Sioux County, Iowa
Biographies
Merton E. De Wolf Merton E. De Wolf, of Laurens, one of the young men who, by their own efforts, have achieved notable business success in northwestern Iowa, was born in Cambria, Hillsdale county, Mich., July 23, 1867, and came to Iowa in 1889. His father, S. P. De Wolf, was in very moderate circumstances, and was unable to give his son the liberal education which he and his wife, whose maiden name was Martha J. Prink, would have liked. Mrs. De Wolf was a very intelligent woman of good impulses, who encouraged her son to educate himself. He came of good family on his father’s side, too, for his paternal great-grandfather was a Frenchman, who came to America and served as a captain during the revolutionary war. Attending the public schools in Cambria village till he was 14 years old, an uncle invited him to his home in Hillsdale, where he attended the high school. He completed the freshman year in Hillsdale college, and always won the highest marks in mathematics. During the time he attended high school and college he worked on a farm and walked two miles to school. He earned his own way by teaching school and working on the farm. In 1889 Mr. De Wolf came to Iowa, believing that the state offered the best opportunities for young men dependent upon their own resources. He went first to Rock Valley, where he fell to work at anything he could do. For four months he was employed as a grain buyer and then went, to Hull as bookkeeper in the State bank. Seven months later he was made assistant cashier of the State bank of Rock Valley, where he remained for eighteen months. From there he was called to Marathon to be cashier of the Marathon Savings bank. At the end of three and a half years he retired from the bank and in partnership with A. J. Wilson, president of the bank, removed to Laurens and engaged in the grain business. The firm now operates two elevators, one in Laurens and one in Havelock, and is erecting four new elevators on the new extension of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, between Fonda and Spencer. Mr. De Wolf has attained political prominence by his activity as a republican, having been engaged in campaign speaking for a number of years, beginning with the campaign of 1896. In 1897 he was nominated and elected to represent the counties of Pocahontas and Humboldt in the lower house of the legislature, where he made a consistent record for independence of thought and action, and it was said of him that he always had the courage to array himself on the side he believed to be right, regardless of what influences such action might offend. In short, he was an honest member and was not afraid to live up to his principles. As this volume goes to press (July, 1899) he is among the leading candidates for speaker of the house in the Twenty-eighth General Assembly, as a second term is conceded to him. In 1891 Mr. De Wolf was married in Hillsdale, Mich., to Elizabeth Prentice, a high school classmate. They have three children living: Maris, born July 27, 1892; Hester, born November 9, 1893, and Mabel, born August 27, 1895. Prentice Wilson, another son, died March 2, 1899, aged 14 months. Mr. De Wolf is a member of the Masonic fraternity and customarily attends the Methodist church. [Biographies and portraits of the progressive men of Iowa, 1899, submitted by cd=fofg]
J. L. Johnson J. L. Johnson was born August 31, 1868, at Decorah, Iowa, where most of his early life was spent. His education was secured at the public schools, and was supplemented at an early period by lessons in actual business practice. After finishing the course in the public school he successfully managed a brickyard, a farm and a flouring mill. He removed to Ireton, his present location, in 1891, and was made cashier of the Northwestern bank at the time of its organization, in 1894, with G. W. Pitts as president. This position he still holds, and the bank, though of such recent origin, is doing a splendid business. In politics, Mr. Johnson has always been a republican. He was married April 10, 1895, to Miss Alice P. Ross. They have two sons: Lyle Gilbert and Earl Drexel. [Biographies and portraits of the progressive men of Iowa, 1899, submitted by cd=fofg]
Julius Lawrence Johnson Julius Lawrence Johnson, cashier of the Northwestern bank at Ireton, is a young man whose business ability, both inherited and cultivated, will some day make him rank among the prominent business men of the state. He has already won a place which many a young man of his years has given up ever reaching. He has been trained to business from earliest years, for his father, Gilbert Johnson, was a successful lumber merchant, who had prospered in his line of business. The father died twenty-five years since. His mother was formerly Gertrude Klein, who is still living. [Biographies and portraits of the progressive men of Iowa, 1899, submitted by cd=fofg]
Rev. Marion Murdoch Marion Murdock, Unitarian minister, was born in Granaville, Iowa, Oct. 9, 1853. She is the daughter of Samuel and Eliza Pach Murdock, Iowa pioneers. She received her classical education in the Boston University. She studied for the ministry at the Meadville Theological school, from which she was graduated with the degree B. D. She took post-graduate work at the Oxford University. For five years she was minister of the Unitarian church at Humboldt and exerted a marked influence on the schools and social life of that town. For six years she was pastor of a church in Cleveland, O. At the end of her ministry in Cleveland she became a supply and missionary minister, in that capacity she has visited all parts of the United States. She spent a year in Europe studying art, and has been an art and literature leader and teacher in clubs and classes in various cities. She is a writer of both prose and poetry and has contributed to many periodicals. She is president of tlie League of Women in the Ministry, is a member of the Drama League of America. She was one of the speakers at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago during the World’s Columbian Exposition, the subject of her address was “What Did Phoebe Do?” and was published in Dr. Barrow’s book on the parliament. She is an arts and crafts worker and is a specialist in bird study. Her home is at 9 Warland Str., Cambridge, Mass. [The Blue book of Iowa Women, by Winona Evans Reeves, Publ. 1914, Transcribed by Dana Kraft]
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