1893 Biographies
Letters G to L

JACOB H. GABLE, of Denison, Iowa, is one of the enterprising citizens of Sac county, where he located in 1876, settling in Clinton township before a railroad had entered the county. Mr. Gable is a native of Newport, Perry county, Pennsylvania, having been born there July 10, 1854, son of John and Elizabeth (Eby) Gable, of Pennsylvania, but direct descendants of German ancestry. Both the father and mother of our subject are residents of Mahaska county, Iowa, where Mr. Gable, Sr. is a farmer and minister of the German Baptist (Dunkard) Church, having served in that capacity for a number of years since 1868.

Our subject came to Clinton county, Iowa, with his parents from Carroll county, Illinois, where they had resided for two years, having come to the Prairie State from Pennsylvania. He was reared to farm life and educated in the public schools of that day. Upon attaining his majority he came to Sac county, Iowa, and spent his first year in farming. He then assisted in constructing the grade for the Northwestern railroad, after which he clerked at Odebolt in a general store for about a year. Prior to this he taught the first school in Odebolt, Iowa, in a hall which was used for that purpose and the school was conducted under the subscription plan. In 1879 he accepted the position of telegraph operator for the Northwestern railroad, at Odebolt, May, 1879, and remained here until September 14, 1879, when he was at Sac City for two months, and in December, 1881, was promoted to the position of agent at Irwin, which he held until February, 1884, when he was transferred to Denison, remained until 1888, when he was again promoted to the office of traveling passenger agent for the F. R. & M. V. and S. C. & P. R. R, his territory comprising eleven States, and at times he is called upon to look after outside territory. Long experience, as well as natural adaptability, has made Mr. Gable very proficient in his work.

Mr. Gable was married in Pennsylvania, December 28, 1880, to Miss Fannie A. Clouser, a native of New Bloomfield, Perry county, Pennsylvania, of German descent. Mrs. Gable was the daughter of Francis B. and Mary (Schwartz) Clouser, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gable are the parents of four children, namely: Francis J., Blanche E., Yida ami an infant; the two latter arc deceased.

Politically Mr. Gable is a Republican of the staunchest type. Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., being connected
with Diamond Lodge, No. 422, Ark Chapter, No. 89, Dunlap; Mt. Zion Commandery, No. 49; K. of P., Dawdell Lodge, No. 90. He is also a member of the International Order of Railway Ticket Agents. Mr. Gable has always faithfully performed all the duties assigned him and is now giving entire satisfaction in his present capacity.

C. W. GATES. One of the leading factors in the management of affairs in the township of Cedar, Sac county, Iowa, is the gentleman whose name opens this brief biographical sketch, a prominent and well-known farmer of this locality. He was born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, January 22, 1860, son of R. S. and Helen (Parish) Gates. The former was a son of Obed Gates, a native of Massachusetts, and was born near Utica, New York; the mother was born in Jefferson county, New York, was a daughter of Chester Parish, a native of New York, born near Whitehall. The parents of our subject emigrated in 1849 to Dodge county, Wisconsin, settling on a farm which they opened up, becoming early pioneers of that State. They reared a family of seven children. The father now resides in San Jose, California, where he is engaged in fruit culture.

Our subject was reared on a farm in Dodge county, Wisconsin, but received his education in the high school of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. In 1881 he left Wisconsin and proceeded to Iowa, settling in Sac county as his place of residence. The farm on which he settled was a good one, of 160 acres, which had been opened up by his father previous to the settlement of our subject in the State. Since taking charge of the land Mr. Gates has improved it, and now has his broad acres in a good state of cultivation. The pleasant home in which he resides is a one and one-half story frame structure, with dimensions of 16 x 24 feet, and an addition, 12 x 18 feet. Surrounding this home is a fine grove of five acres, two and one-half acres of which are devoted to fruit trees. In addition he has some fine varieties of small fruit. The barn is a good one, with dimensions of 24 x 24 feet, 18-foot posts, and an addition, 14 x 24 feet. The cow-shed is 16 x 24 feet; while a comfortable shelter is provided for the poultry, 18 x 24 feet. A windmill of modern make supplies the stock with water, while all the food is ground in a mill for that purpose.

On this land Mr. Gates carries on general farming and stock-feeding. His farm is nicely situated about four miles from Sac City.

The marriage of Mr. Gates occurred December 25, 1883, in Sac county, Iowa, to Miss Josephine Lemon, born in Warren county, Iowa, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Ben Lemon, of Jackson township, Sac county, Iowa. Her mother's maiden name was Caroline Miller. To our subject and wife three children have been born, namely: Myrtie Iola, Ai Roswell and Hazel.

Mr. Gates takes an active interest in politics, voting with the Republican party, by whom he was made a member of the School Board. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they are important factors. He is still a young man, in the prime of life, with a bright future before him. In all movements calculated to prove of benefit to township or county he is to be found at the head, and his support may always be counted upon in all matters affecting the public welfare.

R. I. GOODENOW. The Bank of Wall Lake was established in 1882 as a private bank by Mr. Nelson Wright, and in the fall of 1882 Mr. R. L. Goodenow bought an interest in the business, and finally succeeded to the entire business. At this time Mr. Bell was cashier, after which Mr. Jackson acted as cashier for six years, and was then succeeded by Neil MeFarlan in 1889, who is a thorough master of his business. The bank has a capital of $40,000, and is engaged in a general banking business, dealing in foreign and domestic exchange. In the fall of 1884 the present owners took charge of the business.

In 1885 Mr. Goodenow erected a two story brick building, and devoted a part of it to the banking business, making the upper stories into offices and hall. This is the original bank of Wall Lake, with R. L. Goodenow as president, and is owned by the same. It will be interesting to know more of the proprietor of so flourishing an institution, therefore we give a brief sketch of Mr. Goodenow.

R. L. Goodenow was bom in Queensbury, Warren county, New York, in December, 1820, and he was the son of Timothy and Betsey (White) Goodenow, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively. They were of English extraction, and the grandfathers upon both sides were soldiers of the Revolutionary war. and patriotism was taught as one of the cardinal virtues. The parents of our subject died in Jackson county, Iowa, when they were old. They had been early settlers of this State.

Mr. Goodenow was reared in his native county, and grew up to farm life, was educated in the public schools, and was a typical son of the Empire State. In February. 1842, he was married to Miss Marilla Griffin, of New York, who was taken away by death in 1843, leaving one child, Melville, who now is a resident of Valley county, Nebraska, where he is engaged in farming. In 1845 our subject came to Clinton county, Iowa, where he improved his farm of 160 acres, which was a land-warrant, and upon this he began to make a home, which he owns now, and in which he lived for a number of years. The house is of brick, built by himself. Those were pioneer times in Iowa, and our subject passed through many experiences. His sole wealth when he came to this State consisted of $5; and, as he describes those days, he says that he was accustomed to live on knickknacks, that is, when he was so fortunate as to get any supper, that was a knack; and when he did not, that was a knick. Summer brought hard work on the wild farm, and winter hard work in the woods. He remained in Clinton county until he decided, in 1885, to remove to Sac county, and then located in Wall Lake. He had bought land in this county as early as 1872, and now owns 320 acres in Clinton county, sixty acres in Jackson county of timber land, and 647 in Sac county, besides 160 acres of fine land in Nebraska.

The present Mrs. Goodenow was Miss Sarah D. Sherwood, to whom he was united in marriage, January, 1854. She was a native of Ohio, daughter of Lewis and Lackey (Adams) Sherwood, who were old American citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Goodenow have five children, as follows: Charles, a merchant of Wall Lake; Marilla, the wife of D. Phillipps of Clinton county; Caddie K., at home; Albert, in Clinton county; and one child deceased.

Politically, our subject is a Democrat, and is a self-made man, having started from the very bottom. He is now one of the moneyed men of the county, and takes a deep interest in any measure destined to advance the interests of the town or county.

When Mr. Goodenow first came to Iowa, he came through with an old span of horses and a wagon, bringing a load of goods for another party, taking from July 4 to July 29, camping by the vvay. He has had a varied experience through life, and by his own efforts and perseverance has succeeded in amassing a handsome competence. He suffered in the early days many of the hardships of the times, having been deprived of all the luxuries of life. He voted for the first Governor of the State, Ansel Briggs, and has been a staunch Democrat, in harness ever since early life until the present time.

Peregrine White, the first child born in the Plymouth colony, Massachusetts, was a forefather of our subject.

H. C. GOODMAN, a farmer of Sac county, Iowa, was born in Birmingham, near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1849, a son of C. G. Goodman, a native of Germany, where he was also reared and educated. He was a soldier in the German army. Mr. Goodman was married in his native country, and his wife died in Dubuque, Iowa, at the age of sixty years. The former is still living, aged seventy years. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters.

H. C. Goodman, the subject of this sketch, was but two and a half years of age when his parents located in Dubuque, this State, where he was reared and educated. He has been engaged in the lumber business in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and from 1871 to 1874 in general merchandising in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1880 he came to Sac county, Iowa, where he now owns a good and well improved farm of 300 acres near Early. His residence, 24 x 28 feet, is located on a natural building site, and surrounded by a beautiful lawn. Five acres of his place are devoted to a grove and orchard, and he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

In Dubuque county, Iowa, March 21,1877, Mr. Goodman was united in marriage to Rachel Hinde, a native of Liverpool, England, who came with her parents to this State at the age of seven years, where she was reared ami educated. Her parents were William ami Jane (Sell) Hinde, natives of the Isle of Man, England. They reared a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. William Hinde was a native of England, and his wife, Jane Sell, a native of the Isle of Man. The parents died in Dubuque county, Iowa. Our subject and wife have two children: Henry W., born August 2, 1879; and Bertha Alice, born December 30, 1884.

Politically, Mr. Goodman takes an active interest in the Republican party, has served as Township Clerk three terms and as President of the School Board.

J. C. GRAHAM, a merchant of Early, Iowa, engaged in the hardware trade, is the subject of this sketch. He engaged in business here in 1883, which was the year that the town first started. He came to Sac county in 1869, locating in Delaware township, on wild land, and here he erected a fair one-and-a-half-story house, 14 x 18 feet, put up barns and out-buildings, and also planted a grove of three acres in extent. He was horn in Montreal, Canada, in 1844, and was the son of Luke and Mary (Green) Graham, who later moved to Ohio, and followed the trade of baker in Cleveland, until 1853, when he came to Iowa and opened up a farm in Delaware county, removing to Earlyille in 1874; and now both parents reside at Odebolt. They have reared a family of five
children, three sons and two daughters. William enlisted in Company B, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, but now resides at Odebolt.

From the age of nine years our subject was reared in Iowa, and attended the schools of Delaware county. He came to Sac county when it was still new and took quite an active part in its early history. He taught school for eleven terms in the county; has been Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk and a member of the School Board of the town of Early.

Our subject was married in Delaware county, in 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Riden, who was born in Canada, a daughter of William and Eliza (Parker) Riden, now of Early, who came to the county in 1880. They had been pioneers in Delaware county, in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have two children, Ethel, a graduate of Cornell College, now a teacher of vocal and instrumental music; and William. Mr. Graham is a member of the St. Elmo Lodge, No. 462, A. F. & A. M., and has been Secretary of the order for three years. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one of the Trustees. He is a Republican in his political leaning, always ready to assert the superiority of that party.

