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EUGENE COWLES, deceased, during his life-time justly won a place in the biographical record of his county, as well as in the hearts of his fellow-citizens and brothers at the legal bar of Cherokee County. Never did the hand of death strike down one more highly honored and universally beloved, or one whose demise awoke more genuine sorrow in the public heart. Mr. Cowles was born in New Haven, Vermont, March 10, 1835, where he grew to manhood. He there distinguished himself as the brightest of his class in school. On leaving Vermont he entered a commercial college in Chicago, as he intended pursuing some business enterprise. There he received an excellent training, but having a love for the study of the law, he entered an office at Bellevue, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. The next year he was married to Miss Julia Potter, who for twenty years lived with him a life of happiness such as but few realize. The marriage was blessed with two daughters who grew to womanhood: Eugenie and Harriet. After practicing law a few years, Mr. Cowles entered the grain business at Dubuque, Iowa, but again in 1870 we find him engaged in the practice of his chosen profession at Cherokee, Iowa, where he resided until death overtook him in the full vigor and prime of his manhood, July 26, 1880. He was few months past forty-five years of age, and was ill but a few hours. As a citizen no man stood higher than he, and he was foremost in every work tending to benefit the community. He was truly a charitable man, but he gave so unostentatiously that only his most intimate friends knew the goodness of his heart. He ministered to the poor and distressed, not to be seen of men, but to relieve and sustain the needy. Mr. Cowles was an active Mason, and was buried by that order. The merchants of the city closed their places of business as a last tribute to his noble manhood, knowing full well that one of Cherokee's best men had passed from earth. The newspapers throughout the Northwest gave extended obituary notices, and the home papers were heavily draped in turned "column rules," as a sign of deep mourning.
R. C. HAWN, deceased, late of Silver Township, was widely and favorably known in Cherokee County. He was born July 13, 1820, in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Smiley) Hawn. He lived in the county of his birth until sixteen years of age, when he went with his parents to Clarion County, Pennsylvania. There he grew to manhood, and learned the carpenter's trade. He was married February 13, 1843, to Miss Elmira Magee, who was born and reared in Clarion County. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Frampton) Magee. In 1855 Mr. Hawn made a trip to Iowa, settled in Davenport, -402-remaining there two years. At the end of that time he removed to Muscatine County, Iowa, living there for the same length of time. In 1859 he went to Jones County, Iowa. When there was a call from men during the great Rebellion, he enlisted in September, 1862, in the Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company H. He served as hospital carpenter on the hospital boat, The City of Memphis. This position he held for nine months. For a time he was in Captain Shanks' command in the Quartermaster's department of the Army of the Southwest. He was in the battle of Arkansas Post, and entered Vicksburg on the day of the surrender. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and at one time was hauling ammunition in the ordnance train in the front of the battle. He was honorably discharged in July, 1865, and returned to his home in Jones County. In 1870 he came to Cherokee County, and settled on eighty acres of wild land, residing there until his death, which occurred August 8, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Hawn reared four children: D. B. and J. M., residents of Silver Township; Henrietta, wife of M. L. Dial, of Sioux City, (she has six children), and Mrs. Sarah M. Steiner (deceased), wife of F. P. Steiner (deceased), who left three children. Mr. Hawn affiliated with the Republican party. He served his township as trustee, justice of the peace, and as assessor, with much credit to himself. He was a member of the General Custer Post, No. 25, G.A.R. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the reliable and representative citizens of the county. His widow resides on the homestead with her son, D. B. Hawn, D. B. Hawn, the eldest son of R. C. and Elmira (Magee) Hawn, was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. In 1870 he came with his parents to Cherokee County, and purchased 120 acres of wild land in Silver Township. He has brought this land from the natural state in which he found it to one of high cultivation, and has erected a dwelling, a good barn, and other buildings necessary for the protection of grain and live-stock. He has planted a grove, which is a beautiful ornament to the place. Mr. Hawn also owns 120 acres of land in Griggs Township, Ida County. In political thought and action he is Republican. He is a man yet in the prime of live, is intelligent and progressive, and is one of the leading citizens of the township.
