Fellows, Frank

FELLOWS, PHILLIPS, POTTER, SMITH, MCKEEVER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/31/2003 at 01:36:32

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

FRANK FELLOWS

Frank Fellows, who for the last forty years has been a resident of Clinton, taking up his abode here in the fall of 1866, was born in Salamanca, Cattaraugus county, New York, March 21, 1844. He represents one of the old New England families, for in the year 1631 three brothers, representatives of the name, crossed the Atlantic from England to the new world, locating in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Maine, respectively. It is from the New Hampshire branch of the family that our subject is descended. Men of patriotic impulses and loyalty have been found among the defenders of the country in times of war. Joseph Fellows, the great-grandfather of our subject, was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War. Jonathan Fellows, another uncle, was a soldier in the Mexican war and died in Galena, Illinois. Our subject has in his possession some interesting war relics and treasured family mementos, including a gun which was brought from England by his ancestors in 1631, and a powder horn which was made by his grandfather.

The great-grandfather of our subject was John Fellows, and he married a cousin of Daniel Webster. Their son, William E. Fellows, the father of our subject, was born in Bridgewater, New Hampshire, June 22, 1808. When eighteen years of age he became connected with the lumber business, which he followed in the Empire state for many years. He married Miss Eliza Phillips, who was born in Troy, New York, in 1818, and for a long period they resided in the state of her nativity. In 1861 the father responded to his country’s call for aid, enlisting in the Second Excelsior Brigade under General Sickells. He was at the time fifty-five years of age and was, therefore, exempt from military service, but his loyalty to the Union and love of liberty prompted him to join the army that fought for the supremacy of the stars and stripes. Returning to his home in New York, Mr. Fellows there remained until 1870, when he came to Iowa, settling in Clinton. He was a millwright by trade, but in this state he followed carpentry until 1877, when he retired from active business life, spending his remaining days in Lyons, where he died March 1, 1895, when almost eighty-seven years of age. His wife also passed away in Lyons, her death occurring on the 26th of June, 1897. In early life Mr. Fellows was a Whig, and upon the dissolution of the party he became a stalwart Republican, acting with that political organization until his death.

A man of scholarly tastes and attainments, he read extensively and kept well informed on all questions and issues of the day, both political and otherwise. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and were widely known as consistent Christian people.

They had a family of six children, of whom one daughter died in childhood at the age of fourteen years, while James, Nelson and Joseph are also deceased. The living members of the family are Frank, of this review, and John, who is an employee of the United States Lock factory at Lyons.

Frank Fellows, whose name introduces this record, acquired his education in the common schools and in the select schools which he attended, however, for only a brief period. When sixteen years of age he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and not only provided for his own support but also contributed of his means to the support of the family. In 1866 he arrived in Clinton, Iowa, and at once entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company as a carpenter in the shops. He afterward entered the mills as a saw filer for W. J. young & Company, which position had then become important owing to the great increase of the lumber industry in this section of the country.

In January, 1869, he went upon the road as fireman, and after four years’ service in that capacity was promoted to engineer, making his first run in 1875. Through the summer he remained upon the road and then returned to the shops, where he was employed for two years, at the expiration of which period he was made dispatcher, taking the engines to and from the roundhouse and superintending the coal and wood supplies. Since 1889 he has been foreman of the shed, an important position, as he has trains that go on from this point. Sixteen men are under his supervision and control. For eleven years he also gave the contracts for the coal supply.

In the year 1864, in New York, Mr. Fellows married Aroline Potter, who was born in Maine, May 10, 1847, her parents being pioneers of that state. They resided in Penobscot and were of Scottish ancestry. Mrs. Fellows was educated in Allegany county, New York, and to her husband has been a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life. By her marriage she has become the mother of six children, of whom two died in early childhood. Those living are Minnie, wife of Herbert Smith, a coal dealer at Clinton, by whom she has one daughter, Catherine. Florilla, wife of Frank McKeever, by whom she has one son, Raymond, who is now living with his grandfather. Leona and Ethel, who are yet at home. The children are all graduates of the high schools of Lyons, and members of the family are identified with the Presbyterian church. They have a very pleasant and attractive home which was purchased by Mr. Fellows, and in addition he owns a small fruit farm.

In his political views Mr. Fellows is a Republican, while socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and consistory. He (p. 112) was one of the charter members and organizers of the society known as the Old Firemen’s Union, which later consolidated with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, and was grand treasurer for three years. The organization was effected in 1870, and he was also one of the organizers of the Old Firemen’s Union and traveled over all the principal railroads and to the junctions, organizing lodges at various places. He has witnessed great changes in railroad circles and has watched with interest the rapid growth and development of Clinton, contributing in a considerable measure to the progress of the city as he has found opportunity. He has a wide acquaintance and is popular in social circles. His friends esteem him for his many estimable qualities. His conduct is manly, and upright principles have permeated his life.