-379- CARLTON CORBETT, the second white man to tread the virgin soil of what is now Cherokee county, is for many reasons entitled to the first biographical place in this recorded history of the county of Cherokee. The mere fact of his being the next person to Robert Perry, the first one of his race to look upon this fair and fertile domain, would naturally entitle him to such a place of preference and honor. But, not on account of this alone is he thus deserving; it was Mr. Corbett who served as one of the two advance agents prospecting in the interests of the Milford Emigration Society, whose numbers made up the first actual settlers of the county. that little band of New Englanders could not possibly have chosen a man possessed of better judgment, combined with deepest integrity, than Carlton Corbett, Esq. To say these words of compliment of the average man might be considered but a species of flattery, but all will unhesitatingly accord to our worthy and highly esteemed subject this much of meritorious praise. Sound judgment and good business ability are not unfrequently found coupled together, but to find these with corresponding traits of moral principle and genuine integrity is indeed of rare occurrence. Some young men start out on the journey of life with good characters and intend to walk the way of the upright through all their years, but it is exceptional to form the intimate acquaintance of one who has passed his fifty-eighth milestone, and has not diverged somewhat from the one correct path. Indeed, it requires unusual native endowments in one's character to walk thus, beset as men are with passions of greed,with strong desires to rise to the highest point in the least time and with the smallest amount of work. Selfishness is many a time the downfall of otherwise brilliant men. To be diligent in one's business life and yet not forget the rights of friends and neighbors requires no little real moral courage, especially in this fast age of steam and electricity, when men must needs act promptly and with determination if they hope to succeed. It requires a different type of manhood to do battle in life in our generation from that demanded in the days of our forefathers. Now a great commonwealth is formed in a decade, and cities spring into existence within a year. We come now to speak of him who has lived earnestly, and has labored as a citizen of Cherokee County for thirty-three years, almost a third of a century. coming with little else than the priceless gift of a robust young -380- manhood, he at once commenced carving on life's tablet. Year after year has gone by, one success of his life has been added to yet another, one friend has been gained after another in both social and business relations, until no man will say that Carlton Corbett has allowed his integrity to be warped or turned from right for personal gains during these three decades and more. Not that opportunity has not been at his hand many times by which he might have built for himself while he destroyed for his fellow-man. To say that one has spent this period of time in Northwestern Iowa, where all sorts of speculations have been carried on regardless of personal rights or legal principles, without wronging any man, is at once placing a high estimate on personal character. To acquaint the reader with Mr. Corbett's earlier life in New England we must trace his career from childhood's hours, through the school-room on down to the year 1856, when he sought out a home, not as did his Puritan ancestry, on the wild New England shore, but upon the prairie wilds of Western Iowa, since which time his life has been prominently identified with the history of Cherokee County. Carlton Corbett was born August 12, 1831, at Milford, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He is a son of John and Almira (Parkhurst) Corbett, of remote English ancestry, the Corbett's having come across from England and settled in the Bay State at a very early date. HIs grandfather, John Corbett, fought against the mother country in the contest for independence, and was taken prisoner. He also enlisted in the War of 1812. In his youthful days Mr. Corbett enjoyed the pleasures and virtue of a good home. The family consisted of the parents and six children, two daughters and four sons, Carlton, being the oldest son and second child. He attended the common schools and early learned the occupation of farming. In 1852, seized with the gold fever, he made a trip to California, where he engaged in mining, in which he was quite successful. After about four years he returned to New England; soon after the Milford Emigration Society was formed, and Mr. Corbett and Lemuel Parkhurst, Esq., were chosen to go in advance and spy out the land, in which they hoped to obtain suitable homes for a colony of fifty-two members, and perhaps found a town which might be deemed worthy the name of a city at some future day. (Much relating to their settlement and the active part taken by Mr. Corbett may be seen elsewhere in this volume.) Messrs. Corbett and Parkhurst visited various points in Western Iowa, including the present site of Sioux City, where they intended to settle, but found the place had already been claimed. Leaving Mr. Parkhurst at a point on the Missouri River, Mr. Corbett and a man