Sac County IA Genealogy – Page 2 of 5

Biographical Sketches of Sac County Iowa

The first settlement in Sac County Iowa was made by Otho Williams, who came from Michigan in the autumn of 1854, with his family, and took up a claim in the timber near Grant City, in the southeastern part of the county. He and his family were the first white inhabitants of Sac county, but during the two succeeding years quite a number of settlers made their homes either in the same neighborhood or in the vicinity of Sac City, and Otho Williams, at the end of about two years, complained that ‘folds are gittin’ to thick ’round yer,’ and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George M. Parker

George M. Parker, merchant, was born in Hartford, Ill, in 1847; moved with parents to, Manchester, Ia., in 1851; thence to Delhi, where he received his education. He traveled for wholesale houses of Chicago and Dubuque for six years. In 1872 he engaged in business at Earlville, Ia., and two years later came to Sac City and established his present business. The store is in the Bank block. In 1881 he commenced the erection of a creamery, which is fitted with a ten-horse power engine, and will have a capacity of from 2,500 to 3,000 lbs. per day. This is … Read more

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. H. Kitterer

J.H. Kitterer & Co., proprietors of the Pioneer hardware store, which was established in 1878 by W. Van Dusen, purchased the business in Aug., 1879. The firm is composed of J.H. Kitterer and Joseph Mattes; they are men of long experience in the hardware business, having previous to coming to this city been engaged in the same. They employ one clerk and three tinners. Make specialties of Glidden barbed wire, “Splended” heating stoves, “Diamond” and “Acorn” cook stoves.

Biographical Sketch of J. Shull

J. & W.C. Shull, of the firm of Shull Bros., dealers in lumber, lime, coal, hair, cement, etc., office on Main Street, established business in 1880. They were formerly of Montgomery County, N.Y, J. Shull graduated from the Fairfield Seminary and entered the employ of Walter Shoemaker, lumber dealer, Chicago, Ill.; came to Sac City in 1880. W.C. Shull, previous to coming to this city, was engaged in the drug business at Little Falls, N.Y.; afterwards with D.R. Dyche & Co., druggists, Chicago; came to Sac City in May 1881, and formed present partnership.

Biographical Sketch of Henry Wilson

Henry Wilson, sheriff, was born in St. Lawrence County, N.Y., in 1841; moved with parents in 1851, to Dundas County, Canada West. In 1869 he moved to Clinton, Clinton County, Ia., and engaged in contracting and building; thence to Sac county in the autumn of 1875 and followed same business. He was elected to his present office in the autumn of 1881 and moved to Sac City in Jan., 1882.

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 Hon. D. Carr Early

Hon. D. Carr Early, president of the Sac County Bank, was born in Ohio, in 1830; removed to Sac City, Ia. in 1856, where at that time there was but one building besides a log school house. He preempted land on which he lived a short time to secure it. He was elected deputy treasurer and recorder in 1857, and was re-elected the three subsequent elections. He was afterwards elected county judge, holding the office one term, the office then being dispensed with. He established a real estate business when first coming to the county, and did a general banking … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. H. Hankins

P.H. Hankins and J.Y. Campfield, of the firm of P.H. Hankins & Co., dealers in lumber, coal, lime and agricultural implements, established business in 1879. Their office and yards are on the west side of the railroad track, near the depot. They are agents for the Grand Detour goods, McCormick and Champion reapers and other leading manufactures. A.H. Hendrickson, proprietor of the Hendrickson House, was born in Oswego county, N.Y., in Jan., 1836; moved to McHenry county, Ill., in 1856, was engaged in the hotel business two years, then in the stock business until 1868; then moved to Sac City, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles E. Lane

Charles E. Lane, clerk of the courts, was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1874 [?1844]; moved with parents to St. Catherines, Canada West, in 1846; thence to Dyersville, Dubuque County, Ia., in 1856. He moved to Sac county in 1873; bought land and engaged in farming in Eden township until the autumn of 1878, at which time he was elected to his present office, on the republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1880. A.B. Mason, attorney at law, was born in Tama County, Ia., in 1857. He attended the Toledo High School for several years and afterwards … 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 John Kessler

John Kessler, wagon maker, came to Sac City, Ia., from Kenosha, Wis., in 1872 and established his present business. He occupies a shop on the south side of the public square; manufactures wagons and buggies and does a general repair business.

