The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 70

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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

522

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

served six years asa trustee of Center are fed corn on the ear until they are township, 1890-92, '95-97; six years as a observed shelling it from the cob. justice of the peace and was secretary After this the corn is shelled, mixed of the school board in 1898. He is recognized as a man of sterling integ- rity, a staunch republican and a firm believer in the cause of prohibition. as they want.

with oats (3) and placed in large self- feeders where they can get it at any time of the day and as much of it He feeds about six months, and it is not unusual for the

Kennedy William Campbell(b. Oct. 20, 1854,) an enthusiastic Sunday cattle to make an average daily gain School worker, has been a resident of of four pounds each during that peri- the NW} Sec. 10, Clinton township, od. He raises annually about seventy since March, 1881. He is the son of head of hogs, and though he uses no David and Martha (Campbell b. June stock food or patent medicines he has 19, 1823) Kennedy, who, subsequent to hitherto escaped the cholera. During their marriage in 1850, lived four the feeding period many of them are years near Fort Wayne, Ind., where allowed to roam in the large feed yard W. C. was born. In 1857 his parents with

the cattle. The hay-racks located near De Witt, Clinton county, around the inside of the open cattle- Iowa, where his father died in 1875. sheds rest on wide troughs or tables, His mother was a native of County and underneath these the hogs find at Down, Ireland, came to America with night a dry and comfortable resting- her father at eighteen, raised a family place, that causes them to be widely of seven children, six of whom are distributed. Salt is placed where living, and died at Goldfield, Sept. 27, they can get it and a little lime oc- 1898. W. C., Feb. 16, 1881, married casionally in their troughs.

Catherine P. Seifert and a few days He was raised in a home where he later,locating on his present farm, be- enjoyed the sweet and blessed influ- gan the work of its improvement. ence of the family altar. At the age He has since increased its size to 386 of sixteen he presented himself for acres, and no one can view the fine union with the United Presbyterian buildings erected or note their capac- church to which his parents belonged. ity and conveniences without per- The fact that he was a comparative ceiving that it is one of the most con- stranger did not prevent him from veniently arranged stock farms in taking the lead in establishing and that.part of the county. In the home maintaining a Sunday School in the he has endeavored to combine beauty new town of Rolfe in 1881, and he was with comfort, and on the farm winter annually re-elected superintendent of protection for all his stock and an the Presbyterian Sunday School of abundant supply of good water.

Rolfe from the time it was organized and became superintendent of the

He was treasurer of the school fund until Jan. 1, 1897, when he organized of Clinton township in 1882-83, assessor in 1889-92, president of the school Home department in it, the first one board in 1890 and a trustee in 1893-95. in the county. During the fifteen

He is a successful raiser as well as years he was superintendent of the . feeder of cattle, and finds he obtains church school he was always present, the best results by putting two calves except when prevented by sickness or to one cow evenings and mornings un- absence from home. During the sum- til they are eight or ten weeks old, mer seasons he has devoted his Sab- providing them other suitable food ac- bath afternoons to the maintenance cording to their age and needs. The of Sabbath Schools in the school- arger cattle in the fall of the year, houses in the vicinity of his home.

523

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

When the Pocahontas County Sunday position of orderly sergeant at the School Association was organized at time of his discharge at Fort Laramie, Pocahontas in 1881 he was present, Wyoming, March 10, 1884. was elected vice-president, hasattend- He then located at Rolfe, where he ed every meeting of the association first engaged in the hay business in since that date, and has enjoyed the partnership with his brother, D. A. honor of serving as its president dur- Kent. Perceiving that the business ing a period of ten years. He is now in wild prairie hay would gradually a prominent worker in the Iowa State decrease as the country became more S. S. Association. He is a loyal friend thickly settled, he soon changed to the of the Bible cause and has been presi- real estate and loan business, to which dent of the Pocahontas County Bible

farming was added later. He has Society since 1899. He has been an been quite successful in business, elder in the Rolfe Presbyterian church having accumulated more than 700 since Oct. 7, 1883.

