Biography

Biographical Sketch of Peter Morrison

Peter Morrison, originally from New York, learned carpentry and engaged in railroad contracting before moving to Iowa in 1867. He settled in Battle Creek in 1874 and began his own contracting business. A Civil War veteran, he served in the 8th Wisconsin Infantry, participating in key battles and suffering two wounds during his five years of service. Peter and his wife, Emma, raised six children: James, Sarah, Martha, Matilda, Mary, and George. He was a member of the Mathew Gray Post in Ida Grove.

Biographical Sketch of James H. Fair

James H. Fair, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1853, immigrated to the United States at age 20 and settled in Delaware County, Iowa, in 1873. He married Miss Lindsay in 1877, and they initially lived in Silver Creek Township before establishing a farm on untamed prairie land. The couple raised eight children: Thomas, Edward, Sarah Ann, Lillie Jane, Margaret Maud, James Graham, William Andrew, and Martha Theresse.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Crane

Thomas Crane, born on March 25, 1844, in the Isle of Man, immigrated to America at age eleven after his father’s death. He settled in Iowa in 1877, bringing minimal possessions but establishing a successful farm in Maple Township. Crane became a prominent veterinary surgeon, dehorning the first 6,000 cattle in the area. He married Elizabeth Jones in 1864 and they had eight children. Crane actively participated in his community as a School Board member and Township Trustee.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Rinehart

Hotel Rinehart, located near the railroad depot in Battle Creek, Iowa, offered 14 comfortable rooms and a restaurant serving quality meals and temperance drinks, catering to weary travelers. Joseph Rinehart, born on February 21, 1859, in Frederick County, Maryland, migrated west in 1882, working in various capacities within the Bowman Lumber Company across Iowa. In 1892, he purchased the Hotel Hopkins and later operated it with his wife, Elizabeth Estep, and their two children, Hazel Pearl and Jennie Cecil.

Biographical Sketch of A. A. Barrick

A. A. Barrick, born June 5, 1852, in Chicago, Illinois, became a prominent businessman in Battle Creek, Iowa, since 1881. He married Hannah Gillmore in 1878, with whom he had two sons, Roy and Archie. After serving an apprenticeship in blacksmithing and working in Kansas, he established his business in Battle Creek, first focusing on blacksmithing and later selling farming implements. Barrick also served six years on the City Council, contributing to local governance.

Biographical Sketch of R. C. Newland

R. C. Newland and Catherine J. Swan were married on March 20, 1856, in their birthplace of Bedford, Indiana. They had five children and moved to Galva, Illinois, in 1864, before relocating to Ida County, Iowa, in 1881. Their daughter, Mrs. B. M. Miller, played a role in renaming Clarendon, Iowa, to Galva. R. C. Newland was born on December 24, 1836, while Catherine was born on August 17, 1834.

Biographical Sketch of J. O. Crawford

James O. Crawford, born February 17, 1828, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, was the son of Alexander and Mary Crawford. He worked in various trades before joining the police force in Glasgow. In 1879, he emigrated to the United States, settling near Cascade, Iowa. By 1882, he acquired 620 acres in Garfield Township, Ida County, where he developed a productive farm with modern amenities. Crawford married Janet Scott, with whom he had eight children, many of whom later established their own families in Iowa.

Biographical Sketch of James J. Rogers

James J. Rogers was born on December 21, 1835, in Muskingum County, Ohio, and moved to Battle Township, Ida County, Iowa, in 1883. He was educated in a log schoolhouse and married Agnes Miller, with whom he had five children. His father, Henry Rogers, originally from Pennsylvania, migrated west and settled in Iowa in 1838, where he became known for his hospitality towards visiting pioneer preachers. The Rogers family included several prominent descendants in the region.

Biographical Sketch of H. F. Gilbert

H. F. Gilbert, born on September 26, 1856, in Herkimer County, New York, settled on a 160-acre farm in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, in 1888. His father acquired the land in 1883. He married Mary E. Doherty, originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1881. The couple raised five children: Earl L., Elva M., Irma L., Willie H., and Clifford D. Gilbert’s roots trace back to his grandfathers, Amos Gilbert and Jacob Seaman, both from New York.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Bassett

Thomas Bassett, born on August 2, 1828, in Cornwall, England, immigrated to America in 1854, settling first in Zanesville, Ohio, and later Greene County, Iowa. In 1877, he moved to Ida Grove, Iowa, where he became influential in the local contracting and building sector, constructing many prominent buildings alongside his son, William H. Bassett. He married Eliza A. Rouse and had six children, contributing to the community’s development during its formative years.

