Pottawattamie County, Iowa Biographies

Maria Jane Barton

In Memoriam

The following is a biographical sketch of the late Mrs. Maria Jane Barton, consort of Reuben Barton, who departed this life Septemer 9, 1890.

The subject of his notice was born in Phelps, NY, October 19, 1818, and was the youngest of a family of sixteen children born to John and Betsy Carothers. Her father moved with his family to Burton, Geauga County, Ohio, in 1832, where he died February 17, 1842, after a lingering sickness with that dread disease, consumption. Maria Jane being the only unmarried one of the family, the care of the father during all these months of sickness fell upon her. After his death, the care of her aged mother, who was blind and helpless, devolved upon her until her death on September 18, 1853, leaving Maria Jane at the age of 35 with broken health and limited means. By overwork in lifting her helpless mother through a series of years, she had contracted a disease of the spine, from which she was a great sufferer. She was under medical treatment of several eminent physicians for eleven years, when she was so far recovered as to enter into marriage in the fall of 1867 with Reuben Barton, and came with him to this county, where she resided up to the time of her death.

She was at times a great sufferer from sickness. The change of climate, while it improved, did not restore her to sound health. In 1884 she removed to Weston, where for a time she seemed to be greatly improved, but in September 1887, she had a stroke of paralysis on the left side from which she never fully recovered, although partially restored. Her left hand and arm became useless, but she was still able to be about until the last fatal attack, which occurred on August 9 last.

She was then forced to take to the bed, from which she never arose again. Dr. Macrae was called to attend her, but he, from the first, pronounced her case hopeless. She survived in great agony a month, ceasing to breathe on September 10, when she passed peacefully away.

And thus passed from earths life one of nature's noble women. Her sympathetic impulses knew no bounds. Where duty seemed to call she was always ready, and to duty she sacrificed her health and life.

We laid her tenderly to rest on September 11, 1890, and we would not recall her to this world of suffering and sorrow. Adieu, my lost loved one! A fond and last adieu.

Reuben Barton

[Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Published, September 24, 1890]
Submitted by Ann

Beebe Family

Calvin, Jr. and Angeline Beebe had both joined the Reorganized Church on September 11, 1859. He was born April 28, 1836, in Caldwell County, Missouri, and suffered along with his parents during those hard days of persecutions. On April 26, 1857, he married Eliza T. Lincoln, and to them was born one son, Walter. Eliza died in 1858.

On June 26, 1859, Calvin married Angeline C. Runyan. She was born June 8, 1841, at Trumble, Astabula County, Ohio, the daughter of Emily and Nicholas Runyan. After baptism, they joined the Farm Creek Branch for a short time, until they moved to Council Bluffs where they became affiliated with the Saints there.

He was ordained an elder in 1865, a high priest June 7, 1890, and a member of the high council in April 1893. He served several years as President of the Council Bluffs branch where his name, with Angeline's, was kept on the records for many years. They gave much to the cause of the gospel they loved and for which they were willing to make many sacrifices. They were intimately associated with the development of the church in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.

Calvin was also a patriotic citizen and honorable businessman of the community in which he lived until his death August 23, 1903. Angeline died September 18, 1916, at their home in Council Bluffs, survived by their children, Walter W. Beebe, Mrs. F.W. Houghton, Mrs. F.M. Sheehy and Mrs. F. Hoagland.

[Roots of the Reoganized Latter Day Saints in Southern Iowa, pg 98, submitted by Ann]

William O. Bentley, Jr.

William O. Bentley, Jr., who since July, 1916, has been county superintendent of schools in Washington county, makes his home in St. George, where he was born on the 17th of August, 1884. Here he has risen to a position of prominence, his record standing in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country.

