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WILLIAM F. NEWCOMB, a leading jeweler of Cherokee, Iowa, has been a resident of the place since May, 1885. He was born in Canada, in the Province of Quebec, in June, 1857, and is a son of I___ and Mary (Kenney) Newcomb. The father is living in Manchester, Iowa, but the mother died when William F. was four years of age. He is the youngest of a family of five children, and received his earlier education in Canada. When he was about twelve years old he came with his father to the United States, and located n Manchester, Iowa, where he learned the jeweler's trade. When he had completed his study of the trade in all its details he embarked in the business on his own account at Delhi, the county seat of Delaware County, Iowa; there he remained two years, when he removed to Fayette County, Iowa, in which place he was engaged in the jewelry business for nine years; during this time he was very prosperous, and his earnest efforts were crowned with success. Thinking that Cherokee presented better conditions for his business Mr. Newcomb removed to this place, and added to his stock of jewelry, clocks and watches, a fine line of musical goods, including pianos and organs. In the summer of 1889 he made an extended trip through the Western States and Territories, and made collections of many rare and beautiful specimens, which he has exhibited with his stock of goods. Mr. Newcomb was united in marriage September 18, 1879, to Miss Emma A. Osborn, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of O. H. Osborn, editor and publisher of the Brush Creek News. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb: Lola M., Mabel L. and Hazel D. Mr. Newcomb is an honored member of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is rather conservative, casting his vote with the Republican party.
J. W. DAILEY, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Sheridan Township, was born December 2, 1853, in Knox County, Illinois. His father, William M. Dailey, was born in Ohio, October 24, 1818; his mother, Eunice (Woodman) Dailey, was born in the State of New York, December 9, 1824. In 1849 they removed to Illinois, and located there on a farm which was their home for twenty years; they then removed to Missouri, where the father still lives. The mother is deceased. J. W. Dailey lived in Knox County, Illinois, until he was fifteen years old, when he went to Wayne County, Iowa; there he remained three years, engaged in farm work, to which he had been trained from -579-boyhood. In 12872 he left Iowa and went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, in which place he engaged in bridge building for three years. Thence he returned to Iowa and stopped in Grundy County. In 1881 he came to Cherokee County and bought 120 acres of land in Sheridan Township, on which he is still living. Mr. Dailey was married January 21, 1876, to Miss Mary E. Kennedy, a daughter of T. D. and M. J. (Arnold) Kennedy, whose biography appears in this history. Mrs. Dailey was born in Galva, Illinois, September 12, 1855. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dailey: Carl Edward and Phillip A. Mr. Dailey is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He served as road supervisor in 1883, and in 1884 he was elected township trustee, and is now serving a second term. He is a member of the Farmer's Alliance, and takes an active interest in all local enterprises. He is a man of the highest integrity of character, and is well worthy of the confidence reposed in him by the citizens of Cherokee County.
FRANCIS H. MOLYNEUX, contractor and builder, Cherokee, Iowa, was born in the State of Pennsylvania, Sullivan County, August 1, 1852, and is the oldest son living of a family of five children. His father, Henry Molyneux, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a millwright and miller by trade; in later years he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and is still living on a farm in Pilot Township, Cherokee County. He married Ellen Warburton, a native of England, and a daughter of John Warburton. Francis H. passed his youth in his native county, receiving a common-school education. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age, following the occupation of farming. In 1867 the family removed to Cherokee County, and it was not until he had reached man's estate that he began to learn the carpenter's trade. He worked at the business in Wisconsin, and after his return to Cherokee County was engaged in erecting buildings in the country. He has pushed his way slowly but surely to the top, and to-day stands second to no builder in the county. His reputation for careful, honest work,has been justly earned, and the confidence reposed in him is shown by the class of work which he is constantly engaged in. Mr. Molyneaux was untied in marriage in 1880 to Miss S. A. Keturah Van Horn, a daughter of John H. and Sarah A. B. Van Horn, natives of Canada. Mrs. Molyneux was also born in Canada. After his marriage Mr. Molyneux settled in Cherokee, where he has since lived. He owns a comfortable residence built after a modern style of architecture, and a good farm of eighty acres in Silver Township, fairly well improved. Politically he adheres to the principles of the Republican party. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Molyneux: Bertha Gertrude and Francis Harrison.
