Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 863
FRANK M. TERRY

The men who make history for any community are those who are progressive and wide-awake men of affairs, who are able to seize opportunities as they present themselves and with keen judgment to foresee the trend of events and shape their plans accordingly. Such men not only win recognition and success for themselves, but they confer unbounded favors upon those of less discrimination and greatly assist in the progress of civilization. Frank M. TERRY, merchant, grain dealer and banker of Little Sioux, is one of the leading men of this section to whose judgment and ability much of the substantial material progress of this vicinity is due. He has steadily pressed forward to the goal of his ambitions and is well worthy of the trust imposed in him by those who know him.

Frank M. TERRY is a native of the state of Illinois, born on July 9, 1850, in DeKalb county in the little town of Shabbona, the son of Phineas B. and Isabelle (ERWIN) TERRY, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. Subject was one of a family of four children, being the eldest, the others being Prosper H., Erastus J. and Josephine, who became the wife of M. BASSETT. Frank TERRY's mother died when he was but eight years old and the father chose for his second wife Sarah A. SEYMOUR. In 1864 they started on the over-land trail for California, taking the entire family, but only got as far as Salt Lake City, where they located for a couple of years. In 1866 they started back east and on the 19th of September of that year they arrived in Little Sioux, finishing their journey at that point. The father had acquired property in Salt Lake City and this he traded for three hundred and sixty acres of land located near Little Sioux where he passed the remainder of his days. He became one of the leading citizens of this community, taking an active part in all that made for the public welfare, and left a large circle of friends at the time of his death on August 8, 1888. He was a stanch Republican and took an active interest in political affairs of this section, serving as township trustee for several years. He was a devoted member of the Ancient Order of Freemasonry and had made good progress in this work. He first became a member of the order while residing in Illinois and after locating permanently in this state he brought his demit to Magnolia lodge and later became one of the charter members of Little Sioux lodge. He was not a member of any religious body, although he ordered his life in accordance with the teachings of Holy Writ and possibly leaned most strongly toward the teachings of the Universalist church. By his second wife Mr. TERRY's father had five children, Ettie E., who married Silas C. SETCHELL; Cora E., who married Joseph SCHILLER; Seymour B., Richard M. and Bertha P., who became the wife of Justin R. PERKINS.

Frank M. TERRY remained under the parental roof until he was of age, assisting the father in the work about the homestead where his first independent effort was the farming of a tract of land which he rented for two or three years. By that time he had decided that farming was not to be his life vocation, and came to Little Sioux where he secured a clerkship in the store of M. Murry. There he worked for seven years when at the end of that time Mr. Murry admitted a partner to his business. This, however, did not interfere with the subject'' connection with the firm, which he served for another seven years. On September 12, 1892, Mr. TERRY purchased a stock of general merchandise and opened up a cash store in Little Sioux. The stock represented an outlay of one thousand dollars, two hundred and fifty of which amount he borrowed. That was in reality the beginning of his business career, his years of service having been really years of training and preparation. He has been gradually winning success in his undertaking, has increased his stock, owns his own land and building and also his residence property. In 1894 he became a buyer of grain in a small way and has succeeded so well in this undertaking that he is now the leading grain dealer of Little Sioux. When he first engaged in this commission business he was known as the �scoop shovel buyer,� owing to the fact that he unloaded his grain from wagons to the cars with a scoop shovel. However, he now has a portable elevator and all modern methods for handling his steadily growing business, which in the year 1912 amounted to one hundred and seven cars.

In addition to his general merchandise and grain business, Mr. TERRY is one of the main stockholders of the Little Sioux Savings Bank, which institution he also serves as president and director. He was one of the organizers and charter members of the Inter-State Telephone Company and is vice-president and director of that concern, also serving as manager of the Little Sioux telephone exchange. He is also a considerable land owner, having two hundred and forty acres in South Dakota and adjoining his tract his wife holds in her name an equal acreage.

On September 2, 1871, Mr. TERRY was united in marriage to Sarah A. MITCHELL, born on April 4, 1852, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Edwin M. MITCHELL and wife, both of whom were natives of England. To Mr. and Mrs. TERRY were born four children, all of whom, together with the subject of this sketch, survived her at her death on March 16, 1888. Amy E., the eldest of the family, was born on November 17, 1877, and became the wife of L. L. REYNOLDS, the present efficient postmaster of Little Sioux. To them has been born one child, Irene, who first saw the light of day on March 8, 1897. Bennett M., the oldest son of Frank M. TERRY, was born August 17, 1879. He chose as his wife Myrtle BYERS, who was born January 16, 1883. They make their home in Little Sioux where he is associated with his father in his business ventures. To them has come one child, Paul M., born May 11, 1905. Irving E. was born on August 19, 1882, and resides in Logan, this state, where he is manager of the Logan Department Store. His wife was Dora MURRY, of Little Sioux, and to them have been born two sons, Joseph F., born June 26, 1905, and Donald, born January 11, 1907. Charles A., the youngest of the family, was born on October 2, 1886. He remains at home with his father and is interested with him in the store and grain business.

On October 21, 1889, Mr. TERRY again led a bride to the altar, the lady being Miss Laura STEWART, who was born May 17, 1862, in this state, near Missouri Valley. She is the daughter of Thomas F. and Mary J. (TULL) STEWART, her father having been a soldier in the Civil War. He enlisted on November 5, 1864, in Company E, Thirteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died while in service, his body being buried at Nashville. He was a devoted member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons and was a charter member of the first lodge of that order in Harrison county, which received its charter at Magnolia. He was one of the seekers after wealth who heard the call of the golden siren and journeyed to California in 1849. When the family first came west they crossed the Missouri river near the present site of Council Bluffs and took a homestead claim on the beautiful eminence now known as Capitol Hill, and where the city of Omaha now stands, but because of constant harassing by the Indians then abounding in these parts, they were compelled to abandon their charming location. It was in 1854 or 1855 that the family arrived in this county, where they have since made their home.

Mr. TERRY attends the Methodist Episcopal church, as does also his family, and all are interested in the welfare of the local society, giving liberally of time and means to further its interests. Mr. TERRY has always endorsed the principles of the Republican party, as do also his sons. He has taken a keen interest in local affairs and has served both as township trustee and township clerk at various times, giving a satisfactory administration in both offices. By his activities Mr. TERRY has proven that he is a man of good business ability, strict integrity and broad sympathies. He is numbered among the representative men of this section and because of his genuine worth and high personal character he enjoys an enviable reputation in this community where he has long made his home.

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