FRANK E. WHITMORE, junior member of the well-known and reliable real-estate firm, Corbett & Whitmore, Cherokee, Iowa, has by reason of his long residence here, together with his extensive business operations, made a record which truly entitles him to more than passing mention in the review of representative men of Cherokee County, where Mr. Whitmore has resided over eighteen years. To gain information concerning his earlier career, one must needs go back to the place of his nativity, in the old Empire State. He was born July 22, 1843, in the town of Georgetown, Madison County, New York, and is the youngest child of a second marriage. HIs father, Dr. E. Whitmore, was a native of East Haddam, Connecticut, in which State he was reared and educated. He removed to the State of New York in the year 1810, and settled in Georgetown, Madison County, where he continued to practice medicine until his death, which occurred November 6, 1851, the date of his birth being February 24, 1784. Mr. Whitmore's mother was Betsey (Barnett) Whitmore, a daughter of James Barnett, Esq. She was born November 26, 1808, in Connecticut, -403-and died August 15, 1850. She was the mother of two children: Cerissa A. Whitmore and Frank E. Dr. Whitmore's first wife was Miss Susanna Hovey. Frank E. Whitmore was reared in his native town where he attended the public schools. When about ten years of age he went to Morrisville, New York, and entered the Morrisville Union School, where he remained until 1860. He then taught school four months, commencing November 5, 1860, after which he went to Cazenovia, New York, and entered the Oneida Conference Seminary December 4, 1861. After leaving that educational institution he enlisted for nine months, November 1, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers, and was sent to Louisiana under General B. F. Butler; he afterward joined the expedition under General N. P. Banks. He was detached as a bugler and later as a member of the regimental band. On June 23, 1863, he was taken prisoner of war at Morgan City, Louisiana. He was paroled and sent to Ship Island, held sixty days, and then exchanged, when he returned to the service, his regiment being at Bonnet Carre, Louisiana. He was mustered out in the autumn of 1863, and returned to Morrisville, New York, and soon went to Petersborough, New York, where he took charge of a store owned by an uncle, James Barnet. He remained there about three years and then went to South Carolina, July 1, 1866, rented a sea island cotton plantation in company with others, about thirty miles north of Charleston, in which he owned an interest in crop and equipments; he resided there about one year, and on account of sickness was compelled to return to the North. He went to Utica, in his native State, April 15, 1867, and was there employed in a hardware store owned by J. E. Roberts & Co., with whom he remained about two years. At the expiration of that time he went to Red Wing, Minnesota, April 9, 1868, and took a position as bookkeeper in the hardware store of E. L. Baker & Co., whom he served two years. In July, 1871, Mr. Whitmore came to Cherokee, Iowa, and soon after formed a partnership with John H. Roe, in the real-estate business. This co-partnership existed until 1873, when Mr. Whitmore purchased the interest of Mr. Roe, and afterward sold a one-half interest in the business to Carlton Corbett, Esq. The firm now known as Corbett & Whitmore are extensive dealers in both wild and improved lands, and are agents for the Iowa Railroad Land and Town Lot Company. Mr. Whitmore was united in marriage June 6, 1871, to Emma E. Bates, a daughter of John W. Bates, and a native of Utica, New York,w here she grew to womanhood. In his political choice Mr. Whitmore now favors the Prohibition party, believing that no great reform in likely to be enacted by either of the other two political parties. being a thorough-going business man, he has frequently been placed in public office. He served as secretary of the School Board of Cherokee for several years, has been a member of the Town Council, and is a director of the Cherokee State Bank, in which he is a stockholder. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and holds the office of clerk of the same. He is also an active member of the Y.M.C.A., of which he is director and treasurer. He is a member of the A.O.U.W., belonging to the Loyal Order at Cherokee, of which he is an officer. Cherokee County has an unusually large number of excellent business men in proportion to its population, yet none stand higher in point of intelligence and moral superiority than he of whom this sketch is written. He was endowed by nature with a very keen perception of right and wrong, which invaluable characteristic he has -404-cultivated from his early youth; this fact alone causes him to stand out prominent among his fellow men as an exemplary Christian and exceptionally correct business man whom all classes admire and greatly respect. Cherokee County can boast of no better type of a good citizen than that found in Frank E. Whitmore.