acres of good farm lands, and lives in

His intelligent interest and never one of the fine residences at Rolfe.

failing enthusiasm in the Sunday He is a fine looking man, has made School work is suggestive of his pub- a good record and is popular with all lic spirit. It finds in him its expres- classes of people. He has rendered sion and field of opportunity in a efficient service in all the local offices faithful endeavor to give a moral and at Rolfe from school director to may- spiritual uplift to the present rising or. During the period Frank D. generation. As a natural result of Jackson was governor of Iowa, 1894-96, his philanthropic efforts for the bene- he was a member of his military staff, fit of the young he has become a strong holding the rank of lieutenant colonel. advocate of the cause of prohibition. When the Spanish-American war be-

He has one son, Leonard William. gan in Cuba he enrolled a company of Since the spring of 1880 his wife's men and expected to go with them to mother, Mrs. Geo. Seifert, and her the front until the order was re- daughter Anna have occupied a part ceived that no new Iowa regiments of his home. On Feb. 20, 1901, the were needed. He was the representa- latter married Edward H. Weigman tive of this 76th district, composed of and located near Barlow, N. Dak. Pocahontas and Humboldt counties,

Kent John B. Col., (b. Oct. 26, in the 28th General Assembly of Iowa 1859,) is a native of Harrison county, in 1900-01.

Ohio, the son of Andrew Jackson and He is a man of sterling good sense Rebecca H. (Arnold) Kent. His father and a close student of public affairs. was of English and his mother of Ger- He has taken an active part in the man descent. He was brought up on politics and business of this county a farm and received his early educa- during the last. seventeen years and tion in the public school. In 1879, at his popularity is no doubt due to bis the age of eighteen, he entered the recognized ability, public spirit and regular army of the U. S. as a member the fact he always speaks well of oth- of the 7th infantry commanded by ers. He has been a loyal republican Gen. John Gibbon and spent five years from principle and has spared neither in the military service on the frontier. time nor money to achieve an honor- He first attended the military school able success for his party by the nom- at St. Paul, Minn., and then partici- ination and election of honest and ca- pated in several expeditions against pable men in town, county and state. the Indians in Minnesota, Wisconsin, The five years spent in the regular Colorado and Wyoming. He held the army was to him a period of valuable

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

training and his military recognition supplies, the largest and finest in was honorably won. this section of the country. Here

On May 21, 1885, he married Susan may be found, at prices within the Struthers, and his family consists of reach of all, the latest artistic designs three sons, Arnold McEwen, Don C. in furniture and articles of all kinds and Jonathan Prentiss Dolliver.

and styles for the adornment of the Kerr Samuel H., (b. Nov. 26, 1862,) home. The business is transacted attorney and cashier, Rolfe, is a na- under the firm name of C. P. Leit- tive of Highland county, Ohio, the head and Sons and this firm, in 1900, son of James E. and Clara A. (Beatty) established another large furniture Kerr, who were of Scotch-Irish de- store at Pocahontas that has since scent. In 1869 he moved with his par- been managed by his second son, ents to Saline county, Mo., where his Elbert A. Leithead.

father died, leaving a family of five He helped to build the first house sons and three daughters. In 1875 in Rolfe. It was built for James his mother and family moved to Jas- Parks and is now owned by George per county, Iowa. In 1889 he gradu- Challand. He has seen an unbroken ated from the law department of the wild prairie, covered with tall native Iowa State University, and located at grasses, transformed into a thriving Rolfe. He engaged in the practice of little city that has some of the most law until June 1, 1900, when he be- beautiful homes and largest business came cashier of the State Savings houses in this county. He has the Bank of Rolfe. On March 24, 1892, he satisfaction of having nobly performed married Mary E., daughter of A. O. his part in the work of effecting this Garlock. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr are very transformation. He has helped to highly esteemed by all who know erect many buildings and has de- them.

