This collection consists of 412 brief biographical sketches and 3 short sketches of companies extracted from the History of Western Iowa. It contains sketches from Harrison, Ida, Manona, and Woodbury Counties in Iowa. The sketches are sorted alphabetically by first name.
D.B. Kenyon, miller and grain dealer, was born in N.Y. in 1845; removed to Wis. in 1856, and from there to Onawa in 1872, and engaged in his present business. He was married in 1869 to N.F. Freeland. They have one son and two daughters.
Maj. George E. Warner, dealer in general merchandise, was born in Sullivan County, N.H., in 1843. He went to Boston, Mass., at the age of twelve to earn the dry goods business. In 1862 he enlisted in the 6th Mass. battery, and at the end of six months, entered the 10th U.S. colored corps as first lieutenant; was promoted to Major, and discharged in that rank in 1867; came to Onawa, Ia., and engaged in his present business. He was married in 1868 to Mollie E. Morrison, of Onawa, and has one child, a daughter.
Porter Hamilton, of the firm of Hamilton Bros., dealers in farm machinery and lumber, was born in Ill.; moved to Cedar Rapids, Ia., in 1872; thence to Mapleton in the autumn of 1877, and engaged in his present business. During 1881, his sales of farm machinery amounted to $25,000.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.H. Kelsey was born in N.Y. in 1841. He enlisted in Co. B., 64th N.Y. Vol., in 1861, was discharged in 1862; re-enlisted in Co. B., 13th N.Y. Heavy Art. as a veteran, and was again discharged in 1865. He was one of five brothers, who enlisted; two were killed and the others disabled in the service. He came to Onawa in 1865. He was married in 1877.
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.
J.D. Rice, attorney at law; is a native of N.Y.; moved to Marshall, Ia., in 1874; thence to Mapleton in 1878, and engaged in the practice of the law. He is a member of the school board.
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
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. Cameron, dealer in general merchandise and grain, is a native of Ohio; came to Ia. in 1852, and engaged in the land business. He came to Monona County in 1878, and engaged in the grain and land business, and, in 1880, added the mercantile business. He was agent for the railroad company for three years.
T. Martin, proprietor of blacksmith and wagon shop, is a native of Ill.; moved to Ia. in 1880, and engaged in his present business.
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.
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.
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.