His father, William Oscar Bentley, was born in Kanesville, Iowa, August 24, 1851, and came to Utah with his parents Richard and Elizabeth (Price) Bentley in the fall of 1852. The family lived in Salt Lake City and Nephi, Utah, and Carson Valley, Nevada, before coming to the Dixie country, where they arrived in 1864. Oscar was a boy of thirteen at this time. Soon after the family’s arrival the father engaged in the mercantile business, being the first freighters of goods from Salt Lake City to southern Utah for the business people of Dixie, owning a splendid four-mule team, such as was seldom seen in the state at that date. Farming and stock raising, however, received practically all of his attention up to the time of his death, which occurred in St. George, March 15, 1920.

Like his father before him William Oscar, Sr., fulfilled a foreign mission and remained attentive to his church duties up to the last. He was a high priest at he time of his death and during the last few years of his life spent considerable of his time working in the temple.

The mother of W.O. Bentley, Jr., Mary Ann (Mansfield) Bentley, is a daughter of Mathew and Johanna C. (Winberg) Mansfield. She was born in Mill Creek, Salt Lake county, Utah, April 11, 1859, and came with her parents to the Dixie country in the fall of 1861, they being among the first pioneers to land in the St. George valley. On March 5, 1879, she and William Oscar Bentley were united in marriage. Nine children were born to them. The mother and eight living children, four sons and four daughters are all residents of St. George.

William Oscar Bentley, Jr., obtained a public school education at St. George and afterward spent two years as a student in the Woodward high school of his native city. He then filled a mission of two years in the central states mission, from 1906 to 1908. His field of labor was in the east Kansas conference. Returning home in 1908, he entered the Branch Normal at Cedar City in the fall of the same year and was graduated with the spring class of 1909. In the fall of that year he began teaching at Kanarra, and during the long vacation periods he took several summer school courses at the University of Utah, the Brigham Young University and also a special course in the Dixie Normal College. For five years he served as principal of the Woodward school, in which position he has since continued. He has carefully organized and developed the school work and introduced various improvements in methods and has given general satisfaction owing to the excellent service which he has rendered to the educational interests of Washington county. He is also known in business circles as a stockholder in the St. George Ice Company, in the Southern Utah Packing Company, in the Bank of St. George, and in the St. George-Santa Clara Bench Irrigation Company.

On the 28th of December, 1905, in Kanab, Mr. Bentley was married to Miss Hettie Sullivan, a daughter of Joseph John and Mary Ann (Worthen) Sullivan. Her father came to Dixie with his father in pioneer times, the family home being established in St. George. Mr. Sullivan engaged in farming and stock raising and still continues to reside in St. George as does the mother of Mrs. Bentley. Mrs. Bentley spent five years of her life as a school teacher and as such made a very splendid record. She is one of Dixie’s sweet singers. To Mr. and Mrs. Bentley have been born three children: Miriam, who was born September 29, 1913; Richard Sullivan, born December 2, 1915; and Ronald Wayne, born August 11, 1917. All of the children are natives of St. George.

The family adheres to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Mr. Bentley has acted as ward clerk, also as counselor to the stake superintendent of Sunday schools and at the present time is stake superintendent of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association. He votes with the democratic party, and for two terms he has served as a member of the city council. At the present time he is chairman of the county library board and president of the St. George Commercial Club. He is a clean-cut man, who has been prompted by a laudable ambition to make the most of his opportunities and who recognizes that the keenest pleasure in life comes from intellectual stimulus.

[Source: Utah since Statehood: Historical and Biographical Volume 2; By Noble Warrum; Publ. 1919;
Transcribed by Kathy Haggerty

