|
Pocahontas County >> 1904 Index The Pioneer History of Pocahontas County,
Iowa S Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. SAYRE, ELECTA (b. 1826), who in 1877 with three sons, Lewis, Eugene and Charles, located on Sec. 21, Dover township, and is now a resident of Fonda, is a native of Vermont, the daughter of James and Melinda (Hemenway) Haven. In 1837 with her parents she located in Winnebago Co., Ill. , where in 1844 she married William Sayre. In 1855 they moved to Allamakee Co., Iowa , where he died in 1861, leaving a family of seven children. In 1865 she moved to Dyersville and in 1877 to Pocahontas Co. Lionel (b. 1845), in Dubuque Co., married Polly Mountsey, and in 1875 located in Dover township. Later he moved to Fonda and in 1886 to Sellwood , Oregon , where he died in 1901, leaving a family of two children, Addie and Nellie. Frances married William Spence and lives in the state of Washington . Lewis (b. 1848), lives with his mother. Julia, in 1871, married Mark A. (son of Solomon) Haven, a carpenter, and lives in Fonda. He was a member of the town council three years, 1886- 88, and mayor four years, '89-92. Their family consists of two children, Albert and Harrold. Ellen, in 1877, married Edward O'Donnell (see O'Donnell). Eugene (b. 1860), in 1886 married Lula Beardsley, lives in Cedar township, and has two children, Guy and Clay. Charles (b. 1862), in 1887 married Elizabeth Gilson, a milliner, lives in Fonda and has one child, Zola. Electa (Haven) Sayre was the second in a family of ten children, six of whom located in Pocahontas county, namely, Lucinda, who married Mahlon Sayre; Electa, Sophia, who married Horace Haven and lives at Fonda; Minerva, who married A. F. Burdick; Henrietta, who married Mannis O'Donnell; and Charles. The others were Sylvester, a soldier in the civil war; Ellen, James and Lydia . SAYRE, MAHLON (b. N. J. 1817; d. 1890), was the eighth in a family of nine sons. After learning to make brooms in New Jersey he moved to Winnebago Co., Ill. , where he married Lucinda Haven. In 1873 two of his children, Albert and Elnora, having preceded him, he came to Pocahontas Co. with the others and located on Sec. 20, Dover township. He died in 1890 and his wife a few months previous. 1. Elvira married William Gilson (see Gilson). 2. James Albarnus (b. 1852), in 1875 married Fannie Thompson and located on a homestead in Buena Vista Co. He died in 1891 leaving one daughter, Pearl , who in 1900 married E. D. Snyder and located in Oklahoma , where her mother also lives. 3. Albert (b. 1854), in 1872 married Mary, daughter of Frank A. Burdick. He owns a farm of 110 acres in Dover township and has a family of two children, Dora and Budd. 4. Melinda in 1867 married Lewis K. Johnson and continued to live in Illinois until 1873, when they located in Dover township. Their family consists of three children all of whom live in Idaho . Jennie married Daniel Finnelson, William married Daisy Ingram and Lulu married Charles Irwin. In 1887 Melinda married Washington Snyder and the next year moved to Idaho . 5. Elnora married Eugene Evans (see Evans). 6. SAYRE, CHARLES A. (b. 1859), in 1886 married Flora Watts and located on a farm of 320 acres on Sec. 31, Marshall township, which he still owns. Three years later he moved to Sec. 32, Dover township, where he has since resided except during the year 1892, which he spent in Idaho . In November 1900 he secured five telephone instruments and, utilizing the top wire of the intervening wire fences, established a local telephone system that connects him with four of his relatives in that vicinity, namely, Ai Watts, Joseph Morrison, Albert Sayre and Peter Morrison. This inexpensive and independent line has been a source of great convenience. A telegraphic arrangement prevails on this line and no central office is needed. Every message can be received at every home and the one for which it is intended is indicated by the number of rings. His family consists of four children; Fay, Crystal , George Watts and Ruby. 7. Henrietta married Peter Morrison (see Morrison). 8. Mahlon Sylvester (b. 1863), is a resident of Fonda. Schultz Alva L. (b. Dec. 26, 1861) editor, is a native of Clinton county, Iowa. In 1886 he began to engage in newspaper work at Winfield, Kan., and the next year became part owner of the Winfield Daily Visitor. In 1889 he returned to Iowa and the next year started the Blade at Wall Lake. Three years later he went to Traer and with H. C. Mann, as a partner, started the Traer Globe. In April 1894 he relinquished his interest in this paper, bought the Rolfe Argus and continued its publication until Dec. 1, 1898, when he moved to Pocahontas and established the Pocahontas Herald. At Rolfe he served as secretary of the school board two years, 1896-97, and at Pocahontas has been justice of the peace and secretary of the school board during the last two years. SHEA, PATRICK
(b. 1837), owner and occupant of a farm of 240 acres on sec. 5, Cedar
township, is a native of Ireland. At ten he came with his parents
to Canada and in 1862, located in New York. The next year he went
to California and spent the next seven years mining copper at Stockton
or doing other work at San Francisco. In 1869, he married there
Mary Maher. In 1870, he left the Pacific coast, visited friends
in New York and Canada, bought and located on 80 acres of his present
farm which he has nicely improved and increased to 240 acres. He
is an intelligent and highly respected citizen and has served several
years as assessor, trustee and treasurer of Cedar township. SMITH GEORGE W.