Mr. Graham has a very prosperous hardware business in this little, thriving place, carrying a full stock of hardware, pumps, stoves and like articles usually found in a first-class place. He has seen the development of the country since he came to the State, and remembers well when the first railroad was built as far as Storm Lake, in 1870. When he first came here he had to go as far as Fort Dodge for milling purposes. He has seen many changes and has passed through many vicissitudes, one of the trials being the great grasshopper pest of 1874, but perseverance and integrity have carried him through all, and he is now one of the substantial men of the township.

J. H. GRAVES, proprietor of Lakewood, the popular summer resort, located on the north side of Wall Lake, was born at Guilford, Piscataquis county, Maine, April 18, 1833, a son of Nathaniel Graves, who was horn in Scituate, Massachusetts, August 2, 1801. The latter's father, Daniel Graves, a native of New England, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject, nee Miss Anna Young, was born in Maine, a daughter of Rev. A. D. Young, also a native of New England. Nathaniel Graves still lives in Illinois, at the age of ninety-two years, having resided in both Ogle and DeKalb counties, that State. His wife died at the age of seventy-nine years. They reared a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters; and one son, N. F., took part in the late war, in an Illinois regiment, and now resides in Jefferson county, Kansas.

J. H. Graves, the subject of this sketch, was reared to farm life and remained in Ogle county, Illinois, until 1876. In that year he located on his present farm of 221 acres in Wall Lake township, one and a half miles from Lake View, which is now well improved. His main building is 24 x 36 feet, two stories high, with an L, 24 x 28 feet, same height, and a kitchen, 12 x 18 feet, one story; also a pool and billiard hall, 20 x 48 feet. He has sixteen cottages built on the shore of the lake, erected in 1891-'92, and a fine grove of eight acres, where he has sixty varieties of trees. His barn is 28 x 100 feet, boathonse, 14 x 26 feet, icehouse, 14 x 16 feet, and has in all twenty-four buildings on the farm, and three boat-landings. During the summer months the hotel is filled to its utmost capacity, and the work is superintended by Mrs. Graves and her daughter. They often have 2,000 people at Lakewood in one day.

Mr. Graves was married April 7, 1863, to Miss Mary Watson, a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, but removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, when nine years of age, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of John and Clarissa (Woodward) Watson. The father died in Sac county, Iowa, and the mother died in Ogle county, Illinois, May 10, 1874. They reared a family of five children, three sons and two daughters.

Mr. and Mrs. Graves are the parents of six children: Clara, Guy, Perry, Anna, Paul and Roger.

Our subject takes an active part in the Republican party and has served in an official capacity many times in this township. He ia one of the well-known representative and hospitable citizens of Wall Lake township, and has the faculty of making all feel at home that visit Lakewood.

GRAY, BABCOCK & SEERS, grain merchants of Odeholt, Sac county, Iowa, were organized in 18S5 for the purpose of handling grain, stock, coal and seeds. They erected a large elevator, with a capacity of 40,000 bushels, and they have handled annually, from this point, upward of 130 cars of corn, which will average upward of 600 bushels, and also twenty cars of barley, averaging 700 bushels per car, with twenty-five cars of flaxseed, averaging 35,000 bushels, forty cars of oats, averaging 800 bushels, while the shipments of hogs will vary from L25 to 150 cars. The firm also has elevators at Battle Creek, Ida Grove, Arthur and Lohrville, and are heavy dealers at all points.

L. M. Cray, our subiect, the head of the firm, was horn in Ulster county, New York, July 27, 1840. He was the son of Thomas and Mary (Beasemer) Gray, natives of New York, of old Yankee stock on the paternal side, while the maternal ancestry stretches back to Germany. Our subject was brought up until his twelfth year on the farm, and then the family removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where his occupation was not changed, if the place was. He received his education in the public schools and then prepared for the life of a farmer, but at the age of twenty-two he enlisted, August 9, 1862, in Company A, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and remained until mustered out, August 17, 1865. He was wounded at Nicojack [spelled, variously, Nickajack and Nick-A-Jack] creek, Georgia, in a skirmish, and took part in the battles of Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Nashville, Spanish Fort, Blakely and a number of skirmishes. After his term of service expired he returned to McHenry, Illinois, and there engaged in farming, but in the fall of 1886 he removed to Boone county, Iowa, and located on a farm there, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits.

In 1880 he went into the stock business in connection with his farming, and in 1886 he came to Odebolt, where he has since been associated with the firm of Gray, Babcock & Seers. Mr. Gray is one of the most enterprising men of this county, is a strong Republican, and is Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of Odebolt.

He was married in 1865, in Illinois, to Miss Nellie Babcock, who survived only six years, and died at the age of thirty-four. Mr. Gray was again married, in 1877, to Miss Mary McLaman, of Iowa, but a native of Ohio. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray, namely: Della, Nellie and Angie.

Socially, our subject is a member of G. A. R., Colonel Goodrich Post, No. 117, and is Commander of the same. Also he is a member of A. F. & A. M., Wheeler Lodge, No. 398. In his religious connections he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a Deacon.

BENJAMIN GREENWALT, a prosperous and highly respected citizen of Coon Valley township, Sac county, Iowa, his post office address being Grant city, is ranked with the early settlers of the township, he having located here in 1872.

Mr. Greenwalt dates his birth in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1828. His father, Abram Greenwalt, also a native of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, was a son of Abram Greenwalt, Sr. Great-grandfather Greenwalt was a miller by trade, and during the Revolutionary times was captured while on the road with a four-horse team. The Greenwalt family originated in Switzerland, and they came from that country to America, first settling in Philadelphia and afterward in Lehigh county. The maiden name of Benjamin Greenwalt's mother was Mary Fuslman, and she, too, was a native of Lehigh county. His parents reared a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters, and the mother died when Benjamin was ten years old. The father was subsequently married to Rebecca Ricart, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. One son, John, who served in a Pennsylvania Regiment during the late war, was killed in the battle of Gettysburg. The father died in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a farmer by occupation; in politics, a Democrat; and in religion, a member of the German Reform Church.

Benjamin Greenwalt was reared chiefly in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of stonemason. At the age thirty-two he came West to Oneco, Illinois, where he worked at his trade for some time. In 1869 he bought 120 acres of land in Coon Valley township, and broke fifty acres of it before settling here in 1872. He has since added to his original purchase until now he is the owner of 280 acres, all under a high state of cultivation. Among the improvements he has put upon his farm we note the following: a story and a half residence, 16 x 26 feet, with an L, 18x14 feet; barn, 30 x 40 feet; tenant house, 16 x 24 feet; barn, 40 x 40 feet; grove and orchard. He gives much attention to stock-raising.

Mr. Greenwalt has been twice married. First, he married Miss Mary Sherbondy, a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania; of their three children, one is deceased. The others are: George and Cora. The former is married, has four children, and lives in Sac city, this county, and the latter is the wife of Arthur Teskey, of Rock county, Minnesota. Mrs. Greenwalt died in November, 1864.

June 10, 1865, Mr. Greenwalt married Mrs. Susannah Wolf, widow pf Daniel Wolf, who was killed at the battle of Champion Hill. Mr. Wolf left one child, Sarah, who afterward married Marion Irwin, and died about eighteen months after their marriage. Mrs. Greenwait, nee Zerbe, is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Wertz) Zerbe. Mrs. Zerbe died in Stephenson county, Illinois, leaving three children, one son and two daughters. Two of her sons, William and George, were in the late war; the former was discharged on account of ill health and died about six years afterward, and the latter, a twin brother of Mrs. Greenwalt, was wounded at the battle of Champion Hills and died from the effects of the wound. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwait have had four children, three of whom are living: Jennie, wife of Marion Irwin, and has six children; Clara, a graduate of the high school at Sac City, is now engaged in teaching; Benjamin T., Jr.; and Mary, who died at the age of eight years.

Mr. Greenwalt is independent in his political views. He has served as Township Trustee and also as a member of the School Board. Both he and his wife are members of the Freewill Baptist Church.

During the war Mr. Greenwalt enlisted, August, 1862, in the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry. Company G, and was in the service twenty-seven months. He was honorably discharged November 16, 1864, at St. Louis, Missouri.

DANIEL GRUVER, one of the prominent and pioneer settlers of Lake View, Sac county, was horn in Huron county, Ohio, in 1832, a son of Isaac and Nancy (Rarick) Gruver, natives of Pennsylvania, but reared in Ohio. The father, a farmer by occupation, purchased and improved Government land in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1836, but in 1848 came overland with ox teams to Oregon, spending the winter in the Willamette Valley. The following spring he went to the gold mines on the north fork of the American river, in California, but one year later returned to Kendall county, Illinois, by water, and purchased a farm. In that year he went to Miami county, Kansas, where he died in 1885. The mother departed this life in 1883. They reared a family of nine sons and one daughter, and one son, Isaac, served in the late war, in an Illinois regiment.

Daniel Gruver, our subject, was reared and educated in the subscription schools of Kendall county, Illinois. At the age of sixteen years he spent two years in Oregon and California, and at the age of twenty-two years, in 1854, he purchased 200 acres of Government land in Huron township, Clinton county, Iowa, paying $1.25 per acre. He afterward improved and sold this place, and in 1878 located in Wall Lake township, Sac county. Mr. Gruver purchased 214 acres of wild prairie land, which he has since improved, has erected a one and a half story residence, 14 x 20 feet, with an L, 16 X 24 feet, and has a grove and orchard of one and a half acres. In 1881 he added eighty acres to his original purchase, and he continued farming on this place until 1887, when he came to Lake View. In his political views our subject takes an active interest in the Democratic party, and has served as a member of the Town Council.

In Clinton county, Iowa, in 1856, Mr. Gruver married Miss Margaret Perry, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of John and Julia (Lester) Perry, natives also of that State, but were among the early pioneers of Clinton county, Iowa. To this union were born the following children: Caroline, wife of Jerry Lesher, of Livey township, Sac county; John Riley, a resident of O'Brien county, Iowa; Douglas, who was killed by the Indians in the bad lands of Dakota, in 1885; Julia L. wife of J. King, of Primghar, Iowa; Stella, who was accidentally burned to death, in L890, at the age of eighteen years; Herman, of O'Brien county, Iowa; Olive, one of Sac county's successful teachers; Nancy and Otto D. Mr. Gruver was again married, in Sac county, in September, 1887, to Margaret Shaw, a native of Jefferson county, New York, and the widow of Henry Sheffield. She is a daughter of Willis and Lodicia (Eggleson) Shaw, natives of New York. The father died in Jefferson county, that State, in 1880, and the mother in November, 1884. They reared a family of eleven children, of whom two sons were soldiers in the late war. Freeman served through the struggle in a New York regiment, went into the regular army, and died in New York, in 1866. Oliver served in the Thirty-fifth New York Infantry for three years, and now resides at New York.

Mr. Gruver is one of the early pioneers of Sac county, Iowa, and has witnessed almost its complete development.

T. N. HAMILTON, proprietor of the Auburn City Livery & Feed stables of Auburn, Iowa, is the subject of the present sketch. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, May 16, 1841, a son of William Hamilton, who was a native of Kentucky, and his wife, Sarah Knieper, who was bom in Pennsylvania. When our subject was four years old the family moved to Putnam county, Illinois, becoming pioneers of the county, and there the father died. He had two sons engaged in the late war, William, a member of the First Illinois Light Artillery and now lives near Ottawa, in La Salle county, Illinois.