name Martin came over to the Little Sioux River, then followed the Little Sioux up to the territory at the present time called Cherokee County. Within a few months the first section of the colony were on the ground and at work. This was during the summer of 1856, in which season they pre-empted lands, built rude cabins, and made ready for the winter. It was Mr. Corbett who first located the lands and aided in the organization of the county in 1857. In August of that year he was elected the first prosecuting attorney, and had to go to Sioux City, a distance of sixty miles, to qualify. In 1860 he was elected to the office of treasurer and recorder, then a combined office, which he held six years; he then served two years as treasurer alone. In 1870 he was elected recorder, holding that office one term. After leaving off the duties of county official, he turned his attention to farming and real-estate business. In 1873 he formed a partnership with Frank E. Whitmore -381- and they engaged in the sale of railroad lands, town lots, etc. The co-partnership still exists, and has come to be very prosperous and well known throughout the whole northwestern country. Both members of the firm are excellent business men, whose word is always counted equal to their bond. They have done a large business in land and loans for many years. It is said, "Corbett knows every acre of land in Cherokee County." To undertake to crowd the many accomplishments of this pioneer's life within the limited space allotted a biographical sketch would be folly. The history of his career for over thirty years must be largely gleaned from the county history. He has been an active worker all these years; he has built and re-built; he has sold thousands and thousands of acres of land, now finely developed farms; he has farmed hundreds of acres himself; he has held many county and city offices; he assisted in the organization of the National Bank at Cherokee; he has freely given to all public enterprises. Again, he has improved the commercial interests of the town by erecting Corbett's Block, a brick business house on East Main street; this enterprise was carried out in 1885, and he is at present building a beautiful residence in the Addition, which is modeled after the Queen Anne style of architecture. Mr. Corbett served as city councilman in 1876 and 1877, and has held the office of city treasurer continuously since 1877, a period of thirteen years, being the present incumbent of the office. He is one of the stockholders and directors of the First National Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Corbett had the novelty and romance of being the first couple united in marriage within the county of Cherokee. This ceremony was solemnized November 20, 1859. Mrs. Corbett's maiden name was Rossabella Cummings, and she was born in New Hampshire. Three children have been born of this union, one of whom survives—Idella F. Elmer E., the first born died April 5, 1883, aged twenty-one years and six months, and May E., the youngest, died in the fall of 1880, November 7, aged twelve years, five months. Politically Mr. Corbett is a firm believer in genuine Republican principles, always doing his share in political matters. It should here be stated in justice to our subject that in manner he is modest and reserved, and that he gives praise to others when it is often due himself. In writing this review of his life-work, nothing but matters of fact and record could be obtained from him; but be it said as a high compliment to himself that every one in Cherokee County is his friend, hence no trouble was had in getting at personal traits of character and incidents worthy of a work of this kind. Among the many incidents connected with pioneer hardship, it is related of Mr. Corbett that during the Indian scare of 1862-'63, when it became his duty as treasurer of the county to be at the county seat for the purpose of collecting taxes then coming due, that his estimable wife insisted upon remaining at the garrison with him instead of seeking refuge elsewhere as all other women did. They held the fort, collected the taxes, kept the funds for the county, and have lived to see the county crowned one of the banner counties of the Hawkeye State. ROBERT PERRY deceased, was among the first men to brave the hardships and privations of pioneer life in Cherokee County, Iowa. He was born in the North of Ireland in August, 1832, and was the son of Robert and Mary (Banks) Perry; his youth was passed in his native land, and in England. Desirous of seeing the New World, and -382- discovering what fortune it held for him, he emigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-three years, and settled in Massachusetts. He was married in Connecticut to Miss Catherine McDermott, a native of the County of Donegal, Ireland; she was born in February, 1838, and is a daughter of John and Sarah (Barr) McDermont. At the age of fifteen years she emigrated to America and settled at St. John's, New Brunswick, where she remained two years, removing at the end of that time to Massachusetts; there she lived until her marriage to Mr. Perry. Having seen only a small portion of this country, Mr. and Mrs. Perry resolved to push farther to the west, so in 1856 they removed to Cherokee County, Iowa, arriving