, running a threshing machine and by engaging in other available employment. As soon as he was able he purchased eighty acres of

He has always been a total abstain- land. He helped to cut the trees for er, a steadfast republican and a prom- the sawed lumber in the house that inent co-operator in every worthy was then built of natural timber.

On Dec. 12, 1871, he married Arvilla V. Terrill, a native of Crawford coun- wife, by her unselfish endeavors to ty, Pa., whose parents, John and Hel- promote the happiness and welfare en Terrill, now reside at Pomeroy, not only of her own family, but of rel- where they experienced the disastrous atives and friends, has won the affec- tion of those who know her; both fill

cyclone of 1893. In the spring of 1875 he deeded this his first home to his an important place in the esteem of parents and moved to Carroll county, the people of Rolfe.

where he undertook to establish an- other home of his own. The house he erected here was the fourth one in Warren township, a fact that suggests a renewal of the usual routine of pio- neer life. His wife taught school dur- ing the period of hard work and rigid economy that ensued.

In 1881 two railroads were built through that township and the town of Manning was founded two miles south of his home. The next year he moved to Sheldon, where he invested his capital in the cheap lands of the Northwest and found employ- ment in the hardware business.

In 1886, forming a partnership with Wm. D. McEwen and A. O. Garlock, he as cashier started the Exchange Bank at Rolfe, which, Jan. 1, 1893, was incorporated as the State Savings

movement to promote the public wel- fare of his adopted city. His noble

His father died at Manning in Au- gust, 1881, and his mother at Cole- ridge, Neb., in 1892. His family con- sists of three children:

1-John T. (b. Feb. 11, 1873,) the junior member of the firm of C. A. Grant & Son, is a native of Marshall county. On June 26, 1895, he married Elizabeth C. Montgomery, of O'Brien county. He has been a resident of Rolfe since 1886, and has one child, Forest Ellsworth. He has been an active promoter of the Sunday School and temperance causes from his early youth, and a deacon in the Presbyter- ian church several years.

Nellie S , a graduate of the Rolfe high school in 1897, and Florence M. are at home.

Hammond Edward P., (b, Feb. 11, Bank .* He continued as cashier of 1823) located in the Des Moines settle- this bank until June 1, 1900, and still ment, but across the line in Humboldt *See page 495. county in the spring of 1857. In 1859

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

he moved to section 1, Clinton town- George W., in Clinton township, where ship, where he became the owner of he died Oct. 22, 1899, and his wife, 186 acres. He continued to occupy Oct. 1, 1900. this farm until 1887, when he moved He was a hard worker and gave as his reason the old adage, "It is better to wear than to rust out." He en- dured many hardships and privations to Rolfe and engaged in thelivery business until he died, two years later Oct. 10, 1889.

The first officers for Clinton town- during the early settlement of this

ship were elected in his pioneer home county. Sometimes when he had Nov. 6, 1860. On this occasion he wheat he could not get it ground. At served as one of the judges, and nine other times the corn in the crib would persons voted. At this first election be prepared for food by shaving it he was chosen road supervisor and a from the cob with a carpenter's plane trustee of the township. He served or if soft in the field, by pulverizing as one of the first trustees four years, it with a grate made by puncturing 1861-64, and as assessor two years, 1862- the bottom of a tin pan. He adopted 63. He was clerk of the court of Po-

the religious views of the Friends in cahontas county in 1861, sheriff in early life and proved himself a faith- 1864 and coroner four years, 1864-67. ful friend and an honest man.

He was depositary and treasurer of the Pocahontas County Bible Society dren: at Old Rolfe three years, 1867-69.

His family consisted of four chil-

1-George W. Heald, on Dec 25,

He was a native of Caldwell county, 1869, married Sarah Clason, and lo- N. Y., where he married Mary Ham- cated on section 10, Clinton township, mond, (b. 1823) Nov. 2, 1843. He re- where he still resides. He is the own- sided a few years in Warren county, er of a finely improved farm of 250 N. Y., before coming west. His fam- acres on which he built a large barn ily consisted of two children, of whom in 1900, and there is still growing on one died in childhood. His daughter, it a large grove of natural timber Anna Jane, married Edward Tilley, along Pilot creek. His family con- (see Tilley) lives at Havelock and her sists of five children: (1) Olive mar- mother lives with her.

ried Sanford Snodgrass, owner and

Heald John Averill, (b. Jan. 17, occupant of a farm on section 3, and 1816) one of the early pioneers of Des has three children, Virgil, Lulu and Moines township, was a native of Vivian; (2) Emma married Fred Barth, Granville, Washington county, N. Y. owner of a farm on section 1, and has His mother was a descendant of the two children, Hattie and Raymond; seventh generation of an ancestor John Wesley and Luana. that landed at Plymouth at the time 2-Laura married Amos Cornish in of the arrival of the Mayflower. Dec. Ill, and after a residence of four years 3, 1841, he married Aurilla Underwood in Clinton township, moved to Kos- (b. Vt., March 5, 1819,) and located on suth county, where she died in 1888. a farm. In 1856 he moved to Sterling,

3-Mary married William F. Sea- Whiteside county, Ill., and remained man, who is now the owner and occu- there until June, 1866, when, with a pant of a farm of 170 acres on section family of four children, George W., 36, Des Moines township, and her Laura, Mary and Lucia, three of family consists of five sons and five whom were married, he located on daughters, of whom three sons and section 36, Des Moines township, this one daughter are married.

