-37- J. K. McGONAGLE    J. K. McGonagle, postmaster of Washta and prominently connected with commercial interests as a successful grain dealer, was born in Dahlgren, Illinois, February 24, 1868, a son of George T. and Susan M. (Wilson) McGonagle, natives of Ohio. The father went to southern Illinois in 1865 and there worked at the carpenter's trade for some time, later engaging in farming until 1877, when he moved to Jasper county, Iowa, and there followed carpentering until 1878. In 1878 he came to Cherokee county and engaged in farming until 1884, when he moved to Nebraska. He died at Ireton, Iowa, in January, 1897. His wife survives him and makes her home at Rockwell City, Iowa. She is in her seventy-fifth year.    J. K. McGonagle was reared in Cherokee county and acquired his education in the public schools, afterward attending Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana. Following the completion of his studies he taught in the Cherokee county district schools until 1901, when he moved to Washta, forming a partnership -38- with P. J. Kennedy in the grain business. Their ten years' association was terminated by the accidental death of Mr. Kennedy in January, 1912, and since that time Mr. McGonagle has conducted the business alone, controlling today a large patronage.    On the 18th of October, 1901, Mr. McGonagle was united in marriage to Miss Grace Kennedy, a daughter of T. D. and Marcy J. (Arnold) Kennedy, natives of New York state. The father came to Cherokee county, Iowa, in 1881 and engaged in farming during the remainder of his life, passing away in March, 1903. HIs wife survives him and makes her home with the subject of this review.    Mr. McGonagle is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, has served for two terms as assessor, for two terms as a member of the town council, and is now postmaster of Washta, discharging his duties in a capable, prompt and efficient manner. He is widely and favorably known in the community, holding the respect and confidence of all with whom he has business, social or official relations.

-38- EDWARD HORNIBROOK, M. D.  Full size   The professional standing of Dr. Edward Hornibrook, an active practitioner of Cherokee, is perhaps best indicated in the fact that he has been honored by his fellow members of the profession with the position of president of the Iowa State Medical Society. Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1838, he is a son of Edward and Frances (Burchill) Hornibrook, both of whom were natives of Ireland and remained residents of Canada after coming to the new world until called to the home beyond.    The public schools near his father's home afforded Dr. Hornibrook his early educational opportunities and later he had the advantage of through training in Victoria College and in the medical department of that university. His course completed in 1861, he at once entered upon active practice and followed his profession in his native country for eighteen years. In 1879 he arrived in Cherokee, where he has since remained, and has ever since been recognized as one of the eminent members of the profession in his part of the state. Holding to high standards and desiring ever that his professional brethren should meet in fullest degree the demands made upon them, he was active in 1879 in organizing the county medical society, which has since been reorganized. Moreover, his ability found recognition in election to the presidency of the State Medical Society in 1880 and in that organization he has held all of the other offices.   In 1863, Dr. Hornibrook was united in marriage to Miss Rosina Stevens, a native of England, and unto them have been born ten children, of whom five are yet living. In his political view Dr. Hornibrook is a democrat. He was appointed by Governor Boise and indorsed by the senate as trustee of the State Hospital for the Insane at Independence, Iowa, and occupied that position for six years. He still remains active in the profession, although he has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. He has always kept abreast with the advancement of the times through extensive reading and anything which -41- tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life is of interest to him. From the beginning of his residence in Cherokee county he has enjoyed a good practice and has won the success which is the merited reward of his ability and his labors. See 1889 biography here.

