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Van Buren County BiographiesOrr J. Boyer In the years to come when the pioneer activities in Beaver County are thrown into a stronger relief, the name of O. J. Boyer will be recalled for its early associations with the settlement and development of that county, and particularly with the business and civic life of the Town of LaKemp. In 1915 at the first election after the incorporation of that town, he was chosen treasurer. He came with his parents to Beaver County in 1906 and located on a claim of Government land one mile west of the present Town of LaKemp. O. J. Boyer was born on a farm in Van Buren County, Iowa, January 11, 1884, a son of Benjamin O. and Martha E. (Fine) Boyer. His father, who was born in Ohio May 22, 1854, has spent his active career as a farmer and on coming to Oklahoma in 1905 also proved up a claim of Government land in Beaver County. In 1883 he married Miss Martha E. Fine, who was born in Missouri, April 27,1862, a daughter of Doctor Fine, also a native of that state. To their union were born four children, two sons and two daughters, as follows: Orr J.; Dorr, who was born September 10, 1886, and is now a farmer in Beaver County, married in 1911 Eva Fogel, a native of Illinois, and their one child is Verlin Elmer; Beulah, born December 5, 1890, was married in 1908 to Oliver B. Hummer, a native of McLouth, Kansas, and their children are Goldie and Emmett; Gladys Elizabeth, who was born April 20, 1905. Orr J. Boyer was reared and educated in Iowa, attending the public schools at Farmington. He had a practical training on his father's farm, and was ready to make an independent career when he came to Oklahoma in 1905. After proving up his claim in Beaver County he applied himself to business affairs as manager in 1911 of a lumber yard at LaKemp conducted by the York-Key Lumber Corporation. He had charge of this yard until it was closed on July 1, 1913. He then entered the LaKemp State Bank, as bookkeeper, and was assistant cashier when he severed his active connection with the institution, though he is still a director. Mr. Boyer is now at the head of a prosperous business handling real estate, farm loans and insurance. Politically he is a democrat, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In February, 1910, at Farmington, Iowa, he married Miss Ida Spurgeon, a daughter of Samuel and Matilda Spurgeon. Mrs. Boyer was born at Bonaparte, Iowa, March 29, 1881. They are the parents of two children: Charles Arthur, born at LaKemp, Oklahoma, August 19, 1911; and Blanche Elizabeth, born December 6, 1912, at LaKemp. [Source: A Standard History of Oklahoma, Volume IV, Joseph B. Thoburn, 1916, Transcribed by Andaleen Whitney] Miss Caroline Matilda Dodson Physician, born near Keosauqua, Iowa, 17th December, 1845. Her father, Stiles Richard Dodson, was the son of Richard Dodson and Hannah Watson, being a descendant of Thomas and Mary Dodson, of whom the doctor's mother was also a descendant. Her mother, Mrs. Caroline Matilda Dodson, was the daughter of Stephen Harrison, and Mary Dodson. Miss Dodson's father and mother were natives of Huntington Valley, Pa. On 28th July, 1836, they were united in marriage. The mother, Mrs. C. Matilda Dodson, was a woman of strong character and advanced thought. About six weeks after marriage they left Pennsylvania for the West and settled in Van Buren county, Iowa. Stiles R. Dodson died 28th October, 1847, leaving his widow with four daughters, the youngest not two years of age. That winter the mother taught school in her own house. In the spring of 1848 she returned with her family to her father's house in Pennsylvania. Caroline was baptized in November, 1857, and she was henceforth a laborer by the side of her mother, in the Baptist Church. Study at home under private teachers and at the district school supplemented the early lessons from the mother. At about twelve she was sent to an academy and normal institute. She began to teach in the winter of 1861. Returning at intervals to school, she followed the profession of teaching until the fall of 1871 when she matriculated at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, and entered upon the three year course just inaugurated. Dr. Ann Preston was then Dean. The summer of 1872 she spent in the Nurses' Training School of the Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia. The course required was completed and a certificate of the Training School for Nurses was given her. The summer of 1873 she spent in the same hospital as student in the wards and out practice. She received her diploma in March, 1874, and went to Ypsilanti, Mich., for further study with Dr. Ruth A. Gerry, one of the first women to practice medicine. After a year spent in hospital and private practice with that worthy medical pioneer, she