Guthrie County

Genealogy and History

Guthrie County, Iowa Biographies

Mrs. F. M. Hopkins

Mrs. Lucy Holsman Hopkins of Guthrie Center was born in Senacaville, Guernsey County, Ohio. She is the daughter of William Holsman of German descent, and Lucy Dilley of English-Scotch descent, who came to Iowa in 1857. Her education received in the public schools has been supplemented by a four years' course in reading and travel in all parts of the United States, in Canada and in Mexico. On Sept. 27, 1882, she was married to Francis M. Hopkins, who is the son of Dr. John Y. and Mary Needham Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins was born in Oskaloosa, March 8, 1854, and is a graduate of the Iowa State University. For eight years he was clerk of the Guthrie Co. Courts, for three years was mayor of Guthrie Center, and for ten years was State Senator. He is president of the People's State Bank of Guthrie Center and is a man of fine character and wide influence.

Mrs. Hopkins is a member of the D. A. R., being descended from Ephriam Dilley, who was a Revolutionary soldier. She has served as regent of her chapter. She is a member of the P. E. O. sisterhood, of the O. E. S., having held the highest office in both organizations. She is a member of the M. E. church and a faithful church woman. She does all kinds of fine needle work and is an artist of ability, making a specialty of china painting. She has two brothers and three sisters living, Mrs. Geo. W. Reed of Emmett, Idaho; Mrs. W. C. McCool, Salem, Nebr.; John D. Holsman, Mrs. Susan Carpenter and Henry B. Holsman, all of Guthrie Center. One brother, Geo. W. Holsman died several years ago.

[The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Dana Kraft]

Moses Vandevanter

The subject of this article is at the present time one of the business men of Cornwall, where he operates a general merchandise store, being a substantial and highly respected citizen of that town and a capable business man.

Moses was born on May 28, 1861, in Guthrie county, Iowa, being the son of Israel and Rachel (Moore) Vandevanter. He remained with his father until twenty-two years had passed, gaining a good education at the country schools and sound principles of business operation from a wise father.

At twenty-two years of age. Mr. Vandevanter came west and selected Union county, Oregon, as the place for his operations, engaging there in the vicinity of the town of Union in the manufacture of lumber with his brother, where he continued until 1890, when he came to this county and took up farming. Later he left that occupation and opened a general merchandise store in Cornwall and in that place he has done business since. He carries a good stock of well selected merchandise, and his kind and courteous treatment of his patrons has increased his trade to goodly proportions and he is building up a fine business.

Fraternally, Mr. Vandevanter is associated with the M. W. A., Camp No. 9645 at Cornwall; also with the Mox Mox Tribe of Redmen in Moscow; with the Mystic Workers of the World, Lodge No. 281 of Cornwall, and in all of these relations Mr. Vandevanter is highly esteemed and well liked. He has never ventured onto the sea of matrimony, being in the quiet enjoyment of the celibatarian's life.

[An Illustrated History Of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai, Shoshone Counties, State Of Idaho, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903, submitted by Barb Z.]