DAVID W. WHITE was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1838, and is a son of David and Mary (Ross) White, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. He was reared in Jefferson County, Ohio, from his seventh year, at which time his parents removed from Pennsylvania. His early life was spent in attending the public schools, and in assisting his father on the farm, where he remained until 1862. In October of that year he enlisted in defense of his country, entering -580-the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Company H. In 1864 he was commissioned Quartermaster-Sergeant; he was taken prisoner at New Market, Virginia, by Mosby's guerrillas, but was almost immediately paroled. He participated in a number of battles and experienced many of the hardships and privations of a soldier's life. After the close of the war he returned to his home in Ohio, where he spent one year. In June, 1866, he came to Iowa, and settled in Washington County, spending three years there engaged in farming. In 1869 he came to Cherokee County and located on a farm in Rock Township; there he resided four years and then went back to Washington County, remaining one year. He then made a trip to the home of his childhood, and did not return to Iowa for four years; at the end of this period he came back to the farm in Rock Township, on which he lived until 1887. When he first settled on the farm in Rock Township there were no improvements whatever; he planted a grove of five acres, and placed the land under good cultivation; there are 200 acres in the place, which under Mr. White's management have been developed into a fine farming tract. In the fall of 1887 he purchased his present home in the town of Cherokee, on the corner of Second and Willow streets, where he has since resided. Mr. White is identified with the Republican party, and is a stanch adherent to its principles. He is a lover of law and order and an advocate of any measure tending to advance the standing of the community. He was married February 15, 1872, to MIss Anna Achison, a daughter of James E. and Mary Achison, and a native of Morgan County, Ohio. She lived only four years after her marriage, her death occurring June 5, 1876. Two children were born of this union: William Ross (deceased) and Mary E. Mr. White was a second time united in marriage, to Mrs Mary E. Burris, a daughter of Joseph and Wealthy Ruggles. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, March 19, 1843. By her first marriage Mrs. White has two children living: Clarence and Herbert. Mr. and Mrs. White are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church of Cherokee.
WILLIAM E. DAVIS, contractor and builder, Cherokee, Iowa, has been a resident of the place since 1882. He is a native of England, born in Somersetshire, August 15, 1844. He received a fair education in the common school. At the age of fifteen years he went to learn the carpenter's trade, and served and apprenticeship of seven years, studying the business in all its branches. His employer died two months before his time expired, and he then went to work for himself. Believing that America afforded better opportunities for a young man to make his way in life, he determined to emigrate and investigate the question for himself. Accordingly he set sail, and after landing worked at anything that offered itself. He was soon convinced that this was his home, if not by birth then he should be by adoption. Mr. Davis returned to England in a short time and claimed his bride in Mrs. Mary Ann Lillywhite, a daughter of James and Ann Blackman, natives of England. Soon after his marriage he came back to the United States, landing in the city of New York,a nd journeying thence directly to Cherokee, Iowa. He began working at his trade, in which he has been very successful; he has been engaged in work on some of the finest residences in the city of Cherokee. He built his own dwelling on Cedar street in 1886, and has erected four other residences on the same street; he disposed of one, and rents the other three to good advantage. He began his business career on limited means, but energy and determination have served where capital sometimes fails. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had born to them one son, Bertie W. Politically our subject adheres to the principles of the Democratic party.