(b. 1836), resident of Grant from 1870 to 1882, was the son of John and
Olive (Pearsall) Smith and a native of New York , where in 1861 he
married Almira C. Henry. In 1867 he moved to Cedar county, Iowa , and
in 1870 to Sec. 26, Grant township. He participated in the organization
of the township, served as one of its first trustees and as the first
treasurer of the school funds. In 1881 his estimable wife, who had been
very useful in the settlement, died leaving one son, Walter J. The next
year he moved to Pomeroy and engaged in the implement business. In 1900
he moved to Fort Dodge . In 1882 he married Gertrude Whaley, of Oswego
, N. Y., and their family consists of one daughter, Effie. Walter J.,
in 1891, married Cora G. Holcomb, embarked in the insurance business at
Pomeroy and has a family of five children, Edna, Iva, Margarite, Elwood
and Esther. SOUTHWORTH, JOSEPH (b. 1832), Laurens, is a native of new Jersey . In 1856 he came with his parents to Buchanan county, Iowa , where in 1858 he married Augusta Hayes (B. 1834.), a native of New Brunswick , and engaged in farming. In 1876 with a family of three children, he came to Pocahontas county and located on the Osborn homestead, on the ne 1/4 sec. 18, Dover township. He improved and occupied this farm until 1888, when he moved to Fonda and four years later to Laurens. He has frequently supported the candidates of the prohibition party, but in recent years has been a republican. He has been a life-long worker in the M. E. church and respect for his excellent judgment has enabled him to exert a potent influence in every community in which he has lived. The amiable companion of his wedded life died at 66 in 1901 at Pocahontas. Her life was one of beautiful trust in God and she exemplified in a happy manner the Christian graces of patience, kindness and love. His family consisted of three children: Jessie F. (b. 1859) in 1882 married W. H. English, a traveling salesman, lives at Fremont , Neb. , and has four children, Grace, Wallace, Nellie and Willard. Edwin H. (b. 1862) a harness maker, in 1886 married Bertha B. Burnett and located at Laurens, where he still works at his trade. He is the owner of several properties at Laurens and a farm of 80 acres in Dover township. He has two children, Vincent and Archie B. Fred J. (b. 1870), also a harness maker located at Pocahontas, where he acquired considerable prominence by serving several terms as a justice of the peace. He married Bessie G. Wallace and has two children Mabel and Verne. In 1902 Fred and family and his father, Joseph Southworth, moved to Boden, North Dakota. SPIELMAN, DAVID (b. Aug. 28, 1824), resident of Fonda and vicinity since 1870, is a native of Baden, Germany, and in 1848 came to Sullivan Co., N. Y., where he found employment as a carpenter. In Dec. 1851, he married Dorothea Couch and five years later moved to Dubuque Co., Iowa , where he continued to work at his trade. In the fall of 1870 he located on a homestead of 80 acres on the s 1/2 ne 1/4 sec. 24, Cedar township, this county, improved and occupied it until 1880 when he sold it and bought the sw 1/4 of sec. 19, Colfax township, 160 acres. On this farm he built a good house, barn and other outbuildings and occupied it until 1893, when he sold it, built a comfortable residence in Fonda and moved to town. In 1845 he entered the German army and spent four and one-half years in the military service of his country. This was the period of the rebellion in Baden , and he participated in thirteen battles. He has been good citizen and has raised a family of eight children, one having died in childhood and another at the age of twelve. 1. -- David (b. 1851), married Mary Jane (Reed) Wilbur, who in 1872 bought and still owns a farm of 80 acres on the w 1/2 se 1/4 sec. 25, Cedar township. He died in 1883 leaving one son, Carl Spielman, who in 1898 married Stella Reed, of the state of Washington , and lives in Fonda with his mother. The latter on coming to this county in 1872 taught school three years. She was first married to James M. Wilbur, and their family consisted of one son, Romeo M. Wilbur, who in 1870 came to the home of his uncle B. F. Osburn, taught school several years at Pomeroy and vicinity and is now in Chicago . 2 -- Jacob (b. June 28, 1855, N. Y.), a mason and plasterer, resident of Fonda, in 1889 married Nora May Sheriff and has a family of four children, Flossie, Virgil, David and Esther. 3. -- Mary married R. B. Adams, drayman, lives at Cherokee and has a family of four children, Early, Hiram, Elizabeth and Maud. 4. -- Dora married Gustave Gottfried (See Gottfried). 5. -- Sophia married Louie Lieb (See Lieb). 6. -- Frederick (b. Aug. 22, 1864 , Iowa ) a drayman, Fonda, in 1896 married Alta Hardy and lives with his parents. 7. -- Elizabeth married William Wykoff, a plasterer, lives at Fonda and has four children, Roy, Madge, Harry and Vera. 8. -- Lulu, in 1893, married James H. Thompson, a carpenter, Fonda, and has one child. SPRAGG, GEO., 1868. The first residents of Cedar township seem to have been Elijah Chase and family, consisting of wife and five children, and Geo. Spragg and family. These two families were related to each other by marriage, and bringing their effects from Buchanan county on wagons drawn by oxen, they located at Sunk Grove on Sec. 6, Aug. 9, 1868 . At this date there were no settlements west of those along the Lizard streams and not even a beaten wagon trail through this township. ... Geo. Spragg married Miss Osburn, a niece of J. W. Wallace, and, after a residence of twelve years in the county, moved to Nebraska . SULLIVAN, JEREMIAH O. (b. 1840), is a native of Ireland . At the age of nine he came with his parents to Memphis , Tenn. , and six months later to Jackson county, Iowa . In 1870, he came to Pocahontas county and located on a homestead of 80 acres on sec. 4, Cedar township, which he still occupies, has increased to 430 acres and improved with good buildings. In 1874, he married Mary Keefe and has a family of three sons and three daughters, Michael, Anna, Margaret, John, William, and Mary. John Carey, James Griffin and Peter Byrne, who reside in the vicinity of Fonda, are married to sisters of Mr. Sullivan. His parents lived and died in Jackson county. |