-146- W. H. LAMONT    W. H. Lamont, manager of E. A. Brown's elevator at Meriden and also an auctioneer of great local prominence, was born in Ireland, near Belfast, October 7, 1861. He is a son of Hugh and Ann (Davidson) Lamont, also natives of that country. The father came to America and located in Apple River, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, in 1869, remaining there until 1888, when he came to Cherokee county, Iowa, locating in Meriden and making his home in this community until his death, which occurred in February, 1908. He had long survived his wife, who died in Illinois in 1873.    W. H. Lamont was reared in Jo Daviess county and acquired his education in the district schools. He remained with his father until he was twenty-seven years of age and then turned his attention to farming, renting property in Liberty township, this county, which he operated for ten years. He then moved to Meriden and after traveling for five years in the interests of the International Harvester Company was appointed manager of the E. A. Brown elevator, a position which he has held for the past seven years. Mr. Brown's headquarters are -147- at Luverne, Minnesota, from which point he directs the conduct of the thirty-five elevators which he owns. As manager of one of these Mr. Lamont occupies a responsible and important position and he fills it creditably, being a farsighted, discriminating and able business man. He is in addition an auctioneer of considerable reputation, crying farm sales during the winter months. He has valuable individual property interests, owning two fine houses in Meriden and eleven lots.    On the 2d of October, 1889, Mr. Lamont married Miss Laura E. Reed, of Liberty township, this county, a daughter of A. D. and Lucy (Rice) Reed, natives of Grant county, Wisconsin. The father served for four years in the Civil war as a member of a Wisconsin cavalry regiment and after the close of hostilities came with a team of oxen to Cherokee county, where he entered land. For a number of years thereafter he developed this property but eventually moved to California, where he now resides, having survived his wife since 1893.    Mr. Lamont gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been very active in public affairs, serving as justice of the peace in Liberty and Sheridan townships for fourteen years and as a member of the town council, to which he still belongs. He was a candidate for the office of sheriff before the republican primaries in 1912. Fraternally he is connected with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held all of the offices, and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man of sterling character and has always merited and received the confidence and respect of all with whom business, official or social relations have brought him into contact.

-147- LEWIS M. SMITH    Lewis M. Smith, a well known farmer and stock-raiser of Afton township, owning three hundred and sixty acres of improved land on sections 19 and 20, was born in Howard county, this state, March 18, 1864. He is a son of Mordecai and Phoebe (Osborn) Smith, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio, both having moved to Illinois when they were still young. Their marriage occurred in that state and they afterward lived there until 1858. Five years later they moved to Cherokee county and the father took up a homestead claim in Afton township, operating this tract of eighty acres for some time. He afterward sold the property and since that time has purchased two farms, his present holdings being located in Cherokee township, just adjoining the corporation limits of Cherokee. He is a veteran of the Civil war and is now living practically retired, having survived his wife since 1910. In their family there were ten children, three of whom have passed away.    Lewis M. Smith acquired his education in the public schools of Cherokee county and when he was twenty-three years of age began his independent career, buying eighty acres of land in Afton township. He afterward sold this property and purchased a portion of his present farm, adding to the original tract from time to time until he now owns three hundred and sixty acres. This is located on sections 19 and 20, Afton township, and is in a high state of cultivation. Mr. -148- Smith being a practical and progressive agriculturist. In addition to general farming he also raises and feeds stock, his interests along this line constituting an important branch of his business.    In 1887 Mr. Smith married Miss Susie Ogle, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Joseph Ogle, who died when his daughter was still a child. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of four children: Ada, who was born in May, 1888, and is now the wife of Webster Acres, of Spring township; Eva, who was born in 1890 and has graduated from public school; Fred, whose birth occurred in 1892; and Edward, born in 1894. Mr. Smith has never been active in politics, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success. Thus he has become one of the enterprising and substantial farmers of the county.

