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Probably no man is better known in Tilden township as a successful farmer and stock-raiser that Elmer V. Ferrin, who for many years has been connected with agricultural interests here, founding success upon industry, business ability and enterprise. He was born in Mount Carroll, Illinois, September 21, 1866, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Jeffries) Ferrin, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father went to Illinois at a very early date, making the journey to Chicago with ox teams and settled in the vicinity of Mount Carroll, where he operated a farm until 1880. He then moved to Cherokee county, Iowa, and bought a half section in Tilden township, later adding to this two hundred and eight acres. This farm he improved and operated until 1893 and then retired from active life, moving into Cherokee, where he resided until his death, which occurred in August, 1898. His wife survived him some years, dying in October, 1909. latter of Orange county, New York. The father came to Cherokee county, this state, in pioneer times and engaged in farming in Marcus township for many years. He died in 1910 and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Marcus township. Mr. and Mrs. Ferrin have five children: Frank, Beatrice, Ruth, Grace and Velmont. |

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In a history of Cherokee county it is imperative that mention be made of J. H. Groves, so actively and prominently has he been identified with its agricultural development and stock-raising interests. At the present time, however, he is living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil, but was formerly proprietor of the Woodbine Valley Stock Farm in Pilot township, comprising twelve hundred and eighty acres. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, December 1, 1842, a son of Adam and Catherine (Sellers) Groves, who were natives of the state of Pennsylvania. In 1855 the family removed to Clinton county, Iowa, and the father spent his last days in Scott county, this state, while the mother passed away in Pilot township, Cherokee county. of a farm. He prospered as the years went by and added to his holdings until he became the owner of seven hundred and sixty acres in one body. Upon that place he resided until 1887, when he removed to the Woodbine Valley Stock Farm, which contains twelve hundred and eighty acres. This is no doubt the best equipped stock farm in the county and Mr. Groves has bee one of the most extensive cattle feeders in Iowa and an extensive breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle. In all of his business affairs he has displayed sound judgment, unfaltering enterprise and unabating energy and thus from a comparatively humble position in the business world has steadily advanced until he is now numbered among the men of affluence in Cherokee county. |

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Full size consecrated work among his people. In 1907 the magnificent new church was erected and in 1908 the convent was built, the work being initiated and carried forward to successful completion by Father Desmond. |

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The history of Cherokee county has been influenced in an important way by the activities of Hon. George F. Coburn, who came to this part of Iowa in 1878 and has since taken a leading part in the promotion of its interests along business and political lines. He has made notable contributions to its agricultural development through his able management of his fine farm of three hundred and seventy acres in Tilden and Grand Meadow townships and he has been active also in the field of public service, influencing the political interests of the state through his activity as a member of the twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, and thirty-first general assemblies. His name has become a synonym for progress and advancement in this locality, and he occupies a prominent position among the men of marked ability and substantial worth in the community. He was born in Boone county, Illinois, May 12m 1856, and is a son of Lanson and Mary (Wright) Coburn, natives of Maine. The father engaged in lumbering in that state until 1850 and then moved to Illinois, where he turned his attention to farming. In 1864 he disposed of his landed interests there and returned to Maine, where he made his home until his death in 1888. His wife survived him some years, dying in 1907. Willow township; Frank who died at the age of six weeks; Francis, at home; and Clarence, who died in infancy. |

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Joseph Alexander Morrell, a prosperous grain dealer in Cherokee, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1857, and is a son of David and Sarah (West) Morrell, who left their native state of Pennsylvania in 1858 and came west to Henderson, Minnesota, where the father engaged in the real-estate and fur business for four years. At the end of that time he moved to Winona, Minnesota, and conducted a profitable grain business there until his death, which occurred in 1886. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and was well known in local affairs, serving as county treasurer of Clarion county, Pennsylvania. Fraternally he was identified with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his religious views were in accord with the doctrines of the Presbyterian church. He and his wife became the parents of five children: Elizabeth, who has passed away; Sarah, the wife of H. W. Jackson of Long Beach, California; Martha, of Winona, Minnesota; Joseph Alexander, twin to Martha and the subject of this review; and Lowerey, who has passed away. Mr. Morrell is connected fraternally with the United Commercial Travelers, is a trustee in the Congregational church and a democrat in his political beliefs. He is recognized as one of the leading business men in Cherokee and has fully justified the respect and confidence in which he is held by all who know him. |

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Among the men who were active in inaugurating and shaping the business policy and commercial development of Cherokee county is numbered Thomas Patton, who came to this part of Iowa in 1870 and who was for many years connected with important lumber interests here. His death therefore removed from the county one whom it could ill afford to lose, a man whose ambition, ability and enterprise were factors in his own prosperity and in community growth. Mr. Patton was born November 28, 1844, in county Tyrone, Ireland, and remained in his native country until he was twenty years of age. In 1864 he emigrated to America and settled immediately in Dubuque county, Iowa. Afterward he removed to Delaware county and from there came to Cherokee in 1870. He established himself in the lumber business in partnership with James Robertson and their association continued for many years with gratifying results. Mr. Patton remained connected with the lumber business until his death, owning yards at Primghar and Marcus. He was a man of excellent business ability and sound judgment and in the conduct of his affairs met with well deserved success. Through his business connections he materially assisted in the development and upbuilding of Cherokee and did much to advance the prosperity of the city. |