at the Sioux River in June of that year. It was indeed a wild outlook, and hearts less stout would have been discouraged; there were few white people in the county, and Indians were numerous. Mr. Perry took a homestead of eighty acres in section 28 and built a log house, which he made his home for several years; later he removed some distance west in the same township, locating in section 29, where he improved one of the best farms in the neighborhood; he resided there until 1882, when he went to Cherokee, making his home there until his death, which occurred in August, 1888. Robert and Catherine Perry had born to them nine children, six of whom are living: Caroline Pearson, of Pilot Township; Sarah Messer, of Wakefield, Nebraska; Agnes Matilda, at home; Robert Banks, of Pilot Township; John and Frank, at home. The two older children were born in Massachusetts, and the others in Cherokee County. Jennie died at the age of five years and five days. Politically Mr. Perry was a strong adherent to the principles of the Democratic party. He served as sheriff of the county with much credit to himself, and to the best interests of the public. He was a man frank in manner, strictly honest, and had many friends. Mrs. Catherine Perry is one of the few women now living in the county who have witnessed the wonderful improvement and growth of the county and towns, the erection of numerous comfortable homes with which the surrounding country is thickly dotted, the building of railroads, and numberless other changes for the better. Mrs. Perry is a worthy and consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church, in which faith she was reared. She has brought up her children in a way that reflects credit upon her teaching and example. GEORGE W. BANISTER, a well-known pioneer of Cherokee County, settled there June 17, 1856. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, September 12, 1834, and is a son of Nathan and Lucretia (Lilley) Banister; the father was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and descended from Scotch ancestors; the mother was a native of Vermont. They were married in the State of New York, and resided in Genesee County until about the year 1830, when they removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio. George W. was ten years of age when his parents moved to McHenry County, Illinois; there they remained until 1852, when they went to Dubuque, Iowa, and thence they removed to Hardin County, Iowa. Nathan Banister died in 1859, while making a visit to Cherokee County; his wife had died ten years before, in 1849. Mr. Banister was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received his education in the common schools. On coming to the county in 1856 he pre-empted 160 acres of land where he now resides, owning in all 480 acres, a very desirable farm. In those -383- early days Cherokee County people did their trading in Sioux City, and their milling at Fort Dodge or Panora, Iowa, making the trip with ox-teams. The only men now residing in the county who came in 1856 are: G. W. Lebourveau, C. Corbett, S. Parkhurst, J. A. Brown and Albert Phipps. It is nearly impossible for one who has never experienced pioneer life to realize how many and how great were the privations and hardships endured by these early settlers. At the call for men to defend this nation's flag, Mr. Banister enlisted October 1, 1862, in the 6th Cavalry, Company E. His regiment saw active service on the Western frontier, and was engaged in battle against hostile Indians at Whitestone Hills, Kildeer Mountains, and the Bad Lands of Dakota. He was honorably discharged in October, 1865, and returned to his home. Mr. Banister has figured prominently in the politics of his county; he was elected judge in 1867, and served two years; he filled the office of Sheriff very acceptably for two terms, and has also been coroner of the county. The people of his own township have shown the confidence they repose in him to fill many of the township offices. He has always been a Republican, and has taken an active interest in the success of his party. Mr. Banister was married in Hardin County, Iowa, October 7, 1856, to Miss Margaret Allison, a daughter of George and Frances (Warner) Allison, who was born and reared in Woodford County, Illinois. Her parents were natives of Ohio and Virginia, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Banister have had born to them six children: Eugene A., who works the home farm; Triphena E., wife of W. M. Little; Nettie, a successful teacher, who was educated at Ames, Iowa; George Dwight, Charles Allison and Wellington. With the exception of three years Mr. Banister has resided upon his homestead since coming to Cherokee. During the three years mentioned he lived in Cherokee, and was engaged in operating a saw-mill. He has done his share in building up the county, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held. G. W. PRESCOTT, President of the Cherokee County Bank, Meriden, Iowa, has taken an active and leading part in the building up of the town of Meriden. He was born in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, and is a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Scribner) Prescott. Mr. Prescott was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received