J.R. Thurston, proprietor of the Onawa House, was born in Herkimer county, N.Y., in 1833; removed to Cass county, Ia., in 1856; thence to Onawa in 1860, and engaged in farming, until 1877, when he engaged in the mercantile business, which he sold in 1881, and engaged in his present business. He was married in 1855, and has five children.
John Douglas, jeweler and music dealer, was born in Scotland in 1851; came to America in 1872, and settled in Neb.; moved to Onawa in 1876, and engaged in his present business. He was married in 1876, and has two children-Mary, and an infant daughter.
J.Q. Adams, proprietor of the Mapleton dray line, was born in Franklin County, Me.; in 1837; moved to Iowa in 1854. He moved to Onawa in 1858, and engaged in farming. He engaged in his present business in Mapleton, Jan. 25th, 1881.
James Butts, M.D., was born in Genesee county, N.Y., in 1822; remained at home until twenty-one years of age; then began the study of medicine. He moved to Wis. in 1856, and engaged in the practice of medicine; was also postmaster while in that State. He removed to Kans. in 1860, traveled extensively through the west, settled at Onawa in 1866, and has practiced medicine there ever since. He opened a drug store in 1873, and after four years, sold it. He has been twice married; the first time in 1844, and to Lucy L. Crawford, in 1880.
D. Rust, M.D., of the firm of Rust & Morley, druggists, was born in Ill.; moved to Fremont County, Ia., in 1876. He established his present business in Whiting in 1879, and in 1880 L.A. Morley became a partner. They do a general drug business, and deal in paints, oils, etc.
G.H. Butler, of the firm of G.H. Butler & Co., furniture dealers, was born in Ind.; moved to Ia., in 1856, and engaged in milling. He moved to Monona county, Ia., in 1865, and engaged in farming, and in 1878, engaged in his present business.
C.G. Perkins, postmaster, and dealer in general merchandise, was born in Rockingham County, N.Y., in 1830; removed to Wis. in 1855, and engaged in farming. He enlisted in 1862 in Co. G. 19th Wis., and was discharged in 1865; then came to Onawa, and engaged in farming four years. He was then elected county recorder; resigned in 1872. He was a member of the 14th assembly in 1872-3; engaged in his present business in 1873. He was married in 1853 to R.S. Stearns, and has three children-C.W., Mary W. and Addie M.
M. Morgan, of the firm of Butler & Morgan, grocers, was born in Scott County, Ia., in 1846. He enlisted in May 1864, in the 44th Ia. regiment, and was discharged in the autumn of the same year. He re-enlisted in Jan., 1865, in the 20th, Ia., Co. G.; was transferred to the 29th Ia. regiment, and in Sept. 1865, returned to Iowa, and engaged in farming. He located at Mapleton in 1879, and entered his present business in Jan., 1881.
I. Cummings, dealer in groceries and provisions, was born in N.Y., in 1844; removed to Fremont County, Ia., in 1855; thence to Chicago, Ill., in 1871, where he remained five years, and located in Onawa, Ia., in 1877. In 1881, engaged in the present business, by buying out J.R. Thruston.
W. J. Eva, harness manufacturer, was born in Wis. in 1847; removed to Worthington, Nobles County, Minn., in 1872; thence to Onawa, Ia., in 1876, and engaged in his present business in 1878. He was married in 1875 to Lucy Manning, and has three children.
J.R. Chapman, dealer in lumber, coal and builders’ supplies, is a native of N.Y.; moved to Ohio when young, and to Scott County, Ia., in 1860. He came to Mapleton, in 1877, and engaged in his present business. Garrison, J.
N.A. Whiting, dealer in general hardware, was born in N.Y., in 1823; lived on a farm until eighteen years of age; then learned carriage making, in which business he was engaged for fifteen years in O. and Ala. He came to Onawa, Ia., in 1857, and the following year engaged in his present business. He was married in 1853, and has three children-Eva, Charles, and Estella. Chas. is engaged in the banking business at Mapleton, Ia.
J. Garrison, hardware dealer, was born in Ill.; moved to Iowa in 1873, and located in Calhoun County, and engaged in farming. He moved to Dunlap, and engaged in the mercantile business; thence to Mapelton, in the autumn of 1877, and built the first store in the place, and entered the mercantile business.
T.C. Walton, proprietor of the Walton House, was born in Somerset county, Me., in 1829; removed to Wis., in 1854, and remained two years and returned to Me. In 1864 he again removed to Wis., settling in St. Croix county, and engaged in the drug business. In 1869 he came to Onawa, Ia., and in 1871 built the hotel he now occupies. He has been twice married, and has four children-Lona, Ida, Geo. and William.
P. Sawyer, proprietor of city blacksmith shop, was born in Oxford County, Me., in 1846. He enlisted in 1862, in Co. D., 28th Me. Vol.; was discharged in 1863, and went to Concord, Mass.; thence to Onawa in 1865. He was married in 1867, to M.T. Cunningham. They have four children-Edwin E., Altha M., Earl, and Margie. John W. Somers, druggist, was born in N.C. in 1834; removed to Champaign county, Ill., in 1843 and was clerk of the courts for several years. He enlisted in 1862 in the 76th Ill. Vol. as a private; was promoted to commissary sergeant, … Read more
Samuel Holliday, proprietor of the City billiard hall, was born in Muscatine County, Ia., in 1842, and engaged in farming, until entering his present business in 1880.
A.G. Hurst, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Ind. in 1832; removed with parents in 1836 to Ill.; thence to Newton, Ia. In 1855 came to Ashton, near Onawa. He enlisted in March 1862, in Co. K., 17th Ia., and re-enlisted as a veteran in the same company. He was taken prisoner with the rest of the regiment and confined at Andersonville one hundred and eighty-five days; was discharged at Davenport, Ia., June 16th, 1865, and returned to Monona county, and engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He was married in 1859, to Julia Brink, and has ten … Read more
W.E. Roberts, agent for the C. & N.W.R.R., is a native of England; came to America when quite young, with parents, and settled in Wis.; moved to Tama county, Ia., in 1868. He afterwards moved to Battle Creek, as agent for the railroad company; thence to Mapleton in Nov., 1880.
A.G. Wright, dealer in general merchandise, was born in Ohio; moved to Ia. in 1865, and settled in Monona county in 1867. In 1875 he moved to Whiting and engaged in the hotel and livery business which he still continues, and in 1876 engaged in the mercantile business.
B.B. Snyder, proprietor of the Stowell House, is a native of Pa.; came to Logan, Ia., in 1876, and engaged in the hotel business. He erected one of the first hotels in Mapleton, and opened his present house in 1881, which is in charge of his son, James S. Snyder.