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

Biographical Sketch of Frank A. Ross

Frank A. Ross, insurance agent, came to Odebolt from Boone, Ia., where he had resided for twenty-five years. He first engaged in teaching school, and in Feb., 1880, established business as above. His office is at the Mayor’s office, over the City Drug Store. He is agent for the Home Life Association, of Burlington, Iowa, for three counties, Sac, Crawford and Carroll.

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 Phillip Schaller

Philip Schaller, County treasurer, was born in Woerth, province of Alsace, Germany, in 1838; came to America and landed at N.Y. City in April, 1854, and in Dec. of the same year located at Dubuque, Ia., and engaged in wagon-making. He enlisted in 1862 at National, Ia., in the 27th la. Inft., was sent to Minn. among the Indians, and thence south; was with Gens. Sherman, Smith, Steele and Thomas in some of the principal battles; was mustered out at the close of the war, and returned to Clayton County, Ia. He purchased land in Sac County in 1868, returned … 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. L. Criss

J.L. Criss, merchant, was born in Wis., in 1846; came with parents to Sac City, Ia., in 1856. He engaged in business at Grant City, remained one year, then moved to this city. He has a fine store, and carries a full stock of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. He employs three clerks and does an extensive business. He has a branch store at Early, Ia., which is managed by F. Rhodes.

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 R. H. Derby

R. H. Derby, carpenter, contractor and cabinet maker, was born in Wyoming County, N.Y., in 1853, where he remained until 1872. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1870, at a session of the Sioux Rapids district court, Judge H. Ford presiding. He went to California in 1874 and was for one year principal of the schools of Martinez; returned to Sac County and became cashier of the Sac County Bank, of which he is one of the stockholders.

Biographical Sketch of W. C. 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 S. F. Lusher

D. Herrold and S.F. Lusher, of the firm of D. Herrold & Co., deal in groceries, queensware, provisions, etc. Their place of business is on the comer of Main street and public square. The business was established in 1875 by Mr. Lusher and the present firm has existed since Nov., 1881. They do an extensive business and intend extending their premises the coming season.

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 Mary Allison Harrison

In the summer of 1875, Will came West to live 5 miles north of Schaller, in Sac County, and “broke prairie.” Wm. E. Harrison was the son of John and Susan Harrison, born June 6, 1851, at Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa. He moved with his parents when a small boy to a farm located near Hopkinton, in Delaware County, Iowa. He returned to Delaware County to be married to Mary Ellen Allison, daughter of Samuel and Emmeline Allison, Dec. 21, 1875. The spring of 1876, Will drove a team and wagon to his land north of Schaller, Iowa. Mary and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph H. James

Joseph H. James, harness dealer, was born in Iowa County, Wis., in 1856, learned his trade at Mineral Point, and in Feb., 1877, moved to Webster City, Ia. In June, 1879, he came to Sac City and purchased the business and stock of Lewis Vanderworker; has since purchased building and lot. He employs three men and carries a full stock of harness, saddles, robes, blankets, whips, etc. In the spring of 1880 he established a branch shop at Newell, Buena Vista County, which is the only one at that place.

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 C. L. Sherwood

C.L. Sherwood, agent for the Iowa Land Company, was born in Berlin township, Delaware County, O., in June, 1817; remained there until 1854, and then moved to Clinton, Ia., where he engaged in farming. In 1873 he came to Sac County, purchased land in Clinton township, which he improved, and still owns, the farming being conducted by his sons. Mr. Sherwood was for several years postmaster at Wall Lake, also was postmaster in Clinton township before the office was abandoned. He became agent for the above company in 1873; office with W.H. Peck, lumber dealer. Mr. S. is one of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alfred G. Erlenborn

Alfred G. Erlenborn, dealer in general merchandise, was born at Mendota, Ill., in 1860. He received his education at the Jesuit College, of Chicago, Ill., from which he graduated in 1875. He entered the banking house of Ereleborn Bros., at Mendota, of which bank his father was the senior partner. In 1879 he went to Denver, Col., was there employed as bookkeeper in a wholesale grocery house. He returned to Iowa in 1881 and located at Odebolt. He engaged in the loan business and also as bookkeeper for Warneke. Afterwards engaged in business as above; also does a loan and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. A. Robinson

W.A. Robinson, postmaster and hardware merchant, was born in Vt. in 1815. He moved to Stockbridge, Mass., when quite young; in 1856 moved to Mercer county, m., and engaged in farming until 1869; then moved to Sac County, purchased land in Viola township, which he improved and still owns. He moved to Fletcher in Jan., 1882, and filled the office of postmaster, to which he was appointed in Dec., 1881. He erected building on Main Street, which is occupied by post office and hardware stock. Mr. Robinson has filled many minor offices, was the first justice of the peace in … 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.