History and Genealogy of Union County, Iowa
Obituaries Howe Daughter Creston, July 11. - The 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Howe, of Greenfield, died this morning from injuries received by falling from a horse. Sioux City Journal (12 July 1895) transcribed by FoFG MZ Bridget Kearns Bridget Kearns of Creston, Ia., died at 8:30 o'clock Tuesday morning at St. Bernard's hospital of cerebral hemorrhage. The body will be taken to her home in Creston for burial. [Omaha World Herald, Omaha, Nebraska, Published June 09, 1910, submitted by C. D.] Judge James W. McDill Judge James W. McDill died at his home at Creston on the 28th of February, of typhoid fever, after an illness of several weeks. He was born in Butler County, Ohio, March 4th, 1834. He was a graduate of Miami University, and came to Iowa in 1857, settling at Afton to enter upon the practice of law. He was elected Superintendent of Schools in 1858, and was County Judge in 1859. In 1870 he was chosen District Judge, and in 1872 he was elected to Congress from the Eighth District, serving with distinction two terms. In 1878 he was appointed Railroad Commissioner, and in 1881 was appointed by Gov. Gear to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate, occasioned by the resignation of Gov. Kirkwood, who had become a member of President Garfield's cabinet. He was appointed by President Harrison, a member of the Inter-State Commerce Commission, which office he held at the time of his death. Judge McDill was a man of fine literary attainments, his specialty being philology. He was a lawyer of ability, and a public official of the strictest integrity. He was widely known throughout the State, and everywhere esteemed as one of its best citizens. [Annals of Iowa, April 1894, submitted by Cathy Danielson] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Interstate Commissioner Expires at His Iowa Home Creston, Iowa, Feb. 28 - Judge James W. McDill, of the interstate commerce commission, died at his home in this city today of typhoid fever, aged sixty years. James Wilson McDill was born nearly sixty years ago. He was admitted to the bar in Akron in 1856 and later moved to Iowa, where he held several offices, and afterward went to Washington, where he lived some years. In 1866 he returned to Iowa and was elected to fill positions as circuit and district judge, and subsequently to the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses. Later he was appointed a member of the Iowa railroad commission, and subsequently filled out the unexpired senatorial term of Senator Kirkwood, appointed a member of President Garfield's cabinet. He then served another term on the iowa railroad commission. He was an earned advocate of the establishment of a national railway commission, and in the Senate made an able speech upon that subject. Upon the resignation of Judge Cooley as member of the interstate commerce commission President Harrison, January 5, 1892, appointed him to fill the unexpired term of Judge Cooley, and reappointed him for the full term of six years from January 1, 1893. Judge McDill's work upon the commission was painstaking and conscientious. He left Washington December 20 with a view of attending to some official business and visiting his home at Creston, intending to remain during the holidays and return with his family to Washington. He leaves a widow and five children, one of whom is married. [Sun, March 1, 1894 - Transcribed by AFOFG] Frank Phillips Builder Of Oil Empire, Frank Phillips, 76, Dies Atlantic City, N. J., August 23. - Frank Phillips, who built one of the nation's biggest oil empires so he could wear striped pants "even on weekdays," died here Wednesday. He was seventy-six. Phillips, retired board chairman of the 350-million-dollar Phillips Petroleum Company with headquarters at Bartlesville, Okla., underwent an emergency abdominal operation Monday night. He had retired as president of the company, sponsors of the famed Phillips 66 basketball team, in 1937. In 1930, Phillips became the first white man adopted as a chief by the Osage Indians. He was given the name "Wah-shah-she Hluah-ki-he-kah" (Osage Eagle Chief). This honor was in recognition of Phillips' fair dealings with the Osages when in his early wildcatting days he drilled many well on their lands. His company has paid the tribe more than 32 million dollars in lease bonuses and royalties. Among other honors bestowed on Phillips was the French Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1928. Gov. Roy J. Turner, learning of Phillips' death, called him "one of Oklahoma's greatest empire builders." Phillips is survived by a son, John G. Phillips of Dallas; two daughters, Mrs. Marcus C. Low of Bartlesville and Mrs. Frank W. Begrisch of Rye, N. Y.; three brothers, Waite Phillips of Los Angeles, E. E. Phillips of Okmulgee and Fred Phillips of Tulsa; two sisters, Mrs. Johnson D. Hill of Tulsa and Mrs. Neil P. Walker of Gravity, Iowa; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Born Nov. 28, 1873, on a farm near Scotia, Neb., Phillips' first job was as a barber in Creston, Iowa. His family moved to Creston to escape the grasshopper scourge of 1874. Admiring the striped pants his boss wore, the 14 year old Phillips made up his mind to earn enough "to wear striped pants even on weekdays." By the time he was twenty-four, Phillips