-41- W. C. MARSH    W. C. Marsh was one of the early business men of Aurelia, having opened the first hotel in the city in 1876 and since that time his work has been a force in advancement, extending to many fields of commercial and industrial activity. With the exception of four years, he has held the office of postmaster since 1889, and he discharges the duties of this responsible position in a systematic, prompt and capable manner. He was born in Clinton county New York, in 1841, and is a son of Lyman and Polly (Comstock) Marsh, natives of Massachusetts, the father of Welsh extraction. They moved from New York in 1849 and came west to Wisconsin, where the father purchased land, afterward following farming and carpentering for some years. He eventually abandoned work at the carpenter's trade, concentrating his attention upon agricultural pursuits in Wisconsin until 1880, when he moved to South Dakota, dying at Armour, that state, when he was seventy-six years of age. His wife survived him some years, dying at the advanced age of ninety-three. They became the parents of five children besides the subject of this review: Julia, the widow of William Lang, of South Dakota; Emily, the widow of Benjamin La Claire, of Armour, South Dakota; Nancy A., the wife of Henry Chynoweth, of Mitchell, South Dakota; Susie, a resident of Armour, South Dakota; and Madison, who died at the age of eighteen years.    W. C. Marsh acquired his education in the public schools of Wisconsin and in Lawrence University at Appleton, Wisconsin, and also attended the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College in Chicago. He afterward returned to Wisconsin, where he taught school through the winter months and farmed during the summers until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for three year's service. At the end of six months and a half he was discharged on account of disability and returned home, but when he recovered his health he rejoined the army, serving as clerk in the quartermaster's department until the close of the war. When he was mustered out he returned to Wisconsin, where he followed farming until 1875, when he moved to Cherokee county, this state, and built the first hotel in Aurelia. After conducting this for two years he traded it for a farm, and he has since that time been interested in agricultural property, having bought and sold a number of excellent tracts of land. In partnership with his son he owns sixty-four acres adjoining the city and he operates this property along progressive and practical lines. During the long period of his residence in Aurelia, Mr. Marsh's interests have extended to many fields and have carried him forward into important relations with many phases of the business life of the town. In addition to this he was one of the organizers of the Bank of Holstein in Holstein and conducted a large mercantile establishment in Meriden, -42- Iowa. On the 29th of May, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Aurelia, and with the exception of four years has served continuously since that time, proving unusually systematic, prompt and reliable in the discharge of his duties.    In March, 1870, Mr. Marsh was united in marriage to Miss Frances Hubbard, a native of New York, and they became the parents of eight children, three of whom died in infancy. the others are: Edith L., assistant postmaster of Aurelia; Winnifred, the wife of B. R. Wilson, of Aruelia; Ethel, a telephone operator; William C., Jr., at home,a nd Lulu, a graduate of the Aurelia high school and now engaged in teaching. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.    Mr. Marsh is a member of the Masonic lodge of Cherokee and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. During the long period of his residence in Aurelia he has taken a prominent part in public affairs, having served as the first mayor of the city and having since held that office for several terms. He has been justice of the peace, township clerk and county supervisor, and his public record has been varied in service and faultless in honor. Living in Aurelia for the past thirty-eight years, he has gained the high esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens by reason of a life which has been upright, straightforward and honorable in all of its relations.