Our subject was reared to farm life, attended the district schools, and enlisted in the army October 9, 1861, entering Battery C, First Illinois Light Artillery, and took part in the battles at Cairo; Bird's Point; Charleston, Missouri; Oak Ridge, Missouri; and Fort Holt, Kentucky. He was there engaged in guarding some roads. After the close of the war he returned to La Salle county, Illinois, but in 1873 removed to Grundy county, Iowa, where he remained for four years; then removed to Calhoun county, Iowa in 1877. After a short residence he located in Carroll, Carroll county, Iowa, where he owns two residences and eight valuable lots in the central part of the town. His barn in Auburn is large, 48 x 80 feet, also he owns a good frame residence, with dimensions of 16 x 24 feet, with an L, 14 x 16, one and one-half stories in height.

Mr. Hamilton was married at the age of twenty-five, in Adams county, Ohio, to Mary Dellinger, also a native of Adams county, a daughter of Jonathan Dellinger, and to our subject and wife three children were born: Charles, a farmer of Carroll county, Iowa; Mertie, the wife of F. Hooke, of Calhoun county, Iowa; and Birdie, still at home.

In politics our subject is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R. Post, of Lake City, Iowa, and also a member of the Masonic order, having joined the fraternity in Lake City, and being now connected with Z. A. Bifle Lodge, No. 241. He is one of the prominent and representative men of Auburn. His business is an important one and successfully managed. He has four good teams with outfits for the same and is always ready to accommodate the public at short notice.

WILLIAM E. HAMILTON, editor and proprietor of The Chronicle, was born March 13, 1857, in Mercer, Pennsylvania. When he was twelve years old his parents located in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and at the age of fifteen he entered the employ of the Atlantic Iron Works of that place as bill clerk and assistant bookkeeper. Within two years he was made paymaster, and after an experience of seven years in clerical work, decided to go West and learn the newspaper business.

In December, 1880, he became local editor of the Bloomfield, Iowa, Republican, and a year latter assumed editorial charge of that paper. In November, 1882, he went to Des Moines to engage in newspaper work, and in January, 1883, he entered the employ of Zane & Helsell, Odebolt, taking charge of their abstract books. In May, 1887, he issued the first number of The Chronicle, which he has continued to publish up to date. The Chronicle is a live local paper, aggressively Republican in politics, and enjoys the distinction of being one of the most widely quoted country newspapers in the State.

Mr. Hamilton is unmarried.

ELl HARADON, JR., one of the oldest pioneers of Early, who has seen the full development of the town, and one who ever since his location in this place has taken great interest in all its improvements, is the subject of this sketch. Our subject is an old-style Yankee. He was reared and educated until fourteen years old in the State of Vermont, on one of the pinnacles of the Green mountains. He was born in Rutland county, in the year 1831, a son of Eli and Maria (Perkins) Haradon, natives of Vermont. By occupation the father was a farmer, and in 1845 he decided to remove West, where he could secure better agricultural opportunities. The journey was made by team, being about three months on the road. They landed first in DuPage county, Illinois, near the town of Naperville. but soon located in Will county, Illinois, where the father opened up a farm on Government land in a wild country, and there his death occurred in 1869, the mother having died in 1860. They reared a family of five children, three 6ons and two daughters: Eli the oldest, the subject of our sketch; Frances, married Josiah Carpenter, now living in Sumner, Bremer county, Iowa; Angeline, died in Will county, Illinois, at the age of twenty-one; Orlin and Marvin, of Early, Iowa.

Our subject being a lad of fourteen at the time the family removed to the then great West, he, of course, finished his limited education in the district school of the new country of their adoption. At the age of eighteen he went to learn the blacksmith trade, and before leaving Will county, Illinois, he began business for himself.

Mr. Haradon, in 1851, in Will county, Illinois, was married to Miss Jerusha Blanchard, a native of Vermont. Her death occurred in Bremer county, Iowa, in 1857, having removed there, hoping to regain her health. She left one child, Susan Elin, now the wife of Charles Bedell, living in Calhoun county, Iowa. In 1858 our subject returned to Will county, Illinois, there resuming his trade, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company K, One Hundredth Regiment Illinois Infantry for three years or during the war. He participated in a number of skirmishes, the battle of Perryville and Stone River, where he was wounded in the right thigh, a musket ball passing through near the center of his thigh. He was then placed in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, and from there taken to Louisville, and later to Chicago, where he was honorably discharged in 1863. He then returned to Will county, Illinois, and thence, with his brother, Orlin, to Bremer county, Iowa.

In 1865 our subject married Miss Julia Davis, a native of Michigan, daughter of Simeon and Lucinda (Carpenter) Davis, natives of Pennsylvania, who were early settlers in Michigan, removing in 1864 to Fayette county, Iowa. They reared a family of two sons and three daughters. The oldest son Simeon enlisted in the Second Iowa Cavalry, and served over three years. He now resides in Chickasaw county, Iowa; our subject in 1865, and his brother Orlin removed to Norway, Benton county, Iowa, and erected a blacksmith and wagon shop and worked together till 1868, when Orlin returned to the old homestead in Illinois to take care of their beloved father. In 1871 our subject removed to Kansas, locating on the wild prairie in Cloud county, taking up a homestead; he was one of the pioneer settlers of that county, and lived there at the time of the great grasshopper raid.

In 1875, on account of grasshoppers and the natural drouth of that country, he again removed, this time to Sac county, Iowa, and located in Boyer Valley township, and with Orlin, his brother, erected a blacksmith and wagon shop, which was the starting of the old town of Early. Soon there was a mail route established from Sac City to Ida Grove, with a post office at their town, and William Cory was Postmaster. He soon moved away and our subject was appointed Postmaster, receiving a salary of from $5 to $7 per month at first. They worked at their trade till 1881, when a railroad was run through the county, and the new station of Early was established. Then Orlin went on his farm, and our subject moved his shop and all of bis belongings to the new town with all possible speed. Still being postmaster, he moved the post office to the new town and sent a request to the Post Office Department, at Washington, District of Columbia, for the office to retain its old name of Early, which request was granted, he serving as postmaster until 1885.

Our subject and wife now have five children: Edith, the oldest, is the wife of George Willson, of Early; Leslie is on the farm of 112 acres, five miles in the country, which is owned by our subject; Ellis runs the blacksmith shop; Ettna and Everet are going to school in Early.

Mr. Haradon takes quite an interest in politics and votes the old Yankee style with the Republican party. As he was one of the first agitators of the old town of Early, and one of the first to help build up the new town, it is no more than natural that he should be greatly interested in the upbuilding of the town and the welfare of its people. He has taken much interest in the bnilding and maintenance of churches and is a free giver to the needy. Socially, he is a member of McDowell Post, G. A. R., No. 391.

Mrs. Haradon is a member of the Methodist Church, and the family is much esteemed in the community where they have resided so long.

ORLIN HARADON is one of oldest settlers of Boyer Valley township and one who has taken great interest in the developnient of the town of Early and surrounding country. He was born in Rutland county, Vermont, March 13, 1839, son of Eli and Maria (Perkins) Haradon, natives of Vermont.

The father was a farmer who emigrated, in 1845, to DuPage county, Illinois, making the trip with teams, being three months on the road. After two years' residence in the State he removed to Will county, Illinois, where he opened up a farm on Government land.

There young Orlin, our subject, was reared and educated in a public school, together with a family of five children, three boys and two girls: Eli, Jr., the oldest, is now a resident of the town of Early; Frances, wife of Josiah Carpenter, of Sumner ,Bremer county, Iowa; Orlin, our subject; Angelina, who died at the age of twenty-one; Marvin, married and resides in Early.

In 1853 Mr. Haradon, our subject, married Parna Hart, a native of Branch comity, Michigan. In two short years she died, leaving a little girl only nine months old, who died when three years of age.

Mr. Haradon's mother soon followed them to the grave, and in the same year he came to Iowa, settling in Bremer county, and married in 1860, at Fredricksburg, Iowa, Miss Mary Ann Hart, daughter of Jason and Clarissa (Nelson) Hart, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Branch county, Michigan, at
an early day.

Mary Ann was a younger sister of Parna Hart (the first wife) who were left orphans when but small children, Mary Ann a mere babe. Their only surviving brother, Wesley, enlisted in 1862, Company K, One Hundredth Regiment, Illinois Infantry, for three years, or during the war. His death occurred at Nashville, Tennessee, in January, 1863, of measles.

Mr. Haradon and wife settled on a farm in Bremer county, Iowa, near Wilson's Grove, and commenced life in real earnest. The country was then almost a wilderness. The nearest town was West, Union, twenty miles away, and that but an inland town, with post office at the same place. A yoke of oxen was his only team at that time, and at sunrise he might be seen well on the road crossing the prairie to West Union for a few groceries and to get his mail. There was not a house after leaving Wilson's Grove until almost at the town. It was nothing unusual in the winter time for the snow to tall three or four feet deep on a level, and at such times it was impossible to drive a team across the prairies without a road, and when obliged to go to town Mr. Haradon and one or two of the neighboring men would adjust their snow shoes and strike out for West Union, making the round trip during the day and bringing home on their backs whatever their purchases might be. Wheat was the main marketable crop at that time, and as soon as the wheat was threshed the farmers set about hauling it to market, which meant to load their wagons with sacks of wheat, put a cover on the wagon, hitch on two or three yoke of oxen and drive to McGregor, a distance of sixty miles, camp out and cook their meals by the wayside. They would often make the round trip without spending a cent or stepping inside of a house, leaving home Monday morning and reaching home again Saturday night. Sometimes they wonld get as high as 50 cents a bushel for their wheat. Of course money was scarce at that time and labor cheap, and Mr. Haradon thought himself in luck if he could get a job at chopping wood or splitting rails for 50 cents a day and take his pay in wheat or other farm produce. Mr. Haradon hauled most of the fencing for his farm from the Wapsy timber with oxen, a distance of six miles, eating a cold and often frozen lunch at noon, making one trip a day. It was nothing unusual in the Wapsy timber to see an Indian, with gun in hand, bounding past him on a fresh deer track, and quite often there would be a deer shot in Wilson's Grove. Finally, in 1866, Mr. Haradon sold his farm in Bremer county and removed to Benton county, Iowa, where, in partnership with his brother Eli, he set up a blacksmith and wagon shop in the then near town called Norway Station, which was successfully carried on for several years. In 1868 he was called home to Will county, Illinois, to care for his sick father and old grandfather, his father being then past sixty and his grandfather ninety-seven years of age. They both died in 1869, the father only surviving the grandfather a few months. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Haradon rented the old homestead (it having come into his possession at the death of his father) and removed to the then wild and uncultivated State of Kansas and took up a homestead of 160 acres of land in Cloud county. The same fall the prairie fire swept through, bringing desolation to the country and leaving many homeless, burning hay and whatever came in its way. At that time Mr. Haradon and family were staying in a tent while their house was being built, and it was only by throwing wet quilts over the tent before the fire came up that the tent and goods were not burned. The family took refuge on a strip of breaking expecting to see the tent and goods all burned. A box of goods setting by the tent door took fire, but the flames were soon extinguished. The deer and antelope were all around and the buffalo but a few miles away. The following summer the grasshoppers made a raid on the country and not a green thing was left, the grasshoppers forming a perfect carpet over the ground and every corn stalk bending with their weight. Then followed drouth and hot winds, year after year, until discouraged and heart-sick Mr. Haradon was glad to prove up on his claim, take a deed of it and leave bleeding Kansas for a more promising country.