HON. GUY M. GILLETTE   Full size    Yet a comparatively young man, Hon. Guy M. Gillette has not only become one of the foremost lawyers of Cherokee county, Iowa, but has made himself felt in public affairs, representing at present a senatorial district in the upper house. Moreover, he has served as county and city attorney, giving highly satisfactory service and placing himself in the good graces of the public to such an extent that his election to the state senate resulted, although he is a democrat and his district is overwhelmingly republican. A native of this county, Mr. Gillette was born two miles west of Cherokee on the 3d of February, 1879, and is a son of Mark D. and Mary (Hull) Gillette, the former born in Mendota, La Salle county, Illinois, September 11, 1853, and the latter in Springville, Marion county, Iowa, March 12, 1854. The father was educated in Mendota, Illinois, but in 1871, when he was eighteen years of age, both his family and that of his wife moved to Cherokee county, where the father taught school for one year. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, so continuing for two years and moving at the end of that period to Cherokee, where he established himself in business as a furniture dealer, conducting a store for five years. The call of the open, however, brought him back to farming and for the next fifteen years he was successfully engaged along that line, returning at the end of that period to Cherokee with a comfortable competence and engaging in the real-estate business for ten years. He also was elected justice of the peace and combined the duties involved in this position with the conduct of his business. He was successful in closing a number of important realty deals and has enjoyed a high reputation for impartiality and a legal understanding seldom found in one not trained and educated in the profession. In 1811 Mr. and Mrs. Mark D. Gillette removed to Steele City, Nebraska, where they now reside, the former having retired from all business cares. His father, Daniel S. Gillette, is also still living and makes his home with his son, Mark D., having reached the remarkable age of ninety-four years. He is a native of Connecticut. The parents of our subject are members of the Presbyterian church and in his political views the father is a republican and fraternally a member of the Masonic order. In their family were the following children: Della M., who married -151- Charles Bender, of Crete, Nebraska; Ella, the wife of Richard Jacobsen, of the same city; Guy M.; and Claude S., ensign in the United States navy.    Guy M. Gillette was reared under the care of his father and mother and educated in the public schools of Cherokee, there preparing himself for his professional studies. He then entered the law department of Drake University, graduating with the class of 1900, and in 1901 began to practice in Cherokee, having so continued to the present time. As the years have passed Mr. Gillette has been connected with much important litigation and has been a prominent figure in the courts of the county. His reasoning is logical and he has the rare gift of setting forth his point in such clear and concise language that he is not only understood by men of the legal fraternity but by by practically any lay mind which can make a distinction between right and wrong. It is therefore but natural that his arguments should have a powerful influence upon juries and that he has seldom been of the losing side of a case. His legal knowledge has been extended as the years have brought him experience and he is today recognized as one of the foremost lawyers of the county, and his reputation is based upon accomplishment and a thorough understanding of legal and judicial principles. As has been indicated before, Mr. Gillette has given much time to the interests of the general public, having served in various official capacities. Although a democrat in his political views, a true adherent of democratic principles and an admirer of democratic ideals, he has been called to high public office in a strongly republican district. In 1907 he was elected county attorney of Cherokee county and served as such with conspicuous ability for one term, taking the best of care of all the cases of the people. In 1909 he was made city attorney, continuing in office until 1911, and in 1912 was elected to the state senate, surely a high place to come to one of his years. The usual republican majority of his district is thirty-five hundred and it seemed that his election would be entirely out of the question or that a miracle would have to happen to bring it about. The miracle happened and he was elected by one vote.    On the 17th of June, 1907, Senator Gillette was united in marriage to Miss Rose Freeman, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Parshell) Freeman, of Randolph, Iowa, the former a native of Russia and the latter of Germany.    Senator and Mrs. Gillette are very popular not only in Cherokee society but also in the state capital. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Masons. At present he is worshipful master of the lodge at Cherokee and has served as grand marshal of the Iowa Masonic lodges. An interesting military chapter in his life record covers ten years in the Iowa National Guard, in which he enlisted in 1893 as a private for service in Company M, Fourth Regiment, the company being stationed at Cherokee. He served in the ranks for five years, or until the Spanish American war, when he was mustered into the volunteer service, his company being made a part of the Fifty-second Iowa Volunteers. He rose to the rank of sergeant, being for one year on active duty, at the end of which time he was honorably discharged. He then organized Company M, Fifty-sixth Iowa Regiment, in the year 1909 and for three years served as captain, resigning in 1912. He fully recognizes the importance of the state troops and their mission in time of peace during riots or other unlooked for situations and in time of war as the first bodies of men to fall back upon in replenishing Unites States -152- forces. Senator Gillette besides his extensive law practice gives some time to the insurance business and has built up a valuable patronage along that line. He is as considerate of the interest of others as he is of his own interests. He has made use of his time to a good purpose in gaining a position of importance but he has at heart as much the interests of the public and particularly of his constituents. Although he is young in the senate his ability has already been recognized and he is listened to with attention in committee rooms and on the floor. In his public duties, in his private life and during his military career he gave and gives an example of true patriotism and loyal American citizenship.