-42- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SWISHER    Benjamin Franklin Swisher, a retired farmer living in Cherokee, was born in Johnson county, Iowa, March 2, 1849. He is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Whitmore) Swisher, the former born in Piqua, Ohio, and the latter in Rhode Island. the father came west to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1839, and farmed in that locality until his death. He was steward and trustee in the United Brethren church and he gave his political allegiance to the democratic party, serving for a number of years as school trustee. He and his wife became the parents of eight children: Wilson, who has passed away; Lovell, of Iowa City; Edward and John, deceased; Benjamin Franklin, of this review; Catherine and Ruth, who have passed away, and Stephen, of Iowa City.    Benjamin Franklin Swisher acquired his education in the public schools of Iowa City and when he began his independent career turned his attention to farming, following this occupation in Johnson county until 1879. In that year he came to Cherokee county and purchased land in Pilot township, bending his energies to improve and develop this property along progressive lines. The years brought his constantly increasing success and in time he accumulated a comfortable fortune, upon which, in 1912, he retired from active life, moving into Cherokee, where he now resides.    On the 7th of September, 1871, Mr. Swisher married Miss Elizabeth Virginia Anderson, a daughter of George W. and Delilah (Troup) Anderson, the former born near Wheeling, West Virginia, and the latter in Washington County, Maryland. Their marriage occurred in the latter state and there the father followed carpentering and farming for some years. He came west to Johnson county, Iowa, and was for a number of years connected with agricultural interests -43- there, retiring ten years before his death and moving into Shueyville. He was a steward in the United Brethren church and a republican in his political beliefs, serving with credit in various township offices. Mr. and Mrs. Swisher have become the parents of eleven children: Lovell, who resides in Pilot township; Luella, the wife of Lyle Kinmoth, of Asbury Park, New Jersey; Orlista, of Pilot township; Ruth, the wife of Martin Wilson, of Afton township; Catherine, who married Raymond Crippen, of Pilot township; Grace, who married Rufus Crippen of South Dakota; Olive B., an officer of the juvenile court of Des Moines, Iowa; Vernie, who married Claude Jones, of Afton township; Fannie, the wife of Walter Stephenson, of Silver township; Cora Belle, a student at the Drake University Conservatory of Music at Des Moines, Iowa, and Ella, the wife of Ray Gladwell, of Silver township.    Mr. Swisher is connected fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has held various public positions, including those of township trustee and school director. He has lived to witness a number of important changes in Cherokee county during the thirty-four years of his residence here, and during the entire period his influence has been steadily on the side of advancement and progress.

-43- W. J. TILTON    W. J. Tilton has resided in Spring township since 1877 and since that time has made his home upon his present farm, lying on section 29. During the years he has taken a place among the prominent and substantial farmers of this vicinity and has made many important contributions to general agricultural development. He was born in Ogle county, Illinois, April 19, 1851, and is a son of James and Susan Tilton, natives of Ohio, where their marriage occurred. They lived in that state until 1844 and then moved to Ogle county, Illinois, where the father purchased land, engaging in farming for a number of years. He afterward took up government land in Nebraska and after developing this for a short time passed away. He had survived his wife for a number of years. To their union were born twelve children, eleven of whom still survive.    W. J. Tilton acquired his education in the public schools of Illinois and remained at home until he was nineteen years of age. He afterward worked at various occupations in Illinois until 1877 and then moved to Iowa, settling inn Cherokee county, where he has since resided. He bought eighty acres of land on section 29, Spring township, and through the years has steadily carried forward the work of improving and developing the place, which under his able management has become one of the valuable and productive farms of the vicinity.    On December 11, 1888, Mr. Tilton was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Anderson, who was born in Spring township, this county, April 15, 1871, a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Anderson, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indina. After their marriage they settled in Appanoose county, Iowa, and the father engaged in farming there until his death. In their family were five children, all of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton are the parents of nine -44- children: Boyd, who was born in 1890 and now makes his home in O'Brien county, this state; Sylvia, the wife of Frank Freeman, of Minnesota; Goldie, who married Clarence Mapes, of Omaha, Nebraska; Jay; Clarence; Jessie; Mark; Allen; and Nellie.    Mr. Tilton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a republican in his political beliefs. During a period of residence in Cherokee county covering thirty-six years he has proved himself reliable in business, progressive in citizenship and at all times trustworthy and honorable, and he has won the high esteem and confidence of his neighbors and friends.