Mrs. Amelia Jenks Bloomer

Mrs. Amelia Jenks Bloomer, was a native of Cortland county, New York, but came to Council Bluffs to live in 1855. She was one of the pioneers in the Woman’s Movement, having been associated with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Abby Keller, Elizabeth Smith Miller, and others. In 1849 she established a paper which had for its object the advocating of temperance and equal suffrage. It is interesting to note that through all the history of the effort to gain suffrage for women, the cause of temperance has been advocated by the women. Mrs. Bloomer was a writer of merit and a brilliant speaker. For years she lectured for these two causes. In 1851 Elizabeth Smith Miller invented a new style of dress for women, a skirt which reached a little below the knees and wide Turkish trousers gathered at the ankle. Mrs. Miller was the first to wear the costume, Elizabeth Cady Stanton the second and Mrs. Bloomer the third. The costume was named for her because she advocated the dress reform in her paper, and the public drew the inference that she had invented it, so called it the “Bloomer costume.” She was a clever woman and used the fame of the dress as an advertising medium for her paper, the subscription to which grew enormously. She was thereby able to reach many more people with her suffrage and temperance ideas. She was the second president of the Iowa Equal Suffrage Association, having been elected in 1871. She died in Council Bluffs, Dec. 30, 1894. Her husband. Dexter C. Bloomer, was a lawyer and journalist and was at one time mayor of that city. In 1895 he published “Life and Times of Amelia Bloomer.” He was the author of a history of Pottawattomie county.

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

Mary Blatchley Briggs

Mrs. Mary Blatchley Briggs, born in Valparaiso, Ind., 1st January, 1846. She is of Scotch, English and Dutch descent. The father was a practicing physician and surgeon of prominence in the allopathic school. Mrs. Briggs' early school-days were spent in the public schools of Iowa. Later her education was continued in the young ladies' seminary in Council Bluffs, Iowa, receiving prizes for excellent scholarship.

In the month of August, 1861, her family removed to Quincy, lll., where she resumed her studies and there enjoyed the advantages of the best schools until she was nineteen years old. In religious belief Mrs. Briggs is strictly a Presbyterian, was born "in the faith,'' and has always lived the practical life of a consistent Christian. Rev. F. S. Blayney, LL.D., the first pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Omaha, writes of Mrs. Briggs's practical and valuable aid during the long and severe trials from 1880 to 1886 in the struggle to found and build his church, she being one of the foremost workers for the society's welfare. She has always taken a vivid interest in public characters and the local and foreign politics discussed in the newspapers.

She was married to John S. Briggs, 24th December 1867, since which time they have resided in Omaha, Neb. Mr. Briggs was born in Ohio, but was reared in Iowa, removing to Nebraska in 1856. He is the son of the late Ansel Briggs, first governor of the State of Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs three promising children have been born. Mrs. Briggs has filled many important public positions. During eleven years she served as assistant secretary, superintendent, reporter for the press, and manager of county, state and inter-state fairs. While on a visit to Idaho, she and her husband prepared a collection of minerals, stalactitic and calcareous deposits, which, at the suggestion of the officials of the Union Pacific Railroad, was sent to the Mechanics' Institute in Boston, Mass. Mrs. Briggs is interested in art and is secretary of the Western Art Association, which has three-hundred members. In literature she has won an assured position by her poems, one volume of which has been compiled and published. Mrs. Briggs was selected by Mrs. Potter Palmer as one of the six representative women of the West to serve on the executive committee of the Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Commission for the Exposition in 1893. She was appointed a member of the bylaws judiciary committee and was elected an honorary and corresponding member of the woman's branch of the World's Congress Auxiliary, and served on several committees. She possesses an intimate knowledge of Nebraska, its history, its resources, its development and its people.

[American women: fifteen hundred biographies with over 1,400 portraits: a comprehensive encyclopedia of the lives and achievements of American women during the nineteenth century, Volume 1 by Mast, Crowell & Kirkpatrick, 1897 – Transcribed by Therman Kellar]

