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 R. H. Lamoreux

R.H. Lamoreux, postmaster and druggist, was born in Orange County, N.Y., in 1839; moved to Wausau, Wis., and engaged in the lumber business. He moved to Sac City, Ia., in 1868 and engaged in the grocery business, which he conducted for nine months, then purchased a farm and for four years engaged in farming. In the winter of 1872 he engaged in clerking in the drug store of Eli Camp, and also took charge of the post office under J.E. Armstrong. He purchased the drug business and stock in the spring of 1875 and the following spring was commissioned postmaster. … Read more

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 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 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 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 Thomas Alexander

Thomas Alexander, farmer, was born in Coshocton County, O., in 1827; moved to Sac County, Ia., in 1861, and purchased land one mile north of Sac City. He has one of the finest farms in the county. He owns 314 acres of well improved land, a fine Bearing orchard of about three acres, and fifty acres of good timber.

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 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 Hon. W. H. Hobbs

Hon. W.H. Hobbs, banker and insurance and real estate agent, was born in New York City in 1837; moved with parents to New Orleans; thence in 1852 to La Fayette county, Wis., where he was employed by Judge Criss, as clerk. He moved to Sac City, Ia., in 1855, and pre-empted 160 acres of land and engaged in farming. In 1858 he was elected clerk of the courts, which office he held two terms. He was elected auditor in 1866, which office he held until 1871; then was elected county treasurer and held office for three terms. He engaged in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. A. T. Benton

A.T. Benton, M.D., was born in Johnson county, Indiana, in 1847; moved to Dallas County, Iowa, in 1852. He attended the Adel High School several years; entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk in 1867 and graduated in 1869. He then engaged in practice at Adel, where he remained until July, 1871, then came to Sac City. Office at his residence, on the south side of public square.

Biographical Sketch of George Stanley

George Stanley, proprietor of the Stanley House, came to Sac City in May, 1881, from Bloomington, Wis., where he had been engaged in the mercantile business for eleven years. He purchased his present hotel property, and after thoroughly renovating and refitting it, engaged in present business. He keeps a first class house and runs a ‘bus to and from trains.

Biographical Sketch of J. F. Baxter

J. F. Baxter, station agent and conductor, was born at Sidney Plain, N.Y., in 1833; moved to Rockford, Ill., in 1851 and engaged in mercantile business. In 1861 he moved to Wheatland, Ia.; thence to Marshalltown, in 1874, and in September, 1879, came to Sac City and took charge of the depot. He makes two trips a day as conductor, and during his absence the depot is charge of Frank L. Stayner, operator. Mr. Baxter is agent for the American express company.

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 E. M. Reynolds

E.M. Reynolds is business manager for C. Hatfield, furniture dealer and undertaker. This business was established in 1879, and contains a complete stock of furniture and undertakers’ goods, and is the agency for the Whit, Wilson and Victor sewing machines, also for the Mason & Hamlin organs.

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 E. F. Gifford

E.F. Gifford, barber, was born in Erie County, Pa., in 1854; came to Iowa in 1871, and located at Independence. He removed to Carroll, and in July, 1872, came to Sac City and engaged in present business. He owns the building, or which he occupies one-half of the lower floor for a barber shop, renting the other half for confectionery store. The upper story is fitted for photograph gallery. Mr. Gifford employs a first-class barber and runs two chairs.

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 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 Hon. Eugene Cris

Hon. Eugene Cris, farmer, stock-raiser, and proprietor of the City Mills, was born in Preston county, West Virginia, in 1822; removed to Davis County, Illinois, in 1840; thence to Sac County, Iowa, in 1854, locating on Coon river, where the present town of Sac City was shortly afterwards platted by Wagner Bros., Evans and himself. Mr. Criss built the first dwelling house in the town, which at that early day was considered a fine structure. The lumber for frames and the doors and windows was hauled from Dubuque, with ox teams, and this was for several years a tavern and … Read more