4-Lucia, in 1865 married Andrew

county. During their later years he and his wife lived with their son S. Harp, lives near McNight's Point

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

and has raised a family of three chil- did not lessen his responsibility on dren, Elma, Lizzie and Martha. the day of battle.

Henderson George W., (b. April 19, 1833,) state senator 1894-97, is a native of Sangamon county, Ill., the son of John H., (b. Ken., 1806; d. 1848,) and Elizabeth E. (Powell, b. N. C., J811,) Henderson. His parents, after their marriage in Tennessee about the year 1827, located in the north part of La Salle county, Ill., and at the time of the Black Hawk war, 1831-32, were compelled to flee from that part of the state. He lacked the opportunity of attending public school until he was twelve years of age, and the death of his father three years later compelled him to take the lead in assisting his mother to provide for a family of six children younger than himself. In lieu of an education he learned the "art of doing things" and to depend on himself. He became a hard worker and has lived long enough to perceive that all things come to him who works while he waits.

On Dec. 18, 1856, he married Martha A. Randall, of Mason City, and during the next twenty years, as a resident of Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, was en- gaged as a miller, millwright and bridge builder. Since 1875 he has turned his attention to farming and fruit culture. In January, 1882, he located on his present farm on section 12, Clinton township, where he has planted a large orchard and erected fine buildings. It is known as High- land Farm and contains 240 acres.

On Sept. 25, 1861, he enlisted as a methods and was one of the first in

member of the 14th Iowa infantry, but later was transferred to the 41st teachers' certificate.

As a pioneer on the frontier and soldier in the army he has manfully met and heroically endured the hard- ships through which in early life it providentially became necessary for him to pass in order to achieve suc- cess. He has known no such word as failure and his sterling integrity has been fittingly recognized.

In Cerro Gordo county he was presi- dent of the school board of his town- ship twelve years, and was a member of the board of county supervisors. In this county he has filled the offices of trustee and justice in Clinton town- ship; and during the four years, 1894- 97, had the honor of representing this 50th district in the senate of Iowa, during the 25th and 26th General As- semblies. In the extra session of the latter, held in 1897 to revise the code, he was assigned the chairmanship of the committee on the Fish and Game laws.

His family has consisted of four children:

Kate H., a teacher, Dec. 24, 1879, married Selumiel J. Melson, who loca- ted in Kansas, and in 1883 in Lake township, this county, where he died in 1885, leaving three children, Ran- dall, Mearl and S. Jesse, who then found a home with their grandparents on Highland Farm. Mrs. Melson re- suming her favorite occupation, has been steadily engaged teaching dur- ing the last thirteen years. She has paid particular attention to primary the state to receive a primary state

and finally to Co. M, 7th Iowa cavalry, 2-Jem, in early youth married and spent three years and forty days John C. Bowen of Early, Iowa, who in the army. He lost no time by died in 1884, leaving no children. On sickness or absence and was on duty June 21, 1893, she married G. W. every day of that period. His knowl- Barnes of Powhatan township, and he edge of bridge building greatly in- is now an M. E. minister. They have creased his labors and the value of four children, Ruth, Joyce, Marian his services while on the march, but and Robert Lytton.

520

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

Gail and John are at home.

Hunt Daniel Webster, on Jan. 2, 1858, entered for pre-emption 141 acres on section 36, Des Moines township, for which he received the patent Aug. 15, 1860. During this period he lived in a shanty along the Des Moines river. During the war he returned to the east but, about 1867, located in Clinton township, purchasing lands on sections 2 and 11. He lived alone on section 2 in the old log cabin of W. H. Hait (still owned by the latter) until the early 80's, when his father died and he returned to Waterford, Erie county, Pa., to take possession of the old homestead. He still owns his timber lands on the west bank of the Des Moines river. During his residence in Clinton township he was a justice of the peace, 1868-71, trustee 1869, '73-75, and assessor in 1871. He was a candidate for sheriff of this county in 1873. When he became a resident of this county there were not more than ten families living in it.