He then resolved to try Sac county, Iowa. Accordingly in the fall of 1876 he came to Iowa and located in what was then the town of old Early where, in company with his brother Eli, he again set up blacksmith and wagon-making. His nearest railroad point at that time was Storm Lake, on the Illinois Central, a distance of eighteen miles. Sac City, the county seat, was then in its infancy and was but an inland town.

All coal, lumber, etc., had to be hauled from Storm Lake, and whatever produce the farmers had to dispose of was taken to Storm Lake across the prairie. The roads were unbridged and unworked.

After leaving Early a few miles it was all a homestead country nearly to Storm Lake.

Money was scarce and coal high, besides it being no small job to haul the coal, and many of the farmers burned corn instead of coal. The productions of the soil in this line were wonderful, and the country settled up and improved rapidly. But the blizzards were terrible, there not being groves or even fences to break the winds. In 1878 the Maple Valley railroad, a branch of the Northwestern, went through and the town of Odebolt was located, it being only twelve miles away. About that time Wall Lake was started and in 1881 another branch of the Northwestern ran through Sac City, leaving old Early two and one-half miles. The new town was then located on the railroad two and one-half miles north.

He afterward bought what was then known as the Sanborn Farm (having previously sold the old home in Illinois) one-half mile east of old Early, consisting of 120 acres, and with his young son Vernon, then but fifteen years of age, successfully carried on the farm and at the same time worked in the shop. He soon after traded the homestead in Kansas for an eighty-acre farm three miles south of old Early. In 1880 he bought the Cory homestead, joining old Early on the east, consisting of eighty acres; still successfully carried on the farm himself, working in the shop. In 1881 when the new town of Early was located, Mr. Haradon sold his share of the shop to his brother Eli, who removed the shop to the new town, and Mr. Haradon turned his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising. He has been very successful and wonderfully prospered, has erected a fine frame house on the farm, 22 x 88 feet, two stories high, with a barn, 30 x 40 feet. Has a fine grove and orchard and the farm is under good cultivation. He has also bought the forty acres that old Early stood on (the buildings having all been moved to the new town), and that added to the eighty makes a good farm. He still owms the east farm, but has sold the eighty south and bought property in Early where he now resides, having removed there one year ago, in February, 1892, in order to give his children better school privileges.

They have six children now living, two boys and four girls; one little girl, Alta by name, died when a baby. The eldest, a boy, Vernon, is married and is now living in Washington county, Kansas, having been obliged to locate there on account of his eyes; Alice, wife of Hugh Mead, resides in Boyer Valley township; Louella, wife of Will Simpson, is also a resident of the same place; while Emory, Carrie and Cora are at home, attending the graded school at Early. Alice and Louella were successful teachers of the county for a number of years, the former of whom attended the State Normal at Cedar Falls.

Mr. Haradon takes an active interest in politics and casts his vote in favor of the Republican party. Socially he is connected with the Masonic order, St. Elmo Lodge, No. 462. Mrs. Haradon and the girls are members of the Methodist Church, in which they take an active part. During Mr. Haradon's long residence in the county he has seen at least eighty per cent of the development of the county, which in his vicinity he has been instrumental in bringing about.

JAMES HAYWARD, a farmer and stockraiser of Sac county, was born in Scott county, Iowa, November 17, 1841, a son of Thomas and Harriet (Osmond) Hayward, natives of Dorsetshire, England. They came to Iowa in 1837, when it was yet a Territory, and the father died in Scott county, in 1849, and the mother in Cedar county, in 1889, at the age of seventy-one years. They reared a family of four children, one son and three daughters.

James, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in his native county. During the war he was stationed at Little Rock, Arkansas, in the Quartermaster's Department, and after the close of the struggle returned to Iowa. From 1869 until 1883 he lived in Lincoln and Seward counties, Nebraska, and in the latter year purchased 114 acres of landn in Clinton township, Sac county, Iowa. In October, 1892, Mr. Hayward sold that place, and purchased I 13 acres adjoining the town of Early, which is now one of the most valuable farms in Sac county. In addition to his farming, our subject is also taking an interest in blooded stock. He has two fine horses, Gambetta, bought of Edward Knott, of Waverly, Iowa, and Jericho, a French coach. Both are fine horses. In his political relations Mr. Hayward has been a Republican, but is now identified with the third party. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, a member of ths School Board, etc.

He was married December 30, 1869, in Brooklyn, Poweshiek county, Iowa, to Miss S. Emma Crozer, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, who came to Iowa when four years of age. She is a daughter of James and Johanna (Whitezel) Crozer, of Cedar county, Iowa. The parents reared a family of six children, four now living. One son, Charles, served in the late war, in the Second Iowa Cavalry, and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hayward. have six children: Nellie May, Albert J., Daisy B., T. H., Charles Arthur and Hattie L. Our subject and wife are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hayward is prominent in the affairs of the county, and takes an active interest in everything for its good.

ASBURY HERROLD.—Among the prominent farmers and stock-raisers of Cedar township, Sac county, Iowa, occurs the name of our subject, who settled in the township in 1871, hence is considered as one of her representative men and pioneers. Anything calculated to improve the township or county meets with his support and approval, as he is one of those progressive farmers who believe that improvement is the order of the age.

Mr. Herrold was born in Athens county, Ohio, February 9, 1843, a son of David and Mary (Dorr) Herrold. The former was born in Virginia, son of Joseph Herrold; the latter a connection of Governor Dorr, of Rhode Island. Our subject was the fourth child in a family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters. The mother of this large family is dead, having passed away in LaPorte county, Indiana. The father still lives in his seventy-third year.

At this latter place our subject was reared to manhood, assisting his father on the farm. Later he engaged for some time in operating a sawmill, but in 1871 came West to Sac county, locating on wild land in Cedar township, where he has improved 160 acres of prairie. His residence is a good frame one, 16 x 32 feet, with an addition, 12 x 24 feet. His stock are supplied with water by a modern windmill, and other appliances of recent date are employed to lessen labor on the farm. Like nearly all of the Iowa farmers Mr. Herrold had to create the grateful shade, as the land on which he settled was bare prairie. Now, however, he has a fine grove, and a good orchard furnishes fruit to the family.

The marriage of our subject occurred April 11, 1865, to Miss Margaret Allison, born in Champaign county, Ohio, where she was reared and educated. She was a daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth (Heatwall) Allison, natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch, Irish and German ancestry, respectively. Both parents died in Champaign county, Ohio. There were twelve children in the family of which Mrs. Herrold was a member, ten of whom grew to maturity, six sons and four daughters. One of her brothers, James, was in an Ohio regiment during the late war, and now resides in Fayette county, Ohio. Two children have been born to our subject and wife, Fred and Rilla May, who are living, and one child, Ed, who died at the age of
eighteen mouths.

Mr. Herrold takes an active interest in politics, casting his votes for the nominees of the Republican party. He has served as Justice of the Peace and member of the School Board. He and his wife are prominent members of the Restitution or Church of God. Mr. Herrold is one of the officials, being an Elder. In addition to their interest in church work, Mr. and Mrs. Herrold are very active in Sunday-school work, he being the Superintendent.

FLETCHER HERROLD, residing on section 10 in Cedar township, Sac county, Iowa, is the subject of the present sketch. He is one of the most prominent men of the township, coming here when a boy, in 1870. He was born in LaPorte county, Indiana, September 8, 1859, a son of Rev. Daniel R. Herrold, who was born in Athens county, Ohio, November 9, 1818, a prominent and early settler of Sac county and Cedar township, now deceased. He was a son of Daniel Herrold. who was born in the State of Pennsylvania, where the Herrold family are of much note. The grandmother of our subject bore the maiden name of Catherine Rhodes, and she was also a native of Pennsylvania.

Daniel R. Herrold was reared in Athens county, Ohio, was there educated, and on March 19, 1839 was married to Miss Harriet Herrold, who had been reared and educated there. She was the daughter of .Joseph and Elizabeth (Armitage) Herrold, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and the father's last days were spent in Indiana. D. R. in 1845 removed to LaPorte county, Indiana, and was there one of the early settlers. In 1865 he came to Louisa county, Iowa, remaining there five years and then moved to Cedar township, upon the land on which his son now resides. At that time the country was yet very wild and unsettled and he was one of the first of the pioneers. Here there now is a fine farm with a large grove, some of the land being rented out. He built a farm house, a barn, and helped largely to build a Methodist Church on his own land. He had a family of three children: David, one of the well-known settlers of this section, who went to Kansas in 1884, but now lives in the State of Washington, on Baker's bay, at the mouth of the Columbia river, engaged in salmon fishing. Mrs. S. A. Moody lives in Cedar township, and the third is our subject. Three children were removed by death, Thornton F., born in Athens county, Ohio, was a soldier in the Ninth Indiana Infantry, Company B, and was shot at Keuesaw Mountain, June 20, 1864, aged twenty-one years. He is buried in the National cemetery at Marietta, Georgia. The family have photographs of the grounds of the same, a beautiful cemetery, well cared for under the able supervision of A. B. Drum, superintendent, once a Union soldier himself. Would that all loyal hearts had such beautiful resting places. Harriet died at the age of eight years, and Mary when four years of age. D. R. Herrold died March 3, 1888. He had been a staunch Republican in life, and had held many offices of public trust, serving his township as Trustee and Treasurer. He was an earnest and active worker in the cause of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His widow resides on the old farm. Mrs. Moody was one of the early teachers and now is one of the most popular ones in Sac county.

Our subject married, in 1880, Miss Alma Elmore, a native of Indiana, and they have become the parents of three children: Sophia A., Nettie M. and Alma V. Politically, he is a Republican, and at present is serving his township as Trustee. He is a man of fine appearance and his frank and pleasant manner wins him friends at once.

WILLIAM HERROLD, one of the prominent and leading citizens of Coon Valley township. Sac county, Iowa, resides on a farm of 320 acres in section 29. A brief sketch of his life is herewith presented:

William Herrold was born in LaPorte, Indiana. February 18, 1848, son of Henry and Bellinda (Dorr) Herrold, the former of Dutch descent, born in Lancaster county, PemsyIvania, and the latter a native of Ohio. About 1834 his parents emigrated from Ohio to LaPorte, Indiana, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father passing away at the age of forty-five, and the mother some years before him. They reared a family of ten children, and four of their sons served in the army: Jonathan, a member of the Ninth Indiana, was killed at Murfreesborough, Tennessee, and Joseph and Henry, members of that same regiment, were both wounded, Joseph at the batttle of Shiloh, and Henry at Chickamauga; William enlisted in May, 1864, in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; was stationed in Tennessee, guarding railroads, and was honorably discharged in 1865.

Mr. Herrold spent his youth on a farm, and at work in a sawmill. After the war he emigrated to Iowa, and for seven years lived in Polk county, that State. In 1872 he came to Sac county, Iowa, and bought 200 acres of wild land in Coon Valley township. To his original purchase he added 120 acres, and now has one of the best farms on Coon river. His house is a story and a half, 14 x 20 feet, with an L, 14 x 22 feet, and his barn, the largest in the county, is 74 x 88 feet, with a capacity of 100 tons of hay, 3,000 bushels of corn, and 2,000 bushels of oats; 100 head of cattle, and thirty horses. Among the other improvements on his farm are a windmill and stock scales.

Mr. Herrold was married August 7, 1865, in La Porte county, Indiana, to Miss Mary M. Woolley, who received her birth and education in that county, and for some time was engaged in teaching there. She is a daughter of Daniel and Rachel (Christman) Woolley. They have nine children, namely: George W., Maggie R., Katie A.; Bertha M., teaching school; S. C., Walter J., Alice, Mary; and Lois. The two oldest children are married; one married a butcher, and the other a butcher's daughter.