went to Rochester, N. Y., and there in connection with practice opened a drug store. In 1877, her mother having gone West again, she started for Iowa, going by the Hudson and Great Lakes. She lost a car load of valuables in the riot at Pittsburgh, Pa. After her trip West she returned to Philadelphia and worked for a mere pittance. Among the offers that came finally was one from the Philadelphia Society for Organizing Charity, to act as superintendent of one of its districts, which position she filled for eight years. Realizing the need of a movement to educate the masses to a knowledge of self-care, she was prominent in having a call issued for a public meeting to be held in Association Hall, Philadelphia, 23rd July, 1890. and an organization was effected under the name of the National Woman's Health Association of America. The Association was chartered 1st November, 1890, and Dr. Dodson was elected first president. (American Women, Frances Elizabeth Willard, Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, Volume 1 Copyright 1897. Alonzo J. Giaque GIAQUE, Alonzo J., freight agent, Detroit; born,Van Buren Co., Ia., July 15, 1858; son of Charles and Abagail (Anderson) Giaque; educated in public schools; married at Jackson, Mich., 1880, Mary U. Van Tassel. Lived on farm until 1878; acted as clerk Detroit, Lansing & Northern R.R., and Michigan Central Rys., West Detroit and Detroit, 1878-1881; chief clerk Michigan Central R.R., Michigan City, Ind., Jackson, Mich., and Suspension Bridge, N.Y., 1881-91; freight agent, Suspension Bridge, 1891-99; freight agent, Detroit, since 1899. Republican. Congregationalist. Office: Michigan Central Depot. Residence: 478 Putnam Av. [The Book of Detroiters by Albert Nelson Marquis 1908, submitted by Christine Walters] William D. Mowre William D. Mowre. The business interests of Billings, Montana, have grown to an amazing extent during the last few years, and the credit for this desirable state of affairs may be given to the enterprising business men whose energy and modern methods have put the city on a sound financial basis, while they have cooperated with the city officials in looking after its municipal needs. It may be said of William D. Mowre, of 2811 Montana avenue, that he has aided in the city's business development and helped to advance its civic welfare, while he is well and popularly known in fraternal circles. Mr. Mowre was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, November 18. 1861, and is a son of Joel A. and Margaret (Gray) Mowre. Joel A. Mowre was born in Kentucky, in 1833, and as a youth removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, with his parents. There he secured a common school education, and was reared in agricultural pursuits, following farming and stock-raising all of his life and dying in 1898. His wife, who was a native of Indiana, passed away in May, 1910, when sixty-five years of age, having been the mother of three sons and two daughters, of whom the sons, William D., Emery H. and Charles E., are living. Joel A. Mowre was a member of the school board for a number of years, was a Republican in politics and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and as soon as he was of age identified himself with Masonry, gaining membership in Troy Lodge, No. 40. The education of William D. Mowre was secured in the common schools of Van Buren county, and it was his father's intention that he should become a farmer. He remained on the home place until 1882, at which time he started for the west, and after a journey of eight days arrived at Stockton, California. During the four years that followed he was employed on the ranch of his uncle, William J. Gray, never losing a day's work in this time, and in the fall of 1886 returned to his Iowa home. He was there married, and subsequently returned to California, locating at Linden, where he was engaged in the blacksmith business until the spring of 1891. That year saw his advent in Stillwater, now known as Columbus, Montana, where he followed the same line of work until the fall of 1892, and he then took up a ranch on the Rose Bud. For six years he was successfully engaged in farming and cattle raising, and in 1898 came to Billings and established himself in a general merchandise business, but after three years disposed of his interests therein to enter the wholesale and retail cigar and tobacco business, a line to which he has since devoted his attention. Mr. Mowre is a business man of progressive ideas, and the manner in which he has handled his enterprise has given him standing among the legitimate business concerns of the city. His goods are well and favorably known and have had a steadily increasing sale. Mr. Mowre is a Republican in his political views, but takes only a good citizen's interest in public matters, although he is at all