History
of Tama County, Iowa
by Samuel D. Chapman. [Toledo:] Toledo Times Office, 1879.
F
B. W. Fellows, Farm Machinery
Persons wishing anything in the way of farm machinery, repairs, mowers, plows, rakes, pumps, harvesters, cultivators, planters, etc., will do well to call and see Mr. Fellows. He is selling goods very cheap at his store rooms on Elm Street . As he is an old settler in this County, coming here from New York and settling in Indian Village township in the year 1855, he is well acquainted, has many friends and a good run of custom, and since establishing the above business he has constantly been increasing it. Give him a call.
J. T. Flathers, Meat Market
This gentleman came to Tama in 1877, and has since been a resident of this city, and engaged in one line of trade – that of a market for the sale of fresh meat, fish etc. He also handles live poultry, hides, tallow and everything kept in a first-class meat market. From the first he secured a good run of custom, which has never forsaken him and never will as long as he remains at its head. In his private business he exercises the same general care of all details, and therefore has been very successful. Call at his market on McClellan Street .
John W. Fleming
John W. Fleming was born in Mitlin, County Pennsylvania January 12 th , 1837 . His parents were John and Mary (Wills) Flemings natives of that State. They were poor yet rich in faith and in their intercourse with the world ever endeavored to observe the golden rule. His father was a farmer, and when John was but 18 years of age he left home that he might learn the carpenter and cabinet business. For a number of years he followed his chosen trade acquiring considerable skill in the work.
His education was limited to that of common schools; poverty was the obstacle that prevented him from becoming an eminent scholar. John was not that kind to yield to trifles but improved every spare moment in acquiring knowledge.
On February 15 th , 1866, Mr. Fleming was married to Miss Jane E. Fleming, his cousin, and in a short time after marriage moved to this County, settling on land belonging to his father in Grant township, where he remained until after the death of his father, May 25 th , 1868, when he removed to Buckingham township settling upon a farm formerly occupied by P. Wilbur, near the town of Traer. He is well known to all residents of the County especially the older settlers, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all alike. Like the rest of the family, in politics, he is a Democrat of the old school, the principles of that party are dear to him. Although never attaining any special prominence in political affairs, yet Mr. Fleming has been chosen at different times to represent his community as Supervisor, and other offices within the township. In every position he has endeavored to perform his duty faithfully.
James Fowler, Attorney at Law
In 1856 this gentleman came to Tama County and settled at Toledo . For a number of years, or until Traer was established, he was engaged in various kinds of business, part of the time farming and part of the time he was engaged in the mercantile business at Toledo. In 1873, when Traer sprang into existence he moved to that point and engaged in the law business, since which time he has had a large practice and met with the average success. Mr. Fowler has a nice office over Brooks & Moore's bank, where he has a fine large library and nicely arranged rooms with all the conveniences of a first-class law office.
Frank Frahm & Bro., Blacksmith and Wagon Shops
This shop was established by three gentlemen in the year 1868, in the south-west corner of Crystal township, since which time they have been doing a large business in manufacturing lumber wagons, springs wagons, etc., which they are selling very cheap, besides having a large run of blacksmithing in which line they do all kinds of horse-shoeing, wagon repairing and machine repairing, which is done in a workmanlike manner and at reasonable prices. Call and see them, and they will do you a good job.
Maj. T. S. Free
Among those who have been prominently identified in the history of Tama County none deserves more honorable mention than Thomas S. Free. He was born in Ohio , where he resided with his parents until the spring of 1853, when his father and family came west and settled in this County, near Toledo . At this time Thomas was a lad of but thirteen, and coming to a new country where schools were “like angels visits” few and far between, his opportunity for education was somewhat limited. Though by hard work he managed to keep himself at school, and in 1860 entered the Iowa State University . While attending school the President issued his call for one hundred thousand men to go to the front. Mr. Free, was among the first to respond to this call and immediately left school, came home to Toledo , and in August 1861, enlisted in company C, 10 th Iowa as a private, and was immediately off for war. While in the service, we can safely say that not many young men were promoted to positions of honor as was Mr. Free. He was first appointed Sergeant Major, of the 10 th Iowa , afterwards, in order, to first Lieutenant Adjutant and Major of the 49 th U. S. C. I. Served on staff duty, as Judge Advocate of the district of Mississippi, afterwards assigned to duty by order of the Secretary of war, as Assistant Inspector General of the State of Mississippi . Discharged March 22d, 1866 , after being in the service of the United States over five years, engaging in all the battles with the 10 th Iowa , up to the battle of Champion Hills, besides numerous others.
Two years after, Mr. Free, returned home he was elected to the office of County Judge which he filled with honor. And afterwards the office of County Auditor two and one half terms. For a number of years Mr. Free has been in active law practice and is now, besides doing a large business at law, acting as United States Indian Agent for the Sac and Fox Indians, which appointment dates back to 1875. Mr. Free is liberal, enterprising, and consequently successful, and stands among the leading men of the County.
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