Politically, Mr. Herrold is a Republican, and has held every office in the township, except Constable. He is a charter member of the William T. Sherman Post, G. A. R., Sac City. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active workers in both the church and Sunday-school, he being a Class-leader.

WOODRUFF HERROLD, a farmer of section 6, Coon Valley township, was born near Athens, Athens county, Ohio, August 17, 1846, a son of David and Mary (Dorr) Herrold, the former a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. When our subject was seven years of age the parents moved to LaPorte county, Indiana, where the father still resides, aged seventy-seven years. The mother died at the age of fifty-five years. Their son, David, was a soldier in the late war, in the Ninth Indiana Infantry, and now draws a pension. The father was a farmer and stock drover by occupation, having driven cattle over the mountains to New York and Philadelphia. In his political principles he was identified with the Republican party.

Woodruff Herrold, our subject, was early inured to farm labor, and has followed that occupation through life. In 1875 he purchased ninety-seven acres of land in Coon valley township, Sac county, Iowa, now well improved, and where he has a good, two-story residence, 10 x 24 feet, with an L, 14 x 18 feet, one and a half stories, with an addition, 18 x 28 feet, one story. He also has a grove, an orchard of small fruits, a barn, 24 x 32 feet, modern windwill, and everything necessary for a well-regulated farm.

In his political views Mr. Herrold votes with the Republican party, and has served as a member of the School Board, and Township Trustee and Clerk. He was married in LaPorte county, Indiana, at the age of twenty-five years, to Miss Mary S. Porten, a native of Athens county, Ohio, and a daughter of John M. and Mary (Herrold) Porten, natives also of Ohio. The father died in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Porten reared a family of twelve children, two of whom took part in the late war: Ellis B., in tho Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry; and John, in the same company.

Mr. and Mrs. Herrold have had eleven children: Dallas, a brakeman on the railroad; Clara, attending the normal school; Stanley, deceased at the age of twelve years; Alice, Weaver, Lewis, Charles, Rhoda; Sarah and Mary, twins; and John E. Mr. and Mrs. Herrold are members of the Free Methodist Church, and the former is one of the leading and prominent men in his county.

W. J. HIRONS, a farmer of Sac county, was born in Marion county, West Virginia, October 21, 1833, a son of Thomas Hirons, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and a member of an old and prominent family. He followed agricultural pursuits, and voted with the Whig party. He died when our subjecl was three rears of age, leaving a widow and nine children, six sons and three daughters. One son, John, was a soldier in the civil war. The mother died in Virginia, aged fifty-four years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W. J. Hirons, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and received but a limited education. From the age of eighteen years until 1855 he lived in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and then located near Epworth, Dubuque county, Iowa. While there he purshased three different farms, all of which he sold at a profit. In 1880 Mr. Hirons bought the farm of W. W. Parker, an old settler of the township, and he now owns 171 acres of good and well-improved land, located one and one-fourth miles from Early. His beautiful dwelling, 14 x 22 feet, with an L, 14 x 16 feet, is well located, has one of the best groves in Sac county, containing fifteen acres, has three acres of orchard, one of small fruits, two barns, one 32 x 40 feet, and the other 16 x 24 feet, with rock basements, and all other necessary improvements.

Mr. Hirons was married in Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Nancy J. Hartley, who was born, reared and educated in that county, a daughter of Peter and Amy (Morley) Hartley, natives also of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of three children: Joseph; Harriett, wife of Mr. Ruffcorn; and Mrs. Hirons. Mr. and Mrs. Hartley died in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Our subject and wife have seven children, namely: Charles Harvey, William P., Carrie V., George W., Emily A., Lewis Wesley and Frank E. Carrie V. was formerly a teacher, and is now the wife of George Ham, of Delaware township. The children are all well educated, and three, C. Harvey. Carrie V. and William P., have attended the Epworth College, of Dubuque county, Iowa. Walter G. is now a student of Mt. Vernon College, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Hirons lost two children, Mary E., the second child, died at the age of two years; and Virginia, the fifth child, died when a babe.

Our subject affiliates with the Republican party, has served as a member of the School Board, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Boyer Lodge, No. 475. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

L. C. HOLDRIDGE, a prominent farmer and stock-dealer of Boyer Valley township, and a well-known citizen, is the subject of the present sketch. He settled here in 1878, having bought land here in 1873. He was born in Chenango county, New York, June 29, 1851, and is the son of Clark and Lucinda (Loomis) Holdridge, natives of Chenango county. The father now resides in Camden county, New Jersey, aged seventy-eight years, but the mother died when our subject was about two and one-half years of age. She left four children, three of whom are yet living: Albertus died at the age of ten years; W. D. married a farmer of Clinton township, Sac county; Mattie A. resides in DeKalb county, Illinois; and L. C. is our subject. In time the father married again, and the two children of the second marriage are named Ora and Newton. He has always followed an agricultural life, and has successfully grown fruit and carried on the dairy business. He has always been active in the Republican party.

Our subject was reared in New York, educated in the common schools there, and remained until 1866, when he went to New Jersey, where he remained two years, then returned to New York, thence to Illinois when a lad of seventeen, and finally located in DeKalb county, near Courtland. Here he resided until 1878, when he came to Sac county, locating where he has since resided. Our subject owns a good farm of 160 acres, which he has in a high state of improvement. His land is good arable soil, and he has it well cultivated. The residence of our subject is one of the neat homes of Iowa, a structure of a story and a half, 16 x 24, with an L, 16 x 22, and a fine barn, 48 x 48, in connection with which he has a hog house, sheds, granary, stock scales, and all the other adjuncts of a well-ordered farm. A fine grove is also a pleasant feature of the place. He is engaged in dealing in stock, in dairy farming, milking as many as twenty cows, and in feeding a great many head of stock.

Our subject was married June 16, 1872, to Miss S. Townsend, who was born, reared and educated in this county. She is the daughter of Henry Townsend, an early pioneer of DeKalb county, who settled there in 1839, taking up a Government claim when all the land was new, and Chicago was the nearest market. The name of the mother of Mrs. Holdridge was Emily Harrison, born in Lincolnshire, England. The father died in 1882, but the mother is still living at the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Holdridge had a brother named Sanford who took part in the late war, and now resides in Lake City. Iowa.

Our subject and wife have a family of six children: Arthur Ray, Guy, Clark, Emily Ethel, Elma L. and George L. Our subject takes an active interest in politics, and votes with the Republican party. He is one of the Trustees now serving his third term, and has been on the School Board for a number of years in some capacity. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Encampment. He is a man in the prime of life, frank and cordial in his manner, and is one of the honored citizens of Boyer Valley township.

ADAM HOVENDEN, of Sac county, Iowa, was born in Ireland January 8, 1841, a son of Adam and Margaret (Holland) Hovenden. The parents emigrated to America in an early day, locating in Essex county, New York, between Lake George and Lake Champlain. They reared a family of four children: William, a member of the Fifth Kansas Cavalry during the war, died in Kentucky; John, a member of the same company, resides in Iowa; Thomas, of Wheeler township, Sac county; and Adam, our subject. The father was a saddler by trade, took an active interest in the Republican party, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. His death occurred in Essex county, New York. The mother departed this life at the age of forty-six years.

Adam Hovenden, the subject of this sketch, was reared to farm life, and received a common school education. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirty-fourth New York Infantry, Company H, served two years, and took part in the battles of Edward Ferry, near Ball's Bluff, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, in the Seven days' fight before Richmond, in the second battle of Malvern Hill, ami in the retreat at Bull Bun. He was wounded in the left leg by a minie ball at Antietam, also receiving a slight wound on the nose at Ball's Bluff. Mr. Hovenden was confined in the hospital in Philadelphia, corner of Broad and Cherry streets, next transferred to Germantown, and was honorably discharged in L863. He returned to Essex county, New York, and in March, 1864, removed to Clinton county, Iowa, settling near Maquoketa. In 1874 he took up his residence in Levey township, Sac county, but in 1892 settled on his present place, section 23, Clinton township, Sac county.

Mr. Hovenden was married in Clinton county, Iowa, at the age of twenty-seven years, to Adelia J. Angell, who was born, reared and educated in Jefferson county, New York, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Linton) Angell, the former a native of Oneida county, New York, and the latter of Maryland. They reared a family of eight children, and one son, Byron, took part in the late war, in an Iowa regiment. He now resides in Floyd county, this State. The father was a sailor and farmer by occupation, and politically was identified with the Republican party. He died at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother died at the age of sixty-eight years. They were members of the Methodist Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Hovenden have ten living children, as follows: Myra, Maggie, Delbert, John, Charles, Willis, Flora, Leila, Bee and Darlow. Myra, a successful and popular teacher of Lake View, is the wife of Charles Schanck. Maggie, also a successful teacher of this county, is the wife of Philo Slaughter. Our subject and wife lost two children by death, Mary, aged sixteen months, and Leland, two months.

Mr. Hovenden votes with the Republican party, and socially, is a member of Colonel Goodrich Post, No. 117, of Odebolt. He and his wife are members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Chnrch of Clinton township, in which they also take an active interest in Sabbath-school work.

BYRON L. HOVEY, a farmer and one of the well-known and representative citizens of Wall Lake township, Sac county, was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, April 24, 1844, a son of Andrew Jackson Hovey, a native of that State. The latter's father, Ziba Hovey, was born New England, of Scotch ancestry, and was an early pioneer of Genesee county, New York. The mother of our subject, nee Lydia Lynes, a native also of New York, was a daughter of .lames and Polly (Allen) Lynes. The father was of Irish ancestry, and was a soldier in the war of L812, and the mother was a relative of General Ethan Allen. Mr. and and Mrs. Andrew J. Hovey located in Bremer County, Iowa, when onr subject was thirteen rears of age, later settled near Waverly, Butler county, where they were among the early pioneers. The father died in the latter county in 1876, aged sixty-two years. He was a carpenter by trade, but followed farming in Iowa; politically, was formerly a Democrat. but voted with the Republican party after Lincoln's administration; and was a member of the Baptist Church. The mother is still living at the old homestead in Butler county, where she has resided for thirty-three years.

Byron L. Hovey was reared and educated in his native State. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seveuth Iowa Infantry, under General A. J. Smith, and served in Tennessee and Mississippi, he was honorably discharged at Clinton, Iowa, in August, 1885, after which he resumed farming in Butler county, Iowa. In 1876 he purchased ninety seven acres of wild land in Wall Lake township, Sac county, now well improved, and where he has a good residence, 20 x 21 feet and a barn, 20 x 24 feet. He also has a beautiful grove and orchard of three acres.

December 3, 1868, in Butler county, Iowa, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Fannie P. Bromley, a native of Essex county, New York, and daughter of Charles and S. L. (Woodruff) Bromley, natives of New York. The parents reared a family of nine chilren, three boys and six daughters. The sons took part in the late war: C. T., a member of the Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry, resides in Butler county, Iowa; A. C., in the Twentysecond New York Infantry, is engaged in the pension office at Washington, District of Columbia; and S. G., in the Ninety-sixth New York, died In Butler county, Iowa, December 15, 1870. The mother died March 11,1870, and the father departed this life at Sac City, Iowa, September 20, L883, aged eighty years. The father was a mill-sawyer and farmer, a Republican in his political views, and a member of the Baptist Church. The mother was a member of the Methodist Church.