times ready to enlist his influence in the cause of any movement which he feels will be of benefit to his adopted city. He has interested himself in fraternal work, being a member of Ashlar Lodge, No. 29, A. F. & A. M.; Billings Chapter, No. 6. R. A. M.; Aldemar Commandery, No. 5, K. T., of which he is captain general; and Helena Temple; and is also connected with Billings Star Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F. Formerly he was identified with Scio Lodge, No. 102, of Linden, California, which he joined in 1883, and in which he filled all the chairs and was a past noble grand. On November 4, 1886, Mr. Mowre was married to Miss Irene Campbell, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, daughter of William S. and Sarah (Brown) Campbell, both deceased. Mrs. Mowre's parents had eight children, the last two being twins, one of whom was Irene. Her father was a farmer and located in Iowa in 1863 or 1864, spending the rest of his days in Van Buren county. He was a staunch Republican and a deacon of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Mowre have two daughters; Edna, who was educated in the Berkeley (California) University, and the University of Wisconsin, and Arminda J., who finished the course at the latter institution and is now attending Northwestern University, Chicago. [History of Montana, Volume 3, 1913, distributed by Barb Z., transcribed by C. Danielson] Clark J. Ross Clark J. Ross, Banking and Railroading, Los Angeles, California is a native of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, born April 10, 1850. His father was John Clark and his mother Mary (Andrews) Clark. He married Miriam A. Evans on April 16, 1878, at Butte, Montana. There were two children, Ella H., now Mrs. Henry C. Lee, and Walter M. Clark, who died a hero with the sinking of the Titanic, refusing to take a place in the lifeboats while any women or children remained on the vessel. Mr. Clark attended the public schools of Penna., concluding with a course in the Academy of Bentonsport, IA. When Mr. Clark grew up his position, environments and opportunities were far different than those of the young men of today. Towards the setting sun stretched that vast country known to Americans as the Great West. It was indeed to be a Greater West, for it was just entering on that phenomenal period of growth that has had no equal in the history of the world. It was young, wild and undeveloped. The Indians had not yet been subdued, the vast mineral deposits lay untouched, unlimited timber tracts stretched away toward the mountains and the thousand and one industries that were later to add to the wealth and power of the country were unknown. Mr. Clark decided to try his fortunes there and, leaving Iowa in 1871, went directly to Montana, then one of the most rugged, yet wealthy, regions of the West. He went into business in the vicinity of Butte, Montana, with his brother, Senator William A. Clark, who had preceded him to Montana by several years. It was a hard struggle in those days. There were no railroads; stages being the only means of transportation known in those wilds. It took the strongest kind of character, courage and persistency to face the trials which confronted the pioneer, but all through the years that followed, Mr. Clark, determinate, remained in that country, and its history is linked largely with his success. Between the years 1871 and 1893, Mr. Clark was engaged in banking and mining throughout the Montana district, being closely associated with his brother in many of the largest copper mining enterprises of the Northwest. In 1876, the same year in which General Custer fought his battle on the Little Big Horn River, the Clarks established a private bank at Butte, Montana, which financial institution is still in operation. Mr. Clark became heavily interested in numerous mineral deals, in the building of smelters and in other industries adapted to the Montana country. He was identified with every great move for the development of that State as well as with the neighboring territories; with the founding of cities, construction of railroads, organization of territorial government, and in fact his work is part of the history of Montana. In 1892 he moved to Los Angeles, where he saw an immense field for operation, and where his family could live amid more beautiful surroundings. Mr. Clark's record in Southern California has been as brilliant as it was in Montana, and he has shared in the development of Los Angeles to a high degree. In 1896 he built the Los Alamitos sugar factory in Southern California, which he managed for several years. He later turned this business over to his son, who managed it during the remainder of his life. As vice president of the Salt Lake Railroad, of which his brother, the Senator, is the principal genius, Mr. Clark has