-44- JAMES ROBERTSON    Through the years of an active business career and in every relation of life, James Robertson has won the respect and enjoyed the confidence and friendship of all with whom he has come in contact. He has been for many years connected with financial interests of Cherokee county as president of the Washta State Bank, and he is known as a man whose ability and worth have made him a substantial business factor in the community. He is now living in practical retirement, making his home in Cherokee. He was born in Perth, Scotland, September 22, 1833, and is a son of William and Ann (Robertson) Robertson, also natives of that part of Scotland, where the father engaged in farming. In the family were four children: Margaret, widow of Joseph Graham, of Rock township; James, of this review; Alexander, deceased, and William, who died in infancy.    James Robertson acquired his education in the parish schools of Scotland and afterward attended a seminary at Perth. He worked upon his father's farm until 1856, and then moved to Canada, settling in Lambton county, Ontario, where he purchased a farm. This he sold in 1867 and moved to Cedar county, Iowa, where he remained for two years. In 1869 he came to Cherokee county and for a time worked for a Mr. Archer in a grain elevator, later associating himself with Thomas Patton in the grain and lumber business in Cherokee. Their partnership continued until 1887 and afterward Mr. Robertson conducted the business alone, operating also a branch at Washta. He discontinued the grain business about 1898, but is still interested in the lumber industry. Mr. Robertson became connected with banking interests of Cherokee county in 1888, when he and his some James Robertson, Jr., organized the Bank of Washta as a private institution. In the following year the concern was incorporated under the name of the Washta State Bank, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars and with the following officers: President, James Robertson; vice president, Thomas Boothby, and cashier, James Robertson, Jr. The present officers are: James Robertson, president; Ellen Boothby, vice president; James Robertson, Jr., cashier; A. D. Robertson, assistant cashier, and J. C. Robertson, bookkeeper. W. A. Sanford, N. T. Burroughs, A. J. Robertson, James Robertson, Ellen Boothby and James Robertson, Jr., constitute the board of directors. The present bank building was erected in 1891, and is a modern two-story structure twenty-six and two-thirds by seventy-five feet in dimensions. The second floor is occupied -45- by the Masonic lodge and in the basement there is a modern barber shop, while a harness shop and telephone exchange are in the rear. The bank has a surplus of twelve thousand five hundred dollars, and is considered one of the strong and reliable moneyed institutions in this section of the state. Mr. Robertson gave a great deal of his time to the development of this concern for many years and still continues as its president, although he is living practically retired, making his home in Cherokee.    Mr. Robertson married Miss Catherine Comrie and they became the parents of nine children: Margaret, at home; Isabel V., widow of A. S. Wilson; Agnes J., at home; William and Peter, deceased; James, Jr.; Sarah, deceased; Alexander D., of Washta, and John, deceased. Mr. Robertson is a republican in his political beliefs and a devout member of the Presbyterian church. He is a man of excellent character, beloved by his family and honored and respected in the community, and no man in Cherokee county is held in higher regard.

-45- SAMUEL S. PIXLER    Samuel S. Pixler, a retired resident of Cherokee, has made his home in this county for the past forty-four years and was long and actively identified with agricultural interests as the owner of a farm in Tilden township. His birth occurred in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of January, 1846, his parents being Samuel and Sarah (Sargent) Pixler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland. Samuel Pixler, Sr., an agriculturist by occupation, left his native state to journey westward in 1855 but was drowned in the Ohio river. His widow continued on her way to Clayton county, Iowa, and subsequently took up her abode in butler county, this state, where her demise occurred. Mr. Pixler was a whig in politics and a Presbyterian in religious faith. Unto him and his wife were born the following children: Richard S., Margaret and Gaspar O., all of whom are deceased; Catherine, who is the widow of Isaac Blosser and resides in California; Jesse and James, who have also passed away; Samuel S., of this review; and Sarah Elizabeth, who is the widow of Elias Frick and maker her home in Butler county, Iowa.    Samuel S. Pixler acquired his education in the common schools of Clayton county, Iowa, and after putting aside his text-books remained with his widowed mother on the home farm for a time, assisting in the work of the fields. In 1869 he came to Cherokee county and eventually acquired a tract of land in Tilden township, devoting his attention to its further cultivation and improvement for a period of thirty-seven years. He followed progressive and resultant methods of agriculture and annually gathered good crops which found a ready sale on the market. In 1910 he left the farm and removed to Cherokee, where he has lived in honorable retirement during the past three years.    On the 4th of May, 1876, Mr. Pixler was untied in marriage to Miss Alice Fay, a daughter of Alexander and Christine (Fry) Fay, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They came west to Iowa about 1853, locating in Clayton county, where Alexander Fay passed away in 1862, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1858. Throughout his active business career Mr. Fay followed -46- farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pixler have been born the following children: Homer and Laura, both of whom are deceased; Hubert A., living in South Dakota, who is married and has two children, Gaylord and an infant; Edna M., who is the wife of J. A. Miller, of Cherokee, and the mother of two children, Marvin and Justice; Grace E., who gave her hand in marriage to H. C. Moore, of South Dakota, by whom she has one child, Lovell;Clarissa, who is the wife of Carl Kolb, of this county, and has one child, Alice Fay; Victor, a resident of Cherokee county; and Clarence, at home.    Mr. Pixler is a democrat in his political views and able served in the capacity of trustee of Tilden township for twenty-five years. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has passed through all the chairs of the local lodge. He is like wise identified with the Woodmen. Mr. Pixler is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him for his many high qualities of character and since locating in Cherokee county has not only been an interested witness of the changes that have taken place but a helpful and cooperant factor in bringing about the prevailing prosperous conditions.

