Unless otherwise noted, these biographies were taken from A History of Clay County, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889.
Contributions are welcome. If you have any biographies of your Clay county ancestors that you would like to contribute, whether from other sources or written by yourself, please contact me at: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator
J - K - L
Jackson, Richard
James, H. D.
Johnson, C. F.
Johnson, Charles
Johnson, Peter
Johnston, Thomas H., Dr.
Jones, H. E.
Ketcham, J. R.
Kirchner, John A.
Knight, Adelaide Clark House
Koch, Robert L.
Langlois, George
Larsen, Anders
Leach, Charles E.
Lewis, J. B.
Lidman, John M.
Lundt, Henry
Lyke, B. C.
Clay county biographies: A-B, C-D,
E-F-G, H-I, M-N,
O-P, Q-R, S-T-U-V,
W-X-Y-Z.
Return
to Index.
Jackson, Richard, was born in the year 1841 in Kildare, Ireland. When at the age of nine he came to America, and, after a brief stay in New York, moved to Green county, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1861. Enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and served during the entire war. He lived at Eldora for a number of years and in 1878 came to Spencer.
Farmer, P. O. Dickens. He was born in Indiana in 1839, and came to this county several years ago. He is one of the most successful farmers in the county, owning a large tract of land; a good manager and a shrewd business man. He owns a fine body of land, 300 acres of which is under good cultivation. He has good buildings and is the owner of considerable stock.
Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 147.
Laundryman, was born in Denmark, December 6th, 1856, where he lived until 1882 when he came to America to better his fortunes. Upon arriving in the country he came directly to Clay county and has since that time been a resident. He was married in 1886 to Miss Maggie Mikel. Three years ago he built a house on Third street and commenced the business of a laundryman. His work speaks for itself and has been the means of bringing him a large and extensive trade. His work is warranted to give entire satisfaction to the most fastidious and exacting. He employs several assistants.
Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 147.
Farmer, PO Spencer. Was born in Hallan, Sweden, Sept. 26, 1856, and where he lived until coming to this country in 1871. After arriving at Castle Garden, he went to Illinois, where he staid until 1881, when he came to this county to reside. He has leased a farm of 640 acres, which he manages carefully and successfully. He usually employs from three to five men the year round. He was married in 1883 to Miss L. M. Tropsee. They have three children, Ellen, Annie and Emma.
Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 216.
Carpenter, residence corner 8th and Elm, Spencer. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 14th, 1836, and continued a resident of that city until 1859, when he emigrated to America. After arriving here he went to Fon du Lac, where he lived for twelve years. Previous to his coming to this country he had received a musical education and had given instructions on the violin and had taught considerable. While in Fon du Lac he devoted his entire attention to giving musical instructions. In 1871 he came to Clay county and located on sec. 18, and owned the land on which Dickens now stands. Here he lived for five years and then moved to Spencer, since which time he has followed the occupation of a carpenter. He was married in 1868 to Miss Jesen. They have three children, Louisa, now Mrs. G. Christensen, Myron and Johnnie.
Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 147.
JOHNSTON, Thomas H., Dr.
The name of Dr. Thomas H. Johnston, of Spencer, has long been a household word to the people of Clay county, where he has for many years occupied a leading place in the ranks of the medical profession. He has conscientiously and ably gone about his work in a manner that has won for him the confidence and esteem of all classes. Thomas H. Johnston was born in Drayton, Ontario, Canada, on the 25th of October, 1871, and is a son of Samuel and Ellen Clarke)Johnston, both of whom were natives of the north of Ireland. For a number of years after leaving Canada, they made their home in Spencer, Iowa, but later moved to Seattle, Washington, where they passed away. They were the parents of the following children: Samuel J., deceased; Benjamin C., of Ontario, Canada; Thomas H.; Ethelda, the wife of Walter W. Hammond, of Seattle, Washington; Bertha, the wife of Lambert Thompson, of Seattle; Alice, the wife of T. M. Murray, of Seattle; William Howard, a physician at Muscatine, Iowa; and Mildred, of Seattle, Washington. Dr. Johnston attended the public schools of Canada, including the high school at Elora, Ontario, after which he obtained a teachers' certificate and taught six years in the schools of Ontario.
