Mark C. Sutton
Mark C. Sutton, of the firm of Sutton Brothers, druggists, is recognized as one of the wide-awake and progressive men of Manilla who has the ability to succeed in any business to which he may devote his attention.
He was born at La Harpe, Illinois, December 17, 1876, a son of Dr. Robert and Ellen (Chandler) Sutton. The father was a native of England and the mother of Illinois. Dr. Sutton came to America at the age of seven or eight years and was reared in Pennsylvania and Virginia, becoming an early settler at La Harpe, Illinois, where he practiced medicine for twenty-seven years. He then moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, and devoted two years to farming, at the end of which time he resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has now been actively engaged for forty-eight years. He and his wife are faithful members of the Congregational church. Politically he is in sympathy with the democratic party and gives to it his earnest support.
Robert H. Sutton, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Durham, England. He became a minister of the Methodist Protestant church and about 1849 emigrated to this country and lived in Pennsylvania and Virginia, later making his home in the city of Chicago and in Wisconsin. He passed away at Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, having reached the age of about eighty years. His wife was Martha Reay and there were four children in their family, Robert, Mary, Bessie and Jennie.
The maternal grandfather, Jesse Chandler, was a native of Pennsylvania and of English descent. He married a Miss Wright and eleven of their children grew to maturity. Elizabeth, George. John, Morris, Jane. Mary Ann. Ellen, Jonathan j., Vade. Rue and Benson F.
Four children were born to Dr. Robert and Ellen Sutton. namely: Mark C, Jesse R, Robert Reay and Ward H.
Mark C Sutton lived in La Harpe. Illinois. until nine years of age and grew to manhood in Shenandoah, Iowa. He received his early education in the public schools and was graduated from the Shenandoah high school in 1894. after which he entered Tabor College, graduating in 1899. He then went to Paris, France, and spent a year in that city on the United States Guard at the Paris Exposition. Returning to America, he was placed in charge of the Illinois collection department ott1he Deering Harvester Company at Chicago and subsequently went on the road for two years as a commercial traveler.
He began the study of pharmacy at Manilla under his brother Reay and passed the examination in 1907. They are partners in the drug business, having bought out the firm of Gauss & Simons in 1904. They also have a jewelry store in connection with their drug store and carry a large and well selected stock of jewelry, drugs, wall paper, etc. Mr. Sutton owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tripp county, South Dakota, and also a quarter section near Lutsen, Minnesota.
On the 9th of August, 1905, Mr. Sutton was united in marriage to Miss Stella Woodford, a native of Shenandoah, Iowa, and a daughter of Edwin R. Woodford, who was born in Illinois. One son, Edwin R., has come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sutton.
Mr. Sutton gives his adherence to the Congregational church, while his wife is a member of the Baptist denomination. Fraternally he is connected with Golden Leaf Lodge, No. 595, A. F. & A. M., of Manilla. Since arriving at manhood he has given his support to the democratic party. Having gained a liberal education as a foundation for his business career, Mr. Sutton possesses the advantages of travel much beyond the ordinary and he has made practical use of his knowledge. He is a representative of the younger generation of business men, and the enviable reputation he has gained is a bright phophecy of additional accomplishment in the years to come.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.