Charles M. McDougall

MC DOUGALL, RICKY, MC BRIDE, GUTHRIE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/6/2007 at 08:35:08

Biographies from the 1914 "Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties of Iowa"

CHARLES M. McDOUGALL.

There is no better agricultural region than that which is to be found within Osceola County, and the agricultural history of the county shows that every man who entered land in the early history of the county and stayed with it eventually became successful. It is true that there were many discouragements in the earlier history of the county and many obstacles which thoroughly tried the pioneer farmers, but those who had the courage to stay have never regretted it. Among the present farmers of Osceola County who have been connected with its history for the past quarter of a century, there is no one who has made a more pronounced success than Charles M. McDougall, of Baker Township.

Charles M. McDougall. the son of Melvin and Anna (Ricky) McDougall, was born in Iowa County, Wisconsin, in 1860. His father was born in New York state in 1836, and when a young man moved to Wisconsin, where he was living at the opening of the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army at Avoca, Wisconsin, as a member of the Thirty-third Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He fought in many of the hardest fought battles of the Rebellion and was finally discharged in Tennessee in 1865. In 1866 Melvin McDougall came to Palo Alto County, Iowa, and homesteaded on a farm. However, he only stayed two years in Iowa and then returned to Wisconsin, where he remained for the next two years. He again returned to Iowa and settled at Victor, where he died in 1911. The wife, Anna Ricky, was born in Henry County, Illinois, in 1840 and died in 1882. To their union three children were born, two of whom are now living.

Charles M. McDougall was only two years of age when his father enlisted in the Civil War, and was old enough to distinctly remember his return from it in 1865. He received his education in Wisconsin and Iowa and when eighteen years of age started to learn the harness-maker's trade at Victor, Iowa. After putting three years in at this occupation he became interested in the drilling of tubular wells, and followed this for the next ten years. In 1888 he came to Osceola County and purchased two hundred and eighty acres in Baker Township, on which he has placed ten thousand dollars' worth of improvements since acquiring it. While he raises all the crops of this locality, he has made a specialty of the breeding of Percheron horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. He has disposed of some of his land and now owns one hundred and sixty acres, which constitutes one of the most attractive farms in the township. He owns a share of stock in the creamery and Farmers Elevator Company of Melvin, Iowa.

Mr. McDougall was married in 1885 to Sadie McBride, who was born at Victor, Iowa, in 1866. To this union was born one son, Roland, who is now the manager of an automobile garage at Beaver Creek, Minnesota. In 1911 Mr. McDougall was married to Mrs. Ella Guthrie, who was born in Wisconsin in 1865.
Politically, Mr. McDougall is a Republican, with Progressive tendencies. He has always been a prominent factor in the civic life of his community and has had the honor of filling several offices in Baker Township, where he has made his home since coming to this county. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Sibley and gives it her earnest support at all times. Mr. McDougall is a man of energy and ambition who has never been afraid to work, and his optimistic nature has always enabled him to look upon the bright side of life. In all the relations of life he has commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought into contact, and for this reason he is popular throughout the community where he lives.

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