Then, having determined to devote his life to the healing art, he matriculated in the medical school of Queens University, at Kingston, Ontario, where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1900. He immediately came to Iowa, taking the state medical board examination, and on being licensed located at Webb, Iowa, where he practiced his profession six years. In April, 1906 he came to Spencer, Clay county, where he has engaged in practice to the present time. During this period he has been remarkably successful as a physician and has not only built up a large and remunerative practice, but also has attained an enviable place in the hearts of the people among whom he has labored
On April 10, 1900, Doctor Johnston was united in marriage to Miss Della Hammond, who was born and reared in Ontario, and they are the parents of two children, Hammond Clarke and Madeline.
Politically the Doctor gives his support to the republican party and takes a helpful interest in everything affecting the welfare of his community. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He maintains professional affiliation with the Monona County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a genial and friendly gentleman, kind and sympathetic in his attitude towards those under his professional care, and throughout this community has at all times commanded the respect and confidence of the people.
Contributed by: Debbie Clough Gerischer. Source: Northwestern Iowa, Its History and Tradition, Volume III, 1804-1926.
H. E. Jones needs no introduction to the readers of this volume for he is well known in the western part of the county where his numerous friends call him Ed. He is one of the active businessmen and public-spirited citizens of Lone Tree township, making his home in Everly, where for the past seven years, he has been engaged in business. He was a little lad of less than four years when brought to Clay county and he has since remained within its borders. His birth occurred near Stoughton, Wisconsin, on the 18th of December, 1863, his father being Evan Jones while his brother is A. T. Jones, mentioned elsewhere in this work. On the old home farm in this county H. E. Jones was reared and in the common schools pursued his education. He herded cattle on the open prairie when a lad, for at that time the prairie had not been converted into farms and was still in possession of the government, and the settlers could turn their cattle and stock loose upon it that they might graze on the native grasses. With all of the farm work H. E. Jones early became familiar, as his father believed in practical training for his boys, that they might have experience to aid them when they reached manhood. He continued with his father until twenty-two years of age when, thinking that other fields would prove more congenial and profitable than agricultural life, he turned his attention to railroad construction and for three years was employed on various roads in six different states. In 1888, however, he returned to Clay county with the capital he had saved through his earnings and purchased land, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres in Waterford township. Here he began the arduous task of cultivating land that was still in its primitive condition. It is no sinecure to open a new farm. Years had made the ground hard and it was therefore difficult to break the sod and prepare the soil for planting. But with persistent energy Mr. Jones pursued his task and made a good start in the farm work. Later he bought another tract of three hundred and twenty acres which was partially improved. He continued its further development and thus engaged in farming for twelve years, after which he rented his land and removed to Everly, where he turned his attention to the live-stock business, also selling farm machinery. He continued in live-stock business three or four years and then withdrew from that field of industry but continued to engage in the implement business and is giving close attention to its control and management. He is, moreover, a stockholder in the Everly Grain & Lumber Company and in all of his commercial as well as agricultural relations he has shown himself to be a man of good business ability, of strong and determined purpose and undaunted energy. He forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. His business judgment is rarely, if ever, at fault.
The home life of Mr. Jones had its beginning in his marriage in Spencer in March, 1887, to Miss Iva McCabe, who was born in New York. They are now the parents of three children Edith, Ella and Ruth. The eldest daughter is now attending school in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Politically Mr. Jones is independent. He was elected county supervisor by a large majority in 1908, and is now filling the office in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. He belongs to Everly Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Odd Fellows Lodge of this place. There are few citizens of the county more widely and more favorable known than H. E. Jones, whose business enterprise has carried him into important commercial and financial relations, while his genial manner, his unfailing courtesy and his spirit of friendliness have gained him the warm and lasting regard of those with whom he has brought in contact.
Contributed by: Susan Gregory. Source: History of Clay County Iowa – Steele – 1909, page 254.
