COREY, F. A.

COREY, THOMPSON, WEATHERBY, YORKER, REED, JOHNSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/17/2004 at 09:29:07

Biography reproduced from page 554 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

F. A. Corey is identified with the agricultural interests of Wesley township, where he owns and cultivates two hundred and eight acres of land located on section 1. He was born in Evansville, Wisconsin, on the 7th of June, 1865, and is a son of Myron and Agnes (Thompson) Corey. The father was a native of the state of New York and the mother of Scotland, whence she emigrated to the United States with her people when a child of six years. The Coreys are of English extraction, but belong to an old New England family, their ancestors having come to America on the Mayflower. The paternal grandfather, Aaron Corey, was the father of fourteen children, all of whom were born and reared in the state of New York. In his early youth the son Myron went to Wisconsin, locating in the region of Lake Superior, where he subsequently acquired some mining interests, and soon thereafter returned to his native state. The traveling facilities were very poor and inadequate at that period, and on his return home Mr. Corey walked the greater part of the way, carrying his provisions and extra clothing in a pack on his back. On arriving home he organized a stock company, a most unusual undertaking for a youth of his age, and closed out his mining claim for five thousand dollars. He then came west to southern Wisconsin and bought a tract of land near Evansville, and built his home, hauling the lumber from Racine with ox teams. About three years later he sold out, to try his luck again at mining in Colorado, this being about the time of the discovery of the rich silver veins in the mountains of Colorado. This venture proved unsuccessful and he returned to Wisconsin, where he opened a meat market at Evansville. Later he continued in the same business at Janesville and Albany. A few years after he bought a tract of land near Richland Center. He lived in Rock and Green counties, of which he was a pioneer for many years, making his home there during the greater period of his residence in the state. In 1883, he came to Kossuth county and took up a homestead on section 22, Wesley township, one of the last tracts of government land in the county, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He passed away in 1900, and was buried in the cemetery at Wesley, where the mother was also laid to rest. She was one of five daughters, and the mother of eight children, our subject being the fifth in order of birth. The others are as follows: Clara, the wife of A. J. Weatherby, of Monticello, Minnesota; Ella, the widow of William Yorker, of Wealey, Iowa; Charles, a ranchman in South Dakota; Anna, deceased; Kittie, who married W. H. Reed, of Algona, Iowa; Byron, who is living at Herman, Minnesota; and Arthur, secretary of the Des Moines Agricultural and Fair Association.

F. A. Corey was given the advantages of a high school education and remained at home assisting his father with the farm until he attained his majority. He then started out to make his own way in the world, beginning his business career as a salesman for sewing machines and organs. He was very successful and was later appointed general manager for the territory in northwestern Iowa, continuing to engage in this business until 1896, when he began dealing in local real estate. This undertaking also proved to me very lucrative and he followed it until two years ago, at which time he resumed farming.

In 1905, Mr. Corey was married to Miss Eva Johnson, and they have become the parents of four children: June Agnes, Helen Jeannette, Ruth Elizabeth, and Angie who is deceased.

The family attend the Congregational church, and Mr. Corey votes the republican ticket. He has held some of the township offices, but has never actively participated in political affairs, although he takes a deep interest in all movements affecting the welfare of the community and was for two years vice president of the County Fair Association.