Mrs. Drayton W. Bushnell

Among the Iowa women well known not only in her own state, but throughout the nation is Mrs. Drayton W. Bushnell of Council Bluffs, than whom few women have done more to promote the best and highest interests of the Daughters of the American Revolution. At the twenty-third congress of the national society she was elected to the life office of Hon. Vice President General in recognition of her meritorious work. Sophia Walker Hyndshaw Bushnell was born in Henry, Ill., and is the daughter of Silas Condict Hyndshaw and Elizabeth Walker, who were married in Cincinnatti, Ohio, in 1858, later moving to Norwood Park, a Chicago suburb. Mrs. Bushnell was educated at Monticello, having taken a four years course in this well known school. In 1878 she was married to Drayton Wilson Bushnell, going to Council Bluffs, which has since been their home. Mr. Bushnell served in the Civil War, having enlisted at the age of seventeen and served for nearly four years. He enlisted in the famous Crocker brigade. He is always in attendance at the reunions of the Crocker Brigade and has for years been corresponding secretary of the organization.

In 1897 Mrs. Bushnell joined the Council Bluffs chapter D. A. R., as a charter member, and has been on its Board of Management since the organization. For three years she was chapter regent. She was for two years Historian of the Iowa society D. A. R., and State Vice Regent for one year. She was Vice-Pres. General of the National Society for four years, and in April, 1914, was elected Hon. Vice-Pres. Gen’l. for life. She is a member of the Colonial Dames, the Huguenot society, the Society of Founders and Patriots, and the United States Daughters of 1812. Her line of ancestry through her father embraces many prominent New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England names. Her father was named for the Hon. Silas Condict of New Jersey, who was a member of the first Continental Congress and speaker of the House. Mrs. Bushnell’s great-great-grandfather, Capt. James Hyndshaw, was a distinguished soldier in the French and Indian wars, a fort near the Delaware Water-gap having been named for him in recognition of his service. Mrs. Bushnell’s mother, Elizabeth Walker, of Ohio, traces her lineage to the Walkers, Fosters, Hicks and Millers of Maryland, and to the Wiltsees and other Dutch families of New York.

When Mrs. Bushnell was elected Vice-President General from Iowa she suggested to the Daughters of Iowa that they furnish a room in Continental Hall, which they did. She was chosen chairman of the committee and largely through her efforts the Iowa room was furnished. In recognition of her service to Iowa, the Council Bluffs chapter had her name placed on the Roll of Honor Book in Continental Hall. Mrs. Bushnell is a woman of charming personality, quite unspoiled by all the honor that has come to her. Her motives are always of the loftiest and she is loved in her home city, the state, and in the national society.

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

John W. Crow

John W. Crow, resident in Iowa dates from 1856--reaching adulthood and looking back to boyhood which was largely spent doing farm labor and attending country schools, came to Minden in 1877, opened a store carrying dry goods. At this time there were only two or three commercial business places and half a dozen or more saloons. Mr. Crow was engaged in the dry goods business for 18 years. Later engaged in real estate, insurance and collection business; being self educated, he held offices of high honor serving as mayor several terms, secretary of the board of education for 44 years, justice of the peace approximately 35 years. Was American Sewing Machine Company agent while in dry goods business.

[Source: Minden, IA: The Old Lamplighter, 1875-1975, submitted by Ann]

Mrs. Grenville M. Dodge

A Tribute From a Friend

"God could not be everywhere, so He made mothers." I remember that old saying as I sit thinking of the passing away of one of the sweetest spirits I have ever known. Mrs. Dodge was a woman of rare strength of character and intellectural attainments. She was essentially a home maker and was in very truth the heart of her home. She followed the fortunes of her distinguised husband during the civil war, suffering, as the women of that day did, the suspense and anguish of heart that is the lot of those left behind, and when the war was over and the great Union Pacific Railroad project was begun, her husband's ambition was her own and she watched with pride his splendid achievements until the last spike was driven which united a mighty continent.

Then, when honor and wealth poured in upon them, she remained the same loyal, loving, humble soul, rejoicing to share in her husband's triumphs, but ever satisfied to reign as queen of her home and the loving mother of her devoted daughters.

She shone by reflected light, and like the moon, was contented to share in the brilliant career of her husband, by pursuing the even tenor of her way, caring for her household, educating her daughters and foregoing all desire for social distinction, she was content to reign as queen of her home.