-152- JOSEPH R. LITTLE    From 1888 until 1908 Joseph R. Little was connected in an important manner with farming interests of Silver township and, having followed always the most practical and straightforward methods in the conduct of his interests, is now able to live in retirement, enjoying the rest which rewards honorable and faithful labor. He makes his home in Cherokee, where he is well known in community affairs and is recognized as a public-spirited and representative citizen. He was born in Townanda, Bradford county Pennsylvania, Mary 23, 1856, and is a son of William P. and Rebecca (Rogers) Little, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Sullivan county, Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1868 came west to Iowa, settling in Pilot township, this county, where he took up a homestead claim of eighty acres. Upon this he resided for many years thereafter, dying on the property August 18, 1886. He had survived his wife several years, her death occurring on the 4th of December, 1878. The father was well known in religious circles, being a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was also class leader and trustee. He was a republican in his political beliefs and especially interested in the cause of education, serving in a capable and progressive way as school director for a number of years. He and his wife had nine children: Albert, Sarah R., Ezra, Lambert and Harriett, who have passed away; Emma, the wife of E. H. Whitehouse, of Canora, Canada; Ellen, deceased; Martin, of Pilot township; and Joseph R., of this review.    The last named acquired his education in the public schools of Pilot township and at the age of eighteen took charge of his father's farm, which he operated for a number of years thereafter. In 1888 he moved into Silver township and purchased a farm of eighty acres, which he afterward increased to one hundred and sixty. Upon this fine property, which his well directed efforts made valuable and productive, he engaged in general farming and stock-raising for many years, success coming as a natural result of his energy and enterprise. In 1908 he retired from active life and moved into Cherokee, where he has since resided.    On the 25th of November, 1880, Mr. Little married Miss Laura Warburton, who was born August 24, 1861, in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of James and Sarah (Bedford) Warburton, residents of Pilot township, where their daughter acquired her education. The parents were natives of -153- England and after emigrating to America settled in Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1869. In that year they moved to Cherokee county, this state, where the father engaged in farming and sawmilling until his death, which occurred in August, 1905. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church and served also as trustee, Sunday school superintendent and class leader. He gave his political allegiance to the prohibition party, being a firm advocate of its principles, and he was altogether an exceptionally worthy and representative citizen. His wife survives him and makes her home in Pilot township. Mrs. Little passed away April 15, 1909. She and her husband had five children: Carl, at home; Ray, a resident of Canora, Canada; Guy, at home; Lura, who was born August 18, 1895, and who died November 18, 1896; and Mae, at home.    Mr. Little is a trustee in the Wesleyan Methodist church and is a prohibitionist in his political beliefs. He has been honored by various positions of trust and responsibility, having served as township trustee, justice of the peace and school director, proving a capable and efficient public servant. In all relations of life he has been honorable and straightforward and he holds the esteem and confidence of all who known him.