made a conspicuous success. He is also a liberal philanthropist and aids many worthy institutions. Perhaps his most generous assistance was rendered when the Young Men's Christian Association of Los Angeles was in severe straits. Ever ready and willing to put his shoulder to the wheel, Mr. Clark took charge of the destines of the association, and after a long, hard campaign for new life, new home and new funds, he put the association in the position it occupies today — a splendid institution, with branches in all parts of the city, engaged in a wonderful work. He is deeply interested in many Southern California corporations, is Vice President of the Los Alamitos Sugar Company and is a Director and Vice President of the Citizens' National Bank of Los Angeles. He is identified with many of the larger movements for a Greater Los Angeles and has played the part of a distinguished factor in the growth of the Southwest. He is a member of the California, the Jonathan and Sierra Madre Clubs, the Bohemian Club of San Francisco and the Silver Bow Club of Butte, Montana. [Being The Portraits and Biographies of the Progressive Men of the West, Press Reference Library – Transcribed by Therman Kellar] John K. Spencer John K. Spencer (1900), a resident of Amiret, was born January 16, 1859, in Jefferson county, Indiana. He is a son of Benjamin and Roda (Warfield) Spencer, natives of Kentucky, and when six years of age his parents moved to Van Buren county, Iowa. His father bought land in the vicinity of Melton, and John grew up on the farm. The boy received his schooling in the district in which the farm was located, and until the age of twenty-five years he lived at home with his parents, assisting with the work on the home farm. In 1884 young Spencer decided to strike out for himself and went to Beadle county, South Dakota, where he took a quarter section of land as a homestead and eightyacres as a pre-emption claim, and farmed until 1900. That year Mr. Spencer moved to Lyon county and rented the 640 acres on section 20, Amiret township. He staid on that place one year and then moved to Custer township, where he rented 160 acres on section 10 the next four years. He then moved to Redwood county and spent one year there before returning to Lyon county and locating on section 20, Amiret township. Later he located on section 4 and farmed five and one-half years before moving to Amiret village, where he has since been the proprietor of a boarding house. The subject of this sketch was married in Melton, Iowa, February 17, 1879, to Arvilla Davis. She was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, November 12, 1859, and is a daughter of Wamouth and Rebecca (Hargrove) Davis, natives of Indiana and Delaware, respectively. Her parents were early settlers of Van Buren county and lived there until their deaths. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Spencer: Nellie May, born August 6, 1883; Clarence Sidney, born November 14, 1884; and Ruth Pearl, born November 28, 1898. Mr. Spencer is fraternally allied with the Yeomen lodge. [An Illustrated History of Lyon County, Minnesota, submitted by Karen Seeman] JAMES ALEXANDER STEWART James Alexander Stewart was born September 8, 1834 in Pittsburg, Pa, the son of Henry Stewart (B: November 8, 1798 and D: January 12, 1871) and Ruth Castor Stewart (B:1801 D:?). James migrated to Fort Madison Iowa in the year of 1855 and was married to Melissa Eliza Pooler (daughter of Thankful and Anthony Pooler) on February 25, 1857. This family imigrated to Missouri sometime after Henry Stewart passed away in 1871. We note that James and Melissa's daughter, Ida May Stewart was born in Lancaster Mo. in 1876, thus giving us a time frame for their departure from Van Buren County, Iowa. It is believed that Ruth Castor Stewart also accompanied her son James on this trip to Missouri, but there is no proof that she ever arrived in Missouri. There is no tomb stone with her name on it in Iowa where Henry is buried. James and Melissa were the parents of: James Alexander died August 17, 1916 and is buried in the Logsdon Cemetery, Harrison County, MO. Melissa died March 24, 1906 and is buried in the Logsdon Cemetery in Harrison County, MO. Submitted by Melody Beery John H. Taylor Taylor, John H., clergyman, editor and statesman of Farmington, Iowa, was born July 15, 1870, in Kingwood, W.Va. He graduated from the West Virginia normal school and from the University of West Virginia. He has held pastorates in the Methodist church in various counties of Iowa and is now engaged in editorial work in Farmington. In 1912 he was elected a member of the Iowa state senate. [Herringshaw's American Blue-Book of Biography by Thomas William Herringshaw and American Publishers' Association, 1914, Transcribed by AFOFG] | |
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