Mrs. Dodge was a woman of rare courage and purity of heart. Within a frail body she possessed a spirit which enabled her to endure sorrow and suffering in her early days, when this country was only a wilderness, and later in life that same brave spirit sustained her wealth and riches poured in upon them. Preferring the home life to the gay life of the eastern cities, she devoted herself to the care of her children and grandchildren, and in their happiness she found her own.

Kind and charitable to all, she was never heard to utter an unkind word of anyone, and during her later years, though almost a constant sufferer, her sweetness of spirit was the blessing of her household.

Sustained by the love and devotion of her beloved daughters, her last days were full of peace, and in the moments of pain she would recall the sweet prayer:

Oh, God, who art forevermore,
To thee our grateful thanks we pay;
Though art Our Father: We implore,
Thy gracious blessing, while we pray."
Surely we can thank the giver of all
good gifts for this splendid example of
a true devoted wife, a loving mother and
a pure good woman.

As I think of her life the words of the poem of Joaquin Miller, entitled "The Bravest Warrior," comes to mind:

The bravest battle that ever was fought
Shall I tell you where and when?
On the maps of the world you will find it not;
'Twas fought by the mothers of men.

Nay, not with cannon or battle shot,
With a Sword or noble pen;
Nay, not with eloquent words or thoughts
From the mouths of wonderful men.

But deep in a walled up woman's heart,
A woman that would not yield,
But silently, bravely bore her part
Lo! there's the battlefield.

No marshalling troops, no bivouac song
No banner to gleam and wave;
But, oh! these battles, they last so long,
From babyhood to the grave.

Yet faithful still as a bridge of stars
She fights in her walled up town;
Fights on and on in the endless war,
Then silent, unseen, goes down

Oh, spotless woman, in a world of shame,
With splendid and silent scorn,
Go back to God as white as you came
The kingliest warrior born.

By T. J. Mackay, September 17,1916

[Submitted by Ann]

Caroline Louise Dodge

DODGE. Caroline Louise, 244 Fifth Av., Council Bluffs. Ia. Lawyer: b. Council Bluffs, la.. Mar. 25. 1866; dau. Nathan Phillips snd Susan C. (Lockwood) Dodge; ed. Smith Coll., B.A. '90; N.Y. Univ. Law School, LL.B. (mem. Alpha Soc, Smith Coll.). Has practiced In Council Bluffs, Ia., since graduation from N.Y. Univ. Law School. Pres. of Associated Charities of Council Bluffs, Ia. Favors woman suffrage. Congregationalism Republican. Mem. Omaha Soc. of Fine Arts, French History Study Club, Council Bluffs Woman's Club.

[Women's Who's Who of America, 1914, submitted by Cathy Danielson]

A. V. Larimer

Ex judge and capitalist, was born in Bellefonte, Pa., in 1829. He attended Allegheny college, read law with ex governor Curtin of Pennsylvania, and attended Judge McCartney's Law school at Easton, Pa., for, one year, being admitted to the bar in 1852.

He moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in March, 1854. In the fall of 1854 he was elected prosecuting attorney, and upon the resignation of the county and probate judge became judge for two years. In 1857 he was elected to the state legislature and practiced his profession at Council Bluffs until 1876, when he engaged in the stock business in Wyoming territory.

In 1886 he invested in Morning Side real estate, at Sioux City, with A. M. & J. A. Jackson, also in West Sioux City property with F. T. Evans. Mr. Larimer is now a resident of Sioux City. He belongs to the Masonic Order, and has always been a democrat in politics.