a respectable village. Here Messrs. Kellogg & Lewis followed their profession, and the real-estate firm also did a large business. Mr. Kellogg's ability and energy soon placed him in the front rank of those who were struggling to build up the interests of the town and county. The railroad having been completed through from Fort Dodge to Sioux City in the spring of 1870, and the present town of Cherokee having been located, the new firm, in common with the rest of the inhabitants of Blair City, put their homes and offices on wheels and moved to the new town. Here their legal business grew and Mr. Kellogg was soon recognized as one of the foremost lawyers of this section. While not a man who was given to the close study and investigation of legal questions, yet, from his strong, innate common sense, he was enabled to arrive at conclusions on legal problems that were usually consonant with legal principles, for the reason that law is supposed to be the perfection of common sense. In addition to this faculty of arriving at sound conclusions on legal questions he also possessed a very high order of oratorical ability, the display of which in the legal forum soon made him well known as a successful jury pleader, and his eloquence was always more feared by the other members of the bar than his knowledge of the law. In 1871 his partner, Mr. Lewis, was elected to the office of district attorney of the Fourth Judicial District, and this fact gave prominence to the firm. As the county developed the business of the firm increased. In the fall of 1874 Mr. Lewis was elected by the Republicans to the office of judge of the Fourth Judicial District, a position which he has held ever since. This rendered a dissolution of the old firm necessary on the 1st of January, 1875, when Judge Lewis took his seat on the bench. Mr. Kellogg carried on the law business alone until the month of May, 1875, when he formed a partnership with Mr. E. C. Herrick, a young attorney, and the firm was from then until Mr. Kellogg's retirement from practice in the fall of 1882 known as Kellogg & Herrick. In October, 1882, having grown tired of the turmoil and strife consequent on the practice of the law, and wishing to lead a less active life, Mr. Kellogg sold out his interest to his partner and retired to his farm near Cherokee, where he has since resided, carrying on one of the finest farms in the county. His first wife had died in Quasqueton, Iowa, in the year 1877, leaving surviving her four children: Mrs. Emma E. Lewis, the wife of Judge Lewis, now a resident of Sioux City, Iowa; Mary E., wife of Henry Ackenback, of Spencer, Iowa; Fred. R., just entering into manhood, and residing at home, and Darwin H., a younger son, who is at Lake Charles, Louisiana. Mr. Kellogg was married again in the year 1879, to Mrs. Rachel S. Soper, of Buchanan County, a lady of fine social attainments, good common sense, and possessed of business judgment far beyond the average of her sex. In politics Mr. Kellogg was a thorough Republican in the early history of the party. His father was a Whig, and supported John C. Fremont in 1856. Mr. Kellogg remained loyal to the Republican party until recent years. Being a man of independent thought and conviction, and acknowledging no right in any one or any party to dictate his political course, he has come to be known as an Independent. He cordially supported the prohibitory movement in Iowa, and is inclined to believe that the full efficacy of prohibition can be found only in absolute national control of the traffic. Until within the last few years he took an active part in county politics, and was generally regarded as the most successful politician in the county. From the beginning of its active history the -408-county of Cherokee, like all other communities, has felt the full force of political strife and contention. these local controversies have at times in the past been exceedingly warm and sometimes rather stormy. Having an aptitude for such warfare, and being at the same time a leading man in the community, it was but natural that Mr. Kellogg should become warmly enlisted on the one side or the other, as his judgment and personal feelings might carry him. When once so enlisted no man in the community ever had any reason to doubt where he stood or what friend he was working for. He never