MATTHIAS SMITH, a retired farmer of Cherokee County, was an early settler there, and has seen pioneer life in all its phases. He was born in Canada, January 24, 1820, and is the son of Matthias Smith, a millwright by trade, also an owner of mills and a practical miller. He was born in Canada, and was a son of Philip Smith, a native of Germany, who settled in America before the Revolutionary War. The mother of Matthias Smith was Rebecca Rouse, who was born in the State of Vermont. After his marriage Matthias Smith settled in Canada, and he and his wife remained there the balance of their days. Matthias, the subject of this sketch, spent his youth on a farm and in the mill; he also worked at the trade of a millwright with his father. He received the advantage of a common-school education, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-six years of age. In February, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Christy; she was born and reared in Prince Edward County, Canada, and is a daughter of Henry and Maria Christy. After their marriage they settled on a farm, and at the end of three years removed to Victoria County, Canada, where Mr. Smith rented a saw-mill; he divided his time between the mill and clearing a farm, on which he lived about nine years. In the fall of 1859 he removed to De Kalb County, Illinois, where he settled on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits for ten years. In the spring of 1869 he came to Cherokee County and took up a homestead in Amherst Township consisting of eighty acres; this he improved and added to his first purchase until he owned 160 acres, which he made his home until he removed to the city of Cherokee in 1882. Mr. Smith's first house in the county was built of cottonwood, which he purchased from the railroad company, and the first winter was a cold one. He devoted himself to farming and stock-raising. He commenced life for himself on limited means, and lost heavily during the grasshopper raids for four years; he was also visited by a cyclone, which brought destruction to his crops; but he struggled on through all these adverse circumstances; he mortgaged his farm for $1,000 and bought stock, after which he sold $1,000 worth each year until the fall of the sixth year when he sold $2,200 worth. This set him on his feet again and fortune has since smiled upon his efforts. Since his residence in Cherokee, Mr. Smith has worked at the carpenter's trade, and has built several houses in his immediate neighborhood. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and has served as justice of the peace, road supervisor, township trustee, and has been school director for four years. He has been a faithful member member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-three years. By industry and economy Mr. Smith has accumulated considerable property; he owns 155 acres of well-improved land in Amherst Township, four town lots and houses, which he rents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had born to them ten children: Edwin, a resident of Carthage, Missouri; Adam H., a jeweler in Cherokee; Nelson W., of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; William P., a farmer of Amherst Township; Lydia L. Chapman, of Carthage, Missouri; Edith R. Thomas, residing in Dakota; Patience E. Caswell, a resident of British Columbia; Christ M., of Carthage, Missouri; Phebe A., of Carthage, Missouri, and Ruth G., at home.
WILLIAM H. ELFORD, one of the leading painters and decorators of Cherokee, Iowa, was born in South Hampton, England, June 24, 1853. He is the eldest son of William H. and Elizabeth (Barton) Elford. At the age of fifteen years he emigrated to America with his mother, the father having died in the West Indies, when he had gone on a business trip. They landed in the city of New York, July 4, 1868, and continued their journey to Chicago, Illinois, where they resided for a period of twelve years. The first year William H. was employed in a boiler factory, and then he began to learn the painter's trade; he served a three years' apprenticeship in the shop of J. B. Sullivan, after which he worked as a journeyman. He was then engaged by the Northwestern Railroad Car Shops in the painting department, and remained there five years. The three years following he was employed by different parties, and then went to work for Heath & Milligan, manufacturers of paints, remaining with this firm one year. In the autumn of 1880, Mr. Elford came to Cherokee, Iowa, and the first year of his residence there he was in the employ of A. Loft, who was running a paint shop and store. At the end of two years Mr. Elford purchased the stock of Mr. Loft, and continued the business at the old stand. One year later he bought his present store building on Maple street, to which he moved his stock; the house is 20x50 feet; two stories high, and is filled with a well-select stock of paints and wall-papers. Mr. Elford is himself a practical painter, and during the busy season employs from five to nine men. He has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Minerva Overton, who died twelve months later. His present wife was Miss Mattie M. Schwartz, a native of Germany. By his first marriage one child was born, Eva R. The second union resulted in the birth of three children: Walter C., Esther May and Bertha E. Mr. and Mrs. Elford are consistent members of the Congregational Church, Mr. Elford being a deacon of the society. For many years he was identified with the Republican party, but is now a Prohibitionist, and was one of the twenty-seven men to cast a straight Prohibition vote in 1888, in Cherokee County. Mr. Elford's youthful days were spent mainly in Chicago, where he acquired his education, principally at the evening schools. His mother was a teacher in early life, and now makes her home in Cherokee.