had earned enough to buy out his boss and owned the remainder of Creston's shops. Phillips, the businessman, caught the eye of John Gibson, the town banker. Gibson took Phillips into his bond business and his daughter married him. With an estimated $75,000 in bond-selling commissions in his striped pants, Phillips went in June 1904, to Bartlesville, where Oklahoma's first oil boon was developing. Despite the fact that Bartlesville already had several banks, Phillips and his brother, the late L. E. Phillips, opened one of their own, the Citizens Bank & Trust Company. When they weren't banking, the brothers dabbled in oil. Success came after two dry holes. In June, 1917, the present Phillips Petroleum Company was incorporated with physical assets of $3,000,000,000 and twenty-seven employees. By 1925 the company's assets were more than $130,000,000. Its annual payroll was some $5,000,000 and it owned more than 1,700 producing oil and gas wells. Among the Texas properties today of the company is a refinery at Borger. In 1927, Phillips backed Col. Art Goebel's nonstop flight to Hawaii. Phillips also backed several stratosphere test flights by the late Wiley Post. His interest in aviation later sparked operation of the "flying laboratory" to test fuels under extremes of heat and cold. Contributing millions to the Boy and Girl Scout movements, Phillips always insisted that local sponsors match his gifts, dollar for dollar. He believed outright donations "blunt the initiative and stultify the responsibility of recipients." He also set up a scholarship fund for his employees' children and promising farm youths. During the depression, he paid off the mortgages of Bartlesville churches. The company's Christmas parties, with "Uncle Frank" handing each child a shiny silver dollar, will never be forgotten in Bartlesville. Phillips was chairman of Oklahoma's 3-man Santa Claus Commission, which annually sends gifts to unfortunate children. Other members of the commission are Tulsa Oilman W. G. Skelly and Forrest Harper, partner of Gov. Roy J. Turner in the oil business. [Dallas Morning News, Published August 24, 1950, submitted by C. D.] - - - - - - - - - - Osage Hills Oil King Dies; Frank Phillips once Barber Atlantic City, N. J., Aug. 23. - Frank Phillips who rose from barber to the presidency of a $350,000,000 oil company, died Wednesday at Atlantic City hospital. Phillips, 76, had a personal fortune estimated as far back as 1928 to be close to $40,000,000. He was about to conclude a two-month holiday at the Traymore hotel here when he was stricken by a gall bladder condition. Following an operation Sunday night by a surgeon flown in from St. Louis, a heart complication set in. At the bedside when he died were his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Phillips of Dallas, Tex. Oil Company Formed Phillips and two brothers, L. E. and Waite, formed the Phillips Petroleum company, one of the largest independent oil concerns in the world. The royalties and lease bonuses paid by the company for drilling land made the Osage Indians one of the richest tribes in the country. Before he retired as president of the company in 1937, Phillips dressed in leather boots and wide-brimmed hat and sought to preserve the "howdy" spirit and the glamorous west. He was reputed to have directed stock and bond trades in New York involving millions of dollars as casually as the average man would order a restaurant meal. Osage Ranch Maintained Phillips retained chairmanship of the company's board of directors. He maintained a 4000 acre ranch in the Osage hills that held the nation's largest collection of animals. He was interested in youth activities and gave generously to the Boy Scouts. Born in Greeley county, Neb., Phillips grew up on a farm near Creston, Ia. It was at Creston when he was 14 years old that he got a job in a barber shop. Eventually, he bought it out and took over the town's other two barber shops. "I was the best damned barber in Iowa," he would boast. From the barber shops, Phillips moved into bond sales and then went to Bartlesville at the beginning of the Oklahoma oil boom. There he opened a bank to finance drilling. From that, Phillips moved into the oil business until his company operated in 33 states, Canada, and Central and South America. William G. Angel, Phillips' secretary, said no funeral arrangements were made immediately, but it was likely the body would be taken to Bartlesville. Phillips also is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Marcus Low of Bartlesville and Mrs. Frank Begrisch of Rye, N. Y. Phillips' wife, died in 1948. [Oregonian, Published August 24, 1950, submitted by C. D.] Ponte Creston, Iowa.--The 7-year-old daughter of John Ponte, a Burlington conductor, was taken sick and died. An autopsy revealed the fact that the child had swallowed peas whole that they had sprouted and were growing: In her stomach. [The Minneapolis Journal, Published August 24, 1903, submitted by Dawn Minard] Elsie Sanderson Albuquerque, NM--Elsie SANDERSON, 94, a resident of Albuquerque since 1967, died Wednesday, April 28, 1999. She is survived by two nieces, Doris Jean Perisho of Zearing, IA and Geraldine McCormick. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard O. Sanderson; her son, Howard M. Sanderson; her parents; and four sisters. She was born in Union, CO, IA. Elsie graduated from Shannon City Iowa High School. She was resident of Montebello since 1995. Friends may visit French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Albuquerque Journal (NM) - April 30, 1999, contributed by A. Newell. Bernard Sheridan Creston, Iowa, March 22. - Bernard Sheriden, aged 78, died this morning. He was a resident of Will County, Ill., for twenty-six years, the first Justice of the Peace of that county, and for fourteen years an assessor. He has resided in Union County, Iowa since 1875. [Daily Inter-Ocean, Chicago, Illinois, Published March 24, 1896, submitted by C. D.] Mrs. W. A. Shiffer The remains of Mrs. W. A. Shiffer who died at Creston, Ia. on Tuesday was brought here on No. 9 Wednesday evening and taken to the home of her brother, Wm. Cartwright. The funeral was held at the Methodist church Sunday at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. W. C. McClelland of Corning. Interment was made in the Nodaway cemetery. Stella Marie, daughter of John and Lucy Cartwright, was born near Oskaloosa, Iowa on June 25, 1879 and died Tuesday Feb. 3, 1920 at her home in Creston, Iowa at the age of 40 years, 7 months and 8 days. When 2 years of age she moved with her parents to a farm near Nodaway and spent the remainder of her life in the vicinity of Nodaway and Villisca, except a year's residence at Prescott, until a few months ago she moved with her family to Creston, Ia. She was married to Ward A. Shiffer at Villisca, Ia., in 1899 and to this union one child was born, Edna Lucile who is employed at Omaha. Besides the husband and daughter she is survived by three brothers and one sister, Wm. Cartwright of Nodaway, Ed Cartwright of Winnebago, Minn., Henry Cartwright of Oskaloosa, Ia., and Mrs. Alice Teetrick of Wyoming. The deceased had suffered for many years from poor health and in the last few months had suffered perhaps more than even those intimately associated with her could guess. She was a member of the Methodist church many years, was a true friend and neighbor and leaves many who will ever cherish the memory of her kindness. We are numbered among the friends who extend sincere sympathy to the bereaved ones. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Card of Thanks We wish to express our sincere thanks to our many friends and neighbors for their kind expressions of sympathy during our recent bereavement in the death of our beloved wife and mother. Also for the beautiful floral offerings and all those who rendered help. Ward Shiffer and daughter, Edna. [Adams County, Iowa, Free Press, Published February 14, 1920] Submitted by Diane Ide Ed Stall A Striker Killed In Iowa (Ed Stall) Creston, Ia., Nov. 9 - Ed Stall, a striking switchman, was shot and killed by Charles Huston, a "Q" engineer, yesterday afternoon. The cause of the quarrel cannot be ascertained. [Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, Published November 10, 1888, transcribed by Dale Donlon] Jesse B. Turner At Creston, Iowa, Aug. 31, of typhoid fever, Jesse B. Turner, 21, adopted son of Joseph R. Foster of Wenona. [Henry Republican, Henry, IL, Published September 15, 1881] Contributed by Nancy Piper Ward Anson Shiffer Dies Here Sunday Ward Anson Shiffer, 75, retired Platte township farmer and former railroad employee in Creston, died at 1:55 a.m. Sunday at the Greater Community hospital here. He had been ill about six months and was a patient in the hospital for about three weeks. The solemn high funeral mass will be said at St. Malachy's Catholic church here at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery. His body will lie in state at McGregor Brothers and Coens funeral home until 6 p.m. today when it will be taken to the home at Kent. Ward Anson Shiffer was born at Clarence, Ia., June 3, 1875. He was the son of Charles and Sarah Elizabeth Cooney Shiffer. He was married in 1899 to Estelle Cartwright, who preceded him in death on February 2, 1920. He was married at Creston, June 2, 1920, to Frances Pontow Bradley, who survives him. Mr. Shiffer moved from Creston to Platte township about 16 years ago and operated a farm there before his retirement. Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter, Mrs. Edna Hron of Omaha, Nebr.; four stepsons, Fr. Bede Bradley, OSB, of Atchison, Kans., Dennis Bradley of Afton, and Lyman and Hubert Bradley; 18 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three brothers, Emmett Shiffer of San Francisco, Calif., Clarence Shiffer of Texarkana, Tex., and Harry Shiffer of Plattsmouth, Nebr. Mr. Shiffer was a member of St. Malachy's Catholic church here. [Submitted by Diane Ide] …………………………… Ward Anson Shiffer Funeral Funeral services for Ward Anson Shiffer were held at 10 a.m. today at St. Malachy's Catholic church here with a solemn requiem mass. The celebrant was Rev. Bede Bradley, O.S.B., his stepson. Others who assisted were Rt. Rev. Msgr. Vitus Stoll, deacon; Rev. Reisz of Lenox, sub-deacon; and Rev. Walter Vollmer, O.S.B., master of ceremonies. The sermon was by Rev. Fr. Marian Kotinek, pastor of St. Malachy's church. Burial was in Calvary cemetery. Pallbearers were Edmund Baker, Myron Henderson, Ora DeBord, Mike Connors, Raymond Brown and Ed Hanrahan. Mr. Shiffer, a retired farmer and railroad employee, died at Greater Community hospital here early Sunday morning. His home was at Kent. [Submitted by Diane Ide]