Farmer, PO Spencer. Was born in Niles, Cook county, Ill., in 1852; lived in Cook county thirty-two years, when he came to Clay county and settled. Owns 120 acres of the nw ¼ of sec 33, Meadow township. He has a good farm house and 50 acres under an excellent state of cultivation.
Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 216.
John A. Kirchner, a retired farmer, who was the first settler in Clay county and for many years identified with agricultural and other interests of Peterson township, and who has contributed largely to the general improvement and financial worth of the vicinity, was born in Germany, May 24, 1829, a son of Christian and Magdalena (Knipchen) Kirchner. His father, also a native of Germany, came to the United States in 1841, making the voyage in a sailing vessel, and upon arriving in the new world went immediately to Albany, New York, where he remained for three years and then removed to a farm located about twenty-eight miles from that city where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1856 when he came to Peterson township, this county, and here spent his remaining years. The mother was born and married in Germany, and after a long and useful life also died in Peterson township. They had a family of eleven children, namely: John A., of this record; Dorothy, deceased; Mary, widow of C. H. Brokschink, of Webster City, Iowa; Barbara, who became the wife of Michael Springer, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Jacob, a miller of that place; Christian and Philip, deceased, Charlotta, widow of Dr. Butler; Magdalena, who is, united in marriage with Walter French, a clothier of Sioux City, Iowa; Julia, deceased; and William, a farmer in this township.
In the common schools of his native land John A. Kirchner acquired his education and when twelve years of age left Germany with his parents for Albany, New York, where he was confirmed in the Lutheran church, remaining under the parental roof until he was nineteen years of age. He then started out in the world for himself, working out until 1852, when he went to California and located in Downieville, where he followed carpentering and mining for four years, and then returned to Peterson, this county, or rather where that town is now located. At that time there were few evidences of civilization in the vicinity and Mr. Kirchner squatted on the land which is now the site of Peterson, this being before the homestead law went into practice, and later he bought the property from the county as swamp land. Shortly before he made the purchase the railroad company laid claim to the same property, but he succeeded in buying it from the railroad corporation, though they failed to give him a bona fide deed. He was then obliged to purchase the land from the state and by appealing to the state legislature he had a special bill passed to that effect that one who had occupied land for a certain period of time could become its owner by paying two dollars and fifty cents an acre. Mr. Kirchner bought a half section in Peterson township and was the first pioneer in this part of the state. In company with him was A. S. Mead, and they started to walk from Dubuque, Iowa, crossing the river on the ice and then westward. Upon coming to Cedar Falls they were overtaken by a severe storm and thinking they had better stop over for a while, they applied at a hotel for lodging, but found it too expensive, so they decided to go on and were just leaving the building when the proprietor told them it would not be safe to make the venture in the terrible tempest, that they had better remain until springtime insasmuch as they would be unable to cross the country against the odds of winter. Taking his advice they desisted from journeying any farther until the weather had broken when they again started out to explore the surrounding county in search of desirable property and were finally directed to the Little Sioux, which they followed until they finally reached some land upon which Mr. Kirchner deemed it advisable to locate. He here remained long enough to put a portion of this acreage into shape for cultivation and he went east to visit his family, bringing them back with him to the new country. Through their combined efforts a cabin was built, and he at once engaged in farming and he has followed this vocation more or less ever since. Mr. Kirchner's mother would often facetiously remark that they had the largest door-yard in existence, extending from Sioux City to Fort Dodge, and that her chickens did not cause any trouble with the neighbors. He engaged somewhat in other enterprises, however, having built the first sawmill in Peterson township in 1872, which he has kept running constantly since its establishment. In addition to a tract of land consisting of four hundred and twenty acres in Clay township, Clay county, Mr. Kirchner owns two hundred and forty acres in Buena Vista county, eighty acres in Waterford township, Clay county, and five modern dwellings and one large store building in town.
In 1859 Mr. Kirchner was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Bicknell, by
whom were born four children, namely: Ella, who became the wife of Edward
Sitz, a miller of this township; Charles E., a farmer of Clay township; Rosa,
wife of John Parker of Montana; and one child who is deceased. Mrs.
