Sac County IA

Biographical Sketch of Frank Chandler

Frank Chandler, dealer in hats, caps, boots, shoes, clothing, furnishing goods and groceries, was born in Maquoketa, Ia., in Sept. 1849, there resided until 1870, then moved to Lyons, Ia., as agent for the Northern and Diamond Joe packet lines, and after two years, became book-keeper for the Clinton Chair Co., after which he traveled for S.G. McGill, and later for H.C. & C. Durand, wholesale grocers with whom he remained five years, then located at Wall Lake. Employs two clerks.

Biographical Sketch of William Allen

William Allen was born in Richmond, Va., in 1822; moved to McHenry County, Ill., in 1844, and engaged in blacksmithing. He went to California in 1849, and remained seventeen years. Three years of the time he was engaged in mining, and the remainder on a ranch. The steamboat landing in Tehama County, Cal., on the Sacramento River, known as Allen’s Landing, was named after Mr. Allen, for the reason of his owing the land a large wood-yard there. In 1868 he sold out and moved to Chicago, Ill., and engaged in business; removed to Fort Dodge, Ia., and was engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Ball

W.H. Ball, of the firm of W.H. Ball & Co., dealers in grain and seed, was born in Cedar County, Ia., in 1853. He was engaged in the grain business at Centerdale, Clinton County, for nine years. In 1880 came to Fletcher and was the first to locate business there.

Biographical Sketch of C. E. Read

C.E. Read, furniture dealer and undertaker, was born in March, Canada, Dec., 20th, 1826; moved to Toledo, O., in April, 1856; was engaged in the drug business four years; then moved to Huron County, Mich., where he was engaged in same business for three years. In Aug., 1865, he came to Sac City and engaged in contracting and building. He entered his present business in 1873; employs first-class cabinet-maker, and carries a fine stock of everything in his line.

Biographical Sketch of J. O. Rich

J.O. Rich, proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stables, was formerly of Independence, Ia., where he was engaged as mason and plasterer for four years. In 1878 he moved to Sac County, purchased land in Wall Lake township, which he still owns. In Feb., 1882, he moved to Fletcher and erected a livery barn on Third Street.

Biographical Sketch of S. M. Elwood

S.M. Elwood, of the firm of Davis & Elwood, an attorneys at law, was born in Greensburg, Pa., in Sept., 1850; moved with parents to Grinnell, Ia., where he attended the Iowa College. He graduated from the Iowa City law school in the class of ’73. He moved to Sac City in autumn of 1875, and engaged in practice with Capt. Stanfield, now of Odebolt. He formed his present partnership in 1877. He attends strictly to trial business, and is considered one of the most successful attorneys in the county. Mr. Davis attends to the land, loan and insurance business … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. A. Moody

E.A. Moody, painter and grainer, was born in Milwaukee, Wis. in 1848; was educated at Notre Dame College, of South Bend, Ind. In 1861 he enlisted in the regular army, and served during the war of the rebellion. Was discharged in 1865; returned to Milwaukee and learned his trade. In 1868 he moved to Cincinnati, O., where he remained one year, then went west, and after a time located at Yankton, S. Dak. He returned to Milwaukee and soon after moved to Cherokee, Ia.; was there engaged in business three years. In Dec., 1878, he came to Odebolt and engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Levi Davis

Levi Davis, cashier of the Sac County bank, was born at Newcastle, Ind., in 1841; moved with parents to Solon, Ia., in September, 1855. He received a diploma from the State Normal School, of Iowa City, and in August of the same year moved to Sac City, where he taught school two years. He went to Marshalltown in 1865 and was principal of the schools there for a year, then was elected county superintendent of schools, which office he held two years in Marshall County. He came back to Sac City and taught in the city schools for two years; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Wright

John Wright, banker, came from Cedar County, Ia., to Sac county in 1872. He purchased 1,000 acres of land in partnership with his brother, N. Wright, and engaged in fanning until Nov., 1878, at which time he opened the bank, having previously erected the bank block, the front room of which is occupied by the bank and contains a fire-proof vault and a Marvin safe, with an electric time-lock. The rear room is occupied by George & Coy, attorneys. Mr. Wright does an extensive loan business in partnership with C.E. George. He has recently erected, on the comer of Second … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. L. Ehlers

W.L. Ehlers, bookkeeper for Wilcox Bros., lumber dealers, was born in Oskaloosa, Ia., in Feb., 1866. In 1872 he entered the State University, at Iowa City. In the winter of 1876 he took charge of the poultry packing establishment of Beem, Turner & Co.; remained with them two years and moved to Wall Lake; entered the employ of J.C. Fletcher, dealer in general merchandise. He engaged as above in 1879.