veloped an important business inter-

Leithead Calvin Page (b. Dec. 10, est until it has become the pride of 1849) undertaker, Rolfe, is the son of the community. He was a member William and Sophia Leithead. He is of the first council of Rolfe and a native of Vermont, where he grew served four years, 1884-87. He is now to manhood and on June 1, 1870 a trustee of Clinton township and married Philena, daughter of Calvin served as a justice four years, 1883-86. and Susan Holt. After marriage he His father was a native of Scotland was engaged as a carpenter and con- and the rest of his children are dead. tractor, and lived in several different So far as he knows, C. P. and his localities. In September 1881 when family are the only ones that bear the town of Rolfe was indicated by the family name in this country. His only one little shanty he purchased family consists of three sons all of the lot on which his house (erected in whom are married.

1885) now stands and built thereon one of the first houses in Rolfe. 1. William C. (b. Orange, Vt., May In 25, 1872) married Pearl Denend, lives 1886 he purchased a small building at Rolfe and has four children. and lot on the west side of Garfield 2. Elbert A. (b. Barre, Vt., 1876) street and embarked in the furniture married Lilly Chase, located on a and undertaking business. Later he farm in Center township, and in 1900 purchased the adjoining lot and in in Pocahontas where he is engaged in 1897 completed the double two story the furniture business. building all the rooms of which have 3. Charles Ellsworth (b. 1878) since been stocked with an assort- physician and surgeon, after a four ment of furniture and undertaker's year's course in the Iowa State

JOSEPH H. LIGHTER, EDITOR, REVEILLE.

WARD FERGUSON.

REV. CHAS. G. WRIGHT, BAPTIST.

REV. JOHN W. LOTHIAN, PRESIDING ELDER, M. E. CHURCH.

ROLFE AND VICINITY.

SAMUEL H. KERR, ESQ.

MRS. S. H. KERR.

CHARLES E. FRASER.

MRS. C. E. FRASER.

ROLFE.

525

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

University, graduated from its medical department in 1895

Lothian Robert (b. 1814, d. May 21. and 1896) a pioneer and long-time resident located at Rolfe. On March 1, 1898, of the northeast part of this county he located at Highmore, S. D. He was a native of Fifeshire near Edin- married Queen B. Furman.

burg, Scotland, where Dec. 6, 1839 he Lighter Joseph Henry (b. Oct. 8, married Janet Bruce (b. Jan. 4, 1815, 1853) editor, Rolfe, is a native of Car- d. Rolfe, Feb. 1888). In 1852 with a roll Co., IN., the son of Jacob H. (d. family of five children he emigrated 1883) and Sarah A. Lighter. In 1865 to upper Canada. This voyage was he moved with his parents to Grundy made on the Shandon, the first iron Co., Iowa, where he received his clad ship that crossed the Atlantic, education which included two terms and on that trip, losing its course in the Friends college in Hardin Co. among ice bergs, it was delayed three On Oct. 3, 1876 he married Emma F., weeks. In 1866 with a family of seven daughter of Soloman Wilhelm, and children (all except Janet, the eldest) located on a farm. In July 1880 he , he located on a homestead on the S moved to Conrad and engaged in the W} Sec. 30, Des Moines township, this lumber business. In 1888 he moved county. Three of his sons, John W., to Hubbard, Hardin county, where he James B. and William became owners purchased the two papers then pub- of other homesteads or farms in the vicinity of Rolfe. In the spring of wife, he went to the home of his son,

lished-the Times and Enterprise- and in their place commenced the 1894, six years after the death of his publication of the Hubbard Journal. In September 1890 he moved to Rolfe Robert at Seymour, Mo., and died and during the next five years was a there in 1896. partner in the publication of the Reveille. In connection with the management of a job printing office he then prepared and in 1897 pub- lished a plat book of Pocahontas county, that contains a description of every farm in the county and the names of the owners at that time, al- phabetically arranged by townships. On march 1, 1898 he commenced the publication of the Rolfe Semi-Weekly Tribune and is still its editor and proprietor.