Kirchner having departed this life, Mr. Kirchner was again united in marriage to
Rachael Williams, by whom he had four children, namely: F. W., a hardware
merchant of this township; John A., who resides in Oklahoma; Clyde, a farmer of
Buena Vista county; and May, a foreign missionary in Chili, South America.
Politically Mr. Kirchner has voted with the republican party since its
organization and probably cast the first vote polled on that ticket in Clay
county. He was the first postmaster of Peterson, officiating in that
capacity for fifteen years, was also township clerk of the first district court,
and county supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Kirchner are members of the Lutheran
and Methodist Episcopal churches, respectively, each being dutiful in the
observances of religious obligations and faithful in attendance upon divine
services in with the respective congregations. Mr. Kirchner belongs to
Peterson Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in which he takes a profound interest.
Being a man of considerable business ability and executive judgment, he has
contribute much to the general welfare of the community, being instrumental in
getting the railroad through this place. During his days of activity his
energy was untiring and it was through his zealous application to business his
straightforward dealing that he met with such rapid success and is now able to
retire, maintaining the respect and praise of his fellow citizens and enjoying
the comforts and contentment of a well spent and useful life.
Source: History of Clay County, Iowa, From ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO 1909, by Samuel Gillespie and James E. Steele, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1909.
KNIGHT, Adelaide Clark House
One of the most highly esteemed residents of Spencer, Clay county, is Mrs. Adelaide Clark House Knight, who enjoys an enviable reputation as a writer for the press and whose charming personality and gracious qualities have gained for her a host of loyal and devoted friends throughout this
Mrs. Knight was born in Burt county, Nebraska, on the 14th of January, 1868, and is a daughter of Harvey and Mary Jane (House) Clark. Her father was born at Nunda, New York, November 13, 1838, and died July 8, 1873, while her mother, who was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, October 26, 1843, died September 18, 1869. Mrs. Knight is descended from sterling gold English stock, her line being traced back directly to Richard and Frances (Dighton) Williams, who lived in Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1838, and also to Thomas Rogers, a passenger on the "Mayflower," through his granddaughter, Elizabeth Rogers, who was a daughter of John Rogers, and who married Nathaniel Williams. Her paternal grandfather James Clark, was the son of John, whose father, Jonathan Clark, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army from Morristown, New Jersey. Through these connections Mrs. Knight has been proved eligible to the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Mayflower Descendants, the Daughters of the Colonists, Colonial Dames, Order of the Crown, Americans of Royal Descent, Magna Charta Barons and other equally exclusive societies. Harvey Clark, who was born of pioneer parents, received a common school education, himself became a pioneer in Nebraska and was a veteran of the Civil war.
Mrs. Knight was but one year old at the time of the death of her mother, soon after which event her father, who died a year later, took her to her maternal uncle, A. E. House, at Delhi, Iowa, where she was reared and educated. She was married in that place, June 7, 1893, to Frank Wadsworth Knight, who is of English and Huguenot descent, the son of Joseph and Lois (Acker) Knight, both of whom were natives of Rushford, New York, the former born March 8, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Knight had two children, Louise Lareau, born September 29, 1894, and Frank Albert, born June 19, 1896, who is in the naval aviation service.
Mr. and Mrs. Knight lived in Milford, Iowa, about twenty years, when they moved to Spencer, where they have lived for the past eleven years. Mrs. Knight taught school two years and published and edited the Earlville (Iowa) Phoenix two years. Politically, she is aligned with the republican party and takes a deep interest in public affairs. She is a member of the Congregational church and belongs to the Woman's Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Mayflower Descendants. She has been an extensive reader, holds well defined opinions on the leading questions of the day, and possesses a strong and vigorous literary style, her writings being widely read. Personally she is gracious and tactful, is a pleasing conversationalist and is extremely popular in the circles in which she moves.
Contributed by: Debbie Clough Gerischer. Source: Northwestern Iowa, Its History and Tradition, Volume II, 1804-1926.
