History and Genealogy of Madison County Iowa
Madison County Biographies Mrs. Frederick P. Hartsook A visitor at one of the bienniels of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, said: “I am impressed with the fact that practically all of the women are devoted Christians, loyal members of their churches. And most of them if the question were asked, would admit that the vision which made them really successful in their club work had its beginnings in their church life.” Lavina R. Hartsook was born July 7, 1876, near Winterset, which town is still her home. Her parents, James Foresman and Mary E. Travis Foresman, came to Madison county in the early 60’s. Mr. Foresman with three brothers served through the Civil War, in the Union Army. Her paternal grandparents were Samuel and Rebecca Oakes Foresman; her maternal grandparents were Martin B. and Lavina Beyer Travis, all of whom were Pennsylvanians. She received her education in the schools of Winterest and in the Northwestern University. On June 12, 1900, she was married to Frederic P. Hartsook. They have one daughter, Helen. Mrs. Hartsook is a member of the Presbyterian church and superintendent of the Sunday school. She has served the local missionary society as president and secretary. For seven years she has been an officer in the Des Moines Presbyterial Society of Foreign Missions. She was secretary for four years, secretary of literature one year and is now president, having held that office two years. This is one of the largest and strongest Presbyterial societies in the State and much of its success is due to Mrs. Hartsook. She is Cor. Sec of the Woman’s Club, a member of the Conservation Committee I. F. W. C. and is a member of the P. E. O. sisterhood. [The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Dana Kraft] David F. Steele David F. Steele, a grocer at Ogden, has been a resident of this city for twenty-nine years. He came direct to Utah when he made his way across the plains in 1890, then a young man of twenty years. He was born in Madison County, Iowa, October 19, 1870, a son of James and Jane (Gibb) Steele. The father was a native of Ireland and came to America in young manhood, arriving in the new world in the early '40s. He first settled at Biggsville, Illinois, where he followed agricultural pursuits for many years and was quite successful. He afterward removed to Iowa and during the gold excitement in California was one of the '49ers who crossed the plains with ox teams. On his return to the middle west he made his way to Illinois but was living in Madison County, Iowa, at the time of his death. His wife was born in Illinois and was a representative of one of the old pioneer families of that state, of Scotch descent. Her last days were passed in Ogden, Utah. In a family of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, David F. Steele was the eldest son and sixth child. His education was acquired in the public schools of Iowa and his early life to the age of twenty years was spent upon the home farm, so that he early became familiar with all of the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He worked in the fields during the summer months and pursued his education during the winter seasons. The opportunities of the West, however, attracted him and when he had passed two decades he came to Ogden. During the first five years of his residence here he was employed by the Ogden Electric Light Company as a fireman and then turned his attention to the grocery business in connection with S. A. Blair and T. B. Evans at No. 2341 Washington Avenue. This partnership relation was maintained for about six years, at the end of which time Mr. Carlsen purchased Mr. Blair's interest in the business, which was then carried on under the firm style of the T. B. Evans Company, with Mr. Steele as the president. For the past five years the business has been conducted by Mr. Steele and his partner, James M. Carlsen. They have a well appointed store at No. 350 Twenty-fifth Street, carrying an attractive line of staple and fancy groceries. The neat and tasteful arrangement of the store, the reliable business methods of the proprietors and the enterprise which characterizes the conduct of their interests have been the salient elements in bringing to them the success which is now theirs. In Ogden, Mr. Steele was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Hadfield, a native of England, and they have become parents of three children, Virgie, Francis H. and James E. Francis H. is now on a mission in Oregon and the youngest son is a pupil in the Utah Academy. Mr. Steele gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He belongs to the Weber Club and is a well known figure in the social as well as the business circles of Ogden. He is prominent in the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was the first counselor to Bishop W. O. Ridges of the Ninth Ward. He has always taken a helpful interest in church work and in 1906 started on a foreign mission that covered two years in Australia, being very successful in his labors. When Mr. Steele arrived in Utah he had but 5 cents in money. His financial condition made it imperative that he obtain immediate employment and under the stimulus of necessity he put forth a most earnest effort to make good in the position which he gained. As the years passed his laudable ambition prompted him to carefully save his earnings until the sum was sufficient to permit him to engage in business on his own account. Since then he has been numbered among Ogden's progressive merchants, being one of the leading factors in the grocery trade of the city. [Source: Utah since Statehood: Historical and Biographical Volume 2; By Noble Warrum; Publ. 1919; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.] BACK Copyright © Genealogy Trails All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.