During his residence at Conrad he served as the first mayor of that town and also as a trustee and justice of the township. At Rolfe he served as secretary of the school board in 1893- 97. He is a man of conscientious con- victions and has faithfully performed every trust committed to him.

The early career of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lothian was marked by trials and privations, such as the young people of this day will never know. At the time of their settlement in this county Boone was the nearest railway station and it took a week to haul a load of lumber with oxen. In the spring of 1869 he was compelled to pay $2.00 a bushel for corn at Spring- vale (now Humboldt) and grind it at home as best he could for bread. It was not unusual for them to walk long distances to church. It was while making such a journey that his wife, while crossing a foot bridge, fell in the creek and sustained injuries from which she never fully recovered. They were never known to turn the needy away from the door.

He united with the Presbyterian

His family consists of six children, Clarence G., foreman in the office of church early in life and was loyal to it the Reveille since 1900, Arthur G. as long as he lived, giving cheerfully und Ervil C. in the office of the much of his time and money to pro- Tribune, Cora, Mabel and De Elda. mote its interests. He was an elder

526

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

in the Unity Presbyterian church at married Lilly Rose, Rolfe; James R., old Rolfe, a charter member and one John A. and A. Guy. of the first elders of the Second Pres- 4-Robert B. (b. March 14, 1848,) on byterian church of Rolfe, and in his May 27, 1873, married Kate Farmer, old age, became a trustee of the lives at Seymour, Mo., and has two Plover Presbyterian church at the children, Clarence and Sadie. time of its organization in 1888.

His family consisted of eight chil- 1876 married Sarah Bickle, and raised dren:

1. Janet L. (b Sept. 2, 1840) married married Ira DeWitt and lives at Spir- William Addison in Canada and died it Lake, Robert, Charles, Mary, Rich- there in 1876. Her children died also. ard, Alexander; and their parents live 2. John W. Lothian, Rev. (b. Scot- in Wisconsin.

6-Margaret, in 1868 married George with his parents to upper Canada and Stevens, lived near Plover and died in in 1865 located with them in Pocahon- 1899, leaving no offspring.

tas Co., Iowa. On April 25, 1866, he entered as a homestead the S} SE} Rolfe in February, 1882.

7-Alexander, (b. Can., 1857,) died at

8-Mary L., in 1877 married Calvin Hilton, lives at Hawarden and has a family of five children, Laura, Pearl, Ward, Calvin and Ina.

Malcolm Augustus H., (b. 1832,) is one of the very first residents of the county. (See page 171.) He located in the spring of 1857 in Des Moines township, after the Civil war on sec- tion 1, Clinton township, and in 1900 in Rolfe. He is the son of James (b. Scotland, Nov. 30, 1786,) and Elizabeth (b. N. Y., July 20, 1792,) Malcolm. His family consisted of eight children, one of whom died in childhood.

1-Ora P. Malcolm, (b. Old Rolfe, Nov. 21, 1865,) after growing up on the farm, served as deputy treasurer of this county four years, 1896-99. He lives at Pocahontas and is now en- gaged in the abstract business. On Jan. 23, 1895, he married Clara P. Spence and his family consists of two sons, Homer and George.

2-Fred A. Malcolm, (b. Mar. 1, 1867,) Rolfe, was county surveyor four years, 1894-97, and is now engaged as a civil

3-James B., (b. Sept, 18, 1845,) shoe- maker, on Sept. 19, 1867, married Rho- da Van Natta and occupied for many engineer. On Dec. 25, 1885, he mar- years a homestead on section 20, Des ried Carrie M. Brown and has one Moines township. He is now a resi- child, Daphne.

dent of Rolfe, and his family consists 3-Addie E., Sept. 21, 1887, married of four children, William M., who John Seifert, resides in Clinton town-

