William Scott came to Sac County in 1872, locating on the Hammond homestead in Douglas Township, on the southwest quarter of Section 30. This land had 10 acres broken, but the house was a DUG-OUT. William broke the ground on the place in summer, wintering in Delaware County. At the time of settlement, there were not more than 6 families there, and game was yet abundant over the county. For many years muskrat skins brought more money into the county than wheat did.

William Scott was born in Cumberland, England, on February 17, 1822, a son of William and Esther (Scott) Scott, both parents having been born in that country. William had a brother, Samuel, who resided in Australia. William was reared in his native land, educated in the district schools of England and was early taught the principles of agriculture.

Mr. Scott married in England, in 1844, Jane Warwick, a native of Cumberland and a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Rebanks) Warwick, an old English family. William came to Delaware County, Iowa, in 1852 and engaged as a farm laborer for a Mr. French, and improved a large farm for a Mr. Sawyer.

In September, 1862, he enlisted in the 6th Iowa Cavalry and served for a period of 14 months in Dakota in the Indian warfare. He was discharged in May, 1863, and returned to Delaware County, Iowa. In 1872, he came to the homestead in Sac County. In 1875, he brought his family there and settled on a farm of 160 acres, which he improved and put under cultivation, adding to it until he owned 240 acres. All the land was well fenced. He engaged in farming and stock-raising, and tells of the times when he hauled 3,000 bushels of corn to Storm Lake, selling ear corn for 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 cents, and shelled corn for 15 cents. When he raised hogs, he preferred the Poland-China breed, at one time doing a large business in raising them.

He served as Justice of the Peace for many years and as Assessor of the Township for 6 years. He lost his wife, March 15, 1891, in Early, at the age of 71. To their union had been born 3 children: John, Thomas, and Grace Ellis. William married a second time in Chicago, November 2, 1891, Caroline de Rudio, a native of Italy. She came to this country in 1880 to visit her brother. After spending two years with him, she went to Chicago and spent 10 years as teacher of modern languages.

C. A. Seger moved with his family to Rock Island County, Illinois, in 1865 and he was reared on a farm. He also spent sometime in the mines and on the Mississippi River. In 1882, he located on 160 acres of wild land in Garfield Township, Ida County, Iowa, which he improved. He built a good residence, a barn 32 x 46 feet, a grove, orchard, mill, and other necessary improvements. He had been a Township Assessor, and a President of the Farmers' Alliance.

He was united in marriage to Mary DeVinney in 1879 at Rock Island County, Illinois. Mary was the daughter of John and Fannie (Cook) DeVinney, residents of Rock Island County, Il. C. A. Seger and Mary had 5 children: Howard, DeRay, Jessie, Vincent, and Lucy Pearl.

L. A. Sewall is a prominent business man of Denison, Iowa, a contractor, builder and architect by profession.  He is a native of Norfolk, St. Lawrence county, New York, born in 1843, and was the son of Joseph of Sarah (Honsinger) Sewall, natives of Ireland and Germany, respectively, the families dating back several generations in this country.  The grandfather, Joseph Sewall, was a colonel in the war of 1812, and Grandfather Honsinger participated in the war of the Revolution.  The latter died at the advanced age of ninety-nine years, and his wife was quite aged when her death occurred.

The parents of the subject of this sketch died while he was quite young.  He was reared in the State of New York, and received his education, in part, at an academy.  When the civil war broke out he was only a lad of seventeen, but patriotism burned in his breast, and he was among the first to offer his young life to the service of this country.  He enlisted in Battery F, First Illinois Light Artillery, in October, 1861, and was mustered out of the army, January 4, 1865.  The battles in which he was engaged were:  Shiloh, Corinth, Ioka, the siege of Vicksburg, the siege of Jacksonville, Mission Ridge, Ringgold Station, Resaca, New Hope, Peach Tree Creek, the two battles of Atlanta, Lovejoy, Nashville, and a large number of skirmishes, where his life was just as much in danger as in the pitched battles.  He was taken prisoner several times, but was always fortunate enough to escape.  He was twice slightly wounded, once in the leg and once on the scalp.  He was a valiant soldier, and did many daring deeds upon the field of battle.  He is one of the number so feelingly referred to in the late letter from the Chief Magistrate, where he takes occasion to refer to the brave men who can not receive too much honor nor too many tributes of love from all true Americans.

His boyhood days were full of experience.  The year prior to entering the army he had worked his way to Oregon, Illinois, where his uncle, H. A. Mix, a well-known lawyer, resided.  He entered that gentleman's office as a copyist, and would probably have succeeded his uncle in his business had he remained with that gentleman.  When the war broke out the lad could not wait, but stole off and enlisted before his uncle could use any influence to procure him some position above private.  He refused assistance, and was determined to row his own boat, and when he was offered the position of captain in a colored regiment he refused it.

After his return from the army he went to Chicago and entered the office of Edbrook, architect, where he learned the art of architectural designing, at which he was engaged for three years.  In 1868 he came to Denison, where he took a contract and erected a business building, after which he returned to Illinois.  He spent the winter in that State, and then went into the employ of Borce & Dafflin, of Omaha, Nebraska, as foreman on the Union Pacific railroad, as architect in the building of hotels and depots along the route of that road.  After three years thus occupied he went to California, where he spent one year and erected the Golden Eagle Hotel, at Sacramento, California.  He returned to Iowa, and settled in Denison, where he has since made his home.  He has been engaged in the erection of buildings ever since, as far West as the Black Hills.

The marriage of Mr. Sewall occurred in Denison in August, 1872, to Miss Almina Weiting, a native of Otsego county, New York, and they have four children:  John, a graduate of the class of 1892; Lewis, Ada and Allie are at home.

In politics Mr. Sewall believes in the principles of the Democratic party, and is a man well and favorably known in this locality.  He is the leading contractor and builder of Denison.  He is also a land-owner, possessing 200 acres in Denison township, on section 7, which he has improved and operates as a general farm.  He has also made many improvements, and has erected a fine residence in Denison.  He has built and sold a number of other houses.  He is a live, energetic man, and has done much toward the prosperity of his town.  He can be called a self-made man, as he began at the bottom, and as arrived by his own efforts at his present comfortable position.  Socially, his family ranks with the best in Denison.

James Shelmerdine, a farmer of Boyer Valley Township, one of its oldest settlers, came to Iowa in 1856. He was born in England, July 13, 1821, a son of William and Isabel (Brunton) Shelmerdine, natives of England. James Shelmerdine was reared and educated in his native land and there learned the trade of dyer, working at cotton dyeing for many years, but in 1855 came to America, landing in New York City.

Sidney Sherwood, one of the early settlers of Crawford County, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, in August, 1827, a son of Lewis Sherwood, a soldier in War of 1812. Lewis Sherwood was a son of John Sherwood, who was born of New England ancestry. The mother of Sidney Sherwood was Lockey Adams, a native of New England. In 1856, the family settled in Clinton County, Iowa, 10 miles south of Maquoketa, Jackson County. Sidney had 5 brothers and a sister.

Sidney Sherwood worked at the wagon-maker's trade from the time he was 14 years old until his 28th year. In 1864, he enlisted in the 10th Iowa Infantry, and was in the campaign of Sherman's famous march to the sea and through the Carolinas. He lost his health in the service and no longer able to perform manual labor. He remained in Clinton County, Iowa, until 1873, when he settled on the farm he owns in Crawford County. The place was 160 acres with a good dwelling and barn.