[History of the Counties of Woodbury & Plymouth, Iowa, 1890-91]
submitted by Cathy Danielson

Mrs. Thomas Metcalf

Eva Canfield Metcalf was born in Cardon, Ohio. Oct. 5, 1853, the daughter of Delos Wilford Canfield and Saphronia Allen. She was educated at Lake Erie College, Painesville, Ohio. Jany. 24, 1871, she was married to Thomas Metcalf at Charder, Ohio, and shortly after came to Iowa. They have three children—Thomas Delos Metcalf, Frank Arnold Metcalf and Delia, now Mrs. H. H. Pinney, Llewellyn Oaks, Council Bluffs. In religious faith she is an Episcopalian, being affiliated with St. Paul’s church. She is a member of the Ideal Club, a study club of which she has been president for eleven years. She is a prominent member in Iowa of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is a member of the Council Bluffs chapter which was organized in 1897. She joined on the service of the following ancestors: Nathaniel Read, Lieut. Col. Samuel Canfield, Amasa Read, Thomas Canfield, Capt. Stephen Calkins, and Prince Allen. She has served her own chapter as regent and for three terms was State Vice Regent. She has served on many important committees of both the State and National society. She has had a part on the program of state conferences and has attended several national D. A. R. Congresses. She was a member of the state committee of the Iowa room in Continental Hall which planned the furnishings of that room. She has served the Iowa Federation of Women’s Club on state committees. She is now a member of the Committee on Literature and Library Extension, being chairman of the Biblical Literature committee. She is a woman of ability and of gracious presence, but a woman very modest of her own attainments.

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

Mary Eleanor O'Donnell

O'Donnell, Mary Eleanor, Hotel Newberry, 817 Dearborn Av.; office, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, III. Editor; author: b. Council Bluffs, Ia., July 28, 1882; dau. John and Ellen (Sheedy) O'Donnell; grad. St Francis Acad., Council Bluffs, Ia. Editor woman's section Philadelphia Press and Philadelphia North American; editor of The Designer, N.Y. City, and associate editor of Delineator, N.Y. City; now editor of woman's section of Chicago Sunday Tribune. Pres. Ill. Woman's Press Club, Chicago (serving third term). Lecturer and sociologist. Favors woman suffrage. Catholic Mem. Chicago Woman's Club, Woman's City Club, Catholic Woman's League, Ill. Woman's Press Club, State Suffrage Ass'n.

[Women's Who's Who of America, 1914, submitted by Cathy Danielson]

Miss Julia E. Officer

Julia E. Officer 123 S. Seventh St., Council Bluffs, Ia.

Real estate Investments; born in Council Bluffs, Ia.; dau. Thomas and Elizabeth Mills (Pusey) Officer; of early Pa. families (Scotch Presbyterian and Quaker);

Grad. Rockford (Ill.) Coll., classical course, and diploma from musical dep't; also studied music in Boston and Chicago. Was concert pianist, pipe organist in churches and teacher of piano in Chicago, Omaha and Council Bluffs; was mem. Apollo Musical Club, Chicago; was manager of artists for the Dep't of Music of the Trans-Mississippi and Internat. Exposition and Musical Festival at Omaha, engaging the Thomas Orchestra and Chicago Apollo Club, with famous soloists, for the festival, which continued several weeks. Was pipe organist and choir director for three years of First Presbyterian Church of Council Bluffs, Ia.

Particularly interested in athletics for boys and girls; has promoted public supervised playgrounds and employed celebrated speakers from a distance to give free stereopticon lectures on the subject in Council Bluffs at her own expense.

Is actively identified with local philanthropies, has been active in the campaign for vigorous enforcement of the liquor laws and gambling laws of Iowa in Council Bluffs.

Has made collections of historical pictures of Council Bluffs in pioneer days, and presented them to the Council Bluffs public library. One in a series of Lincoln pictures includes an early-day picture of the drive Abraham Lincoln took, In 1859, to a high point in Council Bluffs, which view determined the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad at Council Bluffs.

Was charter member of first woman's literary club of Council Bluffs. Assisted in organizing and held office of president in the first woman's musical club of Omaha and Council Bluffs. Strongly in favor of votes for women (has voted in Seattle, Wash.). Presbyterian. Progressive Republican. Recreations: Music, walking.