Of Palmer & Koch, dealer in hardware, was born in Dubuque, Feb. 15th, 1863, and lived in that city until 1880. His education was received in Dubuque, and was supplemented by a two years' course at a Chicago business college. He then returned to Dubuque, where he entered the wholesale hardware establishment of Westphal, Hinds & Co., and clerked until he came to Spender and purchased D. B. Smyth's interest in the hardware trade and formed a partnership with h. S. Palmer. Mr. Koch is an active young business man. He is secretary of the Masonic lodge, a position he has held for a number of years. He is the owner of 160 acres of land in Dakota and several town lots in Spencer. He was married in 1887 to Miss Lizzie Dunwell of this place.
Source: A History of Clay County, Iowa, by W. C. Gilbreath, 1889, p. 147
Langlois, George, farmer and stock breeder, was born on the Island of Guernsey, Dec. 7th, 1854, and moved to Racine, Wis., where he lived until 1881, when he moved to Clay county, and purchased 540 acres of land in Douglas township. This he has improved, and has under a fine state of cultivation. He has a large and comfortable house, good sheds, stables and granaries, and everything needed for a comfortable and pleasant-home. He is the owner of some very fine specimens of full blood short-horn cattle, the best strains of Poland China hogs and some pure blood Clydesdale horses. These animals are all beauties, and are pronounced to be the very best of their kind. Mr. Langlois has met with extraordinary success in stock breeding, and has a field of horses, cattle and swine that cannot be surpassed by any breeder in the West. He has taken just pride and pains in producing these animals, and has used more than ordinary precaution in getting the very best animals. He has sold a great many of these, and those who have seen them and know what an animal is, do not hesitate to pronounce them superior both as breeding and quality to any exhibits in Northwestern Iowa.
Larsen, Anders, farmer, P.O. Spencer. Was born in Fyen, Denmark, Feb. 5th, 1835. He lived in Denmark until 1874 where he worked on a farm. Hearing glowing accounts of America, the land of the free and a refuge for the oppressed, he decided to come to its shores and seek a home. When he arrived in America he heard of the fertile fields of Iowa and at once decided to cast his lot among the successful Hawkeye farmers. On arriving in Clay county, the 13th of May, 1874, he sought out and purchased one of the handsome farms for which this county is noted, and in a few short years surrounded himself with all the necessary comforts of life. He owns 240 acres of land, 160 of which is under cultivation. Mr. Larsen is one of the most successful farmers in Clay county. He was married in 1867 to Kersten Rasmussen. They have seven children, Leves A., Robert B., Christena E., Carl C., Peter N., John A., and Clara A.
Leach, Charles E., of Leach & Morrison, hardware merchants, was born in Holyoke, Mass., July 6th, 1852. In 1854, with his parents, he moved to Lyndon, Wis., and in 1861 to New Lisbon. During the time he lived in the latter place he attended the public schools and subsequently became a clerk in a bank of that city. In 1875 he went to Vermillion, Dakota, where he accepted the position of book-keeper in one of the banks. In 1878 he came to Spencer and entered the hardware business with J. W. Snyder. Mr. Snyder subsequently sold his interest to Wm. Morrison, and the firm of Leach & Morrison was formed. Mr. Leach, in addition to attending school in New Lisbon, spent several terms at Beaver Dam, and also attended commercial college in Milwaukee. He is a young man, of great force of character, with a keen, practical turn of mind, unassuming in manner, but full of energy and business. He has been very successful in the hardware business. Mr. Leach has been married twice.
Lewis, J. B., proprietor of the Gregory House, was born in Calhoun county, Michigan, in the month of September, 1837. When quite young his parents moved to Cold Water, Michigan where they remained eleven years and then went to Lima, Le Grange county, Indiana, where he engaged in farming. From there he moved to Rochester, and afterwards changed his residence to Austin, Minnesota. In 1877 he came to Clay county, and settled on the west half of the southwest quarter of sec. 4, Spencer township, and for five years pursued the occupation of a farmer. In 1882 he came to town and subsequently engaged in the hotel business. He was married in October 1857, to Miss Charlotte Shenk. They have four children, Millie, now Mrs. Gay Baker, Fred, Ray and Roy.