Jarvis Henry, (b. Jan. 1, 1832,) Rolfe, the second sheriff of Pocahon- tas county, is a native of England, a brother of William* and Charles, who were also early residents of Des Moines township. Henry was one of the little band who left Fort Dodge in May 1857, and founded the first per- manent settlements in the north part of this county. On May 25, 1858, hav- ing located his home he made a trip to Dyersville, married Mary Tilley, (b. June 19, 1839,) and they commenced keeping house in a log cabin on sec- tion 24, Des Moines township. A few years later 115 acres more were pur- chased on section 25. Subsequently the cabin was replaced by a large and comfortable dwelling house that was the home of the family until 1894, when he built a residence and moved to Rolfe. IIe was the most popular sheriff of this county in the early *See page 158.

days, having held that office seven years, 1860-63, and 1865-67.

His family has consisted of eleven children:

1-George, (b. Nov. 13, 1859,) in 1880 married Minnie M. Flory and located in the state of Washington, where he died leaving two children, Eda and George, who now live with their mother at Denver.

2-Sarah Ann, Dec. 25, 1882, mar- ried Carmi Vaughn, owner and occu- pant of a fine farm in Des Moines township, and has three children, Dell, Ernest and Leila.

3-Nellie E., Feb. 21, 1881, married Edward H, Vaughn, who, after a few years, moved to the state of Washing- ton and engaged in keeping store. On March 8, 1892, she died at Rolfe, leav- ing a family of three children, Frank, Arthur and Myrtle.

4-Rosa Bell, in 1886, married Alber- tus Doe, lived in Powhatan township and died at Rolfe Sept. 7, 1900, leav- ing four children.

5-William (b. June 7, 1867,) located in Washington, where he is farming and has a family of three children.

6 -- Minnie married C. A. Charlton. (See Charlton.)

7-Frank (b. June, 1872,) in 1899, married Minnie Alberts, of Lincoln township, and is farming near Rolfe. 8-Charles (b. 1873) died in 1895, and John (b. 1876) in 1896.

Bert is at home and Carrie, the youngest, May 29, 1900, married Robert Freel and lives at Rolfe.

Jarvis Charles, brother of William and Henry, located east of Old Rolfe in the Des Moines settlement in 1861. During the war he enlisted as a mem- ber of Co. B, 4th lowa cavalry and spent three years in the service. He then returned to his homestead, which was across the line in Hum- bolat county, and occupied it until 1897, when he moved to Bradgate, where he died in November, 1899. On coming to America at the age of sev-

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CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

enteen, he located first in New York wife and his father and mother. In state and then six years in Illinois. 1896 he erected the two-story brick In 1860 he married Charity O. Van block he has since occupied. There is Natta, of Kirtland, Ind., and his fam- not a finer suite of gallery rooms in ily consisted of seven children, one of Northwest Iowa, and he is well pre- whom died in infancy, and William pared to supply the wants of the peo- H., at Havelock in 1893 at the age of ple with fine pictures in every size twenty-nine. Nellie M. (Atherton), and style. He has established branch Minnie (Boyden), James C., Elmer galleries at Marathon, Laurens and and George are married and live in Ruthven. Humboldt county.

In October, 1888, he married Adah Garrison Charles F., (b. Dec. 12, D. Fulcher of Three Rivers, Mich., 1856,) Rolfe, has become the veteran and she has rendered him valuable as- photographer of Pocahontas county. sistance in the studio. His father His fine brick block, complete equip- died at Rolfe, July 12, 1896.

ment and superior quality of work place him in the front rank as a first- class artist; and by securing the pat- ronage of a section of country that embraces more than the north half of this county he has built up a lucra- tive business.

Gunderson Charles L., (b. Oct. 13, 1859,) Rolfe P. O., is a native of Nor- way, the son of George and Helen Gunderson. In 1881, he came to Po- cahontas county, bought 320 acres of land on section 25, Center township, and began to reside upon it. He was He is a native of Elkhart, Indiana, the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Garri- son. He acquired a practical knowl- edge of the photographer's art in Chi- then a single man. Gunder B. Gunder- son, his brother, lived with him dur- ing the first three years of his resi- dence on the farm, and then' went to the state of Washington, where he cago and practiced it for several years has filled with credit to himself the in Detroit. In 1884, coming with his office of superintendent of public brother to Fort Dodge, under the schools. Gunder taught school during the winter months for a num- ber of years and taught the first school in the Brinkman school house, District No. 6, Center township. name of Garrison Bros., they estab- lished a fine studio and their name was a guaranty of the finest workman- ship. In May, 1886, he began to do business at Rolfe in a portable gallery that was located on the lot where the In 1884 Charles L. married Dena, daughter of Iver and Nellie Christ- iansen, of Wisconsin, and his family consists of six children: George I., Arthur H., John C., Ruth J., Naomi H. and Martha C. brick building now stands. At that time this lot was worth $300, but when he bought it, ten years later, he had to pay $1000 for it. At first he spent one month of each year at Rolfe in the portable gallery. In 1889 he He is now one of the most highly purchased a building for a gallery; and respected and substantial farmers of in April, 1890, dissolving partnership Center township, being the happy with his brother, moved to Rolfe with possessor of 480 acres of land on which his family, which consisted of his he has erected fine improvements. He

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 69

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