[Women's Who's Who of America, 1914. submitted by Cathy Danielson]

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Julia E. Officer, musician, was born in Council Bluffs, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Mills Pusey Officer, who came to Iowa in 1856, both descended from pioneer Pennsylvania families. She was graduated from the college for women at Rockford, Ill., with the degree B. A. She was also graduated from the musical department of that college with the degree B. M. She took post-graduate work in music in Boston and Chicago. She has appeared as concert pianist in many cities. She was a teacher of piano in Chicago, Omaha and Council Bluffs, having also been pipe organist in prominent churches of these cities. During her residence in Chicago she was a member of the Apollo Musical Club. During the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha, she was manager of the musical features of the exposition, and of the musical festival. For three years she was director of the choir in the First Presbyterian church of Council Bluffs. She is interetsed in athletics for boys and girls. She was prominent in promoting public supervised playgrounds. At her own expense she brought a number of celebrated speakers to lecture on the subject. She has made a valuable collection of historical pictures of pioneer days of Council Bluffs, which she presented to the public library. One is a picture of Abraham Lincoln in 1859 on his visit to Council Bluffs, when he determined that that city should be the eastern terminus of the U. P. R. R. She is a charter member of the first literary woman’s club of Council Bluffs, president of the first woman's musical club of Omaha and Council Bluffs.

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

Mrs. George P. Sanford

Mary Belle Leverett Sanford, of Council Bluffs, member of the Author’s League of America, newspaper correspondent, short story writer, and widow of George P. Sanford, a prominent banker and financier, was born in Salem, Nebr., Oct. 16, 1860. Her parents, James Walker Leverett, and Harriett Maria Tisdel, lived in Nebraska when the Indians were troublesome, and her father slept with a gun by his side. John Leverett, who was one of the early governors of Massachusetts, and whose portrait hangs in the new state house in Boston, was an ancestor, “Parson” Asa turner, one of the pioneer Congregational ministers, of Iowa, was her father’s kinsman. Her father was a graduate of Colgate University, Hamilton, N. Y., then Madison University. Her mother, a woman of beauty in face and character, was a graduate of Ingham Institute, Le Roy, N. Y., she died Dec. 21, 1909. Mrs. Sanford was educated in the Northwestern University and in the University of Texas. On May 26, 1880, she was married to George P. Sanford, at Garden Valley, Wis., a man of high financial standing, a stockholder in a number of National banks, and president of the First National Bank of Council Bluffs, to which city they moved in 1892. Through the force of hard times and misfortune he lost heavily, and in 1898 sold his stock to the Citizen’s State Bank, which took the name and business of the First National. He died August, 1902. She has two sons living and one who died in infancy: Arthur, manager of B. F. Sturtevant Co’s. office in Chicago, and Raymond, a merchant in Decorah, Iowa. She is a member of the Broadway M. E. Church, Council Bluffs Club, member for twenty years of Oakwood Ave. Reading Club.

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

Louise A. (Boesche) Sears

Sears, Louise A. Boesche (Mrs. Charles Wilbur Sears),1214 N. Twenty-third St., South Omaha, Neb.

Born Council Bluffs, Ia.; dau. Herman R. and Walpurga (Jaeger) Boesche; ed. State Univ. of Ia., ?h.?. (?hi Beta Kappa, Pi Beta Phi); m. Council Bluffs, Feb. 27, 1901, Charles Wilber Sears; children: Stillman Boesche (deceased), Mary Emma, Melvln Leonard. Teacher of Latin and German in high school of Council Bluffs, Ia., until marriage. Is now, together with rector's wife, in charge of the children's or Junior Auxili??? of St Martin's Episcopal Church. Mem. Pan-Hellenic Soc. of Omaha, Century Literary Club (in two dep'ts, household economics and Am. literature). Episcopalian.