Biographical Sketch of William Smith

William Smith was owner and proprietor of the Central Roller Mills, Ida Grove, Ia. He succeeded Wilkinson & Smith in the milling business, this firm having succeeded Brown & Ream. Mr. Brown was the founder of the milling plant and erected the a two-story structure building in 1883. It was a buhrstone mill having a capacity of 40 barrels. In 1887 it was changed to a roller mill by Wilkinson & Smith and its capacity increased to 60 barrels per day. Mr. Smith then erected a new engine house, removed the old slide valve and replaced it with a Reynolds-Corliss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F. H. Knights

F.H. Knights, of the firm of George Knights & Co., dealers in boots, shoes, hats, caps, gloves, mittens and rubber goods, came to Sac City in Sept., 1881, from Dubuque, Ia., where he had been engaged in the jewelry business for three years, and established his present business in partnership with his father, George Knights. They have the county agency for the Crown sewing machine.

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Burnside

J.W. Burnside, dealer in dry goods, boots, shoes, notions, carpets, etc., was born in Steuben County, N.Y. in 1833; moved with parents to Crawford county, Ia., when quite young. He received his education at the Methodist University of Delaware, O., afterwards attended Bryant & Stratton’s Commercial College, of Chicago, from which he graduated in 1854. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Garden Prairie, Ill. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in the 95th, Ill. Inft.; remained in the service until 1866. During that time he was transferred from the volunteer service to the regular army. He was … Read more

Biography of Emeline J. Harris

Emeline J. Harris daughter of Samuel B. and Mary (Eastman) Harris, was born in Licking Co., Ohio; married Samuel Allison, March 2, 1852, by whom she has had eight children: Oscar H. Allison, born January 2, 1853; Anna L. Allison, born August 8, 1854; Mary E. Allison, born March 8,1857; Minerva Allison, born April 14, 1859; Laura E. Allison, born May 4, 1862; Frank E. Allison, born April 12, 1865; Eugene R. Allison, born August 18, 1868; Ida L. Allison, born July 2, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Allison removed from Ohio to Delaware County, Iowa, in April, 1852, and settled … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F. R. Bennett

F.R. Bennett is editor and proprietor of the Odebolt Observer, which was established in July, 1880, and is a six-column quarto paper. In 1847 he edited and published the Advertiser, at Rock Island, Ill., afterwards was connected with various papers in Clinton county, la. He came to Odebolt in 1880. This is the only democratic paper published in the county and it has a subscription list of about 500. Office on second floor of Schmitz block and is thoroughly fitted up as a job office. He employs three compositors.

Biographical Sketch of James N. Miller

James N. Miller, editor and proprietor of the Sac Sun, is a native of Pa., and was for several years editor of the Republican, published at Waynesburg. In 1870 he came to Iowa and located at Eldora, Hardin County, remained only a short time, then came to Sac City, and established the Sac Sun, which has grown to importance and is the official paper of the county. In 1878 He built the new office, which he now occupies. The paper is an eight-column folio, and has a circulation of eight hundred. Mr. Miller is prepared to do first-class job work … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin Keck

Martin Keck, proprietor of restaurant, ice cream and oyster parlors, also dealer in fancy groceries, confectionery, cigars, tobacco, etc., came to Sac County, Ia., in 1878; engaged in farming, then came to Odebolt and established business as above.

Biographical Sketch of A. D. Peck

A.D. Peck, county auditor, was born in Onondaga County, N.Y., in 1846. He graduated from the Syracuse High School in 1872 and the same year moved to Cedar Rapids, Ia. He came to Sac County in the spring of 1873 purchased land and engaged in farming until the autumn of 1877, when he was elected auditor and was re-elected in 1879 and 1881.