Biographical Sketch of William Crane

William Crane, born on May 16, 1841, on the Isle of Man, was the son of a British soldier who died young from cholera. He married Margaret Bolt and moved to Ida County, Iowa, in 1884 after living in Jones County for 30 years. Crane purchased a 160-acre farm in Corwin Township and fathered ten children. He was also involved in local education as a member of the School Board, reflecting his commitment to community and family.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas S. Brannan

Thomas S. Brannan, an attorney-at-law in Ida Grove, Iowa, was born on August 15, 1839, in Keyesville, New York, and raised in Canada before settling in Ida County in 1879. He served in the Civil War with the 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, where he was wounded twice. Admitted to the Iowa bar in 1883, he also served as Clerk of the District Court. Married to Rachael Tiser, Brannan had five children and was of Irish descent, with connections to the Hudson Bay Fur Company.

Biographical Sketch of Dennis Cain

Dennis Cain was born on December 26, 1844, in New Jersey to Irish immigrants William and Mary Cain. The youngest of nine, he moved to Illinois with his family at age 12. Dennis began farming in 1861 and served honorably in the Civil War. He married Anna Scott in 1871 and moved to Ida County, Iowa, in 1876, acquiring 266 acres. They had six children. Cain passed away on June 6, 1912, and is buried in Ida Grove Cemetery, Iowa. Anna died on April 22, 1922.

Biography of Emeline J. Harris

Emeline J. Harris, born in Licking County, Ohio, married Samuel Allison in 1852. They had eight children while residing in Delaware County, Iowa, before moving to Sac County in 1881. Samuel was a stock raiser, involved in the Democratic Party and tragically died in 1888. Emeline passed away in 1896. Their children, Oscar, Anna, Mary, Minerva, and Laura, also settled in Iowa and Dakota, marrying and raising families while contributing to agriculture and community life.

Biographical Sketch of Bros. Bownam & Kranz

Bowman Kranz Bros., established on July 1, 1886, in Holstein, Iowa, succeeded the S. H. Bowman Lumber Co., the area’s first lumber dealers. The firm operated from a substantial facility near the railroad depot. H. G. Kranz, born in Germany in 1865, began his career with the Bowman Lumber Co. after emigrating at age 18. His brother, J. C. Kranz, also from Germany, worked as a farmhand before joining the business, actively contributing to local banking and development initiatives.

Biographical Sketch of E. B. Baird

E. B. Baird was born on November 6, 1837, in Onondaga County, New York, and raised on a farm. In 1872, he relocated to Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, where he purchased land. He first married Harriet Conover, with whom he had one son, Edmund C. Baird, before marrying Matilda Preston in 1877, with whom he had three children. Baird was active in his community, serving as vice president and director of the Maple Valley Savings Bank and on the Maple Township School Board.

Biographical Sketch of Collins F. Tillotson

Collins F. Tillotson, born December 7, 1846, in Onondaga County, New York, settled in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, in 1874, acquiring 417 acres of wild prairie land. He was educated in local schools and Monroe Collegiate Institute. His ancestry includes a Revolutionary War soldier and a participant in the War of 1812. At 24, he married Mary J. Clark, with whom he had six children. Tillotson’s homestead featured various structures and livestock facilities, reflecting his dedication to farming.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Eliza C. Hefflefinger

Eliza C. Hefflefinger, born in the Cherokee Nation in 1853 to Jesse and Elizabeth Cochran, overcame the challenges of the Civil War’s impact on her education. In 1872, she married Greenville Pace Hefflefinger, a progressive farmer in their community. Together, they had two children, Joseph and Fannie. Eliza is recognized for her intelligence and active involvement in her community, as well as her membership in the Presbyterian church.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Jasper E. Smith

Catherine Ann, born on November 20, 1889, in Delaware District, was the daughter of John Parker and Sarah Elizabeth (Davis) Collies. Educated in Cherokee National Schools, she married Jasper E. Smith on December 24, 1908, in Vinita. They had four children: Watie, Don, Pauline, and Betty. Jasper, a farmer and cattle and hog dealer, resided near Ketchum. The post also briefly details the familial connections to Tomas Cordery and his descendants, establishing a broader context of interconnected Cherokee heritage.

Biography of Elbert Jacob Snider

Elbert Jacob Snider, born September 29, 1888, in Delaware District, was the son of Andrew Johnson and Cynthia Snider. He married Martha Elizabeth Daniels on September 26, 1912, and they had two children, Genevieve and Elbert Jacob. An educated man from Grove and Male Seminary, Snider was part of a notable lineage, being a great-great-grandson of Richard Fields, Chief of the Texas Cherokee. His family included several siblings and in-laws, reflecting a rich connection to the local community and its history.