-153- RUBEN WESLEY HAY    Throughout the period of his residence in Cherokee, Ruben Wesley Hay was connected with railroad interests, being section foreman for the Illinois Central. His fidelity and capability gained for him the confidence of those whom he represented, while his social qualities won for him many friends in the city in which he made his home. He was born in Jones county, Iowa, April 30, 1851, his parents being Ruben and Rebecca (Huttell) Hay. The father's birth occurred in Page county, Virginia, September 17, 1817, and the mother was born in the same state January 19, 1821. They were married, however, in Vigo county, Indiana, August 13, 1839. The father is a wagon maker by trade and on removing to Iowa turned his attention to farming in Jones county, being for a long period identified with agricultural pursuits in this state. He is now living in Kansas City, Kansas, but his wife passed away in Linn county, Iowa, August 17, 1885. His political support is given to the republican party and his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in the United Brethren church. Unto him and his wife were born twelve children: John A., Henry H. and Sarah, all now deceased; Harvey W., living in Burlington, Kansas; Harrison, Ruben W., Eliza M. Oterbine and Permelia, all of whom have passed away; Mrs. Emma De Cou, of Oklahoma City; Elmer, living in Kansas City, Kansas; and Elva, deceased.    After acquiring his preliminary education in the public schools of Jones county, Iowa, Ruben W. Hay attended Western College near Cedar Rapids and thus was well equipped for life's practical duties by liberal educational advantages. He began farming in Johnson county, Iowa, and afterward went to Barnum, Iowa, where he lived for seven years and subsequently came to Cherokee and was made section foreman for the Illinois Central Railroad, occupying that position until his death, which occurred on the 6th of December, 1910. -154-    On the 31st of December, 1872, Mr. Hay was married to Miss Euceba Flint, a daughter of Joseph and Jane Curtis (Dickey) Flint of Johnson county, Iowa. Her father, who was a native of New Hampshire, became a physician. He was born February 14, 1814, and lived for a number of years in New England, but subsequently established his home in Johnson county, Iowa. After removing to Johnson county he was bedfast with inflammatory rheumatism for thirty-two years or until his death on the 25th of July, 1887. His wife, who was born in Monroe, Maine, September 9, 1817, died in Cherokee on the 27th of February, 1906. Both lived, therefore, to an advanced age. They were consistent Christian people, holding membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and its teachings proved a guiding force in their lives. Their daughter, Mrs. Hay, was born in Johnson county, Iowa, August 2, 1855. by her marriage she became the mother of eight children: Eleanor A., who is the wife of Fred Ramsden of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and has three children, Lawrence, May and Opal; Eldora, who was a twin to Eleanor and is now deceased; Etta, who is the wife of Harry Williams of Cherokee and has five children, Lloyd, Wesley, Raymond, Mabel and Carlton; Albert, deceased; George, at home; Joseph W., who has also passed away; Cecil, the wife of Henry Whitlatch of Cherokee; and Muriel, deceased.    In politics Mr. Hay was a republican and kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day but did not seek nor desire office. He held membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Yeomen and he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. High principles of manhood actuated him in all of his life's relations and his genuine worth of character gained for him the warm regard, good-will and respect of those who knew him. His death was indeed a deep blow to the family, for he was a devoted husband and father.

-154- DR. JOSEPH A. HEATH   Full size    Dr. Joseph A. Heath, a well known chiropractic physician of Cherokee, was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on the 22nd of November, 1860, a son of Samuel W. and Nancy (Cunningham) Heath, the former a native of Westmoreland county and the latter of Butler county, Pennsylvania. The father engaged in farming in his native state until 1860 and then moved west, settling in Scott county, Iowa, two and a half miles north of Davenport. He died September 29, 1910, and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Illinois. He was well known in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as steward, and was also active in public affairs, holding the office of county supervisor for some time. He and his wife became the parents of seven children: Dr. Joseph A., of this review; Elizabeth, the wife of Charles McConnell, of Marcus township; William H., of Florida; Jessie, the wife of Henry Bibbern, of Milan, Illinois; Samuel, a resident of Taylor Ridge, Illinois; Georgia F., the wife of Cyrus McMichael, of the same locality; and Sarah, who married Harold Smith, of Toulon, Illinois. -157-    Dr. Joseph A. Heath acquired his early education in the public schools of Davenport, Iowa, and after laying aside his books turned his attention to farming. In 1886 he moved to Marcus and entered the contracting business, following this until 1910, when he enrolled in the Palmer School of Chiropractics of Davenport. He began the practice of his profession at Marcus in 1912 and in the following year moved to Cherokee, where he now resides. He practices in partnership with his wife, who was graduated in the same class with her husband, and they have already secured a large clientage, which is continually increasing as their skill and ability become more widely known.    On the 20th of November, 1882, Dr. Heath married Miss Sarah Helen Burney, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Irwin) Burney. The parents were natives of Ireland and after coming to the United States settled in Tipton, Iowa, whence they moved to Rock Island county, Illinois, where the father is living retired at the advanced age of ninety-four. He has survived his wife since October 19, 1900. Dr. and Mrs. Heath have two children, Elizabeth and Mayme, who live at home.    Dr. Heath is independent in his political views and is connected fraternally with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Universal Chiropractic Association and holds a high and honorable place in professional circles.