Sec. 32, Des Moines township, and in 1872 his right was transferred to his brother, William, who obtained the patent for it March 30, 1888. On Nov. 28, 1868 he married Mary Jane Gilman, of Medford, Minn., and dur- ing the next three years occupied his farm which was so near, that he often chased his oxen over the place now covered by the town of Rolfe. In 1873 he entered the ministry of the M. E. church as a member of the North- western Iowa Conference. As a pas- tor he has served the churches at Peterson, Forest City, Spencer, Emmetsburg, Sibley, Sheldon, Hart- ley, Correctionville, Sac City and the Whitfield M. E. church Sioux City, his present field. He was presiding elder of the Ida Grove district six years, 1894-1900, was a member of the general conference at Cleveland in 1896 and at Chicago in 1900. His family consists of two daughters, Bertha (Overholtzer, Ireton) and Myrtle.

5-William, (b. March 7, 1850,) in

a family of six children: Janet, who

land April 14, 1843) in 1853 emigrated

527

CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

ship and has three children, Myrtle, Humboldt, Ia., where in 1874 he mar- Fern and Thurlow. ried Hattie Connor. In 1889 he moved

4-Carrie E., Aug. 26, 1892, married to Rolfe, where he died in 1900. lie Fred A. Mullen, superintendent of was sheriff of Humboldt County from the electric light and water plant, 1873 to 1875, and of this County two Webster City, and has two children, years, 1898-99. He was a member of Jean and Malcolm.

the Rolfe school board five years. In 5-May, Aug. 26, 1892, married Wm. 1879 he was the mail carrier between G. Bennett, lives at Ft. Dodge and has Pocahontas and Humboldt. He pos- two children. Evan and Robert,

sessed many excellent traits of char- 6-Leon, Dec. 21, 1898, married Mat- acter, was a conscientious official and tie Kellogg and has one child, Leone. won many friends both in this and 7-Frank lives at Liverniore. Humboldt Counties.

During the Civil war A. II. Malcolm His family consisted of five children, participated in the siege of Yorktown, of whom one died young and Julia, a the battle at Blackwater river and graduate of the Rolfe high school in siege of Suffolk in 1862; in the engage- 1893 and subsequently a teacher of ments at Frazer's Farm and Beaver's unusual talent and success, died Feb. Dam in connection with Butler's ex- 16, 1900, at the age of 23. Hortense, a pedition to Richmond in 1863; and in teacher, William, a Rolfe graduate in engagements at Bottom's Bridge, 1897, and Nellie are at home.

Reed Samuel Seibert, (b. June 29, South Side railroad, Petersburg, June 1848), banker, Rolfe, is a native of 10-15, in Watson's raid and at the Franklin County, Pa. and in 1861 mov- Welden railroad in 1864.

Ream's Station, in Kautz' raid on

ed with his parents to a farm near

Matson William, in 1867, coming Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1880 he mov- from Chicago with wife and two chil- ed to Dallas County where in Decem- dren, located at Old Rolfe and was ber 1881 he entered the employ of S. P. the first to establish a blacksmith Mellick. A few months later he be- shop in Pocahontas county. After a came a partner with him and on April few years he moved to the SW≥ Sec. 27, 1882, landing at the new town of 16, Clinton township, where his wife Rolfe Junction with a stock of dry died May 10, 1884. "Ben Lomond," goods, began to keep store in what the first postoffice in Clinton town- is known as the First National bank ship, was located at his home from building. In June 1883 he sold his 1876 to 1878. His son William died interest in the store and engaged in May 27, 1885, at the age of 24 years, the grain business until Jan.1. 1889, and Jennie, his daughter, became the when he became a partner with John wife of William D. McEwen. (See Lee in the banking business that in McEwen.) He died at Pocahontas 1893 was sold to Farmer, Helsell & Co., May 6, 1888.

but with which he continued to be identified until March 1, 1901, when he moved to Mitchell, S. D. to engage