To be seven times successively elected to the same public office indicates that a man must possess more than ordinary capacity for administration and that his discharge of his official duties has been characterized by faithfulness and fidelity that have commended him to the favor of his fellowmen.
John M. Lidman has served as sheriff of Clay county since 1912 and it is the consensus of public opinion that the county never had a more capable or efficient sheriff than he. A native of Sweden, he was born on the 27th of May, 1869, and is a son of Magnus and Carolina (Johnson) Lidman, who also were natives of Sweden, where they spent their lives.
John M. Lidman is the eldest of their four children, three of whom are living. He was reared and educated in his native land, remaining at home until twenty years of age, and in 1891 he came to the United States, at once locating in Spencer, Iowa. For four years he was employed on a farm in Lincoln township. He was then married and soon afterwards went to work for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, with which company he remained two years. He was then appointed janitor of the high school building, which position he held for eight years, and during that period gave serious attention to securing an English education. Then for about a year he was employed in a bridge timber yard, after which for about one nd a half years he was employed in the freight offices of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. In 1909, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Clay county, serving for four years, when he was elected sheriff. So eminently satisfactory was his administration of the office in his first term that he was re-elected and has been chosen continuously since, being the present incumbent.
In 1894 Mr. Lidman was united in marriage to Miss Ila A. Johnson, who also was born in Sweden, a daughter of John and Gustana Anderson, and they ow have six children: Anna, who is a graduate of the Spencer high school, is the wife of John Strand; Hilda, also a graduate of the high school, is the wife of James H. Peterson; Edna L., Adelia and Aurces T., who have graduated from the high school, and John H., Jr., who is now in high school, are all at home.
Mr. Lidman has wisely invested his surplus means in real estate, owning a fine residence in Spencer, eighty acre of good farm land in Lone Tree township and one hundred and sixty acres of land, including a lake frontage of a half mile, in Minnesota. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, to which they give liberal support. Mr. Lidman has proven a substantial citizen in every respect, giving his support to every measure calculated to advance the best interests of the community, and discharging his official duties in a manner to win the commendation of the best people of the county. His record may well serve as an example of faithful citizenship and if followed by others would soon settle many crime conditions.
Contributed by: Debbie Clough Gerischer. Source: Iowa, Its History and Tradition, Volume III, 1804 - 1926.
Henry Lundt, a brother of D. F. Lundt, was also born in Germany, his birth occurring October 5, 1862, and he came to the United States with his parents in 1871. He acquired his education in the common schools of the fatherland and in Tama county, Iowa. He remained at home with his father until twenty-eight years of age when he settled in Clay county where he engaged in farming and general stock raising on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, now comprising some of the most fertile and arable land in this township. In 1902 he met with the misfortune of having his buildings destroyed by a cyclone, but subsequently replaced them with more substantial ones, and now his farm in every respect in first-class shape, and he makes a specialty of stock-raising and shipping of the best breeds of cattle, hogs and horses.
In 1890 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Stark and they have five children, Johnnie, Guy, Ruth, Ruby and Ray, all of whom reside with their parents. In politics Mr. Lundt does not ally himself with any particular political party, but, believing that the man who seeks the office should be of greater consideration than his party ties, he votes for such candidates as he deems best qualified to subserve the interests of the commonwealth. Like his brother, he is industrious and enterprising and his straightforward transactions and upright character win him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
Contributed by: Susan Gregory. Source: History of Clay County Iowa – Steele – 1909, page 586.
Lyke, B.C., farmer, first saw the light of day August 22d, 1854 in Montgomery county, New York. He lived in that county for about two years, when his parents moved to Rock county, Wis., where he lived until 1881. That year he moved to Clay county, and located on the SE quarter of section 21, Meadow township, and has since engaged in farming, an occupation he pursued previous to coming to this place. Since his residence in that township he has held the office of trustee and road supervisor. He is a stalwart republican in politics. In 1879 he was married to Miss Margaret Austin. They have four children, John G., William C., Alice A. and Robert B.