GEORGE EDWARD RASMUS    George Edward Rasmus, a successful farmer residing in Liberty township, is the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred acres on section 36. Cherokee county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Cedar township on the 22d of October, 1872. His parents, Andrew and Anna (Anderson) Rasmus, are mentioned at greater length on another page of this volume in connection with the sketch of Henry W. Rasmus, brother of our subject.    George E. Rasmus attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education and remained on the home farm with his parents until twenty-two years of age. At that time he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, taking up his abode on a farm of eighty acres in Liberty township which had been given him by his father. He has cultivated that tract continuously since and has extended the boundaries of his place by purchase until it now embraces two hundred acres of valuable land on section 36, Liberty township. The property is well improved in every particular and in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the careful supervision of its owner. In connection with the production of cereals he keeps shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs, all his stock being thoroughbred. He owns residence property in Meriden and a quarter section of land in North Dakota.    On the 26th of October, 1898, Mr. Rasmus was united in marriage to Miss Della Gregg, a daughter of Niles and Elizabeth (Cody) Gregg, who were born in Ohio and Indiana respectively. The father came to Cherokee county in an early day, settling in Cedar township, where he has since been actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rasmus have been born -158- six children, namely: Eva May, who is thirteen years of age; Arthur B., nine years old; Harold R., Elizabeth B. and Edward D., who are six, five and two years of age respectively; and Elsie, who died in 1902.    Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Rasmus has supported the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He is well known throughout the county in which his entire life has been spent, and his many sterling qualities of mind and character command the respect and esteem of the community.

-158- WILLIAM BROOKS    With the development of Cherokee county along agricultural lines William Brooks was closely associated for a number of years. Throughout the entire period of his manhood he was a resident of Iowa, while his minority was spent in his native state of Pennsylvania. His birth occurred in Fayette county, July 18, 1842, his parents being Joseph and Charlotte Brooks. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed westward to Clayton county, Iowa, where he continued to till the soil until his life's labors were ended in death. His wife had passed away in the Keystone state. In their family were five children: Elizabeth, now living in Pennsylvania; Mary, deceased; William, Julia and Daniel, who have also passed away.    In the schools of his native state William Brooks pursued his education and when twenty-one years of age came to the middle west, taking up his abode in Clayton county, Iowa, where he followed farming until 1871. He then removed to Cherokee county, settling on section 35, Tilden township. He purchased railroad land and carried on farming until his death which occurred on the 10th of February, 1882. Throughout the period of his residence in this county he became well known as an enterprising farmer and representative citizen, displaying many sterling traits of manhood that won for him the high regard of those with whom he came in contact.    On the 6th of December, 1868, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Feay, a daughter of Alexander and Christina (Fry) Feay, of Clayton county, Iowa, who were natives, however, of Virginia. The father made farming his life work and following his removal from the south settled in Clayton county, Iowa, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until death called him. HIs wife also passed away there. They were members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Feay gave his political support to the democratic party. Their daughter, Mrs. Brooks, was born in Clayton county, August 1, 1853, and pursued her education in the public schools of that county.    She is a member of the Presbyterian church of Cherokee and is a lady of many sterling traits of character, which have gained for her the friendship and warm regard of those with whom she has been associated. By her marriage she became the mother of six children: Amady, living in Haxtum, Colorado; Henry J., who died in infancy; elmer D., whose home is in Okaton, South Dakota; Melvin, a resident of Iroquois, South Dakota; Owen, who is living in Tilden township, and William G., whose home is at Roundup, Montana. There are also sixteen grandchildren. Amady has four children: Raymond, Elmer, Geneva and Ivan. Elmer Books has a family of three: Shirley, Lillian and Marie. Melvin has six children: William, Mary, Dora, Muriel, Harold and Ruby V. Owen has two children: Irene and Walter, and William Brooks has a daughter, Gladys Eleanor.    In his political views Mr. Brooks was a democrat, believing that the principles of the party contained the best elements of good government. He filled the offices of township clerk and trustee. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as steward, and his fidelity to its teachings made him an earnest Christian man worthy the respect and friendship which were accorded him. He was faithful in matters of citizenship, loyal in friendship and devoted to his family, finding his greatest happiness in promoting the welfare of his wife and children.

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