WATSON PELTON was born in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, February 23, 1837, and is the fifth of a family of eight children of Cyrus B. and Theresa A. (Merrill) Pelton. The father was a carpenter by trade, and was a native of Massachusetts,as was also the mother. When Watson was five years old his parents removed to Livingston County, New York,where they settled permanently; the father died in the fall of 1883, in his seventy-seventh years, his wife is still living in her eighty-fifth year, in the full possession of her faculties; she is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and regularly attends the services. Watson Pelton attended the common school at Moscow, Livingston County, New York, held in the old Black School-house, the memory of which is yet fresh in the minds of all those who assembled there in years long gone by. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade under his older brother, Hiram B., and in 1860 he drifted West to Painesville, Ohio, where he went to work at his trade. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army, in Company D, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was ordered to Kentucky, where he participated in the battle of Perryville; he was wounded by a minie-ball in his right foot which disabled him for some time, and n account of which he was discharged in September the same year as his enlistment. He then returned to his home in Painesville, Ohio. In 1865 he removed to Iowa, settling in Washington County. The same year he was married to Miss Anna McDivitt, of Cleveland, Ohio, whose parents died during her infancy. After coming to Washington County Mr. Watson worked at his trade, and resided there until 1870, when he removed to Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa; there he engaged in the furniture business for one year, and at the expiration of that time he came to Cherokee, bringing his stock of furniture with him. He continued in the business about eight years, and then sold out. His next venture was in the grocery business; he formed a partnership with B. O. Stevens, the style of the firm being Pelton & Co., and continued in the trade until the end of three years. He then embarked in the clothing and merchant-tailoring business, and in about a year he closed it up and went to Chamberlain, Dakota. In eighteen months we find him returning to Cherokee, where he is now residing. Mr. Pelton was married a second time in May, 1878, to Miss Margaret Knapp, a daughter of Z. M. and Sarah Knapp. By his first marriage four children were born: De Witt L., a teacher, now fitting himself for the ministry; Bernice (deceased), Walter S. (deceased), and Stanley S., a resident of Sioux County, Iowa. By the second marriage four children were born: Herbert, Myrtle, Charles C. and George E. Mr. Pelton was elected the third mayor of Cherokee, filling the office acceptably for one term. He was elected coroner of the county in its early days, and held the office until he went to Dakota; on his return to Cherokee he was re-elected to the same office. He served as justice of the peace for one term of two years. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A.F. & A.M., and of Cherokee Lodge, No. 188, I.O.O.F. He is a man who has been prosperous in business, and to-day owns some of the most valuable property in Cherokee. Mrs. Pelton is a worthy member of the Congregational Church.
time he went to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he was successfully engaged in business until his removal to Cherokee in 1870. Mr. Vandercook was united in marriage in Beaver Dam, October 3, 1847, to Miss Jennette Van Epps, a native of Genesee County, New York, and a daughter of John and Huldah (Smith) Van Epps, who came to New York with the Mohawk settlement. Thirteen children were born of this union, five of whom are living: Emma J., the wife of A. L. Porter, of Norwood Park, Illinois; Cordelia Lorette, the wife of C. F. Fous, of Cherokee; Nellie, the wife of F. J. Stanosheck, of Cherokee; Henry, of Tacoma, Washington Territory, and Inez, of Cherokee. Mr. Vandercook was a man who attended strictly to his own business, and although frequently solicited by his friends to accept public office, he always declined the honor. After he came to Cherokee he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, William Van Epps, who had come to the place one year previous. This partnership continued one year, when Mr. Van Epps withdrew from the business, and removed to Sioux Falls, Dakota. Mr. Vandercook remained in business, which he carried on with more than an ordinary degree of success, until the spring of 1882. Besides his prosperous mercantile business he accumulated a large landed estate. Politically he cast his suffrage with the Democratic party. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Religiously he believed fully in the Golden Rule, that of doing to others as he would that they should do by him. That was his rule and guide of faith in the future for himself. He exacted the same principle of others, and when he found that person worthy he always found in him a warm, obliging friend. When he found him otherwise, he was decidedly the opposite, having no patience with dishonesty. During the great grasshopper scourge in this country for several years, many then living in the counties of O'Brien, Clay and Cherokee found in him a true, kind friend in their time of need. In his family he was a kind and loving husband and an indulgent father.