Biographical Sketch of J. J. Jones

J.J. Jones & Sons, grain dealers, formerly of Chicago, Ill., where they were engaged in the livery business several years; came to Wall Lake, Ia., in Jan., 1881, and purchased the elevator and business of G.W. Pitcher. Elevator has capacity of ten thousand bushels, and employs two men. During the year 1881 they shipped two hundred cars of grain. The business is conducted by J.J. Jones, Jr.; office on 1st. Street.

Biographical Sketch of B. W. Trout

B.W. Trout, deputy recorder, was born in LeRoy, Bradford County, Pa., in March, 1843. He enlisted in the 106th Pa. Vol., and was in several of the most important engagements of the war. He was wounded at Gettysburg and also at Petersburg, June, 1864, where he was captured and confined in Libby Prison a few days; started for Macon, Ga., and escaped, was recaptured and taken to Lynchburg, Va., thence to Raleigh, N.C. He was paroled in March, 1865, and discharged the following April. He came to Sac City, Ia., in May, 1867, and engaged in farming one season; taught … Read more

Iowa Death Records by County

Many experts recommend starting your research with the death records first. The death record is the most recent record, so it will more likely be available to you. Death records are kept in the state where your ancestor died, not where they were buried. However these records can provide a burial location. Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Some researchers look first for death records because there are often death records for persons who have no birth or marriage records. Early death records, like cemetery records, generally give … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Ed. R. Duffie

Hon. Ed. R. Duffie is a native of Copenhagen, Lewis County, New York, where he resided until he had come to years of manhood, and where he began the study of law. In 1866 Mr. Duffie was sent as agent for a citizen of New York to the State of Texas. His mission was to establish the validity of the grant of certain lands from the Republic of Texas to the aforesaid citizen of New York. Mr. Duffie left Texas and went to St. Louis, where he sought employment through an educational agency, and was offered and accepted the principalship … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Potts

Charles Potts, farmer and land agent, was born in Ross county, O., in 1832. He served during the war of the rebellion in the 28th Ill. Vol. Inft. was wounded at Jackson, Miss. He came to Sac County in 1871 and purchased land on the north shore of Wall Lake. He owns one hundred acres of well improved land one and one-half miles east of Fletcher. He is agent for nonresident lands in this vicinity, also for the Acme pulverizing harrow and clod crusher.

Biographical Sketch of A. S. Platt

A.S. Platt, senior member of the firm of Platt & Platt, dealers in clothing and furnishing goods, was born in Windsor county, Vt. in 1839; moved to Dubuque, la., in 1870 and was in the employ of the LC.R.R. four years. He moved to Osage, Wis., and was for about six years a member of the firm of Simons & Platt, grocers. He came to Sac City, Ia. in Dec. 1880, and purchased business and stock of J.M. Woodard and engaged in his present business. In 1881 he took into partnership his nephew, C.A. Platt.

Biographical Sketch of E. L. Pierce

E. L. Pierce, dealer in hardware, tinware, stoves, etc., was born in Linn County, Ia., in Oct., 1850; received education at Mt. Vernon College, and engaged in farming until 1874, then moved to Cedar County and engaged in milling with Peet Bros. He remained there four years then moved to Wall Lake and engaged in present business in March, 1878. He makes specialties of Fuller, Warren & Co’s stoves and the Glidden barbed wire.

Biographical Sketch of C. S. Lee

C.S. Lee, dealer in agricultural implements, was born in Beaver County, Pa., March 1st, 1856; moved the same year with parents to De Kalb County, Ill. In June, 1880, he entered the employ of the Sandwich manufacturing company, at Sandwich, Ill.; traveled fro them until Nov., 1881, when he located at Odebolt and engaged in business as above. He is agent for the goods manufactured by the following named firms: Sandwich Co., Briggs & Enochs, Scandia Plow Co., of Rockford, Ill., Vandiver Co., of Quincy, Ill., Daly Harrow Co. and others.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Robert Smylie

Rev. Robert Smylie, pastor of the M.E. church, was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1849. He graduated from Victoria College, Coburg, in 1868; entered the ministry the following year and filled various pulpits in Ontario. He was ordained at Dunville, in 1873; in Oct., 1880, he came to Sac City, Ia., and took present charge.

Biographical Sketch of John L. Woodward

John L. Woodward, junior member and business manager of the firm of Condron & Woodward, dealers in grain and machinery, was born in Champaign County, O., He served during the war of the rebellion a short time, doing garrison duty, after which he bough land in Dallas county, Ia. He engaged in the grain business at Dallas Center, which he continued for two years and in 1871 located at Sac City, where he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1880 established business as above. During 1881 the firm shipped one hundred cars of grain.