his education in the public schools of his native county. At the age of twenty-one years he was married to Miss Lydia A. Upton, a native of New Hampshire, and a daughter of Daniel Upton, Esq. by this union three children were born: Frank K., Myra S., deceased wife of N. C. Bushwell,a nd Ella, who died in her fifth year. Frank K. Prescott located at Meriden in 1871, when the town was called Hazard; he engaged in the general mercantile trade, and was one of the leading business men of the place. In 1883 he sold his business interests in Meriden, and removed to Fresno City, California, in which place he now resides. Mrs. Lydia A. Prescott died in the year 1858. Mr. Prescott was married to Miss Hattie J. Upton, a sister to his first wife. By this marriage one child was born; Charlie D., who died in his nineteenth year. In 1873 Mr. Prescott decided to join his son in the West, so he came to Meriden, and engaged in the general mercantile trade. The same year he built an elevator with a storage capacity of 10,000 bushels, which was consumed by fire; in its stead the present building was erected in 1878. In 1875 our -384 subject entered into partnership with Samuel Upton, Esq. their business relations continuing for seven years. The firm of G. W. Prescott & Co. is the leading mercantile firm of the town, doing an annual business of $20,000. Mr. Prescott has not been behind in the building interests of the place, having erected twelve dwellings and three business houses; the hotel was built by Prescott & Son. He owns 240 acres of land joining the town on the west. Politically he gives his support to the Republican party. That he possesses the confidence of the people is evident from the fact that he has been township treasurer for fifteen years; he is the present mayor of the town, and has served on the Township and Central committees. He is a worthy member of the Congregational Church, and is one of its liberal supporters. It is to the tireless zeal and unwearying efforts of such men as G. W. Prescott that the existence of such towns as Meriden is due. Without such spirit and enterprise the West would not be the Great West, and the past decade would not have witnessed the most rapid growth and wonderful development of any country or clime. I. M. JACKSON, dealer in lumber and coal, Marcus, Iowa, is one of the prominent and substantial residents of Cherokee County. He was born in the State of New York, December 28, 1833, and is a son of A. H. and Phoebe (Lawrence) Jackson, also natives of New York. When he was two years old his parents removed to the Western Reserve, in Northeastern Ohio, locating in Summit County. There they spent ten years and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, or what was then known as Ohio City. I. M. was engaged in various avocations, farming, the dairy business, and clerking claiming his attention in turn. At one time his father controlled the Summit Hotel in Ohio City, and during that time he assisted him in carrying on the business. He obtained his education in the common schools with the exception of a commercial course which he took after reaching his majority. In 1857 Mr. Jackson migrated to Illinois, locating at Winnebago; there he remained about fourteen years, having become interested in the saddlery business which he conducted until October, 1871. He then removed to Cherokee County, and settled at Marcus, which was then composed of a railroad depot and a section house. The town lots had been staked off, but were not yet for sale because they had not been recorded. Mr. Jackson had brought material all framed for the construction of a dwelling-house in the village, and was the cause of a vast amount of comment by people passing through on their way West. Immediately upon his arrival Mr. Jackson opened his present business, attending to it in connection with his farming. In 1872 he had pre-empted eighty acres of land in Marcus Township, and had erected a small dwelling for the accommodation of his wife and two children during the summer months; in the fall they removed to their home in Marcus which is one of the neatest and most comfortable in the village. Mr. Jackson has been one of the main factors in building up the town in a business as well as a social way. He has erected several houses, and has owned more residence property than any other one man in the place. He does an extensive business in lumber and coal, carrying a stock of $10,000; his plant is one of the best in the country, covering 500 lineal feet. He owns 324 acres of farm land, five dwellings, one blacksmith shop, a business room and a harness -385- shop. Periodically Mr. Jackson affiliates with the Republican party, and has represented his township officially as trustee. He was united in marriage in 1860 to Miss Clara C. Straw, a native of Canada. They are the parents of two children: Charles, residing in Cherokee County, and Ida, wife of Henry Mankey, living in Marcus. Mr. Jackson's residence in Marcus Township began in its pioneer days; he assisted in the organization of the township, served as its first assessor, was one of the first aldermen, and was one of the first to serve on the School Board. The first school taught in the township was held in his residence.

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