EDWARD MILLER Secretary of the Citizen's Life Association of Cherokee, Iowa, and ex-county recorder, is a man well known and universally respected throughout Cherokee County, as well as over a broad expanse of country in which life assurance policies of the company are found. His history in this county should here be prefaced by something concerning his earlier life. He was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1850, and is the sixth of a family of eleven children, ten sons and one daughter. His father, M. G. Miller, also a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer and merchant by occupation. He married Elizabeth Rider, a native of the same State, and a daughter of Jacob Rider, of German ancestry. The father is still living, but the mother passed from the scenes of this life in 1873. M. G. Miller is a resident of Cedar County, Iowa, whither he removed when Edward was one year old. In that county our subject grew to manhood, receiving a liberal common-school education. He remained on his father's farm until 1873, when he decided to come to Cherokee County. He carried this plan into execution,a nd followed agricultural pursuits until 1880, when he was nominated by the Republican party for the office of county recorder of Cherokee County, to which position he was elected by a majority of 100 votes. He served a term -587-of two years and was re-elected, making his term in all four years. Upon his retirement from the office which he had so acceptably filled, Mr. Miller became a member of the Citizens' Life Association of Cherokee, which was organized in 1885. He was made its secretary, a position which he still fills with much credit to himself. Mr. Miller was married in 1876 to Miss Belle Stone, a daughter of James Stone. The result of this union was two children: Aretas H. and Orville Guy. Mrs. Miller was called from earth and the happy surroundings of her home and family in 1884. She was a devoted mother and a faithful wife, who had many friends to join her family in sorrow for her death. Mr. Miller is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is recording steward and chorister. He is an honored member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A.F. & A.M.; of Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R.A.M., and of the Knights of Pythias. He owns a tasty residence in the Addition, with fine surroundings. No man in the county stands higher in point of true moral worth than does Mr. Miller, of whom we have heard many deserving compliments while gathering the data for this brief review of his life.
JOHN A. METCALFE, one of the representative and leading men of the legal profession of Cherokee, Iowa, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, on April 19, 1853, and was the second child and oldest son of a family of seven. Thomas Metcalfe, his father, was born in the same county, in 1799, and died in 1873; he was a butcher and storekeeper most of his life, living on the farm during the last fifteen years of his life. the Metcalfe family are of English origin and came to Virginia in an early day from Berkshire, England. The father of our subject was the oldest son of John Metcalfe, the grandfather of our subject, and came to Kentucky, from Fauquier County, Virginia, in early youth, with five brothers and a widowed mother. He was a brother to Thomas Metcalfe, the stonemason, who became a political orator in 1809, and fought under General Harrison at Fort Meigs and the battle of Tippecanoe, where he greatly distinguished himself. After 1813 he was much in public life; was in the Legislature from 1810 to about 1820; in Congress from 1820 to 1829; Governor of Kentucky from 1828 to 1832; State Senator in 1834; president of the Board of Internal Improvement in 1840; United States Senator in 1848. Died in Nicholas County, Kentucky, in 1855. He was a Clay Whig and had great ability in public affairs. Thomas, the father of our subject, was also a soldier in 1816, though he was only sixteen years old. All the Metcalfe family were Whigs before the war and most of them Republicans since the war. Colonel Lon Metcalfe, son of the Governor, killed two rebels in duels in Kentucky about the time and during the war, and fought through the Civil War with General Nelson, with great bravery. On account of the war our subject was deprived of the public schools, only learning the common rules of arithmetic and grammar by the time he was twenty-one years old. In 