[Women's Who's Who of America, 1914, submitted by Cathy Danielson]

Susan Baldwin Walker

WALKER, Susan Baldwin (Mrs. Jason Walker), P.O. Box 333, Memphis, Tenn. Teacher; b. Council Bluffs, Ia., Dec. 25, 1860; dau. Caleb and Jane (Barr) Baldwin; musical education at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. 1878-84; m. Council Bluffs, 1886, Jason Walker; children: Caleb Baldwin, Marguerite, Jason, Charles. While in Ky. was active in establishing the Pattie A. Clay Infirmary, being pres. of the ass'n and board for seven years; organized several music clubs; originated and executed plan which resulted in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Favors woman suffrage. Presbyterian. Mem. D.A.R.; mem. Board of Management of the South for Promotion of Opera in English. Nat. Fed. of Musical Clubs, Sherwood Memorial Ass'n. Mem. Woman's Club of Central Ky., Beethoven and Nineteenth Century clubs (Memphis), Berwyn Music Club. Occupies time in the competitions for Am. composers by the Nat. Fed. of Music Clubs; has been chairman of this committee for six years.

[Women's Who's Who of America, 1914, submitted by Cathy Danielson]

Joseph B. Woodward

Joseph B. Woodward is now living retired at Wellsville but is still the owner of a valuable property. For many years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and at an earlier period spent many years in freighting between Corinne and Deerlodge and Helena, Montana, at a time when there was much danger attending this work.

Mr. Woodward was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 23, 1850, a son of Joseph and Margaret (Barnes) Woodward, who were natives of Manchester, England, and came to America about 1840. The parents of Joseph Woodward, Sr. died when he was about ten years of age and he was bound out as a cotton spinner, so that he had but meager educational opportunities. He arrived in Utah in 1852, settling in Tooele county, and in 1857 removed to the Cache valley, establishing his home at Wellsville, where he engaged in farming, following that pursuit until his death. He was active in the building of the first canals in this section of the state and also dug the first well in the Cache valley. He did guard duty at the fort in pioneer times and went through all the experienced incident to the settlement of the frontier. In the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he remained active to the time of his death, which occurred in 1891. He had served as a member of the Quorum of Seventy and also held other offices in the church.

Joseph B. Woodward is indebted to the public schools system of Wellsville for his educational opportunities. When about eighteen years of age he began freighting on the Montana road from Corinne to various mining towns in Montana. For fourteen years he was thus engaged and was on the road at the time of the Nez Perce Indian troubles. Several times he was obliged to corral his stock. There is no phase of frontier life with which he is not thoroughly familiar owing to his long experience as a freighter, with the attendant hardships, trials, privations and dangers. Later he concentrated his attention upon ranching and profitably conducted his agricultural interests until about three years ago, when he leased his ranch to his sons and has since lived retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.

In 1876 Mr. Woodward was married to Miss Mary A. Ball, a daughter of John and Martha (Sutliff) Ball, who were natives of England and came to Utah in 1851, settling in Iron county, whence in 1861 they removed to Wellsville, in the Cache valley. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have become the parents of ten children: Martha Ann and Joseph who are deceased; Margaret; John; Hyrum; Mary; Rose, who has also passed away; Alonzo; Garland; and Ernest.

Mr. Woodward has been active in connection with public affairs and with church work. He filled the office of city marshal for four years and for eight years was constable. He also served as a member of the city council for two years and his official duties have ever been discharged in a prompt, capable and faithful manner. He was sent on a mission to the southern states, where he labored in 1895 and 1896, and he filled a mission to England in 1912, but remained only a short time, for his health failed and he was obliged to return. He was one of the presidents of the Twenty-eighth Quorum of Seventy and in 1917 was ordained a high priest. His activities in behalf of the church have been of a resultant character and his life, honorable in its purposes and fruitful in its achievements, has made him one of the valued residents of the Cache valley.

[Source: Utah since Statehood: Historical and Biographical Volume 2; By Noble Warrum; Publ. 1919; Transcribed by Kathy Haggerty]