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Frederick John Carpenter, clerk of the district court of Cherokee county since the fall of 1912, is one whose activity along various lines has made him a valued and representative citizen of his section of the state. He was born in Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, April 28, 1860, and first came to Cherokee county on the removal of his parents from Clinton county in the spring of 1870. The father, who was a native of Lawrenceville, St. Lawrence county, New York, is now deceased. The mother was born in Dundee, Scotland, and when a maiden -358-of twelve years came to the United States. She still survives her husband and makes her home in Kearney, Nebraska. |

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John A. Clark is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 13, Willow township, and many improvements upon it are the works of his hands, showing him to be an enterprising and progressive farmer. He is a native son of this township, born January 1, 1877, and is a son of Jonah and Emma R. (Risling) Clark, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania. The father came to Cherokee county an an early period in its development. There were no railroads here at the time and the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. He purchased land in Willow township which he improved and cultivated until 1908, converting his place into a well developed farm, from which he annually derived a substantial income. At length he retired and removed to Cherokee, where he now resides, he and his wife being widely and favorably known here. at Sioux City, Iowa, for one year. He continued to assist his father in the cultivation and development of the home place until twenty-three years of age and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 13, Willow township. At once he set about improving the place and has since carried on general farming, his practical progressive methods being evidenced in the attractive appearance of his fields, which annually return to him golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon them. |

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Wilson Bowers, who has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career, is now the owner of a well improved and productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, Afton township. His birth occurred in Wisconsin in 1847, his parents being Russell and Jane (Hall) Bowers, who were born, reared and married near Rochester, New York. Shortly after their marriage they removed westward to Wisconsin, settling near Milton Junction, Rock county, where Mr. Bowers operated a farm until called to his final rest in 1853. His wife passed away in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, when seventy-eight years of age. they and two children: Wilson, of this review; and Dora, who is the wife of John Howes, of the state of New York. section 15, Afton township, which he has operated continuously and successfully since. The property is highly improved and all of the land is in a high state of cultivation, the well tilled fields annually yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor which is bestowed upon them. |

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Phillip V. Riseling, carrying on general agricultural pursuits on section 14, Willow township, is one of the self-made men of his section of the county. He started out in life empty-handed, working as a farm hand and afterward renting land until he was able to purchase a farm. Pennsylvania numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in that state on the 25th of October, 1861, his parents being Valentine and Julian (Wolf) Riseling, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The father was a farmer by occupation, owning and cultivating two hundred acres of land. He was also proprietor of a woolen mill which was located on the farm and he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods until his life's labors were ended in death. He was always a successful business man and he traveled to some extent, selling the output of the mill. His judgment was sound, his enterprise unfaltering and the business methods which he followed brought him substantial return. He died in 1900, having for ten years survived his wife, who passed away in August, 1890. period he came to Willow township and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 14. He took up his abode upon his present place and at once began the task of transforming it into a productive and fruitful farm. There was nothing on the place when it came into his possession save a few rods of fencing. He has made all of the improvements and today has a good property supplied with modern equipments and the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. An air of neatness and thrift pervades the place, and he annually gathers good harvests, for which he finds a ready sale. |

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Dr. Edwin Henry Pease, assistant state veterinarian of Iowa and one of the best known of the younger members of his profession in Cherokee, was born in Racine, Wisconsin, September 13, 1881, a son of E. H. and Sarah (Doolittle) Pease, both of whom have passed away. industry, and his duties in this connection brought him in February, 1909, to Sioux City. In 1910 he resigned from the service and came to Cherokee, where he established himself in private practice. He has since secured a large and representative patronage, for he is thoroughly conversant with the underlying principles of his profession and his skill and ability are widely recognized. He was appointed on the 19th of October, 1912, assistant state veterinarian of Iowa, and he has since discharged the duties of this position capably and conscientiously. |

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Full size and after living for a time in Wisconsin, came to Cherokee county, Iowa, in 1866. He there owned a farm which he afterward sold and later he had a farm of five hundred and thirty acres in Cedar and Spring townships. He thus carried on agricultural pursuits extensively and was accounted one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the district. He was married in 1859 to Miss Harriett Bratt, a daughter of Michael and Hannah (Paris) Bratt of Outagamie county, Wisconsin. Mr. Whitney was a republican in his political views and in his fraternal relations was an Odd Fellow. He died May 19, 1905. Unto him and his wife were born twelve children: Mary, the wife of Henry Coleman of Lake Charles, Louisiana; Mrs. Ware; Ella and Cora, both deceased; Hattie, the wife of Mark Farley of Oklahoma; John, living in Winoka, Oklahoma; Elban, deceased; one who died in infancy; Hannah, the wife of Rollin Tuttle of Ewing, Nebraska; Warren, a resident of Cedar township; Nellie, the wife of Lewis Wise, of Quimby, Iowa; and Walter, whose home is in Fulda, Minnesota. |


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