Mrs. Hovey was educated in her native place, where she was connected with the schools as teacher for thirteen years. She was also a teacher in the Cook county, Illinois, schools from 1863 to 1866, and also taught in Butler and Sac counties, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Hovey are members of the Methodist Church. The former affiliates with the Republican party, and socially, is a member of William T. Sherman Post, No. 284, of Sac City. He is one of the well-known and honored citizens of Wall Lake township.

JOHN S. HOWARD, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, of Cedar township, and one of the representative men of the township, settled here in 1886. He was born in Wapello county, Iowa, near Ottumwa, May 26, 1845, son of John Samuel and Sarah (Sulgrove) Howard, natives of Ohio. The father was a son of John Howard, a native of Kentucky, and the maternal grandfather of our subject was reared in the same State. The mother of our subject is still living, residing in Wapello county, Iowa. When the family first arrived in Iowa it still was a Territory and Indians were much more plentiful than the white settlers. The family settled in Polk county in 1852, locating ten miles north of Des Moines, where the father died, aged seventy-eight years. His wife makes her home on the homestead and has reached the age of seventy-eight. She and her husband reared a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, eight of the children now living.

Our subject was the second son and fifth child. He was seven or eight years of age when the family moved to Polk county, Iowa, and therefore received his education in the common schools of that county. During the summer months he assisted his father and brothers in tilling the soil. In 1864 he enlisted in the First Iowa Battery stationed at Woodville, Alabama, later going to Scottsborougb, Georgia. He participated in the battles of Chattanooga; Resaca, Georgia; Atlanta, Dallas, Kingston, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Chattahoochee River; Marietta, Georgia; Peach Orchard, forty days' siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro. Thence returned against General Hood's force to Chattanooga; thence to Nashville, Tennessee, from which city they proceeded up the river a hundred miles guarding a woodyard; then returned to Nashville where they fought General Hood. The regiment was mustered out of service at Davenport, Iowa, July 6, 1865. During his term of service our subject was injured by a horse falling upon him.

At the close of the war he returned home to Polk county, where he remained until L886, when he came to Sac county and purchased an improved farm of 120 acres from John Ellis. Since his purchasing of his property he has continued it in the good State of cultivation it was in when it came into his possession. His residence is a comfortable frame one, with dimensions of 16 x 26 feet, ami an L, 14 x 16 feet. A fine grove and orchard of about three acres are also to be found on this model farm. Mr. Howard engages in general farming and stock-raising on his land and all his fields testify to his industry.

He was married August 31, 1872, in Polk county, Iowa, to Miss Melissa Cantril, born in Afton, Union county, Iowa, where she was reared and educated.

Mrs. Howard is a daughter of Fletcher S. Cantril, born in Indiana, but an early pioneer of Iowa, being one of the first settlers of Union county, Iowa, where he resided until 1884, when he removed to Dayton, Washington, where he and his wife still reside. The maiden name of the latter was Jane Hartsel, and she was a native of Indiana. By occupation the father is a carpenter and builder. To the parents of Mrs. Howard ten children were born, six daughters of whom are living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Howard six children have been born, three sons and three daughters, namely: Robert A., A. Fletcher, Addie Alice, John Akin, Oscar Orlando, Oliver Otis.

Mr. Howard takes an interest in political matters, voting with the Democratic party and is a member of the School Board. He and his wife are members of the Church of God. He is one of the progressive, enterprising men of the township and takes an active part in all improvements tending to the benefit of the township.

HORACE S. HUNTER, a prominent resident of section 5, Douglas township, Sac county, Iowa, is an early settler of the county, and one of her ex-soldiers. He was born in Franklin county, Vermont, July 28, 1834, a son of Alanson, also born in Vermont, where he was the son of Timothy, who was born in New England of some of those who settled there in the earliest times. The mother of our subject had been named Sarah Malory, and was a native of Vermont, born of an old Vermont family. In 1846, when our subject was a boy of twelve years, the family removed to Huron county, Ohio, and there the father died at the age of thirty-four, and the mother in Benzie county, Michigan. She had been born in 1806, hence was seventy-seven years old at her decease, and in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

At the death of Mr. Hunter there was a family of wife and seven children, five sons and two daughters, and all five sons testified to their love of country by enlisting in the late war. Our subject entered the One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry; Stephen W. was in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and now lives in Henry county, Ohio; Hiram A., the Thirteenth Ohio Infantry. He was captured and spent fourteen terrible months in Andersonville and Libby prisons; Orren C. was a member of the Old Ninth Indiana Infantry, and lives in Michigan; Milo C. was in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, and lives at Lake Charles, Louisiana. Hiram A. lives in Wood county, Ohio.

The mother married a second time, becoming Mrs. Ephraham Lewis. Our subject's father was a carpenter by trade and also engaged in farming. In politics he was a Whig. In 1845 our subject removed to Porter county, Indiana, and was living there at the outbreak of the war, in 1863 moving to Ohio. He enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, and was sent to Johnson's Island to guard rebel prisoners there and at other points, and was honorably discharged after the war, and settled in Wood county, Ohio, but in 1869 he came to Sac county, Iowa. He first rented land, but in 1872 he bought eighty acres of wild land. He has prospered and is now a man of independent means, owning 400 acres of fine land, with all his surroundings of houses, barns, lots, sheds, meadows, orchards and lawns in fine shape. His residence is one of the pleasant ones which attract the traveler through the rural districts of the State of Iowa. It is one and one-half stories in height, with dimensions of 16 x 20 feet, with an addition of 20 x 12 feet. His choice orchard and grove contains eight acres. The commodious barn is 32 x 54 feet, the cattle barn, 32 x 38 feet, and the hog barn, convenient for the swine. A great modern windmill supplies water for the stock. On section 6 our subject has erected a new frame house of a story and a half, 14 x 18 feet, with an addition of 16 x 18, and here there is a fine orchard and grove of five acres, and in 1892 our subject, on this place, fed 100 head of cattle.

Mr. Hunter was married March 6, 1853, in Porter county, Indiana, near Valparaiso, to Laura A. Dell, a native of Huron county, Ohio, and a daughter of Solomon and Eliza R. (Fay) Dell. Mrs. Hunter was reared in Coshocton county, Ohio. The mother of Mrs. Hunter died in Indiana at the age of fifty-two years, and the father lives in Pulaski county, Indiana, now at the age of seventy-six. The latter is a Deacon in the Christian Church. He is the fathe r of three sons and three daughters. One son, Jesse, was a member of an Indiana regiment during the war.

Mr. and Mrs. Hunter were the parents of six children, as follows: Eliza Ann Rodda, who has four children; W. H. has one child; John C. lives on a farm of 160 acres; Charles A.; Harry and Forrest. One daughter, Sarah Ellen, the wife of Frank Peck, died, leaving one boy, named Claude E.

Politically, our subject is a Republican, and has honorably held the positions of Township Trustee, Clerk, Justice of the Peace, Assessor and Treasurer. He is a member of the Gr. A. R., Newell Post, No. 416.

R0LLIN M. HUNTER, County Attorney of Sac county, has held this position since the general election of 1890. He has been a resident of Sac county since L883.

Mr. Hunter is a native of Story county, Iowa, born December 29, 1858, son of Robert M. and Elizabeth (Garberson) Hunter, natives of the northern part of Richland and Marion counties, Ohio. The parents were residents of Story county, Iowa, farmers by occupation, and have been residents of the State since 1854. The forefathers of the Hunter family were natives of Wales and England, while those of the mother's family were from England and Germany.

Our subject was reared in Story county to farm life, there received his education in the common schools, and remained until he attained bis majority. In this county he then engaged in teaching, but in the spring of L880 he entered the Agricultural College at Ames, from which be graduated in the general course, in the fall of 1883. At this time he came to Wall Lake, where he engaged in teaching, devoting his leisure moments to the reading of law. So carefully did he attend to the latter business that he was admitted to the bar May 15, 1884, since which time he has devoted himself to his practice, although not to the entire exclusion of other interests. He has been very successful in handling real estate. For two years he has been honored by the citizens of Wall Lake with the position of Mayor, and is considered one of the most prominent men of the county. Mr. Hunter is a member of A. F. & A. M., Lake Lodge, No. 390, Darius Chapter, No. 58, and he has been Master of his lodge for four years. Politically, our subject is a Democrat, and has taken great and active interest in the deliberations of his party.

He was married in Colebrook, New Hampshire, October 2, 1889, to Miss Anna L. Carlton, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Edward and Nancy (Fuller) Carlton, both natives of New Hatnpshire, of English descent.

When our subject was elected to the office of County Attorney, on the Democratic ticket, it was an especial honor, as the county was 500 Republican. This he overcame and received a majority of twenty-three votes.

WILLIAM IMPSON—Almost forty years ago the honored subject of this sketch located in what was then a wild and unsettled section, but which now is one of the most favored parts of the great State of Iowa. He is recorded as settling in Lake City, Sac county, Iowa, August 8, 1854, where he lived about a year engaged in trapping and hunting. Later he broke ten acres for a farm, and in the spring of 1856 he located on Coon river north of Grant City, where be opened up a farm, and in 1861 he came to Grant City.

Our subject was born in Pike county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1824, the son of Samuel and Martha (Snyder) Impson, natives of Pike county, and in 1825 removed to Tompkins county, New York, and in 1833 to Bradford county, Pennsylvania. This removal was followed by another, in 1838, to New York, and in 1857 to Van Buren county, Michigan. They are both deceased.

Our subject was reared in New York and in Pennsylvania, and attended the schools of both States, and in 1844 made his way to Cass county, Michigan, where he engaged in the lumber and shingle business, also doing some farming until 1853, when he removed to Illinois, first settling in Iroquois county, and in 1854 removed into Calhoun county, Iowa, whence he went into Sac county, following a life of hunting and trapping for some time.

Our subject was married in Van Bnren county, Michigan, to Miss Helen Jane Condron, native of Ohio, the daughter of John and Mary (Williams) Condron, the mother being a native of Ohio and the father of Pennsylvania. In 1856 they came to Sac county, Iowa. The father and mother are both deceased.

Our subject aided in the organization of Sac county, formerly Fox, and also in the township organization. He was the second Sheriff of Sac county, serving two terms in that office; was Township Trustee and Road Supervisor. In 1860 he removed to Grant City, seeing an opening there for a good business in wagon-making and blacksmithing and did all of the work in that line.

Socially, he is a member of Jephtha Lodge, No. 28, A. F. & A. M., and also is a member of Sac City Chapter. Also our subject holds a membership in the lodge of Good Templars. Mr. and Mrs. Impson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which body Mr. Impson is a Trustee and a teacher in the Sunday-school. He and his good wife have been the parents of three children: Andrew M. is married and resides in Carroll, Iowa; Mary Melissa is the wife of George Hicks, of Grant City; and William L. is also married and lives in Auburn, Iowa.

Our subject was one of the earliest pioneers, has witnessed the wonderful growth of the country and has assisted in much of its improvement. He was one of the surveyors of East Des Moines, and has been actively identified with the county for tha last thirty-eight years.

C. W. IRWIN, a prosperous and well-to-do citizen, living near Wall Lake, Iowa, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1858, one of a family of seven sons and three daughters. His parents, W. H. and Mary (Waugh) Irwin, moved with their family to Clinton county, Iowa, when he was a mere lad, and in that county he was reared on a farm. They still reside in Clinton county.