asked or wanted an office for himself. If a friend could get it with his help, he was satisfied. He never flinched from a public avowal of his feelings, or his political affiliations, and all a man had to do to find out where he stood was either to ask him, or watch his political actions. No man was ever truer to a friend. When he went into a campaign to work for one, it was always with a grim determination to win if possible. He hates vie and loves the good. As would be expected from such a nature, he met with opposition that at times even became bitter, and by some he was disliked. But conscious in the rectitude of his own motives, he cared little for the adverse judgment of his enemies. Knowing that he who is the friend of everybody is rarely, if ever, the true friend of anybody, he sticks to his friends and lets his enemies take care of themselves. He is a man of most genial and kindly disposition, sympathetic in his nature, and has a warm and responsive heart. No man will sooner forgive a foe and forget an injury. Although not as careful in looking after the acquisition of wealth as most men, yet he has prospered in a financial sense and has a competency for his old age. He owns a beautiful farm situated close to the town of Cherokee, and seems thoroughly contented in cultivating his broad acres. He has stocked it with a fine herd of cattle and with the best breeds of hogs, and has every facility for the successful prosecution of the farm and stock business. Mr. Kellogg is a man who is possessed of natural talents far above the usual order. While a great reader, and a well-posted man on all questions of public interest, yet hard study was ever irksome to him. As before stated, he is a man of very superior oratorical ability, and he never fails to secure they sympathy of an audience and to delight those who listen to him, by his glowing eloquence and keen wit. It is not too much to say that had he cultivated his talents in this direction he would have made himself one of the leading public speakers of the day. He possesses the power of appealing to the noblest part of human nature in the most effective manner, and of stirring up the good feelings of an audience with his pungent and sparkling wit. Mr. Kellogg has passed twenty years in Cherokee County, and has been thoroughly identified with its growth and history during that period. He has seen it develop from an unsettled expanse of raw prairie into a blooming garden spot of thrift and prosperity. He is an honored citizen of a happy and peaceful community, and is the recipient of the general good will of the people.
P. N. BROWN, dealer in building material, lumber, and coal, Marcus, Iowa, has been identified with the interests of Cherokee County since the autumn o f1872. He was born in Hastings County, Canada, March 19, 1842, and is the son of Elias and Mary (Ruttan) Brown.He is the eighth of a family of twelve children, and was reared in his native county to farm life, -409-receiving his education in the common schools. Mr. Brown was married in Canada to Miss Sarah Ann Lawrence, a daughter of Daniel Lawrence, Esq. she was also a native of Canada, and immediately after their marriage they removed to the State of New York, and located at a town named Adams; there they remained three years, during which time our subject devoted himself to the carpenter's trade and other enterprises. He then removed to Syracuse, New York, and for nine years he followed carpenter work, when he removed to Cherokee County, Iowa. He came in advance of his family, and made preparations for their home. He at once went to work at his trade,which he has since followed, at the same time contracting and building. He resided in the town of Cherokee for nine years, and in the fall of 1881 he removed to Marcus and opened a lumber yard in partnership with Henry Luge; this firm ceased to exist at the end of one year, Mr. Brown buying the entire business. In the fall of 1882 he added coal to his stock; he handles everything in the building material line, carrying a stock of $5,000. He does an annual business of $20,000, and has been very prosperous in all his enterprises. He owns eighty acres of improved land in Marcus Township, and several pieces of town property. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of seven children, two of whom survive.