1875 he came to Warren County, Illinois, and worked on a farm for five years, attending school in the winter months. In the winter of 1878 he entered Abingdon College and finished a three years' course in 1881. In the same year he entered the law office of Stewart, Phelps & Grier, at Monmouth, Illinois, and read law until fall, when he taught school five months and then during the summer of 1882 attended the Wesleyan Universitaty [University] Bloomington, Illinois; in the fall of 1882 he again returned to -588-Monmouth, Illinois, and taught school; in 1883, March 1, he entered the Law Department of the State University at Iowa City, and graduated March 5, 1884. He immediately began the practice at Charles City, Iowa, but in the fall returned to Knoxville, Illinois, and practiced with Judge R. L. Hannaman until 1886, when he came west to Plymouth County, Iowa, where he remained until 1888, when he moved to Cherokee and became the successor to Hon. A. F. Meservey, in practice. Mr. Metcalfe is perhaps an equal to any young attorney in Northwestern Iowa; he is careful in giving advice, is fearless in the court-room, is a sound speaker to the jury, and is a hard student in his office; keeps the same clean and always ready for business; is a Republican, but says but little on politics. In fact, he is a good lawyer. He was married in 1888 to Mrs. M. K. Dines, of Blandinsville, Illinois, a most accomplished and charming lady. She was the daughter of William Land, of Blandinsville, Illinois, who was a merchant all his life, and died in 1878. Mrs. Metcalfe was born in New Jersey and came to Illinois with her parents when a child. The mother of Mrs. Metcalfe is still living and was a Hampton, all of the Democratic persuasion, and a cousin of Hon. Wade Hampton. Returning to our sketch, John A., his mother was a Parker, of distant relative of Captain John Parker, of Revolutionary fame, who lost his life at the battle of Concord. Since Mr. Metcalfe has been in practice in this State he has had some very close escapes. In the spring of 1887, as he, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Porter, were going from Kingsley to Le Mars, on March 1, there being at that time a general thaw, they crossed many streams, and four miles south of Le Mars they attempted to cross Plymouth Creek at what is known as the Sibley Bridge; in the attempt Mr. Porter lost his team, and would have lost his wife had not himself and our subject made a bold and desperate struggle and swam sixty feet with the lady, thereby saving her life, but the team, a fine span of horses, was lost. Mr. Metcalfe is now doing a fairly good business in Cherokee, and we bespeak for him a successful career. His office is at present over the First National Bank, Cherokee, Iowa, where he can be found for anything in the way of law, real estate or loans.
DANIEL PHELAN, a retired farmer living in Cherokee, is a native of the State of Vermont, born in Rutland County, February 23, 1849. He is a son of Patrick and Anna (Rowe) Phelan, the father being a farmer by occupation. The family removed to the old "Green Mountain" State when Daniel was five years old; they settled in Winneshiek County, where the father died in 1863, and the mother now lives in Allamakee County, Iowa. There were seven children in the family, all of whom are now living. Daniel passed his school days in Winneshiek County, and remained on the home farm until he was seventeen years old, when he left home and worked by the month at farm work. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Philia Goodrich, of Allamakee County, Iowa, a daughter of Lyman W. Goodrich. After his marriage Mr. Phelan settled on a farm in Winneshiek County on which he lived until the spring of 1876, when he removed wit his family to Cherokee County, Iowa; he settled in Afton Township on a farm of eight acres, to which he kept adding until he had 280 acres, all of which is now well improved. He resided there and carried on farming until 1889, when he came to town, having erected a commodious dwelling in Huxford's Additon. Mr. and Mrs. Phelan are the parents of four children: Jennie E., Lettie, Harry and Ethel M. In 1881 our subject was elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors, and he has served as trustee of his township. In State and national affairs he affiliates with the Democratic party. Commencing in life with no means he has had to "hoe his own row," and has indeed made a good record.