Ratcliff John, (b.July, 19, 1843. d. Rolfe, Jan. 8, 1900. ) Ex-Sheriff of this county, was a native of Morgan City, in farming and stock raising. He was

treasurer of Rolfe during the last ten

Ohio. His parents were Virginians and members of the Friend's church. years of his residence there , 1891-1900. During the civil war he enlisted in an On Dec. 11, 1889, he married Anna Ohio regiment, the one that was sent D. Whittaker of Ill. and has two children, Earl and Fay. against Morgan when he made his fam- ous raid into West Virginia and threat- Sandy William (b. April 14, 1834) ened the North. In 1866 he located at Rolfe, a native of South Brent, Eng.,

528

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

in 1856 came to America with his justice of the peace eight years, 69-70, sister Mrs. Wm. Jarvis and located at '74-75, '79-82; township clerk seven Dubuque, Iowa, where he married years, '70, '75, '78-82 and was president Charlotte Durston (b July 25, 1839) of the school board in 1875. Aug. 11, 1863. The latter had come

His family consisted of six children, to America with her parents in 1858. three of whom are living.

On Sept. 1, 1864 he bought a farm on

1-Eliza in 1862 married Park C. section 1, Clinton township and oc- Harder and lived in Clinton township cupied it from that date until 1900, until 1876 when they moved to Sauk when he moved to Rolfe, leaving Center, Minn., and in 1898 to Nebras- three of his sons on the farm which ka. Mr. Harder in 1869-72 served as now contains 200 acres. He also owns the first secretary of the school board 160 acres in Minnesota. During his of Clinton township. He was town- residence of 36 years on the farm he ship clerk, 1867-69 and a trustee, 1870- experienced with others the trials of 72. His family consists of seven child- pioneer life and has proved himself a ren, Clifton, Evarts, Daniel, Fred- good farmer. He was assessor and eric, Hattie, Lilly, Maude and Clara. justice of the peace in Clinton town- ship in 1870-72.

2-Harrison P. Seely, a carpenter, in 1876 married Henrietta Norman

His family consisted of seven child- and has lived at Meriden since 1895. ren all of whom were born on the His family consists of three children farm in Clinton township. The se- of whom Buzzwell has been rendering cond and fifth died in childhood. 1- military service in the U. S. Army in Minnie M. Nov. 18, 1891 married F. H. the Philippines.

Sherman, merchant and lives in Rolfe.

3-Willard F. Seely, married Effie 2-Mary Alice, 3-James W., 4-Geo. Hayden and lives at Rolfe. He has H. (b. 1876) on April 14, 1900 married one son, Claude, who has become well Gertie Sanford and has one child; known as a local correspondent of 5-Frank A. George and Frank cul- several of the newspapers in this tivate the old home farm and James county. Willard was assessor of Clin- looks after everything relating to the ton Township in 1875-76, and Secre- cattle.

tary of the school board in 1875-79.

Seely Elijah Davis (b. 1813) was a Schultz Alva L. (b. Dec. 26, 1861) native of Oneida county N. Y., where editor, is a native of Clinton county, in 1848 he married Almira Frink (b. Iowa. In 1886 he began to engage in 1814) and soon afterward located at newspaper work at Winfield, Kan., Rome, Wis., where he found and the next year became part owner employment as a cabinet maker. In of the Winfield Daily Visitor. In 1860 he moved to Border Plains, Web- 1889 he returned to Iowa and the next ster county, Iowa, and in 1864 to sec- year started the Blade at Wall Lake. tion 11 Clinton township. In 1879, Three years later he went to Traer after a residence 19 years on this farm and with H. C. Mann, as a partner, he went to Sauk Center, Minn., but started the Traer Globe. In April after one year returned to Rolfe where 1894 he relinquished his interest in his wife died July 14, 1891. He died this paper, bought the Rolfe Argus in the summer of 1898 in Wisconsin. and continued its publication until His record shows that he took a very Dec. 1, 1898, when he moved to Poca- active part in the management of the hontas and established the Pocahon- affairs of Clinton township in the tas Herald. At Rolfe he served as early days. He was a trustec three secretary of the school board two years, 1865-7; assessor two years, 66-67; years, 1896-97, and at Pocahontas has

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 70

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