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CHICKASAW COUNTY Another IAGenWeb Project |
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CHICKASAW COUNTY Another IAGenWeb Project |
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BIOGRAPHIES OF CHICKASAW COUNTY - F - |
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Source: History of Iowa, Volume Four.
Nashua
Among the very few country journalists who have left the editor's chair to start a bank is Andrew J. Felt, a native of the Empire State. He was born at Victor, Ontario county, on the 27th of December, 1833, his parents being Warren Felt, merchant and farmer, and Cynthia Stowell. The
Felts were from Massachusetts. His grandfather was a participant in the second war with England.
Andrew was educated at the Hamilton Academy, Madison county; at sixteen commenced teaching; followed that profession three winters; at nineteen commenced reading law with Thomas Frothingham, of Rochester, finishing his legal studies with Judge Nichols, of Sherburne, Chenango county and being seized violently with the western fever, came to Iowa before being admitted to the bar.
Mr. Felt reached this state in the autumn of 1855,
and the following winter taught a school in a blacksmith shop upon the spot where Luana, Clayton county, now stands. In 1856 he became connected editorially with the "North Iowa Times," of McGregor, published by A. P. Richardson, remaining in that position till March, 1857. A short time after this date he was admitted to the bar of Chickasaw county, Judge Murdock presiding, but before commencing practice he started, in the spring of 1857, the "Cedar Valley News," at Bradford, running the paper and a law office one year, when he sold his interest in the newspaper and practiced law a year in company with M. V. Burdick, of Decorah, Winneshiek county. In 1860 he renewed his editorial connection with the "North Iowa Times," and held
that position when the national flag was stricken down at the south. His patriotic heart was instantly
fired, and he enlisted as a private in the first company which was raised in Chickasaw county - Company B, 7th Iowa Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Belmont, Missouri, on the 7th of November, 1861; remained in the hands of the rebels one year less twenty days; was in the hospital at Annapolis, Maryland from October, 1862, to February, 1863; joined the regiment at Corinth, Mississippi; was promoted to sergeant, and returned to Iowa the next spring. .Mr. Felt went immediately to West Union, Fayette county, and established the "Public Record," conducting it until 1866, when he sold out to Judge Edmonds. In the month of May of the following year he started the Nashua "Post," and conducted
it until February, 1874, when he sold out to Grawe Brothers, and purchased the interest of M. C. Woodruff in the Waterloo "Courier." In October, 1875, he abandoned journalism and started a private bank in Nashua. This course seemed to be regretted by many of the editorial brotherhood of Iowa, for he was a keen and pointed writer, and his journalistic career was eminently creditable to the Iowa Press. Mr. Felt was postmaster at Nashua from 1869 to 1874, resigning the office to go to Waterloo..
In politics, he was a democrat until he saw the old flag insulted in 1861, since which time he has acted heartily with the republicans. He was a delegate to the national conventions which nominated and renominated General Grant, being one of the secretaries of the Chicago convention in 1868. He was president of the congressional convention which nominated N. C. Deering in August, 1876, and without being a candidate before the convention, was suddenly brought out, and although persisting that he was not a candidate, came within
seven votes of being nominated. He has sometimes taken part in a political canvass, where he has shown himself to be a fluent and effective off-hand speaker.Mr. Felt is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Congregational church, where he teaches a bible class, and a man of very pure character. He has a very small body, barely enough, Sydney Smith
would say, to cover his mind.The wife of Mr. Felt was Miss Emily Rutherford, of Fairfield, Ohio. They were married at Bradford on the 21st of February, 1858; have had five children, and have two boys and one girl living. Mrs. Felt is a true wife and mother, and a woman possessed of very excellent qualities of mind and heart.
Source: Iowa Biographical Dictionary, 1878, Page 317. Transcribed By Mike Peterson |
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John Foley New Hampton
If there is a self-made man in Chickasaw county, Iowa, that man is John Foley. He came to this state a poor boy twenty years ago; worked hard on a farm, and educated himself largely by studying during the evenings, fitting himself for a teacher and for general business.Mr. Foley is a native of Ireland, and was born in the county of Galway on the 14th of August, 1840. His parents were Thomas and Catherine (Lyden) Foley, who immigrated to this country when John was a child. His father died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1852, and his mother in Iowa in the spring of 1857. John came with her to this state in June, 1857, and settled on a farm in Jacksonville township, ten miles from New Hampton. There he worked until 1871, being very industrious in his manual labor, and commencing to teach during the winters as soon as he could fit himself. This he did by giving to study hours which many young men give wholly to amusements, and some to dissipation. .Six years ago he was nominated for the office of treasurer of the county, and elected by a fair majority. So well did he discharge his duties that he has been three times reelected, each time by a vote which showed that the people had an increasing knowledge of his eminent fitness for the office. After he had served the county nearly two years, the New Hampton "Courier" of the 4th of October, 1873, thus spoke of his official work: ."
Attentive to the duties of this office, cordial in his intercourse with the taxpayers, and correct in his business, he has made scores of friends, and not a single enemy. It is infinitely to his credit that, without fear without favor, and without prejudice, he has sought to perform the duties of the place rather than to build up a clique who should conspire to keep him in office. A man of the people, he has faithfully performed the people's work, with an eye single to their interest. .He found the finances of the county embarrassed, its credit depressed, and distrust of its financial condition and management universal. When he t ook possession of the treasurer's office county warrants had not been redeemed over its counter for years, but had been hawked about the streets and peddled from hand to hand till they finally found their way into the hands of the money brokers at a discount, to the people of from ten to thirty per cent. .
His advent in the treasurer's office changed all this in a single day. Public confidence rose as by magic. The ability of the county to meet its obligations promptly was no longer doubted. County warrants commanded their face in greenbacks on the street and in the treasurers office. They have continued to do so up to this hour.
The people of Chickasaw county owe Mr. Foley a debt of gratitude. he has done their work ably, faithfully, and for the compensation fixed by law. In his official capacity he has known no friends, and no enemies. He has favored no organized rings, and sought to build up no special interests; but with rigid impartiality has dealt honorably with all. More than this, at the time of his election he was perhaps the only man in the county upon whom all the elements of opposition to treasury misrule could have been concentrated. He accepted the office of treasurer at a positive sacrifice of his private business interests. "
Prior to holding the office of treasurer Mr. Foley had been a member of the board of supervisors for one term and was for nine years connected with the school board of his town. He is an ardent friend of education, and labors assiduously for its advancement.
Mr. Foley was reared in the Catholic faith, and steadfastly adheres to the religious teaching of his ancestors.
Source: Iowa Biographical Dictionary, 1878, Page 258. Transcribed By Mike Peterson |
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