CHARLES A. STILES, capitalist and land-owner, Cherokee, Iowa, was born in Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada, at Frederickton, in October, 1852. His parents were Thomas and Catherine (Stennette) Stiles, natives of England. They were both born in the city of London, and soon after their marriage emigrated to America, settling in Canada; there they resided eighteen months, and in 1855 removed to McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa. When the dark cloud of war spread its awful blackness over this land, and there was need of brave men and true, Thomas Stiles did not shrink from the duty of aiding his adopted country in her terrible necessity. He enlisted in the Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. During this time, while he escaped all the horrors of war unharmed, his wife was called to her eternal rest, leaving three sons and one daughter to mourn her loss with the bereaved husband. Charles A. passed his school days at McGregor, Iowa, and later on had the privilege of attending the State University for two years, an opportunity which he gladly embraced. Previous to this time he had taught school. At McGregor the family was divided, Charles A. going to live with E. B. Bailey, who held his papers for three years. In 1871 and 1872 he was traveling through the Western States and Territories, and finally came to Cherokee County and purchased 160 acres of land; this he improved, and made additional purchases until he owns 960 acres of Cherokee County land near the Ida County line; this vast tract is under cultivation, and is rented out by Mr. Stiles. In May, 1878, occurred the marriage of Mr. Stiles to Mill S. F. Bailey, a daughter of E. B. Bailey, of Cherokee County, Iowa. Mrs. Stiles was born in 1852, in the town of East Hampton, Connecticut. Three children have been born of this union: Mamie L., Nestor L. and Fred B. In 1876 Mr. Stiles began traveling as salesman with a large nursery stock, and controlled at the same time a force of from ten to seventeen men, handling the same stock. He is a very successful business man, and although he began with no means he has by industry and good judgment accumulated a handsome competence. He owns valuable property in Sioux City and Council Bluffs, and a good residence in Cherokee.
JOHN G. RIEGEL is the proprietor of a general repair shop for wagons and all kinds of farm machinery, Cherokee, Iowa. He became established in business in 1877, manufacturing buggies and wagons, afterward turning his attention to repairing. Mr. Riegel was born in Germany, July 13, 1849, and is a son of John and Margrette Riegel, who emigrated to the United States when John G. was a child five years of age; they alnded at Baltimore, Maryland, and thence continued their journey to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Riegel removed to Hardin County, Iowa, stopping in Ackley. He had learned the blacksmith's trade in Evans City, Butler County, Pennsylvania, and -590-worked at the business two years there and then removed to Hardin County, Iowa; he then removed to Warrensburgh, Johnson County, Missouri, and afterward returned to Hardin County and located at Alden. From this place he came to Cherokee, Iowa, where he has since resided. For a time he worked in the shop of R. Gick, Esq., and then started in business for himself on a small scale. In the wide range of country tributary to Cherokee there is a vast amount of plowing done, and Mr. Riegel has devoted much time to the repairing of plows, and has found it a profitable business. He was married in November, 1878, to Miss Ellen L. Kenyon, a daughter of R. P. Kenyon, Esq., of Hardin County, Iowa. Mrs. Riegel was born in the State of Vermont, and came to the West when a child. They have one daughter living, Effie M. C. and lost one son in infancy. Mr. Riegel owns a good residence on Maple street. In politics he is a Republican. He has served as city marshal for one year. He is a member of Speculative Lodge, No. 307, A.F. & A.M.; of Burning Bush Chapter, No. 90, R.A.M., and of Crusade Commandery, No. 39, K.T. At the present time he is high priest of the chapter. He is also a member of Cherokee Lodge, No. 188, I.O.O.F. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has held a membership since his thirteenth year, and has been a faithful worker in the cause of his Master. |
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