-46- JOSEPH C. LOCKIN  Full size   Joseph C. Lockin, conducting a large real-estate, loan and insurance business in Aurelia, is numbered among the early settlers in Cherokee county, his residence here dating from 1876. He was born in Wisconsin in 1853 and is a son of John and Mary (Gregg) Lockin, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work.    Joseph C. Lockin acquired his education in the public and high schools of his native state and he afterward engaged in teaching in Wisconsin and Iowa for two years. In 1875 he purchased land in Cherokee county, this state, and settled in Aurelia in the following year, engaging in teaching until 1878. In that year he moved on to his farm, a mile and a half northeast of the town, and there followed farming successfully until 1900. In that year he again moved into Aurelia and built a grain elevator there, which he operated for ten years. He also engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business, and at present he pays special attention to this latter branch of his activities, owning valuable property interests and controlling a large and representative patronage. He has over four thousand acres of land lying in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Texas and also a fine home and other property in Aurelia. Since the organization of the Maple Valley Insurance Association in 1882 he has served as secretary and manager and he is also secretary of Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, and has the management of the endowment fund of that institution. He is a director in the Farmers National Bank, which he assisted in organizing, and director and treasurer of the Hoskins Impervious Brick Company of Sioux City, Iowa.    On September 24, 1878, Mr. Lockin married Miss Josephine Batson, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Josiah and Arabella Batson, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in Pennsylvania. They were pioneers in Wisconsin and in that state the mother died in 1889. Her husband survives -49- her. To their union were born four children: Josephine, the wife of the subject of this review; Warren A., of Tucson, Arizona; Fay, of Wisconsin, and Laura B. Tinkham, of Winnebago, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Lockin became the parents of three children. John W. was born in 1879 and died at the age of twenty-five, when he was completing his medical course. Harold H. was born in 1883 and after graduating from the Aurelia high school attended Morningside College for three years. He is now operating one of his father's farms and is a member of the firm of J. C. Lockin & Son. Mary died in 1897, when she was then years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Lockin have also an adopted daughter, Margaret J., who is attending Morningside College. The family are devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. and Mrs. Lockin are active religious workers, the former being superintendent of the Aurelia Sunday school.    Mr. Lockin gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has held various positions of trust and responsibility, serving from 1886 to 1888 as a member of the state legislature and having been for many years a member of the school board. While in the legislature he was chairman of the committee on animal husbandry and served on the judiciary, the ways and means and the temperance committees. This assembly, the twenty-second, passed a number of bills of importance, among them the railroad bill, regulating railroad tariffs. Mr. Lockin alway faithfully and consistently supported those measures which seemed to him for the best interests of the people. He is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias in Aurelia. He has witnessed a great deal of the growth and progress of this county and has been closely associated with its improvement, cooperating in many movements that have been of material benefit to the community at large.

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