JOHN DORR, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, was born June 7, 1839, and is the son of Phillipp and Christina (Kredel) Dorr. He is one of a family of fourteen children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and was brought up to farm life, obtaining his education in the common schools. When only sixteen years old he emigrated to America, stopping for a short time in New York City; the first work in which he engaged was the confectioner's trade, which he followed two and a half years; one year of this time he spent in Detroit, MIchigan, where he had two brothers living. He then went to Adrian, Michigan, where he filled an engagement of eighteen months at his trade. His next move was to Burlington, Iowa, but failing to secure employment there he crossed the river to Illinois and found work on a farm, to which he devoted himself for eight years. In the meantime he took a trip to his Fatherland, and on his return was accompanied by his chosen bride, Miss Elizabeth Kropp, a daughter of Wilhelm and Caroline (Hoffman) Kropp. She was born May 6, 1843, and her marriage to Mr. Dorr occurred November 20, 1865, at Detroit, Michigan. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dorr located in Henderson County, Illinois, and remained there two years when they removed to Cedar County, Iowa, where they spent about a year and a half. In the fall of 1869 they removed to their present farm in Amherst Township, Cherokee County, which they had entered as a homestead the previous year; there were eighty acres in the place, and it was raw prairie; they were among the first settlers, and were compelled to undergo many privations and discouragements, but they had come to stay, and stay they did; and how well their efforts have been rewarded is shown by taking a look at their farm, which now consists of 319 acres; their dwelling is surrounded by a grove of six acres, and all their efforts have been attended with success. Mr. Dorr has been one of the main factors in building up that part of the county, and stands to-day among the well-to-do citizens. He affiliates with the Republican party, and has been road supervisor, and also a member of the School Board. -410-Mr. and Mrs. Dorr are the parents of seven children: Katie, wife of the Rev. C. Jobst, of the German Lutheran Church at Deer Park, Wisconsin, was born August 20, 1866; John was born March 5, 1868; Phillipp was born January 19, 1870, and was the first male child born in the township of Amherst; Carl was born February 10, 1872, and Dora, December 30, 1876; the two children deceased are Christina, born March 4, 1880 and died June 27, 1887; Bertha was born December 12, 1884, and died July 5, 1887. The family are members of the German Lutheran Church, Mr. Dorr having served as treasurer and steward of the society.
P. ADAM DORR, one of the successful farmers of Amherst Township, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, December 22, 1847, and is a son of Phillipp and Christina (Kredel) Dorr. He is the thirteenth of a family of fourteen children, nine of whom lived to maturity. He was reared in his native country, receiving his education in the common schools. At the age of fourteen years he went to learn the baker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years, after which he followed the business for nine months. Thinking he could better his fortunes in the New World, in company with his brother and sister, with a party of eighteen he set sail for America, arriving in New York after a tedious journey of thirty-two days; he remained in that city a few days, and then came to Detroit, Michigan, where he spent two weeks, and then went on to Warren County, Illinois, where he located and engaged in farming, having secured a position to work by the month. He continued in this way for two years when he bought a team and commenced farming for himself; he had removed to Cedar County, Iowa, and at the end of one year he and his brother John came to Cherokee County, and located a claim in Amherst Township. He began the task of opening up his farm and then erected a small frame house. The country was a vast prairie, unbroken with many human habitations; his plow broke the first furrow of the soil. He went to work with energy and determination to succeed, and his surroundings indicate that he has been generously rewarded for his toil; he has one of the finest homes in the county, having erected a handsome frame residence in 1884, which is surrounded by a beautiful grove of six and a half acres, making it one of the most attractive places in the neighborhood. A willow tree standing near Mr. Dorr's residence measures eight feet and four inches in circumfernence; this was planted by his own hand when a small twig. The well on this place was dug by the present owner and is walled with stone; it is very unusual to find this kind of a well in this section and it is one of which Mr. Dorr is justly proud. Mr. Dorr has added to his landed estate until he now owns 120 acres of choice land, which has been placed under cultivation through his own efforts. On first coming to the county the hardships were many and severe; fuel was scarce, and the early settlers were obliged to go a distance of five miles, through creeks and marshes, to procure even an inferior quality. It took men with stout hearts and iron wills to face all these privations and discouragements; but energy and pluck will accomplish wonders, and is now reaping his reward. Mr. Dorr was married May 21, 1879, to Mary Erickson, a daughter of Swan and Mary Erickson. She was born in Sweden, May 26, 1858, and came to America when nine years of age with her parents. Two children have been born of this union: Freddie L. -411-was born April 5, 1881, and Lulu M., born December 14, 1882, died April 28, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Dorr are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Dorr being at present steward, and a member of the Board of Trustees. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, and is a stanch adherent to his party principles. |
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