Upon his arrival in Sac county, the subject of our sketch bought wild land in Clinton township, and to his original purchase has added until he is the owner of 240 acres, all of which is rich soil and now under a high state of cultivation. In 1890 he had the misfortune to lose by fire his barn and contents, including eight horses, the loss amounting to $4,000. He has since rebuilt, the dimensions of his present bam being 44 x 74 feet. His residence is a two-story frame, 22 x 26 feet. A windmill, stock scales, and fine orchard and grove are among hie other improvements.

Mr. Irwin was married in Sac county, Iowa, in 1882, to Miss Sarah C. Crozer, a native of Cedar county, this State, and a daughter of R. and Hannah (Hauley) Crozer, natives of Ohio, and now residents of Lake View, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Crozer reared a family of nine children, two daughters and seven sons. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin have five children: Edna May, Jesse LeRoy, George R., Louis E. and Frank.

Mr. Irwin is one of the "wheel horses" of the Republican party in his township, and is prominently identified with local affairs here, having served as delegate to conventions, and in other official capacities. Indeed, he takes an active interest in every thing for the good of the community.

L. E. IRWIN, a well-known citizen of Clinton township, resides on a farm of 280 acres in the vicinity of Wal! Lake, Sac county, Iowa.

Mr. Irwin dates his birth in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1857. His father, W. H. Irwin, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, of English ancestry, and the son of a Revolutionary soldier. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Mary Waugh, she being a native of Ireland. In 1867 W. H. Irwin and his family came to Iowa, and located in Clinton county, near Maquoketa. There the father engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is still a resident of Clinton county. L. E., C. W., W. D., W. H., and Jennie, wife of L. Davenport, are five of their children.

L. E. Irwin was reared to farm life, and was educated in the district schools. In 1877 he came to Clinton township, Sac county, and bought eighty acres of wild land, which he has improved, and to which he has since added until he now has 360 acres. Among the improvements on this place we note the following: frame residence, story and a half, 14 x 24 feet, with an L, 14 x 20 feet; barn, 44 x 56 feet; second barn, 38 x 44 feet; windmill, and fine grove and orchard. He devotes considerable attention to stock, keeping a good grade of cattle and Poland-China and Berkshire hogs.

Mr. Irwin was married March 16, 1884, in Clinton county, Iowa, to Lois E. Paulus [Panlus ?], who received her birth and education in that county, and who is the daughter of Peter and Maggie E. (Hibbs) Paulus [Panlus ?], natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively. Her parents came to Sac county, Iowa, in 1888, and are now residents of Lake View. They reared four children: Frank, Lois, Kate and Etta. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin have had five children, three of whom are living: Lawrence William, Orrie F. and Flossie F. Josie Emma died at the age of fourteen months, she being the second born: and Ruby Z., the fourth child, died at the age of seven months.

He affiliates with the Republican party, and has served the public as a member of the School Board, and has also been a Justice of the Peace three years. Mrs. Irwin is a member of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church.

M. A. IRWIN, one of the prominent farmers of Coon Valley township, Sac county, Iowa, was born in Des Moines county, this State, November 10, 1854. His parents, Robert and Mary (Bales) Irwin, were born and married in Ohio, his father a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry. After their marriage they came West and located near Burlington, Iowa, and from there subsequently moved to Tama county. In early life Robert Irwin was engaged in clerking, but later settled on a farm and has since been identified with agricultural pursuits. He is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He and his wife reared a family of six children, namely: M. A., N. B., E. E., Tama L., George and Minnie.

The subject of our sketch was reared to farm life and received his education in the common schools of Tama county and at Iowa City. From 1876 until 1879 he lived in Des Moines county, and from there came to his present location in Sac county. Here he first bought eighty acres, afterward purchased forty acres more, and now owns 120 acres in section 23, which is well improved and nicely cultivated. His residence, a story and a half, is 14 x 18 feet, with an L, 12 x 16 feet, and he has a good barn, 24 x 32 feet, with 16-foot posts. A modern windmill and an orchard and grove of three acres are among the other improvements on his farm.

At the age of twenty-seven Mr. Irwin was married to Miss Sarah Wolf, a native of Stephenson county, Illinois, and a daughter of Daniel Wolf. Her father was a soldier in the late war and died while in the service. She died in 1882. In 1883 Mr. Irwin married her half-sister, Miss Jennie Greenwalt, daughter of Benjamin Greenwalt. They have six children: Roy L., Ruby May, Robert Benjamin, Gracie E., Lola May and Lillian.

He is a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

JAMES JACKSON, a successful farmer of Sac county, Iowa, was born in Cumberland county. England, March 10, 1842, a son of James and Margaret (Ruddl Jackson, natives also of England. When our subject was twelve years of age the parents located near Niagara Falls, in Canada, three years later went to Delaware county, Iowa, where they were among the early pioneer settlers of Bremer township, and next to Delhi, this State. They both died in the latter place, in 1887, the father at the age of seventy-eight years, and the mother aged seventy-three years. They were the parents of ten children.

James Jackson, the subject of this sketch, was early inured to farm labor, and received a good education at Lenox Collegiate Institute at Hopkinton, Iowa. After leaving school he was a successful and popular teacher seventeen terms. In August 1862, at Lincoln's call for 300,000 more volunteers, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, Company K, and participated in the battles of Hartville, Fort Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely and Mobile. At Hartville, Missouri, he was wounded in the right wrist and left shoulder, and was honorably discharged at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1873, Mr. Jackson located on wild land in Sac county, Iowa, and he now owns 200 acres of good and well improved land, with a dwelling, 22 x 26 feet, and an L, 12 x 16 feet, a grove of thirteen acres, and an orchard of one acre.

Mr. Jackson was married in Delaware county, Iowa, April 3, 1867, to Ursula Fitzsimmons, who was born in Vermont, September 7, 1846, a daughter of C. P. and Ursula (Hitchcock) Fitzsimmons, early and well-known citizens of Delaware township, Sac county. Our subject and wife have six children: Reuben J., Emma W., W. E., Charles F., Birdie L., and J. Atlee. The great loss of Mr. Jackson's life was in the death of his beloved wife, December 22, 1889. She was a most estimable lady, an affectionate wife and mother, and was beloved by all who knew her.

Politically, Mr. Jackson takes an active interest in the Republican party, has served as Justice of the Peace, as Township Trustee, and as President of the School Board. Socially, he is a charter member of the G. A. R., McDowell Post, No. 391, and also a member of the A. O. U. W. He is a member and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sabbath-school.

JOSEPH JONES.—The subject of the present sketch is the senior member of the Grant City Mills Company, of Grant City, Iowa. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, April 12, 1826, and was a son of Charles Jones, who was born in North Carolina and who came to Preble county, Ohio, when a boy. His wife, Anna Bogue, was born in South Carolina. They belonged to the Society of Quakers, and became the parents of eight children. Of those surviving, William lives in Cass county, Michigan, a retired fanner; Keziah lives in Cass county; and Joseph is our subject, one of the prominent men of Iowa. In 1830 the parents of our subject removed to Michigan, where they were pioneers, this being before the Indians were removed west of the Mississippi river. Mr. Jones settled in Penn township, in Cass county, and there the mother died at the age of sixty-two years, and the father in later years, at the age of seventy-three. In politics he had been a Whig.

Our subject was reared to farm life, educated in the subscription schools, assisted in opening up the home farm, and in 1865 he came to Sac county, locating in Sac township, where be bought 115 acres of land, which he has put in a fine state of cultivation, and this he still owns. He was married at the age of twenty-two in Cass county, Michigan, to Charlotte Crigo, daughter of Rudolph and Elsie (Strinehan) Crigo. To our subject and wife five children have been born, as follows: Rosetta, wife of Abram Rasler, of Auburn, Sac county; Emma, wife of William Leland, of Hawarden, Iowa; William, the minister of the Methodist Church at Oklahoma; Frank J., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but is now at college at Evanston, Illinois, although he resides at Calista, Illinois; George H. lives at Grant City. Emma, William and Frank have been identified with the educational interests of the county as teachers. Ruliff [?] died at the age of thirteen
years.

Our snbject became connected with the milling interests of Grant City in 1887, and his partner, Mr. Dumer, has been so connected for the past twenty years. The present mill was erected in 1881, and is a good frame building, with good machinery, with three run of buhrs.

Mr. Jones is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Trustee. He has always taken a deep interest in the advancement of the county, ami has regarded educational and church interests as very important. He assisted very materially in the building of the church in Grant City. In politics he is a prohibitionist, having formerly been a Republican.

PROF. CHARLES H. JUMP.—The subject of this sketch has held the responsible position of principal of the public schools of Early since September, 1892. The schools are divided into three grades and the Professor is ably assisted by his wife, who has charge of the intermediate department, In comparing the enrollment of the non-resident pupils for the first four months of the year 1892-'93, with that of the nine months of the year 1891-'92, it will be found that the former averages 63.5, while the other averages 84. Under the skillful management of Prof. Jump the school is steadily improving and will soon have the largest enrollment of non-resident pupils in the county, as it has now the second. The school has a fine library and is well supplied with good apparatus.

Prof. Jump came to Sac county in 1889, although he did not enter directly into educational work until September, 1890, when he assumed charge of the Auburn schools, remaining in that capacity until called upon to occupy his present position. Previous to his locating in Sac county, Prof. Jump had been identified with the schools of Erie county, Ohio, for some nine years, coming directly from Sandusky to Sac county.

Our subject was bom in Canajoharie, New York, June 26, L864, son of Amos and Nancy (Wawful) Jump, natives of New York, the former of whom removed in 1886 to Huron county, Ohio, settling at East Townsend, where he still resides, and is engaged in the manufacturing business. The mother died in Cauajoharie, New York, in 1868. Our subject received his education in the University of Ohio, taking the classical course. Later he took a course at the National Commercial College at Oberlin, graduating with the class of 1884. Since that time he has successfully engaged in teaching. Before settling in Iowa he made several trips to Sac county and was so well pleased with the country and people that he decided to settle there.

Prof. Jump was married in Sac county, July 13, 1890, to Miss Estella May Booth, a native of Henderson county, Illinois, but was taken by her parents to Ida county when eleven years of age, and educated in Ida Grove. After finishing her education she engaged in teaching in Logan township for a year or so, when she was engaged by the Board of Directors in Blaine township, and taught there for about the same time. In 1891 she assumed charge of the primary department of the Auburn schools, and since September, 1892, has had charge of the intermediate department at Early. She is a lady of fine intellectual attainments, and is a favorite with both pupils and patrons.

Prof. Jump is very active in all educational matters; is Secretary of the County Association, and has served very creditably as Instructor in the Sac County institutes. He makes a specialty of penmanship and is a very excellent teacher of the art. One of the best known educators of the Northwest, in speaking of Prof. Jump, made use of the following language: "In point of scholarship, he is clear, concise, and broad. His experience extends over several years. His reputation as an instructor and as a disciplinarian is excellent."

Socially he is connected with the Lodge of St. Elmo, No. 462, A. F. & A. M., and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Jump is a very efficient and popular member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a faithful worker in the Sunday- chool. Both the Professor and his accomplished wife are deservedly popular among the good people of Early, and the school under their skillful management bids fair to become one of the best of its size in that portion of the State.

DAVID KING, one of the Trustees of Cedar township, Sac county, Iowa, is one of the prominent and leading citizens of the place. He located in the township in 1881, coming to Sac county from Boone county, Iowa, where he had resided two years. Mr. King was horn in Scotland, near Glasgow, December 19, 1850, a son of Hugh and Isabelle (Brownlee) King, both natives of Scotland. When our subject was three years of age the family removed to the United States and located in Jersey City, New Jer>ey, where they remained two years, then removed to LaSalle county, Illinois, locating near Ottawa. The father was a miller and wheelwright by trade, and pursued his calling during life. in politics he was a Republican, and in religion a Presbyterian. He died in Benton county, Indiana, while his wife is still living, a resident of the same county and State. Six children were reared by them, four of whom are living.

From the time our subject was five years of age, 1855, he was reared in LaSalle county, Illinois, where he received a common school education. When sixteen years of age he went to Benton county, Indiana, with his parents. Upon coming to Sac county, in 1881, he purchased 160 acres of land on section 17, Cedar township, which he proceeded to improve and add to until he owned 340 acres, all well improved. This he sold in 1891 to C. Henthorn, of Woodford county, Illinois, and bought 820 acres of well improved land in the same township the following fall. His residence is a comfortable, two-story one, with dimensions of 16 x 24 feet, and an L, 2G x 24 feet, one story in height. His substantial barn has dimensions of 32 x 24 feet. On this fine farm Mr. King carries on general farming and stock-feeding.

The marriage of our subject occurred November, 1872, in Benton county, Indiana, with Miss Jane Langley, horn in Madison county, Indiana, near Anderson, where she was reared and educated. She is a daughter of Milton and Margaret (Hollingsworth) Langley, natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana. The latter was reared in her native State. Both parents reside in Indiana, where the father pursues his vocations of painting and farming. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in religion. Seven children were horn in the family of which Mrs. King is a member, four sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. King have had three children born to them, namely: William, Margaret and Hugh. Mr. King takes an active interest in politics, using all his influence and casting his vote for the nominees of the Republican party. He was elected to the office of Township Trustee in 1889, and was reelected to the same office. In addition he served as a member of the School Board.

Mr. King is a progressive, wide-awake man who has the interest of the township at heart, and is always ready to lend a helping hand to whatever promises to be of service to the community.

J. P. KRUSER, one of the representative citizens of Wall Lake township, Sac county, Iowa, resides on a farm of 120 acres in section 20. Having been identified with the interests of this place since 1876, he is well known here, and is entitled to some personal consideration on the pages of this work.

Mr. Kruser was born in Sleswick, Germany, then a part of Denmark, May 10, 1851, son of Peter P. and Mettie Kruser, natives of Denmark. His mother is deceased. Until he was twenty his life was spent on a farm in his native land. In 1871 he turned his face toward America, and in due time landed in Baltimore, Maryland. Seven months later he came West to Sabula, Jackson county, Iowa, and the following year was employed in railroad work. Then he engaged in farming in Clinton county. In 1876 he came to Sac county, and for a few years farmed on rented land in Clinton township. After that he bought land in section 20, Wall Lake township, and has since devoted his attention to the cultivation and improvement of this property. He has a nice cottage borne, 22 x 24 feet; his bam is 40 x 40 feet, and he baa a nice grove ami orchard. He raises grain and keeps a dairy, milking an average of ten cows.

Mr. Kruser was married in Sac county, [owa, in 1877, to Miss Emma Goodenow, who received her birth and education in Clinton county, this State, and who is a daughter of James B. and Elizabeth (Ogden) Goodenow, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. Her father died in Clinton county, Iowa. Her mother resides in Sac county, making her home with her daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Kruser have one child, Anna Elizabeth, born October 7, 1888.

Mr. Kruser affiliates with the Republican party. He was elected Township Trustee in 1892, has served as Road Supervisor, and is at this time President of the School Board. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, while Mrs. Kruser is a Methodist. Mr. Kruser is practically a self-made man, having accumulated what he has by his own energy and good management.

D. M. LAMOREUX, a resident of Douglas township, section 36, is one of the prominent and well-known citizens of Sac county, Iowa. He came here in November, 1868. He was born in Monroe, Orange county, New York, November 24, 1847, a son of W. V. Lamoreux, who was a prominent pioneer of the county. He also was born in Orange county, New York, and came here with his family in 1868, aud has been an active business man ever since. He was a son of Robert Lamoreux, whose grandfather had been born in Paris, France. The family was one of the Huguenots, and came to this country and settled in Orange county among the first who selected that place as a home. All students of the history of the different countries are well aware of the religious persecution which drove the French Huguenots from their native country.

The grandmother of our subject was named Hannah Brooks, who was born in Orange county, her parents having come thither from Bucks county, Pennsylvania. She was reared and educated in Orange county, and her son, W. V., was also so reared and educated. While still a young man he engaged in the lumber trade, and later engaged in merchandising. He was married to Miss Julia Mapes, a native of New York and a dauohter of Rumsey and Mary (Ramsay) Mapes. By this marriage one son was born, Robert, a prominent citizen and business man of Sac City. The second marriage of W. V. Lamoreux was to Miss Mary J. Green, who was born, reared and educated in New York, a daughter of Daniel Green. In 1857 the family removed to Marathon county, Wisconsin, near Wausau. At that time the country was but sparsely settled, and the most of the land was owned by the Government. Here Mr. Lamoreux engaged in lumbering until 1868, when he removed his family to Sac City. Here he kept one of the first hotels in the place, but in the spring of 1874 he, with our subject, located upon the land where they now live. By his second marriage Mr. Lamoreux had a family of five children, three of whom are yet living: Daniel M.; Susan, the wife of B. T. Single, of Wausau, Wisconsin; and W. R.,of Marshalltown, Iowa.

Our subject was a boy of ten years when he first came to Marathon, Wisconsin, where he grew up and received his education, and engaged there for a time in lumbering, but in 1868 he accompanied his father to Sac City as above stated. He farms and rents, and has one of the best farms in Sac county, consisting of 579 acres of rich land, well improved and with every surronnding, as it should be in a well-ordered modern farm.

It is a one and one-half story residence, 16 x 24 feet, with an L two stories high, 18 x 24 feet, is beautifully situated in the midst of a nice grove of seven acres. His cattle are well cared for in a barn built for their especial care, 24 x 32 feet, while his immense farm barn, with its 16-foot posts and itsvast dimensions of 40 x 66 feet, attracts attention for many mile8 around. He has an abundance of feed lots, yards, etc., with a fine windmill, scales and every provision for the carrying on of a fine farm, where our subject successfully carries on stock-raising and feeding, and also has a tine dairy, keeping from fifteen to twenty cows. He also is interested in short-horn cattle and owns some line specimens.

Our subject was married in December, 1872, in Sac City, to Miss Alice Armstrong, an intelligent lady, who was born and reared in Walworth county, Wisconsin, and was one of the first teachers in Boyer Valley township, Sac county, Iowa, and was one of the most highly appreciated teachers before marriage. Her father, J. E. Armstrong, is the Mayor of Sac City, and the maiden name of her mother was Dolly DeMotte. Mrs. Lamoreux has one sister, Mrs. J. W. Nutter. Our subject and wife have three children, as follows: Frank, attending the Sac Normal School; Guy at school at the place with his brother; and Mary Blaine, at home.

Politically, our subject is a Republican, and has filled the position of Township Clerk, and in 1873 he was appointed Sheriff of the county. He served in this position for some time, and also in that of Coroner. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Occidental Lodge, No. 178, and of Darius Chapter; also of Rose Croix Commandery, No. 38, while both himself and wife are members of the Eastern Star.

Our subject is one of the most popular men in the township, possessing a reputation for liberality, progressiveness and integrity second to none. He is the friend of the needy, and is one of the most companionable men of the section, being hospitable, frank and jovial in manner.

CHARLES E. LANE, of Graff & Lane, prominent hardware merchants of Sac City, Iowa, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, August 30, 1843. His parents, Emery A. and Mary (McAllister) Lane, were natives of New Hampshire and Vermont, respectively. When the subject of this sketch was one and one-half years of age his parents removed to Canada, where the father held the position of superintendent of harbor improvement at Port Stanley. They remained there until 1856, and then removed to Dyersville, Dubuque county, Iowa, which is now their home.

Mr. Lane, of this sketch, received his education in the common schools of Canada and Iowa, and in 1862, at the youthful age of eighteen, enlisted in Company C, Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, which served in the Army of the West. After the siege of Vicksburg, he was transferred with the Thirteenth Army Corps to the Department of the Gulf, and served until the close of the war. During all of this time he was never absent from duty, much of the time being employed in dispatch and courier service.

In 1873 he came to Sac county and located on a farm in Eden township, where he remained until 1878. He was then elected to his first county office, that of Clerk of the District Court. This he filled satisfactorily for five successive terms (ten years) and on the expiration of his term he engaged, in 1889, in his present occupation, a retail hardware dealer, which he has successfully followed ever since.

He was married March 12, 1867, to Miss Charlotte E. Riden, of Dyersville, Iowa. They have four children: Ettie R., who married D. G. Platt, a clothing merchant of Sac City, Iowa; Winnifred, the wife of E. B. Tainter, a prominent druggist of Grundy Centre, Iowa; Amy E., and Willard C, yet at home.

Politically, Mr. Lane upholds the principles of the Republican party, and as a temperance worker is a strong advocate of prohibition. Socially, he belongs to the G. A. R. and to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery of the A. F. & A. M. As a citizen and business man his record is above reproach.

M. L. LEWIS, Superintendent of Sac county Poor Farm, was born near ko Richmond, Virginia, February 8, 1851, a son of J. B. and Alice (Ruie) Lewis. The father was a native of eastern Virginia, where he now lives, but the mother of our subject died in her native State. Our subject was reared in Virginia to farm life, receiving his education in the common schools, remaining at home, aiding his father in work upon the farm until the age of twenty. At that age he went to Pickaway county, Ohio, where he remained some time, then went to southeastern Kansas, and from there he removed to Piatt county, Illinois, where he remained until 1880, then removed to Sac county, Iowa, settling in Delaware township. Later he removed to South Dakota and remained some time, engaged in farming. In March, 1892, Mr. Lewis was appointed Superintendent of the Poor Farm of Sac county, and has held that position ever since. The farm consists of 160 acres of land, located three and one-half miles southeast of Early, on section 14, Boyer Valley township. The main building is 32 x 64 feet, with eighteen-foot posts, and a north L, 14 x 24 feet. It is full two stories high and contains twenty-three rooms. This building provides shelter for those who are unfortunate. The farm is ably managed by Mr. Lewis, who endeavors to provide suitable board and lodging for his charges, without incurring too much expense for the county. He is a man admirably suited for the position, and the people of Sac county are fortunate in securing his services.

Mr. Lewis was married March 5, 1878, to Miss Elmaretta Byers, a native of Stark county, Ohio, who removed to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1864. She was a daughter of E. and Matilda (Morrow) Byers, both natives of Ohio, where they were both reared and married, and where the father died in 1862. Six children have been added to Mr. Lewis' family, namely: Jessie O., Alice M., Kirby B., Gertie R., Grace M. and Dwight Merdith.

Mr. Lewis takes an active interest in politics, voting with the Republican party. He is in the prime of life and gives promise of many years of usefulness. He is one of the honored and respected citizens of Boyer Valley township, in whose prosperity he takes a lively interest. He is a man who can be depended upon for aid in whatever will tend to benefit the township or county. Mrs. Lewis is an excellent lady, a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa.
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893

Transcribed by Lynn Diemer-Mathews. Uploaded November 2, 2023.

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1893 Biographies Letters G to L

1893 Biographies
Letters G to L